Acorn’s Rail division has become the first Welsh SME in 2020 to receive a Trackside Principal Contractors Licence from Network Rail. Principal Contractors License is a requirement over and above CDM (Construction, Design Management), and whilst Principal Contractor requirements are specific to Network Rail it is deemed the gold standard
Lindsay has been working in the property sector for the last twenty years, with the last ten years focussed on business development with a variety of clients ranging from top ten housebuilders to freehold investor landlords and resident’s management companies. Developers especially value her input when it comes to supporting
With awareness of climate change on the rise, cities across the world are coming under scrutiny for their large carbon footprints and unsustainable designs. It’s no one’s fault. Modern cities were designed before anyone was aware of the impact they could have on the environment. Now that people know better,
UK property manager Capco has come in for a 26 per cent stake in London-focused property firm Shaftesbury for £436m. Capco has bought the stake from a trust set up by Hong Kong tycoon Samuel Tak Lee for 540p per share, representing a discount of 13.9 per cent to the
The Manchester-based property group has promoted Anna Main to the board after less than a year with the business, as it looks to expand its commercial asset division. Landwood, which has its headquarters on Peter Street in the city centre, is a firm of surveyors, asset managers and auctioneers. Main joined
ANWYL Homes is offering “access all areas” remotely with a virtual relaunch of its first Lancashire development. Show homes at Bluebell Meadows in Fulwood, near Preston, opened in mid-March and dozens of people were lucky enough to see them before the development closed temporarily when the country went into lockdown.
One of the main questions when it comes to asbestos is if asbestos testing is required by law. In many cases, asbestos testing is a legal requirement. Occupying or working in a building that hasn’t had an asbestos survey might mean you’re breaking the law. The whole point of an
New property management platform apropos, developed by UK letting Agent DJ Alexander, has launched. The platform hopes to take the experience of DJ Alexander’s letting agents and property managers into the digital realm. The application allows property owners to track and monitor their full rental portfolio online by using an
Since March, all tenants – whether in private or social accommodation – can now sue their landlords if their homes have health-damaging defects. This is thanks to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill 2017-2019, which came into force for new tenancies from 20 March 2019 and, from now, applies
PLANNING has been submitted by a joint venture between Locksley Hotels Ltd and hotel group Ascena for the centrepiece of the much anticipated multi-million-pound Guildhall development in Nottingham, which will create more than 250 jobs for the city. Originally built in 1887, the Guildhall has hosted a magistrates’ court, police
Acorn’s Rail division has become the first Welsh SME in 2020 to receive a Trackside Principal Contractors Licence from Network Rail. Principal Contractors License is a requirement over and above CDM (Construction, Design Management), and whilst Principal Contractor requirements are specific to Network Rail it is deemed the gold standard within the rail industry, and it recognises Acorn Rail’s ability to discharge Principal Contractor duties during construction work carried out on behalf of Network Rail. It also permits Acorn to tender for all maintenance, labour or contract work issued by the national body. The licence provides assurance that Acorn Rail, as a Principal Contractor, has appropriate and robust HSQE management systems to effectively discharge its duties under official construction regulations and meet all additional requirements of Network Rail. The licence is issued in accordance with the Network Rail Principal Contractor Licensing Scheme NR/L2/INI/CP0070. Kevin Morris, Director of Rail at Acorn Rail, said: “Our new status as a Principal Contractor for Network Rail is testament to the continued commitment that this highly successful division of Acorn has shown in operating responsibly, and to the highest of standards required by the UK rail industry today. Acorn Rail works with a broad range of clients to undertake rail projects across the UK including civil engineering, track renewals, signalling, power & telecoms, tunnelling, and mechanical and engineering. “Our Rail Division is supported by an experienced in-house quality management and compliance team, which has proven its robustness time and time again through ongoing audits. This Principal Contract Licence is a logical next step in our continued progression as a highly effective and well-respected supplier to the rail and civil engineering industries. Furthermore, we are now in a fantastic position to support our clients’ and our own visions of delivering the drivers of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, support sustainability and help create a thriving Wales. Acorn Rail is seeking to follow in the successful footsteps of its parent company Acorn Recruitment, which has a lengthy track record of organic growth, working with hundreds of UK and international businesses and supporting UK job seekers through its specialist teams and a network of more than 30 branches nationwide. Acorn places some 6,000 people every week into temporary roles and more than 1,700 people into permanent roles every year. Acorn’s Group Managing Director, Matt Southall said: “The Principal Contractors Licence that our specialist rail team has been awarded is a good reflection of the whole Acorn group, and our commitment to quality, safety and compliance in everything we do. “We are delighted for all those working within the rail division who support and help maintain such a vital part of the UK transport infrastructure, and we look forward to fulfilling this role even more effectively as a result of this new status we have been given by Network Rail.” For more information visit www.acornpeople.com
Lindsay has been working in the property sector for the last twenty years, with the last ten years focussed on business development with a variety of clients ranging from top ten housebuilders to freehold investor landlords and resident’s management companies. Developers especially value her input when it comes to supporting site office teams launching new developments. Lindsay brings a real understanding of clients and potential purchasers’ needs, from initial site set up through launch, to handover and operational management. Vastly experienced in the property industry, Lindsay has worked on developments ranging from large scale consortium developments of upwards of 3,000 units, to high-end mixed-use city centre developments and listed building conversions. With a down to earth approach to building and retaining client relationships, Lindsay is a great asset to not just the Remus Management team, but the Fexco Property Services group as a whole.
With awareness of climate change on the rise, cities across the world are coming under scrutiny for their large carbon footprints and unsustainable designs. It’s no one’s fault. Modern cities were designed before anyone was aware of the impact they could have on the environment. Now that people know better, civil engineers are working to resolve the underlying problems by improving infrastructure and making cities more sustainable, more resilient, and more enjoyable for their residents. Read on to find out how. Reducing Building Emissions Traditional urban skyscrapers and other large-scale buildings generate more greenhouse gas emissions than many property owners and consumers would think. There are two ways that commercial engineering services are working with property owners, government officials, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders to resolve this problem. They are finding ways to refurbish and retrofit existing buildings to meet more exacting modern standards for environmental sustainability and helping property owners navigate the switch to more resilient designs and more sustainable materials. Improving Infrastructure By 2050, over 65% of all people will likely be living in cities. The influx of new residents will create new challenges, but civil engineers can help by improving public infrastructures such as roads, utilities, and public spaces. When working with other stakeholders to improve public infrastructure, civil engineers must consider not just the city’s current needs but also those of future generations. In some cases, that means installing new drainage systems that protect sensitive watersheds. In others, it will require completely rethinking neighborhood designs to reduce traffic flow and ensure the more equitable distribution of resources. Each city, and each neighborhood within the city, is different, so each one has different social, environmental, and economic needs that must be met. That means civil engineers must respect the fact that sustainability and resiliency interventions are not out-of-the-box solutions. Each problem must be given its due consideration and potential solutions must consider all three pillars of sustainability. It’s the only way to make cities more livable for future generations. Leveraging of Technology to Implement Positive Change Modern civil engineers have a whole arsenal of technological tools at their disposal that can help them understand unique problems and come up with effective interventions. Artificial intelligence can be used to collect and analyze data, which civil engineers can then use to better understand the social, environmental, and economic repercussions. Predictive modeling can confirm or dispel their conceptions of how new utilities, roads, or buildings will impact the local ecosystem. New, technologically advanced building methods and materials can reduce cities’ carbon footprints, and renewable methods for generating electricity could change the way that consumers and city officials think about using and providing power. All of these technological advancements can only be put to good use by trained and experienced civil engineers who understand not just the range of solutions now available, but also the context for successful implementation. The Bottom Line Creating more sustainable, resilient, and livable cities requires the collaboration of government officials, environmental experts, residents, and many other stakeholders, but it is civil engineers who have the skills required to take theoretical needs and turn them into practical realities. Sustainability isn’t just about reducing negative environmental impacts. It also requires careful consideration of social and economic repercussions. Creating better cities for future generations will require a lot of work, but civil engineers are up to the task.
UK property manager Capco has come in for a 26 per cent stake in London-focused property firm Shaftesbury for £436m. Capco has bought the stake from a trust set up by Hong Kong tycoon Samuel Tak Lee for 540p per share, representing a discount of 13.9 per cent to the closing Shaftesbury share price on 29 May. Ian Hawksworth, chief executive of Capco, said: “As long-term investors in the Covent Garden estate and the West End, the investment in Shaftesbury represents a unique opportunity to deploy our capital in an exceptional portfolio at an attractive entry price, which we believe will generate long-term value for Capco shareholders. “Capco’s world-class estate, strong balance sheet and significant financial flexibility ensure that the company is well positioned. Whilst we can expect continued market uncertainty in the near term, we are confident about the long-term fundamentals and prospects for the West End and prime central London.” Shaftesbury said it “looks forward to engaging with Capco as it would with any other shareholder in the company”. Capco said it believed the deal was attractively valued, “with an implied price of approximately £1,200 per square foot and a yield of 3.3 per cent based on Shaftesbury’s 2019 total dividend of 17.7p per share”. Capco said it was funding the investment through the £705m Covent Garden revolving credit facility, of which £255m remains available for drawdown. In the light of the deal, Capco said it has decided not to complete the return of £100m to shareholders through the share buyback programme announced earlier this year, under which £12m had been returned to shareholders prior to being suspended in March 2020. Tak Lee has repeatedly clashed with Shaftesbury’s management after feeling he was left in the dark over a 2017 share placing. Today Shaftesbury said Tak Lee has withdrawn legal proceedings against the company related to the 2017 fundraising. In January Tak Lee voted against resolutions to reappoint some of the company’s key management figures including chief executive Brian Bickell, finance director Chris Ward and chairman Jonathan Nicholls. Rothschild & Co is acting as lead financial adviser and sponsor to Capco on the transaction, BofA Securities is acting as financial adviser and Herbert Smith Freehills is acting as legal adviser. Capco shares rose 1.5 per cent to 166p and Shaftesbury shares fell 1.5 per cent to 617p.
The Manchester-based property group has promoted Anna Main to the board after less than a year with the business, as it looks to expand its commercial asset division. Landwood, which has its headquarters on Peter Street in the city centre, is a firm of surveyors, asset managers and auctioneers. Main joined the company last August having spent the previous four years as a director and head of asset and property management at consultancy Avison Young. She joined Landwood to head up the firm’s newly formed commercial asset division and, following a successful nine months, has been promoted to the board, bringing the total number of directors to eight. Main heads a team of five in the commercial asset division, which manages assets on behalf of clients including FRP and Grant Thornton. The team is expected to grow further to cope with an increasing workload, and recruitment is underway. Main said: “I came here to bring a fresh approach to asset management and am delighted with the results so far. “As businesses re-open, we are really looking forward to building an even larger client base of high-net-worth firms, property trusts and property owners.” Mark Bailey, managing director at Landwood Group, added: “It’s been a period that nobody could have predicted, but Anna and her team have been agile to spot opportunities and grow their arm of the Landwood business significantly.”
ANWYL Homes is offering “access all areas” remotely with a virtual relaunch of its first Lancashire development. Show homes at Bluebell Meadows in Fulwood, near Preston, opened in mid-March and dozens of people were lucky enough to see them before the development closed temporarily when the country went into lockdown. Ahead of Bluebell Meadows reopening to visitors by appointment only, Anwyl is inviting homebuyers to an online virtual relaunch via its social media channels this Saturday (June 13). Matthew Gould, head of sales for Anwyl Homes Lancashire, explained: “Bluebell Meadows is our very first development in the actual county of Lancashire; the first place where we’ve built Hartford and Delamere style show homes and now it is going to host our first ‘Access All Areas by Anwyl’ virtual event. “Anwyl is renowned for delivering thoughtful homes and while our sales offices and show homes have been temporarily closed, we have been carefully considering how to embrace fresh ways of helping homebuyers find a new home. We already have video tours of our show homes available, but Access All Areas by Anwyl is an innovative way for us to interact with buyers through a series of short films available across our social media channels.” The virtual event starts at 10.30am on Saturday (June 13) with an introduction to Anwyl and the exclusive 26-home Bluebell Meadows development. There will also be a chance to “meet” the site manager; find out more about the process of buying a new Anwyl home, including the Move Simple scheme; and to hear from an independent mortgage advisor. “This virtual event will enable buyers to experience everything they’d normally see and hear when they visit the development and more,” Matthew added. “The advantage of it taking place virtually is that there’s no need to worry about social distancing or restricting numbers. Plus if you can’t make it on the day, you can watch later; or you can pause, re-wind and share with family and friends. Of course, nothing quite beats viewing a property in-situ and so we’ll also be inviting people to make an appointment to see the show homes for themselves.” Anwyl has introduced strict social distancing guidelines across its developments, with a limited number of visitors allowed on site and in the show homes by appointment only and hand sanitising stations to help keep staff and customers safe. Located off Ladybank Avenue, in Fulwood, Bluebell Meadows features a choice of four-bedroom detached homes, with prices from £331,995. The virtual relaunch of the development takes place from 10.30am on Saturday (June 13) via Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The sales office and show homes will be open by appointment only from Saturday afternoon. For more information, including the latest availability and pricing, see the website www.anwylhomes.co.uk/our-developments/bluebell-meadows-fulwood.
One of the main questions when it comes to asbestos is if asbestos testing is required by law. In many cases, asbestos testing is a legal requirement. Occupying or working in a building that hasn’t had an asbestos survey might mean you’re breaking the law. The whole point of an asbestos survey is that you know if your building is safe to occupy, or that your renovation/demolition is safe to do. Having this information can not only save your life but save the lives of other people working or living in the building. Exposure to asbestos usually happens when the person responsible for the property didn’t have an asbestos test completed. There are legal requirements for asbestos surveys, but there are also instances that you are not required to have one completed. For clarity, here are the areas where you will need asbestos testing: Property built before 2000 and; A public area of a domestic building or, Construction work or, Non-domestic buildings. The age of the building will be one of the deciding factors. Any building that predates the year 2000 has a high chance of containing ACM (asbestos-containing materials). Asbestos was a popular material used for construction. It can often be found in insulation, sheeting, rainwater goods, partitions, doors, ceiling panels, vinyl tiles, and many more places within the home or commercial building. You are unlikely to be able to tell if something is asbestos just by looking at it. Which is why an asbestos test will become your first line of defense. Asbestos fibers are tiny, and when they are disturbed, they cause many asbestos-related illnesses. For asbestos testing, a sample of the material will be taken and tested in a lab. This will be able to tell you if the material contains asbestos and the amount and type. For non-domestic public buildings – schools, hospitals, and offices, here is the Control of Asbestos Regulations. 3. To manage the risk from asbestos in non-domestic premises, the duty holder must ensure that a suitable and sufficient assessment is carried out as to whether asbestos is or is liable to be present in the premises. 4. In making the assessment— such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances must be taken; and the condition of any asbestos which is, or has been assumed to be, present in the premises must be considered. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 Duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises For part, domestic buildings, with public/shared spaces: The ‘duty to manage asbestos’ requirements of regulation 4 of CAR 2012 do not normally apply to domestic premises. However, the requirements do apply to common parts of premises, including housing developments and blocks of flats […]. Examples of common parts would include foyers, corridors, lifts and lift shafts, staircases, boiler houses, vertical risers, gardens, yards, and outhouses. HSE Asbestos: The survey guide pg.9 For a domestic residence, the landlord or owner is responsible and should ensure that when there is a suspicion of asbestos or renovation work to be carried out, they provide that a risk assessment is carried out. Failing to do so can mean a landlord can be prosecuted.
New property management platform apropos, developed by UK letting Agent DJ Alexander, has launched. The platform hopes to take the experience of DJ Alexander’s letting agents and property managers into the digital realm. The application allows property owners to track and monitor their full rental portfolio online by using an online dashboard which shows full visibility of all transactions. This is accessible 24/7 on mobile, desktop or laptop with live notifications. The team made the decision to launch this new system in spite of the global pandemic, hoping that the platform will help set the standard for what can be expected in a post-COVID world. Apropos believes that this will help them prioritise the wellbeing of landlords, staff and tenants during this difficult time. David Alexander, apropos joint managing director said: “Our day to day priorities remain the safety, security, and welfare of all our staff, landlords and tenants. We must operate in the most responsible and flexible way we can during these extraordinary times. “But equally it is important to recognise that the coronavirus outbreak, despite the current lockdown and difficulties it is currently imposing on all of us, will not last forever.” The platform helps integrate agents across the UK’s major property hotspots, including Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London. The team is hoping to expand this reach over the coming months. Alexander added: “We believe that our platform, which draws on our 40 years of experience in the letting sector, is the future for property management backed up by outstanding service from our apropos agents. We now have 44% of the UK covered by our apropos agents and will be extending our network to cover the largest 100 towns and cities in the country.” Many other businesses are taking this time to launch new schemes. Insuraguest launched a vacation rental program guaranteeing coverage to a $5 million limit, and many hosts have responded to the uncertainty with platforms to create their own direct booking sites.
Since March, all tenants – whether in private or social accommodation – can now sue their landlords if their homes have health-damaging defects. This is thanks to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill 2017-2019, which came into force for new tenancies from 20 March 2019 and, from now, applies to existing, historic tenancies too. “Landlords have had 12 months to consider the implications of the act”, says Hudson Lambert, managing director of Safeguard Europe – the UK’s leading specialist in damp and waterproofing, and masonry repair solutions – “and they’re running out of time to improve these properties before the law starts to bite. Our advice to any that haven’t done so is to assess properties as soon as possible and make the necessary repairs or modifications. No one should be living in homes that are damaging to health.” The Act sets out a raft of issues which, if defective, could cause harm to tenants, including proper ventilation and freedom from damp. The presence of damp and poor ventilation can both promote mould growth, and the relationship between ill health, damp and mould and the negative impact on respiratory health are well established. The English Housing Survey 2018-2019 found that 7% of private rented dwellings and 5% of social housing had some sort of damp problem. In certain sectors, that figure appears to be much higher. Research by the National Union of Students published in February 2019 found that 35% of students were living in rented accommodation with damp and mould. Previously tenants with damp and mould problems could attempt to legally address them by pursuing a statutory nuisance notice with local authority environmental health officers. However, the response to council intervention from landlords has often been to begin eviction proceedings against the tenants, which deterred tenants from complaining. Under the new regime, tenants can sue landlords, not only to force them to fix health-damaging defects, but also for compensation. The courts will decide on the timeframe for any required works, and what the level of compensation will be. For landlords and their advisors seeking expert advice on damp, Safeguard offers a CPD seminar programme on the major causes and effective treatments. The headline CPD, the RIBA-accredited Dealing with Dampness, is an overarching introduction to the problems of rising and penetrating damp that will give landlords, specifiers, builders and others enough information to help them tell the difference between the two and determine sources, while giving options on how to act to cure the problem. For details of Safeguard’s CPD programme, visithttps://www.safeguardeurope.com/training-courses/cpd-seminars
PLANNING has been submitted by a joint venture between Locksley Hotels Ltd and hotel group Ascena for the centrepiece of the much anticipated multi-million-pound Guildhall development in Nottingham, which will create more than 250 jobs for the city. Originally built in 1887, the Guildhall has hosted a magistrates’ court, police station and fire station during its history. The planning application submitted by Ascena and architects RPS Design Group reveals a 162-bed, four-star hotel, which will include a rooftop fine dining restaurant, spa and wedding and conference facilities to bring the building into its next lifetime. John Wilby, project lead for Ascena, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have now submitted planning for the exciting development of one of Nottingham’s most iconic buildings and we hope, all things being well, that work on the site will commence later this year. “It is a landmark development for the city and a key destination for people across the East Midlands. Following close work with heritage consultants Turley and Historic England, we’ve ensured that the plans submitted will see a sensitive restoration of the Grade II listed building. The Guildhall is an amazing building and we are naturally delighted to be working with the city council.” The development will house larger than average (28 square metre) luxury hotel rooms and existing courtrooms in the building will be converted into bar and restaurant facilities, retaining the original listed features. The designs for the modern extension to the northern elevation of the existing building will also utilise high-grade materials to give a nod to Nottingham’s lace heritage. The Guildhall building itself will house the hotel, while more modern extensions at the back of the building would be demolished and rebuilt. Jack Turton, director for Ascena, added: “With the building sitting derelict for the best part of a decade, we’re absolutely thrilled to be working with the city council in taking steps towards bringing this iconic Nottingham building back to life – it’s been a long time coming!” City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen, said: “This is a site that we have long been keen to see developed with a mix of uses, including a high-quality hotel within the main Guildhall building itself. We therefore welcome the fact that a developer is putting forward proposals which could reinvigorate this prime city centre site. “The Guildhall is one of Nottingham’s most distinguished buildings and there has been a great deal of interest in what its future holds. The proposal for a high quality, sensitively restored hotel is an appealing prospect as we continue to transform the city centre into a new destination for residents, businesses and visitors. “It shows ongoing confidence in Nottingham as a city to invest in even during the coronavirus crisis and would complement our wider ambitions for the city’s growth.” Ascena owns and runs a number of luxury hotel and restaurant facilities around the UK, one of which is the Birmingham restaurant Opheem – one of only ten Indian restaurants in the UK to achieve a Michelin star. Opheem which is run by Ascena business partner Aktar Islam. Aktar, who is a former winner of The Great British Menu and The F Word, will be running the rooftop restaurant of the Guildhall development.