Whether you want outdoor lighting for security or ambiance, taking power or electricity outdoors can be a potentially dangerous job. Outdoor lighting can provide a beautiful ambient setting in the evenings or can take on a firmer role by providing light to dark areas for safety and security purposes. Outdoor
It’s always fun to bring a new essence to your home décor. It can be anything you want and you are always free and encouraged to make some changes, regardless of how small they may be. All it takes is some free time and creativity. Even money isn’t necessarily an
A recent industry survey conducted by Södra Wood has shown a definite increase in the specification of timber as a construction material in the UK, with 63% of respondents saying they believe timber is growing in popularity. The survey (hosted through Building and Building Design magazines) generated insight from almost
When you first started your business, it was just you (and perhaps a partner or two) and a small office space. Over the years, you’ve added employees, departments, and capabilities. Eventually, you saw the need to equip your corporate office with a designated customer service center. Owning and running your
Many people are in search of a stable and suitable job and the Internet has become one of the places where such work can be found. No matter where you are, having a computer or laptop and the stable Internet connection you can work and get paid for it from
Benefits include improved image and hygiene, lower costs and easier cleaning There are various benefits to improving your washroom facilities, so when planning a revamp consider the following: Image The washroom may be one of the first areas of your premises a visitor experiences, and for your staff an important
Despite living in our the incredibly digital world, some people prefer to stick with working methods that they’re used to. This isn’t always a bad thing—tradition goes well with consistency, making it easy to estimate and predict how successful certain projects will be. When you calculate construction costs using cost estimating
Have you ever sat in a taxi, on a train, or on a bus next to or close to someone who has a rasping cough and seems to struggle for breath? An early thought that comes to mind, despite you trying not to be judgemental, might be, “oh, that must
Sherwin-Williams coatings were chosen for the fire protection of steelwork at Tottenham Hotspur’s new showpiece stadium where up to 62,000 fans will be seated for the club’s home games. Having examined the priorities to protect the steel structure in the event of a fire with such large numbers of people
ZED Pods, manufacturers of rapid build, affordable modular homes, have received planning permission from Bristol City Council for 11 houses to be built above the Chalks Road car park, next to St George Park. The scheme, including nine one bedroom pods and 2 two bedroom pods, will be the first
Whether you want outdoor lighting for security or ambiance, taking power or electricity outdoors can be a potentially dangerous job. Outdoor lighting can provide a beautiful ambient setting in the evenings or can take on a firmer role by providing light to dark areas for safety and security purposes. Outdoor lighting is a necessity at all access points indoors from the outside, up steps or in dark parking areas. Your doorways and footpaths should always be well lit, in order to walk to and from your home or parking area safely. Using A Registered Electrician Initially, you will want to hire a qualified and registered professional to install the outdoor lighting safely and efficiently. You’ll be able to find a local electrician no matter where you’re located, just make sure they’re a trusted company. A good example to take a look at is these Electricians in Perth who are both properly accredited and knowledgeable to install outdoor lighting for you. Some people may claim to be registered or qualified electricians but in fact, they are not. Always use a reputable and experienced company or electrician when having outdoor power points or lighting installed. The last thing you would want to do is to pay someone to reinstall a system due to poor initial installation by someone who in fact was not qualified to do so. If something had to go wrong with the outdoor lighting and you wanted to claim from your insurer, you may be unsuccessful with your claim if the insurer finds that a registered electrician did not install the system. Do your homework on the electrician you decide to hire before going ahead with any installation. If you are installing outdoor lighting for security reasons, you will need a qualified and knowledgeable electrician to do a proper and secure installation for you. Security and safety outdoor lighting systems require a professional to install them correctly. You may even need a consultation from a security company to pinpoint problematic areas you would like to keep illuminated. Getting comparable quotes from registered electricians is always a good idea if you need to save costs. Check if there are call out fees or any hidden costs before you give the go-ahead to avoid being out of pocket. Never try to install outdoor lighting yourself unless you absolutely know how to. The dangers of installing electrical systems or power outlets outdoors can be a risky job if something goes wrong because you don’t know what you are doing. Rather be safe and call in a professional electrician. Timers And Bulbs Solar lights are at times easy to install and do not need a professional tradesperson to do so but they generally do not last as long as a properly installed system that connects to the mains power. When using an electrical system, insist on energy rated LED bulbs that save electricity and last longer than normal bulbs. Take note of the make and size of these bulbs in case you ever need to replace them. Electricians will always know which wattage of bulb to use for each fitting and circumstance, which is just another reason why you need to use registered electricians. If there are specific hues you prefer (warm or cool white), make sure your electrician knows this beforehand so that you do not waste money on the wrong colour bulbs. Research which tones you prefer or want to achieve in your outdoor lighting plan so that you make the decision based on what you want the outdoor lighting to achieve. Similarly, for security purposes, the size and make of bulbs will depend on the installation fixtures. It is a smart idea to add a timer to your outdoor lighting system. This will not only save on power (as the lights won’t be on all day and night) but will be set to switch on and off when you are not present or forgot to switch them on. Timers are highly recommended if you are using outdoor lighting for security and safety purposes. Maintenance Before the electrician leaves your property, ensure that you have all the information you may need to operate the system properly and safely. Ask questions if you are unclear as to be 100% confident in the using of the system. If you ever need to change bulbs, light fittings or cables and connections, ensure you have switched the power off to the outdoor lights to prevent injury. If your electrician was worth his or her weight in gold, they would have used waterproof fittings, fixtures, and cabling. Water and electricity do not mix well, and it is extremely important to check regularly that your fixtures are not cracked, broken or missing. Ensure all cabling is hidden, insulated and waterproof. Your electrician would have provided you with good quality equipment bought from a reputable supplier or manufacturer which will yield warrantees. If you find any problems or faults with your outdoor lighting system, switch the power to the system off and wait for an electrician to repair the system properly and safely.
It’s always fun to bring a new essence to your home décor. It can be anything you want and you are always free and encouraged to make some changes, regardless of how small they may be. All it takes is some free time and creativity. Even money isn’t necessarily an issue as there is a lot that can be DIY-ed on a budget. However, sometimes we’re simply at a loss for the right ideas and it seems that we cannot really think of anything new to do with our interior. You can find many useful websites such as the Home Remodeling & Renovation Guide to help you. This is where we come in with French country décor. If you’ve never done it before, it’s time to start. Here are a few pieces of inspiration to steer you in this direction. Color palette This style involves a varied but tasteful color palette. The natural landscape is the inspiration for the choice of colors of this particular style. Having that in mind, we have lavender, sage green, summer yellow and soft blue as prime choices for the style. They work perfectly regardless of the number of colors combined. The secret is in the shades, they keep everything looking graceful and elegant. Of course, you can also experiment with some textures and patterns as long as they keep the original appeal. It can either be the pillows, rugs or curtains to break up the neutral look. Bring in the rustic This style is all about vintage staple pieces of furniture. For instance, you can introduce some mirrors with an unusual metal or wood frame. A vintage coffee table and a birdcage to match the style would go perfectly in the living room. The traditional French coffee table includes a sturdy wooden construction. Moreover, you can have a plush cushion on its top so it can double as a tabouret. If you want to really stand out from the crowd of your generic French country living rooms, opt for a set of amazingly practical barn doors. Not only do they look enticing but they slide in a very simple way, enabling you to move across the room easily as well as save some space. DIY it a bit If you want to bring a vintage French vibe into your home, you may not have to spend too much money. Many furniture items can be purchased at flea markets. With a good eye and a strong will and determination, you can find amazing stuff there. Don’t limit yourself to just one place. You can dedicate a whole day to your search. Just choose a partner equally enthusiastic as you and you will have a lot of fun browsing through all sorts of stuff. Once you find what you need, you can easily transform it a bit using sandpaper and some paint or decoupage. Perhaps you don’t even need to shop for new old furniture items. Try checking your own basement or attic and see if an old table or cupboard pops up. You’ll be surprised by what you find. Devil in the details Many people feel they need to do a complete makeover of their interior in order to make a change. On the contrary, if you just change the focal points of the room and a few details, you’ll achieve exactly the same results with much less effort and much less money spent. This is why you should start by determining the focal points of each room you wish to change and deciding on what to do with it. Once you do that, simply adding new covers to your cushions and changing the drapes may just do the trick. A few framed photos or mirrors can go a long way in this quest, too. All in all, where there’s a will, there’s a way. All you need is to make the decision. Everything else is easy. Trust us, it may seem tedious when you think about how long or expensive the process is going to be. However, as you can see from what has been written, you can save your money and still do great things. Think about the fun you’re going to have along the way and how happy you’ll be once everything is finished. Change is healthy and as soon as you have your new interior, you’ll be able to find inspiration for many other things, too.
A recent industry survey conducted by Södra Wood has shown a definite increase in the specification of timber as a construction material in the UK, with 63% of respondents saying they believe timber is growing in popularity. The survey (hosted through Building and Building Design magazines) generated insight from almost 350 architects, consultants, contractors and merchants. The objective was to ascertain whether the UK is beginning to recognise the merits of timber and the results were clear to see: 69% of those questioned said they already worked with timber 68.75% of respondents felt that timber can help meet government housebuilding and sustainability targets When asked to rank the benefits of timber in order of importance, sustainability took the lead, followed by the fact that it is a quick and efficient material to work with. Great aesthetics took third place, then versatility, cost-effectiveness and offsite capabilities. Nigel Buckley-Ryan, Sales Director, Merchants, at Södra Wood, commented: “As a timber business, we have been working hard to position the benefits of what wood can do for our construction industry – it’s really rewarding to see so many people working with timber. We believe it can help meet many sustainability and housing targets in the UK, so I’m delighted to see recognition of that. “Sustainability is something that we are very passionate about here at Södra, which is why for every tree we fell, we plant another three and operate according to a tree’s natural lifecycle. It is welcoming to see that the UK construction industry is becoming more conscious of timber’s excellent sustainability credentials.” Jeremy English, Sales Director, Manufacturing, at Södra Wood commented: “While timber’s popularity is clearly growing, there remains lots of opportunity for further development, especially in terms of timber’s offsite capabilities, and cost and time efficiencies. The interesting thing about this survey is that it also shows that work still remains to be done to raise awareness around timber’s benefits. We’ll certainly continue to build its case and, as always, endeavour to drive the industry forward.” For further information about Södra Wood please visit www.sodra.uk
When you first started your business, it was just you (and perhaps a partner or two) and a small office space. Over the years, you’ve added employees, departments, and capabilities. Eventually, you saw the need to equip your corporate office with a designated customer service center. Owning and running your own startup requires an unparalleled level of dedication, vision, and hardwork. But in addition to these qualities, you need a desire to keep your customers happy and to meet their expectations every step of the way. You have to be in lockstep with trends in product quality and the customer service experience. Nothing preserves customer loyalty more than ensuring that even during the busiest times, their concerns are addressed in a timely and helpful manner. But what about unpredicted spikes in call volume? How can your call center handle that? Tracking trends in call volume In order to best handle unpredicted changes in call volume, you must first establish when your busiest hours are and ensure that you’re well equipped for those times. Inbound calls tend to come in waves, with high points and stagnant points during the day. However, if you have international clients, your agents may be receiving calls all day in waves. Make sure that your supervisors are tracking your busiest hours, so that you can make sure that your team is well staffed. You should also track the reasons behind your fluctuations in call volume. Have you had a recent sale? Has a product been recalled? Keep in mind that high call volumes may not be a permanent situation, but rather a temporary one. Outsourced call centers After analyzing your average call volume, you may find that you’re missing coverage in the event of unexpected call spikes. In this case, it may be time to consider bringing on an outsourced call center. Outsourcers are typically more fully staffed and more capable of handling unanticipated increases in volume due to their larger capacity. They also tend to train their agents to be flexible and able to handle a variety of customer complaints, while in-house staff tend to be focused on single products or scenarios. Using skill-based routing, call centers can ensure that calls are dealt with efficiently and adequately, saving your customers time and you money. Additionally, an outsourced call center will be well equipped to capture and analyze data in reference to customer needs, requests, habits, etc. In the case of more advanced, cloud-based call centers, all of this information can be stored in the easy-to-access cloud. When searching for your ideal customer service solution, look for an Oracle call center.
Many people are in search of a stable and suitable job and the Internet has become one of the places where such work can be found. No matter where you are, having a computer or laptop and the stable Internet connection you can work and get paid for it from anywhere in the world. Find a lot of job offers on the uk.jobsora.com, one of the most popular sites for finding work in the UK. Why do people start doing an online job? The main reasons are obvious: The Internet has a lot of work for everyone, regardless of skills, age, experience, and knowledge. Working on the Internet often gives you a lot of freedom, besides the place of your residence is not important when doing such kind of work. It’s easy to combine Internet work with other types of work. Popular Internet professions So, will you be able to become a remote employee? There are enough professions on the Internet to choose from and to start your “remote career”. Here is a list of professions that are relevant today. Perhaps this article will help you to decide what work you would like to do. Copywriters and rewriters. These people work with texts and, despite the similarity of words, these professions are significantly different from each other. A rewriter must redo the completed texts. The whole process is similar to retelling the text in other words. Copywriter also works with texts but the process has a different level of complexity. Most often, copywriters have to study a lot of information before writing a text. Translators. If you know one of the foreign languages you can try your hand at this profession. Nowadays, companies often use the services of remote freelance translators. Web-designers. If you have even a little knowledge of website development, then this work is for you. You can start to master the profession with minimal knowledge and a strong desire to become a professional. You can find a lot of free video tutorials on the Internet and in a couple of months, you can try your hand at this profession. By the way, a person of any professional level can find a job. Optimizer or SEO-specialist. The people of this profession optimize sites for search engines to improve its position in search engines, thus attracting new visitors and potential customers to the site. Today it is one of the most popular and profitable professions on the Internet. You can also use free video tutorials on the Internet to try to master this profession. Social media specialist. Social media specialists perform a number of tasks, which include attracting customers, creating an image, promoting the brand, expanding the target audience, etc. And all this is done with the help of social networks. Project content Manager. This profession is something in between a webmaster, designer, and copywriter. You can gradually master several related professions and become a valuable content manager. A content manager must be able to rewrite texts, look for the necessary information, have photoshop skills, write interesting articles. Well, HTML and CSS basic knowledge will also be necessary. Programmer. A programmer can perform a variety of tasks on the Internet. This can be software development, maintaining the website efficiency and the functioning of the entire system. The salary of a programmer depends on his or her level of knowledge, skills, experience, and specialization. In any case, the customer can be found at any level of knowledge and a programmer can gradually gain experience and improve his or her knowledge. Moderator or technical support staff member. This work is primitive and suitable for those who don’t have any particular skills. You will only need to ensure the work of the site, to avoid spam and monitor the discussions on forums. You may need to communicate with visitors of the online stores. This profession can become quite profitable for a freelancer beginner. These methods of earning on the Internet do not require any investment, except your own knowledge, effort and time. Everyone can find a job on the Internet! Regardless of knowledge and age. The most important thing is the desire and if you are reading this article then you have it – a strong desire to start an online job. Choose your favorite work on the Internet and start doing it now! We hope this article was helpful to you. Good luck to you!
Benefits include improved image and hygiene, lower costs and easier cleaning There are various benefits to improving your washroom facilities, so when planning a revamp consider the following: Image The washroom may be one of the first areas of your premises a visitor experiences, and for your staff an important company facility they’ll constantly make use of. Modern washroom design means you can create not only an attractive and even stylish environment, but perhaps one that reinforces your company branding such as certain colour schemes. That said, be careful of colour choice – more neutral or timeless colours are usually the best. Some colours – such as certain brighter shades – may be ‘in’ for a while but may eventually lose their appeal. Pleasant, stylish, clean odour free washroom areas using modern washroom technology such as high-speed air hand dryers, and the latest ‘touchless’ tech for hand washing and drying, present a positive company image to staff, clients and other visitors. Cost savings If your washroom facilities are several years old, the chances are you’re spending more money on day to day running costs than you might if more modern equipment was installed. Water use can be drastically reduced with modern toilets and hand washing facilities that use less water. Indirectly, further costs can be saved in reduced staff absences through contaminations and infections due to poor washroom hygiene thanks to the improvements that new washroom tech offers. Installing more modern facilities such as the latest air hand dryers and soap dispensers is more efficient and saves money; it’s also worth reviewing your washroom services arrangements as part of the revamp. Health and safety Ensuring high standards of health and safety are met is paramount since your washroom is likely used by all types of people including your staff, clients, and likely various other visitors. For example, some modern washroom design features elements such as doors with anti-finger trap locks, cubicle doors that can be lifted off their hinges incorporating emergency release locks if access is required; for instance, if someone is taken ill. Capacity Do your current washroom facilities meet your company’s needs in terms of capacity? If the washroom, or a specific washroom in a larger commercial building where there are multiple washrooms, struggles to cope with demand – for example, at work breaks or the beginning of the lunch hour or similar – then a revamp may include increasing capacity such as more cubicles and sinks. Calling in specialist washroom planners and fitters might be the best course of action to make the most of existing space. Efficiency and cleanliness More modern washrooms are easier to keep clean than some older designs with more tiling and grouting, nooks and crannies and maybe more exposed pipework that can attract dirt and contaminants. Modern washroom design often features more flat and smooth surfaces that are easier to clean, less likely to become overly contaminated, can conceal pipework, and feature more ‘touchless’ facilities such as hand washers and dryers operated by motion detection. Budgeting Unless your washroom revamp merely consists of a lick of paint, a more comprehensive upgrade represents a significant investment in your company’s facilities so requires careful budgeting. Decide your priorities and talk to experienced washroom design specialists to see what’s possible for your planned expenditure. A sound investment Upgrading your washroom facilities is a major investment that will offer many benefits – but it’s important to plan and execute it efficiently. Description: What to consider when undertaking a washroom revamp on a business premises including improved image, cost savings, cleanliness and higher standards of hygiene. Websites: https://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/20406/title/5-tips-for-refreshing-restroom-renovations http://www.interplanpanelsystems.com/news/interplans-guide-to-washroom-health-safety/ http://www.interplanpanelsystems.com/news/planning-a-commercial-washroom-refurbishment/ https://www.facilitiesnet.com/plumbingrestrooms/article/Restroom-Renovations-Big-Benefits–2782
Despite living in our the incredibly digital world, some people prefer to stick with working methods that they’re used to. This isn’t always a bad thing—tradition goes well with consistency, making it easy to estimate and predict how successful certain projects will be. When you calculate construction costs using cost estimating software, you can help to ensure a successful and productive project. However, what if we were to tell you that there’s actually a lot of modern technology that prides itself on accuracy? This is where cost estimating software comes in. Cost estimating software that allows you to input numbers, measurements and other variables to give accurate estimates for your construction clients. Despite the programs being new technology, they are designed for accuracy. This accuracy can help bridge the gap between tradition and the future, giving you programs that will assist your company in the long run. To show you exactly why this type of application is beneficial, we’ve created a list of 4 Reasons Every Contractor Should Invest in Cost Estimating Software: 1. Calculate Construction Costs without Human Error One of the biggest mistakes companies can make when calculating estimates on their own is simply that: calculating estimates on their own. Though there are many skilled individuals who are experts at making estimates for companies, even experts can experience human error. This is why estimating programs can be helpful, as algorithms and equations are more reliable overall. 2. Programs Can Decide What is Essential When you’re working with an estimation program, you have to understand that the program itself is typically advanced enough to make personal decisions on which parts of a project are necessary. When you input certain tasks into the program, it will be able to strip options and aspects of a project that aren’t absolutely necessary, allowing you to have tighter estimates that are more in favor of the client. Because there are so many different factors to consider when building a property, it’s also good to have flexibility. By having more accurate estimates, you can ensure that clients will want to come back for more work and your company’s overall success rate will stay consistent. Though it might seem easy to simply keep track of which things are necessary, it can also be easy to apply similar settings to different projects when making multiple estimates at once, making estimate programs necessary allies. 3. Save Time In traditional scenarios, a customer changing their mind or having to adjust their request at any time can lead to many different recalculations. If you use an estimation program, this is not necessarily the case—instead of having to recalculate, you can simply adjust certain values and see the entire estimate change almost immediately! 4. Save Money At the end of the day, the most important thing about estimation software is that it will save you money. Through giving you more options, efficiency and less error, you will be able to make sure your estimates are effective and affordable. By having estimates that are leaner and more on the side of the customer, you can also drive up your engagement and gain more consistent clients. What do you think of our list? Are you a contractor who doesn’t yet use estimating software? We hope our list has been helpful so you can understand the benefits of using software to calculate construction costs!
Have you ever sat in a taxi, on a train, or on a bus next to or close to someone who has a rasping cough and seems to struggle for breath? An early thought that comes to mind, despite you trying not to be judgemental, might be, “oh, that must be a smoker”. But, what if their cough is unrelated to smoking and is instead a result of diligently working all their life while exposed to substances, dusts and vapours that have been harmful to their health, particularly their respiratory system? In this scenario their rasping cough or breathing problems are a grim result of workplace exposure to these life-threatening substances; due to a lack of care or thought by some of their employers – or maybe a lack of knowledge or awareness themselves – they are now suffering from the consequences. Now is an apt time to raise awareness of respiratory workplace matters, re-evaluate your safe systems of work, and maybe introduce some new initiatives. The Health and Safety Executive has just launched a ‘Dustbuster’ inspection campaign from 17 June to 12 July across the UK. This campaign concentrates on industries such as construction, woodworking and food manufacturing where occupational lung diseases, including in some cases occupational cancers, are more common. During the campaign, inspectors will be visiting businesses across the country to see what measures have been put in place to protect workers’ lungs from the likes of asbestos and silica. The effects of these carcinogens and others on our health can develop over a long latency period, and because of this it isn’t always immediately apparent when workers are at risk during their day-to-day work. It is vital organisations have measures in place to ensure exposure does not occur and take preventative steps. The HSE’s ‘Dustbuster’ campaign is closely aligned with IOSH’s No Time to Lose (NTTL) campaign to help businesses take action against causes of occupational cancer. NTTL campaign phases have covered the dangers of silica dust and asbestos exposure and many organisations have pledged to support the campaign, most recently Co-op property. Both No Time to Lose and #Dustbuster contribute to increasing knowledge about the causes of occupational cancer and offer resources to help organisations and businesses to take action to reduce workplace exposure. Whether you’re an employer or employee, industry body or policy-maker, safety and health professional or occupational hygienist, we all have a part to play if we want to call time on work-caused cancers. Thousands of people die from work-related lung diseases every year, in many cases due to exposures that took place many years before. In the working environment – as managers or workers – we all have the power do something about this. Get involved by reading the free materials available from https://bit.ly/2IlG86M and asking what your workplace is doing or is prepared to do to tackle occupational cancers. Also consider joining the growing number of businesses leading on this issue and sign up to the No Time to Lose pledge: www.notimetolose.org.uk/get-involved/pledge-take-action/ and show your support for the latest HSE #DustBuster inspection campaign. It is important to involve others, start discussions, raise awareness. Don’t walk away – ignoring the issue affects everyone in the long-run. We must work together; only through our combined efforts can we prevent the horrendous effects of occupational lung disease. • More information about the HSE Dustbuster campaign is available on the HSE website: https://campaigns.hse.gov.uk/hgbww/resources/dustbusters/?utm_source=Partners&utm_medium=Email-CL&utm_campaign=Dustbuster19 • If you are supporting the activity please use the #Dustbuster and #WorkRight hashtags so HSE can recognise your support.
Sherwin-Williams coatings were chosen for the fire protection of steelwork at Tottenham Hotspur’s new showpiece stadium where up to 62,000 fans will be seated for the club’s home games. Having examined the priorities to protect the steel structure in the event of a fire with such large numbers of people moving about, Sherwin-Williams experts selected FIRETEX C69 Epoxy blast primer, followed by FIRETEX FX2003 solvent-based intumescent coating with a top coat of Acrolon C237 acrylic urethane sheen finish. The Sherwin-Williams Macropoxy C123 coating was used for the surface below the second synthetic pitch, achieving low curing down to 5°C. The coating is easy to apply by airless spray; compatible with a wide range of Macropoxy, zinc clad epoxy primers and build coats; and compliant with Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) standards. Steel fabricator for the project was Severfield. “This project demanded the highest specification standards for stadia using only the best products. We’re proud to have been involved to ensure only the highest levels of fire protection measures are in place where the lives of people and the safety of property are at stake,” said Mark Lockhart, Sherwin-Williams UK Sales Manager. Macropoxy C400V3 epoxy zinc phosphate coating was selected and applied after blast cleaning of the terrace steelwork, a system suitable for the protection of steelwork in a range of exposure environments from C1 to C5 as defined in ISO12944, including buildings, car parks, petrochemical plants, breweries and power stations. Projects using fire and corrosion protection coatings delivered by Sherwin-Williams across EMEAI include London’s The Shard, Azerbaijan’s Flame Towers and the Leadenhall Building, known as The Cheesegrater. For more information see the Sherwin-Williams website.
ZED Pods, manufacturers of rapid build, affordable modular homes, have received planning permission from Bristol City Council for 11 houses to be built above the Chalks Road car park, next to St George Park. The scheme, including nine one bedroom pods and 2 two bedroom pods, will be the first development to be built as part of the five-year Bristol Housing Festival. Some of the pods could be on site in time for the next Bristol housing Festival exhibition in mid-October. The pods will be road-tested, in a real-world scenario, to accelerate the delivery of quality, affordable housing in Bristol. This decision pioneers a way to create a 100% affordable, low carbon housing development over an existing land use, a car park in this case. This environmental and socially focused development will deliver much needed affordable housing in the area for young people and others at risk of housing crisis. By creating a mixture of affordable tenures, with four units to be let at social rent level, a new community model will be created to ensure that the support networks are in place for the tenants. This project is a collaboration between Bristol Housing Festival, ZED Pods Ltd, a Bristol based Housing Association, the YMCA Bristol, Bristol and Bath Regional Capital and Bristol City Council. National planning and development consultancy Turley provided planning and strategic communications services for the scheme. Jez Sweetland, Project Director for Bristol Housing Festival said: “Bristol City Council’s decision to support this development is great news for Bristol. Our initial plans were for 7 pods, however we are now able to provide 11 pods through this planning approval. We are excited that this Festival project is a quality, low carbon build with great sustainability credentials and we look forward to seeing the pods completed.” Once all of the relevant planning conditions have been met, ZED Pods will begin production of the 11 pods at the Peterborough factory of their partner Lesko Modular Group. The pods delivered to site will include hard fixtures such as a kitchen including fridge/cooker/hobs and a wet room with shower, loo and washbasin. Dr Rehan Khodabuccus, Operations Director of ZED Pods said: “The ZEDPods development rethinks existing land use, demonstrating a new possibility in helping solve the housing crisis, whilst at the same time providing beautiful, low carbon housing that lasts. Our focus on a 100% sustainable end-of-life construction solution involves an integrated roof mounted solar array, a super insulated building envelope with triple glazed windows, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery coupled with a design that gives exceptional levels of daylighting resulting in extremely low running costs.” Ben Silvey, Director YMCA Bristol said: “On behalf of the young people we see day in and day out who can’t afford a decent home in our city, we are absolutely delighted. We can’t wait to the moment that the first young people move into these excellent quality, truly aspirational and genuinely affordable homes.” ZED Pods will provide several additional improvements on the site including new lockable bike storage for future residents and repositioning CCTV cameras to improve observation for residents’ safety. It will also maintain all mature trees and retain all the existing car park spaces – so retaining the amenity for the community, whilst delivering needed affordable housing. Amy Hickson, Associate Director at Turley said: “We are delighted to be working with ZED Pods and Bristol Housing Festival and by this outcome. We believe it marks an important step forward in finding solutions for Bristol’s housing challenge. The proposals represent an innovative solution to maximise the efficiency of land (a scarce resource) for a great social purpose.”