From listing properties and finding tenants, to screening prospective tenants and much more, the uses of social media in the rental sector are wide ranging. In the age of social media, personal information is fast becoming public property. Millions are now willingly sharing information which was previously confidential; photos, political
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has taken a strong stance on the issue of cladding and forcing the removal and reinstatement of a safer product. For months James Brokenshire has been warning landlords of at-risk properties to get on
Construction companies big and small are set to reap the rewards of faster, more efficient ordering following the launch of a new digital purchase ordering tool. The tool – known as ONSO – promises to modernise the interaction between site, office and supplier, enabling orders to be requested, approved and
Leading rapid-build home manufacturer FastHouse has today announced the completion of its contract to provide and erect the timber frames for 466 lodges at the highly anticipated Center Parcs in Longford in under nine months. This comes as FastHouse confirms significant investment to bring its full range of services to
CONSTRUCTION of the University of Huddersfield’s new £30 million centre for the study of art, design and architecture is months ahead of schedule, and it has witnessed an unusual “topping out” ceremony conducted by the granddaughter of Dame Barbara Hepworth, the famous artist who has given the building its name,
The key issues facing the construction industry are usually budget and time constraints. We are increasingly pressured to complete projects within strict programmes whilst sticking to allocated budgets. The rise of power tools has been critical to making construction projects more efficient, quicker and less expensive. In the early ‘80s,
National Grid and its contractors Murphy Eltel Joint Venture have finished building the new 20km high voltage electricity line between Richborough and Canterbury to connect the Nemo Link®, into the UK’s electricity transmission system. The new line, consisting of 60 new pylons is the first to be built in Kent
A POLICE station has been officially opened by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales after being transformed into a contemporary build fit for 21st century policing. The Prince of Wales visited King’s Lynn Police Station on Thursday, 29 November to tour its modern new facilities, meet the officers and
The Workplace Summit is a one-day conference and exhibition which takes place on February 6th2019 at Croke Park. It is the first conference in Ireland to centre on the three key areas of Workplace, – People, Place and Technology, attracting Senior Professionals from Facilities Management, Property, HR & IT. We
One of the most prestigious residential development projects in the UK has recently been completed using a number of different products from Sto. StoTherm Classic external wall insulation and StoDeco profiles have been used to provide high levels of thermal insulation and an outstanding external appearance for the 11 new
From listing properties and finding tenants, to screening prospective tenants and much more, the uses of social media in the rental sector are wide ranging. In the age of social media, personal information is fast becoming public property. Millions are now willingly sharing information which was previously confidential; photos, political views, work history and even whereabouts can be found in a few clicks. It’s now easier than ever to build a picture of someone’s habits and tendencies with just basic information. The applicability to the rental market is obvious; 11% of landlords now routinely check social media profiles of prospective tenants as part of their screening process. While this may seem more of a personality report and cannot replace hard facts like credit checks and criminal records, it helps build an overall picture of the prospective tenant which would be impossible to glean from information provided by traditional sources. Many part-time landlords are also using social media to find new tenants, other than saving on letting agent fees, the benefits of finding a tenant in your social network, and therefore someone you implicitly trust, can be priceless. And even if you don’t know the person well, you can quickly build trust through mutual friends. Using social media in a more traditional way also has huge benefits. Facebook has an advertising feature which allows targeting ads for rental properties towards specific audiences within their 2 billion active user base. While smaller landlords may find this too expensive, the wider reach may appeal to large portfolio managers. Of course, if you do go this route, you will lose the personal touch of posting on your own timeline, etc. But social media has its risks, if you are using it to screen tenants, you should consider using it as a quick way to spot red flags, rather than relying on it to fully guide your decision making. There’s also a question of ethics, is it fair to judge someone based on the few things they share online? Do you feel comfortable looking at a stranger’s profile without their consent? What if it was the other way around? Letting the prospective tenant know they will be checked online may allay some of these concerns. However, you may feel about social media, it’s here to stay. Other than a few moral qualms, there’s no reason not to use social media as part of your screening process, indeed it is likely to become a generally accepted part of a modern landlord’s due diligence. The sooner you get onboard, the better. Arthur Online is a cloud-based platform that enables property managers to respond instantly and solve problems fast from anywhere in the world, be it with tenants, contractors, property owners or letting agents. Since launching in 2015, it has helped thousands of property managers like Marc run their portfolios in the cheapest, most efficient way possible by using the full potential of new technology and cloud computing. See how Arthur can help your business by going to https://www.arthuronline.co.uk/private-rental/?utm_source=Property%20and%20Development&utm_medium=article
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has taken a strong stance on the issue of cladding and forcing the removal and reinstatement of a safer product. For months James Brokenshire has been warning landlords of at-risk properties to get on and remove dangerous cladding. Yesterday Brokenshire announced a change to the housing health and safety regulations to force the landlords to make good these works with no apparent financial risk to the leaseholders. The Association for Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) welcomes the move as it has been lobbying for Government intervention ever since the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Immediately after the tragic fire, ARMA flagged to Government the problem under leasehold as to who would likely pay for the cost of fire safety remedial works and that this could seriously delay remedial works. ARMA has publicly asked for Government loans to be make available and for remediation to be taken into a national programme to avoid such delays as the safety of residents must always be the uppermost concern. Dr Nigel Glen, Chief Executive Office of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), comments: “We congratulate the Government for taking this strong approach to ensure remedial works on affected buildings can get under way immediately. People need to know they are safe and able to live their lives. We have always said time is of essence here and work should be completed first and then worry about who pays later. The costs to cladding removal has given many residents grave anxieties and now some headway should start to be made more quickly. “The Secretary of State has said that ‘leaseholders must not pay’. We keenly await details of how that will work in practice given the structure of leasehold. For example, in the case of Citiscape in Croydon, the First tier Tribunal Property determined that the leaseholders were liable for the costs under the terms of their lease. That may well be the case across all the buildings under discussion, depending upon their leases. And where Landlords are not the guilty party re installing the cladding is it fair that they will be expected to pay? Clearly there is more work to be done but this is a welcome and significant step.”
Construction companies big and small are set to reap the rewards of faster, more efficient ordering following the launch of a new digital purchase ordering tool. The tool – known as ONSO – promises to modernise the interaction between site, office and supplier, enabling orders to be requested, approved and submitted in three easy steps using a smart phone, tablet or laptop. Short for ‘Onsite Orders’, ONSO has been designed to be easy to use and quick to set up. Chris Murphy, Managing Director of ONSO, said: “In construction, if the right part isn’t there at the right time, the job simply can’t move forward. I’ve been working on building sites for more than ten years, and in my experience the process of buying supplies and parts can often be complicated and slow. “We wanted to build something simple to use so when you’re out on site, you can place an order on your phone and have it approved and off to the supplier in seconds, with an accurate record of what the order was.” A subscription to ONSO also includes access to built-in analytics tools, which its creators say can help businesses to better understand their purchases, including recognising the source of any overspends and identifying areas for improvement. Chris adds: “In my experience, there are still areas of the British construction industry which are yet to unlock the full potential of technology. We believe that tools like ONSO have a real part to play in helping UK businesses stay competitive post-Brexit.” Tim Dawson, director of drainage company DASA, was among the site’s first users: “We were up and running in no time and are already seeing the benefits. ONSO has helped to enhance and streamline our ordering processes and the integration with Sage compliments our invoicing. DASA has had a really busy year, so it’s helped to minimise human error and ensured that projects can run smoothly. I would recommend it to businesses like ours that want to keep on top of their orders and ensure their systems are robust.” Find out more ONSO is free to use until the end of January 2019, after which users can choose the package that best suits the needs and size of their business. To find out more and get started, visit onso.co.uk.
Leading rapid-build home manufacturer FastHouse has today announced the completion of its contract to provide and erect the timber frames for 466 lodges at the highly anticipated Center Parcs in Longford in under nine months. This comes as FastHouse confirms significant investment to bring its full range of services to the Irish housebuilding market. In 2019 FastHouse will be in position to deliver 1,500 units annually with significantly lower costs and reduced construction time. The Limavady-based business, owned by Kevin Lagan, has invested heavily with the aim of becoming the largest producer of offsite panelised wall systems in Ireland and the UK. It began work at the €233m leisure attraction in January in what was the company’s first venture into the Irish market. It included the delivery of ten different types of homes, ranging in size from 865 sq ft to 2,045 sq ft – the equivalent of two to four-bedroom homes. The contract was awarded by John Sisk & Son – the main contractor of the 400-acre Longford Forest site – and saw FastHouse’s Installation Team install the lodges at a rate of three per day to the highest global standards. Typically, FastHouse homes take two days from factory production to watertight and weatherproof installation on-site. Center Parcs Longford Forest is set to open in the Summer of 2019 with capacity for 2,500 guests. It will feature 30 apartments, more than 100 indoor and outdoor family activities, state-of-the-art restaurants, shops, an award-winning Aqua Sana Spa and Center Parcs’ iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise. Speaking after the completion of the contract Sean Fox, FastHouse Sales and Installations Director, said: “It shows the progression we have made in a short time that we are showcasing the quality of our rapid-build homes at a high-profile location like Center Parcs. It’s an attraction renowned for its high standards and thousands of holidaymakers will be able to see first-hand the first-class quality of our homes. Rapid-build, which involves bespoke precision work in the factory and less time and cost on-site, can make a huge contribution to the needs of the Irish residential market. We’re delighted to be involved in such an exciting new venture for the country.” FastHouse’s expert team was able to install 466 homes in as little as 34 weeks with the company’s factory producing an average of five houses per day. In total 14,000 wall panels were crafted for the contract with lodges taking just two weeks to produce from inception. Cormac Fitzpatrick, Sisk Senior Contracts Manager, added: “To deliver a resort of this size required strong partnerships and we’re very pleased with the completion of this phase of what will be one of Ireland’s premier destinations. With FastHouse manufacturing the lodges offsite it was a case of the panels and trusses being delivered to location and installing them in a kit format. This allowed the construction process to be lean, resulting in the productive and efficient development of the Center Parcs project.” Paul Kent, Center Parcs Construction and Development Director, said: “Our lodges are a key component of the Center Parcs experience and it is essential they are of the highest quality. FastHouse has provided top-class craftmanship that will allow thousands of families to enjoy a short break at Center Parcs Longford Forest each year.” Center Parcs is FastHouse’s largest project to date with previous work including a range of residential developments across Northern Ireland and the UK and a number of holiday lodges at the award-winning Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Spa in Enniskillen. The demand has seen the company install a third production line leading it to double the size of its workforce to 100 this year.
CONSTRUCTION of the University of Huddersfield’s new £30 million centre for the study of art, design and architecture is months ahead of schedule, and it has witnessed an unusual “topping out” ceremony conducted by the granddaughter of Dame Barbara Hepworth, the famous artist who has given the building its name, in the presence of the main contractor’s MD for Construction. Dr Sophie Bowness – who is an art historian and a trustee of the world-famous Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield – was invited to turn a bolt on one of the 146 aluminium panels that will be fixed to the glazed walls of the new building. Their function will be to reduce solar glare, but architects AHR have ensured that they are also an artistic adornment. One of the great sculptors of the 20th century, Barbara Hepworth, who lived from 1903 to 1975, was born and educated in Wakefield. She was the first choice to be commemorated by the new University of Huddersfield building and at the topping out ceremony Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan thanked Dr Bowness for giving permission to use her grandmother’s name. The ceremony was attended by key figures from building firm Morgan Sindall, including its Managing Director for Construction, Pat Boyle. Morgan Sindall recently completed the University’s £28 million Oastler Building, opened in 2017, which was announced as the Best Education Building at the West Yorkshire Local Authority Building Control Awards. After Dr Bowness had carried out the ceremony, Professor Cryan said that the University’s policy of naming buildings after famous local people was designed to inspire students, and the legacy of Barbara Hepworth would be sure to do that. Professor Cryan praised the “dream team” from Morgan Sindall who had ensured that construction work was nine weeks ahead of schedule. The Barbara Hepworth Building will be completed in the spring and be ready for use at the start of the 2019 academic year. As the five-storey, 7,500 square metre Barbara Hepworth Building takes shape, the University was pleased to welcome Morgan Sindall’s MD for Construction Pat Boyle and Dr Sophie Bowness, granddaughter of Wakefield sculptor Barbara Hepworth, to the ‘topping out’ ceremony
The key issues facing the construction industry are usually budget and time constraints. We are increasingly pressured to complete projects within strict programmes whilst sticking to allocated budgets. The rise of power tools has been critical to making construction projects more efficient, quicker and less expensive. In the early ‘80s, the first battery powered tools hit the market. They were received with mixed emotions as many didn’t believe they would ever have the power to replicate cordless tools. But in recent years, cordless technology has advanced so far that most of us couldn’t see any other way to complete a job than with our trusted power tool in hand. The Power Of Volts One of the biggest advancements in power tools is the increase in voltage rating. Generally, if the voltage is higher, the tool will have more power to drive bigger bits. But bigger isn’t always better. If you work in small or confined spaces, you may benefit from a smaller voltage which will suit a smaller tool. This will be much easier and more comfortable to work with. Amp-hour Rating Our power tools have also been revolutionised by improved battery capacities. The Amp Hour (AH) specification tells us how much energy can be stored by the battery. Advancements in this technology means our cordless batteries can run for longer than ever before. Lithium-ion Batteries The creation of lithium-ion batteries has revolutionised the construction industry. Many batteries used for cordless power tools and machines are now lithium-ion and we can see why. They’re generally lighter than other types of batteries, making them easier to use. They can also store a much higher density of energy and hold their charge, so last a lot longer than traditional batteries. So, how has the development of power tools improved the construction industry? Shorter Programmes Power tools are much more efficient than traditional manual tools and make jobs much quicker to complete. This has allowed shorter project timescales to become a reality. Advance in Materials The rise of power tools has allowed the construction industry to advance massively. We can now use more ambitious materials and methods than ever before. Power drills allow us to penetrate materials that would be impossible manually. Cost Savings The rise of power tools and machinery has been hugely cost effective to the construction industry. Companies used to spend huge amounts of budget on man hours to get the job done. Now, our technological capabilities mean we can use less man-power and much quicker construction methods which massively reduces costs. There is no doubt that the rise of cordless power tools has revolutionised the construction industry. The power we now hold in our hands has made construction more efficient than ever before.
National Grid and its contractors Murphy Eltel Joint Venture have finished building the new 20km high voltage electricity line between Richborough and Canterbury to connect the Nemo Link®, into the UK’s electricity transmission system. The new line, consisting of 60 new pylons is the first to be built in Kent for 25 years. A total of 260km of high voltage cables have now been placed on the pylons and have been tested, paving the way for the final testing and commissioning of the Nemo Link® interconnector, which will allow electricity to flow both ways between the UK and Europe. The Richborough Connection was necessary as there is no high voltage transmission network in the Richborough area to carry electricity from the interconnector. The construction work, carried out by 250 skilled workers at the peak of operations involved more than 6,000 crane lifts to put the new pylons into place for a route that crosses eight roads, three rivers and three rail lines in its journey across the county. Graham Dolamore, Project Director for National Grid said: “The completion of the Richborough Project is a significant milestone in the programme for these two projects which will allow power to flow between Britain and Belgium early next year, providing security of supply and greater opportunities for the UK to trade with wider European energy markets. “I’m proud to have been a part of this project and of the fact that we’ve worked closely with landowners and communities to get the connection built on time and with minimal disruption. It is another demonstration of the crucial role National Grid plays in making sure people across Kent and far beyond have the energy they need, when they need it.” Shane Jestin, Murphy Eltel Construction Director said: “It has been a tough but successful job all round, thanks to the hard work of all those involved. We’ve carried out more than 6,000 lifts and managed to hit challenging project deadlines thanks to a mix of thorough planning and excellent delivery.” More than 750,000 working hours were spent building the new overhead line. In addition, works were also carried out at Canterbury North substation and the new Richborough substation with both substations extended and equipment either installed or upgraded. This work was carried out by ABB and Siemens. Some small-scale works will be carried out over the coming months in preparation for the removal of UK Power Network’s overhead lines in 2020. Work on building the new 20km overhead electricity line between Richborough and Canterbury is now complete Line ready to connect Nemo Link®, a 1000 megawatt undersea interconnector between Belgium and the UK, into the UK’s existing high voltage network when it becomes fully operational in 2019 The two projects together will play an important role in supporting the security of energy supplies across Britain and the continent
A POLICE station has been officially opened by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales after being transformed into a contemporary build fit for 21st century policing. The Prince of Wales visited King’s Lynn Police Station on Thursday, 29 November to tour its modern new facilities, meet the officers and staff and see some of the new equipment used by the force. The new station was delivered by independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard and national construction company Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure. Paul Darlow, regional director at Pick Everard – which provided full, multi-disciplinary services for the project – said: “We are delighted to have worked on transforming such a significant building in the heart of King’s Lynn into a state-of-the-art station, which caters for modern policing needs. “The original police station, built between 1953 and 1955, was in need of modernisation. The works have given the building a new lease of life on the inside while its historic exterior has been maintained for years to come. This modernisation has enabled the police force to provide an enhanced service to the community, while also delivering greater cost efficiencies.” £3.1 million has been spent on renovating the St James Street building, which has improved facilities for response and Safer Neighbourhood Team officers, forensic services, criminal investigation department (CID), offender rehabilitation teams and multi-agency teams. Paul added: “The original police station was too big for the force’s current requirements so it was decided that the building needed to be reduced and remodelled to provide modern, high-quality accommodation for its officers with lots of natural daylight. “We have designed a contemporary building, which features texturised stainless steel cladding and treated hardwood. Buff brick and feature stone cornices were also incorporated into the designs, sitting within the building’s facade to ensure it complements nearby buildings. “The open-plan office space allows the police force to work more closely together, while special side rooms for victims and witnesses provide privacy and protection when needed. There is also a conference room with video calling technology and hot desks, giving officers the opportunity to work remotely.” Saul Humphrey, managing director of Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure’s east region, said: “King’s Lynn Police Station is a key asset for the force and we’re pleased and proud to have utilised our project team’s expertise to deliver this future-fit station, which will enable our policewomen and men to carry out their duties in a purpose-built environment. “It was a great honour to welcome The Prince of Wales to King’s Lynn and we hope he enjoyed his tour of this excellent station.” Staff moved back into the station earlier this year, having been housed in temporary accommodation while the building work – which took almost a year to complete – was carried out. Norfolk Constabulary chief constable Simon Bailey said: “Norfolk, in particular the west of the county, has close associations with the Royal Family and it was a great pleasure to have HRH The Prince of Wales officially open the station in what will be a very memorable occasion for those involved. “The modernisation of police buildings is a key part of our effort to improve efficiencies within the force and provide a cost-effective solution, compared to maintaining costly buildings which will no longer fulfil the needs of a modern police force. The reduction of floor space in Lynn will save the force £50k a year.” Pick Everard employs more than 500 staff across its 11 UK offices, providing a range of project, cost and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
The Workplace Summit is a one-day conference and exhibition which takes place on February 6th2019 at Croke Park. It is the first conference in Ireland to centre on the three key areas of Workplace, – People, Place and Technology, attracting Senior Professionals from Facilities Management, Property, HR & IT. We intend the Workplace Summit to be innovative, interesting, disruptive and fun! We have some of the best people in their areas to deliver talks which will inspire those involved in the Workplace professions in Ireland to influence their own organisations and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We are delighted to announce Chris Kane(ex -Disney and BBC) will chair the Workplace Summit. Already the following speakers are confirmed: Margot Slattery(Sodexo Country President Ireland); Bashar Kassab(Facilities Director, the Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall), Hannah Dwyer(Head of Research, JLL), Fionnuala Byrne(Director of Facilities CEMEA, Google), Neil Usher(Workplace Director Sky); Chris Moriarty(Head of Insight, IWFM), Euan Semple(business strategist and facilitator), Hung Lee(CEO, Workshape.io), Mary Connaughton (CIPD Ireland Director), George Harold(CEO, Integrated Facilities Solutions), Martin Pickard(Managing Director, FM GURU), George Muir(Futurist, LiveTiles) . Workplace Summit tickets are available on Eventbrite or contact us on email info@advancedworkplacesolutions.ie
One of the most prestigious residential development projects in the UK has recently been completed using a number of different products from Sto. StoTherm Classic external wall insulation and StoDeco profiles have been used to provide high levels of thermal insulation and an outstanding external appearance for the 11 new properties which make up the development in St John’s Wood, London, close to the world-famous Abbey Road Recording Studios. Created by the Dwyer Property development group, the Hamilton Drive scheme includes a terrace of 10 homes – each with three storeys above ground and two below – plus a separate larger property. The houses were required to achieve a very high standard of architectural finish and detailing, plus a BREEAM Excellent rating for construction sustainability. Sto solutions were selected for this project as they offered a unique combination of speedy construction and outstanding quality of finish. “Building the properties with traditional methods and using stone detailing for the façades would have taken considerably longer, and the client was looking for a fast-track solution,” explains Sto’s Regional Sales Manager, Pete Bishop. “Our StoTherm Classic system was specified as it provides outstanding thermal performance and can be installed quickly and easily. StoDeco Profiles were chosen for the intricate ‘stone’ architectural detailing, providing the same look as stone, but in a material that is both lightweight and easy to cut and shape.” The StoTherm Classic external wall insulation used on the 70,000sq ft project was installed onto an NHBC-compliant pvc rail system, using a drained cavity designed to ensure that water and moisture is excluded from the main wall structure. The cement-free StoTherm Classic EWI System offers market-leading impact resistance, being able to withstand impacts of up to 60 joules – up to 10 times more than a cementitious system – and as it needs no additional expansion joints the system allows greater freedom of façade design. For this project the system was finished with a 1.5mm coat of StoSilco silicone resin render to provide a high degree of water repellence and resistance to the effects of weathering. “The architectural detailing on the building façades was created using StoDeco Profiles,” explains John Tehan of Smallwood Architects of London. The range of profiles, manufactured using the remarkable Verolith material, are weather resistant, durable, lightweight and easy to work and install. Available in a wide range of standard designs, including sills, cornices, and many other decorative architectural elements, StoDeco Profiles can also be custom made to provide a unique visual appearance. “At Hamilton Drive the profiles were used to create cornice, window and chimney detailing, plus a wealth of columns, arches, dentil courses and other features that were required to enhance the building’s classically-inspired design,” adds John Tehan. “Sto were closely involved with this project, and many of the individual StoDeco Profiles were manufactured to bespoke sizes and designs, to allow the required detailing to be created.” “There was an enormous quantity of detailing required on this project and the standard of finish had to be the very best,” comments John Bishop of Kennet Construction, a Sto authorised applicator who completed the installation work. “Fortunately, the Sto products were very easy to work with. Many of the StoDeco Profiles were pre-cut prior to delivery, and they proved to be very easy to work, shape and sand on-site so that we could achieve a perfect finish.” Picture caption: One of the most prestigious residential development projects in the UK has recently been completed using a number of different products from Sto. StoTherm Classic external wall insulation and StoDeco profiles were used on the project in St John’s Wood, London.