Public Sector : Local Authority News
BOUYGUES UK AND CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HOLD DRAGON’S DEN STYLE PITCHING EVENT FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME

Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council hold Dragon’s Den Style pitching event for 21st Century Skills Work Experience Scheme

Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC

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Mansfield targeted for energy efficiency projects

Mansfield Council targeted for energy efficiency projects

Mansfield District Council is set to accept funding for two more schemes to retrofit insulation and measures to improve the energy efficiency and lower the carbon emissions of targeted low-income households in the district. Cllr Craig Whitby, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Finance is due to formally accept funding

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Council tenants urged to give their views on new rent proposals

Council tenants urged to give their views on new rent proposals

The City of Edinburgh Council is once again asking tenants to give their feedback on rent proposals and the financial pressures they face. With one month to go until this year’s consultation closes on 17 December, tenants across the capital are being reminded to share views on the rates rent could

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WJ Group selected as Road Marking & Stud supplier for Barnet Council

WJ Group selected as Road Marking & Stud supplier for Barnet Council

WJ Group has successfully secured a place on Barnet Council’s Highways Maintenance Works Framework Agreement (HMWFA). The road safety and marking specialist has been announced as the sole supplier for Lot 9, which covers road studs and markings, further cementing WJ’s position as a key delivery partner to local authorities

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

Public Sector : Local Authority News

Major Planning Application Submitted for New £2 Billion Edinburgh Neighbourhood - Space for 7000 Homes

Major Planning Application Submitted for New £2 Billion Edinburgh Neighbourhood – Space for 7000 Homes

One the most significant and sustainable urban expansions of Edinburgh in a generation is a step closer to reality following the submission of a major planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). West Town Edinburgh Limited, the development consortium headed by Drum Property Group which owns more than 200-acres of prime development land to the west of Edinburgh, has unveiled ambitious proposals for West Town, a new homes-led ‘twenty-minute’ neighbourhood set to transform Scotland’s capital. The 205-acre West Town site – located between Ingliston Park and Ride and the Gogar Roundabout at the western gateway of Edinburgh – is regarded as one of the most strategically important large development areas in the UK. The £2-billion project is set to become the biggest, single homes-led development in Edinburgh in modern times, significantly addressing the city’s well publicised ‘housing emergency’ whilst providing an outstanding quality of life in a brand-new, sustainable mixed-use community. Development proposals follow guidelines set out by CEC’s City Plan 2030 which identifies the area as having the potential to become a vibrant, high-density city extension with a capacity for 7,000 homes – along with the necessary employment, commercial, leisure and community facilities required for a 20-minute neighbourhood. Proposed facilities include schools, medical provision, civic and community space as well as bars, restaurants, cafes, retail and other commercial spaces. There are plans for 27 acres of accessible green space – including a large 5.5-acre central park, several ‘pocket’ parks and a ‘wildlife’ corridor, criss-crossed by a network of cycle, running and walking tracks. The Edinburgh Tram route runs directly through the site and a new tram stop will be created to ensure the whole development has access to quick and efficient public transport. The proposals for West Town are consistent with the West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework, approved by CEC in December 2023 and align with the ambitions of the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4, which was approved in February 2023. West Town Edinburgh was formed in April 2021 by Drum Property Group to progress development of the site. Drum is currently delivering a variety of transformative mixed-use projects across Scotland, including the award-winning Buchanan Wharf and Candleriggs Square developments in Glasgow. Welcoming the planning application submission, Graeme Bone, Drum’s Group Managing Director said: “We now have the opportunity to make West Town an exemplar, sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood on a par with the best new developments taking place across the UK and Europe. “This planning application is a significant milestone in realising the ambition we share with the council both for the local area and for the city, further strengthening the long-term collaborative process that is set to deliver a major transformation of the west of Edinburgh. The amount of space on the site combined with its superb location allows for a natural extension for the city providing 7000 mixed-tenure homes and new jobs in a new 20-minute neighbourhood. West Town has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland – the tram line travels through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections, creating a strategic gateway to Edinburgh. He added: “Drum has a proven track record of delivering high quality large-scale communities across Scotland and our ambition for the area matches that of the proposed Edinburgh City Plan 2030. We look forward to continuing to work with the Council to advance our shared vision to create a new, sustainable urban quarter for the city.” Subject to the ongoing development of the delivery strategy – as set out by the joint Memorandum of Understanding between West Town Edinburgh Ltd and CEC, the approval of City Plan 2030, and in accordance with all relevant council policies and appropriate planning consents – it is hoped that work will start on site before the end of 2024, with the first phase of homes and community amenity being ready for occupation from early 2026. The West Town planning application has been submitted following a successful 12-month local consultation programme which included two online and one public consultation events, resulting in more than 2000 visits to the West Town website. For more information on West Town, visit www.west-town-edinburgh.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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EDAROTH signs development agreement with Bristol City Council to deliver sustainable, affordable homes

EDAROTH signs development agreement with Bristol City Council to deliver sustainable, affordable homes

Agreement highlights new model of delivery and partnership to tackle the housing crisis Sustainable housing developer EDAROTH, (a wholly-owned subsidiary of AtkinsRéalis) has signed a development agreement with Bristol City Council to design and deliver 29 affordable homes – based on a new model created under Bristol’s involvement in the UN Climate Smart Cities challenge. The new homes will be a mix of 13 houses and 16 apartments and will be constructed using offsite manufacturing methods to create low energy-use, net zero homes – which will provide additional capacity for the housing market and directly tackle the housing crisis. Subject to planning approvals, they will be developed at six sites* across Bristol on under-utilised land owned by the city council, including brownfield which is often overlooked by large-scale housing developers, but can be adapted/repurposed to unlock new space for communities. Central to the development agreement are the sustainable construction methods that are used by EDAROTH including: Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homelessness at Bristol City Council, said: “We are thrilled that our collaboration with the UN Habitat for the Climate Smart Cities Challenge is set to deliver 29 social rent zero carbon council homes. “This development of much needed affordable homes will add to the 12,500 new homes already completed in the city between 2016 and 2023. The new homes will help people in housing need, adding to the 474 new affordable homes built in Bristol in 2021/22. “This wider collaboration is not just about the great homes that will be built, but it is helping us unlock small parcels of underutilised council land that have often been considered too complex or expensive to develop for council housing. “We remain ambitious to see even more affordable housing built in our city and this new approach to unlock these small brownfield sites will help us do that whilst also protecting our vital green spaces.” Mark Powell, Managing Director at EDAROTH (an acronym for Everyone Deserves a Roof Over Their Head), added: “Entering into a development agreement with Bristol City Council underlines their position as a forward-thinking local authority which places value in sustainable housing and infrastructure. “Bristol, in common with the rest of the country, faces a huge demand for affordable homes. This scheme is one part of the solution which not only supports the ambition to meet that demand, but also aims to enhance communities by transforming under-used sites to create thriving places to live. “The agreement is a really important step in this project which demonstrates the city council’s confidence in the proposals we’ve put forward and their determination to deliver low carbon, low-energy-use homes for the community.” The agreement is based on an award-winning approach developed by the city council, and the One City team, with partners including the Housing Festival, AtkinsRéalis and EDAROTH, as one of four winning projects in the UN Habitat Climate Smart Cities Challenge in 2022. Part of the challenge involved the creation of a demonstrator scheme that could prove how aggregating small sites for development, and overcoming systemic barriers, could unlock previously unviable sites to deliver truly affordable social housing. The new approach identifies small parcels of land for development such as brownfield or under-used garage sites, within existing residential areas, which is more effective in creating social value and cohesion as it enables those existing communities to thrive. Zoe Metcalfe, Client Director for Connected Thriving Places, AtkinsRéalis who led on the competition application process for AtkinsRéalis, said: “Winning the UN Smart Cities Challenge as the Bristol Thriving Places team enabled us to explore viable sites for development and devise this approach around them. “The wisdom of the EDAROTH development team has been instrumental in translating theory into reality. The Housing Festival boldly led the systems-led change to disrupt the evaluation model to deliver social value with Bristol City Council facilitating innovation. An exemplar of the power of collective action through trusted partnerships. “It really shows how the principle of aggregating and clustering sites in this way can help to unlock value and achieve the economies of scale that are central to the offsite manufacturing approach which EDAROTH delivers, and we’re thrilled that Bristol City Council has chosen to turn those potential benefits into a reality through this new development agreement.” A public engagement process has been launched, with information packs and questionnaires issued to residents near to the development sites to provide feedback. The development agreement with Bristol City Council follows the recent announcement that EDAROTH has been given the green light to provide state-of-the-art, sustainable homes in Surrey, after Raven Housing Trust was granted planning permission for its latest housing scheme. The scheme in Surrey is the latest in a number of new contracts across southeast England for EDAROTH, which is bringing a fresh approach to the housing crisis by utilising brownfield and former industrial land to release genuine social and economic value from often overlooked assets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Increasing Number of Local Authorities Require over 10% Biodiversity Net Gain

Increasing Number of Local Authorities Require over 10% Biodiversity Net Gain

As the requirement becomes compulsory In advance of the statutory requirement for biodiversity net gain (BNG) for new developments from January 2024, Carter Jonas has analysed the emergence of BNG policies and guidance within local planning authorities (LPAs) in a series of research from spring 2022. Carter Jonas’ Q4 2023 research of the 306 LPAs in England has revealed a gradual increase in the number requesting in excess of the 10% biodiversity net gain. The local plans of Guildford, Brighton and Hove and Worthing (1% of all LPAs) require or encourage a percentage net gain higher than 10%. However, this figure is set to increase substantially as 17 (5.6%) have such a policy emerging through their local plan review. This is an increase of 33.3% from our Q4 2022 research. Although not included in the analysis because of the early stage of adoption, numerous LPAs are actively considering a higher level of net gain, including Birmingham and Chelmsford. Kingston Upon Thames and Tower Hamlets are set to have the most ambitious policies to date: both would require a minimum of 30% net gain but these policies are emerging through the local plan process and not yet adopted. Commenting on the importance of the research, David Alborough, Natural Capital Consultant at Carter Jonas said, “Our analysis provides developers, landowners and planning consultants with valuable insight into where the greatest demand for off-site BNG is emerging, which has important implications for developers and identifies opportunities for landowners.” Specifically, the research identifies some significant regional variations. BNG policies with a requirement in excess of 10% tend to be located in the south of England. In the South East, 11 LPAs have a BNG policy (either emerging or adopted) calling for greater than 10% net gain, accounting for 16.7% of LPAs in the region. This compares starkly to the North West, North East, West Midlands and East Midlands where no LPAs make this requirement. Sophie Davidson, Associate in the Research Team explains, “Some regional variation can be attributed to the influence of Local Nature Partnerships, which is evident in the south. For example, the Kent Nature Partnership is promoting a county-wide target of 20% within Kent and Medway. In response to this, Kent County Council (with funding support from Natural England) commissioned a strategic viability assessment of BNG in Kent. The report concludes that the biggest cost in most cases is to get to 10% net gain, and the increase to 15% or 20% is ‘generally negligible’. This has influenced emerging policies in Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Canterbury and Swale so far, representing 30.7% of the county. Likewise, the Surrey Nature Partnership and Sussex Local Nature Partnership have directed higher net gain targets in their counties.” In addition to showing an increasing number of LPAs deviating from the national position, either in the percentage net gain required or in their guiding framework for delivery, Carter Jonas’ research also identifies which LPAs are adopting measures to direct investment to local sites and accelerate the local market. Sophie Davidson concludes, “In areas with higher net gain requirements, we can expect the local market to develop at a faster rate. Many LPAs have stalled their local plan reviews in the face of significant changes to national planning policy, so BNG policies have taken longer to develop than expected. But as changes are formalised and local plan reviews progress, expect to see more LPAs progressing higher levels of BNG. We are aware of several which have included an option to consider a greater scope for BNG in early consultations. “Conversely, LPAs may drop their emerging 20% BNG policy before adoption. For instance, Rossendale Borough Council was seeking a 20% net gain in its draft submission but reduced the requirement to the statutory 10% in its final local plan. “In the coming months, developers will be assessing their options and refining their BNG strategies. Meanwhile, demand for land for BNG will rise substantially, affording diversification opportunities for landowners.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Hundreds more households in Leeds to benefit from low carbon heat network

Hundreds more households in Leeds to benefit from low carbon heat network

Hundreds more households will soon enjoy more affordable, reliable, and lower carbon heating with three tower blocks set to become the latest to connect to the city’s flagship Leeds PIPES district heating network. 259 council properties in Lovell Park Heights, Lovell Park Grange, and Lovell Park Towers will be set up to receive heat from the network within the next six months. Private leaseholders of properties in the Little London tower blocks will also be able to benefit from the network if they opt to connect their homes to the system. Households that are benefiting from the upgrade can expect to see the cost of heating their home reduce using Leeds PIPES, compared to their existing heating systems, and will also enjoy better reliability and control. Meanwhile, Leeds Conservatoire (formerly Leeds College of Music) has become the thirteenth non-residential customer to have signed a contract to connect. The new connections are expected to reduce the city’s annual carbon footprint by 279 tonnes, supporting efforts to end the city’s contribution to climate change by transitioning to ‘net zero’ emissions. By using heat and energy recovered from non-recyclable waste at the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) to provide warmth and hot water to buildings in the city, the Leeds PIPES district heating project is helping businesses and residents to move away from costly fossil-fuel powered heating systems. The council estimates that the network, delivered in partnership with Vital Energi, is helping existing customers to collectively save nearly half a million pounds (£490,000) in reduced energy costs this year alone. The £62 million network continues to expand and is regularly connecting to new buildings. Leonardo & Thoresby student accommodation buildings and St James’s Hospital are the latest buildings to have begun taking heat from the scheme. Leeds City Council is currently in discussions with dozens of potential customers. Buildings and developments located near the underground pipes can choose to connect at any time and can register their interest on the Leeds PIPES website. Last year, the network of insulated underground pipes supplied 22,029 megawatt-hours of heating in total and helped reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 3,975 tonnes. Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Climate, Energy, Environment & Green Space and Councillor Jessica Lennox, Executive Member for Housing, said: “We are both delighted that hundreds more residents will soon be paying significantly less to heat their homes thanks to this latest expansion of the Leeds PIPES network. “Residents in the Lovell Park estate will join the thousands of council tenants and hundreds of private sector renters already benefiting. “Too many families in our city struggle to pay their energy bills—in part because the UK’s homes are some of the least efficient and most reliant on costly fossil fuel gas in Europe. “Whether it’s by connecting homes to affordable low carbon heating like Leeds PIPES, or investing in energy-saving measures like insulation, this council is committed to helping households by making our homes greener and fit for the future.”  Mike Cooke, Vital Energi’s Managing Director (North and Scotland), said: “Leeds PIPES continues to be the UK’s landmark heat network and we’re delighted to announce these new connections, which means more people will benefit from low-carbon, cheaper heat to businesses and residents, making a real difference in their day-to-day lives. “We look forward to welcoming another 259 homes and Leeds Conservatoire to the fastest growing heat network and will work closely with the council to ensure they have the best possible customer experience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Capital&Centric set to lead on vision for major new St George’s neighbourhood in Wolverhampton

Capital&Centric set to lead on vision for major new St George’s neighbourhood in Wolverhampton

SOCIAL impact developers Capital&Centric are set to lead on a vision to turn a sprawling brownfield site in Wolverhampton into a creative new neighbourhood. A report – to be considered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet next week – recommends Capital&Centric are appointed as part of a pre-development agreement for the former Sainsbury’s supermarket site, to bring the neighbourhood forward. The first step will be to develop a masterplan for the 5-acre St George’s site, with early ideas for a melting pot of homes, community spaces and green streets, with the Grade II listed church repurposed as a community centrepiece. Shops, workspaces and café bars would complete the line-up, adding a vibrant new quarter to Wolverhampton’s city centre, with links to the £61million City Learning Quarter set to open in 2025. If appointed, the developers will work up a detailed vision as to how the strategic site could become a destination district for the people of Wolverhampton, with the potential for over 400 homes. The next stage would then be to consult the community prior to the submission of a planning application. Established in Manchester, Capital&Centric have gone on to deliver on award-winning regeneration projects across the UK, from homes and workspaces, to hotels and leisure destinations. They’ve earned an enviable reputation for their offbeat design, with many of their projects featuring a striking blend of restoration of historic buildings alongside contemporary new builds. Having delivered standout neighbourhoods in Manchester city centre – including Kampus and Piccadilly East – they’re now ploughing on with transformational mixed use communities in spots including Stockport, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Everything they do is geared toward delivering social impact through regeneration, whether creating communities of independent businesses, creating skilled new jobs or inspiring young people into careers in regeneration through the not-for-profit ‘Regeneration Brainery’ they established. John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “St George’s is a worthy headliner among the line-up of major opportunities in Wolverhampton and fits perfectly with what we’re about … delivering eclectic neighbourhoods that mix the old and new. It has bags of potential and we’re already brimming with ideas of how we could deliver new city centre homes alongside community hangout spaces and loads of much-needed greenery. We can’t wait to write the next chapter for the stunning St George’s church, creating a new centrepiece around which the community will revolve.” St George’s was one of a trio of development opportunities featured in the Wolverhampton Investment Prospectus, launched by the Council at MIPIM earlier this year. The prospectus was aimed at bringing the private and public sector together to unlock growth in the city, delivering more homes, jobs and investment. City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “Ambitious plans and investment as part of a wider strategy are driving the regeneration of our city centre, The Halls Wolverhampton, our award-winning £150million transport interchange and Grade-A office developments are testament to that. “The St George’s opportunity sits at the heart of this, well connected to commercial and leisure hubs, which is a priority as we transform our city centre to generate jobs, homes and growth. “If the recommendations are approved by Cabinet it will enable the council to develop an outline business case that will establish this site as a new gateway into the city centre. “St George’s can provide an inclusive, safe and sustainable new quarter that will generate new opportunities and jobs, bring underutilised assets back into community use and, importantly, deliver much needed new homes in Wolverhampton city centre, which will bring wider social and economic benefits.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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BOUYGUES UK AND CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HOLD DRAGON’S DEN STYLE PITCHING EVENT FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME

Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council hold Dragon’s Den Style pitching event for 21st Century Skills Work Experience Scheme

Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade – took part in the event aimed at empowering learners to discover careers in construction and design, a culmination of a 12-week learning and mentoring programme based around the world of building and construction. When the scheme was launched in May 2023, each school was given a brief to design a collaborative workspace, that aligned with the ethos of Pentre Awel; innovation, positive health and well-being and environmentally-sustainable design. During that time, they were mentored by Bouygues UK staff and had visits to site several times to develop their designs briefs and help them prepare for their final pitch to a panel of judges. The judging panel was made up of a diverse group of professionals from Bouygues UK, Carmarthenshire County Council and Gleeds Project Consultancy. The pupils had just 10-minutes to put their best foot forward and showcase their final designs, including the development journey they had been on and examples of how their mentors helped them along the way. Each school was responsible for their pitch and how they wanted to present to the panel, with some writing additional bid documents to support their presentation, some presenting 3D scale models, and others demonstrating digital fly-throughs of their designs. One group brought along a collection of plants to demonstrate their biophilic wall design. The designs on the day were so impressive that the judges found it difficult to single out one school as an overall winner; St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade were crowned joint winners while primary school Ysgol Pen Rhos won the innovation/sustainability award for their biophilic design and carbon capture ideas. Nina Williams, Bouygues UK’s social value advisor for Pentre Awel, said: “The input from all the schools was outstanding with some amazing designs and concepts based around the four themes. The most rewarding part has been the way in which the learners have developed in confidence. “At the beginning of the experience they were all very nervous to ask questions, the mentors being unfamiliar to them, but by the time they were preparing for their final pitch, they were working round the table, firing off ideas, listening to the mentor’s advice and having conversations about how to change and improve their designs. The project has helped the schools to build future relationships with industries, utilising the knowledge and experience of professionals to enhance and develop their knowledge base which can be applied in their future curriculum design.” Project Director Peter Sharpe said: “It’s been really refreshing to take time out of my normal day-to-day activities to listen to the five presentations. The information and depth of knowledge and understanding of the brief were absolutely fantastic. I’m sure there will be some aspects of the learner’s designs that we could incorporate into the building. A project like this is of great value to the world of construction.” Aeron Rees, Head of Strategy and Learner Support at Carmarthenshire County Council, added: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of the judging panel. The youngsters equipped themselves very well and they were inspiring in what they had to say and what they delivered. This project shows a superb example of the synergy between the business community and education, and we are really indebted to Bouygues UK and our colleagues in the council for facilitating this for our learners.” As part of Bouygues UK’s commitment to provide significant social value and engagement to surrounding schools, colleges and universities, there is also a school ambassadors scheme. Bouygues UK is keen for the children to share their ideas and help shape the project, which in turn will enable them to see first-hand the work that goes into the construction process. The children will make regular visits to the site to see the progress being made and will work on school projects centred around construction and building. The 21st Century Skills initiative is part of a broader programme of community benefits to be delivered during the development of Zone 1 of Pentre Awel to realise social, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits. This includes targeted recruitment and training, community engagement, STEM activities and supply chain engagement. Pentre Awel is a truly collaborative scheme being delivered for the local community by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and colleges and is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million). It aims to create around 1,800 jobs over 15 years and boost the local economy by more than £450m. The development will include a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and hydrotherapy pool together with education, research and business development space; a clinical research and delivery centre; and a well-being skills centre. Externally, Pentre Awel will enjoy landscaped outdoor public spaces for recreation, walking and cycling. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Mansfield targeted for energy efficiency projects

Mansfield Council targeted for energy efficiency projects

Mansfield District Council is set to accept funding for two more schemes to retrofit insulation and measures to improve the energy efficiency and lower the carbon emissions of targeted low-income households in the district. Cllr Craig Whitby, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Finance is due to formally accept funding totalling £583,500 from the government via the Midlands Net Zero Hub in a delegated decision on Friday (1 December). This funding would enable the retrofit of 16 low-income households with external wall insulation, loft insulation and new doors and windows and provide six properties with solar photo-voltaic panels. Cllr Whitby is also due to formally accept funding of £495,000 from the Hub for another scheme targeted at 38 poorly insulated privately owned homes which do not use mains gas as their chief energy source. The money would enable a range of measures to be fitted, including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and external wall insulation. To be eligible for this scheme, households must be identified as having a low income, high energy costs and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E ,F or G for their property.  Cllr Whitby said: “These schemes would be aimed at low income households therefore helping some of the most vulnerable residents in the district. “Increasing the energy efficiency of low-income households would help reduce energy bills and lift households out of fuel poverty for those that need the most assistance. “The projects would reduce carbon emissions from homes, which would help support a reduction of Mansfield’s carbon footprint, and they would also support economic resilience by employing a local contractor to install the external wall insulation.” These two schemes follow four previous government projects where the council successfully bid for over £2m in funding to retrofit external wall insulation and install loft and cavity wall insulation to over 200 low-income households across Mansfield. Most were privately owned properties and 35 were council homes. The district was also chosen as one of 19 areas of the country to benefit from a government decarbonisation pilot project to help lower energy consumption in social housing. Work has been carried out at three blocks of flats at Farnsfield Court and Shireoaks Court on the Bellamy estate, focusing on walls, roofs, floors, windows and doors, for strategies for ventilation, heating efficiency and cooling in the summer. The work cost £720,000 with £360,000 coming from the government and the same amount funded by the council. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Council tenants urged to give their views on new rent proposals

Council tenants urged to give their views on new rent proposals

The City of Edinburgh Council is once again asking tenants to give their feedback on rent proposals and the financial pressures they face. With one month to go until this year’s consultation closes on 17 December, tenants across the capital are being reminded to share views on the rates rent could be set at next year and how this money should be invested to create more and better housing. The full scale of the city’s housing challenge was highlighted earlier this month when the council officially declared a Housing Emergency in Edinburgh. This followed news that up to 5,000 households a night are now living in temporary accommodation due to homelessness and a shortage of affordable housing. A budget strategy report published last month also reveals the gap between the amount of funding Edinburgh needs to improve housing and the budget available to achieve this, which is primarily funded by tenants paying rent and government grants. By raising rent levels, the council could ensure homes meet statutory energy efficiency standards set by the Scottish Government, build hundreds of new affordable homes to help people who are currently homeless and improve the landlord service it provides. Up to 80% of tenants in Edinburgh receive assistance with their rent, with costs covered by housing benefits or Universal Credit. The council intends to extend its Tenant Hardship Fund to support households who aren’t entitled to this support to access funding if they struggle to afford an increase in rent. Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Providing a better service to our tenants, improving their homes, and building more places for people to live is at heart of our housing budget strategy. “We recognise that this year will be particularly challenging for all residents with rising inflation, spiralling prices, and the wider cost-of-living crisis. These price hikes are affecting us too and we’re seeing the cost of running our housing services increase, at a time when we desperately need to invest in new and better homes and tackle rising homelessness. That’s why we have declared a Housing Emergency, so we can work with partners to help everyone who needs a safe place to call home. “In our last consultation tenants told us they want us to invest in homes to make them more energy efficient and that they need more affordable homes. So, we are looking forward to hearing from our tenants again and hope this consultation allows them the opportunity to have their voices heard.” Alongside charging a higher rent for newly built homes and newly modernised homes, the council is considering three possible rent increase options. No decisions on rents or how the council spends the Housing Revenue Account in the next financial year will be made until February 2024, when the council sets a housing revenue budget as part of a wider budget setting process. Find our more and share views here at the consultation hub. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Oxford North’s new landmark timber cycle pavilion approved by Oxford City Council

Oxford North’s new landmark timber cycle pavilion approved by Oxford City Council

Plans have been approved by Oxford City Council to create a new landmark timber cycle pavilion in the heart of Oxford North to provide secure long-stay and short-stay spaces for phase 1a of Oxford’s new £700 million innovation district. Designed by the project’s masterplanners Fletcher Priest Architects on behalf of Oxford North Ventures, the joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Cadillac Fairview and Stanhope, the prominent two-storey radial building, which was inspired by wheel spokes, will be located in the new market square alongside the Red Hall and central park. The new pavilion will provide 191 first-floor secure long-stay cycle spaces dedicated to people working in the Red Hall and Building 1 & 2. It will include a power gully on the stairs to assist in carrying bicycles, along with ground-floor short-stay spaces and a bike repair station. End-of-trip facilities will be in the basement of the adjacent Red Hall with 16 showers and changing facilities and an accessible provision at ground level. These cycle spaces will be in addition to the dedicated 444 spaces with showering facilities which will be provided in each of phase 2’s recently approved Plot A, B and C laboratory buildings. The pavilion’s radial structure timber frame will significantly reduce its embodied carbon and have low energy usage in operation. The design has been based on timber’s construction characteristics which will reduce the need and carbon intensity of an additional structural material for stability. Simple vertical timber battens will enclose the upper storey and provide views across the market square and a translucency which will create a warm ‘lantern’ effect in the evening to enliven the surrounding area. In addition to the architectural design, the project team has included sustainability, accessibility and inclusive design consultants and lighting, fire and security engineers. David Camp, chief executive officer, Stanhope said: “This decision is great news for cyclists! Our project is focused on transforming local travel habits and making cycling more convenient and sustainable for those working and visiting in the future.  “We have positioned the pavilion in a key location at the masterplan’s heart to celebrate the bicycle as a mode of sustainable transport. The circular timber structure will act as a focal point, adjacent to the recently consented, enhanced and expanded Red Hall, the central landscape and market square. The pavilion will provide secure long and short-stay spaces and repair facilities serving our three first-phase buildings that are currently under construction.” Philip Pryke, senior associate, Fletcher Priest Architects added: “We are thrilled that our designs for Oxford North’s new timber cycle pavilion have been given the green light. With Oxford one of the UK’s leading cycling cities, it will give bicycle use the prominence it deserves within the new urban district being created. “Our two-storey approach reduces the building’s footprint and the main enclosed body of the pavilion being raised off the ground will deliver views across the market square. It is about ensuring the building is visible and accessible from all sides meaning that, along with the A40 and A44 cycle improvements, the decision to cycle to and from Oxford North will be as easy as possible.” Oxford North’s Phase 1a is targeting practical completion in Q2 2025. Acting on behalf of Oxford North Ventures for the cycle pavilion were Fletcher Priest Architects, Savills, AKT II, Hoare Lea, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Pritchard Themis, Turner & Townend Alinea, OFR Consultants, People Friendly Design, Gardiner & Theobald, and QCIC. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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WJ Group selected as Road Marking & Stud supplier for Barnet Council

WJ Group selected as Road Marking & Stud supplier for Barnet Council

WJ Group has successfully secured a place on Barnet Council’s Highways Maintenance Works Framework Agreement (HMWFA). The road safety and marking specialist has been announced as the sole supplier for Lot 9, which covers road studs and markings, further cementing WJ’s position as a key delivery partner to local authorities across the UK. This latest success increases the number of contracts WJ holds with local authorities to 68. The four-year framework will enable Barnet Council to effectively provide business resilience that supports the management and maintenance of its highways network. It will be used for works covering both carriageway and footway maintenance, drainage, signs and markings, and traffic safety. Cllr Alan Schneiderman, Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Well-maintained roads and pavements are safer for everyone. That’s why we have agreed to invest an additional £8 million in our highways over the next two years. “We’re delighted to have agreed the Highways Maintenance Works Framework Agreement as part of our commitment to maintaining the quality of our roads and footways and tackling potholes and other issues for our residents. We care for people, our places and the planet, and we will continue investing towards our longer-term plans of making Barnet a safer and more sustainable place for all.” WJ’s appointment to the framework aligns with its continued commitment to evolve its road marking and studs provision. The company recently unveiled Weatherline Ultra at Highways UK as a new addition to its award-winning Weatherline product portfolio. Weatherline Ultra offers even greater levels of performance and durability, achieving over 500 mcd/m²/lx (> R5) and 75 mcd/m²/lx (RW4), and has been designed to ensure visibility in any weather thanks to its dotted profile, raising the marking above surface water for enhanced wet night visibility. Earlier this year, the company also invested over £500,000 to install its Accelerated Product Tester. An advanced piece of equipment, the technology assesses the durability and performance of its highway maintenance and improvement products. The system is the first of its kind in Europe to be able to test road studs, enabling the rapid testing of road studs without the need for extensive and lengthy road trials to assess initial results. Dave Clarke, General Manager (Croydon & Braintree) at WJ Group, said: “Our appointment to Barnet Council’s HMWFA is further evidence that we are a trusted supplier for local authorities. Our commitment to innovation and sustainability ensures that we can provide the very best support to local authorities, like Barnet Council, to achieve a better and safer road network, and we look forward to developing our partnership.” For more information, please visit www.wj.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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