Almost £6 billion has been given out in discounts through the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme since the size of the discount was increased in 2012, new analysis by the Local Government Association reveals. The LGA, which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, warns that the scheme
CHESHIRE West and Chester Council, together with its partners, has taken possession of a new transformational £16m public services hub to complete the first phase of redevelopment in Ellesmere Port town centre. The building, named The Portal, was designed by leading independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard. The
Despite Covid, local authorities spent over £100 million more on construction in 2020/21 than in 2015/16 Welwyn Hatfield Council increased its construction funding the most (5,482%) On average, each local authority spent £28 million on construction in 2020/21 – up 3% New research has revealed the UK local authorities that are increasing their construction funding at the
Construction work has begun on transforming a former post office in Warrington town centre into a £3.2 million aparthotel. Leeds-based main contractor, Priestley Construction, is delivering the development for its clients, Danny Inman Property and Priestley Homes. Situated on Palmyra Square, the contractor is converting the upper floors of the
Countryside, the UK’s leading mixed-tenure developer, has signed an agreement with the Department of Education to deliver Ark Soane, a mixed-use development in Ealing, West London, comprising a new 1,200-pupil secondary school, Ark Soane Academy, and 116 high-quality homes. Following a public procurement process, Countryside has been selected by LocatED,
Colchester Borough Council’s ambition to provide more high-quality, council-owned, affordable homes has taken another major step forward as construction starts on the building of new family houses and apartments in Military Road, Colchester. The council’s project is one of several housing developments that are delivering a promised 350 additional homes across
Southwark Councill has acquired the former Toys R Us site at 760 Old Kent Road as part of its plans to secure the Bakerloo Line extension and increase housing supply in the borough. The 2.59-acre site was sold by CBRE, on behalf of the Joint Fixed Charge Receivers. It is currently
Islington Council has appointed Diamond Build PLC to construct 24 new council homes on the Harvist Estate in Holloway, near Arsenal’s football stadium. The £10m project will see Diamond Build PLC construct a mix of one and two-bedroom flats as well as two, three and four-bedroom houses. The properties will
The Green Quarter will deliver, or open up access to, more green space than St James’s Park and Green Park combined Southall and Hayes are set to benefit from a new public park for the whole community to enjoy from early next year at Berkeley West Thames’ newly-named development, The
Huntingdonshire District Council is the first UK council to use an innovative fingerprint-based drug test to support its frontline services. Since July, the council has been using the Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Screening System as part of its recruitment process. Thanks to the fingerprint system’s ease-of-use and ability to deliver test results in ten
Almost £6 billion has been given out in discounts through the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme since the size of the discount was increased in 2012, new analysis by the Local Government Association reveals. The LGA, which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, warns that the scheme is becoming unsustainable, with councils struggling to rebuild homes as quickly as they are being sold. The size of the discounts available were increased in April 2012, and as a result the average discount has increased by 150 per cent to more than £67,000 in 2020/21. At the same time, this has led to a quadrupling in the number of Right to Buy Sales. Councils are also not able to keep all of the money from RTB sales. This means that they have only been able to replace around a third of homes sold since 2012, impacting on their ability to provide housing for homeless and vulnerable families. While Right to Buy has helped many families get on the housing ladder, the LGA said the scheme faces an uncertain future unless councils are given the flexibility to set discounts locally and retain 100 per cent of sales receipts to fund the replacement of homes sold off under the scheme. Councils also need to be able to combine RTB receipts with government grant funding, such as the Affordable Homes Programme, and transfer funding from sales to ALMOs or housing companies to give them greater flexibility over how new council housing is delivered. Cllr David Renard, housing spokesperson for the LGA, said: “Councils want to urgently address the number of people on waiting lists for a council home and stuck in temporary accommodation. At a time of an escalating cost of living crisis, we urgently need to build more council homes, not have less. “It is becoming impossible for councils to replace homes as quickly as they’re being sold and they are increasingly having to do so with far less money than the property sells for because of discounts being offered. “Every home sold that isn’t replaced risks pushing more families into the private rented sector, driving up housing benefit spending and rents and exacerbating our homelessness crisis. “Right to Buy continues to enable many families to achieve their dream of getting on the housing ladder and owning their own home. However, without reform of the scheme, future generations will not enjoy the same opportunity.”
CHESHIRE West and Chester Council, together with its partners, has taken possession of a new transformational £16m public services hub to complete the first phase of redevelopment in Ellesmere Port town centre. The building, named The Portal, was designed by leading independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard. The three-storey building provides a range of services to the public from several different agencies, as well as providing accommodation that meets the demands of the council’s modern workforce strategy. The new space will be home for 580 staff employed by the council, DWP and other service providers. The scheme also incorporated a new bus facility and extensive public realm works to improve transport links and facilities for the public. Pick Everard – operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration – was appointed to provide architecture, interior design and landscape services through SCAPE’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework. Andy Robinson, director at Pick Everard, said: “Cheshire West and Chester Council has a fantastic new facility in the heart of Ellesmere Port. We promised to deliver a scheme that places greater emphasis on the use of the space and The Portal’s 4,000 square metres and surrounding external areas truly accomplish this. “Value for money is essential for our public sector clients and this has been achieved to great effect on this project. Through close collaboration and consultancy, we’ve been able to ensure that the completed scheme represents the priorities identified by the council.” The Portal is a single shared hub that facilitates agile working, therefore reducing the demand for space and enabling the council and other agencies to consolidate their presence into a smaller footprint. As a result of this, money is being saved and carbon emissions are being reduced while also providing a much-improved work environment. With the intention to improve access to public services and bring all the disparate arms and services of local government into a single shared hub, The Portal is a regeneration project that serves its practical purpose and acts as the catalyst for regeneration in the town. Importantly, the building is designed to improve the customer experience enable them to access a wider range of services in one location. This includes employment, skills and learning, welfare and benefits support, advice and information, community safety and prevention, health and well-being and housing support. The building contains public art that is on permanent display. Consultation with the local community during the design stage led to creations that represent the purpose of the space, which has been developed in the interest of the local area and not only those who use the on-site facilities. Civic Way was a critical element of the scheme. Road priorities have changed with Civic Way now only accessible to buses and service vehicles, reducing traffic on a previously busy thoroughfare. The area is now a much more pedestrian friendly environment as a result of the careful public realm design its relationship with the new bus facility. The widening of the street to allow for bus lay-bys and new bus stands enabled the opportunity to relocate the old poor quality bus interchange and create space for The Portal. Public realm improvements did not stop with Civic Way. The Port Arcade entrance from Wellington Road has been made more pedestrian friendly, with accessibility and enjoyment of the space receiving attention due to the high footfall. Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The opening of The Portal is an exciting moment for the community as it is providing a versatile building for a range of stakeholders. “The project team has completed a scheme to be proud of following an important consultation process and we can’t wait to share the newly improved space with the people of Ellesmere Port.” The importance of the project to the local workforce and wider community meant that public engagement was maintained throughout. To create learning opportunities, contractor Vinci Construction engaged with The West Cheshire College to make site visits and construction talks a possibility for students. David Nisbet, partner at Pick Everard, said: “We’re pleased to have supported Cheshire West and Chester Council on the development of The Portal, as it adopts the government’s One Public Estate programme. “The Portal marks another project within our portfolio that has achieved BREEAM Very Good certification, proving the growing opportunity for sustainable solutions in towns likes Ellesmere Port that are undergoing regeneration.” For more information on Pick Everard, visit www.pickeverard.co.uk/
Despite Covid, local authorities spent over £100 million more on construction in 2020/21 than in 2015/16 Welwyn Hatfield Council increased its construction funding the most (5,482%) On average, each local authority spent £28 million on construction in 2020/21 – up 3% New research has revealed the UK local authorities that are increasing their construction funding at the fastest rate, with some councils upping their spend by more than 5,000% over five years. IronmongeryDirect issued Freedom of Information requests to each local authority and asked how much they spent on construction projects, including buildings, roads and railways, in the 2015/16 and 2020/21 financial years, to see how investment has changed over time. Despite the impact of the pandemic, almost half (49%) of the local authorities that responded spent more on construction in 2020/21 than they did five years earlier. Funding across the UK rose by over £100 million (3%) from £4.63 billion in 2015/16, to £4.77 billion in 2020/21. In the last financial year, each local authority splashed out an average of £28 million on construction. Twenty-nine councils more than doubled the amount they spent on the industry and the average increase across the country was a remarkable 154%. The average increase stands so high because nine local authorities saw rises of over 1,000%. Welwyn Hatfield council, in the East of England, reported the greatest increase – a staggering 5,482% (£763,863 up to over £42.5 million). Local authorities that have increased construction at the fastest rate over the last five years (2015/16 to 2020/21): Out of all the local authorities, Leeds City Council spent the largest overall amount, with a total of £389.8 million allocated for construction. The authority also recorded nationwide highs for both general construction costs (£272.1 million) and road infrastructure (£117.6 million). Birmingham City Council, meanwhile, spent the largest amount on building construction (£279.8 million), whilst Pembrokeshire Council spent the most on open spaces (£9 million), such as parks, play areas and gardens. Hertfordshire County Council topped the list for bridges, having spent £9.6 million. Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “After the difficulties the construction industry has faced over the last two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic, it’s incredibly reassuring to see large scale increases in local funding across the UK. “With the industry continuing to recover from recent setbacks, it’s a positive sign that many local authorities are feeling confident enough to increasing their investment into local infrastructure and construction work.” To explore an interactive map showing the amount of construction funding in your area, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/construction-funding/
Construction work has begun on transforming a former post office in Warrington town centre into a £3.2 million aparthotel. Leeds-based main contractor, Priestley Construction, is delivering the development for its clients, Danny Inman Property and Priestley Homes. Situated on Palmyra Square, the contractor is converting the upper floors of the Grade-II listed building into 21 high-specification apartments for short-term rent. During the extensive renovation project, many of the building’s original features will be meticulously refurbishing and retained. Existing flooring will be built up to achieve the best acoustic separation from the restaurant and bar on the ground floor, which will continue to operate. Installation of high-tech entry systems will allow hotel guests to enter the aparthotel using just their smartphones. Priestley Construction is inviting local subcontractors to bid for work on the development as it progresses, to support businesses in the area. “Warrington is undergoing significant regeneration, driven by an ambitious, forward-thinking council. Design on this brand-new aparthotel meets the highest specification, while retaining a part of the local heritage. We are creating some of the most desirable hotel rooms the town has to offer,” said Nathan Priestley, chief executive of Priestley Construction. The construction programme commenced in June 2021, with completion expected in Q2 2022.
Countryside, the UK’s leading mixed-tenure developer, has signed an agreement with the Department of Education to deliver Ark Soane, a mixed-use development in Ealing, West London, comprising a new 1,200-pupil secondary school, Ark Soane Academy, and 116 high-quality homes. Following a public procurement process, Countryside has been selected by LocatED, an Arms-Length Body to the Department for Education, to deliver this multi-million-pound development. A large proportion of the new homes is being constructed for the Greater London joint venture between Sigma Capital Group plc, the build-to-rent specialist, and its partner, EQT Exeter, part of global investment firm, EQT, and will be for the private rental market. Once constructed, these 92 apartments will be let and managed by Sigma Capital Group plc, under the ‘Simple Life London’ rental brand. Of the remaining homes in the new development, 21 will be affordable, managed by Network Homes, and three will be for open market sale by Countryside. The new homes will be located close to The Woodlands Park as well as Acton High Street and will enjoy excellent transport links. A sustainable energy centre utilising a Ground Source Heat Pump is also being delivered as part of the development. Countryside has entered into a £52m design and build contract with Jerram Falkus Construction to deliver all construction works associated with the school and residential development. Full planning permission has been secured, and the new Ark Soane Academy is due to open by September 2022. Designed by Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects, the Ark Soane mixed-use development will see the secondary school occupying the first three floors of the 6 to 12-storey building, with 113 apartments located above this, in addition to three separate townhouses on the site. Ark Soane Academy will be connected to a new nearby sixth form college, and will use the surrounding grounds, which include a multi-use games area, sports hall and playgrounds. Daniel King, Managing Director, Partnerships West London & Thames Valley, Countryside, said: “We are excited to get started on this innovative project which will not only deliver a state-of-the-art new school, but also deliver much-needed new homes in Acton. Drawing on over 30 years of experience of working in partnership to deliver major regeneration schemes across the UK, we’re looking forward to bringing Ark Soane Academy to life with the Department for Education, Sigma Capital, EQT Exeter, Network Homes and Jerram Falkus Construction.” Steven Brewster, Acquisitions Director, Sigma Capital Group plc, said: “We’re delighted to be part of this fantastic new development. It will add 92 homes to our growing portfolio of build-to-rent homes in Greater London with our JV partner, EQT Exeter. We have been working in partnership with Countryside for over 10 years across other parts of the UK, delivering new homes and regenerating local areas. We’re really excited to be bringing the success we’ve experienced in the regions to the London market and look forward to bringing our formula of high-quality homes, matched by award-winning customer care, to renters in Acton.” David Gooch, Network Homes Executive Director for Development, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting the delivery of much-needed affordable homes at this development which will see a fantastic educational facility provided at Ark Soane. Network will be delivering 12 properties for London Affordable Rent and nine for London Living Rent, an excellent scheme helping people to save for a deposit to buy their own home.” William Jerram, Joint Managing Director, Jerram Falkus Construction Ltd, added: “We are delighted to be working with Countryside and LocatED to deliver this exciting scheme. We thank our design team, led by Pollard Thomas Edwards, together with Max Fordham, Price and Myers, Montague Evans and Outerspace. To ensure its success, we have worked very closely to redesign the external envelope to comply with the latest ‘B’ regulations” and simultaneously progress the design and programme to deliver the School for the 2022 academic year. It involved a lot of commitment and work at risk, with the reward of starting works in February 2021.”
Colchester Borough Council’s ambition to provide more high-quality, council-owned, affordable homes has taken another major step forward as construction starts on the building of new family houses and apartments in Military Road, Colchester. The council’s project is one of several housing developments that are delivering a promised 350 additional homes across the borough by 2024. Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd (CAHL), the council’s commercial housing company, is project managing the development, working in partnership with Colchester Borough Homes On 8th February Tiptree-based building contractors, TJ Evers, began work on the development which is located south of Colchester within easy walking distance of the Town Centre. In total, eight new homes are under construction, comprising a mix of six apartments and two houses. Designed by award-winning architects, Barefoot & Gilles, the properties feature high-quality and attractive finishes including zinc cladding and rusticated brick. In addition, as part of the Council’s response to the climate emergency declaration made in 2019, all the homes are being built to the Government’s Future Homes 2025 principles. Each property uses triple glazing, heat pumps and high-efficiency LED lighting to provide a distinctive example of sustainable and affordable housing design. Cllr Theresa Higgins, Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services, said: “It’s very encouraging to see construction work begin on the delivery of these high-quality and energy efficient homes. Action to deliver more quality homes in the borough is always welcome as is the boost this gives to local employment to help support the growth of our regional economy.” Along with providing safe and secure accommodation to local residents, tenants will also have access to the services and support provided by Colchester Borough Homes and its partners within the community. Cllr Adam Fox, Colchester Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, added: “We continue to work closely with Colchester Amphora Homes, to explore and develop more opportunities to expand our stock of affordable homes. Once completed this new development will provide vital new homes to local people and demonstrate our commitment to tackling the housing crisis in Colchester.” The new properties at Military Road are expected to be available to tenants from early 2022. Find out more about plans for new council homes, here: https://www.colchester.gov.uk/info/category/?id=/new-council-homes
Southwark Councill has acquired the former Toys R Us site at 760 Old Kent Road as part of its plans to secure the Bakerloo Line extension and increase housing supply in the borough. The 2.59-acre site was sold by CBRE, on behalf of the Joint Fixed Charge Receivers. It is currently occupied by Lidl on a lease expiring in 2028. It will become one of two new underground stations on the Old Kent Road, with Southwark Council planning to build at least 500 homes over the station. This is the latest purchase by Southwark as part of its plans to provide 11,000 new council homes by 2043. In 2019 it acquired the former Currys PC World site at 589 Old Kent Road for c550 homes, 593-613 Old Kent Road for 110 homes and 711-717 Old Kent Road for 200 homes and commercial space. Earlier this month Southwark Council’s updated Old Kent Road Area Action plan was launched for consultation, with further regeneration and provision of housing, commercial, community, cultural and green spaces all part of the proposed changes. Montagu Evans has advised Southwark Council on most of the site acquisitions needed to fulfil its housing commitments, including this deal. All acquisitions were of properties with existing investment income but with medium to long term opportunities to redevelop. Sam Blake, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “This is an important strategic site for Southwark, accommodating a new tube station and increasing housing supply to help meet its ambitious targets. Better transport infrastructure will be a huge advantage to the area and this this investment should make the process much smoother as well as providing the Council with a good income stream while longer-term plans are being worked up.” Jonathan Allen, Residential Development at CBRE, said: “The disposal of 760 Old Kent Road to Southwark Council followed a competitive open marketing campaign, symbolising strong current market appetite for assets which benefit from short term income, underpinned by improving infrastructure and significant residential latent redevelopment value. This important site is a key part of the Old Kent Road masterplan having been identified as a location for a new underground station for the proposed Bakerloo line extension. This purchase follows the news that TfL remain committed to delivering the extension, and that their immediate priority is safeguarding the route from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham; emphasising the importance of the project in transforming the lives of those living and working on Old Kent Road.”
Islington Council has appointed Diamond Build PLC to construct 24 new council homes on the Harvist Estate in Holloway, near Arsenal’s football stadium. The £10m project will see Diamond Build PLC construct a mix of one and two-bedroom flats as well as two, three and four-bedroom houses. The properties will be located on Citizen Road, which will also be reconfigured as part of the work. The site, which is situated between a Victorian railway viaduct and existing housing, presents a number of challenges for the contractor. Before construction can begin, Japanese knotweed will need to be removed and measures put in place to minimise disruption for nearby residents. The team will also need to liaise closely with National Rail to agree logistics and timings for certain aspects of the work such as craning. As a specialist contractor for large public sector projects, Diamond Build PLC has a long-standing relationship with Islington Council and has recently completed the refurbishment of offices located at 49 -59 Old Street on behalf of the London Borough of Islington. Paul Hoskins, Managing Director of Diamond Build PLC, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Islington Council on another major development and to be playing a key role in delivering new homes for local people. “This is a logistically challenging scheme located in the heart of a housing estate. Our team has extensive experience of operating in occupied sites, so will be working closely with the council to minimise the impact of any construction work on surrounding residents.” Fiona Monkman, Design Team Leader at Islington Council, added: “This contract follows the success of Diamond Build’s work at Old Street and its proven track record of working in challenging sites. “Over the last 10 years, the team has demonstrated that it has the specialist skills and experience to deliver a wide range of public sector projects and we’re looking forward to working with them to bring forward much needed new homes.” Diamond Build PLC is scheduled to start on site in November 2020 and complete the development in 2022. The project team includes Bailey Garner, Calford Seaden, Ingletonwood and Conisbee.
The Green Quarter will deliver, or open up access to, more green space than St James’s Park and Green Park combined Southall and Hayes are set to benefit from a new public park for the whole community to enjoy from early next year at Berkeley West Thames’ newly-named development, The Green Quarter. The London Borough of Ealing gave the go-ahead for the new park, which will be named Central Gardens, earlier this year, and Berkeley is making progress with its first phase, which will include a new playground inspired by the site’s industrial past, an impressive water feature which will flow the length of the park and a new amphitheatre to host open air events. On completion, the new park will have over 250 new trees and stretch 500m in length, providing 1.8 hectares of newly-accessible open space for the local area – the equivalent size to four football pitches. Future phases of Central Gardens will provide various habitats for wildlife and plants to thrive such as woodland and wetlands, which are being designed in partnership with London Wildlife Trust. Fitness enthusiasts will benefit from outdoor gym equipment while fitness routes are planned to connect into The Green Quarter’s other open spaces and beyond into the neighbouring Minet Country Park. Cultural art elements and information boards across the park will educate residents and the local community on the history of the site and the various plants and animals present within the development and across Ealing. The Green Quarter, previously named Southall Waterside, is one of London’s most ambitious regeneration projects, which is transforming a former industrial site between Southall and Hayes into one rich in biodiversity and nature. On completion, The Green Quarter will be home to 13 acres of new green space, connecting local communities and encouraging outdoor living. Berkeley has rebranded the development to better reflect this vision and to highlight the fantastic open space and nature recovery, where flora and fauna can thrive. Central Gardens is one of two new parks planned at The Green Quarter, and overall plans for the site include two new footbridges which will allow easy access into the 90-acre Minet Country Park, which borders the western side of the site. More than a kilometre of frontage alongside the Grand Union Canal has been opened up to the community, further adding to the new space available. The new green space will sit on the same site as 3,750 homes and new amenities to benefit the local area. The first phase of homes for sale will be launched soon. Ashley Kensington, Managing Director at Berkeley West Thames, said: “Through the new parklands being delivered at The Green Quarter, we’re more than doubling the accessible open space in the Southall Broadway ward. Central Gardens is for everyone in Southall, Hayes and the local area to enjoy, and opening it early next year will be an important milestone in The Green Quarter moving from concept to reality. “The Green Quarter is a remarkable development with nature and greenery at its heart – we’re transforming a former industrial gasworks site and delivering, or opening up access to, more green space than St James’s Park and Green Park combined. “Construction of the new park is really coming along, but we’re also making good progress with the new homes and we can’t wait to launch our first phase of residential sales soon.” Ahead of the new park, development of new homes at The Green Quarter is already well underway. Some 304 new affordable homes have been delivered in partnership with Catalyst Housing Association and Clarion Housing Association.
Huntingdonshire District Council is the first UK council to use an innovative fingerprint-based drug test to support its frontline services. Since July, the council has been using the Intelligent Fingerprinting Drug Screening System as part of its recruitment process. Thanks to the fingerprint system’s ease-of-use and ability to deliver test results in ten minutes, council managers are now able to carry out their own drug screening tests before candidates are offered permanent or temporary positions, instead of relying on an external agency to do this. The council is using the system to help ensure that all its front-line safety-critical service staff, including refuse collection drivers of 26 tonne lorries, ground teams, and street maintenance staff working in busy traffic, are all working safely – and protecting themselves, their colleagues and the public. Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) has used drug testing to support its drug and alcohol policy for some time, but has now replaced the previous urine-based testing service provided by an external agency with the Intelligent Fingerprinting portable testing system that is managed in-house. Although the council has been using the fingerprint test for only a few weeks, it has already been very positively received by both candidates and testers thanks to its hygienic, non-invasive approach – which enables social distancing when testing – as well as its ability to provide on-site test results in around ten minutes. “We are using the Intelligent Fingerprinting system to test all new permanent employees or agency staff for frontline services. These employees work in safety-critical roles, often work around machinery, and in a constantly changing environment so it is critical that they are alert and fit for duty. The fingerprint drug screening system is fantastic as it’s saving the council a huge amount of time and cost as we’re now able to conduct the tests in-house rather than using an external provider. Having the system available for use whenever it’s needed also gives us the flexibility to carry out tests at other times too, such as ‘for cause’ testing if we have reason to suspect drug use by an existing employee,” said Andrew Rogan, Operations Manager, HDC. “We are finding the fingerprint system is giving us much greater control over our drug testing, and its efficiency is helping us to unlock immediate savings for the council,” added Andrew Rogan. “Thanks to the Intelligent Fingerprinting approach we have been able to implement remote training for our managers so they can carry out the testing themselves, and we’re confident in the results as the test is virtually impossible to tamper with.” Dr Paul Yates of Intelligent Fingerprinting also commented: “It’s good to hear that our fingerprint drug test is already saving Huntingdonshire District Council time and money while delivering a superior on-site service for their drug testing needs. Immediate efficiency savings include being able to carry out testing quickly and easily in the office and no longer needing to cordon off bathrooms to dedicate their use to urine testing. The council has also taken advantage of Intelligent Fingerprinting’s one stop service for both drug and alcohol tests so we’re providing the council with alcohol breathalysers too.”
