Network Homes has received planning permission for the next stage of a major development at Northwick Park Hospital in Northwest London. Brent Council’s planning committee granted outline permission for the scheme on 29 March, which will see a total of up to 1,600 new homes, as well as the student
Moda Living is the UK’s fastest growing rental brand, with over £1bn of construction on site across the UK, and a growing pipeline of over 8,000 homes from Edinburgh to Brighton. Moda has already changed the rules of renting with innovative Next Generation Neighbourhoods, offering no deposit, no fees, and a whole
Places for People Group has committed to tackling the UK’s poverty premium, investing in the Fair by Design (FBD) Fund – an organisation which helps to grow businesses that make markets fairer. Via its charity Places Foundation, Places for People has committed £250k to FBD, which is managed by Ascension
Working collaboratively has become an increasingly preferred method in order to deliver projects at pace. This approach was proactively adopted by partnership housing specialist Lovell Partnerships, and regional managing director Lee Sale identifies this approach as the reason the North West has smashed its 2020 target. “There is no doubt
SCAPE, the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority, has become a member of the Good Homes Alliance (GHA), making it the UK’s first framework provider to join the Alliance. The GHA aims to promote the building of quality sustainable homes that enhance the communities they are part of through a
Platform Housing Group, the largest housing association in the Midlands, has established a £1bn multi-currency, ESG enabled, Euro Medium Term Note – or EMTN – programme, supported by NatWest markets acting as Sole Arranger. Funding from the programme will be used to develop affordable housing across the Midlands and to improve the energy efficiency of its existing homes. The programme has been established
Commuters looking to relocate from London and other major cities could be considering Nottingham as a go-to location due to its low house prices and good travel links, according to property experts. From its central location in the country and extensive transport links, to its two universities, rich history and
The legacy of one of Salford’s most revered sons will be immortalised in a new apartment block, which will bring more than 100 affordable homes to the city. Housing association Salix Homes has announced its new high-rise development in Trinity will be named Artifex in a nod to Canon Peter
The UK’s leading student accommodation platform, UniHomes, has called on letting agents and landlords within the student rental sector to act with greater vigilance, as changes to the model tenancy agreement could lead to an increase in the number of students opting to have a pet while at university. Lockdown
Leading wireless fire detection and alarms manufacturer Hyfire has supplied over 550 cutting-edge detectors and other devices to ABCA Systems for installation in social housing developments across London, protecting the residents of five landmark tower blocks. Notting Hill Genesis, one of the UK’s largest independent housing associations, with more
Network Homes has received planning permission for the next stage of a major development at Northwick Park Hospital in Northwest London. Brent Council’s planning committee granted outline permission for the scheme on 29 March, which will see a total of up to 1,600 new homes, as well as the student facilities, commercial space, and a replacement nursery across 19 buildings on the site. 40 per cent of the homes are for affordable tenures including Shared Ownership, London Living Rent, Intermediate Rent and London Affordable Rent. Planning for a new access road and for phase one of development for 654 homes was granted in December. The overall transformation of Northwick park is being delivered through a partnership between Network Homes, London North West Hospitals NHS Trust, Brent Council and the University of Westminster through a One Public Estate (OPE) project. This is an established national programme delivered by the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association (LGA), which encourages public sector organisations to use their property assets together to create economic growth, deliver new jobs and homes, improve public services and operate more efficiently. The plans will see Northwick Park turned into a landmark destination with new high-quality homes, a modernised university hospital, improved infrastructure, and transport connections, as well as improved public spaces and enhanced facilities for education and employment. David Gooch, Network Homes Executive Director of Development, said “We’re delighted to have received outline planning permission from Brent Council and we are working hard with our Project Partners to get the development at Northwick Park underway starting with the new road. Our Development will bring much needed affordable homes, jobs and improved infrastructure. Network look forward to continuing our partnership with Brent Council, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust and the University of Westminster to develop the area and deliver new high-quality homes.” Bhupinder Singh Chawla, Partner at architects PRP, said: “The overall transformation of the collective sites at Northwick Park demonstrates the success that can be achieved through good and meaningful collaboration between different landholders and a motivated design team. This collective and collaborative approach together with placemaking as the focus of the design proposals has meant a shared and strategic vision for the entire area. The masterplan is made up of different character areas that respond to the varying edges and contexts of the site. A variety of typologies from apartments, maisonettes, key worker homes and mews houses add further diversity. The masterplan also provides educational, sports leisure and commercial facilities and is supported further by a strong approach to the public realm and amenity on the site which all help to create an individual identity for this new place and destination.”
Moda Living is the UK’s fastest growing rental brand, with over £1bn of construction on site across the UK, and a growing pipeline of over 8,000 homes from Edinburgh to Brighton. Moda has already changed the rules of renting with innovative Next Generation Neighbourhoods, offering no deposit, no fees, and a whole lifestyle for the cost of your rent, and now Moda, in partnership with Part W is on a mission to encourage the next generation of ambitious young women to choose the property, design and construction sector for their long-term careers. Part W is an action group of engaged and proactive women working in architecture and design, planning, engineering, policy, infrastructure, construction, operations, and sustainability. The group is campaigning for gender parity across the built environment. Founded by architect Zoë Berman in 2018, the intergenerational collective is formed of women from diverse backgrounds who are working together to call time on gender inequality, in all its forms, in our built environment. The group is Co-Chaired by architect Alice Brownfield. Core members include Dr. Harriet Harriss, Hilary Satchwell, Kelly Clark, Sarah Castle, Sarah Wigglesworth, Yẹmí Àlàdérun, Sarah Ackland, Nadine Adamski, Christine Murray and Fiona MacDonald, who work in the areas of architecture, design education, planning, place making, project management and sustainable transport. It is supported by volunteers and professional friends, and most recently Lydia Eustace, Director at Moda Living. Park W and Moda call for action across the built environment sector to address the systemic gender equity challenges that exist in the sphere and ask others to join them in supporting Part W and other organisations who are working to shift the dial in favour of a more inclusive industry, so it can be changed for future generations of young women. The partnership will launch with a bold, engaging mini film outlining the spectrum of careers across the built environment sector, accessible for 16 to 24 year-olds across social media channels including Twitter, Instagram and TikTok as well as being shared amongst student influencers and disseminated to design colleges, schools, colleges,and universities. Phase two of the outreach programme will include digital Q+A sessions spanning the UK with leading representatives from across the property, design and construction sectors covering (but not limited to) construction, design, architecture, planning and operations. Not only will successful female and males contributors be speaking about their own career highs and lows, but they will be sharing lessons learnt and answering questions from the audience – with a focus on positively equality and diversity in the industry. There will also be an opportunity to promote jobs and apprenticeships and make a next generation of diverse young people feel welcome in the industry.
Places for People Group has committed to tackling the UK’s poverty premium, investing in the Fair by Design (FBD) Fund – an organisation which helps to grow businesses that make markets fairer. Via its charity Places Foundation, Places for People has committed £250k to FBD, which is managed by Ascension Ventures and aims to address the poverty premium in the UK by backing social tech ventures. The poverty premium is the extra costs that people on low incomes pay for essential products and services; it is estimated that such costs burden the average low-income household by an extra £490 a year for services including energy, white goods, insurance and credit. The funding is the latest in a long line of social and charitable initiatives from Places for People, which last year delivered over £280m of social value across the Group through its social value activities. Marcus Hulme, Director of Places Impact at Places for People Group said: “We are proud to be a part of this movement which aims to address the poverty premium in the UK. “As an organisation we’re determined to do all that we can to help customers and communities by tackling the grossly unfair poverty premium. There’s such an imbalance when it comes to access to finance and services for some people due to their credit status or financial situation which results in them paying a disproportionate levy on day-to-day services. I’m proud that we’re using our charitable resources to help tackle that.” FDB launched in 2018 with initial investment of £10 million from investors including Big Society Capital and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It invests in both pre-seed and seed stage social tech ventures which have a clear social purpose and route to market. Initial investments range from £75k to £400k with follow on rounds in companies which have high potential to scale. To date, FBD has deployed £6.6 million in 12 social tech ventures. Other investors in this round include the Nationwide Building Society, Edinburgh University and Esmée Fairbairn, whilst prior funding rounds have attracted investors including Comic Relief and Big Society Capital. Jean de Fougerolles, CEO of Ascension Ventures, concluded: “Ascension has been managing the Fair by Design Fund for the past three years, investing in tech-for-good businesses that reduce key aspects of the poverty premium. “The support of our new investors allows us to scale our work with a leading mission-led organisation to tackle the challenges faced by people impacted by the poverty premium across the UK. Together, we can change lives and back formidable entrepreneurs to scale market-led solutions to correct incredibly unjust market failures”
Working collaboratively has become an increasingly preferred method in order to deliver projects at pace. This approach was proactively adopted by partnership housing specialist Lovell Partnerships, and regional managing director Lee Sale identifies this approach as the reason the North West has smashed its 2020 target. “There is no doubt that last year was tough for all businesses but the house building sector rose to the challenge, very much supported by the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ investment. “This week marks my second anniversary at Lovell and our collaborative approach with housing associations and local authorities – supported by some ambitious targets for growth and affordable housing delivery – is the reason the region is on track to smash its five-year goals. “We have actively prioritised joint ventures and frameworks to meet the government’s ambitious targets and we’ve found a real enthusiasm from our partners to drive the need for affordable housing through collaborative working. During the pandemic, we remained focused on our long-term, trusted partnerships with clients to deliver much needed housing across the North West. “As a result, we started or delivered many more important developments last year while successfully bidding on nearly 1,500 units of land and securing seven new projects, totalling more than 700 units. We also delivered 338 new homes, only 14 homes short of our original forecast despite Covid-19. “This was boosted by the four bold commitments I made when I joined the North West team two years ago this week: to see the region achieve more than £100m turnover, become a 5* builder, deliver double digits profit and enable three new strategic partnerships or joint ventures. I’m therefore incredibly proud to say that we are on track to achieve, all four. “These results are down to the fantastic people at Lovell – everyone really rallied together. This ambition and winning attitude has enabled us to succeed throughout the pandemic and deliver top quality housing.” “We are currently working on many key partnership projects including Weston Woods, a strategic joint venture with Latimer – Clarion Housing Group’s development arm – to deliver a 99-home scheme near Nantwich as well as a development in Pendleton, Salford with Lovell Together – a joint venture with Together Housing Group – that is set to be one of the largest strategic residential regeneration projects in Greater Manchester. Work has also recently started at The Strand, a development in Rochdale, which is in partnership with RBH. “We have also just secured a place on the Your Housing and Torus frameworks to help address the housing shortage across the region. “These are still challenging times so as we move further into 2021, we’re looking towards a significant year of sustainable growth in the North West following two years of solid performance. As a company we will also be developing our roadmap to carbon neutrality as we secure our business pipeline for 2023 onwards and building on our social value and CSR programme. “The house building sector has some really high targets to meet and working collaboratively enables us to work at pace and deliver the much-needed homes that are required across the North West. By building homes but also investing in the local communities, these joint ventures can make a real, tangible difference.” For more information, please visit: corporate.lovell.co.uk.
SCAPE, the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority, has become a member of the Good Homes Alliance (GHA), making it the UK’s first framework provider to join the Alliance. The GHA aims to promote the building of quality sustainable homes that enhance the communities they are part of through a range of social, economic and environmental benefits. As a member of the Alliance, SCAPE will collaborate with more than 80 organisations – ranging from industry contractors and suppliers to local authorities and universities – to support the aim of net-zero emissions homes along with higher standards in comfort and health for occupants. The GHA has an ever-growing Vanguard Network of forward-thinking local authorities and has recently launched a new Pathfinder Network for housing associations. Members of the GHA – such as Pollard Thomas Edwards, Hoare Lea and Bioregional – are driving innovation and improving standards across the housing sector, including actively supporting progress towards the government’s 2050 Net Zero carbon target. To aid that, the GHA is supporting the Building for 2050 research project, funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which aims to inform UK policy on delivering low carbon homes in England and Wales. SCAPE champions the development of sustainable low carbon homes through its procurement frameworks for public sector projects and has recently published its own comprehensive environmental policy – alongside recommended environmental standards for projects – approved by the UK Green Building Council. The policy sets out a range of objectives that will match the environmental objectives of our most ambitious clients. Featuring in its recently published Social Value: More Than Metricsresearch report, SCAPE has also outlined a series of recommendations to encourage sustainable development across the UK. Mark Robinson, group chief executive of SCAPE, said: “If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that collaboration is essential to driving meaningful and impactful change. As a collective of the private and public sector’s most forward-thinking organisations, the GHA is spearheading the effort to create exemplary homes that set a benchmark for sustainability – not just in the UK, but across the world. The Alliance’s work is vital to developing the homes that we need to live in a greener world. “We currently work very closely with our delivery partners to improve project standards and ensure that benchmarks are not only met but surpassed, so we know that outstanding things happen when we pool knowledge, resources and commitment to the same cause. By joining the GHA, I’m confident that we can achieve more together as we actively contribute to its work for championing change and best practice and generating the sustainable outcomes that local communities deserve.” The GHA is led by a board that includes council representatives, sustainable design experts and architects. The Alliance operates within four key themes to embed sustainability into the mainstream: exploring alternative housing models that address the housing crisis; introducing measures that improve people’s health & wellbeing in homes; identifying techniques to support carbon neutral and carbon positive homes; and encouraging the adoption of robust standards that yield high-performance housing. Julian Brooks, Programmes Director at Good Homes Alliance, said: “We’re delighted that SCAPE has joined our Alliance. Developing the supply chain to enable the delivery of net zero new homes is a critical part of the journey and experience from client groups is suggesting that a greater focus is needed around verifiable and real net zero outcomes. Working with organisations such as SCAPE opens up this much needed discussion directly across the supply chain and we are optimistic that we can accelerate the delivery of net zero homes as a result.”
Platform Housing Group, the largest housing association in the Midlands, has established a £1bn multi-currency, ESG enabled, Euro Medium Term Note – or EMTN – programme, supported by NatWest markets acting as Sole Arranger. Funding from the programme will be used to develop affordable housing across the Midlands and to improve the energy efficiency of its existing homes. The programme has been established to allow future issuances to be both in foreign currency and sustainability linked. The programme demonstrates Platform’s commitment to fund raising through the debt capital markets following its £350m bond issued in July at a record breaking yield of 1.71%. Elizabeth Froude, Chief Executive at Platform Housing Group said: “We are delighted to have established an EMTN programme which will play a key part in our Treasury Strategy for the coming years. The program signals that Platform is committed to fund raising from the capital markets and its A+ ratings demonstrate we remain a sound investment. It will help us access the funding that we need to invest in our homes and our communities as we continue to help alleviate the Midlands housing shortage and provide enhanced life prospects for more people.” Platform Housing Group – which owns 46,000 homes in total – completed 1,448 homes in 2019/20 (1,598 in 2018/19) at an investment of £258m (£228m in 2018/19). The Group also built more social rented homes – at a figure of 981 – during the past 2 years in England than any other provider, 523 in 2019/20, almost 33% of the total homes built. Platform Housing Group’s operating area is from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South. NatWest Markets acted as Sole Arranger on the Programme Establishment, with Addelshaw Goddard LLP appointed as legal counsel to the joint dealers and Devonshires Solicitors LLP appointed as legal counsel to Platform Housing Group. George Flynn, Debt & Financing Solutions at NatWest Markets commented: “We are delighted to have supported Platform as sole arranger in the establishment of its £1bn EMTN programme. This follows on from our support during its inaugural £350m Public Bond executed in 2020 and provides a flexible and versatile framework to maximise Platform’s funding agility. This will provide swift access to the capital markets for funding to support Platform’s core social purpose to expand the availability of affordable homes across the Midlands.” For further information please contact Ben Colyer, Corporate Treasury Director at Platform Housing Group on 07918 16099 or email him at ben.colyer@platformhg.com.
Commuters looking to relocate from London and other major cities could be considering Nottingham as a go-to location due to its low house prices and good travel links, according to property experts. From its central location in the country and extensive transport links, to its two universities, rich history and burgeoning riverside communities, Nottingham could be one of the most desirable hot spots for home buying, with the average house price in the city now £210,977*. In recent years, the city has seen an influx in London dwellers relocating from the capital, and with the COVID-19 pandemic and the major shift to working from home, the trend of moving away from London has accelerated, with many companies giving up office overheads altogether – a change which has led to London workers having less reason to pay bigger price tags for properties in the capital, prompting a desire to live in more affordable areas. The increase in people moving from London to Nottingham was first highlighted back in 2018, when ONS data showed that there had been an increase in Londoners migrating to the city, in a movement which marked the first of its kind in five years. Many local experts including the chief executive of Invest in Nottingham put the influx of people from the capital down to the city’s attractive affordable house prices and lower cost of living**, and property experts at FHP Living have seen a 23% increase in enquiries from prospective buyers interested in moving from London to Nottingham this year. According to new research from Totaljobs, which includes a combined analysis of ONS data*, COVID-19 has accelerated the trend of migration from the UK capital, with as many as 1.6m Londoners (26%) working outside of the city during lockdown. The research revealed that the number of workers moving away from London has been increasing in recent years – and showed that for every nine adults moving to the capital, 10 were moving out. Research carried out by PwC also suggests that London’s population could fall this year, which would be the first time the capital has seen a decrease this century. In its latest UK Economic Outlook report, the professional services firm highlights how many workers chose to leave London during the first UK lockdown to live with family members, and have since decided to make the move more permanent. The report also cites a survey conducted by the London Assembly in August last year, in which 4.5% of the 450 Londoners polled – the equivalent of 416,000 city residents of the total population – said that they would move out of the capital within the next twelve months*. Nottingham has exceptional green credentials, with city council plans working towards becoming the first carbon neutral city in the country by 2028, and with East Midlands Airport in close proximity and dozens of trains each day to London – the quickest being just one hour 32 minutes, the city provides an excellent location to commute to the capital when needed, as well as other cities to the north and south. Attractions in and around the city are plentiful – with The Peak District, Sherwood Forest and Attenborough Nature Reserve all within easy reach, as well as the world-class Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Holme Pierrepont Country Park and The National Water Sports Centre located close to the River Trent. Nottingham’s riverside area is currently undergoing an extensive regeneration, with several residential developments along the banks of the river under construction – including The Yacht Club; an 81-home, £25million waterfront development situated at the end of Trent Lane, Trent Bridge Quays; a 92-home riverside scheme, which is in the early stages of construction on Meadow Lane and The Waterside Apartments; a recently complete £30m development – offering panoramic views over the River Trent, the city, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and West Bridgford.
The legacy of one of Salford’s most revered sons will be immortalised in a new apartment block, which will bring more than 100 affordable homes to the city. Housing association Salix Homes has announced its new high-rise development in Trinity will be named Artifex in a nod to Canon Peter Green, who was a rector at the nearby St Philips Church, as well as a published writer and pacifist who was passionate about fighting social injustice. During the First World War and until the 1950s, Canon Peter Green wrote a weekly column in The Manchester Guardian – which was later to become The Guardian – under the pen name ‘Artifex’. He wrote about pacifism and compassion as well as articles about social injustice and women’s suffrage and is fondly remembered as a ‘real man of the people who loved the Salford people’. The 11-storey residential building forms part of the £22.5m Canon Green Campus development in Trinity, which has seen 1960s tower block Canon Green Court completely transformed and modernised for its existing residents, along with neighbouring apartment block Westminster House. Sue Sutton, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “The legacy of Peter Green is already recognised in Salford, with Canon Green Court being named in his honour back when it was built during the 1960s. “We wanted to pay our own tribute to this much-respected Salford son whose fight against social injustice represents our own beliefs and values at Salix Homes and our ethos to deliver high-quality, affordable housing for everyone. This is even more pertinent in an area of Salford that has seen little to no new affordable housing for decades. “The Artifex will bring 108 desperately-needed affordable homes for people in Salford, at a time of a housing crisis. Peter Green was incredibly progressive for his time and very vocal against social injustice. He was passionate in his calls to prioritise housing for all and much of what he said all those years ago, still resonates today, so we felt naming the tower block in his honour is a fitting tribute to his memory.” Canon Peter Green was born in 1871 and served as the Rector at St Philips Church from 1911 – 1951, serving through two world wars in what was then a deprived dockyard community. He died in 1961. He dedicated his life to supporting impoverished communities and used his platform as religious commentator at The Manchester Guardian to speak out against war, hate, injustice and racism. He also wrote 38 books and served as a Chaplain to the King. During one column he penned in 1944 he spoke about the importance of prioritising housing as part of the Government’s post-war recovery and rebuilding plans. In it he said: “What is the good of building magnificent schools in which children can spend five hours a day for five days a week if the rest of their time when awake has to be spent in the street because their houses are holes to sleep in not homes to live in. “When the time comes for action, let stately civic centres and the repair of cathedrals and churches, and large hotels, and super cinemas, and everything else, give place in the competition for money, man-power and materials, to homes for the people.” This year marks the bicentenary of The Guardian, and The John Rylands Library, which houses The Guardian archives, will be celebrating the 200th anniversary with a special exhibition. Dr Janette Martin, modern history archivist (special collections) at John Rylands Library, which is part of The University of Manchester, said: “The University of Manchester Library Special Collections is proud to hold the archives of The Manchester Guardian. These include letters from the much-admired religious correspondent ‘Artifex’ – a well-known champion of social justice, compassion and decent housing. “Canon Peter Green’s weekly column under the pseudonym Artifex ran from the First World War to the 1950s shedding light on some of the hardships faced by Salford people in the first half of the twentieth century. “This year The Guardian celebrates its bicentenary, so the naming of the Artifex building by Salix Homes is a very fitting tribute to his memory during a very special anniversary year.” The Canon Green Campus enjoys an incredibly rich history, and the new Artifex block is built on the site of the old Blackfriars Road Baths, which were demolished during the 1970s. Ms Sutton added: “The site’s rich history means it’s played a central role in the lives of Salford people over the years and the next chapter for the site will deliver the largest affordable housing scheme in the area, so we’re proud to be building the much-needed homes that Salford desperately needs.” Salix Homes contractors Willmott Dixon are currently onsite and the Artifex block is expected to be complete this Spring. Once complete, the block will comprise of 108 one and two-bedroom affordable apartments, which will be available under the Rent to Buy scheme for expressions of interest from March. Willmott Dixon also carried out major improvement works to the refurbishment of Westminster House and Canon Green Court, which included new kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, sprinkler systems and exterior re-facing and insulation. The new Artifex apartment block has been partially funded thanks to a £3.8million grant from Homes England.
The UK’s leading student accommodation platform, UniHomes, has called on letting agents and landlords within the student rental sector to act with greater vigilance, as changes to the model tenancy agreement could lead to an increase in the number of students opting to have a pet while at university. Lockdown has caused a spike in pet ownership as many look to fill the boredom of days spent inside, as well as finding a new reason to venture out for some fresh air. Research by the PFMA has found that so far 2.1m people have added a pet to their family while in lockdown, with a further 1.8m planning to join them soon. However, the downside to this surge in knee-jerk pet ownership has inevitably been an increase in pets being abandoned, with the RSPCA revealing that 4,600 animals were dumped on them last winter alone; including horses, rabbits, cats and dogs to name but a few. UniHomes fears that this is a trend that could soon start to sweep the student rental sector due to recent changes to the model tenancy agreement now allowing well-behaved pets in rental properties. Research by UniHomes found that just 6% of all student accommodation currently listed on the market is pet friendly. However, UniHomes also found that while just 10% of students currently choose to have their pet live with them, 48% would have a pet at uni if ‘pet friendly’ accommodation was more widely available. Under the new laws now in place, a blanket ban on pets within the rental sector is no longer allowed. Instead, landlords must object in writing within 28 days of a pet request from a tenant. Rejections should only be made for a good reason such as the property being unpractical for the pet in question. Tenants will also remain legally responsible for any damages and the cost incurred. With no distinction made between regular and student rental properties, an easing of pet rental restrictions coupled with ongoing lockdown restrictions could cause an uplift in pet ownership amongst students. The unfortunate consequence of which could be an increase in pets being abandoned come the end of term time. Co-Founder of UniHomes, Phil Greaves commented: “Recent amendments to the model tenancy agreement mean that more landlords could be about to open up their homes to well-behaved pet roommates for students studying at university. However, we would urge both landlords and letting agents to be vigilant when it comes to student pet rental requests and consider the welfare of the animal as much as the potential impact on their property. We’ve seen numerous cases where students have left pets for the landlord or agent to deal with once they’ve finished their studies and we wouldn’t advise it for students who are keen to live the party lifestyle.” Survey of 1,068 UK students carried out by Find Out Now (11th February 2021). Do you have a pet in your student accommodation? Answer Respondents No 90% Yes 10% Would you have brought a pet to university if pet-friendly student accommodation was more widely available? Answer Respondents No 52% Yes 48% Location Pet-friendly rentals as a % of all student-specific rental stock Newport 20% London 15% Aberdeen 12% Edinburgh 11% Glasgow 11% Cambridge 6% Plymouth 3% Liverpool 3% Manchester 3% Sunderland 3% Southampton 2% Bradford 2% Birmingham 2% Portsmouth 2% Bournemouth 2% Oxford 2% Bristol 1% Swansea 1% Nottingham 1% Sheffield 1% Leeds 1% Newcastle 0% Leicester 0% Cardiff 0% Belfast 0% All 6% Pet-friendly stock based on the proportion of all student-specific rental stock that allows pets. Data sourced from Zoopla.
Leading wireless fire detection and alarms manufacturer Hyfire has supplied over 550 cutting-edge detectors and other devices to ABCA Systems for installation in social housing developments across London, protecting the residents of five landmark tower blocks. Notting Hill Genesis, one of the UK’s largest independent housing associations, with more than 65,000 properties in and around London, was looking for a fast and sustainable solution to upgrade the fire systems in its properties, with as little disruption to residents as possible. After careful consultation and extensive research, ABCA specified Hyfire wireless devices, which can be programmed and installed in minutes to offer maximum protection, with no need for wiring or redecoration. Anthony McKinnon, Contracts Manager at ABCA, said: “With rapidly evolving fire safety regulations and best practice, social landlords are taking a no-compromise approach to fire safety, recognising the need to offer protection and reassurance to occupants of all properties. Wireless is the fastest and most flexible way to deliver this and, as Hyfire is the most experienced player in the wireless market, we knew that their wireless detectors and other devices could offer the reliability and quality demanded by Notting Hill Genesis.” Hyfire offers the widest range of commercial standard wireless fire devices on the market, ranging from optical, multi-criteria and heat detectors to notification, alarm, interface and control units, all fully certified to EN54. All products offer the highest performance and quality in the industry, and are also fully compliant with BS5839 Part 1. Fire panels are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to build fully wireless systems of virtually any size, or mixed with Hyfire wired products to provide seamless hybrid solutions, offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers. Robert Bruce, Regional Sales Manager at Hyfire, said: “Social landlords like Notting Hill Genesis are under intense pressure to deliver rapid enhancements to the fire systems in residential properties, so they need the very best professional commercial fire protection. By working with innovative installers such as ABCA, they are coming to realise the benefits that wireless can offer. In fact, professionals working with Hyfire wireless products no longer consider wired devices unless they have to. “Whereas many people think of wireless devices as being best suited to large industrial sites or historic buildings, they can also offer logistical advantages in the social housing sector. Simple and hassle-free installation can offer cost savings on redecoration, cabling and labour. It’s possible to be in and out of the property in minutes, minimising the upheaval for residents and offering long-term reassurance, while also limiting contact during the current pandemic.” All Hyfire products are developed by fire industry pioneers in Trieste Italy, the global centre for wireless fire device design. The Hyfire range includes all devices required to build a fully wireless commercial fire system, including manual call points, remote indicators, visual indicators, sounders, sounder bases and output/input modules. A range of addressable translators and expanders are available, processing up to 32 devices each, with the scale of the system limited only by the number of devices that the fire panel can handle. Hyfire has also recently introduced EvacWireless, a rapid and scalable solution to meeting the BS8629 evacuation alert standards in residential buildings over 18 metres. Sarah Leahy, Contracts Manager for Notting Hill Genesis, said: “In high-rise social housing blocks, with many residents shielding from COVID-19, the benefits of the wireless installation are clear. Our tenants want peace of mind, but many are elderly and they don’t like upheaval. Instead of creating cable channels in walls and ceilings, wireless installers need just a few minutes in each apartment to fix and test the Hyfire devices. The tenants are then reassured that they have long-term, sustainable fire protection, with none of the inconvenience that a wired system would have caused.” Hyfire was launched as Sterling Safety Systems in 2002, bringing to market some of the first commercial wireless detection and alarm devices fully certified to EN54. Since then, the Hyfire brand has become synonymous with quality, reliability and innovation in the commercial fire sector. Hyfire devices are available for Advanced or Kentec panels and come with a five-year warranty, backed up by a dedicated partner programme to ensure the best survey, installation, commissioning, after sales service and exceptional technical support.
