Work is underway on 82 units of affordable housing, part of a £10 million development in Chiltern Close, Llanishen, Cardiff, funded by Wales & West Housing and delivered by JG Hale Construction. Scheduled to be completed in autumn 2019, the scheme is unusual in that all five blocks involve large
Contractor J Tomlinson has completed a £2 million project to replace a former sheltered housing scheme with 12 new apartments and six new houses for affordable rent. The Gedling Homes development at Ernehale Court in Arnold, Nottingham, was completed on time and on budget. The redevelopment involved the design and
Nationwide Building Society suggested at the beginning of the year that the housing markets were beginning to move however the Registered Institute of Chartered Surveyors appeared not to agree with this stating that in fact the slowdown in the markets was showing no signs of improvement. Again, said Tom Roberts
Work is underway on 82 units of affordable housing, part of a £10 million development in Chiltern Close, Llanishen, Cardiff, funded by Wales & West Housing and delivered by JG Hale Construction. Scheduled to be completed in autumn 2019, the scheme is unusual in that all five blocks involve large sections of the homes, such as windows, floors and roof cassettes, all being manufactured offsite. By using this technique homes can be built in a much more cost effective way, often with a healthier carbon footprint than developments that employ traditional building methods. Moreover, the homes will use a revolutionary insulation product called TrisoWarm Hybrid Insulated Panel, whereby the whole panel is insulated within a factory environment. Developed by Hale, the product, which received approval from the BBA (British Board of Agrément) last year, has the potential to substantially reduce heating bills and construction periods. “The biggest problem in the UK is the weather. If it’s pouring down with rain, we cannot complete externals etc. However, by using the TrisoWarm system along with offsite manufacturing, we can design and complete a house very quickly. Another factor influencing our decision on using TrisoWarm is that within the British Construction Industry there is currently a lack of bricklayers so off-site manufacturing alleviates this problem,” explained Jonathan Hale, chairman of JG Hale Group. Other benefits of the project include the employment of three or four apprentices. Hale will also deliver a number of community initiatives during the project. “This is an important development for Wales & West Housing as it supports the much-needed demand in Cardiff for high-quality affordable housing for over 55s. We are looking forward to working with JG Hale to develop this scheme and seeing the benefits the ‘TrisoWarm’ system will bring to improve the overall build quality and keep heating bills down for our residents,” said Grant Prosser, Wales & West Housing Development manager. The Chiltern Close scheme has been funded by Wales & West Housing in partnership with the Welsh Government and City of Cardiff Council.
Contractor J Tomlinson has completed a £2 million project to replace a former sheltered housing scheme with 12 new apartments and six new houses for affordable rent. The Gedling Homes development at Ernehale Court in Arnold, Nottingham, was completed on time and on budget. The redevelopment involved the design and build of six two-bedroom houses and 12 one-bedroom apartments, with associated communal facilities, the ground floor flats being designed to full wheelchair standard. Martin Gallagher, J Tomlinson’s managing director (construction), said: “As a company, J Tomlinson has worked with Gedling Homes on a range of schemes and we were very pleased to have been appointed to build this development at Ernehale Court in Arnold which will provide local homes to those who need them. “We believe in working with and supporting local communities, and, as a Nottingham-based building services firm with strong roots in the city and its suburbs, we are proud to have helped enhance the housing provision provided by Gedling Homes.” During the project, the J Tomlinson team took time out to visit local schools Christ the King School, Frank Seeley School, and Arnold Mill Primary School to talk about careers in construction and help with interview preparation, as well as highlighting health and safety issues around building sites. In addition, five students from Christ the King School undertook work experience at the site. Gedling Homes development manager Deborah Higgins said: “J Tomlinson had delivered a number of smaller projects for us very successfully. This – coupled with their size and expertise – was the reason for putting them on the tender list. They won the tender against four other contractors. “My experience working with J Tomlinson on the Ernehale Court development has been very positive; J Tomlinson have been very organised and helpful when it comes to refining the specification on site, particularly with complex M&E solutions. “I have been impressed by the positive attitude of all the staff working on the project; they have a general can-do attitude, even when challenges have arisen. I would recommend J Tomlinson’s services to other housing groups and associations.” During the project, J Tomlinson was able to provide value engineering by identifying and procuring money-saving products of the same quality, which led to an estimated £30,000 saving on the project for Gedling Homes. J Tomlinson, which is based in Beeston, near Nottingham, offers a range of integrated building solutions including construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services (M&E), and facilities management. The company operates primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire. It works in all sectors, including social housing, industrial, commercial, care home, health, leisure and education. Gedling Homes has a stock of more than 3,300 homes across the Gedling district of Nottingham, in places such as Arnold, Carlton, Gedling and Netherfield, ranging from studio apartments to large family houses. For more information about J Tomlinson, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk
Nationwide Building Society suggested at the beginning of the year that the housing markets were beginning to move however the Registered Institute of Chartered Surveyors appeared not to agree with this stating that in fact the slowdown in the markets was showing no signs of improvement. Again, said Tom Roberts of FJP Investment, on the flip side Land Registry figures show that registrations of properties seemed to be on the increase again, as Tom Roberts says all of these reports differ and you chose to believe what you will, the media of course will have its own agenda. The simple fact remains there are just as not enough properties being built for the current housing shortage, of course this is not a new situation, we discuss it constantly, but do we try to change it – one wonders. Tom Roberts of FJP Investment says he believes action should be taken, miracles don’t happen overnight, however the government, whilst talking of taking this seriously and doing something about it, quite frankly they are doing nothing at the present time. So, what next you may well ask? It is quite simple to the layman, we build more houses, instead of debating the issues the government needs to implement action now ensuring the situation does not get worse than it already is. Of course we all have different needs and the importance here is that houses are built in areas where people want to live, such as areas that have good transport links, areas where there is employment to be had and of course in rural areas, where families want to stay within the family environment. It would seem that the brownfields versus the greenbelt areas is often debated to its end, whilst offering no solution and no development. Tom Roberts of FJP Investment suggests local councils should have a big say in how these areas can be given planning permission and maybe landowners should in some way be made to allow their land to be built on. It is such a waste that the land whether it be greenbelt or brownfield is there waiting to ease this housing crisis, yet no-one is doing anything about it, and if this is not addressed the housing crisis is simply going to get worse. Whilst the bodies concerned continue to “discuss “the ongoing crisis don’t they realise it is simply getting worse, families are suffering with the lack of available accommodation in whatever form it takes. New buyers are in a situation whereby they may have the funds in place for deposits but no properties available and not in areas which allow them to be able to travel to work whilst living in a community that they desire. Of course, as Tom Roberts of FJP Investment points out, the other problem is the council properties which were all bought under Margaret Thatcher’s government, meaning that for those who need council accommodation as they cannot afford to buy are left without the councils having any stock. Whilst this was great at the time to buy and own your own home through the councils allowing you to buy at such a reduced rate, I am afraid it has more than contributed to the situation we are in. Now, I am sure Mrs Thatcher during her days in office did not envisage that her buy your own home scheme was going to leave the country in such a mess many years on, and more importantly, showing no signs at all of improving, in fact quite the opposite, getting worse year on year. Again, it’s quite simply, free up the land, make funds available and let’s get those houses built! FJP Investment is a team of investment specialists sourcing a wide range of investment opportunities both in the UK and overseas. Products include the new release of care home investments throughout the United Kingdom.