A Sales and Marketing Manager is now part of the St Arthur Homes team – a shared ownership provider with developments currently located across Hampshire and Kent. Michelle Robins from Southsea has brought 34 years’ experience working within the property industry to the company, which she joined in November last
Research by Fourth Wall Building Consultancy has found a 53% increase in UK Google searches for the query ‘What is a house survey’ in the last month. Searches spiked for this phrase between March 16-22, the days following the Budget. The most commonly asked question on the topic on Google
Barnet Council has launched a new campaign aimed at helping residents to keep their homes healthy and free from damp, mould, and condensation. The council has recognised that dampness is a common problem for residents, which can lead to a range of health hazards, including respiratory problems and asthma. To
A development of new council homes in Lockleaze has taken another step forward as the Bristol City Council seeks to secure ownership of a former pub that needs to be demolished to allow work to begin. The council hopes to build 47 homes on disused land at Branwhite Close in
Significant progress has been made on a new neighbourhood in Daventry after Midlands-based homebuilder Spitfire Homes and Crest Nicolson secured reserved matters approval to build 222 properties on land at Malabar Farm. West Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee has approved current proposals, representing the first phase of the development, which will
STATISTICS from the HomeViews 2023 Build-to-Rent (BTR) Report reveal that the biggest drop in tenant satisfaction ratings year-on-year are management and customer service related. According to Wise Living, this needs to be addressed or risks damaging the reputation of the booming BTR sector, especially for Single Family Housing (SFH), which has felt the brunt of dissatisfaction. Anne Malone, head of customer experience at Wise Living said: “We
Neinor Homes today announces that it has raised a green loan of 140 million euros with a three-year maturity (2026), demonstrating the company’s creditworthiness and its ability to raise both project and corporate financing. A joint deal has been structured for this financing transaction, backed by Banco Santander, BBVA and
With an increase in the built urban environment over the UK and plans to build 300,000 new homes every year, the permeable land across the country is diminishing, meaning surface runoff water is overwhelming drainage pipes. What, if anything, can new homes and commercial property developers, local authorities, and planners
Barratt Developments’ Kirk Raine has been named the Supreme winner at this year’s NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. Kirk was named as the Supreme winner in the Large Builder Category for his work managing The Grove at Doseley Park, near Telford. The NHBC Pride in the Job Awards are
Rollalong Ltd has become the only specialist offsite manufacturer of modular homes to join the Homes England Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System, which makes it easier for housebuilders of any size to access Homes England land. Homes England is the Government’s housing delivery agency. The framework is one of the
A Sales and Marketing Manager is now part of the St Arthur Homes team – a shared ownership provider with developments currently located across Hampshire and Kent. Michelle Robins from Southsea has brought 34 years’ experience working within the property industry to the company, which she joined in November last year. After a spell working as a Business Development Manager in various conveyancing companies, Michelle decided it was time to get back to her first love – finding people their ideal homes. With time spent within Linden Homes, Bovis and Churchill Retirement, as well as working for an estate agent, Michelle has seen and understands many facets of the housing industry. Michelle said: “I first began my career in the property industry when I was 18 years old, and I’ve never left. There’s something very special about helping someone through one of the biggest purchases of their life – which can be happy or sad, stressful or exciting. For me, I genuinely view it as a privilege. Supporting purchasers, helping them find their perfect property and settle into it, making it a home – once you feel that kind of excitement and responsibility, it’s a hard thing to walk away from. “Coming to St Arthur Homes is my first time with a shared ownership provider, but in many ways we apply the same principles as any housebuilder. We strive to provide the best quality, the best service and the best aftercare. It’s always all about the people – and I’ve found that, often, the harder the journey to home ownership, the greater the reward.” Michelle works remotely most of the time from her home, which is a ten-minute walk from the seaside and just a short drive from St Arthur Homes’ Whiteley Meadows development in Whiteley and spends much of the rest of her working time visiting St Arthur’s other developments. She said: “It’s been very interesting to join St Arthur at this time, when we have so many happy buyers at Whiteley Meadows and I’ve seen a real community form. It’s also been great to get to know the team onsite – as well as in the office. “It feels very much that everyone here has the same goal and ethos. My manager Louise is brilliant to work with and we also have Trin and Mandy in our sales team, we all have the same passion for our individual roles and together as a team and although we all work really hard, there’s time to chat and get to know each other too.” For more information, visit starthurhomes.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Research by Fourth Wall Building Consultancy has found a 53% increase in UK Google searches for the query ‘What is a house survey’ in the last month. Searches spiked for this phrase between March 16-22, the days following the Budget. The most commonly asked question on the topic on Google was ‘how much does a house survey cost’ suggesting confusion around home surveys extends to pricing as well as its value in the homebuying process. Joshua Weston, Director at Fourth Wall Building Consultancy and recent winner of The UK RICS Young Building Surveyor of the Year 2022 commented: “It is likely that the return of first-time buyers to the market since March’s budget accounts for a large proportion of these Google searches, but ignorance and misconceptions about the role of a survey are on the rise. It’s so important for buyers to understand surveys and ask the right questions early on, in order to avoid costs later down the line. “Recent studies by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed that buyers who opt not to have a survey done when purchasing a property are faced with an average of £5,750 worth of repairs and works when they move in, due to issues they were not aware of. Many buyers, particularly young or first-time buyers, believe the valuation completed by their mortgage lender gives them all the information they need on a property, but this simply isn’t true. A survey must be completed by a qualified surveyor and is undertaken in order to identify potential issues that could cause problems during or after the purchase. “At Fourth Wall, we also ensure you get visibility on budget costs as standard: we provide detailed advice on condensation, damp, building regulations and planning, EPC and energy efficiency, and any structural issues which may affect the property – all things you would want to know before purchasing a home.” Fourth Wall are award-winning Chartered Building Surveyors working with commercial, residential and heritage clients across the UK. Aligning all the benefits of a traditional surveying practice with the pace, flexibility and market-leading knowledge of a dynamic consultancy, Fourth Wall ensures all their clients move forward with confidence. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barnet Council has launched a new campaign aimed at helping residents to keep their homes healthy and free from damp, mould, and condensation. The council has recognised that dampness is a common problem for residents, which can lead to a range of health hazards, including respiratory problems and asthma. To help combat this issue, the council is providing residents with a range of advice on how to tackle dampness, mould, and condensation. This includes information on the causes of dampness, tips to prevent it, and guidance on how to treat mould growth. Alongside this, the council is also investing £2.2million per annum for the next 10 years to address damp and mould issues across the council’s housing stock. The council’s arms length management organisation, Barnet Homes, has already surveyed more than 80% of homes, so that any damp or mould can either be treated immediately or prioritised on the basis of its severity. Dampness can be caused by a range of factors, such as leaking pipes, missing roof tiles, defective damp proof course, and condensation. Condensation, in particular, is a common issue in poorly heated, insulated, or ventilated homes, especially during colder weather. It can lead to moisture build-up and tiny droplets of water appearing, causing staining, mould growth, and damage to your home, furniture, and clothing. In extreme cases, mould growth can also have severe health consequences. Residents can follow these tips to minimize the risk of dampness and mould growth in their homes: By taking these simple steps, residents can improve their health and prevent further damage to their homes. Councillor Ross Houston, Chair of Barnet Council’s Housing and Growth Committee, stated, “Keeping your home healthy is essential for a comfortable and safe living environment. We understand that residents face various challenges, and dampness is one of them. We want to provide our residents with the tools and advice they need to tackle these issues effectively.” To treat mould growth, residents can use a bleach and water solution or mould remover spray to wipe down walls and window frames, shampoo carpets, use good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould, and use wallpaper paste containing a fungicide to prevent further mould growth. If you notice any signs of dampness or mould in your home, it is crucial to tackle the problem as soon as possible to prevent further damage and health hazards. Barnet Homes residents living in council housing can report damp or mould using Barnet Homes’ online form at barnethomes.org/report-damp. They can also report the issue by emailing healthyhomesteam@barnethomes.org or calling 020 8080 6587. Other residents living in social housing (such as housing association homes) should report damp or mould directly to their landlord. Private Sector Housing residents can report unresolved issues to Environmental Health on environmentalhealth@barnet.gov.uk or call 0208 359 7995. Visit the Barnet Council website for more guidance on ‘Keeping your home healthy – damp, mould and condensation advice’ at www.barnet.gov.uk/mouldanddamp. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A development of new council homes in Lockleaze has taken another step forward as the Bristol City Council seeks to secure ownership of a former pub that needs to be demolished to allow work to begin. The council hopes to build 47 homes on disused land at Branwhite Close in Lockleaze. In order to get the development site ready, the council has been working to acquire two buildings: the former pub on Gainsborough Square and a privately owned home on Branwhite Close. The site previously had council homes on the land which were demolished some years ago as part of a redevelopment project. Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) have been secured for both sites, and barring any further legal challenges, it is hoped work can start onsite later this year. Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, said: “We are committed to doing everything we can to tackle the housing shortage in the city, and making sure that this affordable council-owned housing scheme, which will provide homes to 47 families, can be delivered. These will add to the 474 affordable homes built in Bristol in 2021/22. “It is not just about the number of new homes we build; we are committed to developing mixed and balanced communities, working hard to make sure any new homes are suitable for the surrounding local area. Lockleaze is going through a big transformation at the moment, and we are working hard to make sure all the developments complement each other, as well as bringing forward additional amenities for community members to use. “As well as enabling the housing development, the demolition of the pub will come as a relief to local people, as it has become an eye sore, and a target for fly tipping and graffiti in recent years. “I look forward to finally being able to break ground on this site, hopefully later this year.” The pub on Gainsborough Square has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair for many years. The owner of the property was recently fined after failing to take care of the site, along with two other buildings in the city that they also own or manage. Several approaches were made to buy the property at full market value. However, the owners were unwilling to sell, so in order to progress, the council made a CPO to acquire the property. The owner objected to the CPO and an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State was asked to consider the objection and decided that the CPO should go ahead. If there are no further legal challenges, the council will be the legal owners of the pub in late August. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Significant progress has been made on a new neighbourhood in Daventry after Midlands-based homebuilder Spitfire Homes and Crest Nicolson secured reserved matters approval to build 222 properties on land at Malabar Farm. West Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee has approved current proposals, representing the first phase of the development, which will comprise a mix of one- to five-bedroom homes, 65 of which will be affordable. The wider scheme will also incorporate more than 20 hectares of public open space, a new primary school, nursery and community centre, alongside food and retail units. Located on the western edge of Daventry, the 50-hectare development already has outline planning permission of the neighbourhood for up to 1,100 new homes, meeting rising demand for homes due to employment growth, investment activity and strong connectivity links in the area. Defined by its West Northamptonshire countryside setting and strategic location at the heart of the national road network, Daventry provides a rare and sought-after balance of urban and rural lifestyles. Ben Leather, Managing Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “Daventry is a growing market with house hunters looking for accessible country living and an attractive work-life balance. Strong transport links and employment opportunities in the area make it particularly attractive for new home buyers, so we expect to see a lot of interest in these homes. “We’re committed to meeting the rising demand for new homes across the Midlands region, supporting our vision to deliver high-quality, future-proofed homes fit for modern living. We recently made our debut in Northamptonshire, with work well underway at our nearby development in Kislingbury, so we’re really excited this scheme has also taken a positive step forward.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
STATISTICS from the HomeViews 2023 Build-to-Rent (BTR) Report reveal that the biggest drop in tenant satisfaction ratings year-on-year are management and customer service related. According to Wise Living, this needs to be addressed or risks damaging the reputation of the booming BTR sector, especially for Single Family Housing (SFH), which has felt the brunt of dissatisfaction. Anne Malone, head of customer experience at Wise Living said: “We are at a point of exponential growth for the BTR sector, with BTR SFH especially growing at pace. So, it is disheartening to see findings from HomeViews, that point to customer experience issues, especially in the SFH category – with BTR apartments, for example, achieving higher ratings across the board than SFH. “As an industry we absolutely must be prioritising quality of customer service, as well as the quantity of BTR SFH developments. “Earlier this year, we reported that our tenant satisfaction scores are on the increase, due to our ongoing efforts to prioritise customer experience. An example of this is Wise Living achieving a record Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +81 in response to the following question: ‘How likely are you to recommend Wise Living to family, a friend, or colleague?’. NPS can be anywhere between -100 and +100, and according to the creators of the NPS metric, Bain & Company, a score above 80 is world class.” Showing the rapid growth of BTR SFH, the HomeViews report revealed that 31 new SFH schemes became operational in 2022 until September, with 15,000 SFH units in the planning pipeline during that time – double the number of the previous year. Paul Staley, managing director at Wise Living said: “Growth figures for BTR SFH are strong, and will continue to grow in the future as more families choose to raise a family in rental accommodation due to the increasing cost of home ownership, which includes the need for larger deposits with tougher underwriting criteria. “Existing tenants are also looking for more energy efficient homes that are cheaper to run, while offering a flexible living space. With this, we understand that looking outside of cities is proving attractive – with a significant minority willing to move greater distances to be closer to green spaces, work opportunities, schools or family. “In fact, in the past year 16.24% of Wise Living tenant applications have moved an impressive 50+ miles to their new BTR SFH home. While this figure is less than applicants who have chosen to stay within one-three miles of their previous home (34.78%), it showcases how relocations, often from urban city centre areas to more suburban developments, are catching up.” The typical Wise Living tenant across its current nine developments still fits a profile recognised by Savills, with applicants more likely to be child-free. However, when an applicant does have children, this is usually two (14.1%) followed by one child (8.1%) and then less commonly three (1.1%). Anne Malone added: “Our developments are well suited for working people and families. So, while the majority of our applicants do not have a child, it is important for us to cater for both. However, no matter what type of applicant, the fact remains that fantastic customer service throughout the whole experience must be prioritised and should never slip. With a growing BTR SFH market, the challenge will be to ensure pace doesn’t overtake a quality customer experience.” To find out more about Wise Living, visit www.wiselivinghomes.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Neinor Homes today announces that it has raised a green loan of 140 million euros with a three-year maturity (2026), demonstrating the company’s creditworthiness and its ability to raise both project and corporate financing. A joint deal has been structured for this financing transaction, backed by Banco Santander, BBVA and JP Morgan, reflecting the financial support and appetite from both Spanish and international banks to invest in the Spanish market. The cost of the loan, including the interest rate swap and savings from the various bond repurchases, is 4.17%, which is lower than the interest cost of the bond issued in 2021 before the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and the rise of inflation and interest rates. The loan allows the company to exercise its right to redeem the outstanding balance of its green bond, the principal amount of which amounts to approximately €143 million following the tender offer launched at the end of February 2023. The redemption is expected to be executed on 27 April 2023. The refinancing marks the first milestone in the company’s new strategic plan, of which one of the main pillars is to focus on shareholder returns with the aim of distributing approximately 600 million euros by 2027. Over the same period, the company plans to allocate more than one billion euros to new direct and indirect investments in order to manage its growth in a capital-efficient manner. Jordi Argemí, Neinor Homes’ Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, commented that “The notes’ redemption was key to meeting one of the main drivers of our new strategic plan disclosed to the market at the end of March: delivering shareholder returns of up to €600m between 2023 and 2027. In addition, we are proud to have been able to reduce the company’s net financing cost (from 4.5% to 4%), in the context of ongoing high interest rates.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With an increase in the built urban environment over the UK and plans to build 300,000 new homes every year, the permeable land across the country is diminishing, meaning surface runoff water is overwhelming drainage pipes. What, if anything, can new homes and commercial property developers, local authorities, and planners be putting in place to alleviate the strain? Here Raj Somal, Director at the sustainable engineering consultancy, Dice, explores why the UK needs to invest in SuDS. Over the last six years there has been considerable investment in protecting property from the risk of flooding. Government investment between 2015 – 2021 of £2.6 billion has seen over 314,000 homes become better protected with more than 850 new flood and coastal erosion defence projects completed. It’s suggested that this work is estimated to have reduced national flood risk by five percent. But for homeowners living in at risk areas, does this offer enough reassurance that the issue of flooding is being taken as seriously as it should? And is investing in SuDS, Sustainable Drainage Systems, the way we should be going? SuDS mimic natural water systems and are an efficient way to manage surface water drainage. Here at Dice, we’re committed to the UK investment in SuDS. SuDS are designed with four key components in mind – water quality, water quantity, amenity, and biodiversity. By designing SuDS which follow these four pillars, they will effectively be used to control, absorb, and treat surface runoff. They are specifically designed to not cause an eyesore to the area, and are integrated through strategic development and planning into the local landscape. SuDS can be underground and overground, but it’s those on the surface which provide the most opportunity and benefits for treating surface runoff within the built environment. There are several different types of SuDS which are slowly being implemented across the UK, for both larger and smaller scale projects. For example, detention basins are storage basins covered in vegetation to capture and store run-off which is then slowly discharged via a restricted outfall, reducing the impact on drainage features downstream. On a smaller scale, swales are shallow, flat bottomed, vegetated open channels designed to convey, treat, and often attenuate surface water runoff. But why do these urban drainage systems need to be as sustainable as possible? We recognise the importance of protecting our natural environment, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that the UK must protect its existing resources. One of which is water. Implementing SuDS into the UK’s built environment will allow us to truly make the most of surface water run-off which would otherwise be wasted. SuDS offer great advantages to the local landscape, vegetation, and wildlife, whilst also helping to reduce the impact of ever growing concerns of flooding. . SuDS can provide better quality spaces to the newly built environment whilst simultaneously being advantageous for the climate and biodiversity of the UK by managing, absorbing and controlling water surface run-off. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barratt Developments’ Kirk Raine has been named the Supreme winner at this year’s NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. Kirk was named as the Supreme winner in the Large Builder Category for his work managing The Grove at Doseley Park, near Telford. The NHBC Pride in the Job Awards are known as the ‘Oscars of the housebuilding industry’, and to win the Supreme award is to be recognised by the NHBC as the best site manager in the country. This is the sixth time that a Barratt site manager has won the Supreme award in the past eight years. It is also the third time that Kirk has won the award, making him the biggest winner of this prestigious title over the last decade. Kirk was also runner-up five years ago. This year Barratt had 98 of its site managers win a Pride in the Job Quality Award – more than any other housebuilder for a phenomenal 18 years in a row. On top of that five of those winners went on to be named as a Regional winner, with 34 earning coveted Seals of Excellence. The success at the Pride in the Job Quality Awards underlines the commitment Barratt has to delivering high quality homes, and the standard of work that its site teams deliver day-in and day-out, putting the customer at the heart of everything it does. Steven Boyes, chief operating officer at Barratt Developments, said: “We put great store in the NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Awards, as they showcase what building homes is all about – the highest standards of excellence and quality for our customers. For Kirk to win the Supreme award again for a third time is an incredible achievement, and one everyone at Barratt should be proud of.” To mark this achievement and to celebrate the work of all of its site managers, Barratt is making a donation of £25,000 to The Lighthouse Club. This charity is the only one to provide mental, physical and financial wellbeing support to all those working within the construction industry and their families. Barratt has supported The Lighthouse Club for a number of years and, since awarding a £50,000 grant last year, the charity has also been an official partner of the Barratt Foundation. This is in recognition of the value of the support that the charity provides to people throughout the housebuilding industry. Commenting on the Awards, NHBC Chief Executive Steve Wood said: “At NHBC we believe that the calibre of the site manager and the way they inspire their site team has the greatest influence on the quality of the finished home. By promoting friendly rivalry, showcasing best practice and rewarding excellence, Pride in the Job supports the delivery of homes of the highest quality. “Congratulations to all the 2022 Pride in the Job Award winners. The role of the site manager is more demanding than ever, with new methods of construction, new technologies and an increased pace of regulatory change. They are an inspiration to us all and should be very proud of the quality of new homes they are creating.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Rollalong Ltd has become the only specialist offsite manufacturer of modular homes to join the Homes England Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System, which makes it easier for housebuilders of any size to access Homes England land. Homes England is the Government’s housing delivery agency. The framework is one of the largest vendors of residential land in the UK and Homes England’s largest procurement exercise to date, valued at £20 billion. The DPS is a primary route for Homes England’s land disposal which offers housing providers like Rollalong the exclusive opportunity to bid for Homes England sites. Other public bodies may also use the DPS to procure developers, broadening housebuilders’ exposure to potential projects. Established in 1932, Rollalong has a wealth of experience in the residential, defence and education sectors and is currently manufacturing and installing modular homes all across the south of England. Steve Chivers, Managing Director of Rollalong, said: “After a rigorous application process, we are delighted to be appointed to this framework alongside major housebuilders. “This demonstrates Homes England’s confidence in our ability to deliver new quality homes at scale. “Our land-led development arm Newship Developments, which is part of our parent company the Newship Group, has extensive experience in land and property acquisition which complements and supports our work in the residential sector.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals