People relocate for several different reasons. However, finding a better quality of life, moving to a safer country, or searching for more financial freedom are some of the most common reasons. If you’re hoping to relocate for enhanced affordability, we’ve listed some expert tips to help you achieve your goal.
If you love your gaming and want that authentic experience, there’s only one place to go: the casino. However, while your run of the mill land-based venues will be fine for some, for others, it’s the lavish gaming venues they want to visit. And thankfully, the world has a number
Westbrook Partners has agreed to forward-purchase two BREAAM ‘Very Good’ urban logistics portfolios for £172.5m from Chancerygate and Bridges Fund Management. The first portfolio, which was wholly owned by Chancerygate, is called Urban Portal and comprises three multi-unit logistics developments located in Aston Clinton, Brackley and Leicester. The schemes will
Roche Diagnostics UK has partnered with Bouygues Energies & Services (Bouygues E&S) to deliver a total FM contract for an initial 5-year term beginning 31st January 2022. The partnership will see Bouygues E&S bring together a number of individual services under an umbrella Total FM contract, with a strong drive
VISION One of the most significant challenges architects can face is regenerating an area full of personality, but in desperate need of renovation. The challenge can be even more demanding if the project involves changing the purpose of the site. But that’s precisely what the architects in charge of the
Baxi apprentice service engineers took part in a week-long team building course this month, designed to develop the next generation of installers with activities focusing on personal development and problem solving. The programme was tailored to Baxi’s visions and values, with apprentices undertaking team-based exercises linked to their Level 3
In a world where rewards are granted for hard work, LuxPalace Black Sea offers this and ownership of an amazing destination. Location Positioned in the allure of mesmerising Black Sea, LuxPalace is the perfect place to live your memorable & well-earned vacation time. Whether it is at the pool, the
Wates Group, one of the UK’s largest family-owned built environment, residential development and property services companies, has secured a £90m sustainability-linked loan (SLL) from a three-bank syndicate led by Lloyds Bank. The facility, for which Lloyds Bank also acted as the Sole ESG Coordinator, will help Wates achieve its ESG
New 6.5 acre park opening in autumn will be an urban oasis Re-use of materials, tree planting and sustainable irrigation to save hundreds of tonnes of CO2 MAYFIELD, Manchester’s landmark regeneration development, is setting a new standard for sustainability, helping the city meet its ambitious target of becoming zero
Leading engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced its appointment to deliver an £84 million new development at the University of Glasgow. The Adam Smith Business School and Postgraduate Teaching Hub is the fourth major development to commence as part of the University’s Campus Development Plan. Appointed by Multiplex
People relocate for several different reasons. However, finding a better quality of life, moving to a safer country, or searching for more financial freedom are some of the most common reasons. If you’re hoping to relocate for enhanced affordability, we’ve listed some expert tips to help you achieve your goal. Choose an Affordable Destination When financial comfort is the goal of your relocation, it’s wise to only look into the most affordable countries in the world. These regions include the Philippines, South Africa, Russia, Morocco, and others. These countries typically offer pocket-friendly housing prices, cheaper food prices, and other low costs of living. In addition, you must research each destination thoroughly to determine which is affordable enough to provide you with a comfortable quality of life that you can maintain. Invest in a Home When relocating abroad for financial comfort, it’s best to buy a home instead of renting since renting costs the same as paying off a mortgage loan, if not more. The main difference is that you won’t have a property in your name. That said, don’t forget to look for property listings in affordable countries to determine how much it will cost to buy a home. Let’s say you’re planning to relocate to the Philippines. In that case, you can find an affordable house and lot for sale in Iloilo City and in other metropolitan cities like Manila, Quezon City, and Pasig. Assess the Job Market Another crucial factor to weigh in when choosing a country is the condition of the local job market. Unless you are a digital nomad or freelancer that works in the international job market, you’ll need employment security. Consider job market specifics like minimum wage, in-demand skills, and the general work-life balance in the country. Get Health Insurance Whether traveling for a vacation or relocating, it’s important to get health insurance. Not all countries offer top-quality healthcare access, especially for most developing countries. In this case, the best approach is to purchase international health insurance. This type of insurance cover will give you access to quality health care no matter where you relocate. Before the big move, make sure to research if there are certain country-specific conditions. Sell Everything for an Affordable Move Relocating can be a massive expense, even more so if you move all your household contents. Instead, you can save a fortune by selling your things or giving them away. Before moving, sell your items at platforms that accept pre-loved goods or host a yard sale. You can also give some of your things to your friends, relatives, and loved ones as memorabilia. Moreover, the money you make from selling your possessions should be ideal for purchasing new items when you arrive at your destination. Evaluate Expat Tax Responsibilities Tax is substantially higher in some countries, which can hold back the working class. Although some countries have a low cost of living, they might have a significantly high income tax. South Africa is one such country where affordability is almost abolished when considering the tax. Instead, look into affordable countries and find options that don’t expect too much income tax for expats. In fact, some regions don’t charge expats any tax. These countries include Morocco, Bermuda, and the United Arab Emirates. When relocating for affordability, there are several important factors to weigh in as an expat. Overall, it’s vital to choose a country that allows you to enjoy its benefits without breaking the bank.
If you love your gaming and want that authentic experience, there’s only one place to go: the casino. However, while your run of the mill land-based venues will be fine for some, for others, it’s the lavish gaming venues they want to visit. And thankfully, the world has a number of them. Bellagio, Las Vegas We’re going to kick off our list of the most lavish casinos to be found on planet earth by mentioning an establishment that features in Las Vegas, which is very much the home of gambling. And one thing is for sure, the Bellagio, which is the creation of Steve Wynn, is now one of the most popular gaming venues around. It has everything, from superb poker rooms to video slots. And some of the top casino tournaments, such as the World Poker Tour, have taken place there over the years. The Bellagio is also famous for its luxurious hotel rooms and suites, which means guests can play and stay, creating an excellent all-round experience. Wynn, Macau The next stop on our adventure is Wynn Macau Casino. Macau is known as being the Las Vegas of Asia, and for good reason. We mention the word lavish in the title, and if you want luxurious, then look no further than this establishment. It’s loved by the rich and famous, which tells you everything you need to know, and it goes beyond being a top choice in its own continent by being a hit on the global scene. What Wynn Macau does well, similarly to Vegas venues, is that it provides all the gaming alongside over 1,000 luxurious rooms for guests to stay in. The Venetian, Macau Usually, these lists will feature Las Vegas venues in the main, but we’re staying in Macau with our next pick. What you will find with the Venetian Macau is that it is a sure bet to feature on most top-five and top ten lists of casinos. Of course, there is a Venetian in Vegas, which is just as good as any, but the Macau offering has more appeal and is currently the biggest casino around. But, alongside the size, everything about the place is big, such as the exteriors and décor, making it a lavish offering of the highest order. Monte Carlo Casino, Monaco How can we list the most lavish casinos on the planet and not include one from Monaco? The place itself is a hotspot for the rich and famous, with celebrities and the like frequenting the town regularly. So, any casino will have to live up to incredibly high standards if it’s going to attract serious clientele. The Monte Carlo Casino more than lives up to the demands of the location by looking visually impressive outside and inside. And, because high-rollers will be venturing inside, the venue has all the gaming machines, tables and rooms to cater to their demands.
Westbrook Partners has agreed to forward-purchase two BREAAM ‘Very Good’ urban logistics portfolios for £172.5m from Chancerygate and Bridges Fund Management. The first portfolio, which was wholly owned by Chancerygate, is called Urban Portal and comprises three multi-unit logistics developments located in Aston Clinton, Brackley and Leicester. The schemes will total 347,177 sq ft across 45 units and all three are set to practically complete in the next 12 months. The second portfolio, called City Gateway, comprises three multi-unit developments in Edinburgh, Leeds and Peterborough. The three schemes were jointly owned by Chancerygate and Bridges, who have a long track record of successful collaboration on sustainable industrial developments. The City Gateway portfolio will total 485,389 sq ft across 61 units, providing 43 industrial/warehouse units, 16 trade counter units and two drive throughs. The three schemes are set for practical completion in the next 24 months. In total, the portfolios comprise 832,000 sq ft over 42 acres, with each of the six schemes being acquired on a forward-commitment basis. All the newly built units will have market leading green credentials and will be constructed to the highest specification. Commenting on the deal, Mark Donnor, managing principal of Westbrook Partners, said: “We are delighted to have concluded the deal with Chancerygate and Bridges Fund Management, in such a timely manner. “The 832,000 sq ft of Grade A stock is already receiving strong occupational interest for a variety of units. JLL is instructed to pre-lease the portfolio.” Chancerygate managing director, Richard Bains, said: “Our strategy of focusing on acquiring urban logistics sites and delivering Grade A schemes benefiting from strong environmental credentials has been borne out by the very strong interest we received for these portfolios. “We are very pleased to have concluded the deal with Westbrook Partners in a very swift timescale. The funds from the disposal will be used by us to invest in further strategic speculative development opportunities as Chancerygate continues to expand throughout the UK.” Guy Bowden, partner at Bridges Fund management, added: “We’re delighted to complete this forward-purchase, which we think is testament to the strong demand – from both investors and occupiers – for high-quality highly sustainable logistics developments. Bridges’ sustainable logistics portfolio continues to deliver both attractive financial returns for our investors and superior environmental outcomes.” Tudor Real Estate represented Westbrook. JLL advised Chancerygate and Bridges Fund Management. You can learn more about Chancerygate’s live developments here.
Roche Diagnostics UK has partnered with Bouygues Energies & Services (Bouygues E&S) to deliver a total FM contract for an initial 5-year term beginning 31st January 2022. The partnership will see Bouygues E&S bring together a number of individual services under an umbrella Total FM contract, with a strong drive to continuously improve the user experience. Headquartered in Burgess Hill, Roche Diagnostics UK is part of the world’s largest biotech company and a world leader inin-vitro diagnostics tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a frontrunner in diabetes management. The services Bouygues E&S are delivering include: mechanical and electrical building fabric; cleaning, security; grounds maintenance; pest control services; waste management; stores and post services; caretaking services and gymnasium service. Bouygues E&S will also use the first year of the partnership to map out a carbon reduction plan for the client. Emmanuel Chautemps, Executive Director at Bouygues E&S said, “After more than 18 months developing our relationship with Roche Diagnostics UK, we have started in earnest delivering our total FM solution. Our journey to become part of their DNA begins and it is time to deliver on our commitments. “I want to take this opportunity to welcome to our family, the 18 employees who all chose to transfer. Finally, I am very proud of the work our business development, mobilisation, operations and support services teams have achieved together.” Martijn van den Raad, Head of Facilities and Lyndsey Courtney, Building Services Manager at Roche Diagnostics UK said, “We want to convey our sincere thanks to Bouygues E&S and their team for their attention, professionalism, and commitment to the mobilisation process. They have gone above and beyond and given us great confidence in their team and their solution. We look forward to a successful partnership in the coming years.”
VISION One of the most significant challenges architects can face is regenerating an area full of personality, but in desperate need of renovation. The challenge can be even more demanding if the project involves changing the purpose of the site. But that’s precisely what the architects in charge of the Primrose Hill project in London, had to face. With a project value of approximately £16m this project required a highly sensitive design solution to address a complicated urban context involving 28 neighbouring residential and commercial properties. The transformation visioned by PKS Architects, and developed by main contractor Knight Harwood, involved converting some of the buildings into high-quality apartments and high-specification offices using Kawneer’s solutions. The task was immense and involved six neighbouring commercial properties. The goal was achieved using multiple high-performance Kawneer products. TRANSFORMATION Through site-specific technical visits and studies, Kawneer specified and costed various façade packages and options. The lack of natural light was one of the many problems that needed to be rectified. It was solved using Kawneer’s AA®100 sloped rooflights. Additionally, GT70S windows were specified to replicate the building’s original steel windows to compliment the building aesthetics. For the entrance and balcony doors, the chosen product solution was Kawneer’s AA®720 doors with Glass Balustrading, thanks to the products superior aesthetics and thermal performance. For the curtain wall specification, the natural choice was AA®100 SSG, since it has smooth and seamless glass-to-glass joints without external capping. REALISATION The resulting specification helps to enhance the aesthetics of the building façade and increase the energy performance of the building whilst meeting the cost requirements of the build with Kawneer’s market-leading product range. Shortlisted in the 2017 BREEAM Awards, this development sustainably refurbishes and reimagines a group of six buildings to create 3,500m2 of high specification office space and four new luxury flats. The impressive results haven’t gone unnoticed. The Primrose Hill project won the 2020 GGP’s Best Commercial Installation, by Kawneer’s customer and specialist facade subcontractor, JPJ Installations Ltd. Find out more about Kawneer’s products at www.kawneer.co.uk
Baxi apprentice service engineers took part in a week-long team building course this month, designed to develop the next generation of installers with activities focusing on personal development and problem solving. The programme was tailored to Baxi’s visions and values, with apprentices undertaking team-based exercises linked to their Level 3 Domestic Service Engineering apprenticeship scheme. During the week spent at SKERN Training & Skills in Devon, apprentices experienced climbing, rafting, and tunnelling. Each practical exercise was designed to help the apprentices improve teamwork, leadership, risk assessment and communication. Krystal McKinnell, Apprenticeships Coordinator at Baxi Heating, said: “Investing in apprenticeships is vital for tackling the skills gap in the UK heating sector. By supporting and training individuals throughout their professional journey, we hope to make a difference and give people a head start as they join the industry.” Baxi apprentice, Liam Bate, said:“I really enjoyed the course and built a good rapport with the other apprentices in my group, which is useful as I may end up working alongside them in the future. We all worked well together as a team and identified each other’s strengths and points for development. Apprentice, Madison Dowding, said: “I enjoyed the teamwork aspect of this course and learned to take other people’s ideas into consideration. I kept my learning log up to date throughout the week and will apply what I learned in my apprenticeship end point assessment.” As well as offering entry-level apprenticeship schemes, Baxi also supports qualified heating engineers with training courses tailored towards the introduction of low carbon systems. For more information about Baxi’s training opportunities, visit: www.baxi.co.uk
In a world where rewards are granted for hard work, LuxPalace Black Sea offers this and ownership of an amazing destination. Location Positioned in the allure of mesmerising Black Sea, LuxPalace is the perfect place to live your memorable & well-earned vacation time. Whether it is at the pool, the dead sea spa or at the casino, luxury and elegance magically come together, allowing you to experience an exclusive lifestyle. Built in the beautiful European city of Odessa. Odessa is set to impress and indulge the senses. It’s waterfront location puts it in a prime spot for visiting and enjoying the Black Sea. It offers fine dining experiences from around the world, exciting nightlife, sandy beaches that feel like heaven, a rich culture that will broaden your horizons, fascinating history, and attractions to enrich our guests’ stay. Odessa is second to none and lets our guests dial in to every wish and need they have, Odessa is set to provide it with style. A Pursuit for Perfection Nowadays luxury hotels are famous for their guests’ high standards, but they also have to keep in mind that they are offering a product that needs to meet high standards. Excellence, as a philosophy, is the pursuit of perfection and LuxPalace delivers the highest standards Luxury destinations can offer. To cater every need, LuxPalace offers a wide variety of state of the art facilities – the luxurious swimming pool, fine dining restaurants and casual dining spots, VIP cinema, fitness center, dead sea spa and much more. Nothing has been spared to provide the best. The design & build for LuxPalace has the best engineers, architects and contractors on board. Suppliers have been carefully chosen to provide the highest quality for all areas. Vacation Ownership Vacation ownership is a membership offer provided by LuxPalace to enjoy a weeks’ vacation every year for a lifetime. Your hard work can be rewarded and what better place than a week every year at Lux Palace. This deserved vacation will truly be enjoyed at LuxPalace. Your luxurious lifetime vacation can be yours for the nominal price of 15,000$. A lifetimes immersive experience for an amazing price, without any doubt. The vacation ownership will be given to the buyer, but the actual property will belong to the hotel only; the buyer can just access the membership for a week once every year. You may not get the same room every time you visit, but all the rooms have five-star facilities with maximum comfort. This ownership can be transferred to someone else as well, but first, you will have to contact LuxPalace. In a nutshell, your vacation ownership at LuxPalace is completely worth the investment, and you must not wait any longer to make your vacations even more luxurious and fun.
Wates Group, one of the UK’s largest family-owned built environment, residential development and property services companies, has secured a £90m sustainability-linked loan (SLL) from a three-bank syndicate led by Lloyds Bank. The facility, for which Lloyds Bank also acted as the Sole ESG Coordinator, will help Wates achieve its ESG objectives and see it work towards three ambitious KPIs to achieve margin discounts on its funding. HSBC and AIB also provided equal funding on the deal of £30m each. The three-year facility is believed to be the second largest SLL provided in the sector. The first KPI is that 35% of Wates’ top 200 suppliers have Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) approved targets in place by December 2024. This is linked to the company’s Scope 3 emissions. These currently make up around 98% of its greenhouse gas emissions. Wates’ second KPI is to create nearly £370m of social value over the next three years. To achieve this objective, it will create jobs, support growth and promote healthier lifestyles in the communities it operates in. Finally, the business will continue to aim for more balanced representation as part of its existing inclusion and diversity strategy by improving the number of women in senior leadership positions. Wates employs around 3,800 people across its divisions. In 2020, it set out its ambitious strategy to eliminate waste and be carbon neutral from its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025, alongside enhancing the natural environment of the communities it operates in. Recently, to mark its 125th anniversary, Wates also announced a programme to open doors for more women into construction across all levels, over and above its existing recruitment schemes. Philip Wainwright, chief financial officer at Wates Group, said: “Sustainability is a key element of our Guiding Framework – that’s why we launched our 2025 sustainability goals in 2020. “We are continually reviewing how we can embed sustainability into what we do and we’re pleased that we have been able to identify and agree on three additional metrics with our lenders that will drive sustainability outcomes and demonstrate our commitment around Scope 3, social value and diversity. “We already have a close working relationship with Lloyds Banking Group through the Wates Innovation Network and it’s encouraging to not only have the support of three banks, but also to see them being prepared to increase their level of exposure, which is a real vote of confidence in our ability to meet these KPIs.” Max Jones, relationship director in Lloyds Bank’s construction and infrastructure team, said: “Now’s not the time for firms within the built environment to rest on their laurels when it comes to creating a greener, more welcoming industry. Wates have long been a leader for sustainability in the industry – we’re looking forward to helping them reinforce and build upon that position.”
New 6.5 acre park opening in autumn will be an urban oasis Re-use of materials, tree planting and sustainable irrigation to save hundreds of tonnes of CO2 MAYFIELD, Manchester’s landmark regeneration development, is setting a new standard for sustainability, helping the city meet its ambitious target of becoming zero carbon by 2038, 12 years ahead of the Government’s target for the rest of the UK. Analysis commissioned by The Mayfield Partnership reveals the positive environmental impact the development is already having on the city centre, and which will only increase over time. The biggest environmental gain so far has been achieved through recycling and reusing materials during the construction of Mayfield Park, which has saved between 230-240 tonnes of CO2 alone. One tonne of CO2 is the equivalent of driving more than 3,700 miles in a diesel car, or a single flight from Paris to New York. The project team has reused the steel from a former concrete culvert over the River Medlock to make one of the three pedestrian bridges in the Park. In addition the use of reclaimed bricks, structural steel beams and river walls has also contributed to the saving. Around three quarters of the 140 new trees have now been planted at the 6.5 acre Mayfield Park, which is the due to open this autumn. The new mature and semi-mature trees which are creating a stunning, biodiverse natural landscape in an area of the city where few trees have ever been grown before, will remove more than three tonnes of CO2 (equivalent) from the atmosphere per year. The amount of carbon annually captured will increase over time as the trees grow and flourish in the Park. Re-using water from the Victorian wells, discovered during the construction of the Park, as a sustainable source of irrigation for trees and plants will also make a significant contribution to Mayfield’s sustainable credentials, saving approximately 1 tonne of carbon per year and up to 3 million litres of water per year. The 10-year, £1.4bn project to transform the previously run-down 24-acre industrial site near Manchester Piccadilly Station into a thriving urban neighbourhood, is one of the North’s largest regeneration projects, comprising 1,500 homes, 1.6m sq ft of market-leading commercial space and 300,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities. Arlene Van Bosch, Development Director at regeneration company U+I, which is delivering the Mayfield project alongside its partners Manchester City Council, developer LCR and Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Mayfield Park will be a beautiful, green haven in the city centre and ahead of the formal opening later this year, we’re very pleased to be contributing to Manchester’s low carbon agenda.. “We have worked incredibly hard with our contractors and with the Environment Agency to make Mayfield an exemplar in sustainability as well as a place for all to enjoy and it’s great to see wildlife such as Canada Geese and Kingfishers returning to the riverside after many years of pollution and dereliction.” Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council who recently planted a tree at Mayfield Park said: “As a local authority we are planting more than 1,000 trees across the city this year. Mayfield Park will be an amazing addition to our city centre and I am delighted to see how sustainability has been such a focus as we collectively rise to the challenge of addressing the climate crisis.” During the Industrial Revolution Mayfield was at the beating heart of Cottonopolis – as Manchester was then known. High levels of pollution from coal-burning cotton mills and workers’ homes at Mayfield meant the area was inhospitable to trees and most plant life. Alongside the new trees in the Park, I40,000 bulbs, shrubs and bushes are being planted and the new lawns have been laid. In 2020, the UK Government pledged £23m of investment from its Getting Building Fund – one of the largest investments in any single project – to Mayfield Park. This investment, delivered through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, is part of the Government’s strategy to support ‘shovel ready’ schemes that will help to drive economic recovery following the COVID-19 crisis
Leading engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced its appointment to deliver an £84 million new development at the University of Glasgow. The Adam Smith Business School and Postgraduate Teaching Hub is the fourth major development to commence as part of the University’s Campus Development Plan. Appointed by Multiplex following a competitive tender, this latest project enables SES to draw on its recent experience gained on the University of Glasgow’s James McCune Smith Learning Hub which completed in early 2021 and was the first building to be delivered as part of the masterplan. Working again with main contractor and Programme Delivery Partner, Multiplex, SES will be providing a full MEP service, adopting the same strategy utilised when working on the Learning Hub including the production of a full BIM Level 2 model, which will essentially simplify building maintenance in the future. Once operational, the six-storey building, which has a gross internal floor area of 11,600m2, will provide specialised teaching, research and collaboration space for the University’s postgraduate taught student community, whilst delivering state-of-the-art premises for the world-leading business school.