The Manchester-based property group has promoted Anna Main to the board after less than a year with the business, as it looks to expand its commercial asset division. Landwood, which has its headquarters on Peter Street in the city centre, is a firm of surveyors, asset managers and auctioneers. Main joined
New property management platform apropos, developed by UK letting Agent DJ Alexander, has launched. The platform hopes to take the experience of DJ Alexander’s letting agents and property managers into the digital realm. The application allows property owners to track and monitor their full rental portfolio online by using an
Since March, all tenants – whether in private or social accommodation – can now sue their landlords if their homes have health-damaging defects. This is thanks to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill 2017-2019, which came into force for new tenancies from 20 March 2019 and, from now, applies
PLANNING has been submitted by a joint venture between Locksley Hotels Ltd and hotel group Ascena for the centrepiece of the much anticipated multi-million-pound Guildhall development in Nottingham, which will create more than 250 jobs for the city. Originally built in 1887, the Guildhall has hosted a magistrates’ court, police
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there is a recognized hazard when working on the roof or at heights. Minimizing the dangers of working in such areas starts with a deep-rooted understanding of the risks and deployment of the necessary equipment. There are various reasons why people
ELAN Homes plans to re-open its sales offices at its new homes developments in early June. The independent homebuilder has confirmed its “new normal” will be for sales offices to be open by appointment only until further notice. Construction was suspended across Elan developments from March 27, with sales offices
The Government has undertaken a consultation on proposals to lower the threshold on the ban on using combustible construction materials from buildings of 18m to 11m. This would reduce the maximum height of timber-framed buildings from six storeys to four. However, the recent spate of timber-framed fires means that even
Gazeley, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces the lease of a 186,000 SQ FT unit at its Magna Park Lutterworth site to Bleckmann, a market leader in Supply Chain Management (SCM) services for the fashion and lifestyle brands. The unit has been leased
The employee-owned packaging company has expanded its pallet and load stability range, providing users with a wide range of solutions for their operations. Load stability is vital to ensure the safety of loads not only whilst being transported on public roads, but also whilst being moved/stored. Kite Packaging supply a
LHG (London Hotel Group) has won planning permission to expand its aparthotel scheme on Tooting High Street, bringing 373 high-quality guest rooms across six floors with basements to one of London’s ‘coolest neighbourhoods’, popular with both residents and tourists alike. Designed by hospitality design expert Dexter Moren Associates (DMA), the
The Manchester-based property group has promoted Anna Main to the board after less than a year with the business, as it looks to expand its commercial asset division. Landwood, which has its headquarters on Peter Street in the city centre, is a firm of surveyors, asset managers and auctioneers. Main joined the company last August having spent the previous four years as a director and head of asset and property management at consultancy Avison Young. She joined Landwood to head up the firm’s newly formed commercial asset division and, following a successful nine months, has been promoted to the board, bringing the total number of directors to eight. Main heads a team of five in the commercial asset division, which manages assets on behalf of clients including FRP and Grant Thornton. The team is expected to grow further to cope with an increasing workload, and recruitment is underway. Main said: “I came here to bring a fresh approach to asset management and am delighted with the results so far. “As businesses re-open, we are really looking forward to building an even larger client base of high-net-worth firms, property trusts and property owners.” Mark Bailey, managing director at Landwood Group, added: “It’s been a period that nobody could have predicted, but Anna and her team have been agile to spot opportunities and grow their arm of the Landwood business significantly.”
New property management platform apropos, developed by UK letting Agent DJ Alexander, has launched. The platform hopes to take the experience of DJ Alexander’s letting agents and property managers into the digital realm. The application allows property owners to track and monitor their full rental portfolio online by using an online dashboard which shows full visibility of all transactions. This is accessible 24/7 on mobile, desktop or laptop with live notifications. The team made the decision to launch this new system in spite of the global pandemic, hoping that the platform will help set the standard for what can be expected in a post-COVID world. Apropos believes that this will help them prioritise the wellbeing of landlords, staff and tenants during this difficult time. David Alexander, apropos joint managing director said: “Our day to day priorities remain the safety, security, and welfare of all our staff, landlords and tenants. We must operate in the most responsible and flexible way we can during these extraordinary times. “But equally it is important to recognise that the coronavirus outbreak, despite the current lockdown and difficulties it is currently imposing on all of us, will not last forever.” The platform helps integrate agents across the UK’s major property hotspots, including Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London. The team is hoping to expand this reach over the coming months. Alexander added: “We believe that our platform, which draws on our 40 years of experience in the letting sector, is the future for property management backed up by outstanding service from our apropos agents. We now have 44% of the UK covered by our apropos agents and will be extending our network to cover the largest 100 towns and cities in the country.” Many other businesses are taking this time to launch new schemes. Insuraguest launched a vacation rental program guaranteeing coverage to a $5 million limit, and many hosts have responded to the uncertainty with platforms to create their own direct booking sites.
Since March, all tenants – whether in private or social accommodation – can now sue their landlords if their homes have health-damaging defects. This is thanks to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill 2017-2019, which came into force for new tenancies from 20 March 2019 and, from now, applies to existing, historic tenancies too. “Landlords have had 12 months to consider the implications of the act”, says Hudson Lambert, managing director of Safeguard Europe – the UK’s leading specialist in damp and waterproofing, and masonry repair solutions – “and they’re running out of time to improve these properties before the law starts to bite. Our advice to any that haven’t done so is to assess properties as soon as possible and make the necessary repairs or modifications. No one should be living in homes that are damaging to health.” The Act sets out a raft of issues which, if defective, could cause harm to tenants, including proper ventilation and freedom from damp. The presence of damp and poor ventilation can both promote mould growth, and the relationship between ill health, damp and mould and the negative impact on respiratory health are well established. The English Housing Survey 2018-2019 found that 7% of private rented dwellings and 5% of social housing had some sort of damp problem. In certain sectors, that figure appears to be much higher. Research by the National Union of Students published in February 2019 found that 35% of students were living in rented accommodation with damp and mould. Previously tenants with damp and mould problems could attempt to legally address them by pursuing a statutory nuisance notice with local authority environmental health officers. However, the response to council intervention from landlords has often been to begin eviction proceedings against the tenants, which deterred tenants from complaining. Under the new regime, tenants can sue landlords, not only to force them to fix health-damaging defects, but also for compensation. The courts will decide on the timeframe for any required works, and what the level of compensation will be. For landlords and their advisors seeking expert advice on damp, Safeguard offers a CPD seminar programme on the major causes and effective treatments. The headline CPD, the RIBA-accredited Dealing with Dampness, is an overarching introduction to the problems of rising and penetrating damp that will give landlords, specifiers, builders and others enough information to help them tell the difference between the two and determine sources, while giving options on how to act to cure the problem. For details of Safeguard’s CPD programme, visithttps://www.safeguardeurope.com/training-courses/cpd-seminars
PLANNING has been submitted by a joint venture between Locksley Hotels Ltd and hotel group Ascena for the centrepiece of the much anticipated multi-million-pound Guildhall development in Nottingham, which will create more than 250 jobs for the city. Originally built in 1887, the Guildhall has hosted a magistrates’ court, police station and fire station during its history. The planning application submitted by Ascena and architects RPS Design Group reveals a 162-bed, four-star hotel, which will include a rooftop fine dining restaurant, spa and wedding and conference facilities to bring the building into its next lifetime. John Wilby, project lead for Ascena, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have now submitted planning for the exciting development of one of Nottingham’s most iconic buildings and we hope, all things being well, that work on the site will commence later this year. “It is a landmark development for the city and a key destination for people across the East Midlands. Following close work with heritage consultants Turley and Historic England, we’ve ensured that the plans submitted will see a sensitive restoration of the Grade II listed building. The Guildhall is an amazing building and we are naturally delighted to be working with the city council.” The development will house larger than average (28 square metre) luxury hotel rooms and existing courtrooms in the building will be converted into bar and restaurant facilities, retaining the original listed features. The designs for the modern extension to the northern elevation of the existing building will also utilise high-grade materials to give a nod to Nottingham’s lace heritage. The Guildhall building itself will house the hotel, while more modern extensions at the back of the building would be demolished and rebuilt. Jack Turton, director for Ascena, added: “With the building sitting derelict for the best part of a decade, we’re absolutely thrilled to be working with the city council in taking steps towards bringing this iconic Nottingham building back to life – it’s been a long time coming!” City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen, said: “This is a site that we have long been keen to see developed with a mix of uses, including a high-quality hotel within the main Guildhall building itself. We therefore welcome the fact that a developer is putting forward proposals which could reinvigorate this prime city centre site. “The Guildhall is one of Nottingham’s most distinguished buildings and there has been a great deal of interest in what its future holds. The proposal for a high quality, sensitively restored hotel is an appealing prospect as we continue to transform the city centre into a new destination for residents, businesses and visitors. “It shows ongoing confidence in Nottingham as a city to invest in even during the coronavirus crisis and would complement our wider ambitions for the city’s growth.” Ascena owns and runs a number of luxury hotel and restaurant facilities around the UK, one of which is the Birmingham restaurant Opheem – one of only ten Indian restaurants in the UK to achieve a Michelin star. Opheem which is run by Ascena business partner Aktar Islam. Aktar, who is a former winner of The Great British Menu and The F Word, will be running the rooftop restaurant of the Guildhall development.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there is a recognized hazard when working on the roof or at heights. Minimizing the dangers of working in such areas starts with a deep-rooted understanding of the risks and deployment of the necessary equipment. There are various reasons why people might be on a roof, especially on a commercial building rooftop. For example, maintenance workers could be inspecting the rooftop air handlers, or there might be project construction workers that need to finish a project. Whatever the reason, the property owner must still be able to protect and ensure the safety of the people who might be on the roof of their building. Take note that falls are one of the most common causes of severe workplace-related deaths and injuries. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect whoever is on your roof. Below are some of the ways to avoid fall-related accidents when on the roof. Fall Protection Guardrails Safety System Items which are not carried or worn like anchor points that protect against the risk of fall is under the fall protection safety system. One of the best examples is the guardrails. Guardrails are a stationary system used to safeguard workers from falls when working at height. This type of fall protection safety system is a preferred means of securing workers because they don’t have to be trained on how to wear, use, and inspect a personal fall protection system (PFPS). High-quality guardrails are a convenient and reliable means of fall protection since they act as a physical and visible barrier. Therefore, this fall protection system prevents falls between levels- from heights, stairwells, balconies, roofs, or open holes. The system is commonly used in many places, such as : warehouses retail shops construction sites shipping facilities industrial settings commercial buildings landscaping settings Handrails and guardrails are often used interchangeably. However, handrails and guardrails are not the same, even though guardrails usually have handrails. Generally, handrails are a handhold for people to support themselves when going either downstairs or upstairs. On the other hand, guardrails are specifically designed to prevent falls around the hazard areas. The OSHA has imposed regulations for when guardrails should be installed and specifications for how they must be implemented. By law, building owners or employers should comply with all regulations concerning fall hazards in the workplace provided by the OSHA. Moreover, this fall protection system must be used when people have access to unsecured edges of the following surfaces: Open edges of slab formwork for roofs and floors Around a mezzanine or balcony Around open platforms, raised platforms, or scaffolds Around elevated work surfaces If you are looking for a guardrail that can be installed temporarily, opt for a free-standing, portable, and OSHA compliant mobile roof safety rails. This safety guardrail is non-penetrating and meets the OSHA fall protection standards. Personal Fall Protection Equipment Items that are carried or worn, which protect users from falling, are under the category of personal fall protection equipment (PFPE). There are three PFPE types and methods currently of use. Each equipment focuses on a different risk level and work situation. The first type is called the travel restraint PFPE. It restricts or limits access to locations where a fall can take place. This restrictive PFPE is designed to prevent accidents such as falls. Travel restraint PFPE consists of the following: Anchor Rope Grab Lifeline or Lanyard Full Harness Make sure to pick an anchor that’ll fully support the force of the load. Also, it must be positioned correctly. Before you use the travel restraint PFPE, do the following: Determine all fall hazards in the area. Choose the right components like a snap hook, self-retracting lifeline, energy absorbers, and Y-lanyard. Find suitable anchor points. For example, an anchor point that is almost perpendicular to the hazard area. Ensure that a competent person inspects the equipment before and after use. If a single component of the travel restraint system is not working, that part should be removed immediately. The second type of PFPE is called the positioning PFPE, which enables the partial or total suspension of a worker. It is typically used to protect workers when climbing ladders, allowing them to work without using their hands to support them. The third type is called personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). This equipment isn’t designed to prevent falls from happening but stops the worker’s free fall from a working-walking surface. PFAS consists of self-retracting lifelines, personal fall limiters, connecting devices, and a full-body harness. Regardless of the type of equipment or method use, PFPS must be designed by an experienced and qualified person. An analysis or examination of the supporting structure must also be practiced. Quality Inspection There are several things to consider when examining fall protection systems and personal protection equipment. Has a fall protection system been correctly installed within the guidelines of the manufacturer? Are the calculations accurate to ensure safe load levels? Has it been constructed properly with the correct components? If the answers to these questions are no, then workers working at height may be in danger. Therefore, some problems that quality inspection must cover include: Signs of corrosion Checking damages in cables Energy absorbers inspection Inspection of harnesses and lanyards for cuts and breaks Re-tensioning of cables Checking damages to fittings Quality Training Although safety for people working at heights sits with the employer or building owner, the worker themselves must take responsibility for their safety. However, most of them lack the proper training or knowledge required to correctly identify whether a fall protection system or PFPE is safe to use. Failure in doing so could lead to severe injuries, or worse, death. Thus, quality training is imperative and is always the best form of protection. Takeaway Quality training, regular quality inspection, and the right equipment are essential. However, all count for nothing without the required safety methods and risk assessments considered in place. That said, all equipment must go through pre-checks. Consider hiring an external company
ELAN Homes plans to re-open its sales offices at its new homes developments in early June. The independent homebuilder has confirmed its “new normal” will be for sales offices to be open by appointment only until further notice. Construction was suspended across Elan developments from March 27, with sales offices and show homes closed from that date. Building across the company’s sites resumed on May 11 with construction teams returning to work in phases and in restricted numbers. Marie Morris, sales director for Elan Homes in the North, said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, customers and the wider community is important to us and is why we’ve been hard at work planning for the new normal, developing robust procedures to enable the safe return to work for our teams and the reopening of our sites. “Our aim has been to create a new Elan experience for colleagues, customers and partners, which reflects the very best practice in terms of social distancing. Following the latest announcements from the Government our construction teams and contractors are now back at work in reduced numbers and with additional safety precautions in place.” Elan is adapting its sales offices to aid with social distancing ready to reopen by appointment from June 1. These measures include repositioning furniture, floor stickers to prompt keeping a two metre distance and installing screens in front of sales executives’ desks. “Our dedicated sales team have shown great resilience and flexibility. We’ve adapted our way of working, demonstrating our range of new homes via remote video technology and 3D virtual tours,” Tracey Ball, sales director for Elan Homes in the Midlands, added. “We also recognise that viewing remains an important part of the buying process. Under our new normal, from early June we will be reopening our sales offices and show homes by appointment only. Hand sanitiser will be provided and we’ll have signage in place to remind staff and visitors of the need to maintain a social distance.” In advance of their appointment, customers will be asked to complete a Covid-19 questionnaire and will be advised of Elan’s procedures. Documents will be shared digitally and signed electronically. Cleaning will be carried out between appointments and customers should wait in their car until the sales executive calls to invite them into the marketing suite. Elan’s current developments include Culcheth Green, Culcheth; Derwent Court, West Didsbury; Handforth Court, Handforth; Kinnerton Meadows, Higher Kinnerton; Lindow Fields, Wilmslow; Mossley Gardens, Liverpool; Pippards Court, Somerton; Stableford, Worcester; The Dunes, Formby; The Hyde, Kinver; and Weavers Field, Castle Cary with coming soon sites including Millfields, Middleton, and St Catherine’s Gardens, Lowton. Find out more via http://www.elan-homes.co.uk.
The Government has undertaken a consultation on proposals to lower the threshold on the ban on using combustible construction materials from buildings of 18m to 11m. This would reduce the maximum height of timber-framed buildings from six storeys to four. However, the recent spate of timber-framed fires means that even that reduced height may be questionable. The consultation findings are due to be reported later this year. The ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation proposed reforms to England’s current building safety regulations following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Initially, it was to examine the prohibition of using combustible cladding systems. However, a series of timber building fires has resulted in calls to ban the use of combustible materials for muti-storey building structures. These fires include low-rise multi-storey buildings. Last September, a major fire reduced a four-storey timber-framed block of flats at Worcester Park in South-West London to ashes. In August, a three-storey timber-framed retirement development collapsed after a devastating fire. Meanwhile last November following a fire at a student accommodation block in Bolton, the Fire Protection Association called for a complete ban of the use combustible materials for all buildings regardless of their height. “Timber is not a suitable construction material for either high-rise or low-rise multi-storey buildings. Unlike reinforced concrete which provides up to 6 hours of inherent fire resistance and structural integrity, timber frame offers just 30 minutes,” said Steve Elliott, Chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement. Elliott also questioned the use of cross laminated timber which is being forwarded as a structural frame option because it chars rather burns and has higher strength than timber frame. He said: “Cross laminated timber is being touted as a structural option for multi-storey construction as a layer of charring is thought to prevent the structural component from burning. However, charring is burning and will have a significant impact on structural integrity. To say that charring is not burning is being disingenuous.” He concluded: “There is too much real-time evidence of the unsuitability of timber for multi-storey construction. Building for a safer future must recognise the simple fact: timber burns.”
Gazeley, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces the lease of a 186,000 SQ FT unit at its Magna Park Lutterworth site to Bleckmann, a market leader in Supply Chain Management (SCM) services for the fashion and lifestyle brands. The unit has been leased on a long term lease and will serve as Bleckmann’s new distribution centre in the UK. Tornado 186 is a 186,000 SQ FT unit and has been designed to include a range of leading sustainability features, including online energy dashboards to help customers monitor energy usage, as well as rainwater harvesting and technology to optimise the use of natural light. Magna Park Lutterworth is the UK’s first and Europe’s largest dedicated logistics and distribution park. It is currently undergoing development to expand the park from 9 million SQ FT of floor space to nearly 16 million SQ FT in the coming years. Gazeley is also developing a series of new amenities, including wellness and recreation facilities as well as the new Logistics Institute of Technology (LIT). Magna Park, Lutterworth benefits from excellent transport links to the rest of the UK, with 59.3 million people, or 85% of the UK population, within a four hour drive of the development as a result of its easy access to the M1, M6 and M69 motorways. Joe Garwood, Development Director, Gazeley, said: “We are delighted to announce Bleckmann as the newest member of our customer community and look forward to growing our partnership with them in the years to come”. Situated in the heart of the “UK’s Logistics Golden Triangle”, Magna Park Lutterworth is an iconic development, ideally suited to serve the fast-expanding supply chain operations of today’s distribution companies. Four further units on our Magna Park South Lutterworth comprising 746,000 SQ FT, 300,000 SQ FT, 126,000 SQ FT and 98,000 SQ FT will be available for occupancy in Autumn 2020.”
The employee-owned packaging company has expanded its pallet and load stability range, providing users with a wide range of solutions for their operations. Load stability is vital to ensure the safety of loads not only whilst being transported on public roads, but also whilst being moved/stored. Kite Packaging supply a huge range of packaging products to support companies with load stability and have recently extended their range to include pallet boxes, pallet bands and PPE strapping kits, each offering a range of benefits. Pallet boxes Kite’s pallet box without a pallet is the ideal solution for customers who already have pallets and just require the tray, cap and sleeve pallet box. The benefits of this large pallet box is that it can either be used purely as a large box for storage, can be placed on top of an existing pallet, or used with Kite’s individual corrugated pallet runners which can be attached to the bottom, therefore making it a pallet. So, if customers need something more versatile then this is the ideal solution. Sanstrap pallet bands Produced from 100% recyclable 40-micron Polyethylene (PE) film and 100% recyclable, Kite’s offering of Sanstrap pallet bands, a recognised name in the industry, provide great stability, keeping products secure whilst in transit or storage. Once in place these polythene Sanstrap bands quickly grip, holding everything firmly on a pallet. They arrive perforated on a roll in an easy to use portable dispenser box, simply tear off and fit around the load, ensuring one band per layer. Polypropylene strapping kits Kite’s strapping kits are suitable for a wide range of uses and are available in polypropylene, corded, polyester and steel strapping. Recently expanded, Kite’s polypropylene strapping kit range now includes a strapping kit with a combination tool that performs both the tensioning & sealing. It’s vital to have the correct tools for securing products, particularly for handling and transportation. For more information on Kite Packaging and their range of products and services, visit kitepackaging.co.uk.
LHG (London Hotel Group) has won planning permission to expand its aparthotel scheme on Tooting High Street, bringing 373 high-quality guest rooms across six floors with basements to one of London’s ‘coolest neighbourhoods’, popular with both residents and tourists alike. Designed by hospitality design expert Dexter Moren Associates (DMA), the previously consented aparthotel scheme at 111-113 Tooting High Street will now include the adjacent site of the former Tooting Constitutional Club at 101A Tooting High Street. The scheme’s revision has seen the elevations redesigned to improve its relationship with the character of the immediate area, whilst the restaurant and bar section now creates an active frontage to the high street. New and improved club space will be provided, as well as access to outdoor amenities for the local community. Meher Nawab, CEO, LHG, said: “Tooting is a lively and growing area, voted into the Top 10 “coolest” neighbourhoods by Lonely Planet, and we are delighted to be playing an important role in the ongoing growth and popularity of the district. Our new aparthotel development will deliver high-quality facilities and amenity space that will benefit and support the development’s neighbours, residents and local groups, as well as meeting a currently unfulfilled need for hotel accommodation in and around the Tooting area.” DMA’s design for the scheme creates a simple, high-quality building that uses a pared-back palette of materials, including red and grey brickwork, to respond to the character of the area. Floor-to-ceiling height has been adjusted to ensure the increase in scale is kept to a minimum, whilst the height of the buildings have been carefully considered and staggered from three storeys up to six to provide a transition from neighbouring three-storey properties along Woodbury Street. Lightwells will be used to allow natural light and ventilation to ground floor and basement guestrooms, with circadian lighting to simulate the day’s natural cycle. The provision of 547sq m of new community space for D1 use across basement level will be accessible from Tooting High Street, as will 625sq m public green with outdoor seating zones, raised planting and soft landscaped areas. Herbert Lui, Partner, DMA, said: “I am pleased to have worked with Meher to help deliver LHG’s vision for an enhanced solution to this project; incorporating the adjacent site to create a unified design which improved the setting of the neighbouring listed buildings. Working to LHG’s new brief for the project has also given us the opportunity to revisit the façade design to create a design that is more complementary to the neighbourhood. The recently consented scheme has an improved public access to the outdoor amenity space to the rear and we are pleased that the existing clubhouse is sympathetically integrated with the outdoor amenity and the hotel.” LHG’s scheme will deliver 124 new full-time jobs for the local community, increase the footfall to the town centre and bring in an estimated £1.71 million spend to local businesses. Importantly, it will also provide 500 nights of free accommodation to local health charities Explains Meher: “We are proud to present a hotel, which will act as a respite for parents and relatives of sick children at local healthcare facilities, including St George’s Hospital who require overnight accommodation. As part of our offer, we will provide a minimum of 500 free room nights per year to St George’s Hospital via Ronald McDonald House and St George’s Hospital Charity.” Planning consultant for the scheme is Q Square and work is expected to start on site in November 2020.