Civil engineering firm GRAHAM has completed work on a new junction on the M11, delivering one of the biggest highways infrastructure projects in Essex. The £76 million M11 Junction 7A scheme opened to the public ahead of schedule on Friday (10 June) and has created much-needed new access into Harlow
If you work on a construction site, you probably know all the safety risks involved. They include lack of fall protection, faulty ladders, and insufficient head protection. You would be wise to speak up if you notice any of these concerns on your site. Here are a few reasons to
Leading civil engineering and construction contractor Spencer Group has been appointed by Associated British Ports (ABP) to be part of a major national investment programme. Spencer Group has been appointed to the Industrial Buildings Framework Contract to build large-scale industrial buildings for ABP in four out of five regions across
The 50 most inspiring projects from the past 50 years have been revealed by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession – in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Entitled ’50 Projects for a Better Future’, the list features iconic projects from around the
Sustainable biomass supplier and timber products specialist GMG Energy has made a strategic purchase of a substantial swathe of forest in the far north-east of Scotland to protect future supply and increase its resilience to market shocks. The resource-rich company, which originated on a farm in the Strath of Halladale
One of the common problems faced by any company that transports goods regularly is the issue of safety and security. Most companies rely on their trucks for efficient operation since they’re known to be reliable and durable vehicles. However, with the increasing demand for goods transportation in the international arena,
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, is planning a £250 million speculative logistics development, which will include the UK’s largest-ever speculative logistics building, in Avonmouth, Bristol. The development, called Panattoni Park Avonmouth, will be located on a prime, 73-acre site, Central Park, which Panattoni has just acquired
HS2 recently announced the start of construction at the site of its first innovative ‘green tunnel’, designed to blend the high speed railway into the landscape and reduce disruption for communities. Unlike a normal underground tunnel, the one-and-a-half mile (2.5km) Chipping Warden green tunnel in Northamptonshire is being built on
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of a site with the benefit of a full planning consent in the market town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to LNT Care Developments. Full planning permission was granted in September 2019 for the demolition of existing buildings on the circa
New research by Deepki, the ESG data intelligence firm, which surveyed 250 European pension fund managers* in the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy, with a combined AUM of €402 billion, shows that across different segments of the real estate sector, industrial properties such as warehouses and manufacturing sites lead
Civil engineering firm GRAHAM has completed work on a new junction on the M11, delivering one of the biggest highways infrastructure projects in Essex. The £76 million M11 Junction 7A scheme opened to the public ahead of schedule on Friday (10 June) and has created much-needed new access into Harlow and included widening and improvement of Gilden Way, plus a new link road connecting Gilden Way and the junction via new roundabouts on either side of the motorway. As part of the project, GRAHAM, in collaboration with Essex County Council, has built a new bridge over the motorway, constructed slip roads for both northbound and southbound traffic, and improved walking and cycling access on Gilden Way. Funded by the council and National Highways, the new junction completes a project that started in summer 2020. Discussing the project on the day of its opening, Cllr Lesley Wagland, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning, said: “Today marks the opening of one of the largest highways infrastructure projects in the county and it is testament to all involved that, despite the challenges of the last two years, the project has been delivered ahead of schedule. “We have created a much-needed new east-west link, significantly improving access to the M11 at Harlow. This, in turn, will help reduce congestion on the A414 and other routes in the town and also support future growth, including the potential creation of up to 3,000 new jobs.” Matt Stafford, National Highways Regional Delivery Director, said: “We understand how important the M11 is to thousands of road users every day. “The road is a vital link for work journeys, visits to friends and family, and the movement of goods and services between London and East Anglia, and we’re pleased to have worked in partnership with Essex County Council to deliver this scheme. “A huge amount of work has gone in to get to this point and I am delighted to see the last piece of the jigsaw put in place with the opening of this new junction.” The junction opened to traffic on Friday evening, following a formal opening event the previous day. The public, whom the council thanked for their patience during construction of the scheme, was also given a unique opportunity to see the final scheme up close before it opened to traffic during a 5km charity fun run, which was supported by Harlow Running and Tri Club and Active Essex. The fun-run, which raised money for a local charity supporting children living with cerebral palsy and St Clare Hospice, saw more than 500 participants run from the London Road Roundabout to the new junction and back. With match-funding from GRAHAM, their efforts raised over £9,000. Dave Brown, Highways Director for GRAHAM Civil Engineering, added: “We’re pleased to have completed construction and delivered this important project in the region. The team has worked tirelessly during the programme, which included a challenging bridge beam installation over two weeks, involving four overnight closures to minimise disruption to road users. The new junction is a testament to our team’s civil engineering expertise and another addition to our growing highways portfolio.” For more information about the scheme and the new junction, visit www.essex.gov.uk/junction7a.
If you work on a construction site, you probably know all the safety risks involved. They include lack of fall protection, faulty ladders, and insufficient head protection. You would be wise to speak up if you notice any of these concerns on your site. Here are a few reasons to consider speaking up about health and safety concerns at your construction site. Silence May be Mistaken for Approval If you are silent about the safety and health issues at your construction site, the management will likely assume everything is fine. They may mistake your silence for approval of the existing working conditions. Staying silent seems like the best way to stay in conflict. However, it only sets you up for future conflict. Silence can communicate just as much as your words. Disapproval can be pointless if you don’t say anything about it. It can be just as bad as enabling the problem. Others May be Facing the Same Concerns If you run into health and safety concerns, other workers may face the same problems. They may be afraid to voice out their concerns. However, speaking up for yourself could motivate them to do the same. If everyone stays quiet, nothing will change. The hazardous situations and conditions could remain the same for a long time. What if someone is injured on your construction site? You may have enabled the situation if someone is injured on your site because you didn’t speak up. If you stay silent out of the fear of offending, you are working against the greater good. When you and other workers are exposed to poor working conditions and situations, staying silent is selfish. You could be the difference between life, serious injury, and death. If someone is injured before or after you report the matter, seek the help of attorneys like www.wieandlaw.com as soon as possible. Do some research to make sure you are working with the right lawyer. They should be experienced and passionate about similar issues. Others May Not Have Identifies the Issue Sometimes, you are the first one to detect a problem. If you notice a hazard compromising other workers’ safety and health, don’t assume that everyone has seen it. What seems obvious to you won’t necessarily be obvious to others. You may have the knowledge and experience to assess situations that others lack. No one has your perspective. Reporting even the smallest problem could provide the piece of the puzzle needed to fix more significant issues. Avoiding Miscommunication Speaking up when you have something to say opens up communication channels. It reduces the risk of miscommunication. No matter how great your intentions may be, they may be misinterpreted if you don’t express them. For example, you may be mistaken for hesitating to work if you don’t express your health and safety concerns. Sit down with everyone involved and address your concerns. You could help create a culture of open communication on the site. Safety must be rooted in your company culture. However, this is impossible if no one ever speaks about health and safety concerns. Your voice could be the nudge everyone else needs to start moving in the direct direction. It could encourage others to speak about their experiences and general concerns. If you choose to speak up, take some time to prepare first. Be specific about your issues and anticipate a few questions. Focus on the critical facts and give solid explanations for why the issue is essential. If you can, recommend a few solutions. Focus on the present and the future rather than the past.
Leading civil engineering and construction contractor Spencer Group has been appointed by Associated British Ports (ABP) to be part of a major national investment programme. Spencer Group has been appointed to the Industrial Buildings Framework Contract to build large-scale industrial buildings for ABP in four out of five regions across the UK where the port owner operates – South East and North West England, Scotland and Wales. ABP is the UK’s leading ports group and its network of 21 ports supports 119,000 jobs and handles about a quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade, worth £150bn annually. The framework will run for five years, with scope to extend to a further two years. ABP plans to invest a significant value across the four regions with specific projects determined by port requirements in each location. The success for Spencer Group’s industrial division follows an extensive competitive tendering selection process involving both regional and national contractors across the UK. Spencer Group Off Site Construction Director Richard Green-Morgan, who leads the industrial division of the business, said: “We’re delighted to be appointed to this framework. This is a very significant contract for us and a positive continuation of our strong working relationship with ABP. “Being appointed by ABP in each of these regions is further evidence of our excellent reputation as a leading provider of multi-disciplinary engineering and construction projects across the UK. “It will also strengthen our presence and position these locations, undoubtedly creating opportunities to work with new partners and SMEs to jointly support ABP’s ambitious plans for the future. “We’re looking forward to getting started and working with ABP on these important projects.” Spencer Group has undertaken a number of schemes over the past year providing consultancy and construction services to develop and support a variety of capital projects in various ports. Spencer Group Managing Director Gary Thornton said: “Our appointment to the Industrial Buildings Frameworks Contract is very positive news for Spencer Group. “The framework is yet another example of our developing relationship with ABP, which started over 30 years ago. Our ability to provide technical support, design and delivery capabilities to provide new and enhanced existing assets and infrastructure mean we are able to support ABP’s investment decisions and meet their customer demands. “We’re proud of the faith shown in us by ABP and are looking forward to starting work under this new framework to deliver exceptional value to ABP and their customers.” Spencer Group delivers innovative engineering and construction solutions in the transport, infrastructure, materials handling, energy and industrial sectors. To find out more about the company’s work, visit www.thespencergroup.co.uk.
The 50 most inspiring projects from the past 50 years have been revealed by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession – in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Entitled ’50 Projects for a Better Future’, the list features iconic projects from around the globe and across the fields of construction and engineering, technology, healthcare, sports and nature, arts and media. More than 600 projects were nominated for inclusion in the list by a panel made up of APM members, board members and industry experts. Projects were selected based on the transformative impact they have had on society, the economy and environment since their launch within the past 50 years. Canary Wharf, the Channel Tunnel, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Angel of the North, the Eden Project, Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, Øresund Bridge, Wikipedia, the World Wide Web, the UK Covid-19 vaccine rollout, In vitro fertilisation (IVF), the Hubble Space Telescope, the Large Hadron Collider and Mars Perseverance Rover all make it onto the list. The full list including project descriptions is available at apm.org.uk/50projects Professor Adam Boddison, Chief Executive of APM, says: “To mark our 50th anniversary we wanted to celebrate and recognise the impact that projects have had on the world, and the important role that project professionals play in embracing change and opportunity. The 50 projects on this list all have their own legacy in the impact they have had on society, the economy and environment, as well as acting as a catalyst for other projects which followed and will follow them in the future.” The 50 projects by sector: Construction and Engineering: Hong Kong International Airport – 1998 The Channel Tunnel – 1994 The Øresund Bridge – (Sweden/Denmark) – 2000 Canary Wharf – London – 1991 The Thames Barrier – London – 1984 The Falkirk Wheel – Scotland – 2002 Maeslant Barrier (Netherlands) – 1997 Unisphere (United States) – 2018 Madrid Metro Extension – 1995-2003 The Peace Bridge (Northern Ireland) – 2011 Sports, Media and Arts: Angel of the North – 1998 Guggenheim Bilbao Museum – 1997 BBC Children in Need – 1980 Hamiliton – 2015 Tate Modern – 1994 FIFA Women’s World Cup – 2019 London Olympic and Paralympic Games – 2012 Parkrun – 2004 Forest Green Rovers – 2010 Healthcare and Education: HIV antiretroviral therapy – Mid 1990s EPS Electronic Prescribing Service – 2013 Global Polio Eradication – 1988 HPV Vaccination – 2008 Human Genome Project – 1990-2003 In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) – 1978 (first IVF baby born) Tackling Poverty in Renfrewshire Programme – 2014 Vaccine taskforce & development – 2020 Educating girls in the Swat Valley – 2013 Netherlands cycling revolution – 1970s Nepal earthquake response – 2015 Science and Nature: International Space Station – 1998 Howdon and Bran Sands Gas to Grid plants – 2012 Hubble Space Telescope – 1990 Kielder Reservoir – 1982 Large Hadron Collider – 2008 The Mars Perseverance Rover – 2020 Svalbard Global Seed Vault – 2008 The Eden Project – 2001 Cloning of Dolly the Sheep – 1996 The Voyager spacecraft programme – 1977 Technology: Amager Bakke – 2017 Global Positioning System (GPS) – 1973 The PACUNAM Lidar Initiative (discovery of Mayan cities) – 2016 Landsat – 1972 Raising the Mary Rose – 1982 The Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) – 2003 The Eurofighter Typhoon – 1983 Wikipedia – 2001 World Wide Web – 1989 SWIFT banking service – 1977 To see the full list of APMs ’50 Projects for a Better Future’ visit apm.org.uk/50projects
Sustainable biomass supplier and timber products specialist GMG Energy has made a strategic purchase of a substantial swathe of forest in the far north-east of Scotland to protect future supply and increase its resilience to market shocks. The resource-rich company, which originated on a farm in the Strath of Halladale in Sutherland, has acquired 400 acres of softwood-planted land at Quintfall Forest, towards the east coast south of John O’Groats. The forest contains 21,000 tonnes of productive timber, very roughly equivalent to 90,000 tree-sized logs. The sawmill at GMG Energy’s production facility currently processes in the region of 2,000 tonnes a year, meaning that the purchase has created security of supply for the foreseeable future. As a major plank of its business model, the company is committed to replacing every log of timber that it uses, and plants 10,000 new trees a year, which grow to maturity in 35 years. It far exceeded this target last year, planting in the region of 20,000 trees. Malcolm Morrison, Director of GMG Energy, said: “It has been our policy up until now to buy our raw materials on the open market, from established local suppliers, but this deal will ensure continuity of supply in an increasingly volatile environment. “Quintfall is just over 20 miles from our base of operation at Bighouse Farm, so it will not add to the road miles burden and the acquisition will chime with our wish to invest locally and provide a reliable resource for other local companies. “The purchase will not affect our ongoing planting programme, as replenishment is the key to sustainability, and we will continue to try to reduce our impact on the environment by not wasting any of the product with which we work.” At the same time as the Quintfall purchase, GMG Energy has invested £150,000 in state-of-the-art sawmill equipment which takes its larger timber and processes it into posts, rail, cladding and purlins, or structural roof members. It also plans a spend of in the region of £100,000 on timber treatment equipment which will open up new markets among construction companies and farm businesses which require treated and stress-tested products. Carbon-aware GMG Energy is also investigating the possibility creating heat and steam from wood waste to turn a turbine in order to self-generate the electricity it uses and to further minimise its environmental impact. GMG Energy is sited at Bighouse, where Mr Morrison’s Sutherland-born mother still lives in the farmhouse. The company increased turnover in the year to August 2021 to just over £2 million, up from £1.7 million the previous year.
One of the common problems faced by any company that transports goods regularly is the issue of safety and security. Most companies rely on their trucks for efficient operation since they’re known to be reliable and durable vehicles. However, with the increasing demand for goods transportation in the international arena, there’s also an increased need for load restraint equipment to ensure that cargoes remain secure while in transit. Many companies are vulnerable because of poor load restraint equipment in their cargoes. There are many ways to evade this challenge, including using chains, ropes, and lashing equipment. You can find out more about essential equipment for your cargoes, but, before that, here are some advantages of having them installed in your vehicle and how you can benefit from them: To Reduce The Chances Of A Cargo Falling Off The primary purpose of load restraint equipment is to reduce the chances of cargo falling off a vehicle during transportation. You can use load restraint equipment to secure cargo in vehicles, such as trucks or trailers. This way, you can be guaranteed safe transit no matter how long the journey is or rough the roads are. This allows you to keep up to promises and avoid disappointing clients. Without the equipment, you risk getting into an accident with the goods in the truck, which may cost you more and put your finances at risk. The Two Types Of Load Restraint Offer Different Abilities There are two types of restraints in the logistics and transportation industry—rigid and non-rigid. Rigid restraints offer more strength, providing greater vehicle and load integrity. In contrast, non-rigid restraints are best when transporting sensitive materials that you, your driver, and everyone in charge of delivery must handle cautiously. These are also known as soft tie-down straps and are usually made with woven fabric or webbing. These types of straps are typically easier to install than rigid restraints because they’re flexible and can be used on various vehicles. However, they also offer less strength, which means they’re not always ideal for heavier loads. Rigid cargo securement systems, on the one hand, use metal links and hooks to connect your cargo tie-downs into loops around your entire load area. They’re generally more expensive than their non-rigid counterparts, but offer superior protection from flexing under pressure. You can use them for items on board your trailer rigs, like lumber or any other heavy load. You can also use them if you’re moving construction items to construction sites. They’re more appropriate in ensuring utmost safety during the process and preventing any casualty that may complicate your work. They Allow Safe Transportation Load restraints are still used as anchors and sliding winches. However, some vehicles come with standard features that ensure you can safely and securely transport any item to any destination. You can hire an expert to help you install these tools in vehicles to make them safe for transportation. They’re available in different sizes, shapes, and forms. They also come with different weights, depending on your needs. These needs may range from transporting motorcycles, boats, cars, trucks, or livestock, among others. Note that even if you’re transporting glasses, you have non-rigid load restraints. All you need to ensure is that you choose the suitable material for your cargo and keep it in the appropriate place. You can ship these goods through rail or ocean routes— what matters is that your goods are well tied and fastened to the restraint materials. They Provide Extra Protection Even In Transit It’s essential to have quality load restraint equipment when you’re transporting goods because they provide your goods with extra protection while they’re in transit. The equipment will keep the load inside the truck intact and prevent it from sliding or shifting during transport. This will help ensure your cargo arrives at its destination sans any damage. Many types of quality load restraint equipment are available on the market today, including ratchet straps, tie-downs, cargo nets, and any other thing you need for an international shipment. Each type of product has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on what type of vehicle you plan on using for transportation purposes and the available space in the vehicle. Some products provide safety even if you bump into potholes; some don’t. You, therefore, need to be sure what loads you want to package, as well as the best restraint equipment that’s suitable for them. You may need to consider different options if you’re flying these goods across cities, states, or continents. Conclusion Load restraints help you easily secure your goods while transporting goods within a country or internationally. You get to fasten such products to your trucks or trailers, and have them reach their destinations without any damage. The key to doing this effectively is knowing which load restraint is necessary for your requirements.
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, is planning a £250 million speculative logistics development, which will include the UK’s largest-ever speculative logistics building, in Avonmouth, Bristol. The development, called Panattoni Park Avonmouth, will be located on a prime, 73-acre site, Central Park, which Panattoni has just acquired in an off-market deal. Panattoni will commence speculative development of 1.3 million sq ft of consented space in two units of 406,000 sq ft and 882,000 sq ft, which will be the UK’s largest-ever single speculative logistics building. Panattoni expects to start construction shortly, with the intention of completing the development in the third quarter of 2023. Panattoni Park Avonmouth is strategically positioned for local and national distribution via the M32, M48, M49, M4 and M5 motorways. Major occupiers in the area, include Amazon, The Range, Lidl, DHL, Tesco and Davies Turner. James Watson, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “Our new acquisition gives us the ability to deliver large-scale speculative units in an established logistics location. UK stock remains at an all-time low at a time when Bristol and the wider south-west and south-east markets are experiencing their strongest take-up for many years”. Agents for Panattoni Park Avonmouth are DTRE, JLL & Colliers.
HS2 recently announced the start of construction at the site of its first innovative ‘green tunnel’, designed to blend the high speed railway into the landscape and reduce disruption for communities. Unlike a normal underground tunnel, the one-and-a-half mile (2.5km) Chipping Warden green tunnel in Northamptonshire is being built on the surface using a pioneering off-site manufacturing approach to speed up construction and improve efficiency. This approach will see more than five thousand giant concrete tunnel segments made in a factory in Derbyshire before being assembled on site. The completed tunnel will then be covered by earth, with trees, shrubs and hedgerows planted to fit in with the surrounding countryside. Chipping Warden is one of five ‘green tunnels’ that are being built on phase one of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve links between London, Birmingham and the north, help level-up the economy and provide a low carbon alternative to car and air travel. Applying lessons from the construction of the latest French high speed lines, the off-site approach was developed by HS2’s main works contractor, EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall. The tunnel segments are being made by Stanton Precast in Ilkeston Derbyshire as part of a contract which is set to create up to 100 local jobs. HS2 Ltd’s Project Client Rohan Perin, said: “The Chipping Warden green tunnel is a great example of what we’re doing to reduce disruption for people living close to the railway – and it’s fantastic to see the first arches in position. “Our trains will be powered by zero carbon electricity but it’s also important to reduce the amount of carbon embedded in construction. The off-site manufacturing techniques being used will help cutting the overall amount of carbon-intensive concrete and steel in the tunnel and make the whole process faster, more efficient and therefore less disruptive for the community.” Designed as an m-shaped double arch, the tunnel will have separate halves for southbound and northbound trains – each one the height of two double-decker buses. Instead of casting the whole tunnel on site, five different concrete precast segments will be slotted together to achieve the double arch – one central pier, two side walls and two roof slabs. All 5,020 segments will be steel reinforced, with the largest weighing up to 43 tonnes. Concrete and steel are some of the biggest sources of carbon emissions within the construction industry and by reducing the amount of both materials needed for the tunnel, this lighter-weight modular approach is expected to more than halve the amount of carbon embedded in the structure. It also requires less people and equipment on site, improving safety and reducing disruption for residents. EKFB’s Project Manager, Jeremie Martin, said: “Seeing the first set of precast units being installed is a milestone that the whole team is very proud of. This three-year construction programme will benefit from off-site manufacturing making the green tunnel build more efficient than the traditional on-site building method. “The HS2 green tunnels are a first of its kind in the UK. We have designed them as a twin arch ‘M’ shape which is more efficient than the standard box structure, reducing the amount of concrete required, which is a great example of how innovative engineering design can reduce carbon impact.” The tunnel will be built in sections, with construction expected to be complete in 2024. A relief road has also recently been completed, which will take HS2 vehicles – and other local traffic – away from the centre of the village of Chipping Warden. This will later be extended, to take the A361 over the top of the green tunnel. Similar green tunnels will also be built at nearby Greatworth as well as Wendover in Buckinghamshire and Burton Green in Warwickshire, stretching for a combined total of more than four miles. The tunnels will all have specially designed ‘porous portals’ at either end to reduce the noise of trains entering and exiting the tunnel, along with small portal buildings to house safety and electrical equipment. Tailored landscaping design plans will be developed for each tunnel, with thousands of native trees and shrubs typical to the local area such as Silver Birch, Oak, Beech and Willow planted to create new woodland areas around the portals and recreate the hedgerows and field boundaries on top of the tunnel. All 13,290 segments for Chipping Warden, Greatworth and Wendover are being made by Derbyshire-based Stanton Precast Ltd, in a deal that is set to create up to 100 jobs at their Ilkeston factory – an increase in their workforce of around 50%. New production sheds, casting and storage areas are also being built at the factory to accommodate the new work.
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of a site with the benefit of a full planning consent in the market town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to LNT Care Developments. Full planning permission was granted in September 2019 for the demolition of existing buildings on the circa 1.3-acre site as well as the erection of a new 78-bedroom care home in one three-storey block. Situated in a highly visible roadside location, the consented care development is close to Nuneaton town centre and is well placed to benefit from desirable community amenities and public transport connections. The site was previously owned by Linden Homes, and has now been sold to LNT Care Developments, the largest provider of carbon-zero, affordable and high-quality care homes in the UK. Plans have been submitted to Nuneaton and Bedworth County Council for a care home development comprising 66 beds with social spaces including a cinema room, health and beauty facilities, garden room, and café bar. External features include attractively landscaped gardens to enhance wellbeing whilst boosting the ecological value with use of pollinating, habitat friendly sensory planting. The building is designed to be resource and energy efficient with a key aim of generating the majority of the care home’s energy needs on-site using solar power and ground source heating. Speaking on behalf of LNT Group, Land Director, Keeley Sharp, comments, “LNT Care Developments is delighted to have acquired this scheme in Nuneaton, adding to an established and emerging pipeline of sites across the Midlands and in line with our strategy to continue to address the shortfall in quality care provision across the UK. Detailed planning has been submitted for a 66-bedroom care home, providing outstanding accommodation with fully en-suite bedrooms, spacious communal areas, and state-of-the-art amenities with a planned construction commencement September 2022.” Sara Hartill, Business Agent – Healthcare Development at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, comments, “A care home development site in this location is well suited to the needs of future residents and will integrate well into the town as a vital community asset where there was a demonstrable need for a new, purpose-built care home.” David Charles of Linden Homes added, “We are delighted that LNT acquired the site and plan to develop a care home for the elderly which is much needed in the area and we look forward to seeing the site develop.” The Nuneaton site was sold for an undisclosed price.
New research by Deepki, the ESG data intelligence firm, which surveyed 250 European pension fund managers* in the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy, with a combined AUM of €402 billion, shows that across different segments of the real estate sector, industrial properties such as warehouses and manufacturing sites lead the way when it comes to ESG performance. The report asked respondents to rate the performance of eight commercial property sectors. Two thirds (62%) rated the ESG performance of the industrial sector as good or very good, followed by leisure (61%), and retail (60%). This compares to logistics and office real estate which had the lowest ‘positive’ rating of 47% and 44% respectively. The full analysis is included in the table below: Sector Very poor Poor Average Good Very good Total ‘positive’ Industrial 9% 10% 19% 24% 38% 62% Leisure 3% 10% 26% 33% 28% 61% Retail 11% 10% 19% 37% 23% 60% Care homes 8% 14% 25% 33% 20% 53% Social housing 7% 10% 30% 36% 17% 53% Hotels 6% 11% 31% 34% 18% 52% Logistics 8% 15% 30% 26% 21% 47% Office 1% 17% 38% 29% 15% 44% Commenting on the research findings, Vincent Bryant, CEO and Co-founder of Deepki, said: “Pension funds are becoming highly active when it comes to improving the ESG performance of their assets, and commercial real estate is no exception. Sectors such as industrial and leisure are already performing well, albeit with room for improvement. Deepki is seeing significant demand from institutional investors keen to get an accurate picture of the ESG performance of their assets and ensure they are on a path to net zero.” Founded in 2014, Deepki’s SaaS platform helps real estate investors, owners and managers improve the ESG performance of their real estate assets, and in the process enhance their value. The real estate sector is currently responsible for around 40% of the Earth’s carbon emissions, and has a clear target of reaching net zero by 2050 – a goal set by the World Green Building Council Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. More than $5 trillion of investment[1] is needed each year to decarbonise the built environment and ensure the real estate sector can meet its commitment to meet the net zero target by 2050. Deepki estimates that the value of the monitoring and analytics market required to achieve this goal will be worth $5 to $10 billion by 2025, with year-on-year growth of 20%. The SaaS platform enables clients to collect ESG data, get a comprehensive overview of their portfolio’s ESG performance, establish investment plans to reach Net Zero, and assess results. It also allows users to report to key stakeholders. The platform is supported by carbon and ESG experts who partner with clients across data collection and analysis, through to ESG strategy definition and implementation. Now with over 150 employees, offices in five European capitals and operating in over 38 countries, Deepki has become the global leader in ESG and data intelligence solutions for environmental transition in the commercial real estate sector, with more than 500 million m² – almost five times the area of Paris – under management. To date, Deepki has saved over 180,000 equivalent tonnes of CO₂ across its client base. For further information about Deepki’s end-to-end solutions, visit: www.deepki.com [1] Vivid Economics