Eighth project completed and delivered by Salboy in partnership with DOMIS, its dedicated construction partner. Fifty5ive Queen Street completed ahead of the completion date and under budget. Unique scheme, designed in collaboration with Jon Matthews Architects, to combine two industrial sites and deliver a scheme with a GDV of £52
Almost £6 billion has been given out in discounts through the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme since the size of the discount was increased in 2012, new analysis by the Local Government Association reveals. The LGA, which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, warns that the scheme
hub South West Scotland, on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council, has appointed Kier Construction as their construction partner to deliver the new St. Kevin’s Community Hub, which incorporates St. Kevin’s Primary School and community facilities. The modern learning, teaching and community campus will be situated close to its existing location
Business improvement specialists, BBI Services strive to transform business performance across the built environment industry in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (the School). BBI Services has developed a series of exceptional training and coaching programmes, which build the skillsets, mindsets and toolsets of individuals and teams to achieve
UK Power Networks Services will complete electrical infrastructure upgrades to allow a new fleet of trains to operate on the Piccadilly line and improve reliability and service frequency. The project – which began in June 2022 and is scheduled to finish in June 2025 – will see UK Power Networks
The first sea shipment of construction aggregate derived from Cornish china clay waste has been brought into London by UK recycled materials specialists GRS. The delivery marks the start of an exclusive deal which enables GRS to import more than half a million tonnes of secondary granite – branded Enviroc®
Knightsbridge has taken the next step in its lighting evolution with the inclusion of SpektroLED® Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLED® series. SpektroLED® offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt
Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM Real Assets) has acquired a 6.2-acre freehold estate in Horsham, West Sussex on behalf of its Industrial Property Investment Fund (“IPIF”). LGIM Real Assets and its development partner, Graftongate, plan to speculatively develop a prime multi-unit industrial/logistics scheme on the site of Wilberforce House
BUILD-TO-RENT(BTR) specialist Wise Living, in partnership with developer Strata Homes, has recently launched its first development in East Yorkshire. This adds to Wise Living’s expanding portfolio in Northern England – with homes already in Birkenhead and coming soon to Rotherham. As UK house prices hit a record high for a fifth
One in seven (14%) tradespeople now get the bus to jobs because they can’t afford to drive Tradespeople set to increase prices by 24%, on average Over a quarter (29%) now only accept hyper-local jobs in order to reduce their fuel usage Rising fuel costs are hitting UK tradespeople hard,
Eighth project completed and delivered by Salboy in partnership with DOMIS, its dedicated construction partner. Fifty5ive Queen Street completed ahead of the completion date and under budget. Unique scheme, designed in collaboration with Jon Matthews Architects, to combine two industrial sites and deliver a scheme with a GDV of £52 million Salboy, the national developer, has announced the completion of Fifty5ive Queen Street, a 220-unit residential scheme in the popular Greengate neighbourhood of Salford, Greater Manchester with a GDV of £52 million. Fifty5ive is now the eighth development to have been completed by Salboy in partnership with DOMIS, its dedicated construction partner. Fifty5ive is a scheme developed across two adjoining sites that in isolation were not considered viable for redevelopment: the old Copperworks on King Street and a second site on Queen Street, both of which were surrounded by historic and often listed buildings. Working with Jon Matthews Architect, Salboy and DOMIS were able to bring forward an ambitious scheme that combined the two sites to allow for a more efficient floorplate, larger amenity space and more natural light. The residential development comprises 220 stylish 1 & 2 bed apartments and 3-bed duplexes. The complex includes a cinema, a fully furnished gym, yoga studio, co-working spaces and a break-out lounge and is specially targeted at young professionals building their lives and careers in the twin cities of Manchester and Salford. The Fifty5ive development is located in the Greengate area of Salford, only 10 minutes’ walk from Manchester’s bustling shopping district and popular Northern Quarter. The scheme also stands next to the historic Black Friars pub which was restored and reopened last year, as well as Local Blackfriars, also designed by Jon Matthews Architect, a luxury city-living development of 380 apartments, townhouses and penthouses completed by Salboy in 2019 at a GDV of £85 million. Greengate has experienced major regeneration in recent years and has become hugely popular among buyers. Committed to creating a vibrant and welcoming community, Salboy has marketed this development to a blend of owner-occupiers and investors letting their properties to long-term renters. At the point of practical completion, 98% of the scheme’s homes had been reserved by buyers. Fifty5ive is the eighth scheme completed and delivered by Salboy in partnership with DOMIS. Seven of the partners’ joint schemes have been located in Manchester, Salford and Cheshire. The partners are currently on site on further six developments spanning Manchester, Salford, Cornwall and Central London. Salboy projects completed and underway with DOMIS have an estimated combined GDV of £1 billion. Simon Ismail – Co-founder and MD Salboy: “Once again, the Salboy and DOMIS partnership has delivered: Fifty5ive was completed under budget and on time and is almost entirely sold out in advance. It’s hugely rewarding to deliver another scheme in this important part of Salford that’s home to a lot of the city’s history and rightly deserves to be regenerated and enjoyed by people who work and make their homes there for years to come.” Kingsley Thornton – Director of DOMIS Construction: “We’re proud of the collaborative work with our business partners at Salboy and Jon Matthews to find a solution that delivers a viable and exciting new development next to our flagship scheme Local Blackfriars. On top of that, we delivered ahead of schedule and under budget – something that was only made possible by the hard work of our teams and partners on-site.”
Almost £6 billion has been given out in discounts through the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme since the size of the discount was increased in 2012, new analysis by the Local Government Association reveals. The LGA, which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, warns that the scheme is becoming unsustainable, with councils struggling to rebuild homes as quickly as they are being sold. The size of the discounts available were increased in April 2012, and as a result the average discount has increased by 150 per cent to more than £67,000 in 2020/21. At the same time, this has led to a quadrupling in the number of Right to Buy Sales. Councils are also not able to keep all of the money from RTB sales. This means that they have only been able to replace around a third of homes sold since 2012, impacting on their ability to provide housing for homeless and vulnerable families. While Right to Buy has helped many families get on the housing ladder, the LGA said the scheme faces an uncertain future unless councils are given the flexibility to set discounts locally and retain 100 per cent of sales receipts to fund the replacement of homes sold off under the scheme. Councils also need to be able to combine RTB receipts with government grant funding, such as the Affordable Homes Programme, and transfer funding from sales to ALMOs or housing companies to give them greater flexibility over how new council housing is delivered. Cllr David Renard, housing spokesperson for the LGA, said: “Councils want to urgently address the number of people on waiting lists for a council home and stuck in temporary accommodation. At a time of an escalating cost of living crisis, we urgently need to build more council homes, not have less. “It is becoming impossible for councils to replace homes as quickly as they’re being sold and they are increasingly having to do so with far less money than the property sells for because of discounts being offered. “Every home sold that isn’t replaced risks pushing more families into the private rented sector, driving up housing benefit spending and rents and exacerbating our homelessness crisis. “Right to Buy continues to enable many families to achieve their dream of getting on the housing ladder and owning their own home. However, without reform of the scheme, future generations will not enjoy the same opportunity.”
hub South West Scotland, on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council, has appointed Kier Construction as their construction partner to deliver the new St. Kevin’s Community Hub, which incorporates St. Kevin’s Primary School and community facilities. The modern learning, teaching and community campus will be situated close to its existing location in Bargeddie. Incorporating a decoupled St. Kevin’s Primary School, the introduction of an additional new hub will allow for a more spacious community facility to successfully meet the needs of North Lanarkshire’s growing population, by increasing its capacity to 242 pupils when complete. Expertly designed by architecture firm Stallan-Brand, the St. Kevin’s campus will offer a modernised hub incorporating generous classrooms and outdoor learning facilities alongside a large gym hall and impressive multi-use games area. Helping to bring a fresh outlook, pupils are involved in the design process and will take part in workshops to offer their creative visions as inspiration for the new campus. The local community will benefit throughout the build of St. Kevin’s community hub, as local contractors and SMEs will be supported, and eight new construction roles will be created, including two modern apprenticeships. There will also be approximately 30 work placements and over 100 training opportunities provided. Kier Construction is due to begin works on the site in summer 2023, with an expected completion date of mid-2024. Speaking of the wider community benefits that will be provided through the new St. Kevin’s Community Hub, Kirsten Larsen, Convener of Education at North Lanarkshire Council commented: “The St. Kevin’s community hub is going to be a fantastic new school and community facility which will deliver a superb teaching and learning establishment for pupils and staff alike. “Importantly, this new hub will deliver many facilities for the wider community to enjoy and we look forward to seeing our vibrant vision come to life over the next couple of years.” Phil McDowell, Regional Director of Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to be appointed as preferred bidder for stage 1 of St. Kevin’s Community Hub, particularly as this lies within our local area, near to Kier’s main Scotland office. This new hub will be transformational for North Lanarkshire, providing a dynamic and sustainable space for pupils, teachers and the community to hugely benefit from. “Kier has a long-standing relationship with hub South West Scotland and the transparency and support that we receive from them is instrumental in ensuring that we take the needs and demands of the local community into full consideration throughout the development journey. We look forward to working with them again to bring tangible benefits to the local area.” Chief Executive of hub South West Scotland, Michael Ross, said: “To date we have successfully delivered over £116 million of educational projects for North Lanarkshire Council. As delivery partner we are helping drive North Lanarkshire’s school estate strategy and we have a further three live projects on site worth over £58 million. As an industry collective we are focused on working together to create first class built environments which bring positive impacts for the wider community and support the local economy through a wide range of initiatives. “Having already delivered a large number of projects with Kier, it is great to be working with them again on this project. Not only do they deliver work which is of a very high standard, they share our commitment to growing and enhancing local communities around South West Scotland.”
Business improvement specialists, BBI Services strive to transform business performance across the built environment industry in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (the School). BBI Services has developed a series of exceptional training and coaching programmes, which build the skillsets, mindsets and toolsets of individuals and teams to achieve high performance. The School is a free online learning platform offering 50,000 registered users access to 3,000 learning resources, 400 virtual training sessions each year, and a range of diagnostic and benchmarking tools to support companies with their sustainability strategies. By partnering with the School, BBI Services can train the sector to tackle low productivity levels, enhance quality and reduce cost – all of which will have a positive impact on the ultimate goal, sustainability. The School also enables BBI Services to support members by utilising their CITB levy pot to fund the Improvement Skillset training, allowing them to earn Continued Professional Development points (CPD), positively impacting business performance. Ian Heptonstall, Director of Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “We started working with BBI Services in 2018 and, in the last two years, the team has been delivering their Improvement Foundation Skillset programme as well as a series of Lunch ‘n’ Learns and interactive workshops to School members on several topics. “We receive incredibly positive feedback from the participants who attend the BBI Services training, and we have seen first-hand how they can help to make a real difference across all levels of an organisation within the built environment. “The industry has faced unprecedented times in the last two years, but the BBI Services team has continued to deliver to a great standard. They offer members great advice, recommendations, and coaching to help organisations tackle their challenges, without sacrificing quality or safety.” Mark Worrall, CEO of BBI Services, said: “Since becoming an official Partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School two years ago, we’ve been delighted to deliver such valuable sessions to an engaged audience in the construction sector. “This is a great partnership that has created lots of opportunities for us to support the different leadership groups, including offsite, infrastructure and digital. “As well as delivering our specialist training programmes, I also co-chair the Operational Efficiency and Lean leadership group alongside Ian which engages representatives from clients, contractors and manufacturers. “Working closely with the School has also provided the chance for us to access their incredible resource bank, excellent learning management system as well as fully utilise their sustainability tools and techniques. “Following celebrating the School’s tenth anniversary this year, there are some more exciting plans in the pipeline and we can’t wait to get started.” For more information on the BBI Services team and how they can enhance a team’s personal growth and build team engagement and involvement visit: https://www.bbiservices.com/what-we-do/training-services
UK Power Networks Services will complete electrical infrastructure upgrades to allow a new fleet of trains to operate on the Piccadilly line and improve reliability and service frequency. The project – which began in June 2022 and is scheduled to finish in June 2025 – will see UK Power Networks Services complete the design and construction works to upgrade several key electrical substations, and the installation of new electrical infrastructure, electrical control systems, and cables along key parts of the line. The initial framework contract runs for six years, with potential for two more. All this will increase electrical capacity to allow Transport for London (TfL) to launch a new fleet of air-conditioned modern trains with improved reliability, efficiency, and accessibility for passengers. Overall, the line upgrade will allow for a 23% uplift in peak capacity, with a train running on the line every 135 seconds at the busiest times from 2027. The announcement extends UK Power Networks Services’ longstanding portfolio on the London Underground. The infrastructure specialists have previously worked on several initiatives, including a major redevelopment at Liverpool Street as part of the Crossrail project, and 16 substation upgrades along the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and District lines. The high voltage electrical upgrades will take place above and below ground at 21 electricity substations, with planned works at Cobourg Street, Manor House and Mansell Street. Electrical infrastructure benefits include the installation of new transformers, SCADA cabinets, an upgrade of the line’s cable network, and a host of structural improvements. Upgrades will be phased to minimise disruption for passengers, with the line scheduled to stay open throughout the project. Philip Heathcote, head of markets at UK Power Networks Services, said: We’re at our best when we partner with clients to make their long-term objectives a reality. Our teams are excited to bring their unique expertise to this long-term collaboration and add value though innovation, dedication, and a shared vision to make the London Underground more reliable for the future.
The first sea shipment of construction aggregate derived from Cornish china clay waste has been brought into London by UK recycled materials specialists GRS. The delivery marks the start of an exclusive deal which enables GRS to import more than half a million tonnes of secondary granite – branded Enviroc® – from Cornwall into London each year by ship, with a fraction of the embodied carbon of other construction aggregates. London developers looking to build greener can specify the GRS material, available in bulk or bags, for almost every construction application from sub-base and capping layers to structural concrete and asphalt, and even decorative landscaping. Recognised by leading green building rating systems as one of the most sustainable alternatives to newly-quarried aggregates, Cornish granite has previously been used in a handful of London developments, including the Olympic Park. But its widespread use has been constrained by the belief that transporting it into London isn’t viable. Yet in partnership with the Port of Tilbury, GRS has invested £4 million in a new Molson CDE aggregates processing plant on the dockside to produce a range of high-quality, certified single-sized products to meet the needs of construction across London. Because of the plant’s location, that material can be delivered across the capital by road, rail and even river using GRS’s wholly-owned Thames freight business Walsh Marine. Power for the aggregates plant is supported by an on-side wind-turbine and the stone washing system uses rainwater that is recycled and reused time after time. Silt washed off the stone is collected for use in land remediation schemes further down the Thames and GRS says these ‘fines’ may themselves be used to produce a lightweight aggregate in the future. For centuries, the production of china clay (kaolin) has shaped the Cornish countryside. For every tonne of china clay extracted, around 9 tonnes of granite by-product is generated – this has built up into enormous waste piles estimated to be around 500 million tonnes which are now the source for Enviroc aggregates.The new venture sees GRS’s Cornish subsidiary Maen Karne haul the raw material from a china clay pit near St Austell to nearby Fowey harbour where it is loaded onto ships to make the 400 nautical mile trip to Tilbury for processing. Antony Beamish, Managing Director for GRS Trading, said: “This major investment allows us to turn an industrial by-product into a high-quality construction aggregate, Enviroc. By also transporting this material by water we can achieve unparalleled environmental performance – an independent study suggests the carbon footprint is on average 47% lower than the equivalent primary aggregates. That makes Enviroc arguably the UK’s most sustainable aggregate. Using it in combination with low-carbon cement, for example, could produce the lowest carbon concrete achievable. “We anticipate that Enviroc will change the way materials are specified on major construction jobs. Contractors can count on a consistent, quality product that meets specification and at the same time know that it’s the most sustainable aggregate there is – a UK-sourced, industrial by-product transported by water. It doesn’t get better than that.” Aggregates make up the single biggest volume of any materials needed for virtually every construction scheme, and London consumes about 10 million tonnes each year. With recycling of demolition and excavation waste virtually at its maximum in the capital, GRS believes the way to further improve the sustainability of aggregates is to use secondaries and transport them as efficiently as possible. Last year GRS announced an exclusive deal to bring to market millions of tonnes of granite aggregate arising from British tungsten mine which has reopened in Devon. Besides a marine wharf and processing plant at Tilbury, GRS is recommissioning a rail freight terminal to be able to transport secondary aggregates more widely across Greater London and the South East. Transporting aggregates by river and rail significantly reduces road miles and traffic congestion, and represents a fraction of the carbon emissions of road haulage. It also frees up road vehicles to focus on ‘the last mile’ to deliver products to construction sites – and GRS runs one of the most modern, clean and safe HGV tipper fleets in the capital, accredited to FORS Gold standard. The inherent characteristics of granite mean that Envirocis one of the most durable, versatile and consistent secondary construction aggregates available. GRS is able to make and supply the vast majority of typical aggregate products including type 1 sub-base, 6F5, single sizes, coarse sand, mortar sand, etc. Enviroc also complies with the requirements of British Standards for use as concreting aggregate, as unbound and hydraulically bound aggregate in civil engineering works and road construction, in applications such as drainage trenches, earthworks and capping, and in bituminous materials and surface treatments for roads, airfields and other trafficked areas.To find out more about Enviroc® visit www.grsroadstone.co.uk/enviroc call 0845 223 0444 or email sam@grsroadstone.co.uk
Knightsbridge has taken the next step in its lighting evolution with the inclusion of SpektroLED® Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLED® series. SpektroLED® offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt versions. With the introduction of SpektroLED®, Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – has removed the limitations of traditional downlights, offering versatility, performance and style in one unique package, and allowing for customisation and personalisation of lighting design without resorting to multiple lamp types. The new SpektroLED® Tilt variant increases the options again. Like the fixed model, SpektroLED® Tilt offers a choice of two wattages – 5W and 8W – five colour temperatures (CCTs) and five bezel finishes, from white and matt black to chrome, polished chrome and brass; resulting in 40 different style and performance permutations. The wattages and CCTs are switch-selected on the rear of the downlight body. At 5W, SpektroLED® delivers up to 465 lumens and up to 795 lumens at 8W. The four CCTs available are 2700K, 3000K, 4000K and 6000K, representing warm white through to daylight. The choice of five bezels then allows further customisation to complement or contrast with any interior décor or colourway. Installation, as with all Knightsbridge products, is straightforward. Both units feature simple first fix power connectors with loop in/loop out terminals that can be terminated and hidden away while other works are finished. The downlight can then be plugged in to complete the installation after decoration and lend themselves easily for maintenance and access to the innovative CCT and power properties. The downlights are fire rated for solid timber, web joist and I-joist installation for up to 90 minutes depending on materials and, in addition, are IC rated for retention of efficiency of mineral wool insulation in the ceiling void. SpektroLED® Fixed has an IP65 rating from below, making it suitable for use in bathrooms and wet rooms, while SpektroLED® Tilt is rated at IP20. Once installed, SpektroLED® will give 50,000 hours of rated LED life and can be used with most leading and trailing-edge dimmers though compatibility should be verified beforehand. A five-year warranty guarantees peace of mind. For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760.
Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM Real Assets) has acquired a 6.2-acre freehold estate in Horsham, West Sussex on behalf of its Industrial Property Investment Fund (“IPIF”). LGIM Real Assets and its development partner, Graftongate, plan to speculatively develop a prime multi-unit industrial/logistics scheme on the site of Wilberforce House in Southwater, south of Horsham town centre. The proposed scheme would see the development of seven new warehouse units totaling almost 100,000 sq ft, including integral office space. The scheme will target EPC A+, BREEAM Excellent and operational net zero carbon. Wilberforce House is currently let in its entirety to the RSPCA, which is relocating to smaller premises. LGIM Real Assets and Graftongate plan to develop the scheme on receipt of vacant possession in Q1 2023. Jonathan Holland, senior fund manager for LGIM Real Assets, said: “The purchase presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a development site to provide Grade A industrial stock in a supply constrained market and a sector where occupational demand is booming, and rental growth is set to follow. On expiry of the lease, this will be one of the most valuable development sites in West Sussex.” Alex Thomason, development manager at Graftongate, said: “The redevelopment of the Wilberforce House estate offers an excellent opportunity to deliver high quality industrial/logistics accommodation in an established commercial location. The property occupies a prime position on Wilberforce Way and benefits from excellent transport links, being easily accessible via the A24 dual carriageway. We expect the scheme to generate significant interest from prospective occupiers.” Savills and Clay Street acted on behalf of LGIM Real Assets and Graftongate, the vendor was represented by Carter Jonas.
BUILD-TO-RENT(BTR) specialist Wise Living, in partnership with developer Strata Homes, has recently launched its first development in East Yorkshire. This adds to Wise Living’s expanding portfolio in Northern England – with homes already in Birkenhead and coming soon to Rotherham. As UK house prices hit a record high for a fifth consecutive month, the new Dream development of 50 BTR homes provides much needed private rental accommodation in an area where many struggle to buy or choose not to. With modern two, three and four-bed options, all located within proximity to Hull city centre, good schools, and Leeds Bradford Airport – Wise Living and Strata Homes have catered for young professionals and families alike. Mark Gratton, Land & Partnerships Director at Wise Living, said: “This continued expansion in Northern England demonstrates our success in finding the best locations for our high quality BTR homes. We have carefully matched the Dream Hull development to the needs of the local area and now we are pleased to have reservations open for the community in Hull to secure their new home. “We continue to see increasing interest in the BTR market, from investors, developers and tenants. This interest stems from how buoyant the BTR market is and its projected growth. Our tenants also value our proposition for various reasons, from the quality of the homes through to the community events we facilitate, alongside the assurance of having a professional landlord so that they can enjoy their home without the worry of it being sold or not having issues resolved quickly.” Gemma Smith, managing director at Strata adds: “Dream is the first phase of a large regeneration development in Hull and brings together homes for sale, properties to rent and new council housing. “Our aim was to design a new community that would offer something for everyone and improve the lives of generations to come. The demand for the homes has been really strong, we are looking forward to see this multi tenure development flourish over the coming years.” For more information about Wise Living and Dream Hull, visit: www.wiselivinghomes.co.uk/locations/hull/dream/
One in seven (14%) tradespeople now get the bus to jobs because they can’t afford to drive Tradespeople set to increase prices by 24%, on average Over a quarter (29%) now only accept hyper-local jobs in order to reduce their fuel usage Rising fuel costs are hitting UK tradespeople hard, and nine in ten (90%) say they are being forced to increase their prices to keep their businesses alive. With petrol and diesel reaching record levels and topping £2 per litre in some areas, IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, surveyed 500 tradespeople to reveal the impact this is having on the industry. Almost every respondent (96%) said that their livelihood is reliant on their vehicle, and workers drive over 5,000 miles a year for jobs, on average. This annual mileage will now cost individuals almost £500 more for diesel vehicles, and over £450 for petrol users, than it did this time 12 months ago. Almost half (47%) of tradespeople say that their profits are being affected by the fuel crisis, and a third (33%) say that their company is struggling to cope. Understandably, many are increasing their prices to keep up. Nine in ten (90%) tradespeople say they will up their quotes as a direct result of the fuel costs, with the average increase standing at 24%. Some trades are increasing them more than others, and scaffolders are planning the most significant hike (39%). The trades planning on increasing their prices the most because of rising fuel costs are: # Trade % increase 1 Scaffolder 39% 2 Roofer 35% 3 Bricklayer 34% 4 Building Surveyor 30% 5 Electrician 28% 6 Plasterer 27% 7 Carpenter 26% 8 Joiner 25% 9 Builder 22% 10 Plumber 22% 11 Painter Decorator 16% 12 Landscaper 16% Some tradespeople plan to stop driving altogether, and one in seven (14%) say that they are now using public transport to get to jobs, because they can’t afford the fuel. For those who have no choice but to continue driving, motoring experts Euro Car Parts have shared their top tips on how to increase your fuel efficiency and save money: 1) Manage your revs The most fuel-efficient RPM to change up a gear is 2,500 for a petrol vehicle and 2,000 for diesel. So next time you’re changing gear, keep an eye on the revs count, stick to that number and the pennies you’ll save will soon stack up. 2) Slow down on high-speed roads The most efficient speed to drive at is between 55-65mph, and driving at 70mph compared to 80mph on a motorway could save you 25% more fuel. 3) Turn your engine off Keeping your engine idle whilst stationary still burns fuel, so if you know you’re not going to be moving for a while, turn it off to conserve your petrol or diesel. Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “The fuel crisis is affecting all of society, but people who drive regularly as part of their job, like most tradespeople, are being hit particularly hard. “Worryingly, its independent traders who will feel the most impact, as their profit margins are likely far narrower than larger corporations, who may be able to ride out the wave. “Hopefully prices will begin to fall before too long, but in the meantime, reducing mileage and increasing fuel efficiency will help to slightly soften the blow.” For more expert advice on how to reduce your fuel costs, and how much rising prices will affect your profits, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/how-tradespeople-can-reduce-their-van-fuel-costs
