Barberry Industrial has completed the construction of a state-of-the-art centre of engineering excellence for a world-leading manufacturer of critical flow control solutions at a strategic site in the West Midlands. A 57,000 sq ft headquarters and manufacturing and design facility has been delivered on behalf of IMI Truflo Marine, part
Octopus Real Estate, part of Octopus Group and a leading UK specialist real estate lender and investor, has announced its commitment to building new care home developments that are net zero by 2030, marking the first such pledge across the care home industry. In addition to funding new developments to
Bellway has completed the purchase of land from Homes England in Milton Keynes, where it will adopt new building technology for the first time in the UK, speeding up the build process with some homes built on a factory production line. Bellway will build 160 homes using Modern Methods of
Work on four new speculatively built units is underway at two major West Midlands logistics parks as Prologis, the leading developer of industrial property in the UK, expands its portfolio at Prologis Park Hams Hall and Prologis Park Ryton, near Coventry. At Prologis Park Hams Hall, three buildings are currently
The first CGIs of the residential development Lockside Wharf in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter have been released. Property investment company Joseph Mews, which is working with London-based property development company Consortia Developments to bring the properties to market, have released the images this month. Lockside Wharf, once called Scotland Works, is
St. Modwen Homes announces £85m+ of investment across five sites St. Modwen Homes, one of the UK’s leading developers of new communities and high-quality homes, today announces five projects which will deliver over 1,100 new homes across England. The new sites will be situated in Lancashire, Kent, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete UK continues its growth trajectory with the appointment of a new NPD and sustainability manager. Former laboratory manager Matthew Gabriel, has been promoted to the new role as the team further develops the company’s sustainability strategy. With a clear focus on strengthening the firm’s commitment to
20 new affordable homes will be constructed on land near to Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. Esh Construction has been named as construction partner on a £3 million scheme which will bring new affordable homes to Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, one of the fastest growing housing
With 92% of UK homeowners planning home renovation projects in 2022, Klober has invested in its sales team to support merchants and installers in 2022 and beyond. The appointments follow reports that 30% of roofing contractors saw their workloads grow in the last quarter of 2021, according to the NFRC’s
PLANS have been revealed for a number of transformative development schemes in Stoke-on-Trent this week, including the mixed-used Etruscan Square development, which is set to procure both its development and construction through Pagabo’s national frameworks. Etruscan Square, which is backed by £20 million of levelling up funding from the
Barberry Industrial has completed the construction of a state-of-the-art centre of engineering excellence for a world-leading manufacturer of critical flow control solutions at a strategic site in the West Midlands. A 57,000 sq ft headquarters and manufacturing and design facility has been delivered on behalf of IMI Truflo Marine, part of IMI plc, at Birmingham’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub (AMH). Barberry Industrial, a West Midlands-based property developer and investor, was selected to purchase the site from Birmingham City Council and Homes England. The completed building has been handed over by construction contractor Benniman. The global engineering company will soon relocate to the manufacturing hub in Witton from its existing facility nearby, having signed a new 15-year lease on the Aston facility. The move safeguards the jobs of its existing skilled workforce and creates new employment opportunities. Barberry Industrial development director Jon Robinson said: “We’re extremely proud to have worked alongside IMI Truflo Marine to deliver a world class headquarters building and centre of excellence. It is a magnificent state-of-the-art facility, which matches their global ambitions and aligns with the expectations of their customers around the world. It will assist them in continuing to grow their business here in Birmingham. “It is significant for the city and the AMH, and for us it represents another excellent piece of business, working with the private and public sector to create further investment and jobs for the city. IMI has a long and successful history in the city, and the skills and talents of local people has helped the company develop and grow into the global business it is today, employing around 11,000 people.” IMI Truflo Marine is part of IMI Critical Engineering – a world-leading provider of critical flow control solutions that enable vital energy and process industries to operate safely, cleanly, reliably and more efficiently. Managing director Mark Bloxham said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Barberry on such an important project for our business. The new facility will not only create a world class manufacturing facility for our customers, our employees and our stakeholders but will also serve as a centre of engineering excellence to support our global market from here in Birmingham.” Barberry secured detailed planning permission, negotiated a holding contract, commissioned a construction tender process, acquired the site and then sold the investment to Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Plc c/o BMO Real Estate Partners. The project was executed by Barberry in a 12-month period. Barberry has a 3.6 million sq ft industrial/logistics development portfolio with a Gross Development Value of in excess of £500 million. This is Barberry’s second development at the AMH, where they speculatively developed a 65,000 sq ft unit and let it to Mayflex. The unit was acquired by M&G Real Estate for £9 million. It is developing a £40 million state-of-the-art manufacturing and design facility for a global leader in engine and flight controls systems in Gloucestershire. The 207,000 sq ft centre of excellence for Moog’s Aircraft Controls Segment is being built on a 10-acre site at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury. The company has also commenced speculative construction of three high quality mid-box manufacturing/logistics units totaling 222,750 sq ft at a prime West Midlands business park in a £37 million project. Barberry’s development includes industrial/logistics units of 47,750 sq ft, 62,000 sq ft and 113,000 sq ft at Wolf Pack, Hilton Cross Business Park, just off junction 1 of the M54, Wolverhampton, and will bring much-needed investment and jobs to the region. IMI Critical Engineering is a division of IMI plc, the specialist engineering company that designs, manufactures, and services highly engineered products that control the precise movement of fluids. Its innovative technologies, built around valves and actuators, enable vital processes to operate safely, sustainably, cleanly, efficiently and cost effectively. IMI employs approximately 10,000 people, has manufacturing facilities in 18 countries and operates a global service network. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Further information is available at www.imiplc.com.
Octopus Real Estate, part of Octopus Group and a leading UK specialist real estate lender and investor, has announced its commitment to building new care home developments that are net zero by 2030, marking the first such pledge across the care home industry. In addition to funding new developments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, Octopus will make significant investments into its existing portfolio of 71 care homes across the UK to retrofit these properties. It has committed to making these care homes and 13 properties currently under construction net zero by 2040. The pledges will ensure Octopus, as a leading investor and landlord in UK care homes, is driving the industry towards higher energy efficiency standards. The two net zero commitments were met with unbridled support from the institutional investors who invest in Octopus’ care homes strategy, demonstrating the demand among pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds and family offices for assets that are contributing to the UK’s energy transition requirements. The commitments also reflect Octopus Group’s commitment to reach net zero by 2030. As part of its commitments, where needed, Octopus will work to minimise and offset the embodied carbon in the construction process of its new developments, including through UK Government-approved, high-quality certified carbon sequestration projects. Michael Toft, Care Home Senior Fund Manager, Octopus Real Estate, commented: “We are incredibly proud to be the first investor and landlord in UK care homes to commit to net zero targets. We see it as a natural extension of our role as a leading player in the care home sector and our passionate belief as a Group that people and the planet deserve better. Our commitments place us ahead of both the UK Government’s net zero targets and the Paris Agreement targets. Octopus Real Estate’s investors overwhelmingly supported these pledges, mirroring their overarching support for our care home strategy, which helps them to achieve genuine impact for society while generating financial returns.” Benjamin Davis, CEO, Octopus Real Estate, commented: “This announcement fits into wider sustainability initiatives within Octopus Real Estate, including our Greener Homes Alliance with Homes England, which is funding the development of energy efficient homes across England. It reflects our strident belief that companies will increasingly be judged on how they are building a better tomorrow and should be seen as a clear marker of intent for our objectives and strategy. We have been delighted with the stamp of approval we have received from our investors for this approach so far.” The Octopus care homes strategy offers institutional investors an impact investment opportunity – achieving social benefits for the ageing population through investing in elderly care homes and specialist care. The strong fundamentals of healthcare infrastructure investment, including sustainable, inflation-linked income, risk-adjusted returns, and supportive demographics, continue to attract significant institutional investor demand.
Bellway has completed the purchase of land from Homes England in Milton Keynes, where it will adopt new building technology for the first time in the UK, speeding up the build process with some homes built on a factory production line. Bellway will build 160 homes using Modern Methods of Construction on the 9.2-acre parcel of land at Tattenhoe Park. This will include 40 modular homes and 120 homes built using timber frame panels. The housebuilder was selected to develop the site at Tattenhoe Park as part of a Homes England pilot project to speed up the delivery of new homes. The build programme will be completed within two years of work starting. Paul Smits, Managing Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “Bellway is committed to exploring innovative ways of delivering new homes more quickly and more sustainably. Tattenhoe Park is therefore a key project for the company, and for the community in Milton Keynes. “Using Modern Methods of Construction will offer benefits beyond speeding up construction. The modular homes, which are built off-site, and the timber frame panels, which replace traditional breeze blocks, are produced in a controlled factory environment. This ensures consistent quality and removes any negative impact from weather conditions. “Both methods improve energy efficiency by creating a more airtight home, and timber is a more sustainable material than brick. The modern processes also reduce the amount of waste produced in the build process. “We have worked with Homes England and with our partners to ensure we can build these homes to the highest standards, for which Bellway is known as a HBF Five Star Builder. “The end result will be a new community which looks comparable with Bellway’s other developments in the area, while delivering these additional benefits to the customer, the community and the environment.” The project is one of a series being led by Homes England with the ambition of delivering 1,800 new homes across the country using a variety of modern construction methods. Bellway’s 160 homes will form phase four of the wider Tattenhoe Park development. Bellway will partner with ilke Homes to deliver the 40 modular homes. Stewart Milne Timber Systems will supply the timber frame panels for the remaining 120 homes. The homes at Bellway’s Tattenhoe Park development will be a range of one and two-bedroom apartments, one and two-bedroom maisonettes and two to four-bedroom houses. The 48 affordable homes will be divided between rental and shared ownership, and there will be a selection of wheelchair accessible properties. Bellway secured planning consent for the development at the end of 2021 and expects to start work on site by the summer. Bellway’s Northern Home Counties division is based in Milton Keynes. The division is already building homes at Wavendon View and Wavendon Chase on the outskirts of Wavendon, and is set to launch a new development at Whitehouse Park in Milton Keynes later this year. For more information on homes at Tattenhoe Park see https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/tattenhoe-park.
Work on four new speculatively built units is underway at two major West Midlands logistics parks as Prologis, the leading developer of industrial property in the UK, expands its portfolio at Prologis Park Hams Hall and Prologis Park Ryton, near Coventry. At Prologis Park Hams Hall, three buildings are currently under construction with steelwork and cladding currently being put in place. The three units – DC2 (259,510 sq. ft.), DC3 (131,780 sq. ft.), and DC4 (85,685 sq. ft.) – are set for completion in summer 2022. At Prologis Park Ryton, work is underway on a 330,770 sq. ft. unit, also due to be completed in summer 2022. With seven of its 22 logistics parks located in the West Midlands, these new developments further strengthen Prologis’ commitment to delivering logistics property in strategic locations for UK supply chains. Prologis Parks Ryton and Hams Hall are important locations in the Midlands, especially for the automotive industry and are already home to companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, LEVC and DHL. Both sites have quick access to the national motorway network, with Prologis Park Hams Hall also featuring an on-site intermodal rail freight terminal, which links to three seaports and the channel tunnel. Alongside playing their part in improving the flow of goods around the country, the four new units will also deliver social value through job creation and strengthening the local economy. Sustainability has been factored into the build process from the outset too, with all units being net zero in construction, and will be targeted BREEAM-rated ‘excellent’, and EPC A rated. Tom Price, capital deployment and leasing director at Prologis UK, said: “These four new units will provide vital extra capacity for the West Midlands logistics and warehousing market. We know that our customers and the wider business community recognise the value of the region to their supply chain operations, and we’re pleased to be providing facilities to help meet that demand. It’s exciting to see the new units take shape and we’re looking forward to their completion later this year.”
The first CGIs of the residential development Lockside Wharf in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter have been released. Property investment company Joseph Mews, which is working with London-based property development company Consortia Developments to bring the properties to market, have released the images this month. Lockside Wharf, once called Scotland Works, is currently under development and will be a careful restoration of a historic Birmingham landmark situated along the city’s canal system. The canal-side development, based on Scotland Street, was formerly offices and is a historic Victorian building, recognised as a hub of manufacturing in Birmingham since 1897. Work has already begun to convert the site into 61 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, split across the restored old building and a brand-new building on the adjacent empty site. There will also be roof extensions, creating four penthouse-style apartments at the top of the development. While one half of Lockside Wharf will be a complete restoration of the original structure, the other will be a newly developed structure on the neighbouring brownfield site. The newly released images by Joseph Mews showcase what the inside of some of the apartments will look like, featuring designer Poggenpohl kitchens, quartz worktops and designer interior styling, as well as wine fridges and balconies. The Joseph Mews Property Group, which officially launched at the start of the year, and was set up by former SevenCapital sales director Andy Foote, is proud to be helping Consortia Developments bring this product to market. Andy said: “Throughout the development it will keep its ‘reclaimed aesthetic’ with exposed brickwork and steel sitting alongside Karndean flooring, state-of-the-art appliances and clean lines. “It’s expected that Lockside Wharf will be a unique proposition for buy-to-let investors interested in Birmingham. The wider development is designed to appeal to the professional tenants flocking to Birmingham in search of work at some of the biggest companies in the city. We are looking forward to bringing these homes to the market, alongside Consortia Developments,” he said. Lockside Wharf is expected to complete in the second quarter of next year. For more details about Joseph Mews email Sales@Joseph-Mews.com or visit www.joseph-mews.com.
St. Modwen Homes announces £85m+ of investment across five sites St. Modwen Homes, one of the UK’s leading developers of new communities and high-quality homes, today announces five projects which will deliver over 1,100 new homes across England. The new sites will be situated in Lancashire, Kent, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and London and will total over £85m of investment from St. Modwen Homes. The new developments include 28.6 acres of land in Ditton Edge, Kent, which has permission for 300 homes, as well as 116 homes in Coalville, Leicestershire. In West London, St. Modwen’s joint venture with Vinci has secured permission for 267 units in Uxbridge on the former RAF Uxbridge site while a further 300 homes will be delivered in Newark, Nottinghamshire. An additional 128 homes are due to exchange in Chorley, Lancashire. The announcement follows news this week that St. Modwen Homes plans to double in size over the next five years. St. Modwen Homes built almost 1200 new homes in 2021 and has been recognised as a five-star housebuilder with a Home Builder Federation customer satisfaction rating of over 90%. In September 2021, St. Modwen was named by Homes England as a preferred partner in its new Delivery Partner dynamic purchasing scheme. Dave Smith, Managing Director, St. Modwen Homes, said: “There is an urgent need for new homes in the UK, but the homes that are delivered need to be high quality, and communities must be created in the right places. St. Modwen has a proud record of delivering homes of the highest standard and thriving communities for people to live. Today’s announcement expands our footprint into new areas across the UK and builds on our continued, sustainable growth.”
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete UK continues its growth trajectory with the appointment of a new NPD and sustainability manager. Former laboratory manager Matthew Gabriel, has been promoted to the new role as the team further develops the company’s sustainability strategy. With a clear focus on strengthening the firm’s commitment to sustainable construction, Matt’s two decades of concrete industry experience provides a strong foundation for further developing the company’s sustainability remit. Matt says: “With the environment at the forefront of everyone’s minds and customers looking to increase their use of supplementary cementitious material, my priority is to develop products and processes which support our customers’ own route towards low carbon concrete. “Our role as an additive manufacturer is crucial in helping reduce concrete’s CO2 footprint while finding cost effective, green solutions without impacting performance is key to the future of the construction sector. We are now looking to develop products that can help our customers to use or increase the use of products with a lower eCO2, hence the creation of a role dedicated entirely to this arena.” Oscrete is one of the UK’s leading specialist construction chemical suppliers, manufacturing a comprehensive range of concrete admixtures for the pre-cast and ready-mix market and developing and supplying additives for the manufacture of dry bagged mortars and adhesives. Director Scott Wilson added: “We expect to see continued growth in global demand for construction additives and that demand will be driven by sustainability requirements as well as performance. “Our strategy is to keep product evolution and responsible manufacturing at the forefront of our output. Matt’s promotion is just the first step in our 2022 laboratory development plan where NPD and sustainability will lead our growth and our supply.” Matt joined Oscrete in 2017 as laboratory manager following more than 10 years with Tarmac and Breeden. He added: “This an exciting and an important time as we accelerate our development of new admixtures to help the transition to carbon neutrality. I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth into a role which will help customers – and Oscrete – meet their sustainability goals.”
20 new affordable homes will be constructed on land near to Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. Esh Construction has been named as construction partner on a £3 million scheme which will bring new affordable homes to Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, one of the fastest growing housing associations in the North of England, Esh will build 20 new properties on a vacant piece of land off Osgathorpe Drive, near to the Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. Named Fir View Gardens, the two and three-bedroom homes will be available for affordable rent and will include associated parking and landscaping. Great Places Housing Group selected Esh Construction as the chosen contractor after the scheme was procured through the Innovation Chain North framework. Esh Operations Director, Simon Woodward, said: “We are delighted to secure our first contract award via Innovation Chain North and to be working in partnership with Great Places Housing Group. “Throughout this scheme we are committed to delivering a raft of initiatives which will provide social and economic benefits within the local area, including school engagement, work placement opportunities, volunteering and community funding.” The development was given the go ahead by planners in August last year and forms part of the housing association’s plans to develop 11,000 homes by 2030. Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, Helen Spencer, said “This scheme is within the heart of an existing Great Places community, and its completion will deliver high quality new homes to complement the existing neighbourhood. We are looking forward to working with Esh to deliver these homes and excellent social value outcomes for our community.” Esh will work in partnership with Poole Dick Associates, Bowker Sadler Architects and Sutcliffe to deliver the scheme which is expected to get underway in March this year. To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk
With 92% of UK homeowners planning home renovation projects in 2022, Klober has invested in its sales team to support merchants and installers in 2022 and beyond. The appointments follow reports that 30% of roofing contractors saw their workloads grow in the last quarter of 2021, according to the NFRC’s State of the Roofing Industry Survey. And this isn’t set to slow, with 43% of roofers anticipating an increase in workload. Hannah Watts joins Klober as an Area Account Manager after discovering her passion for construction as a Field Sales Executive. She will be responsible for the home counties, including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire. “As a market leader in roofing components and accessories, the Klober brand is well respected and renowned for offering quality. I knew this role would bring new challenges and felt that Klober would provide a supportive environment in which to thrive,” said Hannah. “My role as an Area Account Manager will involve operating as a key point of contact for customers and I’m most looking forward to getting under the skin of their businesses to understand their specific requirements and identify opportunities for growth.” Also joining Klober as an Area Account Manager is Joey Hall who will be responsible for East Anglia. “When the opportunity arose to join Klober in this role, it was one I was thrilled to take, particularly as I’ve always been interested in pursuing a position like this,” he explained. “In my first 12 months, I hope to build strong relationships with merchants and work in collaboration to help meet their business goals. I am particularly looking forward to travelling and gaining thorough knowledge of my area.” Commenting on the new appointments, Chris Nicholls, Commercial Director at Klober said: “We take pride in our people as this means our network of merchants and contractors can be confident that they are in good hands. That’s why I’m extremely pleased to have Hannah and Joey on board and excited to see what they achieve.” For more information about Klober, please visit www.klober.co.uk
PLANS have been revealed for a number of transformative development schemes in Stoke-on-Trent this week, including the mixed-used Etruscan Square development, which is set to procure both its development and construction through Pagabo’s national frameworks. Etruscan Square, which is backed by £20 million of levelling up funding from the government, is set to transform the city centre with a 3,600-capacity arena, 82,000 sq ft of commercial space, 285 homes, a 138-bedroom 3-star hotel, and a 701-space multi-storey car park to support existing demand and new amenities alike. The announcement of the Etruscan Square development, which is already out for pre-planning consultation, was one of several levelling up initiatives announced by the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council at global real estate conference MIPIM. As part of the overall announcement, the procurement strategy for the scheme was revealed by council leader Abi Brown, who spoke to developers at MIPIM about how 7.12 acres of city centre land is shovel-ready, and how Meigh Street Car Park is already being cleared to make way for new development. Jonathan Parker, head of construction at Pagabo, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council on the procurement of such an exciting development, which will bring huge transformation and opportunity to the city. “The government’s levelling up plans and funding have been widely welcomed, and we’re very pleased to see Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been so quick to put that funding towards schemes that will benefit the wider city. Being able to support schemes like this with simple, yet efficient and compliant procurement processes is something that we’re really proud of and that allows us to help turn these plans into a reality.” The procurement strategy reveals the council’s commitment to the comprehensive delivery of the Etruscan Square masterplan, outlining the use of Pagabo’s Developer-Led Framework to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality, mixed-use development. Meanwhile, the Etruscan Square multi-storey car park will be delivered via a stand-alone two stage design and build contract between the council and a main contractor, which will be procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework. Councillor Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our Levelling Up projects already have huge momentum behind them and significant, tangible progress is being made to deliver them. We’re confident that we have the right opportunities, and the right mix of developments that can make the biggest difference to our city and are attractive schemes for development. “We’re backed by the biggest allocation in Levelling Up funding for a specific city in the country, we’ve tested out our proposals to major national investors in London, and now we’re telling global brands, major UK-based international companies and key national agencies what we are delivering in Stoke-on-Trent and how they can be a part of our success story.” The council has stated that the £20 million of levelling up funding for the development will be defrayed to de-risk and support the early delivery of the multi-storey car park, infrastructure and first phase residential proposals, which will act as the catalyst for the wider masterplan. Planning approval for the development is expected to be granted in the summer, shortly followed by the tender process to appoint the key parties through Pagabo’s frameworks to deliver the transformative scheme. For more information about Pagabo and its frameworks, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
