A new alternative to part exchange has been launched to help housebuilders sell new-build homes more quickly. To Move Now has created a portal which connects housebuilders whose purchasers have properties to sell with a panel of corporate property buyers. Members of the panel bid to buy the secondhand properties
On site work on the £117 million Campbell Wharf development in Milton Keynes has commenced. The residential-led mixed use scheme includes 383 new homes, a narrowboat marina, public house, nursery and a mix of retail units and is set to transform and revitalise a much-underutilised part of Central Milton Keynes.
Kingsmere, Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited’s development in Bicester, will be welcoming a first-class line up of retailers to its Village Centre in Spring 2019. Brands and retailers which have secured units at the commercial centre include Mid-Counties Co-op, Starfish (Fish and Chips), Domino’s Pizza, Haart Estate agents, Bicester Hairdressers and
Kier has celebrated the completion of the first phase of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) pioneering SA1 development by providing tours of the site to industry experts as well as teachers and lecturers. In partnership with the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE), the tours took place
The boiler in a home is one of the most used appliances, and one that you want to ensure is working correctly. If the boiler broke down, especially during the cold months of the year, it could leave the home with no heat and leave the household in danger. Even
Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, has welcomed another new tenant, Balmore Group, to its Kelburn Business Park development in Port Glasgow. A long-established business with a one-stop difficult access inspection, repair, maintenance and specialist cleaning services, its most recently
Aluminium manufacturing and installation company AB Glass has been appointed by Kier Construction to carry out works at a new school development based in Cwmbran. The £30 million redevelopment of Croesyceiliog School will accommodate 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is linked to the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. Swansea-based
No matter where you are in the world, one of the most important parts of economic systems is competition. It pushes the industry forward, stimulating companies to improve their services in order to get ahead of others. It also opens a healthy way of income distribution. These days, the main
South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City planning authorities have approved Mace’s plans for a 200,000 sq ft commercial development on the site of one of the UK’s leading science parks. A Section 106 agreement for 1 – 21 Cambridge Science Park was completed on the 17th of August 2018, enabling the
Castlebridge Group have announced that they are on site developing a new 75-bedroom Hotel Indigo situated in the city centre of Chester. The first key milestone has been achieved with the erection of the steel super structure. The hotel will be managed by Castlebridge Hotel Management Limited who have a
A new alternative to part exchange has been launched to help housebuilders sell new-build homes more quickly. To Move Now has created a portal which connects housebuilders whose purchasers have properties to sell with a panel of corporate property buyers. Members of the panel bid to buy the secondhand properties directly, so the developer can sell its new homes without being exposed to chains or taking on part exchange stock. To Move Now Director Chris Taylor, who has more than 30 years’ experience across a range of property disciplines, co-founded the business in July. He explained: “Part exchange is a tried and trusted system, but it does not fit every scenario. “To Move Now provides a cash buyer and a fast sale where part exchange isn’t appropriate. For example, Help to Buy can be used in conjunction with our service, whereas Government rules prevent the scheme from being used with part exchange. “Our service works for people moving up, down or sideways and operates throughout mainland UK, so is not restricted by geography. “We work with new homes developers of all sizes, retirement living providers and estate agents. “The whole process is transparent, with no charge to the developer or its purchaser, and aims to deliver the best result for all parties.” To Move Now works with the housebuilder and its purchaser to prepare details of the property to list on the portal. The panel then has 48 hours to bid, during which time only the highest offer is visible to them. Then To Move Now presents the highest offer to the housebuilder for discussion with the purchaser. If a sale is agreed, exchange can usually take place within 28 days subject to a RICS report. To Move Now is the sister company to Developer Solutions Ltd, one of the country’s leading providers of land appraisals, viability assessments and market analysis. Its chief executive and founder, Chris Gregory, said: “Developer Solutions provides data, analysis and insight to solve developers’ problems in areas ranging from land valuations and local area appraisals to finance and mortgage availability. “To Move Now is an extension of the Developer Solutions ethos. Through our discussions with developers across the country we identified a need for a service which could accelerate sales. “Our own recent analysis identified a blockage where downsizers are struggling to sell their homes, particularly over £500k. The average sale time of homes over £500k has more than doubled from 67 days in 2016/17 to 151 days in the same period of 2017/18. “Vulnerable chains and the slow secondhand market are restricting sales rates. We believe To Move Now addresses this and the feedback we have received so far has been very positive.” For more information see tomovenow.co.uk or email Chris Taylor at ctaylor@tomovenow.co.uk
On site work on the £117 million Campbell Wharf development in Milton Keynes has commenced. The residential-led mixed use scheme includes 383 new homes, a narrowboat marina, public house, nursery and a mix of retail units and is set to transform and revitalise a much-underutilised part of Central Milton Keynes. Once it approaches completion, the development will deliver 332 one and two-bedroom apartments and 51 three, four and five-bedroom houses. Moreover, 30% of the properties on site have been reserved for shared ownership and affordable housing, in order to meet local housing needs in the community. “We are pleased to have cemented our agreement with the Milton Keynes Development Partnership and look forward to working together on this significant development. Once complete the scheme will provide a new gateway from the Canal to Central Milton Keynes and deliver much needed new homes to the area,” said Scott Black, Managing Director at Crest Nicholson. Located on the eastern edge of Central Milton Keynes with easy access to both Milton Keynes Central Station and the M1, the site is divided into two distinct areas by the Grand Union Canal. The 8.15 ha site will also include a new marina on the Grand Union Canal, providing 111 berths, a canal-side pub, café, restaurant and a new footbridge linking the two sides of the canal. “As our city continues to grow, MKDP is committed to playing its part in helping to create well-designed, vibrant & affordable new communities in partnership with a range of local developers. As part of the Campbell Wharf development, MKDP and the developer Crest Nicholson will be creating 115 affordable new homes, a new 111 berth marina alongside the city’s renowned Grand Union Canal, and importantly, will be contributing towards the cost of upgrading the infrastructure of our city centre,” commented Councillor Rob Middleton, Cabinet Member responsible for Resources and Innovation. The new marina is expected to open in April 2019, while the first residential dwellings on site will be occupied in October 2019. The development is expected to be fully completed by 2023.
Kingsmere, Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited’s development in Bicester, will be welcoming a first-class line up of retailers to its Village Centre in Spring 2019. Brands and retailers which have secured units at the commercial centre include Mid-Counties Co-op, Starfish (Fish and Chips), Domino’s Pizza, Haart Estate agents, Bicester Hairdressers and Busy Bees Nursery. “The Village Centre at Kingsmere has a high quality, contemporary design, which will enhance the area and create a place for the local community to shop, eat and meet. The prominence, accessibility and car parking that are already included made it easy for us to find interested parties who will do very well from being centrally located in Kingsmere,” said Ed Sutton, Managing Director of LSP Developments. The Village Centre is situated on Whitelands Way, where the commercial units are currently under construction, adjacent to the new Community and Youth Centres, which were recently handed over to Cherwell District Council and will officially open this September. “We have taken great care to design a Village Centre that will serve as the ‘heart of Kingsmere’, and we are delighted there will be such a tremendous line up of occupants for the use of our residents and the wider community. For a project of this scale, providing first-class amenities and a central point for residents to come together is crucial to its long-term success and vital to ensure the new community can flourish,” commented Andrew Carrington, Director of Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited. “The Village Centre sits centrally within Kingsmere, alongside the community and youth centres and St Edburg’s primary school. The selection of retailers will ensure that people can not only stock up on their daily essentials but also spend time socialising, relaxing and making the most of the new facilities and surroundings,” he continued. Kingsmere is served by excellent transport connections and the development is home to a selection of house styles which have proved hugely popular for a range of home buyers.
Kier has celebrated the completion of the first phase of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) pioneering SA1 development by providing tours of the site to industry experts as well as teachers and lecturers. In partnership with the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE), the tours took place earlier this month to showcase the project and all that has been achieved so far. The SA1 Swansea Waterfront Development, consists of IQ, the new home for UWTSD’s Yr Athrofa: Institute of Education and the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, as well as the Construction Wales Innovation Centre. It also consists of Y Fforwm, the University’s library and learning resources centre. SA1 Swansea Waterfront represents an exciting new chapter for the University as it relocates from the Townhill and Mount Pleasant campuses into state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of Swansea’s waterfront. “This event provided a perfect opportunity to discuss our innovative learning approaches at IQ with industry peers. I would like to thank the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE) West Wales branch and their members for this opportunity. Several of the FBE members were integral in the new SA1 development, it was my pleasure to present to them how this new build will shape the learning and teaching environment within the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (FACE),” said Professor Mike Fernando, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering. IQ offers 10,000 sq m of flexible teaching space, computer labs, recreational space, and specialist engineering labs over four floors. Y Fforwm, consists of three floors, providing study space, learning commons, and book collections. Both buildings are fitted out with the latest Sony technology, and contemporary furniture installed by local companies Momentum and Bridgend Office Furniture. “These tours mark an important milestone for the SA1 development and it was brilliant to be able to showcase what we have achieved. Phase 1 has been completed on time and with a fantastic team who have shown care and passion throughout the two years that we have been on site,” said Howard Monsen, senior project manager for the site was on hand to answer questions. “The University, as a client, has been working very closely with Kier on the project, which is an incredibly large and complex scheme. Whilst much of their day to day attention, and certainly most of mine is focused on delivering on time and to a high standard, I have been overwhelmed by the commitment to a whole range of other initiatives from the diverse Kier team,” added Mike Bessell, UWTSD senior estates manager, who also provided a speech to all attendees.
The boiler in a home is one of the most used appliances, and one that you want to ensure is working correctly. If the boiler broke down, especially during the cold months of the year, it could leave the home with no heat and leave the household in danger. Even with regular maintenance, there will come a time when the boiler will need to be replaced. By watching for warning signs, however, you can be prepared for the impending crash of the boiler as to not be caught off guard. Keep tabs on the following signs that are telling you to replace the boiler. Notice a Bad Smell If you notice a foul smell or an odor of any kind coming from the boiler, that is a sign that you will need to replace the boiler right away. That smell is likely coming from a carbon monoxide leak, which can be very harmful and even deadly if breathed in. Although carbon monoxide does not have an odor, the smell would be coming from the boiling not running properly, a result of a leak. Other signs related to a carbon monoxide leak include noticing an increase in condensation on the inside of windows, soot stains around the boiler, or the flame has a yellow hue (rather than a crisp blue), and it blows out frequently. You Hear Odd Noises A healthy boiler will have a quite hum sound to it. However, a boiler in need of replacing will make noticeable noises like a clunk or a bang. Those sounds could be a result of a number of issues, including something broken inside. Notice a Leak A boiler primarily heats the water in your home. Warm water corrodes metal more quickly than cold water. There are parts of the boiler that are susceptible to corrosion. Over time, if corrosion occurs, you’ll start to notice your boiler leaking. Pay attention to any water around the boiler. That is a sign that it will likely need to be replaced. Troubles Heating the House An obvious sign that a boiler needs replacing is when there are issues keeping the house and water heated. Although the boiler is still functioning, it isn’t working at its full capacity. It is likely time to replace the boiler. Expensive Energy Bills If you start to notice an increase in your energy or power bills, it could be from your boiler. If the boiler is coming to the end of its lifespan, it will require more power to do the same amount of work. You would then notice a more expensive bill due to the inefficiency of the boiler. No Heat at All If you notice there is no heat whatsoever, including the water, there is something very wrong with the boiler. When this happens, it’s likely that you need an emergency boiler repair, or having to replace the whole appliance. Although this isn’t a sign you want to have, it will be your most apparent sign of the boiler needing attention.
Riverside Inverclyde (Ri), the organisation delivering the economic redevelopment of Inverclyde in the west of Scotland, has welcomed another new tenant, Balmore Group, to its Kelburn Business Park development in Port Glasgow. A long-established business with a one-stop difficult access inspection, repair, maintenance and specialist cleaning services, its most recently formed arm is Balmore Aerial Services, which uses the latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, more widely known as drones, to provide aerial inspection and surveying services throughout the UK. Victor MacKay Jnr, a divisional director of Balmore Group, said: “Using UAV technology replaces the immediate need to install expensive scaffolding to examine the fabric of difficult-to-access buildings. “We are only one of only a handful of contractors in the UK with enhanced permissions issued from the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to operate in congested areas. Its use enables the other arms of our business, namely Balmore Specialist Contracts and Balmore Contracting, to pinpoint exactly what inspection, repair, maintenance and cleaning tasks then need to be carried out.” Expansion and development of the business has prompted its relocation from Glasgow to larger, 3000 sq. ft. modern premises at Port Glasgow’s Kelburn Business Park. The move underpins 10 jobs at the new premises. Mr MacKay said: “We have worked closely with Riverside Inverclyde over the past 18 months and are very pleased with our move to a brand-new premises which are easy to access and spacious enough to let us grow. “Our latest growth plans are set to allow us to provide Health & Safety training including PASMA, IPAF, MIST & CSCS. We have partnered with Atlas Knowledge who hold a vast wealth of knowledge on training. We can now train our staff and keep their credentials tickets up to date, whilst providing current and new clients with highly competitive training costs.” Fiona Maguire, Chief Executive of Ri, said: “Riverside Inverclyde continues to successfully attract new companies to the area and help expand existing businesses, a vital role in the overall regeneration and economic development of Inverclyde. We are delighted to welcome Balmore Group to Kelburn Business Park. “Its expertise and specialism further add to the rich mix of companies at Kelburn and we very much hope that Inverclyde continues to be an excellent base to grow the firm. We wish the Balmore Group every success for the future.” Balmore Group joins existing tenants at the Kelburn Business Park including global life science’s engineering firm Peak Scientific, The New Chocolate Company and its most recent new tenant, The Start-Up Drinks Lab. Kelburn Business Park has one remaining 15k sq ft unit available with a number of interested parties.
Aluminium manufacturing and installation company AB Glass has been appointed by Kier Construction to carry out works at a new school development based in Cwmbran. The £30 million redevelopment of Croesyceiliog School will accommodate 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is linked to the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. Swansea-based AB Glass will manufacture and install a range of aluminum systems for the project, including Kawneer AA100 curtain walling, AA540 windows, and AA190 and AA720 doors. Vitral UK rooflights will also be used for the project. The company is due to start work on the new development this month (August 2018). Alan Brayley, managing director of AB Glass, said: “The education sector is a significant area of business for AB Glass and we are pleased to be adding to our portfolio with the Croesyceiliog School development. This project also showcases our continuing relationship with Kier Construction, with AB Glass having secured a number of contracts with this leading construction company. “We are keen to get started on this project imminently and look forward to seeing the development taking shape.” AB Glass boasts a robust reputation for delivering success on developments within the education sector, particularly in Wales. In addition to being contracted for the Croesyceiliog School project, the company has also provided its services to Swansea University’s Bay Campus; Briton Ferry School, Neath Port Talbot; Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, Neath Port Talbot; Ysgol Bae Baglan, Neath Port Talbot; and the new University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) campus being developed in Swansea Waterfront.
No matter where you are in the world, one of the most important parts of economic systems is competition. It pushes the industry forward, stimulating companies to improve their services in order to get ahead of others. It also opens a healthy way of income distribution. These days, the main way to obtain a competitive advantage is to embed a new innovative technology into the production. Here the logistics industry is no different from any other. Nowadays, you will not get ahead of your competitors just by finding better ways or buying faster cars. To gain an advantage, you need to apply more innovative approaches. A survey shows that most game-changing technologies are new and less common. But which competitive advantages exactly do these innovations give you? Technologies that are expected to be game-changing for the logistics industry. Source Reliable Security Security has always been a pressing issue for the logistics industry. Now people are interested in increasing surveillance by physical means as well as by means of embedding advanced technology. Blockchain, one of the most common information technology branches right now, is said to be a major instrument to be practiced in both physical and cyber security. Reduced Delivery Time Company automation allows minimizing the presence of employees at different stages of the delivery process. The possibility of a human mistake is minimized as well. Thus, the involvement of these technologies decreases the time needed to process and deliver each separate order and increases the accuracy of orders. Enhanced Customer Experience The customer experience is about placing an order and waiting for its completion. By using the Internet of Things (IoT), companies are able to supply more accurate tracking information. This means that clients can be follow the location of their parcel anytime. It also gives them the possibility to plan their day according to the more precise delivery information. Transparent Process Automated process means that the information about it can be digitized. This enables the company to know about everything that is going on with the user’s order. It opens the door towards a more understanding and trusting relationship between company and customer -. exactly the kind of relationship that has a good chance to grow into a long-lasting one. Cheaper Order Cost Considering everything mentioned above, it seems like technology can increase the number of orders due to the improvement in their handling. But what about the price of each order? Well, the more effective overall processes and the minimization of errors leads to a decrease in the average order handling cost, which means more financial gain for you. Conclusion Using advanced technologies is a perfect way of growing for any business. Nevertheless, the task can turn out to be not quite so simple unless you’re an expert in the IT branch. But with the help of professionals like Artelogic you can be sure that the process of custom logistics software development and embedding will run smoothly.
South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City planning authorities have approved Mace’s plans for a 200,000 sq ft commercial development on the site of one of the UK’s leading science parks. A Section 106 agreement for 1 – 21 Cambridge Science Park was completed on the 17th of August 2018, enabling the development to proceed. With the aim to help address the lack of high-quality commercial space, the proposed development will support the City’s long-term sustainable economic growth and continue to attract leading national and global companies. “Cambridge Science Park was the UK’s first Science Park. I’m pleased that the Council has recognised the importance of our scheme to strengthen Cambridge’s premier position as a leader in the technology and bio-science sectors,” said David Grover, Mace’s Chief Operating Officer for Development. The development arm of Mace acquired a long leasehold from Trinity College and have created a high quality scheme which will be a fantastic new asset for both the Science Park and the City. The development has been designed by architects, Scott Brownrigg. “The development will play a major role in building on the ‘Cambridge Phenomenon’, bringing together a world-class university, research institutes, and creative science and technology businesses and write a new chapter in the extraordinary success story of the Science Park. Now that planning is secured for the project the development will move into the delivery stage on site, and letting of the space through Savills as our appointed agents,” added David Grover. The site is at the gateway to the Science Park, and benefits from excellent new infrastructure investments including the new Cambridge North train station, the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway running alongside the site, and improvements to the A14.
Castlebridge Group have announced that they are on site developing a new 75-bedroom Hotel Indigo situated in the city centre of Chester. The first key milestone has been achieved with the erection of the steel super structure. The hotel will be managed by Castlebridge Hotel Management Limited who have a successful background in managing hotels across the UK. The food and drink offering in the hotel will be operated by MasterChef Champion Simon Wood who will open his second restaurant Wood Chester within the hotel. Simon’s first restaurant, which is located on First Street in the city centre, brings Simon’s passion and creativity for food to life with powerful flavours alongside a touch of playfulness. It offers a stylish yet relaxed dining experience with high end food, and has received rave reviews in the Guardian and Telegraph since opening one year ago. This exciting boutique hotel is due to open at the end of 2019. The main contractor on the project is Bowmer & Kirkland who are based in Derbyshire with a regional office in Manchester. They are also building a hotel at Birmingham Airport for Castlebridge Group and a further Hotel Indigo in Manchester City Centre. Regional Director, Neil Brook, said: “It is a pleasure to be working again with Castlebridge and IHG on this prestigious hotel development in Chester.” The Architects and Interior Designers who have been working on the new Hotel Indigo are Franklin Ellis, and the firm’s design team have worked hard to ensure that the hotel guestrooms have a unique boutique feel, taking inspiration from the different aspects and features that make Chester such a great place. Wood Chester will be a sophisticated and relaxed restaurant and bar that overlooks Grosvenor Park Road. Partner at Franklin Ellis Architects, Ben Dudley, said: “It’s been a real joy to be involved in this hotel and signature restaurant project. Led by Castlebridge’s vision for the scheme, our team have been inspired to create something very special. On a personal note, it’s fascinating to work with the Chef Simon Wood and to see how his attention to every detail ensures his guests have a wonderful dining experience. I’m certain this project will be a fabulous new venue for Chester and a delightful place to stay.” Hotel Indigo is a part of the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) portfolio. This hotel will be a part of one of the world’s leading hotel companies with a presence in almost 100 countries. Inspired by the neighbourhood around each property so, just as no places are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are the same. Each Hotel Indigo property features thoughtful design touches and vibrant restaurants and bars connected to the spirit of the local neighbourhood. This particular hotel will feature rooms based around Chester’s historic architecture, racecourse and famous clock tower. The new hotel will create 50 new staffing positions for which Castlebridge will begin recruitment from early 2019. Wood was introduced to Castlebridge Group – which is managing the project – by national property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), which brokered the deal between Castlebridge and BP Assets (Chester. Commenting, LSH Hotels Director Hugh Anderson, said: “Chester is a strong market for hotels and the new Hotel Indigo and Wood restaurant will provide an excellent addition to the city’s hotel and dining offer.” Castlebridge Group’s Commercial Director, Jenna Dienn, commented; ‘This is a very exciting opportunity for the group, Chester is a great city and we believe that both hotel and restaurant will trade extremely well’
