Muhammad Uddin and Isobel Moorhouse, two Yorkshire Housing apprentices, have fought off stiff competition to make the final shortlist for Yorkshire and Humber regional apprenticeship awards 2018. Both apprentices made the shortlist, which showcases the diverse range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships and celebrates outstanding apprentices, such as Muhammad and
Buying a home is usually the largest investment of any family. The prices can be high, sometimes higher than than the home and property is truly worth. We spoke with from Richard from strawhomes.com, who are first time buying experts, gave us some invaluable advice. Richard told us that when
Redrow chief John Tutte has hit out at environmental rules, saying they slow up work on new homes. Tutte explained that companies such as Redrow are often required to fit work in around the requirements of different species, which leaves them with “a very small window” in which to begin
The government has pledged £45 million to help unlock more than 2,000 private rented homes in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. Projects in the three cities will receive £45 million from the government’s new £3 billion Home Building Fund, which will help to construct 25,000 new homes over the next four
Housebuilding firm Avant Homes has unveiled plans for two new developments in Yorkshire with a combined value of £65 million. The new homes developer has purchased a 16 acre site in Stamford Bridge, near York, where it will begin working on the construction of 120 homes this month. Work on
Seven recently completed three-storey town houses in Brighton are setting high design and construction standards aided by the stylish finish achieved through the application of weberpral M, the innovative one-coat, through-coloured monocouche render from Saint-Gobain Weber. These new four-bedroom properties, built by Lewes’-based developer Cross Construction (Sussex) Limited, have light
Introducing the World’s First Elevated Home: Is It the Answer to the UK’s Housing Issues? While some industries are constantly heralded as holding the keys to a bright and progressive future, others are derided as moribund and increasingly irrelevant in the modern age. Take manufacturing, for example, which despite accounting
The Grandhome Trust is set to build more than 600 houses in Aberdeen after a £7.9 million housing loan provided by the Scottish Government. This is phase one of the Grandhome site which has been given planning permission in principle for a 4,700 home community that will include leisure, retail,
North West construction firm ForWorks has secured three new housing contracts with housing providers. North Symphony Housing Group owns and manages 41,000 homes in the region and has given ForWorks the task of delivering its responsive, out of hours repair service to customers throughout Greater Manchester. West construction firm ForWorks
Barnet Homes: Unique Amongst ALMOs (The Following is a Promoted Article) Barnet Homes is, in the view of Assistant Director of Operations Elliott Sweetman, quite unusual if not unique amongst ALMOs. That’s partly because it’s a subsidiary of The Barnet Group, a local authority trading company set up to run
Muhammad Uddin and Isobel Moorhouse, two Yorkshire Housing apprentices, have fought off stiff competition to make the final shortlist for Yorkshire and Humber regional apprenticeship awards 2018. Both apprentices made the shortlist, which showcases the diverse range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships and celebrates outstanding apprentices, such as Muhammad and Isobel, who go above and beyond to champion apprenticeships. Isobel, from Bradford, joined Yorkshire Housing in 2015 as apprentice surveyor and in May 2018 completed the level three apprenticeship in property maintenance surveying, achieving 100 per cent distinctions for elements of her surveying qualifications and also received the chief executive award. During her apprenticeship Isobel carved a niche for herself as a priceless member of the repairs investment team. She is also a member of the young ambassador network. Fellow awards shortlisted candidate Muhammad Uddin started his Yorkshire Housing apprenticeship straight after leaving school, joining the benefits and advice team. Within 12 months he achieved his level two business admin qualifications and successfully secured a role as customer complaints apprentice, enabling him to do his level three business admin qualification. Last month he was shortlisted in the top 20 Young Leader Inside Housing finalist awards. Muhammad has been instrumental in the rollout of a new complaints system, mentoring new apprentices, running workshops and training staff. As an active apprentice champion he’s spoken at local BME forums, career events, been featured on podcasts, websites and represented on the Young Apprentice Ambassador network. Shortlisted candidate, Isobel Moorhouse said: “I feel very privileged and shocked to have been shortlisted for this award. I’m really pleased as getting to the finals is very exciting and I really look forward to finding out who the winner is!” Kiran Olak, Yorkshire Housing’s senior people development coordinator, said: “Muhammad and Isobel are a real credit to Yorkshire Housing and have really gone above and beyond to champion apprenticeships. I am very proud that their great work has been recognised and they have been shortlisted for this prestigious award, acting as great ambassadors for apprenticeships.” We wish them the best of luck at the regional finals on 26 September 2018. You can find out more information on the National Apprenticeship Awards on their website.
Buying a home is usually the largest investment of any family. The prices can be high, sometimes higher than than the home and property is truly worth. We spoke with from Richard from strawhomes.com, who are first time buying experts, gave us some invaluable advice. Richard told us that when considering the purchase of any one home, the following are steps that should be followed before you sign for the mortgage. 1. Consider whether you should be buying a house at all. There is an attitude that a Canadian family should by all means own their own home. Home ownership means stability and pride. However, make sure you can afford the mortgage with your current salary. 2. Research the Neighbourhood. When you find you are interested in a particular home, it’s time to play detective. Walk through the neighbourhood, visiting pubs, parks, school yards and homes at different times of day. Check that homes are well-maintained, that cars are kept up and there aren’t any derelicts lining the streets. 3. Check Out the Area with the Neighbours. Many neighbours can give you valuable information on the particular home or the neighbourhood. Check with those who are not next door, but some distance away. They are likely to be more honest about the area and won’t be either friends or enemies with the sellers. You will also have the advantage of meeting the people you will be living with. 4. What Is the Potential for Resale? It is possible you wish to live in your new home until you die and then leave the property to children. If this is not the case, then you must take measure of the resale value of the property. You may need to put some work in on the house. If the home has been on the market for quite a while, you had better figure out why, because it will affect your ability to sell the home in the future. 5. Bump Up Your Credit Scores. Make very sure that your credit scores are as error-free and up to the demands of your preferred lender. Little mistakes that are easily overlooked can take your out of the running. Check the free websites that can give you the current credit rating. 6. Arrange with Your Lender a Mortgage in Principle. You probably won’t be able to arrange a mortgage unless you have a particular property in place. Instead, lenders offer what is called a “mortgage in principle (MIP).” This is very helpful in that it lets you know how much the lender is willing to allow you to borrow, as long as you find a suitable property within a specified time. However, the MIP is not a guarantee. 7. What Is the Actual Cost of Buying the Home? Owning a home costs more than just the monthly mortgage payment. Remember fees can add up to thousands of pounds. From the Mortgage Arrangement Fee to the cost of removal and new furnishings, the cost of the home will likely be thousands more than the “sticker price.” 8. Typical Home Buying Timeline. The time it takes to find your new home and arrange for its purchase will likely be longer than you think. It will take you time to find a property you want. It will be wise to narrow your search to two or three neighbourhoods, but don’t be too certain you must be located in only one particular place. Once you have found your desired home, put in an offer. This lets the seller know how much you are willing to pay, plus any other conditions. Once your final offer has been accepted, you will need to arrange for a survey of the property and your solicitor should research any legal issues. At the time of the exchange of your money for the deeds and keys, it will take just a few weeks until the sale is complete. Then, congratulations — you will be a real homeowner!
Redrow chief John Tutte has hit out at environmental rules, saying they slow up work on new homes. Tutte explained that companies such as Redrow are often required to fit work in around the requirements of different species, which leaves them with “a very small window” in which to begin construction work. The head of the Flintshire based company explained: “If you get planning permission you will not be able to start on site if you have ecology issues because of hibernation seasons. “One particular site [near Cheltenham] had dormice, so that meant we can’t start on the site until spring next year, but then the issue is you have the bird nesting season. So there’s a very small window of trying to start work on a site.” Mr Tutte also criticised EU legislation which protects the great crested newt, a species which has seen a dramatic decline in the UK in recent decades due to the loss of habitat and pesticide pollution – and conservationists say that decline is continuing. Numbers are even lower in continental Europe making the UK population even more important in conservation terms. However, Mr Tutte said: “The UK has the largest colonies of great crested newts in the whole of Europe. We haven’t got a shortage, there’s no threat to great crested newts in the UK, but it’s European legislation.” Destroying great crested newt habitat can lead to a fine or imprisonment. Developers are required to comply with laws protecting newts when they seek planning permission. They may have to halt work on a site if a pond inhabited by newts is discovered. Changes to the rules introduced last year by Natural England allow housebuilders to remove newts to another colony away from the site. But Mr Tutte added, this depends on the time of the year. “You can’t collect and transport the newts to new sites if the temperature is below 5 degrees. So it writes off the winter for being able to do those works on the site,” he said.
The government has pledged £45 million to help unlock more than 2,000 private rented homes in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. Projects in the three cities will receive £45 million from the government’s new £3 billion Home Building Fund, which will help to construct 25,000 new homes over the next four years The funding will support a £400 million PRS development pipeline throughout the three regions, with 995 new homes in Manchester, 744 in Leeds and 323 in Birmingham. Developer Dandara Group is leading the project with backing from the Homes and Communities Agency and HSBC. Dandara will manage the letting and management of all the developments built using the funding. Work is set to commence in January 2017 and is due to be completed in December 2019. The government estimates the work will help to create a further 1,500 construction jobs across the three cities. Hugh Taylor, HSBC head of housing in the UK, commented: “We are really pleased to be supporting Dandara alongside the HCA with development finance on this multi-site roll-out of their PRS programme. “It is a significant contribution to the housing challenge and is further evidence of PRS beginning to emerge as a distinct asset class.” Communities secretary Sajid Javid launched the Home Building Fund at the Conservative Party conference and is designed to provide loans for small and medium enterprise builders, custom builders, offsite construction and essential infrastructure. The measures form part of the government’s £7.2 billion investment in housing announced in last week’s Autumn Statement. Housing minister Gavin Barwell has reiterated the government’s commitment to the build-to-rent sector, and confirmed last week that a package supporting the sector would be included in a housing white paper due to be published next year.
Housebuilding firm Avant Homes has unveiled plans for two new developments in Yorkshire with a combined value of £65 million. The new homes developer has purchased a 16 acre site in Stamford Bridge, near York, where it will begin working on the construction of 120 homes this month. Work on a 9.8 acre development in Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire, is already underway. The £31 million Stamford Bridge development is situated off Roman Road and will be made up of a collection of three, four and five bedroom town houses, semi-detached and detached homes. The first homes are set to be finished by March next year. Site clearance and ground remodelling works are in progress at both sites with construction of the first plots expected to commence this month. Mark Mitchell, Avant Homes’ Yorkshire managing director, said: “We are very pleased to reveal our plans for these new developments, both of which present buyers with the opportunity to purchase our high quality product in two very desirable areas. “Works have begun in earnest to prepare for construction and we expect many of the homes on the first phases to sell off-plan. “Our second development in Apperley Bridge follows the exceptional success of our Apperley Green site, which has been our most popular development in 2016, with sales rates far exceeding expectations. “Stamford Bridge will be our first development in York since 2014.” Based in Wakefield, Avant Homes Yorkshire is an operating company of the Avant Homes group. Earlier in the month it was revealed that Avant Homes revenue has reached the £160 million mark in its results for the first half of the year. Revenue from April to October 2016 increased to £160m compared to £112m from the previous comparable period. Avant Homes financial director Giles Sharp said the increase in the group’s revenue was mainly due to growth in housing completions and an increase in the average selling price of its homes.
Seven recently completed three-storey town houses in Brighton are setting high design and construction standards aided by the stylish finish achieved through the application of weberpral M, the innovative one-coat, through-coloured monocouche render from Saint-Gobain Weber. These new four-bedroom properties, built by Lewes’-based developer Cross Construction (Sussex) Limited, have light textured facades and razor sharp features that achieve a striking contemporary visual impact. Designed by architectural practice Turner Associates of Hove, East Sussex, the properties meet Code for Sustainable Design standards and provide spacious town centre living. Factory produced to ensure product consistency weberpral M is a cementitious, through-coloured render suitable for one-coat application to suitable brick or block work substrates. Produced from carefully selected raw materials weberpral M monocouche render is formulated for pump application which makes quick and efficient installation that contributes to shorter construction programme periods, reducing associated scaffolding and site costs and permitting the completion of ground works at an earlier state. It is supplied ready-mixed with only the requirement of clean water to be added on site. Saint-Gobain Weber is the first manufacturer of monocouche renders to be awarded an A+ rating as defined in the BRE Global 2008 Green Guide to Specification. This audited material helps specifiers to make selections that will collectively reduce the environmental impact of their buildings while achieving a higher number of BREEAM material specification credits. Weberpral M has excellent weather resistance and durability whilst allowing the structure to breathe. Its through-coloured characteristic requires no decoration, is truly low maintenance and offers a variety of ways to achieve architectural features. It is available in a wide palette of 24 attractive colours. Weberpral M is applied in a two pass operation to a thickness of 20-28mm and then scraped when green giving a minimum render thickness of 15-25mm. On the recommendation of specialist applicator Complete Rendering Systems of Lewes, East Sussex, the properties were fully meshed with reinforcing meshcloth to protect against movement in the substrate and ensure maximum durability. “We advised the client that this is a recognised and recommended procedure on a rapid build project and we are confident that the excellent finish will be maintained,” said Bradley Halls, Director, Complete Rendering Systems. “Applied in Chalk, to the structural substrate of 70Nm medium density concrete blockwork, the light fresh colour has contributed to the sharp, contemporary appearance of these attractive properties.” For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.
Introducing the World’s First Elevated Home: Is It the Answer to the UK’s Housing Issues? While some industries are constantly heralded as holding the keys to a bright and progressive future, others are derided as moribund and increasingly irrelevant in the modern age. Take manufacturing, for example, which despite accounting for 52% of UK exports and generating 2.5 million jobs in the UK is still viewed as a declining entity. A similar gap between perception and reality is also evident in the construction sector, particularly as the demand for new homes has suffered in line with rising price points. Despite this and the challenges created by Brexit, however, the construction sector actually showcased impressive growth while the Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index increased to a healthy 52.6. The World’s First Elevated Home, and What Will it Means for the UK? While supply, demand and determinism shape the robust nature of the construction sector, however, there is another important factor at play. This is innovation, which was in evidence recently as a UK developer applied for planning permission to construct an experimental property that can rise on jacks in the event of a flood. Although still at the planning and stage, the idea is the subject of both domestic and international patents and it has the potential to revolutionise the property market (particularly in the UK). The structure itself, which will be built in Spalding, Lincolnshire once planning permission has been granted, will sit on a steel ring beam instead of conventional foundations. It will also boast a modular, steel-frame design that can be easily disassembled at will, while the mechanical jacking system (which includes eight individual jacks) will be powered by a central metre and elevate the property by up to 1.5 metres. According to moderate estimates, this system can fully elevate the property within a period of five minutes, enabling home-owners to react to unexpected flooding and safeguard their home before seeking out temporary accommodation. Are There Any Potential Issues with the Build, and How Might it Influence the Marketplace? Aside from planning delays and potential construction issues, there are other issues that may prevent this innovative project from coming to fruition. To begin with, the cost of the build is likely to be high, particularly when you scale the idea and factor in features such as integrated, rooftop solar panels and complex pipe networks. Given the challenges that construction firms face when attempting to budget their working capital across large-scale projects, an inflated cost base could make the completion of multiple units unlikely in the near-term. With that being said, however, there is no doubt that this ground-breaking concept could have a seminal impact on the housing market in the UK. Not only could it increase the level of demand for property in coastal areas, for example, but it may even enable private sector firms to build on land that is currently inaccessible due to the risk of flooding. With demand currently outstripping supply in the housing market, elevating homes could correct this imbalance and lower price points accordingly. This is a long way off, of course, and there are many challenges to overcome before the first elevating house can even by built. If the concept is a commercial and theoretical success, however, it could open up more land to construction firms and help to re-establish a viable equilibrium in the property market.
The Grandhome Trust is set to build more than 600 houses in Aberdeen after a £7.9 million housing loan provided by the Scottish Government. This is phase one of the Grandhome site which has been given planning permission in principle for a 4,700 home community that will include leisure, retail, commercial and public space. For 2016-17, the Scottish Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund has up to £50 million of loan and grant funding available to help unlock strategically important housing sites throughout Scotland. This year, Aberdeen City has already had their Affordable Housing Programme allocation pushed up to £10.9 million, which is an increase of 70% on last year. The Housing Infrastructure Fund is also considering other projects from throughout Scotland. Housing Minister Kevin Stewart paid a visit to the Grandhome site and he commented: “I am really pleased the first loan from this important Scottish Government fund is being used to unlock a key housing site. The first phase of 600 homes will include at least 90 affordable homes. “Today’s announcement underlines this Government’s determination to increase the pace and scale of development to deliver more homes. I look forward to further loans and grants being granted to projects across Scotland. “We have listened to our partners and are putting in place measures to support the increase in the supply of homes across all tenures, support jobs in the construction industry, and encourage inclusive growth in the wider economy. “We have committed to deliver 50,000 more affordable homes, with 35,000 available for social rent, over the next five years, backed up with investment of more than £3 billion. Projects such as this one today marks another step on road to delivering that pledge.” Meanwhile, Grandhome Trust trustee, Bruce Smith, said that the new community of Grandhome has been in the planning for over 10 years and the delivery of phase one infrastructure is a key milestone for them.
North West construction firm ForWorks has secured three new housing contracts with housing providers. North Symphony Housing Group owns and manages 41,000 homes in the region and has given ForWorks the task of delivering its responsive, out of hours repair service to customers throughout Greater Manchester. West construction firm ForWorks has secured three new housing contracts with housing providers. ForWorks, based in Salford, has also been chosen by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to carry out disrepair works to many of its properties. As part of the deal, ForWorks will install new kitchens and bathrooms and deliver repairs, as well as carrying out larger structural works, to 14,000 properties owned by Rochdale Boroughwide. The firm has also been chosen by Ribble Valley Homes to carry out bathroom and kitchen work on its properties. Stever Parrington, Managing Director at ForWorks, commented: “Securing three contracts with regional landlords demonstrates ForWorks’ ability to deliver first class services into the heart of communities. “We are delighted to have been selected for these projects as we continue our growth in 2016 and beyond.” The hat-trick of wins comes after ForWorks’ appointment to a £15.6 million contract to deliver grounds maintenance works for the City West Housing Trust. The North West based business will manage more than 500 sites across the city for client City West Housing Trust, with work including the maintenance of green spaces and hedges, playground inspections, tree and shrubbery inspections and other operational work. The team will also undertake the development of new and existing sites to enhance the local environment. The 13 year contract will allow ForWorks to create three new apprenticeships within its grounds maintenance team with a view to increasing this in the coming years, as well as take on 18 staff currently employed by the local authority. Earlier in the year, the firm was also awarded a six figure maintenance contract by health and social care charity Alternative Futures Group.
Barnet Homes: Unique Amongst ALMOs (The Following is a Promoted Article) Barnet Homes is, in the view of Assistant Director of Operations Elliott Sweetman, quite unusual if not unique amongst ALMOs. That’s partly because it’s a subsidiary of The Barnet Group, a local authority trading company set up to run various organisations and win new business for Barnet Council. “In 2012 we took Your Choice (Barnet) across from the Council, a specialist care and support function providing services to adults with a range of physical and learning disabilities,” recalls Elliott. “The council has also transferred other housing interests to us, such as its homelessness services. The intention was to improve the efficiency of services and make them financially viable where appropriate. The council wants us to be enterprising and transform under-performing operations into highly performing services.” Synergies and Efficiencies Barnet Homes was established in April 2004 and, like most ALMOs, its primary purpose was to deliver the Decent Homes Programme. Once completed in 2011, the new group structure came into being and, as Elliott explains, efficiencies have resulted: “There are several synergies between the homelessness service and other elements of landlord services that Barnet Homes delivers. “For instance, the voids and lettings function transferred into the homelessness department because it made sense for nominations, appeals and other departments to sit within the Housing Options service. The repairs and major refurbishment functions provide services to various homeless services clients and various overheads are spread across The Barnet Group.” The organisation’s stock comprises around 15,000 properties, 11,000 tenancies and 4,000 leaseholds, which range from Victorian buildings to some constructed in the last development programmes of the early 1990s. Additionally, there are some 2,000 temporary accommodation units that Barnet Homes manages the tenancies for but doesn’t own. Maintaining Standards The Decent Homes programme saw a £185 million investment, delivering over 5,000 new kitchens, new windows for 4,000 units, 2,300 bathrooms, over 6,000 electrical upgrades and rewires, 2,300 heating systems and boilers, and 260 new roofs, many on blocks of flats with various other types of remodelling work. Since it completed, the focus has been, says Elliott, on maintaining homes to the same standard: “Using information from our stock database and on-site verification surveys, we continue to run a programme of kitchen, bathroom and window replacement when components reach the end of their useful life. “In addition, we’re ensuring M&E services remain fit for purpose and comply with current standards. We’re currently investing in replacing boilers, heating systems and carrying out rewires for homes that didn’t receive them during Decent Homes. In many respects, it’s a continuation of that investment.” The main emphasis of Decent Homes was on the internal condition of dwellings and the safety of communal areas. Investment now is going into other areas that weren’t covered, such as estate and environmental works, remodelling car parks and pathways. There’s been much work on water services, damp and condensation, lift refurbishment and a large electrical rising main programme. External repairs and redecoration programmes continue, the latter incorporating dementia-friendly design principles as a result of consultation with residents. Community Relationships Resident involvement and consultation are major features of the way Barnet Homes operates. “We have a strong local presence and work hard to maintain good community relationships,” states Elliott. “We have really strong relationships with existing residents, have high satisfaction levels and they trust us in providing this function. We understand the issues faced by those living within the estates, consulting them and our own officers about problems such as anti-social behaviour to ensure we design improvements or design out issues.” The emphasis on involving residents helped Barnet Homes achieve a score of 81% on a recent tenant satisfaction survey, putting it in the top quartile within the industry. It also enabled it to be recognised as a Top Twenty Landlord out of more than 1,700 UK social landlords. Resident involvement was to the fore when Barnet Homes used the end of Decent Homes as an opportunity to look at how it delivered asset management. A major procurement exercise resulted in most contracts being awarded on ten-year terms and, as Elliott emphasises, residents played a major role in contractor selection: “To make sure they had a meaningful involvement in that process, we involved them in scoping at the very outset and residents had a say in what they liked about contractors and what they wanted to improve. Much of what we put in the tender for contractor requirements in less technical areas was driven by what our customers told us. Continuing Involvement “We kept their involvement through that procurement process so they were on groups evaluating tenders, they went on site visits for short-listed contractors and sat in on interviews. They were involved in mobilisation processes for our biggest contracts and those more relevant to residents. We have a Performance Advisory Group (PAG) made up of customers, both tenants and leaseholders, whose role is to hold us to account for what we do and the services we provide. “Members from PAG attend monthly contract management meetings and higher level contracts core group meetings. They feed back to the wider PAG group and the board on their involvement and how managing the contract and contract performance goes. A big part of what we do is ensuring the customer is represented and that ensures we can check that what we’re providing is what they actually want.” The checking extends to an annual benchmarking exercise that puts the service in the top quartile of London boroughs for resident satisfaction and cost. There’s also KPI incentivisation linking contractor payments to performance, although Elliott believes the arrangement’s success is due to other factors: “A key to it is the relationship between teams and how they work together to ensure the service runs in the best way. The contractors are based in our office so, from a practical perspective, we work as a single team.” Apprenticeship Programme A factor in awarding contracts was a wish to retain spend within
