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DUTCH SUSTAINABILITY FIRM RAISES BAR FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS

Kenneth Booth May 9, 2019

EXCEPT INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY launches a new, innovative blueprint for sustainable  development in the built environment in their latest white paper titled Catalytic Buildings. By looking beyond the physical perimeter of the building itself, the Catalytic Building  approach challenges the real estate industry to use construction projects to improve the  sustainability of the surrounding urban environment. The term catalytic comes from chemistry, signifying a compound which is used to accelerate a chemical reaction, without itself being depleted. In the urban environment, a Catalytic  Building is one that actively improves its surroundings and uplifts the sustainability of a  whole neighborhood. Except’s Director Tom Bosschaert has developed the concept for over twenty years, having applied it to buildings in The Netherlands, United States, and China. “The industry is currently obsessed with circular and energy-neutral buildings, but to  confront the challenges we face due to over-population, rapid urbanization and climate  change, we need to start thinking about buildings that give back to society. “The majority of buildings that we will inhabit this century are already built. So, what is the  added value of a new sustainable building, if it does not provide the conditions for its own  and the neighborhood’s inhabitants to thrive? “By looking beyond energy and materials and incorporating systemic aspects such as biodiversity, culture, social connectivity, education, and neighborhood job-creation, you don’t  need to rebuild an entire city to make substantial sustainability gains,” says Bosschaert. The Catalytic Buildings blueprint creates a new paradigm for sustainability in the construction industry, from design to development, and challenges existing certifications like LEED  and BREEAM. “Our focus should not just be on creating sustainable individual buildings, but on converting the whole city to a sustainable state. This white paper, calls on forward-thinking real  estate developers, policymakers, and built environment professionals to join us at the  forefront of innovation in sustainable construction,” Bosschaert concludes. Click here to view the Catalytic Buildings White Paper   ABOUT EXCEPT Except is an innovation, design, and sustainable development consultancy based in  Utrecht, the Netherlands. Since 1999, Except has combined systems thinking and integrated  sustainability in over 600 projects worldwide. Our multi-disciplinary team of architects, industrial ecologists, and business strategists work at the forefront of sustainability consulting. We realize unique opportunities by embracing the complexity of integrated sustainability for our clients.  

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R&M Williams delivering new housing development in Narbeth

Kenneth Booth January 2, 2019

A development of high-quality homes is being built in the Narbeth area, with local construction firm R&M Williams already starting work on the site. The Maes Yr Orsaf development will contain 19 four-bedroom properties and will comprise of private and affordable social housing, with work due for completion in 2019.

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Latest Issue

BDC 319 : Aug 2024

new-build

DUTCH SUSTAINABILITY FIRM RAISES BAR FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS

Kenneth Booth May 9, 2019

EXCEPT INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY launches a new, innovative blueprint for sustainable  development in the built environment in their latest white paper titled Catalytic Buildings. By looking beyond the physical perimeter of the building itself, the Catalytic Building  approach challenges the real estate industry to use construction projects to improve the  sustainability of the surrounding urban environment. The term catalytic comes from chemistry, signifying a compound which is used to accelerate a chemical reaction, without itself being depleted. In the urban environment, a Catalytic  Building is one that actively improves its surroundings and uplifts the sustainability of a  whole neighborhood. Except’s Director Tom Bosschaert has developed the concept for over twenty years, having applied it to buildings in The Netherlands, United States, and China. “The industry is currently obsessed with circular and energy-neutral buildings, but to  confront the challenges we face due to over-population, rapid urbanization and climate  change, we need to start thinking about buildings that give back to society. “The majority of buildings that we will inhabit this century are already built. So, what is the  added value of a new sustainable building, if it does not provide the conditions for its own  and the neighborhood’s inhabitants to thrive? “By looking beyond energy and materials and incorporating systemic aspects such as biodiversity, culture, social connectivity, education, and neighborhood job-creation, you don’t  need to rebuild an entire city to make substantial sustainability gains,” says Bosschaert. The Catalytic Buildings blueprint creates a new paradigm for sustainability in the construction industry, from design to development, and challenges existing certifications like LEED  and BREEAM. “Our focus should not just be on creating sustainable individual buildings, but on converting the whole city to a sustainable state. This white paper, calls on forward-thinking real  estate developers, policymakers, and built environment professionals to join us at the  forefront of innovation in sustainable construction,” Bosschaert concludes. Click here to view the Catalytic Buildings White Paper   ABOUT EXCEPT Except is an innovation, design, and sustainable development consultancy based in  Utrecht, the Netherlands. Since 1999, Except has combined systems thinking and integrated  sustainability in over 600 projects worldwide. Our multi-disciplinary team of architects, industrial ecologists, and business strategists work at the forefront of sustainability consulting. We realize unique opportunities by embracing the complexity of integrated sustainability for our clients.  

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R&M Williams delivering new housing development in Narbeth

Kenneth Booth January 2, 2019

A development of high-quality homes is being built in the Narbeth area, with local construction firm R&M Williams already starting work on the site. The Maes Yr Orsaf development will contain 19 four-bedroom properties and will comprise of private and affordable social housing, with work due for completion in 2019. Darryn Parry, managing director of R&M Williams said on the project: “We’re delighted to be providing new-build housing for residents in Narbeth this year. This is a highly sought after area for homeowners, particularly with the reputation Narbeth has for being a shopper’s haven and being so well connected to Haverfordwest, Tenby, Cardigan and Carmarthen. “The development will also be within close reach of Canaston Woods, which offers residents a wealth of opportunity for walking, cycling and horse riding so we expect that there will be high demand once the properties are open for occupancy.” The properties at Maes Yr Orsaf are set to be laid out over two floors, with three bedrooms on the second floor and the master bedroom in the attic with en suite attached.  Each property will be valued between £210-£240k and will be available for sale from 2019. Darryn added: “This is a great opportunity for more families to enjoy everything that Narbeth has to offer. The development of Maes Yr Orsaf has been designed to help provide quality, affordable housing for people in Pembrokeshire and attract new residents to the community. We’re very much looking forward to breaking ground on the project today.” R&M Williams is an award winning house builder which has construction, maintenance, development, mechanical and electrical installation, as well painting and decorating divisions, has experience across an extensive range of sectors and was recognised for its services to construction this year, earning a Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Award and a silver Considerate Constructors National Site Award for its work on the Urban Quarter. For more information about the Maes Yr Orsaf Development, contact FBM Estate Agents in Narberth: https://www.fbm.co.uk/branches/narberth

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Could a ‘we buy any house’ style sale be the answer to part exchange woes?

Kenneth Booth September 4, 2018

Property part exchange is a great sales incentive for those interested in buying a new build property, but it can be both costly and inconvenient for site developers.  Now, the UK’s largest and original cash home buyer, Quick Move Now, is suggesting that a ‘we buy any house’ style sale could be the answer for both the purchaser and the developer. It is often said that moving house is one of the most stressful things a person will ever do.  This stress may be compounded by a difficulty in trying to coordinate the sale of an existing property and a completion date for the new property. Danny Luke, Quick Move Now’s managing director, explains: “We have been purchasing properties directly from their owners for more than 20 years, so we have a great deal of experience working with homeowners in a wide variety of circumstances. “One of the scenarios that comes up time and time again is the purchase of a new build property.  At the point of reserving a property, they will be given an estimate of when their new property will be completed and ready to move into.  However, as many of our previous customers have experienced, that date is not set in stone and can often be pushed back by several months.  For this reason, it can be incredibly challenging for those buying a new build property to sell their existing property on the open market, timing the sale to tie in with the completion of their new home.  If they start trying to find a buyer too early, they risk losing their buyer if the completion of their new property is held up; leave it too late and they risk not being able to find a buyer in time. “A guaranteed sale to a cash home buying company like Quick Move Now can offer a real solution to this challenge.  Once we have agreed to purchase their property, we can complete the sale on a date to suit them.  We have previously purchased properties from owners in as little as just seven days. “Property owners can set the sale up in advance, and then simply give us their chosen date for the sale to go through once they have a confirmed date from the developer of their new home. “By pointing customers to a professional home buyer like Quick Move Now – who can offer a guaranteed sale on a date to suit the homeowner – new build developers can offer their customers all of the convenience of a property part exchange, but without any of the financial commitment of offering their own part exchange scheme. ”

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Savills Highlights Similar Rents between Refurbished and New-Build Office Space

Cristina Diaconu March 10, 2016

Leeds is seemingly becoming an increased hotbed of commercial activity, with notable demand for office space in the city, both as consequence and result. As such, this demand has led to a considerable spike in those rents associated with quality refurbished space, where Savills has reported these values hitting circa £26 per square foot of office space; a figure which remains £1 shy of new-build, Grade A offices (£27 per square foot). The major factor to which this situation can be attributed seems to be the enhanced levels of demand seen from organisations which are aiming to “set up shop” and benefit from the comparatively low living and property costs in the city. This, in effect, has led to such increases in demand volume and associated developments that Leeds now stands as the city with the second largest volume of development starts, as reported by Savills. Yet, whilst the situation is naturally prey to the whims of the uneven scales of supply and demand, the increased number of new developments is expected to tip the scales slightly more favourably for those looking for office space over the course of the year. As such, the available stock of suitable office spaces is expected to re-open the difference between new-build and refurbished office spaces as, one might argue, it should be. Looking at the levels of investment, it has also been reported by Savills that, over the course of the previous year, prime equivalent yields with regard to regional offices has moved in by 50 bps, hitting 4.75%. Additionally, the volume of investment into the market for office space outside of the capital city has risen notable during the past 2 years. Savills’ Associate Director of Office Agency, Paddy Carter commented: “Leeds will see a step change in the quality and variety of space available to occupiers this year.” To pre-empt this, of course, there has already been a surge of interest from occupiers of all shapes and sizes.

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