PropTech: The digital future of property and housing?

In Britain, the housing crisis remains a distinct and ever-present issue which, to this day, requires the delivery of a more long term solution. Technology and digitisation have recently been brought in as this potential solution with evidence of this being seen in the Government promoting MMCs and, more recently, PropTech (Property Technology).

What is PropTech?

PropTech is the collective label for a variety of technological and digital innovations which have swept the property and housing sectors within the last two years. As digitisation finally starts to gain a foothold in the construction industry, with data gathering and analysis becoming more important, PropTech is following in the footsteps of other sectors that have embraced digital transformation.

In October Conservative Housing Minister Esther McVey, announced that local authorities would soon be obliged to release any and all information they possess which relates to housing and the property sector, covering the likes of energy certificates and square footage. The reasoning behind this was to allow British PropTech companies to utilise this data and assist in the provision of their services, triggering a digital revolution within the property and housing sectors.

The information which the local authorities will then disclose is referred to as Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) data and it was the ultimate goal for Minister McVey that PropTech companies would utilise this to create a national index of brownfield site data.

How can PropTech be utilised by the construction industry?

Following on from this strategy, it can quite safely be assumed that the construction industry would benefit greatly from the utilisation of PropTech, with its digital innovation effectively streamlining the project development process.

Through identifying optimum sites where construction can take place, through the anticipated brownfield site database, PropTech can be employed by the construction industry to limit costs and time that is spent on site sourcing, allowing for more projects to be planned and therefore increasing project pipelines.

In fact, one company, named LandTech, applies PropTech innovation to streamline the entire planning process, thereby empowering developers to not only source sites but also achieve planning permissions through the relevant authorities as swiftly as possible.

Through a subsidiary service of LandTech, named LandInsight, LandTech allows its users to employ a search functionality through which developers and construction companies can search for potential sites. Afterwards they can use another subsidiary service, named LandEnhance, which directs its users to the specific planning authorities and provides useful tips on seeking planning applications and policy documents.

Gathering all of these services onto one fast and convenient digital platform streamlines the entire planning process, ahead of construction, and can also make it possible for developers and contractors to increase the number of projects being taken on, as the land would be much easier to acquire.

This, in turn, means that with more projects being undertaken, the healthier the project pipeline will appear and thus more contracts will be sought, more jobs created, and more income will be subsequently made.

Another way in which PropTech can greatly benefit the construction industry is in the design process, through the application of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

By developing three-dimensional renderings of proposed buildings and developments, architects, contractors, and engineers can then employ VR and AR technologies to take a literal tour around their designs in order to examine the results, making adjustments wherever necessary, and even running weather simulations to be sure that the designed structures are fit-for-purpose.

As a result, this would prevent any additional cost in correcting design flaws that go unnoticed until the construction process, with retrofitting notoriously expensive and time consuming.

What these examples underline is the fact that the construction industry can benefit from the incorporation of PropTech to not only optimise the acquisition, planning, and designing processes, but can also be used to obtain increased and more consistent workloads. Adding to this, the incorporation of PropTech into the construction industry can help to increase its digitisation after the ‘McKinsey and Company Report’ found it to be the second least digitised sector in the UK.

How can PropTech be utilised to solve the housing crisis?

According to a report by the Financial Times, Britain needs to increase its housing supply by a proportion of one per cent each year in order to keep up with existing demands. By this summation, approximately 300,000 homes will need to be constructed annually, as Britain currently contains a grand total of 28M houses and flats meaning that one per cent of this would amount to a figure of 280,000 homes.

PropTech can therefore lend a hand in achieving this lofty figure through all of the aforementioned benefits that its incorporation into the development process provides. Identifying potential housing sites, ensuring the swift securing of planning permissions, and reducing the likelihood of flawed designs are just of few of the many unfathomable advantages that PropTech can offer to contractors.

However, one advantage that has yet to be mentioned is the far more obvious advantage of being able to identify existing properties. This may seem confusing, or perhaps obsolete, but this suggestion is made all the more enlightening by the fact that the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) recently recorded a total of 205,000 unoccupied homes in Britain.

This figure alone amounts to more than 73% of the annual requirements identified by the Financial Times and, through PropTech, the discovery and acquisition of these properties can be made much simpler so that they can be exploited to solve Britain’s worsening housing crisis.

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Minety and Oaksey School pupils invited to Highways England

Highways England are making efforts to inspire the next generation of infrastructure professionals while also promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects to school pupils after having invited Year Five and Six students from Minety and Oaksey Church of England Primary Schools to their operational base in Avonmouth.

During this visit, the pupils of Minety and Oaksey Church of England Primary Schools saw the Control Room, giving them a chance to see the monitoring screens which keep an eye on roads across all of the South West, and also met Traffic Officers before taking a closer look at their on-road vehicle.

Furthermore, students also got the chance to build Lego Mindstorm autonomous cars while also learning about road engineering through civil engineer Nuria Zea Checa, from Highways England’s engineering consultancy partner WSP.

The Lead Performance Analyst for Highways England, Garry Packer stated: “I am very focused on raising children’s aspirations and confidence so they can see their potential, and these school visits are a great way to do this while also promoting Highways England as a great place to work.

“I really believe that by engaging children from a young age, the next generations will be more interested in a whole range of transport and engineering-related careers, and Highways England hopes to encourage young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to work in the transport sector and particularly in STEM careers.”

The Science Lead at Minety Church of England Primary School, Maria Madeley added: “The children found it very inspiring and as well as giving them ideas about what they might like to do in their future careers it has helped them understand the type of skills employers are looking for.

“When they returned to school, they all said they thought it would be cool to work for Highways England.”

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HS2 station designs submitted for Old Oak Common

New designs of the Old Oak Common rail hub for HS2 in London have been revealed by HS2 Ltd after the designs, which have been developed in partnership with the engineering consultancy WSP and the architecture firm WilkinsonEyre, were exhibited to the general public.

The HS2 Stations Director, Matthew Botelle stated: “Significant progress is already being made at Old Oak Common with site clearance ready for station construction to start. The Schedule 17 submission is the next step in HS2’s delivery of a world class railway, with landmark station architecture designed with future passengers in mind.

“HS2 will transform Old Oak Common and will be the key to unlocking thousands of new jobs and homes around what will be the UK’s best connected transport hub.”

According to the predicted schedule, a decision on the new designs for Old Oak Common should be made by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) in the Summer of 2020.

The WSP Project Director on Old Oak Common, Adrian Tooth commented: “Old Oak Common has been designed to be a landmark destination within the UK’s transport network and will be a force for regeneration in West London, supporting new jobs and homes within the wider OPDC area.

“The design responds to the station’s function, as two-thirds of those using the station will be interchanging between the below ground HS2 and the above ground conventional rail services.

“HS2 is a transformative project which has already boosted the skills and experience of the apprentices WSP has brought onto the Old Oak Common scheme, and we look forward to being part of its delivery.”

The WilkinsonEyre Project Director, Bosco Lam added: “Our architectural approach is inspired by the rich history of the site and its railway heritage. The station unifies the various connecting railways under a single roof, a series of interlocking arched vaults which break down the volume to a more human scale and celebrate the structural engineering as a fundamental part of the architecture.

“The dramatic volumes underneath have open and clear sightlines that promote intuitive wayfinding for users and allow natural light and visual links outwards to the present and future context.”

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Heatherwood Hospital topped out in Ascot

A topping out ceremony has taken place in Ascot, Berkshire, to mark the completion of the main structure of the Heatherwood Hospital, with those in attendance of the ceremony representing Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and the contractor company Kier.

To go into more detail, the new Heatherwood Hospital has cost a total sum of £98M and will include facilities such as out-patient facilities, diagnostic facilities, cardiology, radiology, lithotripsy, physiotherapy, and orthodontics facilities, as well as six operating theatres, 48 in-patient beds, and 22-day case cubicles.

Kier were appointed to this contract in January 2019 and it is expected that the hospital will treat approximately 168,000 people per year.

The Operations Director for Kier Regional Building Southern, Martin Reilly stated: “Today marks an important milestone in the completion of the new building that is part of the transformation programme at Heatherwood Hospital. Over the last 12 months, work has progressed well and we are delighted that we are one step closer to providing vital new facilities for the hospital and its patients.

“We always look to leave a lasting legacy in areas in which we build. Working collaboratively with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we have engaged with the local community throughout this project as well as providing training opportunities for those who are considering a career within the built environment.”

The Frimley Health Chief Executive, Neil Dardis added: “Our board gave the green light just a year ago and it is remarkable how much progress has been made since then. Kier are doing a fantastic job.

“It is so exciting to reach this milestone and to have the completion of the new hospital in sight. It will be among the best facilities of its kind in the NHS and we will finally have the facilities that our fantastic Heatherwood teams and the patients they care for deserve.”

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Third Runway Project at Heathrow ruled illegal

The construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport has been ruled illegal by the Court of Appeal, who stated that the project would not be in-keeping with the Paris Agreement and would seriously hinder the UK’s target of producing a net-zero carbon emissions output by 2050.

The Third Runway Project would have cost a grand total of £14Bn and would have allowed extra traffic of 700 planes per day at the airport, significantly increasing carbon emissions output once it became operational in 2028. However, it was officially ruled illegal yesterday due to it being in breach of new climate change laws.

Lord Justice Lindblom stated: “The Paris Agreement ought to have been taken into account by the Secretary of State. The National Planning Statement was not produced as the law requires.”

A representative of the legal charity Plan B, Tim Crosland commented: “The court ruling is bad news for all businesses and investors in the carbon economy, who will have to factor in the increasing risks of legal challenges. But really it is good news for everyone, since all of us, including businesses and investors, depend on maintaining the conditions which keep the planet habitable.”

A former Conservative MP and climate adviser to the Theresa May, Lord Randall added: “This is an opportunity for Boris Johnson to put Heathrow expansion to bed and focus on the most important diplomatic event of his premiership, the UN climate summit in Glasgow in November. It is his chance to shine on the world stage.”

An international public law expert at Leiden University, the Netherlands, Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh concluded: “Its implications are global. For the first time, a court has confirmed that the Paris agreement temperature goal has binding effect. This goal was based on overwhelming evidence about the catastrophic risk of exceeding 1.5C of warming. Yet some have argued that the goal is aspirational only, leaving governments free to ignore it in practice.”

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North Eastern partnership to provide hundreds of homes

A partnership of three housing development companies in the North East of England are planning the construction of almost 420 new homes at two separate sites in both Redcar and Sunderland.

Specifically, the partnership will concern the three companies Vistry Partnerships, Beyond Housing, and The Riverside Group, while the two housing construction sites are being backed by Homes England and will respectively provide 360 homes at Kirkleatham near Redcar in addition to 58 homes in Washington near Sunderland.

The Development Director with Vistry Partnerships North, Andrew Rennie stated: “As we start a new decade, this is a really exciting time with many new opportunities.  We are looking forward to working with Beyond Housing, Riverside and Sigma Capital to deliver these schemes at Redcar and Washington, which we are confident will support ongoing regeneration within both areas.

“We share and support Homes England’s vision to help more people access better homes in the right locality.  With a proven track record in the delivery of successful and long lasting regeneration, we look forward to playing our part in transforming communities across the region.”

Going into more detail, out of the 360 homes that will be delivered in Kirkleatham a sum of 108 homes will be set aside as affordable housing, with 37 reserved under shared ownership and 71 for affordable rent, whereas 29 of the 58 homes in Washington will be classified as shared ownership.

The Head of Development and Regeneration at Beyond Housing, Clare Harrigan commented: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Vistry on this strategically important development which will deliver a range of much needed high quality and affordable homes in Redcar.”

The Sales Manager at The Riverside Group, Lucie Parr added: “We are thrilled to be working once again with Vistry on another new development in the North East. Shared ownership provides an affordable housing option that has been very popular in the region. We expect interest to be very high.”

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Scotland to become best performing region of 2020

According to Glenigan’s construction market analysis data, Scotland, as a region of the United Kingdom, is expected to experience the greatest uplift in construction starts over the course of the coming year, above any other region of the country.

To be specific, the underlying value of construction starts in Scotland is expected to increase by a proportion of 14 per cent over the course of 2020, with the value of housing likewise having experienced an incline above that of the rest of the nation, with property value having gone up by 2.8 per cent as apposed to the 0.8 per cent of the country as a whole.

Housing construction has therefore increased in Scotland, with come notable projects including the £90M redevelopment of Glasgow’s former Victoria Infirmary by Sanctuary Housing Association as well as the £30M Longniddry Farm residential development which Place for People have appointed the contractor company Cruden to carry out.

The civil engineering industry is similarly anticipating an uplift, with some notable opportunities being present as part of the £24M highways framework for Stirling District Council as well as the £7M roundabout project in Fife.

The most successful contractor company in Scotland over the course of 2019 has been recognised as the Dutch-owned company Royal BAM, which placed in fifth on the most successful contractor rankings for the country as a whole, having been appointed to construct a £50M rail depot at Pitlochry and a £35M health centre in Glasgow.

Following on from Royal BAM on the contractor value ranking for Scotland in 2019 are Robertson, Galliford Try, and Sir Robert McAlpine in second, third, and fourth respectively.

The Economics Director at Glenigan, Allan Wilén stated: “We expect strong increases in private residential, infrastructure and health work this year after strong rises in work coming through the planning system in 2019.”

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Foreign owned contractors strive despite Brexit uncertainty

Following Britain’s exit from the European Union at the end of January 2020, many would have assumed that the presence of foreign (especially European) owned contractor companies in the country would have dwindled, yet a great many still remain.

According to construction market analysis by the company Glenigan, the construction industry in the UK is comprised of 18 per cent foreign owned companies, with three of the top ten construction firms in Britain belonging to overseas investors, and 11 of the top thirty being of the same origin.

Glenigan has reasoned this presence of foreign owned contractors, measuring at almost one fifth of the overall composition, as being down to their appointment to large scale contracts. For example, the French-owned company VINCI has been appointed to construct the new Old Oak Common high-speed rail station in London as part of preparatory works for HS2, with this particular contract valued at £1Bn.

Furthermore, the Dutch-owned company Royal BAM has been appointed, in partnership with the Italian-owned contractor Ferrovial, to the Silver Town Tunnel scheme which has likewise been valued at approximately £1Bn.

And finally, the French-owned contractor Bouygues and the Swedish company Skanska, as well as the German construction titan Hochtief, are also present in the UK after being awarded placements on major schemes, like the £1Bn London Power Tunnel.

In fact, Royal BAM was identified by Glenigan as the fifth largest construction company in the UK in 2019, followed by ISG in sixth place which is actually under American ownership, signifying how trade uncertainties have had little effect upon the construction industry, where foreign companies continue to strive.

The Economics Director of Glenigan, Allan Wilén stated: “The amount of work that contractors from overseas won in the UK last year shows that irrespective of the consequences of Brexit most of these companies are planning to stay here for the long term.

“Spending on specialist areas of infrastructure from key clients such as the Environment Agency and Network Rail is also proving attractive to overseas contractors with the right skill-base.”

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Kier appointed to Birmingham Highways Services Contract

The contractor company Kier has been appointed to a fifteen month long highways services contract in the city of Birmingham on behalf of Birmingham Highways Ltd, running from the 1^st April 2020 to the 29^th June 2021.

Specifically, this highways services contract will cover the managements of traffic operations, planned and reactive maintenance, inspections, and winter servicing over a total road surface area of 2,500km as well as 5,000km of pedestrian pathways, 846 structures, three tunnels, 94,000 street lighting columns, 76,000 highway trees, and the city’s traffic control system.

The Kier Acting Group Managing Director for Highways, Joe Incutti stated “We are delighted to be appointed to the Birmingham Highways contract and have a wealth of experience in successfully designing and maintaining local authority roads. We are a trusted supplier and already operate in the midlands delivering maintenance to one of the most complex and busy highway networks in the UK, including Spaghetti Junction, which carries 60,000 vehicles each day.

“We are looking forward to working alongside Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Highways Ltd on this contract to keep roads in Birmingham safe and reliable.”

The Chief Executive of BHL, Natasha Rouse commented: “We look forward to working with Kier. The company has put together a robust offer that demonstrates its ability to provide a good quality of service and mobilise quickly and efficiently. We aim to achieve a seamless transition to our new provider while continuing to service the city’s highways network.”

The Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, Councillor Waseem Zaffar added: “I am pleased that Kier has put a compelling and competitive bid to us to maintain the city’s highways. Its reputation as a leading national roads operator should give welcomed assurance to the people of Birmingham that we have put the safe and efficient servicing of our streets at the heart of this process.”

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An interview with the Champion of Modern Methods of Construction

More than two years ago, UK Construction Online published an exclusive interview with the Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer of Cast Consultancy, Mark Farmer, who, as of November 2019, was appointed to the position of Champion of Modern Methods of Construction (MMCs).

In this follow-up interview, UK Construction Online asks the newly appointed Champion of Modern Methods of Construction what he intends to bring to the role while also gaining updates on the establishment of a ‘Construction Corridor’ in the North of England, the level of digitisation in construction, and how modular housing can avoid pre-fab stigma.

UKCO: One of your responsibilities as the new Champion of MMCs is to advise the Government on how to increase their use. What ideas do you have that could achieve this?

MF: “The government’s role should be one of creating the right environment for MMCs to flourish. There is a fine line between intervening too heavily, creating an artificial market place, and establishing a fully functioning, sustainable MMC market that can operate without government intervention.

“My focus will be on identifying the right policy levers and trying to better connect a highly fragmented supply-and-demand side-market which needs to be better aligned and aggregated to succeed.

“My travels across the world in the last few years have shown that most developed economies have similar problems with their construction industries. The real opportunity is to create networks of ‘knowledge-sharing’ and ‘best-practice’ so that people are not repeating mistakes.

“The UK Government’s push for MMCs, especially in homebuilding, has also been noticed on the world stage and has already led to foreign, direct investment in MMC led solutions. I expect this trend to continue. The UK market will benefit from technology transfer and increased capitalisation but will also be disrupted by some in a way that will create a competitive threat. This will be uncomfortable for some but, as we saw with the automotive industry 30-40 years ago, is probably a natural progression of what is increasingly a globalised economy.”

UKCO: Another of your responsibilities will be to develop the ‘Construction Corridor’ in the North of England. Could you perhaps share your thoughts on how you anticipate this will affect the British construction sector?

MF: “The emerging centre of gravity for manufacturing, of both whole building systems and component level assembly, appears to lie in the Midlands/North. It makes sense to leverage this as part of a much more widely connected eco-system which brings together manufacturing expertise with research and development, academia, skills, and training development.

“I am also keen to ensure that a Northern ‘Construction Corridor’ is not seen as siloed from investment and activity elsewhere in England as the power will be in aggregating strategy at the highest level.

“The proliferation of Local Industrial Strategies from Combined Authorities represents a huge opportunity for place-based growth, which can catalyse MMC uptake, but there is also a huge risk that lack of coordination will lead to market cannibalisation and an unsustainable network of new manufacturing and skills investment.”

UKCO: How has the level of digitisation in the construction industry changed since the publication of your report?

MF: “The level of digitisation within the construction industry was, at one time, all about Building Information Modelling (BIM) but most recognise that a much more holistic approach to digital construction is the key to success.

“BIM is essentially about behaviour and technology, with it being the behaviour that has prevented wholesale adoption. Some of the technology solutions now are much more accessible and have a clearer benefits case for adoption. This includes further use of digital field based tools, productivity planning, and advanced manufacturing (where digital design creates automated workflows).

“Digitising a design, only for it to be built analogue, is not the future and the need for a digital thread running through the whole design, construction, and operation process will accelerate change in this regard.”

UKCO: As the Government begins to adopt offsite modular builds for social housing, what steps can be taken to avoid modular construction becoming stigmatised in the same way as pre-fab housing?

MF: “There is much to do to overcome historical stigma. The reality is that I think there are more barriers for adoption from within industry financing and insurance markets than there are from the public at large.

“Ultimately, the only way we will break these barriers down is to physically build and demonstrate high quality MMC led homes that people are happy to live in and can act as evidence to dispel the myths. This will also weed out poor quality MMC solutions that will either have to ‘up-their-game’ or become a casualty in a fast-changing market. The last thing I am looking to do is pick up the inefficiencies and shortcomings of our traditional industry and just move them into a factory.”

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A2300 route to be upgraded in West Sussex

Congestion and traffic are set to be reduced in West Sussex following the investment of £22M into an upgrade of the A2300 carriageway at Burgess Hill by the Department for Transport.

Going into more detail, the A2300 upgrade project will cost a total sum of £22M but has just recently received a £17M investment from the Department for Transport, with the project itself entailing the dualling of a 2.5km stretch of road between the A23 dualling and the proposed Northern Arc roundabout.

Furthermore, the upgrade scheme will require the construction of alternative transport routes such as pedestrian paths and cycleways, with the delivery of all infrastructure as part of this scheme facilitating the construction of 3,500 new homes on the London to Brighton Corridor.

Construction of these upgrade works are expected to begin in the Spring of this year and continue until 2021, pacifying the congestion on this route which is only expected to grow over the course of the next two decades. Specifically, congestion is expected to increase along the A2300 by a proportion of 40 per cent in the next 20 years, demanding that the road’s capacity be increased considering that it is currently congested.

The Transport Minister, Baroness Vere stated: “This government is committed to boosting transport links for communities up and down the country.

“This transformative road scheme will not only save drivers time, but will also mean more homes, more shared footpaths, and more cycleways, boosting journeys for all.”

The West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, Roger Elkins added: “This is the excellent news we have been waiting for and puts the scheme on course for starting on site this spring.

“The scheme will widen around 2.5km of single-lane road to a dual carriageway, helping to unlock significant development opportunities, reduce congestion, and bring many other benefits to the area, including providing new walking and cycling facilities.”

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Meadowbank sports centre underway in Edinburgh

Construction continues on a brand new state-of-the-art sports centre in Edinburgh, at the Meadowbank Stadium, where the Edinburgh City Council has appointed the contractor company GRAHAM to demolish the existing structure and replace it was a new, more modern, facility, as part of a £45M contract.

Going into more detail the new Meadowbank sports centre will feature facilities such as an athletics hall, gymnastics and martial arts halls, squash courts, multi-use sports halls, a gym, fitness studios, an athletics track, purpose-built space for throws, and two all-weather 3G pitches.

GRAHAM was appointed to the sports centre project in 2018 and set about demolishing the pre-existing building, which has stood for 50 years before that time, in the January of 2019, with the contractor now making steady process in building the new structure.

The Strategic Business Director at GRAHAM, Craig Bridges stated: “It was a pleasure to host the City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Adam McVey, on site at Meadowbank and show the progress that has been made so far. Works are on-track and on-time and we look forward to delivering this fantastic new facility to the City of Edinburgh Council for the use and enjoyment of their people.”

The City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Adam McVey added: “This is one of the biggest investments in sport taking place in Scotland and it is happening right here in Edinburgh.

“Visiting the site and seeing the progress first-hand was really encouraging and over the next year we will see even more progress take place, as our construction partner GRAHAM works to deliver this first-class facility for future generations to access and enjoy.

“Already, you see how the new centre will have much more height than the old facility and make much better use of space. It will be bright and modern, accessible and inclusive for all abilities, and I’m looking forward to seeing the fantastic designs realised as construction moves ahead.”

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Swimming pool extension planned in Ripon

The North Yorkshire town of Ripon is set to benefit from the construction of a brand new swimming pool extension to the local leisure centre, with the commissioning body for the project being identified as the Harrogate Borough Council while the contract framework organiser was the Scape Group and the appointed contractor, Willmott Dixon.

Specifically, the new Ripon swimming pool extension project will involve the delivery of a new 25m pool, associated changing areas, and community areas and upgrades to the main entrance, lobby, dry leisure facilities, changing rooms, health suite, two dance studios, ‘spin’ studio, and meeting room.

The Council Cabinet Member for Sport, Councillor Stanley Lumley stated: “After what seems like many months of planning and discussion, the work to build the new pool is finally underway.

“This represents a significant investment and will provide the people of Ripon with state-of-the-art swimming facilities. Combined with the refurbishment of the leisure centre, we are transforming the sport and leisure offer in this part of the district.”

The Managing Director of Willmott Dixon in the North, Anthony Dillon commented: “We have one of the biggest track records in the UK for delivering projects that provide excellent leisure facilities.

“The creation of top-quality facilities to encourage health and wellbeing are vital to help our communities thrive and what we will deliver at Ripon will leave a lasting legacy for many years to come for people in the town and across the region.”

The Scape Group Chief Executive, Mark Robinson added: “Harrogate Borough Council are investing in the health and well-being of its community by ensuring their sports and leisure facilities are not only current but fit for the future.

“By utilising the speed and efficient procurement route Scape Group provides and the proven track record of Willmott Dixon in delivering leisure facilities, Harrogate Borough Council are guaranteeing the Ripon pool and leisure facility upgrade will be delivered with certainty and socio-economic benefits.”

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Housing market growth remains steady despite uncertainty

According to the most recent UK House Price Index from HM Land Registry, the average UK property has experienced a value increase of 0.3 per cent to £234,742, continuing the trend of slight, but nonetheless steady, growth which the British housing sector has experienced since the Summer.

Looking back over the course of 2019, property value growth has been evident since the Summer when house prices increased by a proportion of 0.5 per cent in June, 0.7 per cent in July, and 0.8 per cent in August, with steady growth of 0.4 per cent being recorded in November and now 0.3 per cent for the final month of December.

When looking through an annual scope however, the average UK house price has increased by a proportion of 2.2 per cent.

By way of country, England has had slightly more success than the UK as a whole, with the average property value having increased by 0.6 per cent in December from the previous month, bringing the average property value to £251,711., although the annual growth of the English housing market matched that of the UK.

Taking a closer look into each region of England, the area which experienced the greatest monthly price rise was the East of England after going up by a proportion of 2.1 per cent, to a figure of £297,714, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber which increased by a proportion of 1.7 per cent, to a sum of £168,382.

Whereas on the other end of the spectrum, the worst performing region in terms of property value in the month of December was that of the North West, which saw a contraction of 0.6 per cent to £166,003, with the next worst performing region being the West Midlands where prices likewise fell by 0.4 per cent, to a new figure of £201,343.

In an annual context, the best performing region of 2019 was identified as Yorkshire and the Humber by the UK House Price Index, with house prices having risen by a percentage of 3.9, to a monetary value of £168,382, while the worst performing region over the course of the year was identified as the South East, which experienced marginal growth of 1.2 per cent.

Unfortunately, Wales did not experience a productive month in terms of house price growth, with the value of the average property in December having declined by a proportion of two per cent when compared against the month of November, bring the average house price to £165,735.

In regard to repossession sales, however, England has a grand total of 649 for the month of October 2019, with region experiencing the most being identified, unsurprisingly, as the North West with 160 sales, whereas the English region with the least repossession sales was revealed to, yet again, be the East of England, which experienced just 16 sales.

In contrast to this, Wales experienced just 49 repossession sales in the month of December.

At the start of the month, the Chief Commercial Officer at Zoopla, Andy Marshall, commented on the state of the British housing market, saying: “Confidence is slowly returning among buyers, but this is moderated by a feeling of caution among sellers, with ongoing economic uncertainty causing them to doubt whether they will achieve the asking price they believe their property is worth.

“What is more, there are increasing numbers of people who are active in the property market and those seeking a new property are serious about making a move.”

Adding to this, the Managing Director of Halifax, Russell Galley, stated: “There is no doubt that the next year will be important for the housing market with much of the immediate focus on what impact Brexit may have. However, more fundamentally it is key underlying factors of supply and demand that will ultimately shape the market.”

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IMPACT centre completed in Swansea

A new state-of-the-art research centre has been completed at the University of Swansea in Wales named the Institute for Innovative Materials, Processing, and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT) as a component of the university’s College of Engineering.

Going into more detail, the new IMPACT centre consists of a four-storey development that has been constructed to an ‘Excellent’ standard under the BREEAM criteria and likewise contains an open plan laboratory space, a research office building with 80 single occupancy offices, research hubs, and meeting rooms.

Furthermore, the development was funded by the Welsh Government, Swansea University, and the European Regional Development Fund, with the construction company Kier appointed as the principal contractor.

The Operations Director for Kier Regional Building in Wales, Jason Taylor stated: “We would like to thank the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford AM, for officially opening the IMPACT building at Swansea University. We are extremely proud to have delivered this centre of excellence that provides a first-class learning environment.

“Working collaboratively with Swansea University over the last 18 months, we have engaged with the local community and created jobs and provided training opportunities. We are delighted to have built this fantastic new facility that should have far-reaching benefits for the Swansea area for years to come.”

The Director of IMPACT, Professor Johann Sienz added: “IMPACT, anchored in the regional innovation ecosystem, supports the global engineering economy through collaborative, fundamental and applied research, development and innovation.  Our unique colocation facility means we can offer a transformative research environment for academia-industry partnerships.”

“We are honoured to have the First Minister launch what will be a world-leading operation.  These highly specialised laboratories will bring industry and academia closer together and the funding received from the European Regional Development Fund has greatly contributed to our growth as a leader in our field in the UK and beyond.”

“The distinct research infrastructure and ethos of IMPACT will enable a step change in research and innovation in the College’s already outstanding Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies research groups.  This unique facility will, therefore, help further support Wales as a global destination for innovation in advanced engineering and smart manufacturing.”

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Government Civil Service College converted into new homes

In accordance with recent commitments by the Cabinet Office to reduce the size of the Government Estate, as well as Parliament’s ongoing commitment to provide 300,000 homes per year by the mid-2020s, the Government Civil Service College in Berkshire is being converted into 271 new homes.

Going into more detail, the Government Civil Service College at Sunningdale Park in Berkshire has been sold by the Cabinet Office to the property development company known as the Berkeley Group for a figure of £50M, with a contractor company named the Audley Group having been appointed to build the aforementioned new homes.

Cabinet Office Minister, Lord Agnew stated: “This is a concrete example of how reducing the size of the Government estate can both generate money for vital public services and provide much needed new homes.

“The restoration of the listed building at the heart of the development and opening up of its surrounding parkland for use by the public will also benefit the local community for generations to come.”

Specifically, the redevelopment will convert the old college building, known as Northcote House into a 103 person capacity retirement village, while a further 168 new houses will be built on the land surrounding Northcote, with 38 of these houses set to fall under the classification of affordable housing.

The Chairman of the Berkeley Group, Tony Pidgley CBE commented: “We are delighted to be moving ahead with this exciting project and look forward to working with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and local people to create a fantastic community at Sunningdale Park, alongside a beautiful new 42 acre public park for everyone to enjoy.”

The Chief Executive of the Audley Group, Nick Sanderson added: “This site presents a unique opportunity to create an aspirational mixed use development to serve the whole community. The demand for high quality retirement living options, with a holistic approach to housing, care and health, continues to grow and we’re proud to be leading the way.”

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Havant Thicket Reservoir planned in Hampshire

A partnership of the two water supply organisations Portsmouth Water and Southern Water has been negotiated as the two organisations intend to create a new reservoir on the site of 160 hectare grassland currently known as Havant Thicket in Hampshire.

Going into more detail, the Havant Thicket Reservoir is expected to cost a total sum of more than £100M and will not achieve full project completion until some time in 2029, with the planning process having officially commenced in 2019.

The initial phase of this scheme has taken, and is still currently taking, place between 2019 and 2020 and has entailed the submission of a planning application as well as the carrying out of surveys, design work, community engagement, and tree planting. By comparison, the second phase of the scheme will take place between 2021 and 2023, entailing preparatory works such as the diversion of paths and the establishment of an access road, whereas the third stage will be that which covers the digging of the reservoir and installation of pipe works.

The final stage of the scheme is that which will cover the filling of the reservoir in addition to the establishment of visitor pathways, a visitor centre, and other such facilities.

One recent development in this project’s delivery has been the planting of more than three thousand trees on the land surrounding Havant Thicket, creating a memorial woodland and offsetting the ecological damage caused by the reservoir’s construction.

The Environment and Biodiversity Specialist at Portsmouth Water, Tracey Viney stated: “We are delighted to be working with Havant Borough Council to create a really special place for people to enjoy for decades to come.

“As part of our Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme, the new woodland will provide an improved space in which to enjoy nature and take the time to think and remember loved ones and others. It will also be a real boost for the local environment, with Natural England and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust both supportive of our plans.”

Havant Thicket Reservoir will be the first reservoir built in the South of England since the 1970s.

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Who are the UKIS partners for 2020?

Over a turbulent past three years, in terms of politics and economy, infrastructure has been one of the few sectors to perform consistently despite wave after wave of uncertainty. This year is planned to be no exception, with upcoming strategies and projects set to be discussed at length during the UK Infrastructure Show (UKIS) 2020, which takes place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 22^nd April.

During this year’s UKIS event, infrastructure sector professionals are given the opportunity to integrate with one another and gain insight into other public and commercial strategies as well as learn about major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and Crossrail. In doing this, individuals and companies can also engage with their existing supply chains and prospective supply chain partners, providing small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with the opportunity to grow and offer a hand in delivering these major infrastructure projects.

This year the UKIS partners will include the likes of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), HS2 Ltd, Sellafield Ltd, Glenigan, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Defences Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), CompeteFor, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), Transport for the North, Construction Online, Supply2Gov, Pass Procurement, Cyber Essentials, Delta eSourcing, and Tracker.

From this lengthy list of partners it is easy to spot the public sector organisations such as the IPA, RICS, DIO, NIC, and CCS, which can all provide significant insight into upcoming government strategy and spending, all of which will be of vital importance after the announcement of the 2020 Budget, which took place of the 11^th March.

However, of equal importance are the major infrastructure project organisations such as HS2 Ltd and Sellafield Ltd.

The presence of HS2 Ltd presents some very intriguing and important opportunities for potential supply chain partners and SMEs who wish to attend the event, as the project was recently announced as going forward by the central government following a lengthy and controversial review process. The British Government’s renewed commitment to HS2, arguably taking on a ‘continue at all cost’ approach, presents some undeniable opportunities for potential suppliers and subcontractors, making their presence at UKIS this year, as a partner, all the more a reason to attend.

Similarly, the presence of Sellafield Ltd likewise offers motivation for potential supply chain partners to attend, despite the site’s virtual completion, as the need for repair and maintenance subcontractors and logistical partners is one which naturally persists at a nuclear waste disposal facility.

Moving the spotlight on to other UKIS partners, Glenigan are yet another organisation worth attending the NEC for, on account of their in-depth market analysis and forecasting which points companies to the right sectors for building a steady and consistent project pipeline. Obtaining a healthy project pipeline for the foreseeable future is one of the many reasons that companies attend UKIS, so making the most of this attending partner would be a wise move to anyone in Birmingham on the 22^nd.

And lastly, the various other partners whose expertise lie within the fields of procurement and eSourcing, such as CompeteFor, Supply2Gov, Pass Procurement, Delta, and Tracker, can assist a multitude of attendees at UKIS. Whether you represent an organisation which is a procurer or an organisation which is seeking to be procured, the services which these companies provide can save you a lot of time and stir up opportunities you may never have thought existed.

Some opportunities only come once, so to make the most these partners all being in under one roof we suggest you take the excuse to get out of the office and come over to UKIS 2020 on the 22^nd April.

Book your place to attend now: Click here

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Ground broken on new Bingham care home

Ground has been officially broken on the construction of a new elderly care home in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, on a site which was formerly occupied by the local police station, after the project was granted permission by the Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Going into more detail, the new Bingham care home will accommodate 70 people and will include facilities such as a lounge, a hair and beauty salon, a cinema room, and a garden, with the commissioning company being identified as Charterpoint who, in turn, have appointed HC-One as the operating organisation.

The Director of Charterpoint, Giles Nursey stated: “Using sector specialist expertise, Charterpoint Senior Living spent considerable time and effort on creating a bespoke, attractive plan for a care home on this site, taking into account the views of neighbours, town and ward councillors, and with the knowledge that a previous application for a care home by another company had earlier been refused.

“We are delighted that Rushcliffe Borough Council gave its support to our scheme and that a professional, well-regarded care home operator like HC-One is to run the facility, once it has been built. The site has been vacant for some time, and this care home development will not only bring a brownfield plot back into use, it will also provide high-quality, bespoke care home facilities for the local community. We now look forward to seeing it come to fruition.”

The Chief Executive at HC-One, Justin Hutchens added: “HC-One is on a mission to be the first-choice care provider for older people and the employer of choice for the kindest and most professional care workers. We are therefore delighted to be working with Charterpoint Senior Living and Rushcliffe Borough Council to expand the reach of our high-quality care services in Bingham. New developments like this are crucial as they address the growing demand for care home places in this country.”

The development itself is not scheduled to reach completion until later in 2021.

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Hundreds of homes planned for new community by Wainhomes

According to a recent announcement by Wainhomes, a partnership between Wainhomes Seven Valley and the South Gloucestershire Council is being organised in order to deliver hundreds of new homes in support of a new community to the North-East of Bristol.

Specifically, this joint-venture between Wainhomes and the Gloucestershire Council will provide 327 new homes on a 55 acres site at Harry Stoke, as part of a negotiated deal worth £36M, with the first phase of construction entailing the delivery of 150 of the 327 homes.

Should construction progress as planned, the first few homes from this first phase of construction should be available in early 2022, with 116 of the 150 placed on the market through private sale in contrast to the remaining 34 which will be made available through affordable housing schemes.

Under these affordable housing schemes, the nine of the 34 homes will be sold under shared ownership while the other 25 will be made available through affordable rent.

In its entirety, the project is expected to last a total duration of four years, creating up to 500 jobs both during and after the construction process while the local council will receive £4.8M, with £2.2M being donated by the development company towards community projects and with £2.6M being provided by the Government as part of a housing bonus.

The Managing Director with Wainhomes, Carl Haley stated: “As an established developer in the Severn Valley we are delighted to have acquired this site and to be partnering with South Gloucestershire Council to deliver new, high quality homes for the region.

“This further demonstrates our commitment to invest here, provide homes of various tenures and support the creation of jobs and training for local people.”

Other developments by the same property development company in the Severn Valley are planned in Almondsbury Business Park, Tadpole Garden Village, Blenheim Heights, Saxon Meadows, Woodshaw Gardens, and Patterdown.

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New homes planned at Felling Bypass Freight Depot in Gateshead

A planning application has been submitted by the Gateshead Regeneration Partnership to authorities at the local borough council for the construction of 300 new homes on the Felling Bypass Freight Depot in Gateshead, Newcastle.

According to a press release, construction of these homes, on the brownfield Felling Bypass site, will entail the delivery of three blocks of flats, each containing twenty apartments, as well as 240 individual homes with varying numbers of bedrooms, a community hub, landscaped gardens, pedestrian footpaths, and cycleways.

Fifteen per cent of these properties would be classified as affordable housing and would be made available under an affordable rent scheme.

The Development Director for GRP, Christine Curran stated: “Our aim is to create a vibrant and sustainable community close to the heart of Gateshead. If permission to regenerate this disused brownfield site is granted, we are sure that our ambitious plans to deliver high quality housing options will play a big part in supporting the revitalisation of the town centre.

“Close to excellent transport links, the Gateshead Quays and Newcastle Quayside, the proposed site offers an exciting opportunity to improve the breadth and availability of new homes in the area.”

The Managing Director of Vistry Partnerships in the North East, Sean Egan added: “The old freight depot site offers a unique opportunity to establish a housing lead regeneration project close to the centre of the town. Should the planning application be successful, I am confident the homes we want to create here will not only bring new people to the area but prove a popular choice with locals, as the partnership’s award winning project in Saltwell has done.

“At Trilogy I, which was recognised as the country’s Best Regeneration Project of more than 71 homes at the Inside Housing Awards 2018, over 76 per cent of buyers moved less than five miles to their new home. With the wide selection of housing provision planned for this new site, I’m sure we can deliver similar positive results.”

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Planning application submitted for site at Lymedale Business Park

A planning application has been submitted for the delivery of a light industrial scheme at the Lymedale Business Park in Newcastle-Under-Lyme by the investment and development company Cole Waterhouse, as well as their funding partner Peveril Securities.

Going into more detail, the Lymedale Business Park site is expected to create approximately 630 new jobs in the local area with a further 144 construction jobs and 169 supply chain jobs expected to be made throughout the two-year construction process.

In addition to the light industrial site itself, the construction process will entail the improvement of infrastructural networks in the immediate vicinity of Lymedale Business Park, including the establishment of footpaths and cycleways between Loomer Road and Pit Head Close, as well as the landscaping of green spaces on the perimeter.

The architecture company MHA Architects and Lichfields planning consultants were also appointed to the project.

The Chief Executive Officer at Cole Waterhouse, Damian Flood stated: “Our plans will create significant new local employment opportunities and secure a thriving future for the area.

“It is in an excellent location surrounded by existing light industrial buildings, offices and warehouses and we are excited by the potential to breathe new life into a currently unused brownfield site and bring additional and complementary facilities to this thriving employment area.

“The project team has been consulting closely with the Council, key stakeholders and local residents to create an employment-led scheme which will deliver maximum economic benefit to the local area.

“We are really pleased to be moving into this new development sector with this exciting scheme and we will be aiming to secure more industrial and logistics projects as the year progresses. Cole Waterhouse will be focusing on growing its student and high-rise residential portfolio through 2020 and will also look to branch out into care home sector, hotels, strategic land, and asset repositioning opportunities.”

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Construction still on the backfoot after the General Election

According to the recent publication of the Glenigan Construction Review for the month of January 2020, the British construction sector is was still enduring the ‘aftershock’ of the political uncertainty which tainted the end of the previous decade, namely the December General Election.

To be more specific, the reluctance of employers, contractors, and organisations to make any definite decisions in light of the December General Election and the unanswered questions surrounding Brexit meant that the value of construction projects starting on site in the three months building up to January declined by a figure of 33 per cent against the previous year.

What this meant was that the average value of all construction project starts over the course of these three months measured at a value of just £4.586Bn per month, but, with the aforementioned General Election providing some clarity on the country’s political future, the value of construction project starts gaining approval significantly increased by a proportion of 20 per cent.

Going into more detail, the worst performing subsector within the construction industry over this three month period was actually that of major projects, declining to a total average value of £942M per month which, in turn, is 63 per cent lower than the same figure from the previous year.

Comparatively, the underlying value of projects over the three months up to January 2020, that were not considered major (in essence they were valued at less than £100M), likewise fell by a proportion of 11 per cent when placed next to the preceding three months and was down by a figure of 15 per cent when compared to the same three month duration one year before.

Referring back to the aforesaid spike in construction project approvals, the best performing subsector by way of project value was, ironically, that of major projects, where the average monthly value of all approved projects over the three months building up to January 2020 increased by a massive proportion of 51 per cent when compared with the same figure from the previous year.

As a result of this incline in approvals, against the fall in projects starting on site, it can quite safely be concluded that authorities within the construction industry were hesitant to begin construction projects on site, in light of the stagnant political situation, but in the immediate aftermath of the election received an onslaught of project approvals to jump start the sector after the hindrance.

The top five performing contractor companies, according to Glenigan’s market analysis, were occupied by the usual suspects in January 2020, with John Sisk occupying the top spot after accumulating a total income of £151M from just one contract, VolkerWessels claimed second with £150M spread over four projects, and Morgan Sindall occupied third place after gaining the same income as VolkerWessels but spread over an astronomical 40 different projects.

Furthermore, it was the contractor company Wilmott Dixon which came in fourth place with £133M gained across 13 different projects whereas fifth place was anointed to McLaren who gained £130M from just the one project.

Interestingly, however, the top five construction industry client for January 2020, as identified by Glenigan, is dominated mostly by private and commercial companies as opposed to public sector and government organisations, which typically create the most work for the construction sector.

In going off of these figures, it can be seen that the Department of Health occupied the top spot as the highest valued client of the British construction sector, followed by the companies Quintain, the Peabody Trust, the London Borough of Waltham Forest, and Aviva, which claimed second, third, fourth, and fifth place respectively.

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Humberside Police Force operations centre planned near Hull

The Humberside Police Force have commissioned the delivery of a new operations centre in Melton West Business Park, a few miles West of Hull, with the appointed contractor for the development having been named as Wilmott Dixon and the property developer as the Wykeland Group.

Going into more detail, the new Humberside Police Force operations centre will be able to accommodate 535 members of staff and will cover an area of 107,000sq ft over a total of three-storeys, with construction scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2020 while completion of the development in its entirety has no prediction date.

The £20M contract for the construction of this new development was procured through the Scape Group National Construction Framework, although the development itself is yet to be approved by the East Yorkshire County Council.

Bryan Bond architects were appointed to design the new building and have done so with sustainability in mind, insisting that the development be made out of environmentally-friendly materials while also possessing energy efficient heating, energy efficient light, and alternative transport infrastructure to encourage cycling to work as opposed to driving.

The Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, Keith Hunter stated: “The new development at Melton will, if approved, allow Humberside Police to bring together a number of specialist crime investigation functions, some of which deal with the most serious crimes and vulnerable victims, and provide a new, state of the art force control room which will continue the great progress made in public contact over the last few years.”

The Manager Director at Willmott Dixon, Anthony Dillon added: “We are delighted to be creating an important new hub for Humberside Police. It’s going to provide a smart, efficient environment for the force to deliver policing across the region for many generations to come.”

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Spen Valley Leisure Centre underway in West Yorkshire

The town of Liversedge in West Yorkshire are set to benefit from the construction of the new Spen Valley Leisure Centre after the Kirklees Town Council appointed the contractor company Kier to build the new facility through a £15M contract, organised under the YORbuild2 Framework.

Construction of the new Spen Valley Leisure Centre will replace the pre-existing, 50 year old Spenborough Pool, being delivered on the same site, and will entail the construction of facilities such as a double-height foyer, wet changing areas, multi-activity space, a mezzanine, dry changing areas, a gym, exercise studios, and spectator seating.

Building is set to commence on the project some time in early 2020, while the new leisure centre itself will not be ready for use until the Autumn of 2021, however the project as whole will not be completed until the aforementioned Spenborough Pool facilities are demolished, which will not take place until the very end of 2021.

The new leisure centre is expected to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Liversedge, as well as the Kirklees area, by providing additional facilities and opportunities to remain active by taking up sports and fitness.

The Operations Director at Kier Regional Building Northern, Phil McDowell stated: “We have a lot of experience in delivering leisure centres across the country and are thrilled to be working with Kirklees Council to deliver the brand-new Spen Valley Leisure Centre.

“The proposed new all-purpose facility reflects the desire to bring the leisure offer on the site up to current standards in a building of high quality, and to bring swimming and fitness under the one roof. It will provide a modern environment, with an efficient, simple layout and improved access to ensure it is accessible for all.”

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Deer Park Secondary School underway in Hampshire

A ground breaking ceremony has taken place in Botley, Hampshire for the construction of a new secondary school named Deer Park, with the ceremony itself being attended by Hampshire County Councillors, members of the Wildern Multi Academy Trust, and the appointed construction project managers.

Specifically, the construction of Deer Park School has been commissioned by a partnership of Hampshire County Council and the Wildern Multi Academy Trust at a cost of £21.2M, with the appointed contractor on the project being identified as Kier.

Construction of the new school is set to be completed in the Autumn of 2021, delivering several new buildings such as a three-storey main school building, a focal point building, and a sports building, which will include the further delivery of facilities like a central triple height atrium, 46 classrooms, a learning resource centre, a drama studio, a food hall, a four-court sports hall, activity studio, and changing facilities.

The Operations Director for Kier Regional Building Southern, Trevor White stated: “We are delighted to be breaking ground on this vitally needed new school. Deer Park is set to be ideally situated in the heart of the community and provide over 1,000 pupils with excellent learning facilities.

“We will deliver this latest school utilising our local supply chain, enabling us to provide training opportunities for those interested in a career within the built environment. We will engage with the local community throughout the duration of this project as we are committed to leaving a legacy in areas in which we build.”

Building this new educational institute has been approved by the Department for Education under their Free Schools Programme, while the Wildern Multi Academy Trust will serve as the sponsor for the scheme, providing school places for a total of 1,000 students.

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Anfield Stadium expansion undergoes second consultation

Plans to extend the Anfield Road Stand of the Liverpool Football Club Stadium are set to undergo a second public consultation period following the updating of construction plans and the receipt of more than 800 public responses to the first public consultation which was held in December.

According to a recent press release from Liverpool FC, their plans to refurbish the Anfield Road Stand were mostly met with positive responses, although some constructive feedback was received in relation to the public disturbances caused by the necessary closure of Anfield Road.

In response to this, the revised plans that are being put forward by the football club detail a realignment of Anfield Road around the proposed expansion area in order to prevent permanent closure of the road.

The Chief Operating Officer at Liverpool FC, Andy Hughes stated: “The feedback of our local residents has been essential to the planning process of this proposed expansion.

“We have been very clear from the start that we will only proceed with this project if we have their co-operation, we have a financial model which offers economic stability and we can navigate the complex planning landscape.

“These updated plans reflect that we have listened and we thank all of those people who took the time to share their views with us in the initial stage of this process and look forward to more thoughts on the updates we have made.”

Plans to expand the Anfield Road Stand will increase the overall capacity of the stadium to 61,000 seat, increasing the current capacity by a figure of 7,000, with plans also detailing the addition the addition of a sports bar lounge area and hospitality facilities.

Public responses also requested that the stand capacity be increased further than the 7,000 extra seats but this is the largest possible increase within the required safety standards.

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Office development to support uplift of Cornwall

Efforts to uplift the duchy of Cornwall in South West England, after it has been known for some time as one of the most poverty stricken areas of Europe, are well underway, with the upgrading of the A30 expected to bring new investment and with a new office development just off of the A30 near Pool.

Going into more detail, the Chy Tevyans office development has been commissioned by the Cornwall Council and the European Regional Development Fund at a cost of £4.3M, appointing the contractor company Kier to construct 12 suites of office space over a total of three-storeys, covering a total area of 1,500sq m. The office space in question will be modern and state-of-the-art, being built to an ‘Excellent’ standard under the BREEAM criteria.

The Area Manager for Kier Regional Building Western and Wales, Chris Couch stated: “We are delighted to be delivering new office space in Pool. Working in collaboration with Cornwall Council, Chy Tevyans will provide first-class facilities for local businesses.

“Over the duration of this project, we will work with our local supply chain, provide training opportunities through our Employment Skills Plan and engage with the local community. We look forward to delivering this new work space that will bring a range of benefits to the Pool area for years to come.”

Construction of the office development is expected to continue until the end of the year and will engage with the local community wherever possible, offering training and apprenticeship opportunities to local people.

The Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture, Economy, and Planning, Councillor Bob Egerton commented: “This new development in a strategic location close to the A30 will offer much needed high-quality accommodation for businesses looking to expand. It contributes to Cornwall Council’s strategic aim to increase high wages and high skilled local employment.”

The Chief Executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, Glenn Caplin added: “The tech sector is growing in the Pool area and by providing more high quality, fibre connected office space we are supporting the continued growth of this important cluster. I look forward to seeing the first businesses moving in next year.”

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North East business partnership creates 135 affordable homes

A partnership between the two property development companies Vistry Partnerships North East and Housing 21 has made plans to provide 135 affordable housing units in the North East that are specially designed form people approaching retirement age.

Going into more detail the Vistry Partnerships North East and Housing 21 joint venture plans to specifically create 64 apartments in North Tyneside and a further 71 in Peterlee that are designed to accommodate people who are over 55 years old, with delivery also entailing the construction of communal areas, gardens, a hairdresser, and a café.

The Managing Director of Vistry Partnerships North East, Sean Egan stated: “It is great news to have secured agreements to build these two state of the art facilities for Housing 21, which is a new client for us in the North East.

“Our development team is focussed on finding land opportunities for a range of clients and sourced both of these opportunities for Housing 21, devising viable, high quality schemes and securing the necessary planning consents.  This means that we are able to offer housing providers ready-made solutions for their residents.

“These initiatives at North Tyneside and Peterlee have been carefully considered to meet the needs of people over the age of 55. By joining forces with Housing 21, we can ensure we are providing a quality home with the required adaptations and technologies to help people live independently for longer.”

The Director of Development at Housing 21, Siobhan Moore added: “The proposed developments in Peterlee and North Tyneside will strengthen our presence in the North East and will enable Housing 21 to add to its established popular courts for both Retirement Living and Extra Care provision. This includes seven Extra Care courts in Sunderland and a further ten in the North Yorkshire region and a variety of options in between.

“Working alongside Vistry Partnerships North East has helped us to add to our growing pipeline of new schemes in development and will help us to realise our growth ambitions to provide more affordable housing to older people of modest means capable of flexibly meeting their changing needs as they grow older.”

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Ducts utilised in Wales to provide fibre broadband

South Wales will soon benefit from faster and more widespread fibre broadband due to a partnership between the Welsh Government and the company Net Support UK (NSUK) which will allow the commercial company to use and refurbish telecommunications ducts alongside trunk roads in the region.

According to a recent announcement by the Welsh Government, many telecommunications ducts, which run alongside many roads in Wales, go unused so the Government is therefore offering NSUK free reign to install fibre broadband infrastructure, as well as establish the necessary ducts where none are present, to increase coverage at no cost to the Government and therefore the taxpayer.

Upon installing the fibre network, NSUK will be permitted to commercialise it, making the most out of a Government owned asset to increase fibre coverage across the South Welsh region, thereby also making the area more attractive to businesses and also investment.

The Welsh Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Lee Waters stated: “We are always looking at innovative and new ways of improving our fibre infrastructure, helping make Wales a more connected nation. One way is for government to look at its own assets and see if we are making the most of them.

“This scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and is truly innovative as the improvements to the infrastructure come at no extra cost to the taxpayer. Lessons learned from this will be used to support future projects.”

The Managing Director for NSUK, Giles Phelps added: “We are delighted to be working with Welsh Government on this project. Laying a fibre infrastructure is the foundation to support businesses and communities in Wales who are only going to want to use digital technologies more and who will need fibre to do so reliably.”

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Affordable homes funding gets boost in Scotland

Following the recent budget announcement of the Scottish Parliament, it has been revealed that an additional £17M will be reserved for the delivery of 50,000 new affordable homes, taking the total amount of affordable housing funding in Scotland to more than £840M.

According to the budget announcement, which was made on Thursday 6^th February 2020, the additional £17M was committed to the construction of affordable homes over the course of the current Parliament, helping them to achieve their target of 50,000 such homes during the current Parliamentary session.

However, a further £300M was committed to this cause beyond the targeted deadline, for the construction of affordable housing during the period of 2021-2022.

The Communities Secretary, Aileen Campbell stated: “Ensuring everyone has access to a safe, warm, and affordable place to call home is at the heart of our ambition for a Fairer Scotland. The 2020/21 Scottish Budget adds to the single biggest investment and delivery of affordable housing since devolution.

“The Scottish Government has now committed more than £3.5Bn to deliver good quality, secure, and affordable homes, which will in turn help create strong, sustainable communities. Since 2007 we have delivered more than 89,000 affordable homes, including 61,356 for social rent, with the remainder for affordable home ownership and affordable rent.

“Importantly, our spending plans also include a £300M commitment to guarantee that affordable homes continue to be delivered beyond our 50,000 target, ensuring councils, housing associations, and the construction sector have some financial certainty ahead of the spending review in June.”

In recent years, Scotland has proven itself to be very effective in providing affordable housing, as can be witnessed in their provision of 80 per cent more affordable homes, in proportion to their population size, than England over the course of the four years building up to 2019.

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T-Level providers to benefit from additional funding

Students and T-Level providers across the country are set to benefit from the Government’s provision of an additional £95M for the refurbishment of buildings and updating of equipment at institutes which will be offering T-Level qualifications to students from 2021 onwards.

Specifically, this extra £95M will be made available through the T-Level Capital Fund which will allow institutes to place bids for shares of funding that will help to deliver new buildings, digitise the learning process, and update equipment, with the fund being implemented in the Spring of 2021.

The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson stated: “T Levels will play a vital role in our drive to unlock talent and level up skills across the country.

“This cash injection will make sure more T Level providers and their staff are ready to teach the new qualifications, so young people have access to the high-quality teaching, first class facilities, and industry standard equipment they need to succeed.”

The Chief Executive of the Education and Training Foundation, David Russell commented: “The advent of the first T Levels in September is a major milestone heralding the government’s intention to invest in the prestige and quality of technical education. It is crucial that professionals teaching the new qualifications are excellently equipped to do so from the very first day learners walk through the doors.

“As England’s expert body for professional development in post-16 education, the ETF is delighted to have secured this very significant contract. We are excited about working with teachers, trainers and leaders to meet their T Level professional development needs over the coming years. The partnership approach that we have previously taken on T Levels will continue, and we look forward to delivering this support in the wider context of investment in the professional development of those delivering Further and Technical Education and Training in England.”

The Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, David Hughes added: “I am delighted that the Department for Education has extended T Level Professional Development. It will provide invaluable support to teaching staff and managers as they adapt their skills and knowledge to delivering T Levels from September 2020.

“Workforce support, development and networking/collaboration are key to the success of T Levels. The AoC is pleased to be working with the ETF to ensure the sector receives the support it needs.”

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Market Walk regeneration works completed in Chorley

Regeneration works have been completed on the Market Walk shopping centre in Chorley, East Lancashire, after the Chorley Council commissioned the contractor company the Eric Wright Group and the quantity surveyor company Perfect Circle as part of a £15M contract.

Going into further detail, the regeneration works to the Market Walk shopping centre have been organised by the local council as part of their wider town centre regeneration programme, entailing the delivery of seven new units for mixture of retail, leisure, and dining purposes over a total area of 74,479sq ft.

The Regional Lead at Perfect Circle, Jon Parry stated: “Market Walk represents an important part of Chorley’s wider development programme, providing the area with an economic boost and the creation of new jobs. It will give the community a range of new facilities not currently available in the town centre, boosting footfall.

“The development provides facilities for a full day out including retail, leisure and entertainment along with restaurants and bars, generating a greater tourist offering and attracting more visitors to the area. We are delighted to have been involved in this transformative project.

“Due to its location, the scheme required an innovative car parking solution. As the development is on the site of the former Flat Iron car park, we needed to ensure that parking spaces were not compromised for visitors to the town centre while works were taking place.

“To mitigate this, we installed the decked car park on the site of the existing Friday Street car park and progressed with enabling works immediately after planning permission was granted. We have also created an additional circa 500 car parking spaces across the town centre.”

The Leader of Chorley Council, Councillor Alistair Bradley added: “We have been certain from day one that this project would be a success and, since we started building it just under 12 months ago, we have seen interest continue to grow. Three-quarters of the development has terms agreed with offers out on the remaining units. The fact we have achieved this shows a huge confidence in Chorley as a place to set up business when other places are really struggling with the changing nature of the high street.”

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