June 2017 leicestershire builder online by Michael Wilkinson

160 new homes coming to Anstey BLOOR HOMES has acquired the land for a new housing development in Anstey, Leicestershire.

The developer is planning to build 160 new homes on a 15.4-hectare site located to the west off Cropston Road, at the northern edge of the village. Detailed planning permission for the scheme was granted in September 2016 by members of Charnwood Borough Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planning committee. The proposed development, which has been named Bloor Homes at Anstey, will comprise a range of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties, including 12 bungalows and 48 of the new homes will be provided as affordable housing. The site will be served by a new access road and roundabout at the junction of Cropston Road and Anstey Lane.

Unusual residential development opportunity in Stoneygate ANDREW GRANGER & Co. are offering for sale a residential development opportunity at Kimberley Road, Stoneygate, Leicester LE2 1LB. The site comprises part of the Brookfield Electric Bowling Club and is the second green, which is now surplus to requirements. It is proposed that the purchaser will acquire the site and obtain the planning permission for their chosen scheme. It is anticipated that, as part of the transaction, the developer will construct a replacement clubhouse, or refurbish the existing one. Price on application. For further details, contact Kevin Skipworth at Andrew Granger & Co. on 0116 242 9933 or email: kevin.skipworth@ andrewgranger.co.uk

Potential development site in Husbands Bosworth CARTER JONAS are offering for sale BY INFORMAL TENDER a potential residential development site measuring approximately 2.41 acres in area. The land - off Welford Road, Husbands Bosworth, Leics. LE17 6JX - is largely flat and broadly rectangular in shape. Mature hedgerows form boundaries to the site on the majority of its sides. The site is bounded by residential development to its north east, an existing playing field to its north, and a cemetery with allotments to its south. To the west is agricultural land currently used for the grazing of sheep. Directly opposite the site on the east side of Welford Road a mixed use development comprising of a new GP surgery and up to 41 residential dwellings has recently secured reserved matters consent The site lies wholly within flood zone 1 and therefore the risk of flooding is less than 1 in 1000 year event. Informal Tender Date: 12 noon on Monday 26th June 2017. Price on application. Tel: Cambridge 01223 368 771 Email: Anish.jadav@carterjonas.co.uk or Nick.muncey@carterjonas.co.uk

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Immigration and skills key to success of next Government, says FMB

Naseby plot has £145k Guide Price

THE NEXT Government must ensure the construction sector has enough skilled workers post-Brexit or its housing and infrastructure manifesto pledges will be redundant, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB has called on all major political parties to recognise the importance of migrant labour to the construction sector as part of its ‘Programme for Government’. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The UK construction sector’s demand for skilled migrant workers from the EU and beyond cannot be overstated. In London alone, there are more than 157,000 nonUK construction workers constituting almost half of the industry’s workforce in the capital. Pre-Brexit, 60% of small construction firms are already having trouble hiring bricklayers and that’s before the UK abandons the free movement of people. If the next Government implements an inflexible immigration system that hinders the ability of talented foreign construction workers from making their way to the UK, any manifesto pledges relating to the delivery of housing and infrastructure will be rendered meaningless.” Berry continued: “In the longer term, the most sustainable solution to the chronic skills deficit is for employers to recruit and train more home-grown talent. Undoubtedly, the best way of achieving this is to focus on increasing the quality, duration and thoroughness of construction apprenticeships. Giving technical and academic education “parity of esteem”, as the Chancellor stated in the last Budget, must be picked up and driven forward by the next Government and it’s vital that the progress we’ve made on increasing the quality of apprenticeships does not go to waste.” Berry concluded: “Through a flexible immigration policy and more high quality apprenticeships, the next Government will allow construction to act as a bulwark against any Brexit uncertainty. For every £1 invested in construction, 92p stays within the UK and £2.84 is generated in the wider economy. As the economy adapts to the reality of operating outside of the EU, it’s more important than ever that the Government works closely with strategic industries that offer high levels of productivity and a good return on investment. That means backing construction and supporting the sector will only become more important as the country looks to make a success of Brexit. We urge all of the main political parties to include positive policies on immigration, skills and apprenticeships in their forthcoming manifestoes.”

East Midlands sees sharpest rise in business activity for 15 months FIRMS IN the East Midlands began the second quarter of the year strongly, with April seeing faster rises in new orders and business activity, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Regional Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The Lloyds Bank PMI is based on responses from manufacturers and services businesses about the amount of goods and services produced during April compared with a month earlier. The index rose to 57.8 in April from 54.8 in March, signalling a sharp and accelerated monthly rise in business activity. The rate of growth was the fastest since January 2016, with the increase in business output in the Dene Jones region faster than the UK average. Inflation remained an issue due to the weak pound, with firms’ input costs rising at a sharper rate. Firms often passed on the cost to clients to help protect margins. More jobs were created to manage the increase in new orders, with the rate of employment growth picking up for the second month in a row. Dene Jones, regional director for the East Midlands, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “There was good news for the East Midlands economy in April, with new orders, employment and output on the increase. “The weak pound continued to push up firms’ cost, which some firms passed on to their customers in the form of higher selling prices. This suggests some confidence that customer demand will remain despite raised prices”.

WELLS MCFARLANE are offering for sale a plot of land with planning permission (ref: DA/2010/0453) for a twostorey three-bed detached dwelling. The 0.084 acre plot – at 88 Church Street, Naseby, Northants. sits off and with access to Church Street in the centre of the village of Naseby. Part of the footings for the house have been laid and Daventry District Council have confirmed in writing that the permission is extant. Offers in the region of £145,000 are invited. For more information, contact Wells McFarlane on 01455 559030 or email: info@wellsmcfarlane.co.uk

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My wife caught me cross-dressing ... so I packed her things and left.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

The price of not buying new? It could be as much as £50,000 NEW RESEARCH carried out by the Home Builders Federation has found that the cost of upgrading an older property to the same standard as a new build home could be as much as £50,000. The publication of the data comes at the launch of this year’s New Homes Week which aims to highlight the many benefits for consumers of buying a ne w build home. From the benefits of living in an energy efficient home that could save you hundreds of pounds on your utility bills each year, to the brand-new fixtures and fittings that come as standard, buying a new build home offers many advantages when compared to buying an older property. The research looked at the work that might have to be carried out when people move into an older home, and what would have to be done to a home to bring it up to the standards of a new property which also comes with a warranty protecting the buyer from liability

on structural problems within the first 10 years. Whether it’s the price of buying and fitting a new kitchen (£7,900) or having a house rewired (£8,850), the costs for people moving into an older home can quickly mount up. For a homeowner who wants to get the same standard of finish and functionality they could expect from a new build home, the cost could be up to £51,643. This includes paying out for: • Kitchen - £7,900 • Bathroom - £3,800 • Central heating - £6,185 • Wiring - £8,850 • Plastering - £5,240 • Decorating - £2,500 • Flooring - £2,628 • Insulation - £775 • Windows and doors £4,900 • Roofing - £4,000 • Guttering - £690 • External rendering - £4,175 And the savings continue: while just 26% of second hand homes achieve an energy efficiency rating of A to C, 94% of homes built in

2016 could boast such standards. Commenting on the figures, Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “Buyers of new build homes enjoy a huge number of benefits over those purchasing a second hand home. “During the buying process customers will receive a high level of service and support from trained sales staff. Upon moving into a property that is designed for modern living, there are all the advantages of living in a home with brand new fixtures and fittings and the latest energy efficiency technologies. “This report helps to highlight the hidden savings that buyers of new build homes make. While most people have a budget put aside to get the little jobs done, costs soon add up when you need to replace a bathroom or a kitchen. “£50,000 is a lot of money by anyone’s standards, and this new research emphasises just how much new build home buyers really get for their money.”

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If I ever go missing, before calling the police please check between my bed and the wall.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Residential development site in Ashby de la Zouch

NABARRO MCALLISTER are offering for sale a 10.08 hectare residential development site with planning permission for 153 houses. The site – Arla Foods, Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch, Leics. LE65 2UF - comprises a cleared, level site formerly used as a dairy. It is bounded to the North by commercial warehouses, to East by open fields, to South by residential dwellings and to the West by Smisby Road. Offers are invited. For more information, contact Nabarro McAllister on 0113 266 7666 or email: info@nabarromcallister.co.uk

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The only way I know something is bad for me is if I like it.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

RICS UK Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey, Q1 2017

Midlands’ skills shortages remain key challenge to infrastructure delivery • Workloads expectations improve with the most positive sentiment since the referendum • Road and rail set to remain the fastest growing infrastructure sub sectors over next twelve months • Quality of available workers cited as a barrier to growth CONSTRUCTION and infrastructure workload expectations for the Midlands continue to improve with the most positive outlook since the referendum, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Market Survey, Q1 2017. The pace of growth has increased across all sub-sectors. In Q1 2017 31% more respondents reported an increase in workloads, (up from +28% in Q4 2016). Activity expectations for the next 12 months also remain firmly. Regionally 12 month expectations of profit margins also continued to improve despite reducing slightly at the national level. The shortage of skilled labour persists in UK infrastructure and construction and is again widely cited by contributors as a factor potentially impacting the performance of the industry. Looking at the different sectors, 36% more respondents cited an increase in private housing output rather than a decrease. The commercial sector saw the largest growth in workloads with 44% more respondents seeing a rise. Private Commercial outpaces other sectors in the region in Q1 2017 whereas in previous quarters, private housing was the driving force in Midlands’ construction sector. Nationally infrastructure workloads continue to grow steadily with the most significant increases in rail, road and energy categories. These sectors are also viewed as the most promising sectors in infrastructure for the next

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twelve months. Breaking this down, 60% of respondents felt that repair and maintenance work of existing structures is the most needed type of investment in their area whilst 40% felt investment in new projects was necessary. As workloads increase, skill shortages, once again, are still sighted as a significant problem to the Midlands’ industry with 55% of respondents stating a shortage of skilled labour to be a key impediment to growth. This is slightly up from 51% in the last quarter. In recent reports, the proportion of respondents noting skill shortages to be the major barrier to growth had come down slightly but the latest results along with surveyors’ comments suggest labour shortage pressure across the UK construction sector is intensifying once more. Alongside this, 71% of respondents reported insufficient availability of quantity surveyors, with skill shortages in this area becoming increasingly prominent since 2014. At the national level the results also point to the quality of available workers (rather than simply the quantity) being the principle driver in skill shortages, with 67% of respondents taking this view. Looking at this further, 59% of contributors feel that improved education pathways and training would the most effective policy response to alleviate labour supply pressures, whilst 31% of contributors feel direct government subsidisation of training would be the most effective. Meanwhile, financial constraints are still the most significant obstacle to growth with 70% of respondents

citing this as an issue. Planning and regulation remains a significant impediment to growth with 57% of respondents citing this as an obstacle (up from 48% in Q4 2016). Regionally all parts of the UK have observed an increase in pace of output growth in Q1, with the exception of Northern Ireland. The was due to the pace of growth slowing within the infrastructure, private industrials and public nonhousing sectors. Output growth gathered the most pace in London and the South East where the net balance rose from +7% to +22%. Geoff White, RICS Policy Manager, comments: “Clearly a good news/ bad news report. The increase in workloads and expectations are very welcome. The government’s focus on and investment in infrastructure is showing through, however, as RICS has been pointing out for a number of years, a shortage of skilled labour, including quantity surveyors, will hold back development and growth. It stems from short sighted government policy over the past 10 years and puts more pressure on the future government to invest more and quickly in construction training and skills. “The skills shortage has clear implications for the future of the Midlands where major plans are being developed to improve transport infrastructure through Midlands Connect. Better East-West connectivity is crucial to investment and economic growth plans, especially to build on High Speed Rail 2. It would be a disaster for any government’s plan to rebalance the UK economy if a shortage of skilled labour was allowed to hold

things back. There have been some great improvements in the regions through the placing of the National High Speed Rail College in Birmingham as well as the setting up of skills hubs by LEPs but much more needs to be done. This is a vital issue for the entire Midlands that the new metro mayor should tackle urgently after the elections on 4th May.” Speaking on the forthcoming General Election, Mr White continues: ““RICS highlights the issue in its soon-to-be-published General Election manifesto and calls for commitments from all parties. This is a major Brexit issue too. RICS estimates EU nationals account for 8% of the industry workforce which is almost 200,000 workers. With UK construction already facing a chronic skills shortage, it could threaten some of the country’s biggest infrastructure and construction projects, as well as their respective pipelines.” Jeff Matsu, RICS Senior Economist, commented on the latest RICS survey data: “The mood music in the construction sector has improved in line with the better tone to macro data more generally. However, the survey does highlight some key challenges that need to be addressed if government’s ambitious plans for housing and infrastructure, in particular, are to be met. Access to finance, alongside planning and skill shortages, both quality and quantity, remain big obstacles to delivery and though some plans are in place to address these issues, it remains to be seen whether they are sufficient to make a meaningful impact.”

Residential development site at Thorpe Langton KING WEST are offering for sale a rectangular site with full planning permission (ref: 15/01660/ FUL) for regenration of the former farmstead into 7 high quality homes. The 1.68 acre site – at Stone Cottage Farm, Off Welham Road, Thorpe Langton, Leics. LE16 7TS – has previously been used in connection with a livestock farming business and contained a number of farm buildings and storage barns which have now been demolished and removed. For sale – by Private Treaty – with a Guide Price of £1.25 million. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact King West on 01858 435970 or email: enquiries@kingwest.co.uk

I was hooked on auctions after only going once ...going twice.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

The problem with your selfies is you’re in every single one of them.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

I’m at my most amazing when no one is paying attention.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Educational trip to brickworks helps build students’ experience LEADING building products manufacturer Forterra welcomed a group of construction students and apprentice bricklayers from Lees Brook Community School in Derby to its brickworks in Desford in Leicestershire, for an educational visit. Staff at Forterra’s Desford Brickworks, showed teenagers from Lees Brook Community School around the facility. The visit was conducted as part of Forterra’s educational outreach programme, which aims to engage with local schools and colleges and to inspire young people into considering working for the construction industry. The 17 students, plus teaching staff from the Lees Brook Post 16 Skills Academy, were given a tour of the brickworks, which employs 98 members of staff and produces around a quarter of a million bricks every working day, most of which are used to make new homes. As part of their tour, the students were shown how bricks are extruded, dried and baked before being cooled, and how using different clays and processes result in different types of bricks being produced. The students also took part in a question and answer session with Forterra staff. Mick Lardner, Plant Manager at Desford Brickworks, said: “We hope the students and apprentices enjoyed visiting our brickworks and witnessing our processes and will now have a better understanding of how the bricks which fuel the construction industry are made.” Andy Williamson, Construction Teacher at Lees Brook Community School, said: “We arranged this trip to give our construction students a first-hand impression of how

Proposals outlined for new Waterside school LEICESTER CITY Council has earmarked land off Fosse Road North as the site for a proposed new primary school as part of 15-year Waterside regeneration programme.

bricks, which are so vital to the housebuilding industry, are made, and also to give them an idea of how a heavy industrial facility like this operates. “The students thoroughly enjoyed the visit, and have gained a lot from it, and we will be looking at returning with future groups. We’d like to give a big thanks to Mick and all the staff for their very informative and student-centred approach to the trip.” Forterra offers apprenticeship and graduate opportunities and is

currently looking to recruit talented individuals to work at its facilities across the country. The company’s apprenticeship scheme covers all fields of engineering and is NVQ accredited, and its two year graduate programme is tailored to a student’s speciality and is supported by mentor learning. For more information about careers with Forterra, visit www. forterra.co.uk/careers. You can also follow the company on Twitter via @ForterraUK and on LinkedIn.

The 2.7 hectare plot of land, which runs adjacent to the Groby Road allotments, would provide enough space to build a modern, new primary school building with capacity for up to 900 pupils. It would also provide space for purpose-built synthetic turf sports courts, an outdoor classroom and amphitheatre, gardens and wildlife areas. Any changes to arrangements regarding the existing primary schools in the area will be subject to further consultation. Around £13milllion of funding from the council’s schools basic needs allocation has been earmarked for the project. If given the go-ahead, work on the new school could be begin in early 2018, with a view to it opening in time for the 2019/20 academic year.

Multi-million pound FENWICK renovation to create 150 jobs THE FORMER Fenwick store in Leicester is to become a mixed use scheme which will create around 150 jobs. Developer Aimrok Holdings has completed its purchase of the iconic store on Market Street for a seven-figure sum and is seeking planning approval for four retail units, a champagne bar, a restaurant and a gym across the basement and ground floor. Aimrok also has plans for 90 high end apartments for rent in the building’s upper floors. The new development is expected to create 150 jobs during the build and following its completion. James Coningsby, head of commercial property at Nelsons Solicitors, acted for Aimrok. Funding for the deal was provided by Cambridge & Counties Bank, whose team was led by its business development manager Adam Jolley. Vijay Patel of Aimrok said: “The purchase of this iconic building in Leicester is really important to us. It has a great deal of history and our plans will create an exciting concept for Leicester and will secure the building’s future. By creating a mixed use scheme, the building has a future which is sustainable for many years to come.”

I was hooked on auctions after only going once ...going twice.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Celebrating the Best in East Midlands Construction TAKING centre stage at the high profile Celebrating Construction Awards for the East Midlands, were some of the industry’s leading pioneers and most ground-breaking projects. The awards were hosted by former business correspondent for BBC Breakfast, Declan Curry on Friday 19 May. Over 300 construction professionals gathered at the Nottingham Belfry to the celebrate the best innovative developments and talented individuals. These regional awards provide one of the most effective platforms for targeting the Midlands’ lucrative construction industry.

The big winners on the night It was an outstanding night for BE Design and Wates Construction who both picked up a total of two awards each. BE Design won the Digital Construction Project/Initiative of the Year for the High Street Lincoln which is a student accommodation block containing 40 self-contained flats and also picked up the prestigious SME of the Year title after an extremely successful year. Wates Construction picked up the highly competitive Integration and Collaborative Working Award for their involvement in Bluecoat Academy and got recognised for their emerging employee talent with Amy Miller taking home the Young Achiever of the Year award. It was also a fantastic night for Robert Woodhead and Scape Group scooping up one award each and a joint award. Robert Woodhead collected the Preservation and Rejuvenation Award for Delapre Abbey, the Abbey is set within extensive parklands on the southern edge of Northampton. Scape Group picked up Client of the Year after being nominated by Wates Construction due to their first-hand experience of their brilliance via the EMPA Framework. Both Robert Woodhead and Scape Group went on to win the Value Award for their involvement in the King Edward Skate Plaza, a user designed, community focused construction project built in response to local need with an optimised design to maximise a very tight budget and time frame. Taking away the high-status Project of the Year Award was rg+p for the Heathcott Road affordable housing scheme. The affordable housing scheme is accessible to everyone, giving families, couples and individuals a well-designed, environmentally friendly and community orientated place to live in the city.

The Full List of Winners • •

Client of the Year: Scape Group - EMPA Framwork Digital Construction Project/Initiative of the Year: BE Design - High Street Lincoln • Health & Safety Award: Lift & Engineering Services • Innovation Award: North Kesteven District Council - ONE NK • Integration & Collaborative Working Award: Wates Construction - Bluecoat Academy • People Development Award: Stepnell • Preservation & Rejuvenation Award: Robert Woodhead - Delapre Abbey • Project of the Year - Building Projects: rg+p Heathcott Road • SME of the Year: BE Design • Sustainability Award: Simons Group GlaxoSmithKline, GMS Ware, Compliance Building • Value Award: Robert Woodhead & Scape Group King Edward Skate Plaza • Young Achiever of the Year: Amy Miller - Wates Construction With a range of high quality entries, the awards were hailed as a great success by the judges. The winners of the awards have gained a place on the shortlist for this year’s national awards that recognise the very best companies, collaborations and projects sharing best practice and inspiring others to adopt new and better ways of working that deliver outstanding results. To enquire into next year’s awards please contact Grace Baker on: 01743 290001 or grace.baker@radarcommunications.co.uk

East Midlands property market remains strong CONTINUOUSLY increasing house prices in the region’s key cities is proving that the East Midlands property market is resilient according to national housebuilder Bellway. Recent data released by Hometrack ranks Leicester and Nottingham in the top 10 UK cities for house price growth over the last year. The average house price in Leicester is now £162,000, up 6.6 per cent in the last 12 months, while Nottingham’s average house price has grown by 6.7 per cent to £142,600. Sales Director for Bellway East Midlands, Ben Smith, said interest had remained strong at its developments across the East Midlands. He said: “House prices across the East Midlands are progressing at a healthy rate, and judging by the levels of interest in our homes across the region, we expect this to continue for the foreseeable future. “House prices are continuing to rise at a sustainable rate, and many home-hunters in the region are trying to move as soon as possible to try to beat the price increase. We’ve also seen an increase in the number of people who are looking to secure a home off-plan for similar reasons. “The low mortgage rates available to buyers at the minute is convincing many that now is as good a time as any to buy a new home, and the availability of schemes like Help to Buy is drawing the market to new builds in particular. “The demand for new homes in the East Midlands is still strong, and we’re expecting to see prices continue to increase for the foreseeable future.”

The only time I don’t eat healthily is when there is unhealthy food available for me to eat.

Being a parent is making everything easier for your kids while your kids do the exact opposite for you.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Reaction to the latest Markit/CIPS UK construction PMI for April THE VINDEN Partnership says industry growth a result of investment in infrastructure and push for new housing Civil engineering and the housebuilding sectors were the star performers of the Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI figures for April as output grew at its fastest rate to date in 2017. Construction output increased sharply to 53.1, up from March’s figure of 52.1 – above the growth threshold of over 50.0. There was a solid increase in new work, which rose at its quickest rate this year but was still some distance short of its post-financial crisis peak in 2014. Industry confidence was still high in April with almost half of those surveyed predicting an increase in work over the next 12 months, with only 10% forecasting a drop off. Peter Vinden, Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership – a leading multi-disciplinary consultant company to the built environment, said: “The surge in construction growth in April is welcome news for the industry but certainly not unexpected. “Big infrastructure projects are now underway across the country and the demand for new housing is as strong as ever. It is also clear that confidence from within the industry remains robust. “We can perhaps expect to see a slight drop off in performance in the short term due to the government’s decision to call a snap general election, placing a pause of some projects. “Of more pressing concern will be ensuring that Brexit doesn’t adversely effect the levels of skilled construction workers in the UK. The number of workers is already under pressure with an ageing workforce and a shortfall in people to take their place. It is crucial that the government don’t leave building sites shorthanded.”

Site for 22 dwellings in North Kilworth KING WEST are offering for sale an outstanding greenfield residential development opportunity comprising a site of 2.97 acres with resolution to grant outline planning permission for 22 dwellings. The land – off South Kilworth Road, North Kilworth, Leics. LE17 6HE – enjoys a glorious unspoilt view over farmland. The site has previously been used as agricultural land and for equestrian purposes. Harborough District Council has resolved to grant Outline Planning Permission for 22 dwellings (ref: 16/01904/OUT) subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement. An information pack is available from the Agents in CD format at a price of £50 plus VAT. For sale by Private Treaty with a Guide Price of £1.65 million. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact King West on 01858 435970 or email: info@kingwest.co.uk

Rising demand boosts industrial property values

With the recent publication of the first quarter Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) survey, Malcolm Grayson, Director at Andrew and Ashwell, compares the state of play in the local commercial property market:

HE FIRST quarter RICS Commercial Property Survey this year, reveals a more buoyant market, with industrial space outperforming office and retail sectors and experts cautiously optimistic for further growth. According to RICS, investor demand has been rising for regional commercial property across all sectors. Industrial assets are the most sought after, with 38% more respondents seeing an increase in demand for industrial space across the East Midlands. The industrial sector also performed well in capital value expectations and 48% more respondents anticipate prices will rise in the next quarter. Grayson confirms the strong demand for industrial and office premises: “Prices are rising quickly, despite the forthcoming General Election and impending Brexit negotiations. There is extensive demand out there, partially fuelled by the on-going relative lack of new commercial property construction and in recent months we have finalised a whole raft of transactions. “Industrial property is certainly at a premium in Leicestershire. We have recently sold 35,000 sq ft of space on long leasehold for food manufacture at Boston Road, Gorse Hill. “We also sold 41,225 sq ft of space on Barkby Road for textile manufacture within two weeks of going on the market. Storage space of 54,734 sq ft is also near completion on Barkby Road, Thurmaston. Further transactions include a sign manufacturer relocating to 24,772 sq ft of space sold on Marlow Road and a further 43,189sq ft let on the Whittle Estate at Lutterworth for automotive parts manufacturing.” Andrew and Ashwell is also seeing an upturn in the office sector, with two units of 6,000 sq ft at Grove Park let and under offer and strong interest with terms expected on 10,000 sq ft of leasehold space at Grove and other locations, plus 6,346 sq ft let to Weightmans solicitors at Waterloo House in Leicester city centre. While stores continue to face the challenges of Internet trading, cause for optimism, says Grayson, has been the sale of 2.1 acres of land north of Leicester to Aldi Foods. “It’s good to see new buildings going ahead in every sector. Other developments coming through are seven acres of new build industrial units and offices at Blaby Business Park, near M1 Junction 21 at Leicester Forest East, industrial and office units at Watermead Thurmaston and bespoke design and build opportunities at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park. “Given current levels of supply and demand, rents are expected to also deliver strongest growth in the industrial sector.” Investment continues to recover, with the UK still seen as a safe haven for investors, driven by transparency and stable legal structures. “Andrew and Ashwell has acquired and/or sold around £20m investment during the last 12 months, including prime offices on Grove, and Meridian parks, as well as multiple industrial and also retail units. Yields have typically been six to seven per cent. “We have also just put Ariel Works on Temple Road, North Evington, to market as investment for £3.5m and there is strong interest, for which we are expecting to make at least the asking price. “While shortage of industrial and commercial units remains a major issue in the East Midlands as employment land is lost to address the housing shortage, indicators are relatively robust, although trends may temporarily slow ahead of the election.”

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I’m so angry right now that I could strategically throw my phone at a safe spot on the couch.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

I have an 8:30 dinner reservation tonight. That’s like midnight in middle-age time.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Builders’ Problems SOLVED

No payment from a regular source of work PROBLEM: I am a carpentry subcontractor, with most of my work coming from one source, a main contractor. When I take on work for this contractor, it is usually by way of a verbal agreement. Every Friday they email me a list of work to be carried out the following week, and at the end of that week, I email an invoice for each individual job. The verbal agreement on payment is 7 days and the contractor makes payment straight into my bank account. This has been the case for several months. However, no payment was received from the contractor on 31 March. When I spoke to them, they said that full payment would be made the following Friday. This did not happen, and when I chased them up, they stated that one job I had done was unsatisfactory. I immediately attended to this, only to be subsequently told that the job was still not satisfactory and they had employed someone else to fix the problem. They have since told me that they will be contra-charging me for the cost, and in the meantime will be withholding all payments due to me until they know what the cost is. They also stated that as there is no written agreement on payment terms, I cannot class the payment as late. As they did not notify me that they still had an issue with my work and allowed me the chance to put the supposed issue right, can they then contra charge me? I have since sent 3 final payment demands, but received no replies. Nor have I received a pay less notice. If payment was due on 31st March 2017, can this now be classed as having missed the final date for payment? Also, has the contractor missed the chance to issue me with a pay less notice?

Name withheld

RESPONSE: There is a binding contract at

the point that you commenced the work (your commencement signifies your acceptance of the main contractor’s offer for you to carry out the work listed in the email), and this is known as contract by conduct. Although there may be an absence of written terms, there will be implied terms and terms that may be incorporated in each contract by reference to your previous course of dealings with the main contractor, providing there was a reasonable expectation that the term you seek to rely upon would apply, and there are no other contrary terms. In addition, the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended), will also apply to your contract, which in turn will imply part 2 (payment) of the Scheme for Construction Contracts, and although you may not be entitled to stage payments (for stage payments to apply, the duration of a contract must be estimated not to be less than 45 days), you will be entitled to receive payment by the ‘final date for payment’, although this is a much longer period than the 7 days you have said you agreed with the main contractor (it will be at least 47 days following completion of the work). Whether or not the contractor has failed to issue you with a timeous pay less notice will depend on whether the previous course of dealings or the Scheme for Construction Contracts applies, although in all probability, in the absence of a pay less notice under either term, the contractor would have missed its chance. On the contra-charge, the contractor must give you an opportunity to carry out the remedial work. Whether or not your first attempt to make good is considered as giving you that opportunity will depend on the actual circumstances. That said, without a timeous pay less notice, the contractor is not permitted to make any deductions from the amount due. © Michael P. Gerard June 2017

Barn for conversion in Scalford: £400k Guide ANDREW GRANGER & CO are offering for sale a substantial brick-built barn with consent for conversion to a spacious five-bed dwelling with three ensuites. The property – at Eastwell Road, Scalford, Leics. LE14 4SS – stands withing open farmland approximately five miles north of Melton Mowbray.The agents have been advised by Melton Borough Council that the change of use from agricultural to residential can be carried out under permitted development rights and prior approval will not be required . Work must be completed by 14th September 2019. Planning reference: 16/00495/GDOCOU. For sale by Private Treaty - Price Guide: £400,000. For more information, contact Andrew Granger & Co. on 01509 235534 or visit the website at www. andrewgranger.co.uk

Michael P. Gerard Author background Michael is a Solicitor, Chartered Builder, Registered Construction Adjudicator & Accredited Expert in quantum and planning matters. He is Managing Director of Michael Gerard & Co., and a Partner with Cato Solicitors.

The advice provided is intended to be of a general guide only and should not be viewed as providing a definitive legal analysis.

Green Party plans on retrofitting welcomed by FMB THE OTHER major political parties should take note of the Green Party’s plans to insulate nine million existing homes, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said in response to the launch of the ‘Green Guarantee’ manifesto. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Green Party’s vision on retrofitting nine million of the UK’s existing homes is a welcome reminder of an environmental and social necessity that seems to have fallen off the political agenda in recent years. “A serious programme of investment to retrofit existing properties is sorely needed to bring British homes, which are among the oldest in Europe, up to scratch and limit ever-spiralling energy bills and high levels of fuel poverty. There’s a danger that in our drive to increase the number of new build homes, the subject of how we make our existing ones fit for modern living will continue to be neglected.”

I’m gonna open a shop where people can come in and just scream into a pillow and then leave.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

I hate when I’m running on the treadmill for half an hour and look down to see it’s been 4 minutes.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

How property auctions Response to the DCLG could help solve the UK’s select committee’s report housing crisis on ‘Capacity in the COUNCILS could help homebuilding industry’ LOCAL to solve the UK’s housing crisis IN RESPONSE to the recent publication of the DCLG select committee’s report on the ability of the housebuilding sector to meet demand for new homes, The Homebuilding & Renovating Show is lending its support to The National Custom and Self-Build Association (NaCSBA)’s call for additional proactive involvement by the Government and local authorities in making custom and self-build more accessible and affordable. Michael Holmes, spokesperson for The Homebuilding & Renovating Show and chair of the National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA), says: “We welcome the report’s call for more action on growing the custom and self-build market. The Homebuilding & Renovating Show and NaCSBA’s stance on this has been consistently highlighted during NaCSBA’s representations to Government and to the DCLG select committee, and the report released today positively reflects our position. Custom and self-build has the potential to deliver 40-50,000 new homes a year in England by 2030, extending choice, affordability, sustainability and diversity of supply. But this will only happen with continued government support to establish owner commissioned housing as a mainstream alternative model of delivery. “The Capacity report sets out the main challenges faced by potential selfand custom builders, which are much bigger than those experienced by small and medium sized builders. For example, if you can’t afford a significant deposit, you are probably excluded from the custom and self-build sector. Another significant development is that the Committee is requesting an update on solutions for accessing finance within 12 months. “In response to the Committee’s question on funding, the sector would like to see the extension of the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme to include custom build homes. This would offer a 20 per cent equity loan from Government (40 per cent in London) to help people to build their own individual home through custom build. This scheme has already successfully boosted the sale of new homes by volume housebuilders by reducing the deposit required to buy a home to just five per cent. Those wanting to buy a custom build home find they need a minimum of £30-40k to be able to put down the deposit on a serviced plot, commission a design and commence building, using a stage payment self build mortgage. Help to Buy for custom build would open up the market to a whole new audience of hardworking people who can afford a mortgage but don’t have the deposit required to custom build and get the benefit of choice of design and specification. “Accessing land is also a challenge for custom and self-builders. The figures released by NaCSBA can provide evidence of unmet demand for people who want to custom or self-build. It highlights that in other developed countries, around half of the homes built are custom or self-build, and that 53 per cent of the UK population would like to build or commission their own home at some time in their lives (14 per cent / 7 million people in the next 12 months) but only around 10,000 succeed. Around 10 per cent of this market want to do the full ‘Grand Designs’ self-build approach. Around 12 per cent are happy with the minimal choice offered by a speculative volume house builder. The remaining 78 per cent of prospective new home buyers are not catered for in the UK currently. “Since 31 October 2016, when the Right to Build legislation came into force, local planning authorities are required to keep a register of people (find your local authority register via righttobuildportal.org) who would like to have a custom built home and they are meant to identify land to meet this demand. This means that within the next three years, local authorities in England are responsible for granting planning permission for sufficient shovel ready plots to meet the demand gathered by the Right to Build Registers. This will also be supported by the soon to be launched Right to Build Task Force given support in the Government White Paper ‘Fixing Our Broken Housing Market’ which will assist local authorities and community led housing groups bring forward land for custom and self-build homes by providing expert advice, with an emphasis on the delivery of more affordable homes. “The annual Homebuilding & Renovating Shows are also supporting and raising awareness of this legal duty within the Housing and Planning Act 2016. Visitors who are at the start of their property ventures will be advised by experts on their legal rights and guided on how to find and apply for a plot of land, a step which will influence significantly the pace of their projects.”

by using property auctions as a modern-day version of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), according to a leading auctions boss. Rory Daly, chief executive of SDL Auctions, was talking after new research revealed more than 200,000 homes in England with a total value of £43 billion were lying empty, despite the desperate shortage of properties to rent and buy. Mr Daly explained that councils used to threaten empty property owners with CPOs but that this had become unworkable because there was no longer the public money available to fund such policies. Instead, he argued, some councils were now starting to threaten court action unless property owners either refurbished the homes or put them up for sale in auctions, with special conditions to make them habitable within 12 months. Mr Daly said: “All this focus on greenbelt and brownfield sites for new homes is staggering, given that the number of homes lying empty that could be occupied after refurbishment is not far away from a whole year’s worth of new build. “In the old world, local authorities would enforce CPOs on properties not fit for occupation, but that doesn’t happen now because councils haven’t got the public money available. “And yet simply trying to cajole owners of empty homes to get their properties into a fit state for occupation is also flawed because the owners often haven’t got the funds necessary to refurbish them. “What some councils have started doing is to use SDL Auctions as an option for selling properties where nothing is happening. “It’s like a modern day CPO: the council tells property owners to either do what we’ve asked you to do or use another option – sell your property in an auction.” Mr Daly said SDL Auctions, one of the UK’s largest auction networks, had found that empty homes in desperate need of refurbishment had become the most popular properties in the auction sector. And he said that this new way of forcing empty home-owners to act had already resulted in dozens of successful auctions for Wolverhampton City Council. Mr Daly said: “What we’ve done with Wolverhampton Council is to enable them to take action with

some really hazardous, anti-social properties where there was no other workable option. “By using our property auctions, Wolverhampton has enabled properties to be sold to buyers who are in the market for refurbishing homes for buy-to-let or sale.” Mr Daly stressed that the empty properties were put up for auction under special conditions that they had to be brought into a satisfactory habitable condition within 12 months. He said: “On dozens of occasions this has solved a problem for all parties: the buyer gets a property they want to invest in; the owner avoids court action by the council, is relieved of what’s become a serious problem, and quickly receives its market worth. “Most importantly, this new way of dealing with the empty homes problem can help to take the heat off what is a massive, national housing problem.” According to the research*, Birmingham was the worst affected city outside of London with 4,397 empty homes worth an estimated £956m, followed by Bradford (3,944 homes worth £858 million) and Liverpool (3,449 homes worth £750 million). The cities of Leeds, Sheffield, Sunderland, Wakefield, Doncaster, Blackburn and Bolton were also in the top ten for the highest number of empty homes, collectively worth more than another £2.5 billion. Mr Daly said that SDL Auctions – with auction sites in Birmingham, Cheshire and North Wales, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Stoke, and Manchester – was happy to meet with other councils facing the same problems. He added: “The market is currently falling over itself to buy such properties. We’ve currently got 40,000 people registered to buy properties across our network. “We’d like to hear from any local authorities who have problems with empty homes, as we can quickly help them to solve this issue locally, as well as helping to relieve the national housing crisis.” Future SDL Auctions events are listed here, and anyone interested should call 0800 304 7879 or email enquiries@sdlauctions.co.uk

Very rarely am I part of the problem. Usually, I’m the entire problem.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Strong housebuilding growth Swadlincote boosts construction industry redevelopment site THE THREE-MONTH on three-month picture revealed that construction output rose by 0.2% – increasing for the fifth consecutive period. The year-on-year figure also saw output grow by 2.4% – the 12th consecutive period of year-on-year growth. House building activity increased by 3.8% in March in comparison with February’s figures, and was up by 5.4% on the same period last year. However, the picture was slightly less rosy for the month-on-month analysis with construction output falling in March by 0.7% on February’s performance. The main contributor to the downward pressure came form the repair and maintenance sector, which dropped by 1.8% in March and down 0.2% on the quarter on quarter figures. Infrastructure activity suffered badly, falling by 5.4% – the second consecutive month of negative performance. Peter Vinden, Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership – a leading multi-disciplinary consultant company to the built environment, said: “The monthon-month drop is disappointing but the bigger picture seems to reveal an industry that has performed well even under the stress of uncertainty stemming from the EU referendum result.

“It is no surprise to see the housing market performing strongly, with the ONS stats in line with most other construction activity surveys covering the same period. The focus on addressing the shortage of housing and the constant demand from people looking to get on the property ladder should ensure robust growth in sector over the coming months. “I would also expect to see infrastructure growth begin to pick up as projects continue to be green lit across the country. “It is absolutely vital that the next government ensure that the construction industry isn’t derailed by further Brexit uncertainty or a failure to address the shortage of workers in the sector.” UK Construction Media is a leading publishing and marketing services business focused on the construction industry. Based on 20 years of experience within this sector, the business has unrivalled experience with a range of products which target the development of new opportunities and increased business for our clients.

INNES ENGLAND are offering for sale a 1.67 acre redevelopment site with Outline Planning Permission (ref: 9/2016/0094) for residential development. The property – Eureka House, Newhall Road, Swadlincote, DE11 0BA – was built in the 1890s and occupied by industrialist John Wragg. Once the grandest residence in the town, Eureka Lodge is Swadlincote’s last Victorian house, but despite its important history, the building has no significant architectural merit and is beyond economic repair. Outline Planning was granted on 20th Sdeptember 2016 for redevelopment of the site for a new residential scheme of 13 bungalows , each of around 1,000 sq.feet, with a new access road via Shelley Road to the north of the site. For sale by Private Treaty – freehold offers are invited. For more information, contact Nick Hosking at Innes England on 01332 362244 or email: nhosking@innes-england.com

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I went to a record store, they said they specialized in hard-to-find records — nothing was alphabetized.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

NHBC’s technical guidance to reduce problems with render

Listed Matlock offices with potential for conversion

NEW TECHNICAL guidance highlighting best practice for the application of render was published in NHBC Standards 2017, which came into force at the start of the year.

INNES ENGLAND are offering for sale a set of offices with potential for residential conversion. The highly attractive semi-detached property - Huntsbridge House, Matlock Green, Matlock DE4 3EG - was converted from a residential property to offices in 1971. The Grade II Listed building is constructed in local stone, being threestorey in design under a pitched slate roof. There is a more recent single storey extension. Internally, the main house has been converted to provide a mixture of open plan and private offices. The total Net Internal Area is 3,622 sq.feet. The purchase price is £575,000. For more information, contact Peter Doleman at Innes England on 0116 255 5455 or email: pdoleman@innes-england. co.uk

The new Chapter 6.11 ‘Render’ is a key element of NHBC’s on-going campaign to reduce defects in external walls. The rigours of exposure to external conditions can soon start to test the durability of render on a new home and it is anticipated that the technical guidance and advice in the new chapter will help reduce damage. Explaining the reasons behind the new chapter, NHBC Standards Manager Paul Cribbens said: “In a relatively short space of time poor design detailing can be laid bare, resulting in preventable render damage. Recognising the increased consequences in relation to issues such as cracking in rendered walls, the new Chapter 6.11 sees the introduction of specific guidance to assist the building designer.” A summary of the new guidance includes; • Movement joints should be continuous through the render and background and made weathertight with an appropriate seal. • Position joints so that they do not pass through rigid wall components such as lintels or bed joint reinforcement. • Bed joint reinforcement should be placed in the first two courses of the external leaf above and below any opening. Where possible, reinforcement should extend 600mm beyond the opening. • Where a board background is attached to a timber framed building via battens, consideration needs to be given at the accommodation of movement at each floor zone. All joints should be detailed in accordance with the system manufacturer’s recommendations to be weathertight and allow for movement. • ·Ensure that the accommodation of movement to rendered parts of the home is considered at design stage. • Full details of the chapter are freely available online at NHBC’s Techzone (www.nhbc.co.uk/techzone)

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I’m sick of following my dreams, I’m going to ask them where they’re going and hook up with them later.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

RICS General Election 2017: Priorities for the Built Environment

Next Government must act to increase investment and reduce risk to built environment THE CONSTRUCTION industry alone contributed £107 billion (6.2% of total GDP) to the UK in 2016 (source: ONS). RICS has launched Priorities for the Built Environment setting out steps to secure investment and achieve stability, in order to reduce the risk to the economic contribution of the built environment to the UK*. While the Q1 2017 RICS UK Commercial market survey shows both UK and overseas investment returning post a referendum dip, not all key issues are determined by our position in the EU - despite this being dubbed the ‘Brexit Election’. The next Government needs a strong and long term strategy and to secure and maintain investment in infrastructure, housing, skills and construction. In the Q1 2017 RICS UK Construction and Infrastructure market survey, skill shortages were indicated to still be a significant problem with 53% of respondents stating a shortage of skilled labour to be a key impediment to growth. Financial constraints were also again the most significant obstacle to growth in the sector, with 70% of respondents claiming this is an issue. Britain also remains one of the lowest spenders on infrastructure, illustrated by its commitment to spend 1.4% of GDP by 2021***, and in Priorities for the Built Environment, RICS calls on the next Government to:

• Secure Infrastructure investment. RICS recommends the next UK Government places an emphasis on cross-sector infrastructure spending, and developing a clear, costed UKwide infrastructure pipeline; also to Commit to increasing infrastructure spending through partnerships with private capital. RICS calls on the next UK Government to commit to increased infrastructure spending and enabling private investment. • Create a plan for ‘passporting’ professional services and embed property standards. RICS is at the forefront of international standards for valuation and measurement and these contribute to market transparency and encourage investment. They are considered essential to global

UK-based real estate firms and the ‘passporting’ of professional services, and the financial services sector, is thus hugely important to the investment in and occupation of commercial property – and the footprint of such firms in the UK. RICS recommends the next UK Government establishes an international agreement for the passporting of professional and financial services – including chartered surveyors – and the embedding of international property measurement standards. RICS volunteers its expertise in this area to future Ministers. • Develop a skills pipeline to guarantee the skilled workforce major projects require. Access to a skilled and available workforce is essential component and serves as an assurance to long-term investors. RICS calls on the next UK Government to take action to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce to deliver major projects; also to • Invest in construction skills and careers on a regional basis. The UK must have a construction and property industry that can deliver the built environment we need to support economic growth. We are in the midst of a construction skills crisis and will struggle to deliver. Investment in construction skills and careers on a regional basis is needed to rebalance the UK’s economic geography”. RICS calls

on the next Government to work with industry to strengthen and bring forward the commitments made in the Construction 2025 strategy to attract the next generation of home-grown talent. Other calls in Priorities for the Built Environment to increase and secure stable investment include: • Lift the borrowing cap to allow Local Authorities to build more homes. Housing supply is one of the key challenges the next Government needs to face – Local Authorities should be enabled to use the prudential borrowing capacity of their asset base to build homes or to support other providers. RICS recommends the next Government lift the borrowing cap to allow Local Authorities to build more homes. • Incentivise long-term speculative development. In many UK areas, particularly the North & Midlands, little or no speculative development has taken place since the economic crash in 2008. RICS calls on the next Government to work with combined authorities, LEPs and local authorities to ensure sufficient funding is directed towards the provision of new commercial and industrial premises to support economic growth. • Rural-proof national policy to support enterprise - RICS recommends the next UK

Government to “rural proof ” all national polices, recognise the highly diverse nature of rural land-based businesses and ensure rural development funding is available to support and develop the establishment and growth of rural businesses post Brexit. Lewis Johnston, RICS Parliamentary Affairs Manager, said: “This election is about Brexit but it also needs to be about stepping up to our housing, infrastructure and construction challenges. If Britain is to thrive in a post-Brexit world, we need a housing market that works for everyone, an infrastructure network worthy of a 21st century global trading nation, and a devolution settlement that allows all our regions to flourish. “Our most recent market surveys demonstrate that investment across all areas of the built environment is still urgently required. Our election manifesto urges the next Government to boost infrastructure spending and work closely with private sector partners to unleash the funding. On housing, underutilised delivery vehicles like Local Authorities and Housing Associations need to be given the tools and freedom they need to ramp up supply. And on devolution, we need regional decision-makers to have the powers and funding required to rebalance the UK’s economic geography”

David Wilson Homes’ Popular Abbots View Development Is ‘Hidden Gem’ In Coalville HOMEBUYERS in Leicestershire can enjoy scenic and rural living just a short drive away from the city centre with David Wilson Homes’ Abbots View development, aptly described as a hidden Leicestershire gem. The popular 79 home development located off Greenhill Road is proving popular with working professionals and growing families, so keen homebuyers are being urged to act quickly to avoid disappointment. Jason Hearn, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “Abbots View is a hidden gem because it’s set in an ideal location that suits everyone’s needs. “One of the biggest attractions that bring people to the North West of Leicestershire is The National Forest and with this development being so close, it’s no surprise these homes have been selling so well.” The three, four and five bedroom homes are available to reserve now with prices starting from £203,995.

My resolution was to read more so I put the subtitles on my tv.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ Tel: 01530 244069

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Student accommodation project in Leicester Leicester City Mrs Hema Patel (c/o Agent: Geoffrey Middleton, Kirkham Middleton Architects, The Coach House, 139A Queens Road, Leicester LE2 3FL) – Change of use from care home to 13 self-contained flats plus third floor extension at rear – at Bradgate House, 136 Westcotes Drive, Leicester. Mrs Zulekha Momla (c/o Agent: R Kahn, Master Plan Design Ltd, 23 Vulcan House, Vulcan Road, Leicester LE5 3EF) – Change of use from residential and dental surgery to 6 flats – at 46 / 48 Uppingham Road, Leicester. Mr Hamid Abbasi (c/o Agent: R Kahn, Master Plan Design Ltd, 23 Vulcan House, Vulcan Road, Leicester LE5 3EF) – Change of use of first, second & third floors from 2 flats to 5 flats – at 108 London Road, Leicester. Mr A Mistry (c/o Agent: Kurosh Morad, KMC Consultantancy, 60 St Annes Drive, Leicester LE2 8HT) – Notification of proposed change of use of first and second floors from offices to 4 flats – at 7A Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RB. Rascasse Developments Ltd (c/o Agent: Daniel Grimley, Corporate Architecture Ltd, Venari House, 1 Trimbush Way, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7XY) – Change of use from hotel to house in multiple occupation for students (17 beds) plus dormer extensions at rear – at Spindle Lodge Hotel, 2 West Walk, Leicester. UCR Consultants Ltd (c/o Agent: Jonah Mastin, TMCS, 9 Coales Gardens, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7NY) – Construction of single storey extension to front and third floor extension to offices – at Crescent House, 40 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 6YJ. Mr Karan Chadha (c/o Agent: KC Designs, 61 Linden Drive, Leicester LE5 6AJ) – Construction of twostorey extension to form 2 flats to side of house – at land adjacent to 2 Selby Avenue, Leicester. Mr Rafiq Vindhani (c/o Agent: Dinesh Tailor, DT Designs Ltd, 74A Wyvern Avenue, Leicester LE4 7HH) – Demolition of part of building, change of use from hospital to 8 flats plus first floor extension at rear – at Towers Hospital Site, Gipsy Lane, Leicester.

LEICESTERSHIRE-BASED property and construction firm TMDP Group has started work on a multi-million pound project to design and build a brand new student apartment complex in the heart of Leicester, marking the company’s highest number of projects on site to date. The five storey project on New Walk in the city is being built on behalf of Zone, a leading provider of luxury student accommodation and will house 50 en-suite student apartments, a cinema room, multiple common areas, laundry room and a communal gym. Located in the Computer generated image of the heart of the New Walk conservation proposed transformation of 141 area and within New Walk, Leicester into brand new Leicester’s District student accommodation. Heating System*, the sympathetic design and construction being carried out by TMDP Group, will see the retention of the roof and front elevation of the original building in order to preserve the heritage and architectural integrity of the surrounding landmark area. Scott Moore, Managing Director, TMDP Group said: “We’re delighted to have been appointed by Zone to work on this project and are very pleased to see it get underway. “TMDP Group has seen major growth over the past two years and currently has a record number of projects underway across the Midlands and in the buoyant London and South Eastern region of the country. Adding this prestigious project to our portfolio is another major boost to the company. “This project has some inherent complexities, none more so than the demolition and retention requirements coupled with limited space and vehicular access challenges. However we’ve overcome these issues through meticulous planning and pragmatic project management and now look forward to seeing the finished results. “Leicester is an expanding university city and good quality student accommodation is very much in demand. I am sure that due to its fabulous location; being perfectly positioned for students from both University of Leicester and De Montfort University, this new accommodation will become some of the most sought after in the city.” The project is due for completion in April 2018, opening in time to accommodate students starting their 2018-2019 university term.

Print Werks Ltd (c/o Agent: Dinesh Tailor, DT Designs Ltd, 74A Wyvern Avenue, Leicester LE4 7HH) – Construction of two-storey side extension to factory – at Print Werks Ltd, 15 Parker Drive, Leicester LE4 0JP. Merlin Properties Ltd (c/o Agent: Staniforth Architects, The Warehouse, 1A Stamford Street, Leicester LE1 6NL) – Construction of 3 industrial units (two-storey) with ancillary offices – at 18 Gladstone Street, Leicester LE1 2BN. Walnut Properties Ltd (c/o Agent: Simon Cretney, Staniforth Architects Ltd, The Warehouse, 1A Stamford Street, Leicester LE1 6NL) – Change of use from factory to 15 flats plus rooflights to front and rear – at 11-13 Wellington Street, Leicester. Mr Narinder Sandhu (c/o Agent: UTBH Ltd, 2 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GA) – Notification of change of use from offices to 2 five-bed flats and 2 bedsits – at 2 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GA. Highcross (GP) Ltd (c/o Agent: Miss Tanya Jordan, RPS CGMS, 7th Floor, 140 London Wall, London EC2Y 5DN) – Removal of service yard; subdivision and reconfiguration of units to create 2 retail units (A1), 3 retail units (A1/ A3/A4/A5), and one leisure unit at lower ground, upper ground and new mezzanine level; removal of retail floor space on levels 1 and 3 to create 130 car parking spaces – at House of Fraser Unit, 3 Highcross, Leicester. Jag’s Childcare (c/o Agent: Mathew Hill, YMD Boon, 12 Pride Point Drive, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8BX) – Construction of single storey modular nursery school – at Hope Hamilton C of E Primary School, Sandhills Avenue, Leicester. Rushey Mead Academy (c/o Agent: Guy Lister, Arcadis) – Construction of one single-storey and one two storey building to school – at Rushey Mead Academy, Melton Road, Leicester LE4 7AN. Merlin Properties Ltd (c/o Agent: Tony Masic, ADM Surveyors Ltd, Suite 1 Rosehill, 165 Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4DX) – Construction of 2 semi-detached dwellings to site of 224/226 Victoria Road East – at land between 222 & 228 Victoria Road East, Leicester.

I order the club sandwich all the time and I’m not even a member. I don’t know how I get away with it.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Driest 6 months in 20 years increases subsidence risk concerns PRESS RELEASE Monday 22 May 2017

Driest 6 months in 20 years increases subsidence risk concerns

Mr F Alimahomed (c/o Agent: Bernard Taruvinga, Kunstlet Designs Architect, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RE) – Change of use from one house to 3 flats plus extensions – at 56 Frisby Road, Leicester. Obsidian Strategies Ltd (c/o Agent: Andrew Khoury, Khoury Architects, 42 New Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1PA) – Development of 6 buildings to provide one three-storey mixed use building (Use Class D1/D2 & 10 residential flats), one four-storey 34-bed extra care facility, one fourstorey 72-bed care home, one threestorey commercial/light industrial building, one two-storey general industrial building, refurbishment of existing commercial/light industrial building – at land west of 219 Humberstone Lane, Leicester.

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FOR THE UK as a whole, the last six months have been the driest in 20 years and it was the warmest month of March ever in the southeast.

MORECS TABLE Square 161 350 1997

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Mr Dipak Patel (c/o Agent: Paul Cleaver Architect, 5 Wellington Street, Leicester LE1 6HH) – Change of use of first & second floors from 2 flats to 5 flats plus first floor extension at rear – at 92-94 Melton Road, Leicester LE4 5EB.

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2006

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This is reflected in 150 2017 Met Office Rainfall and 100 Evaporation Calculation System (MORECS) data, 50 which measures soil 0 moisture content, where 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 currently – even after last week’s spell of wet 2017 Week No weather – the conditions are very similar to those recorded in previous subsidence event years – specifically 1997, 2005 and 2006. These very dry ground conditions at the start of the year are a clear indication that we could see an increase in subsidence claims in the months ahead, particularly if we have a dry summer. Early* predictions from The Met Office is that high pressure is likely to dominate the UK in early June, which would bring largely warmer, drier weather for most, but it’s the rainfall and temperatures in July, August and September that will be critical. Kevin Williams, Head of Subsidence, Cunningham Lindsey, said: “Looking at previous subsidence event years, a dry winter and spring has consistently been the key factor, as the weather patterns that followed were invariably mixed. “Basically, if it continues to be warm and dry into the summer, then it won’t be long before we begin to see an upturn in subsidence claims. If it turns cold and wet – all bets are off. At this moment in time, subsidence claim numbers could go either way, but we have a robust plan in place to cope with any potential increase and we’ll continue to monitor the weather forecasts carefully over the coming months.”

Tel: 01536 211 275 Last week I helped my friend stay put. It’s a lot easier than helping someone move.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Work is progressing at Henhurst Fields WORK IS progressing at a new development of homes in Burton which will generate investment worth over £3.5m in the local community. Bellway is building a range of three, four and five-bedroom homes at Henhurst Fields, on land at Henhurst Hill, off Forest Road. Work began at the development in Summer 2016, after plans were approved by East Staffordshire Borough Council. A sales centre is scheduled to be opened at the development in June, and a showhome will be opened in the summer. As part of the planning agreement for the site, over £1.6m will go towards primary, secondary and sixth form education in the area, while a further £1.3m will go towards affordable housing. Around £300,000 will go towards the maintenance of public open space, and £255,000 will be invested in off-site highways improvements. A contribution will also be made towards traffic calming measures. Sales Director for Bellway East Midlands, Ben Smith, said the developer was looking forward to welcoming home-hunters to the site shortly. He said: “Work has been progressing well at Henhurst Fields and we’re expecting to release the first homes for sale shortly. “This is a large development which will become a flagship development for Bellway in the region, and we’re proud to be helping meet demand for homes in Burton-upon-Trent. “We have had great success with our developments here in the past and we’re currently building at two other developments in the town, so feel that we have a strong grasp on the homes which are needed here. “We’ve been inundated with enquiries about the homes here ever since our plans for this development were approved, and we’re expecting the first homes here to be snapped up quickly. We’re looking forward to being able to welcome people to Henhurst Fields to show them what we have to offer.” Henhurst Fields is Bellway’s latest development in Burton-upon-Trent. The housebuilder is also building new homes at Stretton Park, off St Mary’s Drive, and Linkside, off Wetmore Road. For more information about homes at Henhurst Fields, or to register an interest, go to www. bellway.co.uk.

Demand for new homes still outstripping supply despite rise in registrations A 10-YEAR HIGH in new home registrations is a further demonstration of the high demand for new housing, according to Bloor Homes.

Statistics released by the NHBC (National House Building Council) show that the leading warranty provider registered 42,470 new homes in the UK in the first three months of 2017 – the highest quarter for 10 years. The figure represents an increase of 17 per cent on the 36,351 registrations made in the first quarter of 2016. Total registrations for 2016/17 were four per cent up on 2015/16, while completions were five per cent higher than the previous financial year. The news comes as the average price of property coming to the market hit a record high of £313,655 in April, according to Rightmove. The property website’s House Price Index also revealed that the month saw the highest number of sales at this time of year since 2007. Paul Degg, Regional Managing Director of Bloor Homes Midlands, said: “The data released by the NHBC and Rightmove indicate a buoyant housing market, and mirrors the picture we have seen so far this year. “Sales and visitor levels have been consistently strong across our developments in the Midlands during the early months of 2017, and we are planning to launch several more new sites before the end of the year. “Demand for housing remains extremely high, and we are committed to increasing the number of new homes we build across the region to meet that demand. However, like many developers, our ability to deliver the number of houses is still being compromised by the inefficiencies of the planning system. “The rise in NHBC registrations in quarter one of this year is an encouraging sign that things are moving in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure red tape does not cause unnecessary delays to much-needed developments. “The fact that the average price of property coming to the market reached a record high in April suggests that demand is still far outstripping supply, and it is therefore vital that the planning process enables housing developments on locally-allocated sites to be delivered as quickly as possible.”

Leicester M&E firm involved

£35 million project for Winvic in Coventry IN COVENTRY a major processing and distribution warehouse worth over £35 million has been granted permission with work started early 2017 and planned for completion in October. The Winvic Construction site based in Lyons Park which covers 4.7 hectares follows on from the previous successful scheme with online retailer Amazon at Bardon, Leicestershire. Helping to deliver the project is Leicester based company WM Building Services who are responsible for the design and installation of the mechanical services and have chosen Smith Brothers Stores as their preferred supplier for the project providing materials such as; steel tube, weld fittings, Crane valves, Pegler Yorkshire Xpress, Polypipe Terrain soil and waste, Lochinvar water heaters and Lawton copper tubes. Having serviced the HVAC market for over 100 years they are able to deliver to the ‘Considerate Construction Scheme’ within the rules set within the accreditation. With local depots at Leicester, Birmingham and Northampton they are able to service the site effortlessly drawing from substantial stock levels. WM Building Services are members of BESA, building a reputation of quality along with being associated with NICEIC, MCS along with GasSafe, Watersafe and RECC accreditations. At Lyons Park it is also planned that there will be high-tech industrial and office pre-let opportunities along with the car manufacturer (Jaguar Landrover) factory and distribution warehouse. From the site it will generate 000’s of local jobs, with 1,600 jobs alone at the distribution centre. Lee Sutton, director of WM Building Services said; “We are extremely privileged to be associated with Winvic Construction on the next phase of the Lyon’s Park Coventry Development and in particular this processing and distribution warehouse building which followed on from a similar development for Amazon at Bardon, Leicestershire. Smith Brothers Stores are a key supply chain partner to our business and remain dedicated to meeting our requirements which is critical on such a large and fast track project as this one is for our company” Tony Smith, sales director of Smith Brothers stated; “Being associated with such a large project with specific requirements is where we thrive as business drawing on our stock depth, wide fleet of vehicles and committed staff.”

What do you call a magic dog? A Labracadabrador.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Visitors from Denmark view Leicester’s regeneration schemes A DANISH delegation visited the city in May to find out more about Leicester’s regeneration plans. Around a dozen local councillors and officials from Vejle – a town 150 miles from Copenhagen – arrived on a two-day ‘study tour’ of the city, to learn more about the Connecting Leicester and Waterside projects. The delegation will be visiting London, Leicester and Manchester while in the UK. While in Leicester, they took to bikes for a guided tour of the city’s riverside, where they viewed several stages of regeneration as part of the Waterside project. They also toured the city centre, taking in areas that have been transformed by the Connecting Leicester project, such as Cathedral Gardens, the new Haymarket bus station and Jubilee Square. Andrew Smith, director of planning, transportation and economic development at the city council, said: “We have lots of very successful urban regeneration work to showcase in Leicester – both completed and ongoing. The riverside area is a perfect case study. As well as investing in improved cycle paths and green spaces – such as at the Space Centre and Ellis Meadows – we are continuing to regenerate this area to bring jobs and investment to the city. The Dock and Friars Mill business spaces are great examples of this. “In the city centre, our Connecting Leicester programme has improved cycle and pedestrian walkways so that the city’s heritage and attractions are now more easily linked with retail and business areas. “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and pleased that the Danes – who have such a good reputation for urban design – are interested in seeing what we’ve done. It will also be a great chance to share new ideas and best practice so that our ongoing and future projects can benefit from their expertise.” Current projects under way as part of Connecting Leicester include resurfacing of streets in the Old Town area of the city, plus the second phase of a £9.2million redevelopment plan for Leicester Market, with a new public square in place of the old indoor market. The £25million Waterside project will see around 300 new homes, new offices, shops, green space and canal-side paths created. Already, the historic Friars Mill has been restored and converted into high-quality business spaces. The Danish delegation included Vejle’s deputy mayor, Søren Peschardt, plus its city architect Lisbet Wolters. Mr Peschardt said: “Leicester has undergone a very clever transformation in terms of regeneration and interconnection of the city by means of green corridors, parks and recreational spaces. The city of Vejle is in the middle of the same process, so we wanted to visit and get inspired. “We’d like to thank Leicester City Council for the comprehensive programme they provided for us during our stay, and the warm welcome they offered.” For more details on Connecting Leicester and the Waterside regeneration, visit www.leicester.gov.uk/citymayor

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Former Methodist Long-serving Smith Church for sale in Brothers Stores staff honoured at Thrapston BERRYS Nottingham night out are offering

Hinckley & Bosworth Mr Peter Wileman (c/o Agent: Paul Adler, AP Building Design, 38 Rowland Avenue, Polesworth, Tamworth B78 1BX) – Construction of 3 detached dwellings – at land north of Dormer House, Twycross Road, Sheepy Magna, Atherstone, Warks. CV9 3RT. Tony Morris Ltd (c/o Agent: Hayward Architects Ltd, 19 Station Road, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 1AW) – Approved of reserved matters of outline planning permission 16/00199/OUT for a residential development – at land north of Palma Nova, High Tor East, Earl Shilton, Leics. Mr Robert Beeston (c/o Agent: Andrew Sargent, Fulcrum Building Design Ltd, 9 heneage Street, Spitalfields, London E1 5LJ) – Conversion of existing barn and stables to form 2 residential dwellings – at 102 Main Street, Nailstone, Nuneaton, Warks. CV13 0QB.

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The property - Methodist Church, Market Road, Thrapston, Northants. NN14 4JU – has a construction date of 1885 according to its date stone. The internal accommodation extends to approximately 3,079 sq.feet and is organised generally across two storeys. The main church section of the property features a high vaulted ceiling which offers scope for a further floor. The property currently falls under D1 Places of Worship Use. If planning consent is obtained for uses other than church, the vendors will be looking for an overage provision with regards to the uplift in value of the property as a result of the change of planning use. Offers over £125,000 are invited. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Berrys on 01536 517777 or email: ketteringcommercial@berrys.uk.com

AT A VENUE in Nottingham on Saturday 13th May, all 12 branches and the head office of Smith Brothers Stores Ltd gathered to honour achievements of their staff. Over 300 members attended and 30 members received the prestigious award of putting in 10 or 25 years of hard work and energy into the company. They received a certificate, letter and a gift along with a night they will never forget. Entertainment such as a silent disco and a live band topped off the event and made it an enjoyable night for all staff who attended.

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I was going to give him a nasty look, but he already had one.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Build A Career With Redrow In Telford Or Leicester APPRENTICESHIPS in Telford and Leicester are among 100 trainee roles available with award-winning housebuilder Redrow. There are still five apprentice vacancies available with the company’s Tamworth-based Midlands business, including opportunities to acquire skills in brickwork, carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades on sites in Telford and Leicester. New entrant programme manager Clare Horton said: “Redrow has a strong record for training and development and in the last year we’ve trained more than 430 apprentices, both on site and in office roles. Last year the Midlands division received Hayden Willan has risen through the Redrow ranks from an more than 200 applications from apprentice joiner to his current role as assistant site manager. would-be apprentices and we’re anticipating a similar number this “I joined Redrow in 2010 and future I’ll be running my own site.” year. We’re looking for enthusiastic divided my time between working Redrow is one of the National people who want to earn a wage on site and attending Leicestershire Apprenticeship Service’s (NAS) top while they learn new skills and start College, achieving an NVQ in 100 Apprenticeship Employers. building a successful career.” carpentry and joinery,” Hayden And, as a member of The 5% Club, Almost 5,000 days of training recalls. the housebuilder is committed to are undertaken across Redrow’s “It’s something I’d definitely ensuring 5% of its workforce are business each year and 15% of all recommend as Redrow’s apprentices, trainees or graduates employees are trainees. apprenticeship programme gave in the next five years – a figure it’s Hayden Willan, 23, from me a solid start to my career, already exceeding three-fold. Leicester, has risen through the enabling me to earn while I To find out more about Redrow ranks from an apprentice learned. I’ve been able to build apprenticeship roles with Redrow joiner to his current role as assistant on that with further training and in Leicester or Telford see www. site manager at Cawston Meadows, hopefully in the not too distant redrowcareers/apprentices. Rugby.

Leicestershire County Council (c/o: Chief Executives Room 200, County Hall, Glenfield, leicester LE3 8RA) – Change of use to sewage pumping station, erection of 2 kiosks, and associated works – at land adjacent to Stantonunder-Bardon Primary School, Main Street, Stanton-underBardon, Leics.

Melton Borough Mr & Mrs Halford (c/o Agent: Colin Wilkinson, Planit-X, 21 New Road, Burton Lazars, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 2UU) – Erection of 2 detached dwellings – at Owl End, 24 Mill Lane, Frisby on the Wreake, Leics. LE14 2NN. Mr Mike Timson (c/o Agent: Peter Prescott, PP Building Design Ltd, The Old Court House, Church Street, Bingham, Notts. NG13 8AL) – Conversion of former public house/restaurant /living accommodation into 2 dwellings – at The John Dory, 2 Rutland Square, Barkestone Le Vale, Nottingham NG13 0HN.

I love what you’ve done with your hair. How do you get it to come out of the nostrils like that?

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Stepnell Awarded Multimillion Pound Leicester Student Accommodation Project Artist’s impression of the new student accommodation development in West Walk, Leicester. Image courtesy of MAS Architecture.

Mr & Mrs Ben Wood (c/o Agent: Nick Bacon Architecture, Darker Nook Farm, Colston Lane, Harby, Leics. LE14 4BE) – Erection of 3 two-storey dwellings – at 39 Edmondthorpe Road, Wymondham, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 2AD. Mr I Jogi (c/o Agent: Malcolm Bunn, Hana & Co Ltd, Broadview, Manor Road, Easthorpe, Notts. NG13 0DU) – Proposed conversion of existing basement area into 2 flats – at 38 Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE13 1SG. Mr & Mrs Lloyd (c/o: 4 The Old Glebe, Quorn, Leics. LE12 8LB) – Conversion of barn into 2 dwellings (Amended scheme with extensions) – at Ashby Pastures, Pasture Lane, Ashby Folville, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 2TT. Mr Chris Damri (c/o Agent: Mark Strawther, Gleeds Building Surveying Ltd, Wilford House, 1 Clifton Lane, Wilford, Nottingham NG11 7AT) – Construction of new public toilet facility – at Car Park, Wilton Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics. Mr Steve Jepson (c/o: Londoun House, 3 Main Street, Eastwell, Leics. LE14 4EH) – Outline application for the erection of one two-storey dwelling and 5 single storey dwellings – at OS Field 0007, Braunston Road, Eaton, Leics. Marshall Motor Group (c/o Agent: Laurence Murray, SRA Architects, Queen Square House, Charlotte Street, Bath, BA1 2LL) - Extension and refurbishment of existing car showroom and workshop building plus reconfiguration of site access and parking layout – at Marshalls Landrover, Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE13 0DA.

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ZONE has chosen construction specialist Stepnell for a multimillion pound contract to create high-quality new student accommodation at a prominent site in Leicester city centre. The multimillion pound project will transform former commercial buildings on the corner of West Walk and Princess Road East to provide 85 self-contained studio bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms. Designed by MAS Architecture, the development will also offer communal facilities including a gym, cinema room, common room, study pods and onsite laundry facilities. Construction work recently began on the scheme which will see the refurbishment of two existing Victorian buildings on the site to provide contemporary, fully-

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equipped student accommodation within easy reach of the University of Leicester, De Montfort University, local shops and transport. An unsympathetic 20th century building on the site will also be demolished and replaced with an attractive modern building designed to complement its 19th century surroundings. The development, set to be completed in spring 2018, will use modular bathrooms pods – manufactured in advanced factory conditions – which are delivered on site fully fitted, ready to be installed. As part of its commitment to delivering benefits for local communities, Stepnell plans to create opportunities for Leicesterbased construction students to visit the project and gain valuable industry experience by taking part in work placements. Zone director Neil Thakkar says: “Stepnell is an established and well-regarded construction firm

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and we are delighted to be working with the company once again to create this impressive new student accommodation in the heart of Leicester.” Stepnell operations and commercial manager Thomas Sewell says: “We are extremely pleased to be continuing our partnership with Zone through the award of this latest contract. The company has a strong record in the sector, with a history of delivering highly successful accommodation designed to meet the needs of today’s students. It is great to be bringing that technical expertise to this latest scheme for Zone.” Stepnell is currently working nearby on a major student accommodation scheme for Zone in Princess Road East, creating a four-storey development which will house 110 self-contained studio bedrooms and which is set for completion in September 2017.

♦ Land Purchase ♦ Joint Venture Agreements ♦ Planning Agreements ♦ Contract Disputes ♦ Access / Drainage Rights ♦ Options ♦ Plot Sales ♦ Leases For further information and advice, contact either Andrew Eagle at our Leicester Office or Russell Dowling at our Blaby office

Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there 20 minutes late.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Development properties for sale at the SDL Leicester Auction THE FOLLOWING properties are being offered for sale BY AUCTION at the SDL Auction on 23rd June 2017 at Leicester City Football Club, Keith Weller Suite, King Power Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester LE2 7FL (11.30am start):

Mr Chris Damri (c/o Agent: Mark Strawther, Gleeds Building Surveying Ltd, Wilford House, 1 Clifton Lane, Wilford, Nottingham NG11 7AT) – Construction of new public toilet facility – at Public Conveniences, St Mary’s Way, Melton Mowbray, Leics.

• Farm house for modernisation at 7 King Street, Sileby, Leics. LE12 7LZ. Comprising a substantial former Georgian farmhouse with paddock and two derelict brick barns, extending in total to 0.76 acres. The house requires full modernisation, and the paddock and barns offer scope for residential development, subject to planning. Guide Price: £350,000+. • Development site at Bannerbrook Local Centre, Banner Lane, Coventry CV4 9AE. A substantial development site with planning permission for a three-storey building comprising 11 apartments and a ground floor D1 use retail unit. There will also be 22 car parking spaces and a service yard.Guide Price: £350,000+. • Building Plot at 19 Highway Road, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8FR. Land with planning permission (ref: P/09/1258/2) for a three-and-a-half storey four-bed detached house. The plot measures 41m long by 8m wide (approx. 330 sq.metres in area). Guide Price: £100,000-£120,000. For more information about any of these properties , contact SDL Auctions on 0116 254 9654 or visit the website at www.sdlauctions.co.uk.

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Harborough District Mr Gavin Broughton-Hall (c/o: Broughton-Hall Fencing Ltd, Mill Lane, Gilmorton, Leics. LE17 5PB) – Outline application for the erection of up to 8 dwellings – at land adjacent to BroughtonHall Fencing Ltd, Mill Lane, Gilmorton, Leics. LE17 5PB.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

First carpentry apprentice master joins housebuilder’s Midlands region HOUSEBUILDER Bloor Homes has taken on a team of carpentry apprentice masters to prepare its new recruits for a career in the construction industry. The Measham-based developer now has dedicated carpentry apprentice masters in each of its seven regions across the country, imparting their knowledge and experience to young apprentices on site. It follows the successful introduction of bricklaying apprentice masters to the company’s growing apprenticeship programme, which now has 86 apprentices on its books. Martin Stain, 45, a former carpentry teacher at Walsall College, is the first carpentry apprentice master for Bloor’s Midlands region. He is currently based at Bloor’s Bramcote Manor development in Bramcote near Nuneaton, where he is overseeing the progress of first year carpentry apprentice Dan Stokes. Martin said: “My role is completely dedicated to teaching the apprentices, which means they get my undivided attention when I am on site, enabling me to continually monitor their progress and offer support and advice whenever they need it. “Getting young people on site and physically crafting products is the best way to get them ready for professional work and it’s a great

Rutland County Mrs S Tinkler (c/o Agent: Ross Thain Architects, 20 Belton Street, Stamford PE9 2EF) – Change of use from agricultural to residential use; demolition of existing modern metal sheds; conversion of existing farm buildings to 14 dwellings – at Ashwell Farmyard, Teigh Road, Ashwell, Rutland.

NW Leics.

Carpentry Apprentice Master Martin Stain and apprentice Dan Stokes feeling to be teaching them the trade. “Apprenticeship schemes like this are so important to the future of housebuilding, and I’m proud to be doing my part as Bloor Homes’ carpentry apprentice master for the Midlands region. Dan, 17, of Leicester, who is studying carpentry at Stephenson College in Coalville as part of his apprenticeship, is the first carpentry apprentice at Bloor to benefit from Martin’s expertise and guidance. He said: “It’s been a great experience working this closely with professional carpenters and to have everyone on site guiding you helps build your confidence. “It was while I was doing my brick laying course that I really discovered a love for building

things, so I decided I wanted to pursue a career in carpentry.” Jon King, Construction Director for Bloor Homes Midlands, said: “Having a member of staff on site whose role is entirely dedicated to training our apprentices is hugely beneficial for their progress and underlines our commitment to producing the skilled housebuilders of the future. “After recruiting our bricklaying apprentice masters in 2014, our apprenticeship programme has gone from strength to strength, and we are delighted to be rolling out this position for our growing number of carpentry apprentices too.” For more information about apprenticeships with Bloor Homes, visit www.bloorhomes.com/careers

Prime waterside development site in Nottingham SAVILLS & FHP are offering for sale a development site fronting the River Trent located less than a mile to the east of Nottingham City Centre. The 1.5 acre site - Park Yacht Club, Trent Lane, Nottingham, NG2 4DS - has a long frontage directly on the river with views across The Hook Nature Reserve to Lady Bay on the opposite bank. It is bordered by the aspirational River Crescent Scheme to the east. On the western side is Trent Basin, currently being developed as housing by Blueprint Regeneration, with many units now complete and occupied. Planning Consent (ref: 15/01202/P0L3CPP-04143503) has been granted for the redevelopment of the site to provide 70,228 sq.feet of net saleable area in three apartment blocks, with the benefit of 94 ground floor car parking spaces. The scheme will provide a total of 81 private apartments. Expressions of interest are invited by 5pm on Friday 2nd June 2017. Post receipt of Expressions of interest, offers will be invited by the Informal Tender Deadline closing at 5pm Friday 23rd June 2017. Unconditional offers in the region of £3.5 million are being sought. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Ben Glover at Savills on 07503 223385 (email: bglover@ savills.com) or David Hargreaves at FHP on 07876 396003 (email: davidh@fhp.co.uk).

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Aggregate Industries UK Ltd (c/o: Bardon Hill, Coalville, Leics. LE67 1TL) – Erection of modular office building on former garage site – at Aggregate Industries UK Ltd, Bardon Road, Coalville, Leics. LE67 1TL. Moto Hospitality (c/o Agent: Stewart Prior, JWA Architects Ltd, Robert Tresham House, Naseby Road, Clipston, Leics. LE16 9RZ) – Erection of drive-through restaurant and takeaway – at Moto Donington Park Service Station, Junction 23A, Ashby Road, Castle Donington, DE74 2TN. Hannan (c/o Agent: Mrs Alison Oakes, Geoff Perry Associates Ltd, The Shrubbery, 28 Eerdington Road, Aldridge WS9 8UH) – Erection of 40 dwellings (amended scheme) – at 138 Bardon Road, Coalville, Leics. LE67 4BJ.

Oadby & Wigston Mr & Mrs Morjaria (c/o Agent: Muthar Al-Salloum, MAS Architecture Ltd, Studio G005, Atkins Building, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 1QU) – Outline application for demolition of detached house and redevelopment of the site comprising 3 detached houses and 10 two-bed apartments – at Merano, 52 Stoughton Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4FL. Mr Raj Aggarwal (c/o Agent: Paul Thurlby, 1 Newtown Street, Beresford House, Leicester LE1 6WH) – Change of use from A4 to C3; redevelopment of public house and proposed 29 flats with car parking – at Nautical William Public House, Aylestone Lane, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1BA. Mr Roger Swift (c/o Agent: Malcolm Goodall, The Drawing Room (Architects) Ltd, 130 Moat Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2GE) – Proposed residential development: demolition of existing house and erection of 2 detached houses – at 107 Harborough Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4LG.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

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You haven’t experienced awkward until you try to tickle someone who isn’t ticklish.

30/09/2014 11:59

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

SDL Auctions Graham Penny raises £2 million at Leicester auction Mr Saghir Osman (c/o Agent: R Kahn, Master Plan Design Solutions, 23 Vulcan House, Vulcan Road, leicester LE5 3EF) – Erection of a double storey side extension, a single storey rear extension and change of use from a dwelling to 3 flats – at 253 Aylestone Lane, Wigston, Leics. LE18 1BE. Luna & Odedra (c/o Agent: Anthony Jones, 28 St Annes Drive, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8HT) – Extension to existing warehouse/ factory – at 21-23 Mandervell Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5LQ.

Blaby District Mr Richard Caple (c/o Agent: Richard Merrett Architect, 6 Chapel Gardens, Stretton on Fosse, Moreton in Marsh GL56 9SL) – Single storey extension to scouth club hall – at Whetstone Scout Group Scout Hut, High Street, Whetstone, Leicester LE8 6LQ.

THE £2 MILLION result of a Leicester auction has demonstrated vividly that one of the UK’s largest property auction networks now has a Midlands-wide appeal. The SDL Auctions Graham Penny event in April saw 19 lots sold with keen interest from several potential buyers now being received on the remaining properties. The star of the show was a two/three-bedroom semi-detached property offering scope for modernisation and improvement which achieved more than double its guide price and generated an astonishing 200 viewings before the auction. The property at 479 Watling Street, Mile Oak, Tamworth, sold for £126,000, a remarkable 117 per cent of its guide price* of £58,000. Senior valuer Carl Finch said: “It clearly caught the imagination and its good location – close to Tamworth town centre yet only minutes away from the M42 – was one of the reasons it went so well in the auction room.” Leicestershire lots that also achieved strong results included The Old Pumping Station, Broome Lane, East Goscote, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, which sold for more than 50 per cent above its guide price – selling for £43,000 from a guide price of £28,000. And 316 Loughborough Road, Belgrave, Leicester fared just as well, selling for £133,000 from a guide price of £88,000. Strong prices were recorded for 18 Bridgeland Road, Grand Union Garden, Loughborough, Leicestershire, which sold for £114,000 (its guide price was £95,000). And 16 Chapel Street, Ibstock, Leicestershire, sold for £90,500 (guide price: £65,000). A mixed use plot at 22 and 22A Humberstone Road, Leicester offering tenanted ground and basement retail space and first and second floor residential property also proved very popular, achieved £224,000 (guide price: £165,000). Carl Finch said: “We had a very busy auction room at the King Power Stadium with strong interest from bidders in the room, on the phone and on the internet. “We had plenty of lots from Leicestershire and beyond which all sold well. There was significant interest in many of the lots before the day of auction which demonstrates the growing strength of the auction market in Leicestershire and the wider Midlands.” He added: “It’s clear that despite uncertainties caused by Brexit and a snap election it is business as usual in Leicestershire.” The results of the latest auction can be found on the SDL Auctions website - www.sdlauctions.co.uk The next SDL Auctions Graham Penny Leicester auction is on Friday 23rd June and lots are invited now.

A healthy sleep not only makes your life longer, but also shortens the workday.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

£21m Aslockton development gets the green light

Site for 4 houses in Oakthorpe: £475k Everards Brewery Ltd (c/o Agent: Brian Mullin, Marrons Planning, 1 Meridian South, Meridian Business Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1WY) – Phase 1 Reserved Matters application relating to application 15/0888/ VAR which granted consent for construction of brewery, visitor centre and ancillary uses, brewery tap, restaurants and cycle hire facility, footbridge over the River Soar and food & drink preparation units – at Field No 4882, Narborough Road South, Enderby, Leicester.

AVANT HOMES has been given the green light for a new £21m development in Nottinghamshire. The 11-acre site, located in the village of Aslockton – 12 miles from Nottingham city centre – will include 74 new homes. Full planning permission has been granted for development with groundworks expected to commence in the next month. The first homes will be ready for occupation in September 2017 with the overall build programme due for final completion in 2019. Avant Homes will also contribute approximately £300,000 towards the improvement of local amenities, education provision, sports facilities and transport infrastructure.

JOHN GERMAN are offering for sale a development site with Outline Planning Consent (ref: 16/00810/OUT) for 4 detached houses. The 0.6 acre site – at School Street, Oakthorpe, Swadlincote DE12 7RE – offers a wonderful opportunity to create a superb gated community with views over the National Forest to the rear. The asking price is £475,000. For more information, contact John German on 01530 412824 or email: ashbysales@johngerman.co.uk

Messrs. Coulthurst, Etchingham & Ladhani (c/o Agent: Landmark Planning, 10 Salisbury Road, Leicester LE1 7QR) – Erection of 5 detached dwellings and garages – at land at 41,43 & 39 and rear of 37 Kirby Lane, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester LE9 2JG.

Tel: 0116 2853 777 Leema Technologies Limited. The Warehouse, 1a Stamford Street, Leicester LE1 6NL I was addicted to the hokey cokey... but thankfully, I turned myself around.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Goodman Logistics Leicester (GP) LLP (c/o Agent: Pegasus Planning Group, 4 The Courtyard, Church Street, Lockington, Derbyshire DE74 2SL) – Erection of two buildings for B2/B8 employment use with ancillary integral office accommodation – at Lubbesthorpe Strategic Employment Site, Land to the north of Leicester Lane, Enderby, Leicester. Mr Gary Warren (c/o Agent: Miss Subrina Fernandes, TMDP LLP, Unit 3 Bridge Farm, Holt Lane, Ashby Magna, Lutterworth, Leics. LE17 5NJ) – Extension & conversion of existing dwelling to provide 4 self-contained flats with off-street parking (Revised scheme) – at 2 Vicarage Close, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester LE9 2AS.

Charnwood Borough Paul Botts Homes Ltd (c/o Agent: HSSP Architects Ltd) – Site for the erection of 2 dwellings and garaging following demolition of No.109 Cotes Road – at 109 Cotes Road, Barrow upon Soar, Leics.

Constructionlines doubles its turnover in three years

DERBYSHIRE BASED Constructionlines Independent Builders Merchants, which began trading in 2006, has successfully maintained a growth momentum since its launch. In 2014 the Company relocated to new and bigger premises in Loscoe, Heanor to meet increasing customer demands and to offer a larger stock capacity in their new 6-acre stock yard. Over the last 3 years the Company has doubled in size and capacity in terms of turnover, staff and new accounts. This year so far, the Company have invested in a further 3 new hiab crane trucks to meet increased customer demand and to offer an exceptional level of customer service by offering 24 hour deliveries from stock. This investment has been secured with local East Midlands based truck suppliers RH Commercial Vehicles Ltd and body builders Plant Equipment Ltd. Phil Shaw Director of Constructionlines Independent Builders Merchants says: “A lot of our success is down to supplying our customers with orders on time and having a modern fleet of delivery trucks than can cater to all customer requirements. Our commitment to our customers is second to none, we have worked hard to gain a reliable and professional reputation in the construction industry and we can deliver throughout the East Midlands and along the M1 corridor, Leeds to Hertfordshire”. Constructionlines supply Heavyside, Civil Engineering, Landscaping and all General Building Materials to Trade and Public and is open Monday – Friday 7am – 5.30pm. They have further plans to invest in the future to continually meet customer expectations and introduce new product lines to keep up in this fastmoving industry.

Period office buildings with redevelopment potential

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INNES ENGLAND are offering for sale a pair of semidetached converted Georgian dwellings currently used as offices. The properties – 13 & 15 Clarendon Street, Nottingham NG1 5HR – are of rendered brickwork under pitched tiled roofs with single-glazed sah windows throughout. The accommodation is arranged over basement, ground and two upper floors and totals 4,155 sq.feet net internal area. Externally the premises benefit from gated car parking to the rear with 11 marked spaces and a further 7 spaces at the front. The agents understand that the premises have permitted use as Offices, but they may be suitable for alternative uses, subject to obtaining any requisite consents. (A planning application for conversion to 7 apartments was submitted in December 2004 and granted subject to conditions, but this has now expired.) The properties are available freehold either together or separately – price(s) upon application. For more information, contact Ross Whiting at Innes England on 0115 924 3243 or email: rwhiting@innes-england.com

My life is an open book. But it’s very poorly written and I die in the end.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ Tel: 01530 244069

Yesterday, I fell down from a 10 metre ladder. Thank God I was on the third step.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Peace Pyramid Project Takes Shape David Wilson Homes East Midlands & Thurcaston Park Trust (c/o Agent: Bidwells LLP) – Request for screening opinion for proposed residential development for up to 150 dwellings – at land off Barkby Thorpe Lane, Thurmaston, Leicester. Tracey Kay (c/o Agent: LNT Construction) – Variation of certain conditions of P/16/0836/2 (Erection of 66-bed residential care home) relating to removal of balconies and amendments to the car parking layout and landscaping – at Linkfield Farm, 1093 Loughborough Road, Rothley, Leicester LE7 7NL. Barwood Homes Ltd (c/o Agent: BHB Architects) – Erection of 46 dwellings – at 129 Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7BR. Castlenau Properties Ltd – Extension and conversion of office building to form 4 apartments and erection of two-storey building for 2 apartments (Revised scheme) – at Charnwood House, 251 Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, Leics. LE12 7AS.

Rugby Borough Council BFP Caterers Ltd (c/o Agent: Chapman Design Ltd, Lelleford House, Coventry Road, Long Lawford, CV23 9DT) – Proposed change of use of existing office building to 5 one-bed flats – at 17 Warwick Street, Rugby, Warks. CV21 3DH. Drs Kate & Hayley Atkins & Williams (c/o Agent: Highbury Design, 11 Holt Road, Studley B80 7NX) – Erection of single storey front relocated reception and waiting area, with 2 new consulting rooms to rear of health centre – at Wolston Surgery, School Street, Wolston CV8 3HG. Mrs Natalie Gotobed (c/o: Wainwright Road, Warndon, Worcester WR4 9FN) – Erection of 40 dwelling houses (Reserved matters) – at land east of Newton Lane, Newton, Warks. CV23 0EA. Mr H Neal (c/o Agent: Robert O’Callaghan Architects, Ivy House, Church Street, Churchover, Rugby CV23 0EW) – Demolition of existing car repair centre and associated buildings to be replaced with new buildings containing 15 one-bed and studio apartments – at Rugby MG Centre, 122 Oxford Street, Rugby CV23 0EW.

IT’S ALMOST six years since Leeds-based engineer Mark Steele took a call from Steve Ward, the pioneering force behind a bid to construct a giant pyramid dedicated to peace and the environment. The rest, as they say, is history in a very real sense. Mark, an engineering specialist at the global construction consultancy Arup, commented: “In late 2011, Steve was seeking guidance on how to construct the pyramid and he was put in touch with me. Since then I have been supporting Steve on a pro bono basis, providing design & construction related technical advice to help realise his vision.” The Earth Pyramid Project started 8 years ago when Steve’s young daughter asked him ‘what about our future’ after watching the Copenhagen climate talks break down. “As a result,” explained Steve “We decided to come up with a project that would allow people to record their emotions about our planet and its direction of travel within thousands of time capsules incorporated within a giant pyramid, the biggest built since the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs and the largest time capsule in the world!” Steve has already pulled together a core team of people, including Mark, with the key skills to advise on the different aspects of the project and is currently working hard to secure land and seed funding for a Yorkshire-based pyramid, which will give him the opportunity to make a start on a more manageable scale and will no doubt provide valuable experience for the full scale Pyramid. “The aims of the Earth Pyramid to raise awareness and funding for environmental initiatives and get them on the global educational curriculum struck a chord with us. There is also the not inconsiderable carrot of designing and building a real pyramid!” added Mark. Mark is advising Steve on all matters related to the design and construction of the Pyramid and the infrastructure and facilities required to support it. Mark continued “Because it is unique in so many respects, there are many challenges which will test modern construction. For example the materials will need to have as low an environmental impact as possible and remain stable for over 1000 years. The form of construction is essentially a huge 3D jigsaw puzzle, which will test our modeling skills and we want to test theories on the construction of the great Pyramids in Egypt, which will require labour intensive methods. These could give rise to very unusual construction management and health and safety issues!” Steve summed up the project: “There will be four chambers within the pyramid dedicated to children, digital preservation, government and indigenous peoples and founders with each containing records and testimonials from millions of people around the globe. “The foundation stones of the pyramid itself will be constructed from various rocks from across the globe. “It’s a legacy for future generations about our time on this planet and people in the future can see what we thought about our world,” added Steve who hails originally from New Zealand and runs a fencing contracting business in Leeds. The final word belongs to Mark who is undoubtedly enthused by the task at hand: “After 4,500 years we’ll attempt to improve our understanding of how the Egyptian Pyramids were built…by building a new one! I’ve been involved with projects which are much bigger in scale but none which even approaches the uniqueness of this pyramid!”

UK Residential Development Land

Rising demand for land in regional cities •

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Regional cities are seeing increasing land values as demand for sites grows. Land within Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow is in high demand with urban land values growing by 15% or more over the last year. Build to Rent, regeneration and infrastructure improvements are at the heart of the growth. Competition for land is increasing in the Midlands as South East based housebuilders expand into these strengthening markets. UK Residential Development Land Download the full PDF report >> Within London, demand for land is strongest where new build values are less than £1,000 per square foot. New housing supply above £700 per square foot is forecast to meet demand over the next five years but those with values lower than £500 per square foot will continue to be the http://pdf.euro.savills.co.uk/uk/ most undersupplied. market-in-minute-reports/mimLand in central London is in lower demand as fewer prime residential uk-residential-development-landsites are starting and occupier demand for office space remains may-17.pdf uncertain.

eBay is so useless. I tried to look up lighters and all they had was 13,749 matches.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Interesting lots at the next Savills auction

Two new appointments at Keyline

THE following lots are due to be sold at the next Savills property auction which takes place on 8th June 2017 at The Centenary Suite - Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Colwick Road, Nottingham, NG2 4BE – 2.30pm start:

KEYLINE has announced Paul Beaman as its new Managing Director following the departure of Kieran Griffin who has taken up the role of Managing Director at BSS.

• LOT 18: Former Stepping Stones Hostel, 41-43 Church Street, Eastwood, Nottingham NG16 3HP - A substantial period detached property built in 1907, initially housing Eastwood District Council and in latter years used as a young persons’ hostel. Guide Price: £100,000£150,000. • LOT 29: The Former Wellbeing Centre, 702 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 3FW - A substantial period detached property previously used as office accommodation, now offered for sale with the ability to create a four bedroom detached family home (subject to receiving the necessary planning permission). Guide Price: £225,000£250,000. • LOT 32: Land adjoining 63 Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6JH - A fine opportunity to acquire a single building plot offered for sale with the benefit of full planning permission for the creation of a two bedroom detached bungalow. Guide Price: £50,000+. • LOT 36: Units 1-7, Brunts Business Centre, Samuel Brunts Way, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 2AH – This is a Business Centre Investment. The property comprises a former secondary school having been refurbished to office use in the late 1990s to provide seven selfcontained units with kitchenette and WC facilities. The property benefits from substantial on-site car parking. Units range from 269 sq ft to 990 sq ft. Let to two individual tenants on varying terms and producing a total income of £20,400 per annum with four vacant units and, therefore, scope for increasing the rent roll. Guide Price: £225,000-£250,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Savills on 0115 934 8080 or email: nottingham@savills.com

Paul, who has worked at Keyline for two years, joined as Head of Category in July 2015 becoming Regional Director for the Midlands in April 2016 and most recently working as the company’s Commercial Director. With 30 years’ experience in the industry working across all sectors Paul is well placed to oversee the continued success and growth of the group. Paul said: “Where Keyline is heading is extremely exciting and I am looking forward to continuing to drive our success in what is an incredibly competitive and constantly evolving industry. The work we have done in the last four years ensures we have a great platform to continue to build on becoming the ‘first choice’ for civils and drainage materials with our customers.” • Andrew Matthewman has joined Keyline as National Account Manager following 7 years as a National Contract Manager for plastic drainage provider Polypipe Civils. Andrew will be responsible for overseeing and managing national contractor accounts across the UK, developing Keyline’s contractor portfolio whilst focusing on ensuring the key components of sustainability, health & safety, technology, and customer service are delivered to a high standard. Commenting on his new role, Andrew said:“The opportunities at Keyline to grow and develop are extensive so I am very excited about what lies ahead. The company has an enviable reputation for product and service delivery and I am keen to continue to drive this and maximise opportunities as much as possible.”

Do You Sell to the Building Trade in Leicestershire & Rutland? If so, the have you considered advertising in Leicestershire Builder Magazine? It’s a great way to reach your target audience. Give it a try - you’ll be so glad that you did!

Leicestershire Builder Magazine Published By: Builder Magazines PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT Tel: (01530) 244069 Fax: (01530) 249557 Email: info@buildermagazines.co.uk Web: www.buildermagazines.co.uk Over 3,500 copies distributed every month across Leicestershire & Rutland by a combination of: • By Post to SUBSCRIBERS and a rotating free mailing list (2,200 copies) • Through trade counters of local merchants (1,300 copies) SUBSCRIPTIONS: £20 PER YEAR (No VAT) TO SUBSCRIBE: CALL 01530 244069 and leave your details, or subscribe via our Website. We’ll invoice you later. Printed in Ellistown by: Norwood Press

Published on 1st of each month. Copy Deadline: 15th of each month

The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editorial/Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. Builder Magazines cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. Builder Magazines reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All property details contained within this magazine are to be regarded as being for outline guidance only. All potential interested parties are requested to check individual availability of premises for accuracy of details with the relevant selling agents before proceeding further.

For details of our Advertising Rates: visit www.buildermagazines.co.uk

It’s ok computer, I go to sleep after 20 minutes of inactivity too.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

£3M injected into Leicestershire supply chain thanks to G F Tomlinson

Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough

ALMOST £3m has been injected into the Leicestershire construction supply chain in the last 12 months, thanks to Midlands-based G F Tomlinson.

Mr Warren Jones (c/o Agent: Lateral Homes Ltd, 109 Gloucester Place, London) – Prior notification for change of use from offices to residential – at Warwick House, Wheat Street, Nuneaton, Warks. CV11 4AQ. Mr Tom Webb (c/o Agent: James McDermott, Kilmartin Plowman & partners Ltd, Lodge House, 12 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RJ) – Proposed development of 2 industrial buildings – at Site 62b011, Caldwell Road Industrial Estate, Caldwell Road, Nuneaton, Warks. Mr Fox (c/o Agent: Mark Payne, 118 Paddock Way, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 0BZ) – Erection of 2 flats in a two-storey block – at 2 Mitchell Road, Bedworth, Warks. CV12 9HP.

Rushcliffe Mr P Dunn (c/o Agent: Alan Brown, ABDS Ltd, Boscarnon Farmhouse, St Keverne, Cornwall TR12 6NU) – Change of use from residential care home to 12 self-contained flats, conversion of basement, extension to rear, external works and dormer window to create third storey – at Rose Lodge Nursing Home, 88 Musters Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7PS. Mr & Mrs Govier (c/o Agent: Lance Wiggins, Landmark Planning Ltd, 10 Salisbury Road, Leicester LE1 7QR) – Erection of 2 industrial buildings to create 3 new units – at land containing goods shed, Kegworth Station Yard, Station Road, Sutton Bonington, Notts. John A Wells Ltd & Bovis Homes (c/o Agent: Ben holmes, Oxalis Planning Ltd, Unit 7 Wheatcroft Business Park, Landmere Lane, Edwalton, Notts. NG12 4DG) – Development of the site for up to 600 dwellings, construction of primary school and creation of a community park – at OS Field 7525, Land at Sharp Hill Wood, Melton Road, Edwalton, Notts.

The family-run construction firm established a long-term partnership with the Local Supply Chain (LSC) to ensure that small businesses and construction SMEs can secure work on future projects in the region. Since launching the initiative 18 months ago, more than 1,000 opportunities for new business have been made available to the local supply chain and G F Tomlinson has secured almost 500 supply chain partners. Local trade specialists such as groundworks, steelwork, bricklaying and plumbing businesses have been engaged to work with on future projects and in the last three months alone 65 new supply chain partners have been added to its supplier list. Terry Milton, supply chain manager from G F Tomlinson said the partnership has helped to speed up the procurement process, resulting in better value for money for clients. “As one of the leading construction companies in the region, we have become much more efficient in the use of our supply chain, with savings in time alone of nearly 30%, which we have been able to pass on to our clients,” explained Terry. “Because this new way of working allows greater transparency of supply chain partners, who have undergone the appropriate due diligence, we have been able to reduce approval time by over 80%, and have generated more than 1,000 new job opportunities for our local supply chain.” The construction sector in the D2N2 area employs approximately 79,400 people and is a key driving force in the Midlands Engine. The Local Supply Chain online portal has been developed in partnership with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and collates the details of current and future construction projects for supply chain partners, allowing them to budget effectively, train apprentices and secure jobs. Assurance that they are getting the best possible price from the supply chain and are contributing to supporting local economic growth.” Working with the D2N2 LEP, which has been very supportive of this initiative, Richard Radcliffe, CEO of LSC developer Firefly Ltd said: “This is innovative use of an IT platform where using a simple system makes savings in time for both subcontractor and main contractor whilst delivering a very transparent service at extremely low cost. “Contractors like G F Tomlinson have assurance that they are getting the best possible price from the supply chain and are contributing to supporting local economic growth.”

Barn for conversion into 2 dwellings: £250k BERRYS are offering for sale an agricultural barn set within a 0.167 acre plot with Permitted Development consent for conversion into two residential dwellings. The barn – at Grange Farm, Newstead Road, Belmesthorpe, Rutland PE9 4JJ – is built from concrete blocks up to about a third of the wall height with a timber frame and cladding covering the rest of the wall height and the roof structure. The existing floor area of the barn totals 1,245 sq.feet. Each proposed dwellingwill have approximately 1,120 sq.feet of accommodation arranged over two floors. Guide Price: £250,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Berrys on 01536 532376 or email: kettering@berrys.uk.com

BS Stanford Ltd (c/o Agent: Ms Jenni Bronock, Steffian Bradley Architects, 45 Gee Street, London EC1V 3RS) – Full planning application for redevelopment of Stanford Hall and ancillary buildings into a Defence Rehabilitation Establishment and associated courtyards, gardens and open space together with outdoor recreational facilities; Outline planning application for the development of a national clinical rehabilitation facility – at Stanford Hall, Melton Road, Stanford on Soar, Notts. Mr Evans (c/o Agent: Clive Williams, Williams Architects Ltd, The Old Bakery, 2A Fleeman Grove, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5BH) – Erection of new reception and administrative building and demolition of two existing buildings on the site – at RSPCA, Radcliffe Animal Shelter, 32 Nottingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent, Notts. NG12 2DW. Mr Craig Longley (c/o Agent: Philip James Architecture, 24 Oxford Drive, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE13 0AL) – Construction of 2 detached dwellings and alterations to existing dwelling – at 20 Thomas Avenue, Radcliffe on Trent, Notts. NG12 2HT. Hallam Land Management Ltd (c/o Agent: Darren Abbott, Freeths LLP, Cumberland Court, 80 Mount Street, Nottingham NG1 6HH) – Outline application for the residential development of up to 90 dwellings and associated infrastructure – at land off Old Grantham Road, Whatton, Notts. Mr Philip Crawley (c/o Agent: Ms Caroline Chave, Chave Planning, Enterprise Centre, Bridge Street, Derby DE1 3LD) – Demolition of existing buildings, conversion & extension of barn to form on edwelling and erection of 8 dwellings – at 11 Church Street, Cropwell Bishop, Notts. NG12 3BY. Mr & Mrs Stothard (c/o Agent: Nick Bacon Architecture, Darker Nook Farm, Colston Lane, Harby, Leics. LE14 4BE) - Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 3 two-storey dwellings - at Willow Brook, Church Gate, Colston Bassett, Notts. NG12 FP

If procrastionation was an Olympic sport, I’d compete in it later.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Product award provides another big step up for Foston’s TwoTwenty FOSTON-BASED staircase specialist TwoTwenty has received its latest award for its ‘virtually flawless’ staircases for new homes. Ali Wright, director of TwoTwenty, said: “It’s estimated that two-thirds of all homes suffer from squeaky stairs, and in new homes, complaints about squeaks and springy stairs are commonplace for housebuilders and warranty providers, creating a clear cost to the new homes industry and lots of inconvenience for new home owners. “A lot of those problems are due to inferior products. So we recognised the opportunity to bring our New Zealand pine staircases to the housebuilding market both as an alternative to the lower quality pine that so many suppliers sell into the market, and also as a high quality, sustainable alternative to hardwoods. “New Zealand pine is a very low maintenance, virtually flawless material that doesn’t require any filling and sanding before installation. We know it creates far fewer snagging issues and a higher level of build quality. “It’s fantastic that our initiative has now been rewarded by winning the best internal/interior product category at the Housebuilder Product Awards. This is important and valuable recognition for us among our housebuilder clients, and another boost to the great team we have here at TwoTwenty.” Each of TwoTwenty’s stairs is bespoke for the new homes being built, designed and manufactured to perfectly fit every home individually, and is made from FSC certified timber. All TwoTwenty staircases are also fully accredited by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Stair Scheme. This means that all design processes and manufacturing operations have been independently verified. TwoTwenty is also regularly audited by the BWF Stair Scheme to ensure that its products meet the high standards required. As part of TwoTwenty’s commitment to maintaining safety and structural integrity standards in the industry, the firm has recently worked with C4Ci structural engineering consultants to independently test its staircases. TwoTwenty has also introduced the possibility for new staircase configurations which eliminate the need for certain bulky and aesthetically displeasing structural elements. This gives housebuilders greater flexibility in the design and positioning of the staircase within the building. TwoTwenty will celebrate its latest awards success at a winners’ lunch in the summer in London and has the opportunity to showcase its stairs in a product innovation showcase at The Build Show event at the NEC in October. The company’s New Zealand pine staircase also goes on to be a finalist in the Housebuilder Awards in November for the chance to be crowned Product of the Year in front of an audience of more than 500 senior housebuilders and industry figures.

Interesting properties for sale at SDL Derby Auction THE FOLLOWING properties are being offered for sale BY AUCTION at the SDL Auction on 8th June 2017 at The Pedigree Suite, Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL (11.30am start): • Development site at Gregg Avenue, Heanor, Derbyshire DE75 7QA: The site extends to 1.247 acres and has full detailed planning consent (ref: AVA/2015/0819) for 14 dwellings. There is a Section 106 contribution of £76,933.14 with no affordable housing payable to Amber Valley Borough Council GUIDE PRICE: £190,000+ . • Semi-detached bungalow requiring full modernisation at 9 Basildon Close, Alvaston, Derby DE24 0BW. The three-bed property is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac location. The Guide Price is £38,000+ • Development site to the rear of Glenwood Road, Chellaston, Derby DE73 6UB. The land forms a substantial part of the rear gardens to 30, 32 and 34 Glenwood Road, and has full planning permission (ref: DER/06/16/00811) for the erection of three detached dwellings. Guide Price: £145,000. • Building plot adjacent to 26 Queensway, Derby DE22 3BE. Accessed via a service road, the plot is a rectangular, level parcel of land with planning consent (ref: DER/09/15/01219) – for a two-storey four-bed detached dwelling. The plot backs onto school playing fields. Guide Price: £65,000+. For more information about any of these properties, contact SDL Auctions on 01332 242880 or visit the website at www.sdlauctions.co.uk

I hate people who use big words just to make themselves look perspicacious.

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L E G K V Q A U F R K N L W E I M N Q R Z H B V W K V T O H I P Q N N O T T I N G H A M H T X N S S Z Y Y P C A P T M D H U H Q D O J J N I E I H I O O Q O R G L S M Q W J J H L R E O N M F W I Q O D O M E L Z U R W S R T R E R N R O F O I T W B D E A T N E Q B K E W M O J J S O S Y V E E R F G W A N U R G I O Q T F W E O R X R L I S E V I G R A N M W V B U K N A G D L D D A E H A M I L T O N X Z C H G T Q R B R K S R I H T G H A T T B R G I K Y P A O L V L B R Z G A E H J E M S D R V V O N P E W S B X Y T X W S T B Y C X R Y U X R D W A Y R U B S I L A S N H V J F G U Z Here are the 17 Racecourses you have to find: BATH BATH • BEVERLEY • BRIGHTON • CHESTER • EPSOM DOWNS BEVERLEY BRIGHTON GOODWOOD • GREAT YARMOUTH • HAMILTON • NEWMARKET CHESTER NOTTINGHAM • PONTEFRACT • REDCAR • RIPON • SALISBURY EPSOMDOWNS GOODWOOD THIRSK • WINDSOR • YORK GREATYARMOUTH HAMILTON NEWMARKET Name: .............................................................................................................. NOTTINGHAM PONTEFRACT REDCAR Address: ............................................................................................................. RIPON SALISBURY THIRSK .............................................................................Postcode: ............................. WINDSOR YORK

DERBY CATHEDRAL has unveiled plans for a £2.5 million regeneration project, which will help establish the venue as an entertainment and heritage centre.

Send your marked entry forms to: TATTENHAM CORNER, Leicestershire

The site is located on Outram Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, near the junction of Northfields Close. Planning permission was granted in April 2009 (Ashfield District Council Planning Reference: 2008/0663) with an extension of time granted in April 2013 (Planning Reference: V/2012/0043) for the erection of 14 No.1 bed apartments, 14 No. 2 bed apartments and 2 commercial units. The footprint of the building, as approved, works with the shape of the site getting gradually narrower to the back of the site covering 700 sq metres overall. All the main entrances into the building are via Outram Street, with access to the car park being provided via a ramp. There are a total of 29 parking spaces, and 28 bike spaces. The building itself is 5 storeys high, with an additional floor for parking in the basement. Accompanied viewing essential, please contact the agents’ office on 01623 594602. The site is available freehold with vacant possession on completion with offers invited in the region of £450,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Frank Innes on 01623 594602.

WIN A MEAL!

As part of the five-year plan the Cathedral will be introducing innovations such as digital technology to allow Derby and Derbyshire characters, such as Bess of Hardwick, who is buried in the 18th century building, to “tell their own stories” to visitors. Other works will see regeneration of the facilities at the Cathedral, including new flexible seating, restoration of the organ, and renewal of the concrete flooring. Derby Cathedral has been working in partnership with Derby QUAD, On Event Production Co and the University of Derby to help bring the project to life.

Sutton In Ashfield development site

COUNTRYWIDE Land and New Homes and IF YOU can find 17 UK Racecourses in the Wordsearch grid Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com Frank Innes above, you could win yourself a £20 Restaurant Choice Gift Estate Agents are Card. offering for sale a development site All you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark a line through with full planning 17 UK Racecourses where flat racing takes place on turf . These can run permission for the erection of 28 apartments and 2 retail vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). units. Builder, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by TUESDAY 20TH JUNE 2017. Please remember to fill in your name and address. The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the £20 Gift Card. Good luck! Restaurant Choice Gift Cards can be used in over 1000 UK Restaurants. From hand-picked independent restaurants to a great selection of popular dining groups – Nando’s, Café Rouge, Jamie’s Italian, PizzaExpress, Zizzi, Ask Italian and Yo! Sushi. They can be used for food and drinks, set menus, indeed any dish on the menu. Visit the website at www.restaurantchoice.co.uk for more information.

Last Month’s Wordsearch Winner was:

CAROL CHARTERS of Freer Close, Blaby Congratulations! Your £20 Gift Card will be with you soon.

I gave up my seat to a blind person in the bus. That is how I lost my job as a bus driver.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Rooftop milestone for £41 million university building

Auctions

A £41 MILLION university building in Birmingham has taken a major step forward as the finishing touches have been made to the development.

June 2017 Thursday 8th June 2017 - SDL GRAHAM PENNY - Derby County Football Club, Pride Park Stadium, Derby, DE24 8XL - 11.30am start - www. sdlgrahampenny.co.uk

Contractor BAM and local stakeholders were joined by staff and students from Birmingham City University at the institution’s new Health Sciences and Education building to mark the traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony and celebrate a key milestone in the delivery of the facility. The 10,500m² extension on Westbourne Road in Edgbaston forms part of the University’s City South Campus. The new development, set to open in 2018, will also enable the relocation of the University’s School of Education, consolidating the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences on to one site. Designed by architects Sheppard Robson, the building will help reinforce Birmingham City University’s status as the region’s largest provider of qualified health and social care professionals to the NHS and producer of more teachers than any other institution in the West Midlands. The space will offer teacher training and specialist facilities for health sciences including provision for research, a new lecture theatre, a multi-purpose hall, speech therapy, physiotherapy and ultrasound suites, art and technology classrooms and IT hubs. The building forms part of the University’s £260 million investment into new state-of-the-art facilities which will be strengthened with the opening of the new £57 million Birmingham Conservatoire later this year. As part of the City South Campus extension, students from the University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment have been working alongside BAM to gain real-life experience of working in the construction industry, by putting the theory learned in the classroom into practice. BAM currently employs 160 people at the Edgbaston site, with 80 per cent coming from the West Midlands.

Thursday 8th June 2017 SAVILLS - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 2.30pm start - tel: 0115 934 8080 www.savills.co.uk/auctions Thursday 23rd June 2017 - SDL GRAHAM PENNY - Leicester City Football Club, King Power Stadium, Leicester LE2 7FL - 11.30am start - www. sdlgrahampenny.co.uk

July Thursday 6th July 2017 - SDL BIGWOOD - at Aston Villa FC, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 233 5046 www.cpbigwood.com

The ‘brickie visa’ won’t solve the talent crisis in UK construction

THE RECENT suggestion from one think tank that low-skilled EU workers should be granted a temporary ‘brickie visa’ after Brexit to help the UK construction sector plug the skills gap received a cautious welcome from some in the industry.

However, a more fundamental change to recruitment, talent management and training will be required to fully address the current crisis. The sustainable supply of skilled workers is critical to the UK construction sector which is currently facing a number of challenges. First is the ageing workforce. More than 400,000 construction workers are expected to retire over the next 10 years according to the CITB, without the next generation of leaders ready to take their place. Second is of course the UK’s decision to exit the European Union. Anecdotal evidence suggests that employers are already

finding it harder to attract and retain staff. This could get worse if the status of EU citizens currently living and working in the UK is not resolved soon. And then there is the post-Brexit challenge. The UK construction sector relies heavily on recruiting talent from across the EU. According to some estimates, around 12 per cent of the UK’s construction workforce are foreign nationals, the majority of whom hail from EU countries. In London the proportion of EU nationals working in construction is even higher - one in four according to City Hall estimates. It’s therefore very clear that any changes to freedom of movement rules could significantly threaten the availability of talent for the UK construction sector. If these pressures weren’t enough, the UK is on the verge of entering one of the most active periods of infrastructure development since the post-war period. And that’s without the pressure on the industry to build more residential accommodation to tackle the country’s housing crisis. The

Conservative Party, should they win the election, promises to meet its 2015 commitment to deliver a million homes by the end of 2020 and a further half a million by the end of 2022.

So what can the industry do to address this talent shortage? • ENGAGE WITH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES – The number of students taking at least one STEM subject at A-Level has reduced significantly in recent years. Firms must engage with schools and colleges at an early stage and find ways to spark interest in engineering and construction. • EMBRACE DIVERSITY – Today just 15 per cent of construction workers are women. By increasing diversity, businesses can access bigger pools of talent, improve innovation and boost growth. There have been some positive initiatives in recent years to encourage more gender diversity but the construction industry has some way to go to demonstrate that it can offer attractive long term career opportunities for women.

• INCREASE APPRENTICESHIPS – the numbers of apprenticeships in UK construction has been steadily growing since 2012/13 but the numbers are yet to return to the levels seen a decade ago. The apprenticeship levy scheme will go some way to rectifying this, but employers need to get right behind apprenticeship initiatives and invest appropriately. • REFORM RECRUITMENT, TALENT MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING – firms need to carry out a long-term assessment of their HR challenges and opportunities and develop a holistic strategy that will find the best talent, nurture it and retain it in the longer term. The construction sector has shown its resilience in recent years to bounce back from the economic crash but the headwinds facing the sector show no sign of abating. Finding a sustainable long-term solution to the talent crisis should be top of the list of priorities.

Kelly Boorman,

RSM’s head of construction

Never laugh at your girlfriends choices... you’re one of them.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Property Developers Predict Upswing In PDR-Enabled Office to Resi Conversions With Limited Impact On Housing Shortage • 69% welcome the government’s decision to extend PDR legislation • 74% think the number of office to residential conversions permitted under PDR will increase • Just 21% think the Government’s new homes target is realistic THREE QUARTERS (74%) of property developers expect to see an increase in the number of conversions of under-used office buildings into new homes over the next two years as a result of the government’s decision to extend property development rights (PDR) legislation1. Of these, nearly a third (30%) of developers expects to see a significant growth in PDR-related conversion schemes. This is according to a new study2 commissioned by Amicus Property Finance, the specialist short term property lender. More than two thirds (69%) of property developers welcome the PDR extension, which was designed to enable thousands of new homes to be built by making use of neglected industrial and office property while preserving the green belt. In the UK between July 2015 and June 20163, a total of 1,066 office to residential permitted development applications were permitted with prior approval not required and a further 1,480 applications granted with prior approval. Despite the predicted growth in PDR-enabled conversions, only 4% of property developers believe this will have a major impact in addressing the UK’s housing shortage with the overwhelming majority (86%) thinking it will help only slightly towards narrowing the gap. Property developers are also sceptical of the government’s target to build one million homes by 2020 with only one in five (21%) believing this target to be realistic. Keith Aldridge, Founder & Managing Director at Amicus Property Finance, said: “We welcome the government’s extension to the PDR legislation. We have assisted many developers in capitalising on the relaxed planning laws and believe it has played a key role in reinvigorated this part of the market, creating significant opportunity for specialist lenders like Amicus. There is clearly a long way to go but it’s certainly a step in the right direction in addressing the UK’s housing shortage.” Amicus Property Finance has seen a strong start to 2017 having provided more than £500m of short term property loans last year as it further expanded its customer base among brokers, professional landlords and developers seeking finance for residential and commercial real estate assets. Keith Aldridge continued: “We’ve seen tremendous growth over the last few years as our localised relationship-based approach resonates well with clients. We’re continuing to see strong demand among landlords and developers for short term finance from across the UK. While London and the South East remain highly popular among landlords we are also increasing interest from other regions such as the Midlands and the North West, which are offering attractive valuations and yields.” As part of its growth journey, Amicus Finance plc, which expects to receive its banking licence this year, opened an office in Manchester last year to significantly expand its presence across the North. The new Manchester office provides a regional hub for SME lending, working capital solutions and short term property loans.

If you enjoy reading Leicestershire Builder Magazine, please pass it on to a friend or colleague when you’ve finished with it. Thanks!

Small builders ‘frustrated’ with delays caused by planning system DELAYS AND rising costs in the planning system are driving small companies away from house building and slowing down attempts to tackle Britain’s housing crisis, a report claims today. New research from NHBC Foundation shows that small builders are experiencing “deeply frustrating” delays, with a third waiting more than a year for local authority planning approval and nearly 80 per cent experiencing a significant hike in planning-related fees in the last two years. The NHBC Foundation report ‘Small house builders and developers: current challenges to growth’ outlines the climate faced by small firms, using the experiences of almost 500 companies who typically construct less than 10 homes a year. The report highlights the fact that the number of small firms active in house building continues to decline, accounting for just 12 per cent of market share in 2015, compared with 28% in 2008. Earlier this year, the Government pledged “radical, lasting reform” to tackle Britain’s housing shortage, including accelerating the planning system by making it more accessible and increasing its support for small and more innovative builders. Commenting on the report, NHBC Head of Research and Innovation Neil Smith said: “While the planning process is recognised as a necessary control, small house builders and developers continue to express considerable frustration with it. The increasing complexity, time taken to achieve a decision, and the unpredictability and inconsistency within the planning process are slowing the delivery of new homes and, in some cases, causing companies to leave this market. “Greater certainty and more standardised approaches, clarity concerning the fees and tariffs, coupled with a more responsive service from planning departments would increase predictability and significantly help to speed up the process, thereby increasing the number of homes built.” The report found that the lack of viable building land was also a major barrier for small house builders who raised concerns about shortage of skilled workers and a lack of interest among young people in becoming apprentices. The main findings are: • Planning - More than a third (38%) said a sluggish, costly and inconsistent planning process was posing a major challenge to their business. • Land availability - The lack of available land at a suitable price has become a more acute problem for small builders with 37% identifying it as their most serious obstacle for growth • Availability of finance - Although still a major concern for 20%, this issue has improved in the last two years, with more small builders obtaining finance from banks or private sources. Despite their concerns, the majority (58%) of small builders were optimistic about the future of the industry with two thirds anticipating an increase in the number of homes they would build over the next two years. The report contains a number of recommendations by the NHBC Foundation for government and industry to address these barriers and help boost the small house-building sector. These include: Planning - Speed up decision making, reduce inconsistencies and provide a clear tariff system. Land availability - Increase the availability of smaller sites that could accommodate up to 10 homes. For more information and to download the publication, please visit: https://www.nhbcfoundation.org/publication/small-house-builders-anddevelopers-current-challenges-to-growth/

How do I disable the autocorrect function on my wife?

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • JUNE 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069

Eleco Software announces Arckit partnership

ELECO SOFTWARE have partnered with ARCKIT, a freeform architectural modelling system that allows you to physically explore designs and bring your ideas to life with speed and precision.

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Based on modern building techniques and a 1.2m/4ft grid to scale, the ‘click and connect’ modular components make it possible to create a vast range of structures that can be quickly assembled, endlessly modified and finished to perfection. “Our company develop and publish a range of house design software products dedicated to selfbuilders, home improvers, builders and architects who need a CAD program that can easily generate 3D models from detailed 2D floor plans,” comments Product Marketing Manager of Eleco Software Ltd, Tim Bates Tim adds “We appreciate that using software is not everyone’s cup of tea so by introducing the ARCKIT modelling system to our range means that we can offer an alternative solution that allows you to similarly explore designs and bring ideas to life but using physical methods.” For more information on the ARCKIT range and all our house design software products, visit: www.3darchitect.co.uk arconsales@elecosoft.com About the company Eleco Software Ltd. develops & supports a range of 2D & 3D CAD applications suitable for all levels and aspects of architectural design and visualisation. Eleco Software Ltd. is a subsidiary of Elecosoft plc. Elecosoft plc is a market leading provider of innovative software applications and related services to the global construction and property management industries worldwide. We develop and deliver a strong portfolio of digital construction software for project management, estimation, visualisation and Building Information Modelling (BIM), information management and digital marketing disciplines.

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