November 2017 leicestershire builder online

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£500m investment programme for University of Leicester THE UNIVERSITY of Leicester has unveiled a transformative £500 million programme of investment that will improve student facilities as well as public spaces over the next decade Among the plans is the creation of a space park next to Leicester Space Centre, bringing industry and academic research together.

Funding for the buildings and facilities will be split with £10m of university cash and £13m from The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The balance will come from the University’s annual income and a bond from its bank.

Education leaders are currently in talks with Leicester City Council which owns the land, to determine how it will take shape.

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Construction begins on 24 affordable village homes in Desford CONSTRUCTION has begun on 24 affordable village homes at The Paddocks, a brand-new development at Hunts Lane in Desford village, near Leicester.

The new affordable homes which are being built for leading social housing provider Stonewater by Bellway Homes, responds to a critical shortage in the area of good quality, low cost housing for local people.

Stonewater is creating the mixed tenure scheme within a larger 61-home development

by Bellway Homes. The new Stonewater housing at The Construction begins on 24 affordable village homes in Paddocks will provide a mix Desford.

(Left to right): Martin Fox, Stonewater Development of 18 one- and two-bedroom Manager; Joss Orpin, Bellway Homes Site Manager and homes, all for affordable rent.

Warren Beardsmore, Beardsmore Associates Director.

The Paddocks development will also offer six two-bedroom family houses for shared ownership sale - a part-buy, part-rent scheme which allows purchasers to buy a share of their home and pay rent on the remaining portion. This shareholding can be increased until the home is owned outright.

The new Stonewater homes are due for completion in in July next year.

Swadlincote Chapel and Church sold for £200k A CHAPEL and church hall attracted an eager congregation at SDL Auctions Graham Penny’s busy auction in Derby, where the total prices raised were the best for a year.

And the bidder who sang the highest notes for the former Methodist chapel and church hall at 10-14 West Street in Swadlincote got the keys to God’s house for £200,000.

It was one of 57 lots sold during the auction on 21 September which secured a success rate of 85 per cent and raised a total of £6.4m.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Rothley Road officially opened A NEW ROAD to connect the A6 and the Leicestershire village of Rothley has been officially opened by local councillors.

Bier Way, towards the north east of the village, was constructed

by HBF 5 Star housebuilder, William Davis Homes as part of the neighbouring development at Rothley Meadow. The company’s land and technical director, Adrian McInnes was joined by Cllr. Percy Hartshorn, chairman of Rothley Parish Council and Cllr. Peter Osborne from Leicestershire County Council on 15th September 2017 to cut the ribbon to mark the road’s opening.

Speaking at the event, Cllr.

Percy Hartshorn said: “Rothley Parish OPENING: (L-R) Cllr. Peter Osborne, Leicestershire County Council welcome the opening of the Council; Cllr. Percy Hartshorn, chairman, Rothley Parish link road. This will provide much Council and Adrian McInnes, land and technical director, needed additional access for residents William Davis Homes officially open Bier Way in Rothley. of Rothley & Mountsorrel to the A6 bypass and relieve a considerable amount of traffic through the centre of both villages.”

Cllr. Peter Osborne, Leicestershire County Council added: “It’s great to see Bier Way open ahead of schedule.

The new road brings huge benefit to the village but most importantly alongside the surrounding landscaping, it complements the well-designed and much-needed new homes currently under construction.”

William Davis Homes has been building in Rothley since 2016, bringing its signature brand of top quality, traditionally built homes to Heathe Meadow, just off Mountsorrel Lane. The Loughborough-based housebuilder has recently launched its latest development, Rothley Meadow, and as part of the opening ceremony, councillors were given a tour of the new sales complex, showhomes and public artwork.

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Residential development opportunity in Harby SAVILLS are offering for sale 7.9 acres of development with Outline Planning Permission for 53 dwellings, and future opportunity for a further 25 dwellings.

The land – at Colston Lane, Harby, Leics. LE14 4BE – comprises a vacant part brownfield/part Greenfield site at the western end of the village.

Outline planning permission (ref: 15/00673/OUT) was granted at appeal on 13th January 2017 for the erection of up to 53 dwellings on the site of the former Millway Foods factory. This is subject to conditions and a signed Section 106 Agreement, dated 8th December 2016.

Price upon application. The agents understand that VAT will not be applicable to the sale price.

For more information, contact Ollie Barnes at Savills on 0115 934 8051 or email: obarnes@ savills.com

Coalville site for mixed use development Site Plan

All plans are for identification purposes only.

FISHER GERMAN COMMERCIAL are offering for sale a partially cleared 4.14 acre brownfield site which is suitable for a variety of uses, subject to planning.

The land – Off Wolsey Road, Coalville, Leics. LE67 3TU – was formerly the site of a needle factory, and has previously enjoyed planning consent for a supermarket, but that consent has now lapsed.

Price on application. For more information, contact Kevin Benson at Fisher german Commercial on 01777 719148 or email: Kevin.benson@ fishergerman.co.uk Please note: Fisher German LLP and any Joint Agents give notice that: The particulars are produced in good faith are set out as a general guide only and do not constitute or form any part of an offer or any contract. No person within Fisher German has any authority to make or give representation or warranty on any property. Particulars prepared September 2016. Photographs taken September 2016

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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House builders vote ‘no’ to CITB Levy proposals

Bottesford site for 5 bungalows

THE COUNTRY’S house builders have returned a resoundingly negative response in the vote on whether the industry has confidence in the CITB, the body which collects a Levy on construction companies to help fund skills and training courses for their employees.

FHP are offering for sale a 0.47 acre site with Outline Planning Permission (ref: 15/00854/OUT) for 5 new build bungalows at Grantham Road, Bottesford, Leics. NG13 0EE.

While many expect that CITB will secure support in the vote – formally held on the CITB’s proposals for its Levy for the next three years - from enough other federations in the wider construction sector to continue its work, the message from home builders is very clearly a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the current operation. In terms of Levy paid, 89% voted against CITB continuing as the lead body for construction training.

The result of HBF members’ engagement with the statutory ‘consensus process’ comes ahead of the industry launching its own ‘Home Building Skills Pledge’ at HBF’s Housing Market Intelligence Conference on Thursday. The Skills Pledge commits companies to working together and with subcontractors to recruit and train more people to the highest industry-agreed standards. All of HBF’s larger members have signed up alongside an increasing number of medium and small members – meaning companies responsible for well over half the homes built in England are already committed.

The Skills Pledge is the latest initiative to come out of the Home Building Skills Partnership, a pan industry body set up to tackle the industry’s skills shortage. The Partnership, set up 18 months ago is already starting to deliver on its objective of attracting and training

the people the industry needs to deliver more, high quality homes in the future.

Frustration with CITB has been increasing within the house building industry for some years.

Critics have questioned its effectiveness and ability to deliver the training requirements of an industry with different skills needs to the wider construction sector.

With house builders facing a major skills challenge to meet the capacity requirements to achieve the Government’s ambitious housing delivery plans, these frustrations and little sign of the change from CITB home builders require has produced the result confirmed today. In addition, the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy means that many home builders are effectively being taxed twice for skills provision.

Of particular frustration has been the complex, overly bureaucratic nature of the process builders have to go through to access training funding. HBF’s larger members report having to employ specific members of staff in order to claw back just a fraction of the money paid through their own levy payments, from CITB for training, something many of HBF’s hundreds of smaller members don’t have the capacity to do, meaning they miss out. These frustrations have been compounded by CITB’s current proposals to focus more narrowly on “core construction” skills, meaning that while home builders will pay levy in respect of their whole workforce they risk being able to obtain support for a smaller proportion of their workers than they do now.

With the wider construction industry likely voting for CITB to continue, home builders are now keen to work with CITB to drive the truly radical change needed within the organisation to address

the concerns the vote has exposed, and help to enable house builders to access the training requirements they need to tackle the country’s housing crisis.

Speaking in advance of theHome Building Skills Pledge’s official launch, Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said: “The vote demonstrates the frustrations house builders feel with CITB and the training regime currently in place.

The industry simply does not feel that CITB is providing the support and framework it needs to train its staff despite the huge amounts being paid in levy by home builders.

“House builders desperately need a training body focussed on its requirements with which it can work closely to develop training regimes that are easily accessible to companies large and small.

We hope this will be the wake-up call CITB needs to drive root and branch change through its entire organisation.

“If we are to develop the capacity to build the high quality homes the country desperately needs, the industry must recruit and train more people. The launch of our Home Building Skills Pledge is a clear demonstration of the industry’s commitment to investing in its training needs now and in the future.

The predominantly cleared site was originally a petrol filling station but the main buildings have been demolished and the tanks removed/decommissioned.

Price on application. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Phil Daniels at FHP on 0115 908 2103 or email: phil@fhp.co.uk

Coventry power station site FISHER GERMAN COMMERCIAL are offering for sale a development site at Aldermans Green Road, Coventry.

The 30 acre site is a former electric power station and has planning consent (ref: FUL/2013/0727) for a mixed use development comprising: • a 225-berth canal boat marina, with shops, cafes and restaurants • 36 light industrial and storage units, and a boat house • 24 residential dwellings, with car parking and landscaping Guide Price for the freehold: £5 million.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Simon Patrick at Fisher german Commercial on 01295 226283 or email: simon.patrick@ fishergerman.co.uk

Your Local Quantity Surveyor Offering Friendly, Professional Advice Free initial consultation All work undertaken from tender stage through to final account Covering all sectors of the industry including residential, social housing, commercial and industrial 35 years experience in the construction industry For more information please visit our website: www.mjsurveyingltd.com Email: mark@mjsurveying.plus.com Telephone Mark on 07969 830986

Sorry I’m late. I got here as soon as I felt like it.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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£500m investment in Leicester University Continued from page 1 Taking up to ten years to complete, but with significant investment planned over the next three to four years, the programme will feature a mix of major refurbishment and redevelopment projects, including significant works to some of the most iconic buildings on central campus, including the Charles Wilson Building and Attenborough Tower.

The programme will see investment in the open spaces within which the University is located, with plans to improve the quality of public spaces, both on central campus and the surrounding areas, in order to enhance the overall environment for students, staff and the general public.

The announcement follows the recent publication of the University’s plans for two new major projects at its Brookfield campus on London Road to create a new home for the School for Business by renovating the 19th Century Brookfield House and surrounding buildings, and further work to complete the transformation of the Percy Gee Building, which houses the Students’ Union on the central campus. Planning applications

were submitted last month following public consultation in the summer.

This £500 million phase of investment is in addition to work already completed including the development of the new £42million Centre for Medicine, investment in the £19.5million Engineering Building roof and the creation of the striking new Fielding Johnson Square, which now plays host to a range of seasonal events.

University of Leicester: Brookfield House University of Leicester’s Director of Estates and Campus Services, Brita Sread, said: “We are committed to improving the quality of experience for all those who use our facilities be they students, staff or the public. The University has invested significantly in its estate – for example the Centre for Medicine and the

recently completed Engineering Roof project which had a combined cost of over £60million.

“As part of our new programme to transform our estate and ensure that we create a campus fit for the second century of our University, we plan to invest a further £500million over the next 10 years. Our ambition is to create an environment that truly supports teaching, research and an unrivalled student experience.

“To continue to succeed as a university and to contribute to Leicester’s growth in a very competitive world, further investment in the University’s campus is vital.

“While our plans are still at the early stages, we want to talk to a wide range of people to set out our vision and listen to their ideas and feedback. We will be working closely with our students and staff but we also want to engage with people across the city.

“In recognition of the fact that the University isn’t simply just located in the city, and that we are an

University of Leicester: Percy Gee Building, East Wing View integral part of the city, we want to make sure the improvements we are making will benefit the wider community. This can include investments in sustainable transport; a more attractive public realm; or opportunities for local firms as we undertake this major programme.”

Plans for the overall programme are still being developed. The next project to move forward will be the redevelopment of the Freemen’s Common site, adjacent to the central campus, where the existing student residences are reaching the end of their life. The University has recently appointed a development partner to work with them on this scheme and initial designs will be unveiled for consultation in the next few weeks.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Leicester City Jelson Limited (c/o: 370 Loughborough Road, Leicester LE4 5PR) – Demolition of 2 industrial buildings and construction of twostorey industrial building – at 7-15 Palmer Street, Leicester.

University of Leicester (c/o Agent: Sam Dalzell, Montagu Evans LLP, 5 Bolton Street, London W1J 8BA) – Demolition of part of building and construction of two and three-storey extension to Percy Gee Building – at Percy Gee Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester.

Anaar Ltd (c/o Agent: Design Studio Architects Ltd, 1B Salisbury Road, Upper New Walk, Leicester LE1 7QR) – Change of use of part of first and second floor from retail to 6 flats – at 52-56 High Street, Leicester.

Tel: 01530 244069 • EMAIL: INFO@BUILDERMAGAZINES.CO.UK

Galliford Try earns further student success in Coventry GALLIFORD TRY’S Building East Midlands business, based in Wolvey, has been appointed by The Elite Group to a new £52.5 million contract to build a 922-bed student accommodation facility at Paradise Street in Coventry.

The new halls will be built across three blocks of three, 12 and 14 storeys on the site of a former garage close to the city centre, with an additional two low-rise house blocks. Further landscaping will also be created including a recreational area for the students, as well as office and maintenance facilities for the proposed management company AXO Student Living.

The award comes with Galliford Try already on an existing major student accommodation site in Coventry, building a £47.5m 770-bed facility at Godiva Place.

Commenting on the contract award, Galliford Try East Midlands Managing Director Jon Marston said: “We are delighted to have won this contract and continue to build on our strong reputation as a contractor both within Coventry and in the student accommodation sector. We look forward to working with The Elite Group to produce high-quality facilities for the students of Coventry to benefit from.”

Building plot in Markfield SINCLAIR Estate Agents are offering for sale a superior building plot on the outskirts of Markfield village.

The 0.38 acre plot - at land adjoining ‘Woodlands’, Thornton Lane, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9RP - is likely to be the last plot available on Thornton Lane.

The slightly tapering plot has a frontage of 18.5m and a depth of 66m. The width at the building line is 22m and at the rear boundary is 29m. (All dimensions are approximate.)

Outline planning permission was granted on 14th September 2015 under reference number 15/00809/OUT for a detached dwelling, with approval of reserved matters on 29th September 2017, under reference number 17/00706/REM. Details are available on the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council website, or through the agents.

Offers over £350,000 are invited.

For more information, contact Sinclair Estate Agents on 01530 838338 or email: coalville@ sinclairestateagents.co.uk

My wife sent her photograph to the Lonely Hearts Club. They sent it back saying they weren’t that lonely.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Fifty new homes coming to Ravenstone WILLIAMS HOMES has acquired and started construction on land for a new housing development in Ravenstone, Leicestershire.

howkinsandharrison.co.uk Nuneaton, Warwickshire Guide Price: £400,000

Smallholding with planning permission • • •

The Anstey based Developer has planning permission to build 50 new homes on the 8.6 acre site, located At the southern edge of the village on Heather Lane.

Reserved matters Planning was granted in May 2017 by North West Leicester District Council.

The development, which has been named Woodside Meadow, will comprise of a range of three, four, five and six bedroom homes and 15 of the new homes will be provided as one, two and three bedroom affordable housing. Within the development there is to be a new area of National Forest planted woodland and also allotments. The site will be served by a new access from the existing roundabout adjacent to the school on Heather Lane.

Any enquiries please contact Williams Homes on 0116 2352221 or email Sales@williamsbuidersltd.co.uk

ADVERTISERS: The booking deadline for the December issue is 15th November. Don’t miss out!

• • •

Planning permission for a 4 bedroom house Farm buildings 20.66 acres of pasture land Frontage to River Anker PP reference 033431 and 033774 For sale By Auction on 14th November 2017 at The Sketchley Grange Hotel, Burbage, Hinckley

Warton, Tamworth, Staffordshire Guide Price: £80,000 and £100,000

Rare opportunity to purchase a building plot with planning permission • • • • •

Planning permission for a 2 bedroom bungalow PP reference PAP/2017/0304 Good access to M42 Thriving village with facilities For sale By Auction on 14th November 2017 at The Sketchley Grange Hotel, Burbage, Hinckley

Swadlincote, Derbyshire Guide Price £475,000

Three bedroom dwelling with planning permission • • • •

Large plot of land totalling 0.47 acres Outline planning permission for 4 dwellings PP reference 9/2016/0601 Well located for schools and local services

Appleby Magna, Swadlincote, Derbyshire Guide Price £350,000 Strategic land with a commercial building • •

• • •

5.17 acres next to Junction 11 of the M42 Building with commercial permission for B2 and B8 Permission number 11/00748/FUL Adjacent to McDonalds and Shell service station Excellent road links

15 Market Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 1ET 01827 721380 / athrural@howkinsandharrison.co.uk Branches across the region and an office in central London

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Mansfield site for 24 dwellings FISHER GERMAN COMMERCIAL are offering for sale a 2.05 acre residential development site at Yorke Street/Blake Street, Mansfield NG19 9NH. The rectangular parcel of land has Outline Planning Consent (ref: 2013/0608/NT) for 24 dwellings, subject to a Section 106 Agreement.

For sale at an asking price of £325,000.

For more information, contact Rob Haigh at Fisher German on 01623 703361 or email: Rob. haigh@fishergerman.co.uk

Potential development site in Corby BERRYS are offering for sale a 1.35 acre potential development site at Maple House, Alberta Close, Corby NN18 9HU. The property is located on the site of a former care home which has now been demolished. The site is now predominantly covered in grass with several mature trees.

No planning has yet been granted but, subject to planning, the site has potential for residential development and varying types and density.

Indicative schemes and reports are available from the agents on request.

The Guide Price is £350,000.

For more information, contact Pierre Farnsworth at Berrys on 01536 532376 or email: pierre. farnsworth@berrys.uk.com

Development opportunity in North Kilworth BERRYS are offering for sale a parcel of gently sloping arable land which has the benefit of Outline Planning Permission (ref: 16/01682/OUT) for up to 20 dwellings.

The land – at Station Road, North Kilworth, Leics. – is being offered for sale by Private Treaty – price on application. A Section 106 Agreement has been signed by all relevant parties.

For more information, contact Joanna Gardner at Berrys on 01536 213157 or email: joanna. gardner@berrys.uk.com

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Council granted order to acquire land for Waterside scheme

JD Zencare Ltd (c/o Agent: Oliver Pickering, ADM Surveyors Ltd, Suite 1, Rosehill, 165 Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4DX) – Demolition of existing care home and construction of a new care home – at Lotus Court, 120 Colchester Road, Leicester.

Mrs Sardeep Sibia (c/o: 37 Western Road, Leicester LE3 0GD) – Change of use from from house to 2 flats with dormer extension to rear – at 37 Western Road, Leicester.

THE proposed £80million regeneration of Leicester’s Waterside area has taken an important step forward.

A compulsory purchase order (CPO) granted by Secretary of State has given Leicester City Council the go-ahead to acquire all remaining land and property in the 7.3 hectare site earmarked for the first phase of the Waterside redevelopment.

The city council has been actively negotiating with land owners in the area over the last three years and now owns around 90 per cent of the site. The CPO means the city council can now legally acquire the remaining land it needs to begin the ambitious redevelopment scheme.

A stopping up order, which will enable all the associated roads and highways work to go-ahead, has also been confirmed.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This is a strong endorsement of our vision to transform the Waterside area into a thriving new neighbourhood.

“The project team has worked hard to obtain the vast majority of the land required by agreement, but unfortunately that hasn’t been possible in all cases.

“Compulsory purchase orders are very much a last resort, but they are also a vital tool in bringing forward major regeneration schemes.

“The regeneration of the Waterside area represents a tremendous opportunity for the city’s growth and future prosperity.

It will revitalise this long-neglected part of the city with great new places to live, space for business to flourish and much better access to our beautiful riverside.”

Outline planning permission was granted for the first phase of the Waterside regeneration project in December 2015.

Last year, Keepmoat Homes was named as the council’s development partner for the first phase of the Waterside

Waterside Houses redevelopment. Keepmoat’s proposed scheme will deliver over 350 new homes and 5,500sqm of new office space, along with new parks and green spaces. The scheme will represent around £45milllion of private investment into the area.

Keepmoat is due to reveal final details of its proposed scheme in the coming weeks, as part of its application for approval of reserved matters. If given the go-ahead, Keepmoat will begin work on site clearance early in 2018.

Work on a new Waterside primary school, located off Fosse Road North, is also due to get underway early next year. The multi-million project will be funded with cash provided by the Department for Education to help ensure that every child in the city has access to a school place. The new school will provide capacity for up to 900 primary-aged pupils, creating an additional 400 pupil places on top of those currently offered at nearby Slater and Fosse primary schools.

The granting of the CPO does not mean the land now automatically belongs to Leicester City Council.

A general vesting declaration must first be made. This will begin the process of transferring legal ownership of the remaining properties to the city council which could take around three to four months.

The council will follow government guidelines to ensure that any eligible parties affected by the CPO are compensated for the value of their property or other losses incurred.

Leicester City Council has earmarked £15 million of capital funding for the Waterside scheme.

The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) also successfully bid for up to £20milllion from the Government’s Local Growth Fund to help kick start the major regeneration project.

De Montfort University (c/o Agent: Beth Lambourne, Turley, 9 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2BJ) – Erection of single storey extension to clubhouse, new 3G multi-sport pitch, installation of 8 floodlights, creation of hardstanding, ancillary storage, installation of 3 cctv cameras and columns, extension to existing parking area, fencing and associated landscaping and drainage – at Beaumont Park, Bennion Road, Leicester LE4 1DS. Dr Tariq Kapasi (c/o Agent:Damian Withers, Gordon White & Hood, Beresford House, 1 Newtown Street, Leicester LE1 6WH) – Change of use of first floor from flat to ancillary office, construction of single storey extension at rear of surgery – at Heatherbrook Surgery, 242 Astill Lodge Road, Leicester.

Mr Sukhpal Singh Basra (c/o Agent: Pezhman Ghashghai, HDI Architecture, 32 Clifford Street, Leicester LE3 5RF) – Change of use of dwelling house to 2 selfcontained flats – at 11 Bosworth Street, Leicester.

AS Properties (c/o Agent: RP Design Ltd, 33 Launde Road, Leicester LE2 4HH) – Notification of change of use of first and second floor from financial and professional services to 7 flats – at 165-167 Fosse Road North, Blaby, Leicester.

Mr Patrick Connolly (c/o Agent: Dennis Pickering, ADM Surveyors Ltd, Suyite 1, Rosehill, 165 Lutterworth Road, Leicester LE8 4DX) – Demolition of existing buildings, construction of 2 bungalows – at 28 Main Street, Humberstone, Leicester LE5 1AE.

Moaning about other people not working really makes the day fly by.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI®

UK construction sector moves back into reverse gear during September Key findings • • •

Business activity falls for first time in 13 months Sharpest drop in civil engineering work since April 2013 New orders and input buying drop in September

SEPTEMBER data revealed a difficult month for the UK construction sector, as a sustained drop in new work led to the first reduction in overall business activity since August 2016.

Survey respondents attributed the drop in workloads to fragile confidence and subdued risk appetite among clients, especially in the commercial building sector.

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) registered 48.1 in September, down from 51.1 in August and below the crucial 50.0 no-change threshold for the first time in 13 months. The latest reading signalled the fastest decline in overall construction output since July 2016.

Lower volumes of construction work reflected marked falls in both commercial and civil engineering activity during September. The reduction in civil engineering work was the steepest for almost four-and-a-half years, which some firms linked to a lack of new infrastructure projects to replace completed contracts.

The latest decline in work on commercial development projects was the second-sharpest since February 2013 (exceeded only by the post-EU referendum dip seen last July). Survey respondents widely commented on a headwind from political and economic uncertainty, alongside extended lead times for budget approvals among clients.

House building was the only broad area of construction activity to register an expansion in September.

However, growth momentum eased to a six-month low amid reports citing worries about less favourable market conditions ahead. New business volumes dropped for the third month running in September, thereby suggesting a continued shortage of work to replace completed construction projects.

Aside from the downturn seen around the EU referendum last year, the current period of decline is the longest recorded since early2013. More subdued demand led to another fall in sub-contractor usage and a relatively weak rate of job creation among construction

firms during September.

Input buying decreased for the first time in six months, largely in response to reduced workloads across the sector. Lower demand for materials helped to alleviate some strain on supply chains, as delivery times from vendors lengthened to the lowest extent since November 2016.

Construction companies continued to face headwinds from rising input costs, with higher prices for imported materials helping to drive up inflationary pressures to a sevenmonth high.

Fragile demand conditions appeared to weigh on construction firms’ expectations for growth in the next 12 months. The latest survey indicated that business optimism eased to its second-lowest since April 2013. A number of firms cited concerns about UK business investment prospects, linked to uncertainty around the path to Brexit.

Tim Moore, Associate Director at IHS Markit and author of the IHS Markit/CIPS Construction PMI®: “A shortfall of new work to replace completed projects has started to weigh heavily on the UK construction sector. Aside from the soft patch linked to spending delays around the EU referendum, construction companies have now experienced their longest period of falling workloads since early-2013.

“Fragile client confidence and reduced tender opportunities meant that growth expectations across the UK construction sector are also among the weakest for four-and-a-half years. At the same time, cost pressures have intensified, driven by supply bottlenecks and rising prices for imported materials.

“Commercial development has been the worst performing category in recent months. Construction firms attributed falling volumes of commercial work to subdued business investment and reduced risk appetite among clients, linked to heightened economic and political uncertainty.

“Civil engineering work decreased at its fastest pace since April 2013,

Mrs Irfana Suriya (c/o Agent: Faizal Osman, 13 Architectural Consultants Ltd, 8 Coplow Avenue, Leicester LE5 5WA) – Construction of dormer extensions to front and rear and change of use from house to 3 flats – at 74 Wood Hill, Leicester.

Mr Mitesh Kachhela (c/o Agent: Sajjad Ibrahim, SI Designs, 6 Greenacre Drive, Leicester LE5 6TE) – Demolition of existing building, construction of two-storey building, storage unit on ground floor, 2 flats on first floor and roof space, plus roof lights at front, side and rear – at 35-41 St Michaels Avenue, Leicester.

which prompted concerns from survey respondents about a nearterm lack of new infrastructure projects.

“House building slipped down a gear in September, which highlighted that fragile confidence has spread across all three key market segments.

Some firms suggested that the loss of momentum for residential construction reflected worries about the outlook for ultra-low mortgage rates and less upbeat demand expectations.”

Duncan Brock, Director of Customer Relationships at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said: “A dismal picture of construction emerged this month as the sector showed signs of worsening business conditions across the board. With the biggest contraction in overall activity since July 2016, and a drop in new orders, optimism was in short supply.

“Respondents pointed to obstructive economic conditions and the Brexit blight of uncertainty, freezing clients into indecision over new projects. Even housing, the stalwart of the construction sector stuttered with a dwindling performance, but civil engineering was the biggest victim falling to its weakest level for four and a half years.

“The contagion continued all along the supply chain as material shortages placed a strain on delivery times and increased commodity prices were affected by the weak pound. Despite a marginal increase in employment figures, this wasn’t enough to dispel the descending autumnal gloom where it is unclear where any major shift in momentum for the sector will come in the next few months.”

Mr Pradipkumar Patel (c/o: 55 Wakerley Road, Leicester LE5 6AR) – Change of use from house to 3 flats with dormer to rear – at 184 Kimberley Road, Leicester.

Key-Line Properties Ltd (c/o Agent: Ravi Panesar, RP Design Ltd, 33 Launde Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4HH) – Construction of single storey extension at side of building to form 2 retail units – at land adjacent to 166-172 Ryder Road, Leicester.

Zubair (c/o Agent: Design Studio Architects Ltd, 1B Salisbury Road, Upper New Walk, Leicester LE1 7QR) – Construction of threestorey building to provide 6 studio flats – at 28 St Saviours Road, Leicester.

Fusion Consulting Services Ltd (c/o Agent: Fayyaz Suleman, 103 London Road, Leicester LE2 0PF) – Change of use from workshop/ offices to nursery, education centre and prayer hall – at 86 Belper Street, Leicester.

Mapeley Gamma Acquisition Co Ltd (c/o Agent: Miss Louisa Fielden, How Planning LLP, 40 Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GP) – Notification of change of use from offices to 83 flats – at Wellington House, 22-32 Wellington Street, Leicester.

Mrs Mehjabeen Riyaz Vayani & Mrs Zainab Imran Omar (c/o Agent: Faizal Osman, 13 Architectural Consultants Ltd, 8 Coplow Avenue, Leicester LE5 5WA) – Single and two-storey extensions to workshop building; alterations and change of use from house and workshop to rear to provide 4 flats – at 2 Marston Road, Leicester.

When I asked if you’d like to go out on a date sometime, I meant with me.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

R G Walton Ltd (c/o Agent: David Ives, AMLI Design, 160 Waterview House, Birstall Road, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4DF) – Notification of change of use of ground floor from shop to 2 flats – at 224 Blackbird Road, Leicester.

Leicester City Council (c/o Agent: David Jones, Arcadis (UK) Ltd, Arcadis House Cymru, St Mellons Business Park, Fortran Road, Cardiff CF3 0EY) – Construction of a footbridge over the Grand Union Canal at Sock Island incorporating combined cycleway and footway provision, retaining wall and landscaping – at Grand Union Canal, Abbey Meadows, Leicester.

Mr Lee Cottingham (c/o Agent: Mike Askey, Marsh Grochowski, 37A Sneinton Hermitage, Nottingham NG2 4BT) – Construction of increase in height of building and external alterations to offices and storage – at 1 Boston Road, Leicester.

Anaar Ltd (c/o Agent: Design Studio Architects Ltd, 1B Salisbury Road, Upper New Walk, Leicester LE1 7QR) – Fourth floor extension to provide 3 self-contained flats and staircase to roof – at 52-56 High Street, Leicester.

Moorhouse Project Ltd (c/o Agent: Muthar Al-Salloum, MAS Architecture Ltd, Studio G005, Atkins Building, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 1QU) – Change of use of basement and ground floors from light industrial to retail, financial and professional services, cafe/restaurant, offices, non-residential institutions and assembly and leisure,; change of use of upper floors from light industrial to offices, non-residential institutions and assembly and leisure; two-storey extension to roof – at 35 Rutland Street, Leicester.

Square Developments Leicester Ltd (c/o Agent: Andrew Ward, RG+P Ltd, Waterloo House, 71 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TR) – Construction of sevenstorey building to provide student accommodation comprising 131 student flats – at Site of car park, York Street, Leicester.

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Nine New Apprentices Commence Careers With William Davis HBF 5 STAR housebuilder, William Davis Homes has extended its longstanding commitment to apprenticeships by offering placements to nine aspiring tradespeople.

Commencing four year apprenticeships with the Loughborough-based company are bricklayers, Kieran Findley and Joe Gardner; joiners, LiliRhea Dashi-Murphy and Jack Jordan; plumbers, William Cook and Thomas Christian; electricians Ellis Pole and Conor Bailey and trainee quantity surveyor, Jake Hill. Each of the new recruits will be mentored

by William Davis Homes’ inhouse apprentice masters as Trainee quantity surveyor, well as completing academic Jake Hill. training at either Leicester College or Loughborough College.

Currently working alongside electrical apprentice master, David Oliver at the company’s stunning Mill Fields development in Broughton Astley, newly appointed apprentice electrician, Conor Bailey said: “My Dad actually works for William Davis Homes as a groundworker and encouraged me to apply for the apprenticeship as I’ve always had an interest in electrical work. I go to college in three week blocks and the rest of my time is on site; I’m really enjoying everything so far.”

Gary Long, M&E and apprentice manager at William Davis Homes added: “Every one of the new intake demonstrated an initial enthusiasm, work ethic and appetite to learn. During interviews, they presented themselves with confidence, asked insightful questions and showed real passion for their chosen trade. We’re certain they will all go on to have successful construction careers at William Davis Homes.”

William Davis Homes’ award-winning apprentice scheme has been running since the 1960s and each the year the company aims to recruit up to ten new tradespeople. Applications continue to exceed expectations with more than 80 youngsters applying for the 2017 intake.

Nuneaton smallholding with consent for dwelling

HOWKINS & HARRISON are offering for sale BY AUCTION a smallholding with planning permission for a new residential dwelling farm buildings and 20.66 acres of pasture land.

The property - Lingfield Farm, Weddington Meadows, Nuneaton, Warks. CV10 0RN has a guide price of £400,000.

Full planning permission (ref: 033774) has been granted for the erection of a replacement dwelling to include garages, office/workshop and associated garden area along with a new range of farm buildings.

The auction takes place on 14th November 2017 at The Sketchley Grange Hotel, Burbage, Hinckley, Leics. For more information, contact Howkins & Harrison on 01827 721380 or email: athrural@ howkinsandharrison.co.uk

Mirrorstone Infrared Heaters WITH ANY brand new form of technology, there’s always some initial confusion and scepticism about its safety and whether it will perform as well as the manufacturers say it will.

Mirrorstone Infrared Heating Panels are no different in this respect, and it doesn’t help that the way they work is so radically different from their predecessors, the convection heaters.

Traditional convection heats the air in a space, causing it to rise and fall in rapidly fluctuating ‘convection currents’. Conversely, infrared panels heat objects directly, essentially “cutting out the middle man” and going straight to the heart of the matter.

The mass of the air in a room is much greater than the mass of its objects, which means that infrared heating panels don’t have to work as hard or consume as much energy as convection heaters to fulfil their purpose.

This reduced energy consumption is passed on to the user as savings of up to 60% on their heating bills, and even more if the infrared heater’s output is controlled with a thermostat.

Infrared panel heaters are just 22mm thick, so they take up very little space when affixed to a wall or a ceiling. .

Mirrorstone Infrared Panel Heaters are available in many types and sizes to suit homes and businesses, tastes and needs. There are Image IR Panels that can have a picture printed directly onto their surface, meaning they blend into any form of décor.

Sleek Mirrored IR Panels are great in the bathroom as they never steam up, and White IR Panels are almost invisible when disguised as tiles in a suspended ceiling.

For more information, call 0116 436 2250 or visit the website at www.mirrorstoneheating.co.uk

My mate thought he was clever because his blood test results said A+.

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

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Home Builders pledge to solve skills gap THE HOME Building Skills Partnership has launched a Skills Pledge committing signatories to working with their subcontractors to recruit and train more people to the highest standards. Over 50 HBF members have signed up including all its larger members and an increasing number of medium and small ones – meaning companies responsible for well over half the homes built in England are already committed.

The Skills Pledge is the latest initiative to come out of the Home Building Skills Partnership, a pan industry body set up to tackle the industry’s skills shortage. The Partnership, set up 18 months ago is already starting to deliver on its objective of attracting and training the people the industry needs to deliver more, high quality homes in the future.

The Home Building Skills Pledge has been developed by the HBF and its members in recognition of the need to collaboratively tackle the home building skills shortage, and the importance of future proofing workforce skills – via new entry routes as well as developing existing talent. This will mean that quality homes can be built where and when they are needed.

The Skills Pledge covers five key areas: Collaborate and share; Train to a standard; Engage and support; Champion diversity and inclusion; and Promote careers. By signing up to Pledge, companies will also be supporting the HBF’s Home Building Skills Partnership and working to its shared goals.

A year on since it was established, much has been achieved through the Partnership’s three activity groups in terms of mobilising the sector and setting the foundations to develop initiatives that will help close the widening skills gap. ‘On a micro level also the Partnership is starting to make a real difference on the ground. In the last three months alone site managers and trainee site mangers have been put through over 200 training courses with another 550 planned for the next three months, whilst around 50 young people are currently being fast tracked into trade roles including bricklaying, dry lining and joinery.

Speaking at the launch of the Skills Pledge at HBF’s annual Housing Market Intelligence event in London, John Tutte, Group Chief Executive of Redrow Plc, and Chair of the Home Building Skills Partnership, said: “If we are

to develop the capacity and build the high quality homes the country desperately needs, we as an industry must commit to recruiting and training the right people – now and in future. The skills gap, whilst acknowledged by the sector, requires a collective and committed response if we are to tackle it sustainably in the long term. “The challenges posed by Brexit with regards to skills only make the need for effective collaboration more acute.

“It’s now the right moment to build on the achievements of the Home Building Skills Partnership over the last year and together send a powerful message, not only to the wider home building sector, but to government, education and careers providers, and of course, future recruits.”

Housing and Planning Minister Alok Sharma said: “This Government is committed to building many more homes in the places people want to live across the country. To do that we need an industry that has the right skills to build, including new and innovative methods.

“Our Housing White paper set

Charnwood Jelson Homes – Erection of 4 dwellings – at land opposite 1517 Dent Drive, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8NY. Fort Estates Ltd (c/o Agent: WRA Ltd) – Erection of 38 dwellings – at land at Oakley Road & Hallamford Road, Shepshed, Leics.

Housing and Planning Minister Alok Sharma out our plans to work with the Construction Leadership Council to encourage more investment in training. I’m pleased the HBF and CITB have committed to deliver 45,000 skilled workers by 2019.

“The Home Building Skills pledge shows the industry working collaboratively to ensure they’ve got a sustainable supply chain, and I look forward to seeing it result in even more skilled workers on the ground ready to build the homes this country needs.”

Mr T Howlett (c/o Agent: AM Planning Consultants Ltd) – Erection of up to 7 dwellings – at 64 Brick Kiln Lane, Shepshed, Leics. LE12 9EL Bloors Homes Ltd – Reserved matters application for layout for up to 160 dwellings (outline planning permission P/14/0428/2 refers) – at land off Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7GG.

New purpose built Special Educational Needs school welcomes its first pupils THE FIFTH and final school in the Leicestershire County Council’s special needs strategy, has been completed in time for the start of the 2017-18 year, by Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd. Birkett House School is on the Wigston Academy Campus in Leicestershire. This has allowed both the school and academy to work together and increase sharing and inclusion opportunities. The new school benefits all pupils with special needs in the area and will be home to 125 pupils ranging from 4 – 19 years old.

From the original idea through to completion of the project, there were three main concepts behind the new building: The creation of an up-lifting learning environment which allowed the teaching spaces to open out onto the best orientations on the site; close integration between staff and students; and the Head Teacher’s desire to be at the heart of the school using destination orientated circulation, allowing corridors not to just be there to provide access to the classrooms, but to take the children on a journey.

Wanting to draw out the best elements of similar projects, Andrew Hardy, Managing Director of A+G Architects, said, “With a daughter attending an SEN school, Birkett House was close to my heart and I was passionate to design a bespoke provision for special educational needs children. It delivers substantially enhanced possibilities; for the education and care of the children, to an enriched environment with high quality facilities for both students and staff alike.”

The external entrance canopy provides an attractive, covered area for pupils to be dropped off in the day, and the playground adds an interactive and stimulating environment. Internally is a myriad of colour to focus the eye with variations of aspects. A soft-play room, sensory rooms, and hydrotherapy pool bring much needed focus to pupils, and the curved corridor offers a journey throughout the school and exhibits an abundance of natural light.

Nigel Dutton, Project Team Leader at Leicestershire County Council, said, “We are delighted with the end result and the manner in which Birkett House has been completed. This has been a great testament to the understanding and needs of the staff and students.”

It’s amazing what fine poker hands I get when I play bridge.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Blakes Building Profiles

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

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Builders’ Problems SOLVED

Methods of resolving a dispute Problem:

IN SEPTEMBER of last year, the construction company that I work for completed a new-build project for a client.

The project was administered under the JCT Intermediate Form of Contract 2011. My company has since been attempting to agree a final account, but a year on from completion, we remain poles apart. It does look like that the only way this account will be finalised is through some form of dispute resolution process.

Can you please advise me what the possible options are for resolving the dispute, and their advantages and disadvantages?

Response: FIRSTLY, given that the Rectification Period would have expired by now, you would be wise to make sure that the Final Certificate has not been issued. This is because under the JCT IFC, if the Final Certificate has been issued then you only have 28 days after the issue date to challenge the same; otherwise it becomes final and conclusive as to the amount certified.

Subject to any amendments that may have been made to the standard clauses, you will have the option of adjudication and arbitration as formal processes to resolve the dispute, or if the arbitration clause has been deleted, litigation will then become an option.

Providing the employer is not acting in the capacity of a consumer / residential occupier (which your client will not be), then even if the adjudication clause is deleted, adjudication will still be implied by virtue of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended) – commonly referred to as the ‘Construction Act’. The main advantages of adjudication is speed and enforceability: Once a matter has been referred to an adjudicator, a decision can be made within 28 days (although this can be extended), and the decision can be enforced in the High Court, with enforcement rates running in excess of 95%. Other advantages are that it is [usually] cost-effective, especially when compared to arbitration and litigation (the speed being the factor), it is flexible and confidential. The disadvantages of adjudication are that relationships are soured, there is no joinder in proceedings and costs are usually irrecoverable, even for the successful party.

If an arbitration clause is retained in the contract, the main advantages will be the expertise of the arbitrator (who will be selected by the parties), flexibility (i.e. the venue), confidentiality, recovery of party costs and that the award will be binding. Disadvantages include no joinder in proceedings (unlike litigation), the cost (in particular for the losing party), and relationships are soured.

You could also consider litigation, even if the arbitration clause remains in the contract, although there would be a risk that the other party obtains a stay of proceedings.

You should however consider alternative forms of dispute resolution (“ADR”), prior to adjudication, arbitration or litigation, with negotiation and mediation at the top of that list for consideration. Both forms of ADR are relatively inexpensive whilst mediation, with the right mediator and a willingness from both parties to settle, having a high success rate. © Michael P. Gerard November 2017 The advice provided is intended to be of a general guide only and should not be viewed as providing a definitive legal analysis.

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.

Grade II-listed country house hits top price at SDL Leicester auction AN IMPRESSIVE Grade II-listed Georgian country house in Leicestershire caused a stir at the latest SDL Auctions Graham Penny auction in Leicester, selling for £475,000.

Although The Glen, on Moira Road, on the edge of Shellbrook, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, will need modernisation throughout, it was sold for £100,000 above its guide price of £375,000+.

The four bedroomed house has stylish mullioned windows throughout and stands in a oneacre plot of land surrounded by open countryside in the heart of The National Forest.

Carl Finch, senior valuer at SDL Auctions Graham Penny, said: “A number of competitive bidders were attracted by this

superb opportunity to own what could become a luxury house in substantial grounds, and we were pleased to gain a top price for the seller.”

The Glen was one of 20 properties offered at the auction at the King Power Stadium on Friday 6 October, when a total of £2.7m was raised.

Mr Finch said: “We had a successful day in a busy auction room, and our average success rate in Leicester this year is now 86 per cent, which is well above the national average.”

Another property that sold well was a substantial three-storey end villa at 156 Fosse Road South in Leicester, which had been marketed as having the potential to let as six individual rooms to generate rents in excess of £25,000 per annum.

This property sold after competitive bidding for £241,000, well above the guide price of £165,000+.

Meanwhile, a detached, threebedroom bungalow at 172 Humberstone Lane in Thurmaston sold for £204,000, and a three bedroomed town house at 4 Soar Way in Hinckley sold for £125,500.

Mr Finch added: “These results continue to show that investor confidence is high in the East Midlands.

“We are confident our next Leicester auction in November will see us building on these results and we would urge anyone wishing

to take advantage of the strong market to contact us immediately.”

SDL Auctions Graham Penny is inviting entries for Thursday 23 November, and anyone looking to sell their property can request a free auction appraisal by calling 0116 254 9654, emailing leicester@ sdlauctions.co.uk or visiting www. sdlauctions.co.uk.

My wife told me that I twist everything she says to my advantage. I take that as a compliment.

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

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Stephen George+Partners completes HQ redesign for William Davis STEPHEN GEORGE + PARTNERS, one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, has completed the redesign of the Loughborough head office of family-run housebuilder William Davis Ltd. SGP’s design focused on the reception and boardroom areas within the Georgian building which has been home of William Davis Ltd for over 60 years.

Stripping out the heavy dated furniture and fittings, SGP’s design used a fresh, subtle palette to create an understated contemporary look that would work with the fabric and style of the building.

In reception, the original open plan space was divided by a low level bespoke solid surface partition, to avoid blocking the natural light or sight lines outside. One side has informal seating and a low table whilst the other has a slightly more formal meeting-room style with a circular glass table and chairs. With the grey from the William Davis logo working well in the carpeting, the on-trend navy blue and mustard yellow palette was confined to the larger pieces of furniture to avoid overpowering the American white oak wall cladding. 3D vinyl wallpaper from Vescom adds a contrasting textured element to the walls.

In the office-cum-boardroom, adaptability and technology was the key, as the client needed his office to also act as a formal space to meet with colleagues and clients. The brief required very clean and uncluttered lines, so a bespoke floor-to-ceiling cupboard was designed to hide not only the office related paraphernalia but also a small kitchenette. The bespoke joinery and furniture was commissioned from Stonehouse Projects Ltd and the American Black walnut is a warm contrast to the simple white walls.

Comments Guy Higgins, Managing Director of William Davis Ltd: “We wanted to update our reception area and boardroom and had some idea of what was required, but needed some help to achieve the right look and feel. The results have exceeded our expectations and we have received many good comments from our clients and suppliers who often visit. The attention to detail that Stephen George + Partners, and in particular Jess, put into the project has really paid off. The space really needed that design flair. I don’t think anyone could fail to be impressed when they walk into the building now.”

Strata Homes Ltd (c/o Agent: Pegasus Group) – Erection of 79 dwellings with associated works following demolition of dwelling at 62 Iveshead Road – at land at and to the rear of 62 Iveshead Road, Shepshed, Leics. LE12 9ER. Mrs Rachel Owen (c/o Agent: Russell Construction Ltd) – Erection of 2 new industrial units with associated access, landscaping, car parking and service areas, following demolition of existing buildings – at land at Pinfold Road, Thurmaston, Leics. LE4 8AS. Mr T Howlett (c/o Agent: Proposed outline application for 3 bungalows, demolition of ngarages and stables, including the relocation of timber stables – at 64 Brick Kiln Lane, Shepshed, Leics.

LE12 9EL Mrs Caroline Wild (c/o Agent: WRA Ltd) – Site for the erection of approximately 33 dwellings – at Stables, Oakley Road, Shepshed, Leics. LE12 9AU.

Migration Watch UK is wrong to say no need for EU workers, says FMB MIGRATION WATCH UK is wrong to suggest that there is no need for EU workers, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Commenting on the Migration Watch UK paper published in October, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Migration Watch’s conclusion that there is no real need for EU workers flies in the face of the experience of key sectors like construction. The sector is undoubtedly facing serious skills shortages, and in certain areas of the country ongoing inflows of EU workers have served to mitigate this and help the industry and economy continue to grow. We accept that free movement will end in the years following the UK’s exit from the EU, but the Government needs to be realistic and flexible and take account of the likely ongoing need for key sectors like construction. “ Berry concluded: “The shortage of skilled workers is fast rising up the list of barriers to small and medium-sized (SME) builders in their quest to grow and build more of the homes the UK so desperately needs. Recent research from the FMB shows that over the next three years, as Brexit becomes a reality, half of SME house builders believe the skills shortage will be a barrier to growth than more traditional concerns such as the planning system. Over a third of SME house builders currently employ EU workers and this rises to 70% in London and the South East. A third of these employers believe that the end of free movement could be a major barrier to their ability to grow. If the Government gets this wrong, there is a real possibility that skills shortages will further intensify, threatening the delivery of new housing with a knock-on effect on growth across the wider economy.”

My girlfriend left me because she couldn’t handle my OCD. I told her to close the door five times on her way out.

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I have like 26 photos of my entire childhood. Most of you probably have that many selfies from this morning.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Glass panelled roof reconstruction ‘exceeds expectations’ Mr M Harvey (c/o Agent: A+G Architects Ltd) – Extension to existing classroom block to provide 2 new classrooms with separate entrances, floodlighting to playground and minor amendments to existing building – at Hall Orchard Church of England Primary School, Church Street, Barrow upon Soar, Leics. LE12 8HP. Mr Doug Nicholls (c/o Agent: Corstorphine & Wright) – Variation of condition 2 of P/15/2400/2 – Erection of two-storey extension to hotel, erection of nursery building, erection of 9 dwellings and change of use of the existing nursery to offices – to enable revisions to design and layout – at 84 & 88 Wood Lane, (GFTU & Quorn Grange Hotel), Quorn, Leics.

LE12 8DB. Mr Bill Griffiths (c/o Agent: YMD Boon Ltd) – Erection of single storey extension to south side of existing classroom block including render and timber, to provide additional 3 classrooms – at Eastfield Primary School, Eastfield Road, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8FP.

A COMPLEX project to replace the innovative Stirling and Gowan glass panelled roof has been completed and ‘exceeds expectations’ says the University of Leicester.

The ambitious project to replace the roof of our world-famous Engineering Building, which saw all the 2,500 glass panels of the diamond-shaped roof reconstructed and replaced to exacting standards, has been officially completed.

Taking nearly two years of intricate work on site to accomplish, the extraordinary results of this technically demanding project was celebrated by the University on Monday 9th October.

The complex project, delivered by a consortium of partners including Lendlease and other trade packages, required demanding engineering solutions to overcome the challenges of enhancing an historic building, and contemporary technical requirements, whilst maintaining the exterior aesthetic. The glazing system for the roof is a bespoke installation where no empirical industry standards could be applied.

Designed by architects Stirling and Gowan, the Grade II* listed building is recognised internationally as one of the most significant buildings of the 20th century and is considered an architectural icon. The building, constructed in the 1960s, had a unique glass roof and vertical glazed panels system which reached the end of its useful life.

Following detailed negotiations with the University, Leicester City Council, Historic England and the 20th Century Society, work began on site in 2015. The aim was that the new roof and other works will provide a faithful recreation of the different geometric profiles and forms and extend the functionality of the building for another fifty years.

The Daily Telegraph included the Engineering Building in a national list of the fifty most famous structures in the UK, including Hadrian’s Wall and Stonehenge, in 2008. Among its many other plaudits, it has been hailed as one of the top 10 most inspiring buildings in the UK and most recently, was listed as one of the ‘world’s best unsung buildings’ by The Guardian.

Tel: 0116 2853 777 Leema Technologies Limited.

The Warehouse, 1a Stamford Street, Leicester LE1 6NL My mate just got a job as safety officer in a kids playground. I think his career’s on the slide.

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Leicester prepares to use compulsory purchase powers in new roads scheme LEICESTER CITY Council says it intends to use compulsory purchase order powers to push on with its plans for a new link road scheme to improve bus reliability and journey times out of the city centre.

The council is set to begin the legal process that would grant it powers to acquire the land and access rights it needs for the scheme in the Belgrave Gate/ Mansfield Street area, if ongoing attempts to buy it by agreement are unsuccessful.

The land is required for a new road that would link Belgrave Gate with Mansfield Street, providing a much quicker route out of the city centre for buses leaving the Haymarket bus station. It would also enable Mansfield Street to be upgraded, making it suitable for buses and improving the environment for pedestrians.

Talks with the owners of the land – partly a car park, and partly access roads to properties facing Belgrave Gate and Church Gate – have been under way since 2014, but the council is now ready to start the legal process that will give it the

powers it needs to acquire the land and the access rights required for the scheme.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) can only be used as a last resort, but – after three years trying to buy the land through negotiation – we’re ready to go down that route in order to deliver this vital scheme for the city.

“We will obviously continue our negotiations, but should we be unsuccessful in acquiring the land by agreement, we will formally make the order to the Secretary of State in November.”

With the new link road in place, buses would no longer need to use Haymarket and Church Gate – paving the way for plans to pedestrianise the two streets.

The new link road, together with an upgraded Sandacre Street, would also form a new pedestrian route between the city’s two bus stations.

“Better links for pedestrians, improved bus reliability, and quicker journey times for passengers will all help make bus travel more attractive to people travelling in and out of the city centre,” said the City Mayor.

The scheme is part of the City Mayor’s Connecting Leicester project, which is improving routes through the city centre for pedestrians while making it more attractive to investors and developers.

Subject to the acquisition of the required land by agreement, work on the new link road could get under way in April 2018, although any acquisition through a CPO would take significantly longer. Once work starts on site, the new road would take around eight months to build, with the pedestrianisation of Haymarket/ Church Gate getting under way once the road was complete.

The Belgrave Gate and Mansfield Street Link Road and Improvement Scheme is supported by the Government’s Local Growth Fund.

Funding of £6million has already been allocated to the project, but the City Mayor now intends to approve further spending of £2.5million to cover the estimated costs of the whole scheme. This additional funding will be met by Section 106 contributions expected from the Castle Acres retail park development.

Hinckley & Bosworth Raja Mahal & Mandeep Poonian (c/o Agent: Malcolm Goodall, The Drawing Room Architects Ltd, 130 Moat Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2GE) – Erection of 14 dwellings – at land at St Marys Court, Barwell, Leics. LE9 8DF. Bedford Builders Ltd (c/o Agent: Sam Dearlove, Brian Dearlove Partnership, Unit D, Edward House, Grange Business Park, Enderby Road, Whetstone, Leicester LE8 6EP) – Erection of 6 dwellings – at 51 Main Street, Desford, Leics.

LE9 9GR. Mr Anil Hindocha (c/o Agent: David Boden, Boden Associates, 61 High Road, Chilwell, Nottingham NG9 4AJ) – Approval of reserved matters of outline planning permission 14/01241/OUT for residential development of 13 dwellings – at 20 Shaw Lane, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9PU.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Leicestershire County Council – New 6-classroom two-storey block and new single classroom single-storey block plus 2 admin extensions to main school; increase size of car park – at Sketchley Hill County Primary School, Sketchley Road, Burbage, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 2DY. GPH Hinckley Road Development Ltd (c/o Agent: Hayward Architects Ltd, 19 Station Road, Hinckley, Leics.

LE10 1AW) – Proposed residential development of 8 dwellings – at 65 Hinckley Road, Burbage, Leics. LE10 2AF.

Melton Borough Chris & Ian Carr (c/o Agent: Thomas Glenn, HSSP Architects Ltd, Pera Business Park, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE13 0PB) – Construction of 10 new dwellings with community car park and bus turning area – at Field 7900, Wartnaby Road, Ab Kettleby, Leics.

Mrs E Greaves (c/o Agent: Mike Sibthorp, Logan House, Lime Grove, Grantham NG31 9JD) – Residential development of 4 three-bed semi-detached dwellings – at The Limes Farm, 37 Middle Lane, Nether Broughton, Leics. LE14 3HD. Unnamed Applicant (c/o Agent: George Machin, GraceMachin Planning & Property, 5 Malin Hill, Plumptre Square, Lace Market, Nottingham NG1 1JK) – Outline application for up to 45 dwellings (Resubmission) – at Field OS No. 7000, Bescaby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds, Leics.

Tel: 01530 244069 • EMAIL: INFO@BUILDERMAGAZINES.CO.UK

APS and CABE join forces to save lives on building sites A GROUND-BREAKING initiative designed to make buildings safer for both construction workers and users in the future has been launched by the Association for Project Safety (APS) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) The move follows industry-wide action to examine and strengthen further health and safety practices in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy earlier this year The initiative aims to improve the health of construction workers while cutting the number of accidents and injuries which persist in the industry.

Lesley McLeod, APS CEO, said: “I am delighted the Association for Project Safety has joined up with the CABE to widen the pool of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) available to the members of both organisations. APS is committed to working closely with other professional construction bodies to make sure all members have access to the skills, knowledge and experience to reduce the risk of death, accident and ill health associated with construction. I am also looking forward to seeing CABE members at our events, where their specific areas of expertise will bring valuable perspective to the conversation taking place on the day.”

Dr John Hooper, CABE CEO, added: “In our changing environment it is essential for all professionals to remain competent in their areas of specialism, and CABE delivers a wide range of CPD to assist professionals in achieving this. Regardless of specialism, we must all take responsibility for health and safety, and this initiative with the APS will help broaden our support to members and provide a wider range of networking opportunities for both organisations.”

Both the APS and the CABE have regions covering the whole of the British Isles, and the partnership between the two organisations will generate jointly organised events, as well as attendance at one another’s events, increasing members’ ability to ensure health, welfare and safety on construction sites across the whole of the UK. The associations plan to work together to bring members of the two organisations more regional CPD initiatives and lower-cost attendance at one another’s local and national events.

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!

Land for sale at the SDL Leicester Auction THE NEXT SDL Leicester Auction takes place on Thursday 23rd November 2017 at The Keith Weller Suite, Leicester City Football Club, King Power Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester LE2 7FL – 11.30am start.

Two lots of land in Nuneaton will be of interest to local builders and developers: • Land to the rear of 122 Green Lane, Nuneaton, Warks.

CV10 9EQ: A development site with planning permission for 3 townhouses. Guide Price: £135,000.

• Garage & Land, Regent Street, Nuneaton, Warks. CV11 4BL: A parcel of land which houses a total of 10 garages, with planning consent (ref: 034193) for a three-storey building containing 6 apartments. Guide Price: £135,000.

For more information, contact SDL Auctions on 0116 254 9654 or visit the website at www. sdlauctions.co.uk

Newhall site for 5 units NEWTON FALLOWELL are asking £180,000 for a development opportunity to the rear of 61 High Street, Newhall, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 0HT. The site has planning consent (ref: 9/2016/0931) for 3 threebed town houses and 2 two-bed apartments.

For more information, contact Newton Fallowell on 01283 217772 or email: swadlincote@ newtonfallowell.co.uk

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Desford plot

“What inspires you about construction?”

The 0.5 acre plot is situated at Lindridge Lane, Desford, Leicester.

Offers in the region of £350,000 are invited.

For more information, contact Savills on 0115 934 8020 or visit www.savills.co.uk

THE JCT STUDENT Competition 2018 is now open for entry, with a £1000 grand prize available for the student who can produce the best answer to what inspires them about construction.

SAVILLS are offering for sale a building plot with full planning consent for a 5-bed property.

Warton plot for bungalow HOWKINS & HARRISON are offering for sale BY AUCTION a building plot with planning permission (ref: PAP/2017/0304) for a bungalow.

The plot - at Austrey Road, Warton, Near Tamworth, Staffs.

B79 0HN - has a guide price of £80,000-£100,000.

The auction takes place on 14th November 2017 at The Sketchley Grange Hotel, Burbage, Hinckley, Leics.

For more information, contact Howkins & Harrison on 01827 721380 or email: athrural@ howkinsandharrison.co.uk

JCT’s student competition offers £1000 prize for the best answer

The competition asks students about what aspect of the construction industry or process inspires them. They may wish to describe a public building, which could be local or a famous international landmark, and explain what aspects of the building or its construction they find inspiring.

Alternatively, they can choose and talk about an element of the building or construction process - be it aesthetics or design, function, innovative or creative features, sustainability and positive environmental impacts, social impacts, or another feature of the construction industry that is of interest to them.

Students can choose any format in creating their entry. It could be an article or essay, video, photographic presentation or slideshow, poster or graphic design, or any format that the student wishes to use to enable them to produce an interesting and creative piece of work.

The competition is open to any student (age 16 and above) registered with a UK educational or professional institution, studying a construction related programme, apprenticeship, or with an interest in the construction industry.

As well as the £1000 grand prize, there will be prizes of £250 available for runners-up.

In addition to the main competition, JCT is running a separate selfie photo competition. To enter, students must submit a selfie of themselves interacting with a building or something construction related in a creative, interesting or humorous way. JCT will be offering a range of smaller prizes including a £50 Amazon voucher for the best entry.

The competition is open for entry now and closes on Wednesday 14th March 2018.

Full information about the competition can be found at https://corporate. jctltd.co.uk/students.

Homelessness charity opens new 4,600 sq ft centre in Leicester THE BRIDGE – Homelessness to Hope charity has opened a new 4,600 sq ft centre on Melton Street in Leicester.

The Hope Centre will enable the charity to extend its range of specialist support services including mentoring and mental health wellbeing, and to provide up to 100 early breakfast servings for rough sleepers per week and almost 10,000 meals per year to the homeless and vulnerable.

Run by over 60 volunteers plus three part- and full-time staff, the Bridge has been helping homeless people to turn their lives around since 2009. The charity was previously based at the Salvation Army centre in Leicester city centre.

The Bridge – Homelessness to Hope also offers a place to talk and be listened to; advice, support, guidance and sign posting; outreach and support for rough sleepers; mentoring; an informal, holistic approach to health and well-being; focused recovery support groups; connections with like-minded agencies; Faith in Action; and most importantly, hope.

The new centre is located at a former hosiery factory at Melton Street, Leicester. It is open on Thursdays (from 6.30-8pm) and Sundays (3-5pm) and currently from Monday to Friday (6-8am) for rough sleepers only.

Rebekah Vardy, media personality, charity supporter and wife of footballer, Jamie Vardy, officially opened the new centre.

Harborough District Mr & Mrs P Round (c/o Agent: Michael Collins Architect, 118 South Knighton Road, Leicester LE2 3LQ) – Demolition of triple garage and erection of a pair of semi-detached dwellings (Resubmission) – at Bosworth House, Berridges Lane, Husbands Bosworth, Leics. LE17 6LQ. Mr Simon Cohen (c/o Agent: ADM Surveyors Ltd, Suite 1, Rosehill, 165 Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leics.

LE8 4DX) – Internal alterations to a disused Residential Institute to create 2 dwelling houses – at 27 High Street, Husbands Bosworth, Leics. LE17 6LJ. Francis Jackson Homes Ltd (c/o: 6 High Street, Olney, Buckinghamshire MK46 4BB) – Erection of 27 dwellings, including affordable housing, plus accesses to the public highway – at land east side of Mill Lane, Gilmorton, Leics.

Miller Homes Ltd, David Briggs & John Briggs (c/o: Miller Homes Ltd, 2 Centro Place, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8RF) – Erection of 110 dwellings and associated landscaping and open space – at land south east of Warwick Road, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leics.

YourLife Management Services Ltd & McCarthy & Stone (c/o Agent: The Planning Bureau Ltd, Orion House, Orion Way, Kettering NN15 6PE) – Erection of 58 Extra Care Accommodation apartments with associated landscaping and car parking – at Development 6, Peaker Park, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leics.

Our village has a tiny ghost that helps out during hard times. It’s good to have a little community spirit.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Leicester Diocesan Board of Education (c/o Agent: Andrew Granger & Co, Phoenix House, 52 High Street, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7AF) – Outline application for the erection of 5 dwellings and a Children’s Play Area (Revised scheme) – at Hanbury Centre, Stonton Road, Church Langton, Leics. LE16 7SZ.

Residential development opportunity in West Bridgford

Westleigh appoints Director to its timber frame division

HEB Chartered Surveyors are offering for sale a development site with full planning consent for 9 apartments plus a gymnasium.

The site - at 134a Trent Boulevard, Lady Bay, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5BW - is a flat site with a residential dwelling to the front and workshops to the rear.

Planning permission has been granted for demolition of the existing house and ancillary buildings and the erection of two apartment blocks comprising 8 two-bed apartments, a further one-bed apartment, plus a gymnasium and car parking.

Total site area: 0.22 acres.

Offers are invited in the region of £695,000.

For more information, contact Matthew Hilton at heb on 0115 950 6612 or email: mhilton@heb. co.uk

Mr Ken Galway (c/o Agent: Landmark Planning Ltd, 10 Salisbury Road, Leicester LE1 7QR) – Change of use of land for the siting of 20 leisure lodges – at Innarla Caravan Park, Hallaton Road, Medbourne, Leics. LE16 8DR. Mr Brown (c/o Agent: Staniforth Architects, The warehouse, 1A Stamford Street, Leicester LE1 6NL) – Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 2 dwellings – at Mayfield, Leicester Road, Tilton on the Hill, Leics. LE7 9DB.

Continued over the page ...>

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LEADING developer of affordable and open-market housing, Westleigh Partnerships Ltd, has promoted the head of its timber frame division, David Thacker, to the position of Westframe Director.

David has enjoyed a career spanning three decades with Westleigh, starting as a joiner and quickly progressing to the rank of Senior Site Manager. He established Westframe in 2002 and as General Manager, took up a role in the divisional management team. He has now been awarded the position of Westframe Director.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity and I look forward to growing the Westframe side of our business even further.

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06/10/2017 13:22

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Tel: 01530 244069 • EMAIL: INFO@BUILDERMAGAZINES.CO.UK

Apprentices taken on to help Site for up to 50 dwellings maintain housing stock in Great Bowden TWENTY-THREE apprentices who have completed their training with Leicester City Council have now been taken on permanently.

The ‘craft trade’ apprentices will all work in the council’s housing department, helping to maintain Leicester’s 21,000-strong stock of council houses.

About half of the apprentices have completed a two-year programme in general building skills such as plastering and bricklaying, with the others completing a five-year programme that also includes specialist training in gas and electrics.

Eight of the apprentices who have now been taken on permanently are women. Each year, the council runs a Women In Construction campaign to encourage women into craft trades, where they are under-represented.

Cllr Andy Connelly, assistant city mayor responsible for housing, said: “It’s great news that we have been able to take on these apprentices permanently. As well as supporting local employment and the city’s business economy, this demonstrates that we, as a council, are committed to training people in a variety of skills and that in return, our apprentices are happy to stay with us when the time comes for them to look for a job.

“This means we get high quality, skilled employees, while our apprentices benefit from new qualifications and greater earning power. It’s win-win.”

Victoria Forest, 32, completed the five-year apprenticeship programme and has now been taken on as one of the council’s multi-trade operatives.

She said: “I never really got on with school and I worked in a fast-food restaurant for a number of years. But then I decided I wanted a career, not just a job.

“I knew I didn’t want a desk job – I wanted something where I could be active – and my granddad was a plumber, so I thought about trying that. I found out about Women In Construction, gave it a try and really liked it.

“I’m really happy now to have a job doing what I’ve been trained to do.”

Further information on apprenticeship opportunities across the city council ­can be found at www.leicester.gov.uk/apprenticeships

Get the best trade windows and doors

MATHER JAMIE are offering for sale a residential development opportunity with Outline Planning Approval for up to 50 dwellings.

The site - off Leicester Lane, Great Bowden, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7HA - extends to 5.91 acres and has a net developable area of 3.5s acres.

It comprises a principally greenfield parcel of agricultural land, bounded by residential land to the east, Leicester Lane to the south and agricultural land to the OUTSTANDING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY northern and western boundaries.

Land off Leicester Lane Great Bowden, Marketwas Harborough, Leicestershire Outline Planning Permission (ref: 16/01942/OUT) granted by Harborough District Council on 18th October 2017 for the erection of up to 50 dwellings.

For details of the purchaser’s obligations, Section 106 Agreement and Affordable Housing information, visit the sale website at www.matherjamie. co.uk/greatbowden The site is to be offered for sale to a shortlist of housebuilders subject to contract. Offers are to be submitted to Karl Edwards at Gladman Developments and Robert Cole at Mather Jamie by email by 12 noon on Friday 24th November 2017 using the offer pro forma, which is available from the microsite (www.matherjamie.co.uk/greatbowden).

For more information, or to obtain a password to access the sale website, contact Robert Cole or Gary Kirk at Mather Jamie on 01509 233433 (email: robert.cole@matherjamie.co.uk or gary.kirk@matherjamie.co.uk).

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If your name is Andre, when writing, you should think twice before you sign off with a kiss.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Leicestershire County Council (c/o: Strategic Property Services, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA) – Erection of B1 office space 1,610sqm) including installation of 125 car parking spaces, erection of external plant compound and refuse area – at land off Coventry Road/Fairacres Caravan Site, Lutterworth, Leics.

Former garment manufacturing building in Leicester earmarked for 31 flats

Ancaster service station with development potential CHRISTIE & CO are offering for sale Ancaster Service Station, Willoughby Road, Ancaster NG32 3RT. The entire site measures approximately 5 acres and there is potential for development.

NW Leics.

Mr Ian Stanley (c/o Agent: Alan Filby, A+G Architects Ltd, 11 Leicester Road, Loughbrough, Leics. LE11 2AE) – Conversion of first floor and second floor into 11 flats with communal facilities – at 3-6 Marlborough Square, Coalville, Leics. LE67 3WD. Keller New Homes Ltd (c/o Agent: David Granger Design Ltd, The Old Dairy, Mill Street, Packington, Ashby de la Zouch, Leics. LE65 1WN) – Proposed residential development of 13 dwellings – at land at Prior Park Road, Ashby de la Zouch, Leics.

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PLANS HAVE been submitted to construct a seven-storey apartment block in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter .

If granted approval the scheme will see the Southampton Street car park and a building utilised for manufacturing garments transformed into 31 flats.

Planning permission was granted in 2008 for a nine-storey building with 31 flats but was never implemented.

A final decision is expected to be made in the coming months.

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The asking price is £950,000.

For details, contact Stephen Bell at Christie & Co on 0121 452 3707 or email: stephen. bell@christie.com

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The trick to really enjoying someone’s company is to not spend a lot of time with them.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Apartment development opportunity in Loughborough

Granite House a firm foundation for growth GRANITE HOUSE at Watermead Business Park near Syston is available for lease, located on this prestigious north Leicester Business Park, providing ideal premises for company headquarters.

The two-storey building is available on a new lease as a whole, or floor-by-floor splits will be considered.

Prominently located next to the landmark Bentley car showroom and overlooking the main A607 linking directly to the A46, Granite House is an impressive, detached modern premises comprising c 48,500sq ft of space. The building is 15 minutes’ drive from Leicester city centre and 25 minutes from Nottingham.

With a contemporary gabled and glass-fronted façade, Granite House was constructed in 2003 to a rectangular design, with offices set around a central open courtyard, providing an ideal breakout area, fully landscaped and with a feature fishpond and fountain. There is also extensive parking, with 352 spaces.

Inside, flexible open plan wings span both floors, accessed from the central front reception area by two passenger lifts and stairs. Office space is designed to a high specification, with air conditioning, raised floors and suspended ceilings, with LED lighting throughout.

Watermead Business Park was developed by Raynsway Properties to create an impressive, north Leicester commercial gateway, offering top quality premises on one side of the A46 and Watermead Country Park with the River Soar and Grand Union Canal on the other.

Today it is home to major brand names, including Lamborghini, Dunelm, Flogas, Hanson and Interserve.

Everest’s new SmartLock takes home security to a higher level EVEREST Home Improvements has taken home security to a higher level again with the launch of the Everest SmartLock from Yale.

The keyless SmartLock offers four different options for unlocking the door – a mobile app, phone tag, keycard or keytag – and up to 50 tags and cards can be paired with each SmartLock. As well as benefiting from keyless locking, the home owner can send virtual keys remotely via their Smartphone, making lost or loaned keys a thing of the past.

The SmartLock model is the Yale Conexis L1, which works simply by pulling the door closed and lifting the handle, using the multipoint locking system that has been tried-and-tested for years. It plays a short tune to confirm when it is locked and it even has a tamper alarm for added security, providing greater confidence for the home owner.

SmartLock is now available as an optional upgrade to Everest’s 44mm and 70mm composite doors. For further information, visit www.everest.co.uk/ smartlock/

A GREAT opportunity to purchase a freehold development site earmarked for new housing in Loughborough is now available through leading East Midlands surveyors Mather Jamie.

The site on Frederick Street which is now disused and standing empty, has planning consent for demolition and redevelopment, providing for seven two bedroom self-contained apartments plus parking spaces.

The site, which is located close to the junction of Packe Street and Granby Street in Loughborough, and is just a short walk from a local Sainsbury’s superstore, Queens Park and a selection of popular bars and restaurants, has been granted planning permission by Charnwood Borough Council.

Alex Reid, Director of Mather Jamie, said, “This is an ideal opportunity for investors/developers to acquire a centrally located development site in Loughborough, with planning for residential dwellings in the town centre.

The self-contained apartments earmarked for this site would be suitable for many types of tenants or purchasers.

“Being so close to the town centre and the Loughborough University campus, and with excellent road links to Junctions 23 and 23a of the M1, East Midlands Airport and other major routes.”

Loughborough has a bustling town centre and a popular University, recently named by the Times Higher Education Supplement as having the best student experience in the UK. For details of this and other development opportunities in the East Midlands area, please call Alex Reid 01509 233433 or visit www. matherjamie.co.uk.

Grave certainties AS A BAGPIPER, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man with no family or friends.

The service was to be at a cemetery some distance away. As I was not familiar with the area, I got lost, and finally arrived an hour late. The funeral director and hearse were long gone. There were only the diggers left and they were eating lunch. I went to the side of the grave and looked down. The lid was partially covered with soil. The diggers stared at me over their sandwiches, and I sensed their reproach that I had deserted this dead man in his final hour of need. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.

The diggers looked quite startled at this, and put down their lunches. But they stood quietly enough while I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. And as I played ‘Amazing Grace,’ the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together.

When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full. As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, ‘I never seen nothin’ like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.’

So, apparently I’m still lost....

The downside of dating intelligent women is having to Google what they call you when it ends badly.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Mosaic sculptures at The Millstones Mr R Whitehorn (c/o Agent: John Pearson, JDP Architects, Manor Barn, Lullington Road, Coton in the Elms, DE12 8EP) – Removal of existing store and new extension to industrial building – at Coalville Glass, Old Station Close, Coalville, Leics. LE67 3FH. Mr Desmond Fagan (c/o Agent: Chris Collins, 14 Sunnyside, Newhall, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 0TJ) – Erection of 6 dwellings – at land adjacent to 10 Edward Street, Albert Village, Leics.

Mr & Mrs Charles Meynell (c/o Agent: Andrew Shannon, Montague Architects Ltd, 9 Vernon Street, Derby DE1 1FR) Conversion and extension of outbuilding and garage block into 5 residential units for holiday accommodation – at Breedon Hall, Main Street, Breedon on the Hill, Derby DE73 8AN. Mr Keith Beesley (c/o Agent: Nick Cooper, HSSP Architects Ltd, Pera Business Park, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE13 0PB) – Erection of 2 dwellings – at 34 Blackfordby Lane, Moirta, Swadlincote, Derby DE12 6EY. Mrs Jasdeep Dave (c/o Agent: David Walton, The Environment Partnership, Genesis Centre, Garrett Field, Warrington WA3 7BH) – Residential development of up to 144 dwellings and erection of cafe/visitor centre/rangers’ office, installation of a play area, landscaping and car aprks – at Snibston Discovery Park, Ashby Road, Coalville, Leics.

LE67 3LN.

SIX MOSAIC sculptures have been installed at David Wilson Homes’ Queniborough development The Millstones on Melton Road.

The public art, which will be located on Millstone Road at the development, has been commissioned by David Wilson Homes as part of the planning agreement with Charnwood Borough Council, and designed by Mosaic Artist Julie Vernon.

The artwork includes a millstone sculpture made from colourful glass mosaics and five natural stone pieces, which continue the bright and inspirational theme with different David Wilson Homes Sales Adviser Rashmi with the new coloured mosaics worked into them. public art at The Millstones In a bid to consult local residents before designing the artwork, Julie worked closely with the developers to host a public workshop at Syston Town Hall, where members of the WI, local history group and friendship group were asked for their opinions on what artwork they would like to see.

From the feedback, where people expressed they wanted something colourful that used natural elements of stonework, Julie started working on the pieces which took just over six months to create.

Since the development is called ‘The Millstones’ she also came up with the design of a millstone sculpture in the style of a colour wheel, which is the focus piece of the mosaic works.

Julie, who has her own studio in Edwalton, Nottinghamshire, said: “I feel really privileged to have been asked to do the public art work for the Queniborough development and that David Wilson Homes had the trust and confidence in me to execute the design in its entirety.

“They allowed me great freedom with the design and I’m really thrilled with the end results. It has been one of the most rewarding projects I have worked on and really hope that the success of this leads to other public art projects in the future.

“I think adding an element of public art to new homes development is really important, bringing a uniqueness and personality to the neighborhood. It makes our surroundings inspiring, colourful and happy places to be and hopefully generates a conversation, encouraging people to think and pay attention to their environment.”

Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel to open at Loughborough University LOUGHBOROUGH University is creating a dedicated 4-star Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel (EAC) comprised of 44 bedrooms.

It will provide a unique sports hotel that promotes rest, relaxation, and the pursuit of excellence. Set in the heart of Loughborough University’s world-leading sports facilities, this inspiring high-performance environment offers aspirational space for athletes, businesses and fitness enthusiasts to be the best they can be.

With 20 specially designed altitude rooms, eight dedicated accessible bedrooms, a nutrition lounge, café and athletes’ relaxation area and seminar space for 30, the inspirational facility is a European first. Packages will include access to the UK’s leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff; it boasts the country’s largest concentration of high quality sports training facilities and is an aspirational backdrop for businesses and individuals wanting to improve their performance.

Loughborough University’s Executive Director of Sport, John Steele comments: “The Elite Athlete Centre is an outstanding addition to Loughborough’s already excellent sporting heritage and combines with existing facilities to provide a truly world class venue for high performance athletes and teams.”

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I came into this world screaming and I still haven’t stopped.

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Permissions for new John Lester Partnership homes highest on record Celebrate a Quarter as Help to Buy boosts Century in Business builders’ investment in future sites Afternoon at the Races

FIRST-TIME buyer scheme is driving demand and supply is following – but industry needs certainty on its future

ON MONDAY 25 September, John Lester Partnership hosted an “Afternoon at the Races” at Leicester Racecourse to celebrate 25 years of trading.

The practice was established in 1992 by Managing Director John Lester MRICS and for the whole of that time the directors have been offering Professional Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Employers Agent and associated services to a wide range of clients.

The afternoon was enjoyed by current and past members of the team as well as clients both old and new, who were entertained

QUARTER OF A CENTURY IN BUSINESS: Managing Director John Lester (centre), with Directors Adrian Dean (left) and Eleftherios Patsalides (right) with the advice from the tipster and John delivered a speech, recalling the highs and lows of the last 25 years of trading in the modern construction industry.

Many of the practice’s clients who attended the celebration have worked closely with the practice over the entire 25 years to mutual advantage.

Cedar House Development Of Clifton Triangle Gets Underway CLIFTON’S most talked about development scheme has now started on site and received a visit from Lilian Greenwood MP for Nottingham South in October following the demolition of the existing buildings.

Clifton Triangle, located at Green Lane, Clifton, is a mixed-use scheme being developed by Cedar House Investments, adjacent to the main retail centre of the town. Construction by local contractor Clegg Group started on site at the end of July and recently reached its first milestone as the derelict office, Fairham House, was demolished and the site cleared ready for building work to start.

The development will see a 20,500 sq ft Lidl supermarket, five further retail units including B&M Bargains, a café/restaurant and 24 apartments built on site and will create more than 130 jobs in the local area.

Lilian Greenwood MP, who personally campaigned for national retailer Lidl to join the development, said: ““It was great to see the site this week as the Clifton Triangle development will be fantastic for the Clifton area, bringing local jobs and much-needed additional housing to a previously neglected patch of land.”

The number of planning permissions granted in the year to June was the highest for a 12 month period since 2006 when HBF and Glenigan started the Housing Pipeline reports. Driven by strong demand for new homes from the Help to Buy scheme permission for 321,982 new homes were granted in the most recent 12 months.

There is a strong correlation between planning permissions granted today and new homes completions two to three years down the line (see graph 1 below) and the figures demonstrate the confidence of builders as firsttime buyers continue to use the Help to Buy scheme to get on the housing ladder. (Graph 2 below shows how permissions have increased since the scheme was introduced.) Over 200,000 people, the vast majority first time buyers, now live in a new build home as a result of the Help to Buy scheme that was introduced four years ago.

The industry is urging Government to clarify the future of the scheme beyond its current expiry date of 2021, with investment decisions on land, training and supply chains increasingly needing to factor in whether the scheme will still be supporting sales. Help to Buy has helped the new build sector and the first-time buyer segment of the market to buck the generally slower wider housing market.

‘Stepping up’, an HBF report looking at the impact the Help to Buy scheme has had on the housing market, shows that the scheme now accounts for 1 in 12 of all households making their first steps on the housing ladder and is driving industry confidence to invest in new sites at a time when activity in the market generally remains stubbornly slow.

Over 170,000 jobs continue to be supported by the homes built each year with support from the Help to Buy scheme; and housing supply has increased by 50% since its introduction in 2013.

A strong pipeline of planning permissions is essential if builders are to further increase build out rates. If permissions can be processed quickly to the point where they can be built, it will enable builders to speed up work on existing sites confident that their next sites will be ready to move on to.

Whilst the overall number of planning permissions is at a high, there are still concerns as to how long many of these permissions will take to process to the stage they can actually be built – in many cases three to four years.

There are also concerns that whilst the number of actual houses granted permission is rising, the number of sites they are on continues to drop, an indication that bigger sites are increasingly being allocated. The industry needs to see a mix of site sizes being given permission and is urging local authorities to allocate more smaller sites, a move that would help smaller builders in particular and lead to increases in both the number of homes being built and industry capacity.

‘Stepping up’ also explores the other economic benefits that Help to Buy is bringing to communities around the country. The 39,813 homes delivered through the scheme in the year to April supported 170,000 jobs both directly and indirectly, generated £63m towards spending on education (enough to support 15,000 school places) and £51m in Council Tax for local councils.

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation said: “These record planning permission figures are a clear indication that housebuilders are committed to increasing housing output. We’ve seen 50% growth in output over the last three years and these figures indicate that progress can continue.

“The Help to Buy scheme hasn’t just helped 200,000 people buy a home; it has helped them to buy a new build home which is, in turn, boosting supply and generating huge benefits for communities, councils and the Exchequer.

“While the availability of mortgages has improved since 2013, without Help to Buy, a first-time buyer would once again be forced to find tens of thousands of pounds just to fund a deposit.

“Ultimately If people can buy, builders can build and confidence in demand is crucial to future build rates. The figures show that if demand for new homes remains strong and the planning system processes applications efficiently, further increases in build rates can be delivered in the coming years.”

I tried to change my password to Beefstew1, but they said it wasn’t stroganoff.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Residential plans for Leicester Plans unveiled for City centre office block Leicester’s former JCS Directors Pension Scheme (c/o Agent: Malcolm Clarke Associates, Top Farm, High Street, Waddington, Lincoln LN5 9RF) – Residential development – at 118 Station Road, Kegworth, Derby DE74 2FR.

Oadby & Wigston Mr Patel (c/o: Glengate House, Glen gate, Leicester LE18 4SQ) – Conversion of roof space into 7 dwellings and additional rooflights – at 52 Blaby Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 4SD. Mr Roger Swift (c/o Agent: Malcolm Goodall, Chartered Architects, 130 Moat Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2GE) – Outline application for demolition of the existing dwelling and the construction of 5 detached dwellings – at 107 Harborough Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4LG. Mr & Mrs Black (c/o Agent: John Hackman, Chartered Architects, 130 Moat Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2GE) – Change of use from Motorcentre to 4 residential flats; demolition of existing tyre-fitting building; erection of 2 semi-detached dwellings and a detached building to provide 2 flats – at 124A Countesthorpe Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 4PR.

WELLINGTON HOUSE in Leicester city centre could be transformed from offices into 83 apartments if planners give their approval.

The old newspaper printing works which was constructed around 1976 is located in Wellington Street, and is the subject of a change-of-use application by Mapeley Gamma Acquisition.

A document submitted to the council on behalf of the applicant said: “The full provision of parking in such a sustainable location is not considered necessary or desirable and this scheme will encourage the use of more environmentally-friendly modes of transport.

“This approach would also have the benefit of reducing congestion and pollution in the centre of Leicester.

“The proposed residential use would be considered to be less intensive than the use of the building as an office, therefore, there would be no highway impacts arising from the change of use.”

The council is expected to make a final decision on the plan in the coming weeks.

Measham brickmaker tees off to raise more than £3,000 for Prostate Cancer UK

Blaby District Canmoor Developments Ltd (c/o Agent: Roland Lee, Hale Architecture Ltd, 198A Providence Square, Jacob Street, London SE1 2DZ) – Demolition of existing industrial buildings and redevelopment to provide up to a maximum of 78 dwellings and associated infrastructure with access via the adjoining residential development – at land off Cambridge Road (Whittle Estate – Plot 1), Whetstone, Leicester.

Canmoor Developments Ltd (c/o Agent: Roland Lee, Hale Architecture Ltd, 198A Providence Square, Jacob Street, London SE1 2DZ) – Redevelopment of car parking areas to provide up to a maximum of 85 dwellings and associated infrastructure with access to Cambridge Road - at land off Cambridge Road (Whittle Estate – Plots 4 & 5), Whetstone, Leicester.

‘Palais de Danse’

DETAILS have been unveiled on the transformation of a former Leicester city centre nightclub, which PRA Properties hope to convert into flats and retail space The property firm, working with architects RG+P Ltd, submitted a proposal in September to the council to convert the or the 11,420 sq ft Humberstone Gate building and the latest planning documents reveal what the building could look like if planners give the go-ahead.

The scheme would include the development of a four-storey roof extension, a partial demolition of the existing building and a five and six-storey extension to provide 42 flats.

The building, which has laid empty since 2013, dates back to the 1930’s. It ws once a popular dance hall, known as the Palais de Danse and renamed Studio One after undergoing a major refurbishment in 1985.

Topps Tiles issues profit warning

LEADING building products manufacturer Forterra has raised more than £3,000 for charity through a golf day at Willesley Park Golf Club, near the firm’s brickmaking plant in Measham.

More than 70 golfers, including representatives from various suppliers of Forterra and the company itself, took part in the event, in aid of leading men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK. The winning team, from Guardsman Personal Protective Equipment, were presented with special commemorative bricks as trophies, made by Forterra’s own special brick experts.

Other companies competing on the day included Buildbase, Brickability, Mills & Reeve, Francis Flower, Linde Material Handling and PDS. Hundreds of pounds in cash was raised on the day, while currently a total of £2,745 has been raised on the event’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/forterra-plc1

ENDERBY’S Topps Tiles Shares saw shares fall by more than 3 per cent to 71.5p, their lowest level in three years as the firm announced a drop in fullyear revenue and said its adjusted pre-tax profit will be at the lower end of the current range of market expectations.

In an update to the London Stock Exchange, the company said that for the year to 30 September 2017 it anticipates that revenue will have fallen to about £211.6m, down from £215m for the same period in 2016.

The company said that while it has seen a “moderate improvement” in trading in the final quarter, market conditions “remain challenging”.

The company is trading from 372 stores nationwide, up from 351 in 2016, and has opened a net five stores during the last quarter.

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

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Winners of the East Midlands fbe Awards 2017 announced THE REFURBISHMENT of the Engineering Building at the University of Leicester has been crowned the overall winner at the East Midlands fbe Awards 2017.

Nominated by Pulse Associates, who provided project management for the scheme, the work involved replacing 2,500 pieces of glass to the roof and façade of the Grade II listed, architecturally significant building and the creation of an internal environment fit for modernday teaching needs.

Sponsored by building company DW Hicks, the award was the top accolade presented at the East Midlands fbe Chairman’s Dinner & Awards night, held at the City Rooms in Leicester, with the judges saying: “This was a truly deserving winner, based on the high status and complexity of the project, and the overall effort, costs and risks involved in securing the retention of a highly valued building for future generations.”

The scheme had earlier won the Regeneration Award sponsored by insurance expert Arthur J Gallagher.

The judges said: “This was a highly complex retention and renovation of a listed, iconic and well-loved building. The intensive consultation and collaboration was to deliver improved performance and increased flexibility.

“Architecturally significant in its originality, aesthetics and structural engineering solution, the judges had to acknowledge the time and commitment to restoring the structure and retaining the celebrated design.”

• THE WINNER of the Residential Award, sponsored by building solutions firm J Tomlinson, was a Rural Housing Exception scheme at High Street, Brant Broughton in Lincolnshire,

nominated by architects Halsall Lloyd Partnership.

Judges said of the housing scheme: “This development managed to achieve a high level of sustainability whilst not losing aesthetic appeal.

The retention of existing site features and characteristics is admirable and shows a good understanding of its sense of place. The judges also noted its collaboration with the local community.”

• THE WINNER of the NonResidential Award, sponsored by consultant development engineer M-EC, was Birkett House School, Wigston, Leicestershire, nominated by civil and structural engineer BSP Consulting and contractor Willmott Dixon Construction.

The judges said: “With its range of bespoke learning facilities that challenge previous norms, Birkett House offers well-designed and executed specialist facilities that were not currently met in the area.

“The integration of sustainable design into the teaching and learning process gives a strong and comfortable sense of place.

Birkett House has been further recognised for its extensive level of collaboration and involvement outside of the construction team, the build being carbon neutral as well as its use of local labour.”

• THE RISING STAR AWARD – presented to a young person under the age of 30 working within the construction sector in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire who has shown outstanding achievements in their field and which was sponsored by business and tax advisor Duncan & Toplis – was presented to Joe Gent, a trainee M&E quantity surveyor at Nottingham-based J Tomlinson.

The judges said of Joe: “The Rising Star category is always the hardest to judge and this year the competition seemed to be

particularly stiff. It’s fantastic to see there are so many young people in the region achieving great things.

“Joe Gent secured the accolade because of the level of his accomplishments in such a short period of time. His achievements are commendable and it is clear that he is both a highly valued and wellliked member of the J Tomlinson team. In both his practical and academic work, Joe has shown hard work and dedication and has excelled in both areas. With his ambition and can-do attitude as well as the ability to build professional relationships and secure contracts at a relatively young age, Joe has been awarded the FBE Rising Star 2017 award. He has an incredibly bright future ahead of him.”

Around 130 professionals from the construction, property and development sector in the East Midlands attended the annual ceremony, which included a welcoming drinks reception sponsored by consulting engineer BSD. Compèred by former England international rugby player and ex-Leicester Tiger player Peter Wheeler, the evening also raised £1,378 for the Wooden Spoon charity, an organisation dedicated to providing rugby coaching for disabled, or disadvantaged, children.

The charity aims to positively transform the lives of young people across the UK and Ireland.

The fbe is a national organisation, with branches across the UK and is the longest established networking group for the property, development and construction industries.

As well as running the annual awards scheme, the East Midlands branch also organises a number of social and other events. The East Midlands branch covers Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

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Residential development site in Ripley INNES ENGLAND are offering for sale a development site with Detailed Planning Permission (ref: AVA/2005/0909) for the erection of 21 dwellings.

The 2.57 acre site - at Maple Avenue, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3PY - already has service roads and surface water drainage installed.

The planning consent is subject to a Section 1065 agreement requiring the provision of a nature conservation area, as well as an education contribution of £700 plus VAT per dwelling and a financial contribution of £500 towards traffic management.

Offers in the region of £1.3 million are invited.

For more information, contact Matt Hannah at Innes England on 0115 924 3243 or 07831 319801 or email: mhannah@innesengland.com

Single building plot in Nailstone

NICHOLAS BONFIELD Estate Agents are asking £75,000 for a single building plot at 20 Main Street, Nailstone CV13 0QE. Planning permission (ref: 16/00067/FUL) was granted for a three-bed detached residence on 26th January 2016.

For more information, contact Nicholas Bonfield on 01509 323232 or email: sales@ nicholasbonfield.com

My friend Carlos lost his car yesterday. Now we just call him Los.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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East Midlands’ award winning built projects in the running for national recognition SIX OF THE East Midlands’ award winning property schemes will go head-to-head against over 95 other accolade winning built initiatives from across the UK next month, for a chance to gain national honours at the 2017 RICS Awards Grand Final.

The six category winners from this year’s annual RICS Awards, East Midlands – which were held in April – were recognised as the region’s most inspiring and community beneficial built projects, and are now hoping to put East Midlands on the map by being recognised nationwide.

• Building Conservation – The West Mill, Darley Abbey Mills, Derbyshire • Commercial – Derby Innovation Hub, Derby • Community Benefit – Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Nottingham • Design through Innovation – The GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratories for Sustainable Chemistry, Nottingham • Infrastructure – London Road Fire Station, Nottingham • Regeneration – London Road Fire Station, Nottingham • Residential – Heathcott Road, Leicester • Tourism & Leisure – The West Mill, Darley Abbey Mills, Derbyshire Each UK region hosts an annual RICS Awards and the category winners from each of the 12 regional heats will now be pitted against their national peers in the hope of winning the overall UK award in their respective category.

Each regional ‘Project of the Year’ winner will also be in the running for the highest national accolade; the ‘2017 RICS UK Project of the Year’ award. The University of Nottingham’s carbon neutral science building, The GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratories for Sustainable Chemistry won the prestigious title at this year’s RICS Awards, East Midlands.

Chair of the judging panel for the RICS Awards, East Midlands, Will Evans FRICS of EI Group plc said: “The RICS Awards showcase the achievements and community impact of each region’s most inspirational built initiatives and developments, and this year’s winners from the East Midlands heat are truly exemplary and world-class.

“The teams behind them have demonstrated just what can be achieved with vision and a joined-up, collaborative approach. I wish them all the very best of luck in having their talent and expertise recognised nationally, and gaining nationwide recognition of the positive impact these schemes are having on their local communities.”

The 2017 RICS Awards Grand Final will take place on 2 November at the InterContinental London, Park Lane Hotel (12pm-4pm), and will be hosted by BBC Breakfast News and Sport Anchor, Dan Walker.

To book to attend visit: www.rics.org/awards or T: 020 7695 1600.

Derby Innovation Hub, Derby

London Road Fire Station, Nottingham

Kilsby plot HORTS Estate Agents are asking £100,000 for a building plot for a threebed detached dwelling at Watling Street, Kilsby, Warks.

For more information, contact Horts on 01788 550044 or email: rugby@horts.co.uk

Heathcott Road, Leicester

Farm building with potential for conversion ALEXANDERS are offering for sale a Victorian detached farm building with potential for conversion into a twobed cottage, subject to planning.

Centre for Sustainable Chemistry, Nottingham

The property – at High Street, Packington, Leics. LE65 1WJ – has a guide price of £100,000.

For details, contact Alexanders on 01530 413126 or email: ashby@alexanders-estates.com

Repton plot for substantial dwelling Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Nottingham

The West Mill, Darley Abbey Mills, Derbyshire

I hate people who steal my ideas, before I think of them.

FISHER GERMAN are offering for sale a 1.36 acre plot with full planning consent (ref: 9/2015/1000) for the demolition of a bungalow and the erection of a substantial dwelling, triple garage and entrance gates.

The property – 7a Pinfold Lane, Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6GH – has an asking price of offers in excess of £525,000.

For more information, contact Fisher German on 01530 410840 or email: ashby@fishergerman. co.uk

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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I don’t play “Hard To Get”, I play” Never Gonna Happen”.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Sale of Everards brewery site paves way for £135m redevelopment Canmoor Developments Ltd (c/o Agent: Roland Lee, Hale Architecture Ltd, 198A Providence Square, Jacob Street, London SE1 2DZ) – Demolition of existing office buildings and redevelopment to provide up to a maximum of 4,675sqm building comprising industrial/storage & distribution units with ancillary offices, trade counters and associated car parking - at land off Cambridge Road (Whittle Estate – Plot 3), Whetstone, Leicester.

Rushcliffe Mrs Georgina Mabel (c/o Agent: Mark Welsford, Rayner Davies Architects, 2 St Peters Gate, Nottingham NG1 2JG) – Proposed demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 5 apartments, relocation of vehicular entrance to highway (Amendments) – at Flat 1, Melton House, 1A Carlyle Road, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire NG2 7NS.

Artists impression of the Next anchor store at Castle Acres

THE HISTORIC Everards brewery site at Leicester is to undergo a £135m redevelopment following a recent sale of the land.

The Crown Estate, through the Fosse Partnership, has acquired Castle Acres from the Leicestershire-based family business, paving the way for development of the 12.5 acre site, adjacent to its existing Fosse shopping park, to create a new shopping and dining attraction.

The new development will create some 288,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space.

Everards, the brewer and pub operator founded in 1849, had based its brewery, office and logistics at Castle Acres for more than 30 years.

The company is relocating to two new sites, Everards Meadows and Optimus Point, and will provide vacant possession of Castle Acres before Christmas.

Work will commence on site in early 2018.

The planning process for the redevelopment was led by Everards and supported by Next, which will be taking a 90,000 sq ft three-story store in the new scheme.

The Castle Acres scheme is already almost 60 per cent pre-let, with other confirmed tenants including Debenhams, TK Maxx and Clarks.

Council house building needed to solve housing crisis, says FMB THE PRIME MINISTER is right to announce sweeping measures to enable councils to build a new generation of social housing and end the growing housing crisis, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Commenting on Theresa May’s announcement that the Government will invest an additional £2bn in affordable housing, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Despite the Prime Minister’s precarious political position since the General Election, Theresa May has managed to take a braver and bolder stance on house building than any Prime Minister of recent years. The private sector will continue to expand the number of new homes it builds, particularly so if the Government succeeds in its aim of removing barriers that hold back small scale house builders.

However, in the house building heyday of the 1950/60s, a healthy private sector was always complemented by significant levels of social house building. Indeed, we have only ever built at the level we need to keep pace with demand when both the private and public house building sectors have been firing on all fronts. In the 1960s, for example, we were building around 400,000 homes per year and half of those were social housing.”

Berry continued: “The Prime Minister’s plan is also an opportunity to help shape a stronger local house building industry. If councils can start to engage with smaller, local builders to deliver this new generation of council housing, it could further help to diversify the industry. This would also boost the capacity of the private sector through the provision of more public sector work. Indeed, the increased use of small and medium-sized building firms will limit the problem of land banking, as this is something small builders simply don’t do.”

Berry concluded: “There do remain however, some significant roadblocks to the Prime Minister’s vision. Following Brexit, the serious shortage of skilled labour the construction industry is already dealing with will be exacerbated if it becomes much more difficult for EU tradespeople, who have come to play a crucial part in plugging the industry’s chronic skills gap, to move to and work in the UK. Although the industry must seek to overcome this crisis by recruiting and training many more young people than we currently do, the Government must also be mindful and realistic about the continuing need there will be for skilled EU workers as it puts in place its post-Brexit immigration policy. Otherwise it will risk jeopardising the delivery of the bold new house building ambitions the Prime Minister outlined.”

Derby site for 14 dwellings ROBERT ELLIS Estate agents are offering for sale a 0.43 acre site with planning consent (05/11/00515) for 14 dwellings.

The land – at Parliament Street, Derby DE22 3RT – was granted permission on 20th December 2012 for 6 apartments and 8 town houses. Basic ground works have begun to make the permission live.

The asking price is £550,000.

For more information, contact Robert Ellis on 0115 949 0044 or email: stapleford@robertellis. co.uk

Clipsham barns for conversion COUNTRY EQUESTRIAN HOMES are inviting offers in the region of £198,000 for a set of agricultural barns with consent for conversion into 2 residential dwellings.

The property – Lot 1, Bidwell Farm Barn Development, Bidwell Lane, Clipsham, Rutland LE15 7SH – is set within a 0.5 acre plot.

For more information, contact Country Equestrian on 01572 757979 or email: office@ countryequestrianhomes.com

Significant building plot next to Catthorpe Hall FINE & COUNTRY Estate Agents are offering for sale a significant 1.5 acre building plot with farreaching south-facing views across the River Aon valley, into Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

The plot – adjacent to Catthorpe Hall, Catthorpe, Lutterworth, Leicestershire – has planning consent (ref: 16/01726/VAC) for a 5,485 sq.ft. house over three floors, with 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a first floor laundry room.

Already in existence with the plot is a four-car garage plus a twobed apartment above.

The asking price is £600,000.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Fine & Country on 01788 820062 or email: rugby@fineandcountry.com

I have a condition that renders me unable to go on a diet. I get hungry.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

New Care Home Highlights the Value of Women in Construction to Local School STAFF FROM the site of a brand new residential and dementia care home in Rothley have visited a local primary school to highlight to the children the value of women in construction.

Nicola Mather, Communities Manager for LNT Care Developments who are currently in the final sprint of constructing Mountview Care Home on Loughborough Road, visited Christ Church & St Peter’s CE Primary School last week.

Nicola, who ensures that all LNT Care Development sites are engaged with the Considerate Constructors scheme, gave a presentation to over 250 children, revealing the exciting jobs which are available for women, and men, in construction. She was also keen to highlight the many dangers which can be found on construction sites.

LNT Care Developments have an established relationship with the school, having already donated plants and gardening equipment.

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41

Leicester brand agency celebrates £12m warehouse anniversary and planning for Samworth Bros permission grant THE END of September holds a special place in the heart of father-son management duo, John and Matthew Hayes, at leading brand agency, Champions (UK) plc.

The period not only marks an era of phenomenal success, but planning permission has also now been granted for a further 3,000-square foot extension, giving the brand agency an extra cause to celebrate.

Located in Costock on the Leicestershire/Nottinghamshire border, since it was launched from CEO’s John Hayes’ home back in 2003, Champions has gone on to establish itself as a major player in the industry, with clients including national and international brands.

It was back on 25 September 2009 when the Champions team were joined by Kenneth Clarke CH QC and Champions’ managed celebs, including legendary goalkeeper, Peter Shilton OBE and Coronation Street favourite William Roache MBE, to cut the ribbon on the newly converted 6,000-square foot barn.

Fast-forward just six years to 25 September 2015 and Ken Clarke was once again on ribbon cutting duty – this time formally opening a new 13,000-square foot extension to the converted barn which was packed with state-of-the-art facilities, including a new design studio, and space to accommodate the ever-expanding bank of staff.

The latest endeavour will see one of the agency invest around £750,000 in transforming an unused outbuildings transformed into a state-of-the-art digital and media suite, with work expected to begin mid next year.

SAMWORTH Brothers have officially opened a new high tech 155,000 sq. ft. distribution hub in Leicestershire.

More than £12m has been invested in the latest logistics and warehousing technologies at the Oak Meadow site, on Leicester Distribution Park, which will host 380 staff on opening but also provides considerable capacity for future growth.

Samworth Brothers Group Executive Director Ian Fletcher said: “This new facility is an important milestone for Samworth Brothers. It gives us a new purposebuilt supply chain home for the next 20 years or so in Leicestershire and has some important new capabilities that will help us develop the business further.

Tel: 01536 211 275 It is truly easier to forgive your enemies than figure out how to limit their access to your facebook page.

42

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Tel: 01530 244069 • EMAIL: INFO@BUILDERMAGAZINES.CO.UK

Work Begins On New Education Facility Mr Rob Mc Donough (c/o Agent: Niell Bayes, SRA Architecture Ltd, Brunel House, Deepdale Enterprise Park, Nettleham, Lincoln LN2 2LL) – Erection of two-storey office unit of a sympathetic design to adjacent residential properties – at The West Bridgford School, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, Notts. NG2 7FA. Barratt Homes North Midlands (c/o: Mrs Katy Falls, 2 Horizon Place, Nottingham Business Park, Nottingham NG15 8GH) – Reserved matters application for 317 residential dwellings (phase 1 of the wider approved development as originally approved under application 10/01962/OUT) including details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale – at land east and west of Chapel Lane, Bingham, Notts.

Mr Daniel Gribby (c/o Agent: Neil Reynolds, XL Architects LLP, Salters barn, Middle Street, Potterhanworth, Lincoln LN4 2DR) - New two-storey office building – at Riverbank Business Park, Old Grantham Road, Whatton, Notts.

EXCITEMENT is brewing around Hinckley now work has begun on improved facilities at a special school which will benefit the whole community.

Construction of a new specially-equipped building for Dorothy Goodman Special School recently started, which, once completed will house state of the art amenities for pupils aged 11-19.

A ground-breaking ceremony took place to celebrate work starting on the new building, which was attended by representatives from the school and companies involved with its’ construction. This included Midlands based main contractor G F Tomlinson and construction partners Grayling Thomas Architects, Ian Harban Consulting Engineers and Hadland Manning Bullock.

Headteacher at Dorothy Goodman, Janet Thompson said: “I am delighted work has started on our new building, which will be an excellent additional resource for the school. It has been designed to include specialist rooms that will support the pupils’ education and provide a broad range of activities to support their development. Everyone at the school is very excited work has started on the site.”

ANNOUNCING ARCHITECT@WORK LONDON 2018:

The Latest Architectural Innovations Revealed

ARCHITECT@WORK, the carefully curated twoday trade show aimed at architects, interior designers and specifiers, will return to Olympia National Hall, London for its 2018 edition on 24th and 25th January.

Over 100 leading international architectural suppliers will showcase new products and offer the latest innovations in surface solutions, lighting technology as well as interior and exterior fixtures and fittings. All exhibitors go through a rigorous selection process, with an external judging panel overseeing the product selection, to ensure that this is one of the UK’s most highly respected trade shows of its kind. www.architect-at-work.co.uk ARCHITECT@WORK UK runs 1pm – 8pm, 24th and 25th January 2018 at Olympia, National Hall

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About a month before he died, my uncle had his back covered in lard. After that, he went down hill fast.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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Burton retail park sold for £8.45m

New £9.5m training centre will lead way in driverless technology and electric engines

CUSTODIAN REIT, the Leicester property investment company, has

MIRA Technology Park, the automotive Technology Park and Enterprise Zone, has announced the construction of the £9.5m MIRA Technology Institute – a collaboration between HORIBA MIRA and some of the Midlands’ top education institutions.

bought the Wellington Road Retail Park site for £8.45m.

The site includes three units let to Wickes, The Range and HSS Hire and has 208 parking spaces.

The units’ leases expire on 28th September 2028, 30 October 2031 and 29 September 2018 respectively, with a total passing rent of £580,681 per annum reflecting a net initial yield of 6.45%.

Commenting on the acquisition, Richard Shepherd-Cross, Managing Director of Custodian Capital Limited says: “We are delighted to have secured this prominently located retail park within Burton’s main out of town retail pitch. Some 35% of the property’s rent is subject to fixed uplifts and its weighted average unexpired lease term of over 11 years adds secure income to the portfolio. The HSS unit, which represents 7% of the asset’s aggregate rent, is unoccupied and provides an excellent opportunity to drive additional value by developing that part of the site.”

The partnership, which alongside HORIBA MIRA, comprises lead partner North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Coventry University, Loughborough University, and University of Leicester, will see the construction of a 24,500 sq ft bespoke global skills centre at MIRA Technology Park.

The organisations says the MIRA Technology Institute (MTI) is being created to help to satisfy the ever increasing demand for specialist skills in the automotive sector. In particular, MTI – which is set to open in September 2018, will help to create specialist skills in some of the new disruptive technology areas such as electrification and driverless car technologies, ensuring a sustainable supply of future technical specialists and engineers.

The development of the MTI follows research by the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) to identify future skills needs.

It is being funded with £9.5m from the Leicester and Leicestershire LEP Growth Deal Fund, and is backed by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

43

New homes bring cash injection to Melton Mowbray A HOUSEBUILDER providing 97 new homes at a development in Melton Mowbray has announced it will be making Section 106 contributions of over £350,000 to infrastructure projects in the town.

Whetstone-based developer Westleigh will be providing the funds to Leicestershire County Council for assistance in areas such as education and healthcare.

A figure in excess of £275,000 will be made available for expanding a local primary school, creating new places for pupils.

Almost £60,000 will go towards local GP practice provisions, while a further £2,900 will fund improvements at Melton Library.

The first homes at Melton Fields became available in June this year and sales have been strong so far, with a marketing suite and four bedroom show home now open to visitors daily between 10am and 5pm.

The funding for local amenities forms part of the Leicestershire housebuilder’s commitments to the local area under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act.

My girlfriend is always stealing my t-shirts and sweaters... But if I take one of her dresses, suddenly “we need to talk”.

44

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

Etch: The Payroll Platform to End Pay Day Loans A LONDON-BASED start-up called Etch is set to transform the way people are paid and eradicate the need for expensive pay day loans.

Created by Welsh-born entrepreneur and blockchain specialist Euros Evans, Etch has the ability to pay workers in real time, second by second.

We are able to take away the need for pay day loans because we get rid of the pay day concept completely.

Euros Evans and his team realised that the way people are traditionally paid is problematic. For workers who are paid monthly, it can be difficult to ensure the money lasts, and for contractors it can be hard to ensure payment.

By enabling employers to pay workers and subcontractors by the second into an account that that can be checked instantly by an app and accessed via a universally accepted card similar to a debit card, Euros and the team know they can modernise payroll and make it better for everyone.

Etch is the first approved ‘dapp’ (decentralised application) in the Construction Blockchain Consortium, a group of leading UK champions of disruptive technologies who are transforming the build environment.

The Etch platform is raising £5million through a token sale to fund the development of the platform.

Euros Evans explains, “Billions of people across the world live paycheque to paycheque, a situation that can lead to mounting debt, stress and poor health. The Etch solution enables employers to pay their employees in real time. If, for example, they don’t have any money at the beginning of the day, their morning’s work will mean they have enough money for purchases they require.

“We are able to take away the need for pay day loans because we get rid of the pay day concept completely. The Etch platform means that people will no longer have to wait until a particular day to receive money in their bank account.

“The system makes things very easy for workers. Imagine that you start your shift at 8:00AM. You ‘punch in’ using the app to let your employer know you’re working, and from that point money is paid into your account in a continuous stream.

“At 12:00 noon, you check the app again, which shows you your account balance. If it had been empty at the beginning of the day, you’d now have four hours’ pay in the account. Your employer would have already issued you with an Etch card, where part of the earnings can be used in any shop to buy your lunch.

“We hope by people being paid as soon as they’ve earned it, we can reduce the need for payday loans and other such instruments to plug spending gaps, as well as improving peace of mind.”

Euros Evans is supported by a group of highly talented London-based entrepreneurs who share his vision that payroll is in need of reform. Tomasz Mloduchowski, aged 30 from Poland, is a former MIT graduate who is a near veteran in the subject of programmable currency, having worked in the sector for 8 years.

Joshua Richardson, aged 22, who is from London, is a blockchain engineer and programmer who deployed his first commercial software at the age of 13. Ben Whyte, 24, a blockchain consultant and business developer, heads up the community engagement.

The team at Etch are passionate about governance and compliance and are receiving advice from Paul Airley, a Partner for the London-based international law firm Fladgate LLP plus Chris Mills, UK Head of Blockchain for the ‘big four’ accountancy firm, KPMG. For more information please visit: https://etch.work

Tel: 01530 244069 • EMAIL: INFO@BUILDERMAGAZINES.CO.UK

Interserve Named Principal Supply Chain Partner By Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust INTERSERVE has been chosen by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) as its preferred Principal Supply Chain Partner (PSCP) under the ProCure22 construction framework to deliver its capital construction projects over the next five years.

The East Midlands regional construction office of Interserve, the international support services and construction group, is based in Leicester and has a strong regional presence across the area. The company has been selected to deliver LPT’s four year major and minor works framework.

LPT provides community health, mental health and learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The award continues Interserve’s nine-year partnership with LPT, through which it has successfully delivered more than 80 construction projects with a value totalling over £40 million including a £14 million project to relocate adult in-patient services to the Bradgate site, a £5 million new build unit for Huntingdon’s Disease Services and ward upgrades at the Bradgate site for Older Persons Services and Eating Disorders totalling £4 million.

Richard Scarrott, divisional director at Interserve, said: “We are delighted to be selected as LPT’s construction partner and continue our journey working with the Trust and are committed to supporting its core values of respect, integrity, compassion and trust.

“Interserve will help LPT achieve its objective of delivering a quality estate, rated within the top 20 per cent of Trust estates, while also ensuring safe and effective patient-centred care.”

Interserve will work together with LPT and its multiple stakeholders on the next Capital Plan to continue to improve patient services across the region. This includes a further capital investment of more than £35 million in new facilities, backlog maintenance and a planned long-term Estates Transformation.

There will be a focus on improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland by providing high quality, integrated physical and mental healthcare pathways.

Interserve won a place on the Department of Health’s £4 billion ProCure22 Framework in October 2016.

ProCure22 streamlines the procurement process for NHS Trusts across England, enabling them to select an appropriate Supply Chain Partner to deliver primary, acute and mental health facilities. There is a commitment to long-term partnerships and collaborative working to drive increased efficiency and productivity.

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Apparently I snore so loudly that it scares everyone in the car I’m driving.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

NORTHANTS DISTRIBUTION CENTRE ACQUIRED FOR £48.8M

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Largest Bequest For Loughborough University

Major legacy donation invested into new architecture programme

Auctions November Thursday 2nd November 2017 SDL AUCTIONS - Derby County Football Club, Pride Park Stadium, Derby, DE24 8XL - 11.30am start - www.sdlgrahampenny.co.uk Friday 23rd November 2017 SDL AUCTIONS - Leicester City Football Club, King Power Stadium, Leicester LE2 7FL - 11.30am start - www. sdlgrahampenny.co.uk

TRITAX Big Box REIT has bought the Royal Mail National Distribution Centre at Danes Way, Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (“DIRFT”), Northamptonshire, from LondonMetric for £48.8m.

Purpose-built in 2003, the 272,603 sq ft parcel delivery hub with a 24/7 on site operation provides a National Distribution Centre to all Royal Mail parcel hubs across the UK. Colin Godfrey, Partner of Tritax, said: “We are very pleased to have acquired our second Distribution Centre let to Royal Mail, which with annual upward rent reviews linked to RPI offers the potential for strong and frequent rental growth. The modern, high specification facility, which is situated in an established core logistics location, also has the potential for future value enhancement.”

Andrew Jones, Chief Executive of LondonMetric, said: “This asset has performed strongly, delivering an ungeared IRR of 15% pa. We will recycle the proceeds into our pipeline of investment and development opportunities, particularly in urban and regional logistics where we continue to see value and good prospects for further rental growth.”

(Editor’s Note: This is the depot which deals with distribution of Leicestershire Builder Magazine.)

45

LOUGHBOROUGH University has received a £2.5million legacy donation from Reginald W.J. Hewson, the largest bequest the University has ever received.

The major gift has been used to develop a new undergraduate architecture programme, which has just welcomed its first students.

The programme will be based in the Keith Green Building on campus, and a new suite of studios will be named after Hewson to recognise his inspirational gift.

Reginald Walter John Hewson, also known as John Hewson, was born on 25 March 1917 and died on 20 September 2010.

Whilst relatively little is known about Hewson, he has formative links to Loughborough University where he began studying at the Junior College in 1931. He then progressed to the Senior College in 1934 to study Civil Engineering.

His father, Reginald J B Hewson, was an architect born in Bombay, India in 1880. He later returned to London with his mother and siblings and married Mary E Houfe in Barnet, North London in summer 1915.

John Hewson was a registered civil engineer who settled in South Africa around the 1960s. Throughout his life, he amassed an estate worth in excess of £12m, the majority of which was from international shares in a range of companies – from facilities management to energy and mining.

He was issued with a South African identity book in 1976 and was domiciled in South Africa at the time of his death.

With no remaining family, Hewson left his entire estate to five charities: Loughborough University, University of London, Institution of Civil Engineers, Royal National Institute of Blind People, and the National Trust.

Discussing the generous donation, Rachel Third, Head of Philanthropy at Loughborough University said: “As John was a civil engineer and his father an architect, investing in the new architecture programme feels like a fitting way to honour the Hewson legacy.”

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.

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Thursday 30th November 2017 - SAVILLS - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 2.30pm start - tel: 0115 934 8080 www.savills.co.uk/auctions

December Thursday 7th December 2017 COTTONS - at Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham, B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 247 2233 or email: auctions@cottons.co.uk Thursday 7th December 2017 SDL AUCTIONS - Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 11.30am start - www.sdlgrahampenny. co.uk Thursday 14th December 2017 SDL AUCTIONS - at Aston Villa FC, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 233 5046 - www. cpbigwood.com Friday 15th December 2017 SDL AUCTIONS - Derby County Football Club, Pride Park Stadium, Derby, DE24 8XL - 11.30am start - www.sdlgrahampenny.co.uk

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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.

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Being an adult is just walking around wondering what you’re forgetting.

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Watson Batty chairman to reduce role as succession announced THE CHAIRMAN of Loughborough based Watson Batty Architects has announced that he will be reducing his role and stake in the business with effect from October.

Paul Ryan, who has been a director of the 41-year-old firm for 23 years and is known for his work for Royal Mail, is to relinquish his 50% IF YOU can find the names of the 12 RICHEST MEN IN shareholding in Watson Batty as he approaches THE WORLD in the Wordsearch grid above, you could win retirement. He will hand over the baton to the AMANCIOORTEGA four remaining equity directors Peter White, yourself a £20 Restaurant Choice Gift Voucher.

BERNARDARNAULT Andrew Grindrod, Richard Merrills and Mark BILLGATES All you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark a line Sidding but will still remain involved with the CARLOSSLIMHELU through - 12 films which feature nimals as stars or co-stars. These business in a consultancy role.

CHARLESKOCH can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).

During the process Watson Batty Architects DAVIDKOCH Send your marked entry forms to: BILLIONAIRES, Leicestershire will allocate equity shareholding to seven other JEFFBEZOS members of the team as a part of its succession strategy and commitment to Builder, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by LARRYELLISON LARRYPAGE 18TH NOVEMBER 2017. Please remember to fill in broaden ownership with its future generation.

SATURDAY MARKZUCKERBERG Peter White, Managing Director at Watson Batty Architects said, “Paul has your name and address. The sender of the first correct entry drawn MICHAELBLOOMBERG been a fantastic leader for the business and a great inspiration to our team out of the hat will win the £20 Gift Card. Good luck!

WARRENBUFFETT for many years. He has been instrumental in taking Watson Batty from a Restaurant Choice Gift Cards can be used in over 1000 UK £850k turnover business to become a UK leading practice that employs 50 Restaurants. From hand-picked independent restaurants to a great people nationwide working for many leading brands. selection of popular dining groups – Nando’s, Café Rouge, Jamie’s Last year we celebrated our 40th anniversary with a re brand and plans to Italian, PizzaExpress, Zizzi, Ask Italian and Yo! Sushi. can be Created byThey Puzzlemaker atturnover DiscoveryEducation.com increase to over £4.0m with a five year plan. We are currently on used for food and drinks, set menus, indeed any dish on the menu. target to achieve that with year on year growth.

Visit the website at www.restaurantchoice.co.uk for more information.

We would like to thank Paul for his tireless commitment and wish him the very best transition into retirement. We are pleased that he is able to Here are the 12 RICHEST MEN you have to find: maintain a consultant role and assist in concluding the graduation of our talented team into management roles.”

BILL GATES • AMANCIO ORTEGA • JEFF BEZOS

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Don’t you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.

S

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2017 •

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47

The real reasons why we aren’t building enough new homes THE GOVERNMENT estimates that between 225,000 and 275,000 homes need to be built per year to keep up with the rate of demand, however only 147,960 have been built for 2016/17 so far.

Many believe that this is because there is not enough money to buy the houses once they are built, as people cannot afford to get on the housing ladder due to the difficulty in saving enough deposit in order to get a mortgage, but this is not really the case as property priced at the more affordable end of the market, tends to be snapped up pretty quickly.

In addition the mortgage market has improved significantly and higher loan to value mortgages are once again available, although not at 100% loan to value as they were before the credit crunch.

There has been criticism over the government’s promise of a £2bn injection to help with funding to build social housing, as Downing Street aides have stated that this will only fund 5,000 of the 60,000 extra new houses needed to be built each year. Funding is certainly not the major issue and we look at the main problems surrounding building more houses:

Loss of workers thanks to credit crunch and Brexit

When the credit crunch first hit in late 2007, 100% and high loan-to-value mortgages literally disappeared overnight. It happened so fast that even mortgage offers already in place were not honoured as lenders’ funds disappeared. The difficulty obtaining a mortgage made the desire of buying a house nearly impossible for a lot of people. Less people to buy houses impacted builders and property developers very quickly and left them with a lack of work. The demand for tradespeople such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, etc. was decimated. It is important to realise that this was not a gradual decline over a number of years, it was a massive decline that happened over a matter of months.

The industry shrunk quickly and many people lost their jobs. As so many people skilled in the same trades lost their jobs and were unable to find

more work doing the same thing, they were forced to find work outside the building industry and re-train in different sectors.

Over the last ten years, less people have entered the building industry due to lack of job prospects. Now the demand is back and prices are high again, more people will be needed in order to build more houses.

Unemployment figures across the country are low so not many workers will be looking for jobs and to add to this problem, many European workers who filled lower paid roles have returned to their home countries due to the stronger Euro and concerns about Brexit. To get more workers, the roles offered will have to be more attractive which will push the cost of building the new houses up further.

Is there longevity in the building industry with the uncertainty of Brexit looming?

When demand for new houses disappeared and jobs were lost, the production of building materials slowed, and for some manufactures, ceased altogether. To build more houses we will need more materials – but the factories have not been waiting on standby for all of this time. To increase the supply of materials, manufactures will have to commit to more production, meaning costs of finding new premises and employing workers.

As specialist bridging loan brokers, many of our customers are business owners and property developers. They tell us that they are reluctant to commit to any new ventures that could be risky at the moment due to the uncertainty for the future, mainly caused by Brexit. Until the country faces a more stable future, many individuals responsible for making decisions needed in order for us to move forwards and build more houses will be remaining cautious and unlikely to spend huge sums of money opening factories or training new workers as they just do not know if it will be profitable, or indeed if it could actually prove very costly. https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/finance-news/the-real-reasons-why-weare-not-building-enough-new-homes/

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Don’t get stuck in the mud!

Ground Mats ■ Heavy duty roadway or walkway ■ Instant ground protection ■ Portable and easy to use ■ Available for hire or sale nationwide

tel: 01455 553700 • sales@ecotrackway.co.uk • www.ecotrackway.co.uk ETA_LeicsBuilder_HP_(130x194)_05_17.indd 1

22/05/2017 16:08