Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer Summer 2020

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PROFESSIONAL

HOUSEBUILDER &PROPERTY DEVELOPER SUMMER 2020

WWW.PHPDONLINE.CO.UK

THE NEW NORMAL How will the industry cope with the challenges posed by Covid-19?

EXTERIORS

INTERIORS

Keep up to date with everything going on outside the house – from drainage regulation to roofing materials

Create comfortable homes for happy buyers by using quality materials and innovative methods

EXPERT UPDATE: NEW CHANGES TO PLANNING LAWS EXPLAINED

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contents PHPD SUMMER 2020 VOLUME 14 NUMBER 5

This issue Regulars 5

First Word

6

News

8

Developments

35 Last Word

Special Reports 10 The Best Way Forward Richard Hyams, former Norman Foster practice architect and current CEO and founder of award-winning architecture firm astudio, talks to PHPD about how the construction industry can face the new challenges posed by the global pandemic

Cover story

Luke Shipway, Product Manager at Caple Kitchens guides developers through the company’s range of luxury kitchen products

12 Something in the Air Airspace developer Click Above discusses what new changes to permitted development rights mean for building new homes above existing structures

EXTERIORS 14 The Natural Choice Why pick slate for your next development? Cupa Pizarras explains why it’s the perfect option 17 Carrying Water New changes to standards have put sustainable drainage systems in the spotlight. Here, Wavin explains all you need to know

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28 High Fidelity

18 Between the Posts

Bring a little music to the lives of your homebuyers with Hamilton Litestat

Birkdale Fencing’s CEO John Abernethie discusses the latest fencing solutions and aesthetics

30 Wall to Wall

20 Striving for Comfort Bring the exterior inside with Keylite Roof Windows

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See the beauty of slate

INTERIORS EXPERT UPDATES 22 Market How can housebuilders make the most out of their stock in these times?

23 Planning Changes are coming – best keep up to speed 24 Design With regulations on airtightness constantly getting stricter, are new homes at a risk of overheating?

25 Finance Take advantage of the Government’s Covid-19 help packages

Liven up internal spaces

26 On the Door There has never been so much choice with so little compromise available with internal doors – Hörmann discusses

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What can a fence add to a garden?

Fibo explains some of the advantages of waterproof bathroom panels 32 Luxury Kitchens Caple provides developers with the ultimate luxury kitchen products 34 Product Focus Check out Norbord’s latest online guide to its range of products

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Providing an audio sensation

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first word

Editor Kieran Nee phpd@hamerville.co.uk Group Advertisement Manager Craig Jowsey 07900 248102 craig@hamerville.co.uk Advertisement Manager Samuel Shannon-Tinsley 01923 237799 stinsley@hamerville.co.uk Northern Area Sales Ian Duff 07810 353 525 probuilder@sky.com Digital Group Manager Stuart Duff Digital Assistant David Molloy Design Adeel Qadri Group Production Manager Carol Padgett Production Assistant Kerri Smith Managing Editor Terry Smith Circulation Manager Kirstie Day Publisher Bryan Shannon Printer Wyndeham Group Published by: Hamerville Media Group Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF. Tel: 01923 237799 Email: phpd@hamerville.co.uk Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer is a business magazine for firms and individuals involved in all aspects of the building industry. The publishers and editor do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept responsibility for any errors of translation in the subject matter in this publication. © 2020

Subscriptions to Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer are available at the following rates: UK: 1 year — £30 post paid Europe and Overseas: 1 year — £50 post paid Airmail: 1 year — £65 post paid To be removed from this magazine’s circulation please call 01923 237799 or email circulation@hamerville.co.uk

A Fair Deal “Build, build, build”. Three words that you will no doubt be hearing very often over the next year, possibly as a rallying cry to the industry to keep its collective chin up, a call to arms, an effort to keep the nation’s builders powering on through the challenging times ahead. Or, perhaps, they will ring like bells through the opposition speeches, newspaper editorials and trade federation announcements, sounding the disappointment and resentment at another hollow promise.

Alongside a £5bn cash injection into infrastructure, which the Prime Minister himself has compared rather ambitiously to Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal, comes a relaxation on planning laws designed to lubricate further the bureaucratic gears many claim are slowing down housebuilding. A large part of the focus has been on enabling developers to redevelop commercial premises into homes.

Aside from the usual caveats about the importance of thorough planning in maintaining a sustainable, cohesive built environment, and the very real concerns about allowing unsympathetic large developers tear down historic buildings with local, cultural attachment and replacing them with characterless apartment blocks, the proposals could offer a real opportunity to SME housebuilders and developers.

One of the main issues the general population has with large scale developement, and something that appears in the pages of Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer time and again, is that of location and placemaking. Too often, the houses and flats that are built don’t provide for the needs of the very community within which they are being built. Housing estates wedged between motorways, blocks of flats located out of town with little space for parking, architecture that jars with neighbouring buildings, these are all problems that SME housebuilders and developers are uniquely equipped to avoid.

Last year the FMB published a report on the benefits of transforming our high streets.

It was a rare call to Government not to replace one problem with another, but rather to change the way we think about a problem. Rather than bring the bulldozers in and demolish our failing highstreets, why not redevelop some of the now empty spaces into residential units, keeping the architecture that has played a major role in towns for the past 100 years and injecting new life into spaces which are starting to feel redundant.

Much debate has been had over the future of the high streets, and retail in general. It’s clear that the old model has little mileage left in it, but there is undoubtedly still a need for certain physical shops, cafes, restaurants and a focal point for the town. If SME builders can take it upon themselves to create new spaces, ones that add to a town rather than subtract from it, then the Government’s initiative will have proven to be a success.

What is at stake here is more than simply getting the economy back on track postCovid-19. Indeed, the industry has been desperate for Government help in some form for a long time, whether that be a reduction of bureaucracy, easier finance, tax breaks or a sustained programme of infrastructure work. It looks as though the Government has delivered on all fronts, but who will ultimately benefit remains to be seen. It bears repeating one more time, as the UK finds itself at something of a fork in the road, “build, build, build” is not enough if the result in a few years’ time is “demolish, demolish, demolish”. For better or for worse, the Government has lain the tools out on the table and wiped its hands, now it’s up to you to take those tools and build.

For more information from PHPD visit www.phpdonline.co.uk @phpdonline

Total Average Net Distribution 14,633 1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019

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news In Brief Sunbelts Rentals officially launches in the UK and Ireland

■ A-Plant’s rebranding as Sunbelt Rentals is the culmination of a strategic review that involved consultation with more than 2,000 employees and customers. The Sunbelt Rentals brand will operate across its 195 locations and all 18 of its existing specialist divisions have been aligned as part of the process to create one single overall identity, whilst retaining the individual specialist activities and expertise.

Electric digger wins award for innovation

■ The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced JCB’s electric digger as the winner of the 2020 MacRobert Award, the most prestigious prize for UK engineering innovation. The winning team receive a £50,000 prize and a gold medal. The excavator is the world’s first volume-produced fully electric digger and with it, JCB has shown it is possible to make powerful construction machinery without an internal combustion engine.

To date, the current fleet has saved the equivalent of 15,100kg

Construction Businesses fear closure wo in five small construction businesses fear their business is at risk of closure – with the pandemic set to cost them almost £13,000 each.

Two in five (38%) small businesses operating in construction fear their business is at risk of permanently closing as a result of the coronavirus, according to a new report.

A survey of 840 small business owners and self-employed tradespeople within the construction industry, released by small business insurer Simply Business, also reveals that coronavirus is set to cost them £12,891 each on average – including lost work, earnings and loan repayments.

Two fifths (37%) are also very concerned about the future of their business.

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CREDIT: ADOBESTOCK/RICHARD JOHNSON

Zero Carbon Commitment egal & General commits to net zero carbon across its housing portfolio.

Legal & General has announced that it is to make all of its new housing stock operational net zero carbon enabled by 2030. This will be implemented in a phased approach across all homes invested in or built by Legal & General Group.

Housing is a major contributor to carbon emissions so requires some of the most radical and immediate overhauls of any industry. Legal & General is one of the UK’s largest housebuilders by volume, and its housing platform continues to grow.

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Worryingly, one third (35%) said they’re concerned about running out of money, with one in three (37%) admitting they have had to borrow money from friends and family to stay afloat.

When it comes to financial support from the government, which has proven a lifeline for many tradespeople, three in five (60%) have been able to apply for a government grant or loan, helping to relieve some of the financial pressure they’re facing.

But despite these challenges, a quarter (24%), said they still felt optimistic about their business after coronavirus.

One in 10 (10%) even feel confident enough to start a new business. www.rdr.link/dq001

Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive of Legal & General, commented: “By enabling all new Legal & General homes to be operationally net carbon neutral within a decade, the emission of many tonnes of greenhouse gasses will be avoided, whilst saving customers money and meeting the needs

CREDIT: ADOBESTOCK/OLIVIER LE MOAL

of investors who increasingly focus on sustainable solutions.” www.rdr.link/dq002

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E-mail your news & views to phpd@hamerville.co.uk or tweet us at @phpdonline

NFB: ‘Exactly what was needed’ he NFB has applauded the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that the Government is ready to ‘build, build, build’ and unlock a raft of opportunities through planning, investment and funding.

Richard Beresford, chief executive for the National Federation of Builders, said: “The Prime Minister’s speech was exactly what was needed. NFB members have been calling for Government intervention on planning and procurement for a number of years and although we’ve been at the heard of policy reform, such as the NPPF review, Housing White Paper and Prompt Payment Code, the announcement appears transformative, rather than piecemeal.”

As well as a planning reform paper scheduled for July, the following planning changes will come into force in September 2020: ● Wider range of commercial buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application.

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Builders will no longer need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes. ● Property owners will be able to build additional space above their properties via a fast track approval process, subject to neighbour consultation.

The Prime Minister also announced the following funding programmes: ● A £12bn affordable homes programme, supporting up to 180,000 new affordable homes for ownership and rent over the next 8 years ● 1,500 unit pilot of ‘First Homes’: houses that will be sold to first time buyers at a 30% discount which will remain in perpetuity ● Allocation of the £400m Brownfield Land Fund and a Home Builders Fund to help smaller developers access finance for new housing developments www.rdr.link/dq003

CREDIT: ADOBESTOCK/CHRISDORNEY

In Brief Builder records highest number of weekly sales yet

■ Despite the pressures of Covid-19, the last week of May saw small housebuilder Hayfield record the highest number of weekly sales in its three-year history. The record was achieved while its five live developments continue to operate in accordance with Covid-19 Safe Operating Procedures. Mark Booth, Managing Director of Hayfield said: “While there is no doubt Covid-19 is having a considerable impact on many parts of the economy, being in lockdown for 10 weeks certainly urged swathes of people to consider moving house.”

A Zoom with a View… irtual viewings could help reduce UK greenhouse emissions by 95.3K tonnes each year.

Virtual house viewings could eliminate 51,500 cars from British roads each year, in turn reducing greenhouse emissions by 95.3k tonnes – equivalent to the carbon footprint of 11,800 homes.

The data, presented by virtual houseviewing software company, Spec, shows that around 26.8 million physical property viewings occur each year in the UK, and replacing each first physical property viewing with a virtual one could lead to a reduction in 410 million miles driven by estate agents and house hunters. www.rdr.link/dq004

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New Homes Ombudsman on the cards

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he first step towards the creation of a New Homes Ombudsman scheme has been announced with the appointment of an interim New Homes Quality Board chaired by Natalie Elphicke MP. As a new independent body, the NHQB will have responsibility for the

quality of new build homes and consumer redress. It will be guided by the principles of independence, transparency and integrity, and will comprise a mix of representatives of consumer bodies, housebuilders, warranty providers, lenders and independents such that it will not be

dominated by any one group.

Natalie Elphicke said: "This is a welcome move, and a much needed step in the right direction. I am committed to ensuring that the new arrangements will deliver a step change in the quality of new homes and customer experience.” www.rdr.link/dq005

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DEVELOPMENTS

BIRMINGHAM… Developers Places for People and Urban Splash are set to complete the first of a series of new communal gardens for residents at the Port Loop development – Birmingham’s new, island community From the outset, the partners have been committed to promoting a green and healthy lifestyle at Port Loop with residents and the local community able to ‘live well by accident’ and ‘play out ‘till tea’.

With average garden sizes for new builds at around 1,000 sq. ft. of space, the developers have exceeded industry standards, creating a vast 8,600 sq. ft. communal green area in which residents can spend their time. The communal

space is in addition to private gardens immediately adjacent to each home.

Adam Willetts, Project Director for the Port Loop Joint Venture, said: “At Port Loop, we have a unique opportunity to create a neighbourhood full of natural spaces. To us, they’re every bit as important as the homes around them.

“Communal gardens have been popular in London for a few years now, but this is the first time that the concept has been brought to Birmingham as part of a new build development.

“Located centrally to each collection of new homes, the landscaped communal garden allows homeowners to slide open their glass back door and step out into a natural, grassy space or

simply sit in their living room, or on their balcony, and enjoy the feeling of openness by looking out over a large area of green space.

“While green space was always integral to our plan, lockdown and the events of 2020 have put an even greater emphasis on the importance of outdoor spaces and people coming together as a local community. This recently launched first shared garden has proven invaluable to our homeowners over recent weeks and it’s been great to see people safely enjoying this space with their neighbours whilst also honouring the government guidelines.”

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E-mail your latest developments to phpd@hamerville.co.uk

Construction has begun on a Beal Homes development that will play a major role in the regeneration of an East Yorkshire town.

The start of building work kicks off an investment with a value of £130m by Beal over the next 12 years in high-quality housing to support the growth of Goole.

Ultimately 800 homes will be built on a 73-acre site, making The Greenways the housebuilder’s largest-ever development.

With construction now under way, the first residents are expected to move in during the first quarter of next year.

The scheme will be the largest residential development in the Goole area for many years and will add high-quality, contemporary homes to the local housing stock as the East Yorkshire town enjoys an ongoing wave of investment.

Kapex Construction’s £1.1m Tulip Mews development in a picturesque Northumberland Village has been completed Tulip Mews, Kapex Construction’s residential development at Heddon-on-the-Wall consists of five stone-built family homes with three and four bedrooms. Designed by Sadler Brown Architecture, the five timber framed homes each feature stone-built facades.

Development was halted for almost four months due to the location of unrecorded foundation stones from Hadrian’s Wall.

Chris Nunn, Business Development Director at Kapex Construction, said: “Tulip Mews is a beautiful small-scale residential scheme featuring five high quality three and four bedroom family homes, located in the rural village of Heddon-on-the-Wall.”

NORTHUMBERLAND…

EAST YORKSHIRE…

The first residents of the new Loom Wharf development in Leigh have moved into their new homes.

JP McGuire Developments began the £13m regeneration project to turn a former cotton mill on into 99 luxury, loftstyle apartments two years ago. The large mill, a Grade II Listed building on the bank of the Bridgewater Canal, was first built in 1882 and had stood empty for 20 years before the property developer took it over.

With high ceilings and large floorplans, the one, two and three bedroom apartments in the development are spacious, with the largest apartment covering 165m². As well as containing original features such as large windows and brick walls to preserve, each home was fitted out with high specification kitchens, flooring, heating, ventilation, and security systems. The scheme will be the largest residential development in the Goole area for many years and will add high-quality, contemporary homes to the local housing stock as the East Yorkshire town enjoys an ongoing wave of investment.

GREATER MANCHESTER… Sovereign Housing Association’s latest development sees carbon-zero homes built in Abingdon that come straight from the factory floor.

The 25 stylish homes are set in a rural location at Springfield Meadows in Longworth, and are being built using Greencore Construction’s carbon zero construction methods.

Beautiful and spacious, the homes are quality builds – but it’s what lies underneath that marks them out as a little bit different as these modular homes are built in a factory using closed panel walls and a hemp and lime mix insulation – an affordable eco design for the carbon zero home for its lifetime.

Construction at Springfield Meadow started last May and residents have already started moving in. Of the 25 homes at the development, nine affordable Sovereign homes will consist of six affordable rent and three shared ownership homes.

OXFORDSHIRE… Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer summer

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Special Report: Covid-19

Richard Hyams, Founder and Director of astudio, discusses the impact Covid-19 is having on the industry and how new technology will enable companies to cope.

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he impact of Covid-19 has been felt across the economy and the construction industry is no exception.

As the sector largely downed tools, grappled with the implications of social distancing and strove to manage the safety of workers, construction output stalled. At the height of lockdown in April, the IHS Markit/Cips Construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to its lowest ever level since data was first collected in 1997.

As construction begins its recovery, it must adapt, embracing new technologies to power efficiency, ensure safety and drive a sustainable agenda for Britain’s future buildings.

Digital innovation The lockdown period has expedited a technology uptake in building design.

Digital platforms and tools have served as a backbone for businesses, empowering collaboration, and communication to continue between geographically dispersed colleagues and clients.

For the construction industry – once synonymous with pen and paper processes – Building Information modelling (BIM) has played a large part in ensuring collaboration and productivity is maintained during the pandemic. Realtime rendering, virtual reality and augmented reality are also increasingly being used to make design processes more intuitive, accessible, and transparent for designers, contractors and clients. At astudio, a range of innovative tools – from virtual reality visualisation plugin Enscape, which allows us to render, tour, and adapt designs in real-time, to the parametricenabled Grasshopper for live time testing and cost analysis – have enabled us maintain, and in many cases improve efficiency despite a lack of face-to-face meetings and site visits.

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The Best Way Forward Safety first Estimates from the Construction Products Association have suggested that construction site productivity fell by 30%40% in line with staff absences. ONS figures have since indicated that output is slowly recovering, having grown by 8.2% during May. Yet, until the pandemic ends, productivity must come second to safety across construction sites.

Technology will play a vital role in ensuring new health and safety standards are met. Tools to help construction teams maintain distancing, such as wristbands that vibrate when too close to others, may become increasingly commonplace, while emerging technologies such as heat or motion sensors and movement tracking apps can help to monitor density and support safe distancing on site in the immediate term.

Such technologies can help to address the immediate pressures of social distancing and improve health and safety practices. However, in the long-term, developers will need to consider new, modern methods of construction (MMC) that balance efficiently and safely. astudio’s modular construction method, for example, sees parts of a new build developed in a factory setting before they are delivered and assembled on-site — a process that mitigates interaction compared to traditional construction as well as reducing construction time by up to 75%.

A greener future Prior to the pandemic, recognition of the part MMC can play in mitigating cost and efficiency challenges has been gaining momentum. Bristol City Council, for instance, recently committed to a new Enabling Housing Innovation for Inclusive Growth scheme. This will trial nine different MMC systems across nine

credit: AdobeStock/rost9

separate housing developments and develop a digital toolbox for other local authorities to adopt. With MMC typically favouring the use of sustainable materials and modern testing methods reducing errors, waste and build time, a move in this direction could also significantly reduce the 30% of global energy use and 40% of CO2 emissions that construction currently accounts for.

In addition to adopting innovative approaches to building new structures, it is vital to consider how to improve environmental performance through a range of means, such as reskinning existing buildings — removing and replacing a structure’s outdated and inefficient components.

Through our research and development, we have partnered with institutions to test and develop Innovative materials and components, such as ‘living walls’ made of algae compounds that absorb CO2.

With significant infrastructure projects on the horizon and a green investment package for existing buildings in the Government’s summer statement, construction in the wake of Covid-19 has potential for positive steps. However, the industry must pause to consider how future projects can be carried out efficiently, to meet new demands, and guarantee the safety of construction workers and building occupants.

As the construction industry moves forwards, technology can play a crucial role in navigating the impacts of the pandemic and beyond by driving sustainability, powering collaboration, and ensuring safety.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq006

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Special Report: The Future of Housebuilding

Something in the Air August sees a further extension to permitted development rights in the UK, enabling further upward development. Aaron Emmett, Managing Director of Click Above, specialists in airspace development, discusses the future of housebuilding and development in the UK in light of recent events and upcoming changes.

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iscussions around housebuilding in the UK have all-too-often been defined by the need to deliver greater numbers of new homes yet failing (often woefully) to keep up with that demand. Debates abound around building the right homes, in the areas where they’re needed most and have increasingly been added to with questions relating to the eco-credentials of those new homes, innovative methods of constructing them and the continued fallacies associated with the planning system.

Casting our minds back to the economic downturn that followed the

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banking crisis of 2008, housing output was impacted to an extent that it is yet to fully recover from. In recent months, however, the 2008 crisis has been kicked into the long grass by something that at the start of the year we’d barely heard of: Covid-19.

Overnight, building sites were closed down and output ground to a halt.

Whilst this shutdown didn’t in most cases last for long (certainly not as long as other areas of the economy), it nonetheless had an impact on output which had, until then, started to gradually increase.

Encouragingly though, not only had

input started to increase (and with most Covid-related restrictions now lifted, that is continuing) but also more thought is being put into exactly what those homes need to achieve; where they need to be located; what they should look like; and the impact that building them has on the environment and the communities in which they’re located.

This provides me with much encouragement as everything we do as property developers is hinged on innovation, challenging the status quo and, ultimately, being a positive yet disruptive force in the delivery of new homes.

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To realise the innovation and positive disruption that we’re committed to, we must deliver an unrivalled level of design excellence with the homes that we build in the airspace being equipped with a vast array of futuristic features.

Housing supply on the up For over five years, we’ve been pioneering the delivery of airspace development – that is the delivery of new homes atop existing residential and commercial buildings. To make this happen, we utilise modern methods of construction via offsite manufacture of the units that form these new rooftop homes.

The benefits of constructing in this way are numerous.

By removing approximately 80% of the construction activity from the site, disruption, noise, traffic levels and overall safety are significantly improved.

The speed of delivering these homes is often up to 60% quicker than in traditional approaches, and there are significant benefits to the environment too as high levels of quality-control within the manufacturing environment allow us to exceed energy, sound and insulation standards.

Finally, a modular approach enables us to deliver an individual and bespoke design within the parameters of the building on which we are constructing.

For us, this isn’t about taking a template and replicating it across multiple rooftops – no two rooftops are the same, after all.

To realise the innovation and positive disruption that we’re committed to, we must deliver an unrivalled level of design excellence with the homes that we build in the airspace being equipped with a vast array of futuristic features.

The time has come for airspace to come of age We’ve been certain of the merits of airspace development for many years and have remained resolute in the belief that the increasing importance of ecocredentials and cutting-edge design would further bolster interest in this area of housing supply. We’ve also, however, been mindful that for some it still feels rather fanciful and futuristic. We believe that’s now set to change.

Following a long- awaited consultation, the UK Government announced at the end of June that a new Permitted Development Right (PDR) to enable upwards extensions of two additional storeys on detached blocks of flats would come into force on August 1st this year.

Whilst housing output has gradually increased in the past decade, and restarted post-Covid lockdown, we’re all more than aware that the need for more homes remains acute. Simply, there is a crisis in housing supply and this new PDR is an exciting prospect that will allow airspace development to make greater strides in addressing this.

It shouldn’t, however, be allowed to open the floodgates to reckless development or the exploitation of leaseholders in the existing buildings.

As an industry leader in this specialist field, we’re committed to delivering new homes above existing buildings where it

is prudent to do so and where it will create no adverse effect to the existing residents or surrounding community.

Such development remains subject to a prior approval process, details of which need to comply with the regulations and the intricacies of the specialist methods employed to deliver these new homes cannot be ignored.

Thankfully most interested property owners looking to realise the untapped value in the airspace above their existing investment realise this. In the first two weeks following the government’s announcement that this change would come in to force from August 1st, we fielded a three-fold increase in enquiries from interested parties keen to examine this exciting means of adding to the housing supply, but also conscious of only doing so with a market leader who could manage the entire process and guarantee an unmatched level of excellence.

For too long, issues around housing supply have been laden with negativity and whilst 2020 hasn’t been the most positive of years so far, the changes that come in to effect this August herald a truly exciting future for the delivery of new homes. It’s certainly now time to look up.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq007

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Exteriors

The Natural Choice Julian Gomez, Director of Marketing at Cupa Pizarras explores some of the key factors to consider when it comes to the specification and installation of slate on a new development.

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atural slate is an extremely versatile and sustainable product to produce, and it has been used as a roofing material for hundreds of years. Its high density makes it naturally waterproof and enhances its resistance to temperature fluctuations and adverse weather conditions. It is also resistant to fungus and mould growth, meaning it retains a sleek appearance without the need for costly repairs and maintenance.

However, when specifying slate for a newbuild property, several factors should be considered including the location of the project, weather and desired aesthetics.

The colour, thickness and other characteristics of slate are often influenced by the geographical location from which it was quarried. For instance, Welsh slate has a purple hue, a fine grain and a slimmer thickness – making it much more regular in shape. Scottish slate is often blue-black in colour, thick and has a coarse-grain.

This is an important factor to consider, especially when working in a conservation area or location where a traditional aesthetic is needed to be in-keeping with the surrounding area. Housebuilders working in conservation areas in particular are under strict legal obligation by the Town & City Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to retain a listed area as it is. As such, where the architecture of an area is dominated by a local slate, a suitable replica slate must be selected where older slates cannot be reused in order to maintain the aesthetics.

Another point to consider is the location of the property and its level of exposure to wind and rain. Currently, the Annual Driving Rain Index categorises the UK into four

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where the architecture of an area is dominated by a local slate, a suitable replica slate must be selected where older slates cannot be reused weather exposure gradings based on the approximate litres per square meter of wind-driven rain that an area receives on average. These categories are: ● Sheltered – mainly areas in the east of England, which have less than 33 l/m2 ● Moderate – much of central England and the east coast of Scotland, which have between 33 and 56.5 l/m2 ● Severe – with between 56.5 and 100 l/m2 in any area within 30 miles of a west facing coastline ● Very Severe – the case for most of the west coast of British Isles with more than 100 l/m2 Once the exposure rating has been determined, housebuilders need to take the wind uplift, exposure to driving rain and roof pitch into consideration to determine the minimum required head lap and necessary slate strength. Clearly, Scotland and other coastal regions are at particular risk to adverse weather conditions, meaning the slate must be able to withstand all types of exposure. Furthermore, it is important to note that the height of a property and altitude can also have an effect on the exposure grading and therefore alter the required head lap calculation.

Lastly, natural slate is an extremely versatile product. It is not only suitable for roofing but also lends itself to cladding and other exterior design. At Cupa Pizarras, we offer Cupaclad – our own natural slate rainscreen cladding system.

Combining traceable, handcrafted natural

slates from our own Spanish quarries with stainless steel fixings and aluminium alloy brackets, the patented system is designed to meet the highest technical requirements of the construction industry.

The cladding system has a multitude of benefits. Firstly, thanks to its double-wall structure, an air cavity is created between the load bearing wall and the cladding material, allowing continuous ventilation.

There are also installation benefits including the cladding system being installed onto easy-to-use metal brackets as opposed to traditional timber battens which has an added benefit in terms of minimising combustibility.

Leading suppliers like Cupa Pizarras have worked to create an extensive collection of slate shapes, sizes and unique combinations, which allow housebuilders to create innovative façade and roof designs – crucially with an efficient installation process.

While natural slate has many qualities that have made it a popular choice throughout history, it is important to consider the possibilities and characteristics of each slate and installation system. This will ensure that the natural slate chosen is fit for purpose, beautiful and will last the lifetime of the building.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq008

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Exteriors

Carrying Water Martin Lambley, product manager for stormwater management at Wavin, explains all you need to know about sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

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ustainability has fast become one of the most crucial factors within the built environment, as we continue to embrace eco-friendly solutions in a time of relentless urbanisation. One area that’s attracting particular attention at the moment is sustainable drainage, thanks to new Design and Construction Guidance which, for the first time, sets out national standards and categorises some SuDS systems as adoptable by water authorities.

SuDS are a way of approaching the design of surface water drainage in a way that allows surface water to be managed as it would by mother nature.

Soft SuDS use purpose-built green landscaping components, such as swales, soakaways, ponds and basins, to effectively manage water within the curtilage of a site.

Because they are on the surface, they are generally considered easy to maintain and, due to their natural makeup, they promote biodiversity and tend to blend in with the existing environment. However, their viability can often be limited as they can take up considerable space, which comes at a premium, particularly in urban areas.

The other category is hard SuDS, which are a below ground components, functioning in a different yet equally effective way when it comes to stormwater management. Examples of hard SuDS include permeable paving and geocellular attenuation tanks. The latter are essentially large, modular underground stormwater storage tanks. They provide storage for large volumes of surface water are ideal in cases where space may be restricted. Collected stormwater enters directly into the storage tanks and is then released back into the surrounding soil through infiltration or at a controlled,

manageable rate into the drainage network or local watercourse.

What are the key benefits of SuDS? SuDS have been around since the early 1900s; however, they have only recently come to prominence due to rising concern for sustainable development in light of urbanisation. Not only do SuDS help to create flood resilient developments, they also contribute to the improvement of the urban environment through improved air quality and biodiversity, creating a clean and diverse habitat for wildlife. This is because SuDS lower flow rates, increase water storage capacity and greatly reduce the transportation of pollution to the local water environment.

Water quality is also hugely improved by SuDS. The systems enable water to naturally permeate into the ground, meaning they can treat lightly polluted water by removing suspended particles, as the water first soaks through a layer of subsoil before reaching the water table below.

For the most sustainable and robust long-term solution, it’s generally agreed that features from both soft and hard SuDS should be used in combination. For example, this may be a plastic geocellular system installed under patches of green land on a development. This way, you get the benefits of soft SuDS – such as their attractiveness and ability to filter and cleanse the water – along with the more practical advantages of hard SuDS, with their high storage capacity.

SuDS: why now?

The implementation of SuDS is increasing as developers, engineers, local authorities and the government become more aware of

the alarming effects of climate change. In the 2007 floods in England, a total of 55,000 properties were flooded, 7,000 people had to be rescued and 13 people died, with the flood causing over £3 billion worth of damage. And rainfall is only increasing – over the past decade, our winters have become 12% wetter, with that figure growing to 13% in the summer. With that in mind, the Environment Agency now states that 2.8 million UK properties are now at risk of surface water, or pluvial, flooding alone. This shows just how vital it is that preventative measures are put in place.

This is imperative given the rise in urbanisation. In dense urban areas, traditional methods of stormwater management simply aren’t practical, especially when extreme weather hits.

Urban planners have to consider smarter and more sustainable drainage systems if they’re going to safeguard their local areas.

As we know, climate change is an evergrowing threat, and towns and cities are continuing to expand at a rapid pace. To combat the inevitable consequences of this, it’s more vital than ever for developers to work with local authorities, planners and engineers to explore sustainable, effective solutions to flooding and stormwater management. The inclusion of SuDS in Ofwats new adoption code is a huge step in the right direction, but we now need to take this guidance seriously and put these measures into practice if we’re to truly meet the demands of tomorrow and avoid costly crises.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq009

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ExteriorS

Between the Posts There is a growing trend towards combining different materials – creating texture, movement and colour within a landscaped space. Here, John Abernethie, CEO at Birkdale looks at how developers can utilise modern fencing solutions to achieve these aesthetic requirements, without compromising on performance.

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n the past, the primary purpose of a fence has been to provide security and privacy. Although this is still crucial, fencing systems are increasingly being seen as a way to bring structure and add a sense of texture to a landscaped space.

Many people consider the garden an important extension of the home, so the careful specification of fences, posts and accessories, from aesthetic as well as practical perspective, can really help to enhance a property’s potential.

Fencing is not just about providing a border to the property’s land. Low-rise

fencing can be used to help to create designated areas within the garden. With homeowners looking for dedicated barbequing zones, vegetable garden areas, outdoor play areas or ‘chill out’ spaces, fencing systems can be used to compartmentalise a garden and create a more interactive and appealing space.

While the classic aesthetic of timber fencing is still as popular as ever, there are a range of other products on the market that can help achieve more of a design statement. For example, steel fence post systems, available in a range

of powder coated colours, can be combined with timber panels and colour coordinated gravel boards to add both colour and texture.

At the moment, one of the most popular exterior colours is anthracite grey, which provides a sleek alternative to black and lighter greys and also complements concrete, metal and timber finishes. There are a wide range of exterior building components now available in anthracite, such as windows, doors, paints, guttering, as well as steel fence posts and gravel boards. This means it is now possible to coordinate all exterior accessories within one colour scheme.

Alternatively, composite gravel boards have the versatility to offer an altogether different aesthetic. Typically implemented at the bottom of the fencing system, darker coloured gravel boards allow plants and flowers to really stand out. However, by

Although aesthetics are important, performance and ease of installation are also crucial.

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combining lighter coloured steel fence posts with coordinated stacked gravel boards to the full height of the fence, developers can use a single colour to provide a simple and effective visual.

Although aesthetics are important when selecting a fencing system, performance and ease of installation are also crucial. While concrete and timber have long been the traditional materials used for fencing, both have their limitations. Timber is susceptible to rotting and warping over time and is at risk of breaking when subjected to high speed wind. Although concrete has the increased strength to remove this risk, it is also susceptible to weather damage and is visually far less appealing than timber.

However, with the emergence of modern solutions like galvanised steel fence posts, it is now possible to achieve the crucial balance between design and durability.

With a unique H-section profile, galvanised steel fence posts are capable of withstanding wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour and have an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

Furthermore, as they are available in a range of long-lasting powder coated colour finishes they have additional corrosion protection with minimal maintenance required. This is unlike traditional timber fences which, while as popular as ever, require regular maintenance to ensure quality is sustained.

Not only are steel fence posts far stronger than timber, they also share timber’s lightweight properties and are approximately 80% lighter than concrete alternatives. As such, fencing systems which utilise galvanised steel can be carried out by a single trade professional. This is a clear advantage for developers, as concrete post installations are generally considered a two-person job. By specifying a steel fence post product it is possible to reduce installation time and site running costs whilst also ensuring installations are of a high standard.

For developers seeking such a solution, DuraPost by Fencemate should be considered. Backed by a 25-year guarantee, which applies to all housebuilder installations, it provides assurance of its inherent durability. Incredibly versatile, DuraPost can be used with virtually any type of timber fencing and is also available in a choice of profiles and four colour options, including anthracite grey. As such, the solution delivers substantial performance, installation and aesthetic benefits and can help transform a garden into an appealing outdoor living space.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq010

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ExteriorS

Striving for Comfort Debbie Phillips, National Business Development Manager for Keylite Roof Windows looks at the best approach to ensure your builds are not only compliant but deliver optimum levels of wellbeing for the occupants.

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coustic, light, economic and thermal performance all have a significant impact on making our homes better places to live. Whilst it’s important to recognise that these elements do not work in isolation and that a holistic approach should be taken towards building design, in this particular article we are focusing on thermal comfort and good design principles that should be adhered to.

For many architects, specifiers and housebuilders, compliance is the dreaded c-word. It can be all too easy to get caught up in aesthetics and build timelines, but you can’t rest on your laurels when it comes to compliance – the cost of non-compliance far outweighs the price of getting it right first time.

With thermal performance we’re looking primarily at Conservation of Fuel and Power Part L, section 6. Part L is split into two parts, part L1A for new build dwellings and part L1B for existing dwellings, but we’re going to focus on L1A.

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The purpose of approved document L is to ensure energy efficiency in buildings.

The Target CO2 Emission Rate (TER) and Target Fabric Energy Efficiency (TFEE) rate are the minimum energy requirements for a new-build dwelling. To showcase that a building complies with regulation requirements, Dwelling CO2 emission Rate (DER) and Dwelling Fabric Energy Efficiency (DFEE) rates are calculated, and both must meet or exceed the TER and TFEE. However, whilst a product or design may say it meets Part L requirements, is that really good enough? The ultimate question is whether you are building a house or a home? Because your answer to that question will determine the detail in your design and the products you specify.

Check the details When it comes to thermal comfort and performance one of the biggest issues for developers and architects is thermal bridging and condensation, and all too often double glazing is seen as the main culprit of this. However, despite meeting relevant standards it’s often in the installation of a product where cold bridging can occur, leading to unpleasant mould left on windows and reducing its thermal efficiency.

Installation of roof windows is often left to the manufacturer’s discretion. With most stipulating that a 20mm gap is required around roof windows to enable for onsite adjustments and ease of installation. This gap is supposed to be ‘filled in’ after installation to reduce the

impact of thermal bridging. However, this is rarely stipulated in building designs and the retrofittable product of a thermal foam is often not on specifications, likely because at this level of detail there is not the awareness or the incentive to purchase extra materials.

If this area is not insulated, then this can lead to cold bridging and condensation on roof windows. The gap between the roof and the window creates a cold section all around the frame due to the temperature differentiation between the outside and the inside, which can eventually lead to mould and contributes toward heat loss.

In order to make houses more comfortable and energy efficient the onus should be taken away from the installers and products should be designed and specified with optimum thermal comfort in mind. Manufacturers should design in features that eliminate thermal bridging reduces the risk of non-compliance and delivers a build that is closer to the expected energy performance.

The difference between the on-paper specification and the as-built performance often occurs because of attention to detail and the lack of awareness that a product will only perform as specified if it’s also correctly installed. Keylite is aware of this issue surrounding the installation of roof windows and has taken the lead in ensuring it removes the possibility of this happening. Meaning its products are designed in such a way that architects and installers don’t have to consider the ‘gap’

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When it comes to thermal comfort and performance one of the biggest issues is thermal bridging and condensation, and all too often double glazing is seen as the main culprit when specifying or fitting roof windows.

With this principle in mind, Keylite Roof Windows introduced an expanding thermal collar for its products, the only system of its kind and the only company in the UK to address this issue. The thermal collar is already attached to the roof window, so when onsite, installers can fit with a 20mm gap for ease of installation and then simply pull the tab on the window, once fitted, to

release the expandable thermal collar, which then bridges the gap between the frame and building envelope. This not only saves time and cost, but also creates more thermally efficient and comfortable homes.

Performance and comfort work in unity, you could seek to achieve the absolute minimum thermal standards in line with Part L, but would that create the best experience for the occupants? Thermal

comfort is impacted by correct detailing, material selection, glazing and ultimately installation. When all these elements are taken into account you are building homes not just houses.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dp011

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EXPERT Update | MARKET

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The Long Sell

Oliver Gutman, partner and corporate tax specialist at law firm, Shakespeare Martineau has some advice for developers looking to turn a profit post-Covid-19.

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n the wake of coronavirus, many residential developers are opting to let out their completed units until the market picks up. However, in order to ensure this switch in strategy is commercially viable and to stay on the right side of HMRC, it’s vital to be aware of the VAT implications.

At a time when they may be struggling to make a sale, letting units on short-term leases can prove an effective way for developers to prop up their revenues.

However, this change of approach means that they could become liable for a “clawback adjustment” in VAT. Where a newly-built residential property is sold or let on a long lease (in excess of 21 years) it is classed as zerorated supply. This means that the owner does not need to add VAT to the sale price and can recover the VAT incurred during the construction phase – its “input VAT”. On the other hand, the letting of residential properties on short leases is an exempt supply; the owner does not need to add VAT to the sale price but also cannot recover the input VAT that they have incurred.

Usually, developers tend to reclaim input VAT on construction supplies as they go along. As such, if they later change their intention from selling properties to letting them on short-term leases, they will need to repay this amount to HMRC. Some good news is that during the 2008 financial crisis, the Government introduced a concession that allows many developers to let out their housing stock without any clawback of input VAT; this is still available.

Under the concession, when calculating clawback adjustments, HMRC will only look at receipts over a ten-year period. Letting a property for a shorter period will, therefore, only result in a partial clawback of input VAT and developers should record their intention to only let out properties until the market picks up.

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There is also a de minimis test. In effect, if a business’s irrecoverable input VAT is less than £625 per month on average (and less than half of its total input VAT), it is ignored and the whole of its input VAT is still treated as recoverable.

Another issue thrown up by the VAT rules is in relation to fees paid on Land Promotion Agreements. “Promoters’ fees” is something of a misnoma – it is a payment by the promoter to the landowner, representing an advance on what the landowner will ultimately receive when the land is sold with planning permission. It is generally thought that VAT is due on the payment but this assumes that the landowner is supplying services to the promoter. In reality, the payment can be just an inducement by the promotor to entice the landowner to enter into the promotion agreement. As such, there is an argument that the payment is not for any supply and therefore no VAT is due.

In general, if landowners are selling land to the developer before construction has begun, they should register for VAT and make a VAT election, enabling them to recover VAT charged by the promoter and other professional advisors. However, if a landowner is selling completed residential units, this would be classed as a zero-rated supply. This means that any VAT charged by the promoter could be recovered even without a VAT election.

Sales of units on which construction has progressed beyond the laying of foundations (“golden brick”) can also be zero-rated. It is worth noting that HMRC accepts that the deposit paid by the buyer can be released to the landowner before any development has started. As long as the landowner intends to begin construction well ahead of any potential sale, HMRC will accept zero-rating on the deposit.

As there is uncertainty regarding the

number of units that need to be built to “golden brick” before zero-rating of the whole site is available, seeking expert support on this point is crucial.

Developers and promoters should also ensure they are clear about their liability for SDLT payments. In 2004, the Government introduced new rules, imposing an SDLT charge on developers, even if developed land is sold directly by the landowner to the end buyer. Under this legislation, this is treated as a deemed acquisition by the developer (separate from the acquisition by the end buyer), requiring the developer to file an SDLT return if the chargeable consideration is £40,000 or more. Whether or not the proceeds from the sale of developed units fall within this “developers’ SDLT charge” should be a key consideration for developers and promoters.

A clear understanding of HMRC’s guidance and the right expert support can help to inform developers’ decisionmaking, allowing them to optimise the tax position of their portfolios in the months ahead.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

For more information visit www.shma.co.uk

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EXPERT Update | PLANNING

Easy Building

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Jonathon Goldstone and Alex O’Connor from Collyer Bristow discuss changes to planning laws.

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n response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK government has recently announced changes to planning rules intended to make it easier to build on brownfield sites and to change property use. Should these changes go through, it looks like good news for housebuilders.

The changes proposed in the government press release include: ● More types of commercial premises having total flexibility to be repurposed through reform of the Use Classes

commercial tenants is still unknown, but already there are reports of companies reducing branch numbers, cutting staff, or in some cases going into administration.

This is likely to leave many commercial buildings unoccupied and, depending on the post-Covid economic climate, unlikely to be reoccupied by commercial tenants for the foreseeable future.

By cutting the red tape required to either repurpose or replace vacant commercial buildings, the government

These are only proposals at this stage, and any rule changes that are brought in will need to be considered in their final form. Although other considerations will continue to be a factor for housebuilders, should the proposed planning rule changes go ahead in their current form it will be welcome news in what may otherwise be a difficult economic climate.

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“ Making it easier to demolish and replace redundant housing stock should create additional opportunities for housebuilders to build high quality housing for the future.”

Order. A building used for retail, for instance, would be able to be permanently used as a café or office without requiring a planning application and local authority approval. Pubs, libraries, village shops and other types of uses essential to the lifeblood of communities will not be covered by these flexibilities. ● A wider range of commercial buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application. ● Builders will no longer need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes. ● Property owners will be able to build additional space above their properties via a fast track approval process, subject to neighbour consultation.

The second and third of these changes are likely to be of interest to housebuilders. The extent of the economic impact of Covid-19 on

proposals should increase opportunities for housebuilders. Similarly, making it easier to demolish and replace redundant housing stock should create additional opportunities for housebuilders to build high quality housing for the future.

However, there are still likely to be other considerations for developers to take into account. While permission for a change of use will be easier to obtain, permission to make alterations or carry out conversion works will likely need to be applied for separately. Permission is likely to be required for changes to windows, doorways, cladding etc.

Furthermore, local authorities may adopt different approaches to the proposed rule changes, particularly in areas where the authority is keen to protect the availability of office space which is temporarily out of use. There may also be site-specific factors. These might include contamination, flood risk, or buildings which are listed or in a conservation area.

The rule changes are unlikely to have any impact on these factors.

Alex O’Connor is a Partner and Jonathon Goldstone a trainee solicitor in the Real Estate team at law firm Collyer Bristow. Both can be reached via the Collyer Bristow website – www.collyerbristow.com

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EXPERT Update | DESIGN

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Hot Topic

In the international drive to make new homes more energy efficient, residents have unwittingly been put at increased risk of dangerous overheating. Rupert Kazlauciunas, technical manager at the Zehnder Group, suggests that developers must act now if we are to keep the next generation of home owners happy and safe.

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hile many of us might have welcomed the heatwave that coincided with the start of lockdown, at times we have also had cause to curse the soaring temperatures. The fact is, being stuck inside can be incredibly uncomfortable when the temperature rises. And in residential properties the temperature is rising.

The outdoor climate is changing and, as we head towards more extreme temperatures, the airtightness and insulation levels of energy efficient homes has led to overheating problems.

In the UK, peaks of 37.8°C have been recorded in recent years. According to the Met Office, the UK’s 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2002.

All the indications suggest that indoor summer temperatures will regularly be above those referenced in the Government’s Housing Health and Safety Rating System and beyond the thermal comfort limits recommended by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Health risks of excessive indoor heat Occupants who experience overheating may suffer, at best, discomfort, but the effects stretch out to include sleep deprivation, dehydration, heat cramps, headaches and a reduction in air quality that exacerbates respiratory problems and dementia.

The health risks are particularly acute in urban areas. Here the concentration of buildings, people and cars creates ‘heat islands’ where temperatures are significantly higher.

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A study of overheating by the Government concluded that overheating was a nationwide problem in new builds – but by reducing night time temperatures of overheated homes by just 1°C, a fall in the number of workers not getting enough sleep could bring a £4.9bn boost to the economy through increased staff productivity.

Architects, planning and regulation It’s vital, then, that the planning and construction of homes must now juggle the needs of energy efficient, carbon neutral design with the requirement to address overheating. CIBSE TM59, introduced in 2017, is a design methodology which tackles overheating issues at the planning stage of new dwellings. It sets out the proportion of hours that can exceed the running mean as well as the number of hours that can exceed 26oC at night.

Similarly, the London Plan offers guidance for addressing climate change and housing in the capital. Section 5.9 recommends that major development proposals should reduce potential overheating and reliance on air conditioning systems.

But the Government’s overheating study shows that both new build flats and houses across the country, in the north as well as the south, are failing the CIBSE standards overwhelmingly – leaving residents frequently starved of sleep by up to two hours a night in the warmer months.

A rather useful tool created by the Good Homes Alliance helps design teams assess the risk of overheating in new homes at the

very early stages of project planning so they can mitigate against it in construction.

We know new builds can get too hot – the evidence is there to see.

Through the use of pioneering Passive House principles and new technology we can prevent the problem from occurring, using energy efficient smart ventilation systems that draw in fresh air from outside, then filter and temper it to provide residents with a clean, cool air supply during warm periods.

For a home to meet the internationally recognised Passive House standard, every component used within the building must have been rigorously tested and approved. Ventilation with heat recovery is one of the five key elements required to achieve the exacting criteria. The cold recovery efficiency of Passive Housecertified MVHR units, for example, is the ideal partner for active cooling to maintain these lower internal temperatures.

The domestic ventilation debate has moved on from whether such systems are necessary to what the most effective systems are for energy efficiency, better temperature regulation and high air quality.

Whether the next generation of homes are urban apartments or large, luxury homes, we should expect those living in them to reasonably expect and demand a good night’s sleep whatever the weather outside. We have the technology to provide it – and it’s time to fit it as standard.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq012

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EXPERT Update | FINANCE

Bouncing back

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John Walsham, Funding and Business Development Consultant, Kreston Reeves, advises construction businesses to take advantage of government support before time runs out. he government has, as of 5th July, approved over £11.49bn of lending to 53,000 businesses under its Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and a further £31bn in bounce back loans to over one million small and medium sized businesses. Together with the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, government support has been a lifeline for many property businesses. There is still time to take advantage of government support.

CBILS allows businesses to borrow up to £5m. A lending application can be made to a panel of lenders and will be repaid under term agreements. Lenders can claim up to 80% of the value of the loan if the borrower defaults, but a word

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vehicles for individual sites or schemes.

Whilst businesses in a traditional holding company structure can only access one bounce back loan via the holding company, in some instances each SPV could qualify for a bounce back loan. A developer with five sites each structured via an SPV could, for example, borrow up to £250,000 at just 2.5% over a six-year term and with no early redemption penalties.

The bounce back loan scheme closes to applications on 4th November and the business owner should always apply to their own lender first.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has allowed companies to furlough staff with the government paying 80% of their wages. The scheme is

“ Kreston Reeves surveyed 221 small businesses and found that over 60% of them had taken advantage of the Government’s furlough scheme – it has been a real lifeline in protecting jobs.” of caution: lenders will seek to recover as much of the debt from the borrower in the first instance. The CBILS closes for applications on 30th September.

Bounce back loans allow small businesses to borrow up to £50,000.

The loan is unsecured, self-certified and can be used by the business in any way it wishes. Loans are interest free for the first 12 months, and then with an attractive interest rate of just 2.5% over the six-year term.

Bounce back loans have reportedly been put towards property and vehicles by business owners or banked for future use.

Bounce back loans are a potentially valuable funding stream for residential developers who adopt special purpose

evolving and will run through to the end of October. In the Chancellor’s summer statement, businesses that bring back staff from furlough will receive a one-off payment of £1,000.

Kreston Reeves in May surveyed 221 small businesses and found that over 60% of them had taken advantage of the Government’s furlough scheme – it has been a real lifeline in protecting jobs. But some surveys have shown that up to a third of businesses have in some way stretched the rules by inadvertently allowing staff to work or, in some cases, actively asking staff on furlough to work.

The guidance is clear: businesses are not allowed to let staff work whilst on furlough. However, it becomes a grey area

when staff decide to work in some capacity without their employer’s knowledge, for example helping a supplier or advising a colleague who is still working.

Given the likely high rates of infringements of the furlough rules and the potential difficulty in recovering incorrect claims, the government has drafted legislation that is likely to introduce an amnesty allowing businesses to repay money taken through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme without any sanction or penalties. Clear records of staff on furlough, working part time or on flexible furlough are essential.

Businesses that do not take advantage of such an amnesty and are later found to have stretched the rules may find themselves under serious investigation and facing substantial fines. Businesses should therefore triple check their claims and discuss the amnesty with their advisers if they have any concerns of potential infringements.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

John Walsham is Funding and Business Development Consultant at Kreston Reeves and a former commercial banker. He can be reached by email at john.walsham@krestonreeves.com.

Visit www.krestonreeves.com.

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Interiors

On the Door Recent advancements within the manufacturing sector are providing housebuilders with an alternative to economic doors, placing greater importance on aesthetics, ease of installation and increased service life.

Here Mark Lester, Internal Door Manager for Hörmann UK, explores the latest range of doorsets available.

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or housebuilders creating high quality, visually striking developments, it’s essential the internal doors they choose are not only fit for purpose, but also enhance and complement the overall interior design scheme. Whilst importance has traditionally been placed on the functionality of internal doors due to their heavy usage, manufacturers are now focusing on providing solutions that offer ease of installation, increased service life and unique visual style.

Current European developments have introduced a new type of internal doorset to the UK market, which offers a variety of door leaf and frame combinations, designed to meet the individual requirements of each property, without compromising on quality or longevity.

The combination of specifying both rebated and traditional flush doors throughout a single property is also growing in popularity. As the standard door type across Europe, rebated doors offer outstanding installation benefits and enhanced acoustic properties, at a more

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Latest advancements in aesthetics are placing greater importance on texture, with decorative surfaces being a popular choice, particularly when available in a range of shades and finishes. affordable price point.

Available as both rebated or flush, the Hörmann BaseLine, DesignLine and GlassLine doorsets comprise of a matching door leaf and wrap-around frame, with factory fitted hinges, locks and latches. The frame incorporates a liner, architrave and stops, with a pre-fitted peripheral seal. This enables seamless installation to each specific wall thickness, whilst also reducing decorating costs and resources as the architrave, frame and door leaf are supplied as fully finished.

Latest advancements in aesthetics are also placing greater importance on texture, with decorative surfaces being a popular choice for professionals, particularly when available in a range of shades and finishes.

Contemporary surfaces such as ultra-matt, which can be written on in chalk, is an innovative and effective choice for children’s bedrooms, kitchens and playrooms.

Exclusive to Hörmann, the ultra-matt, slate and linen textures are manufactured in its unique Duradecor laminate finish, which is impact and abrasion-resistant, providing outstanding aesthetics

and longevity, whilst also minimising any potential damage to the surface.

For rooms within a property that may have minimal access to natural light, the GlassLine range offers a frameless glass door leaf with nano-coatings for a high quality finish that reduces potential fingermarks, whilst allowing natural light to flood directly into the room.

Where floor space is limited, internal sliding doors offer a functional option as they can also be used as a flexible room divider. This is particularly popular in open-plan kitchens to stop cooking odours from travelling throughout the rest of the property. With a range of configurations and installation options, such as being fitted in front of or within the wall itself, sliding doors offer both a contemporary and functional choice for new build developments.

By taking an alternative approach to the specification of internal doors, housebuilders have the opportunity to add a completely unique touch to each of their properties, without compromising on functionality or durability.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq013

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Interiors

High Fidelity Electrical solutions provider Hamilton has developed a new wireless audio range that offers excellent quality audio in an easy to install and cost-conscious package. We lend an ear to find out the benefits for developers.

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ong gone are the days of the boombox and the Sony Walkman. As technology simplifies and people become accustomed to more connected lives, streaming music has become the norm. Spotify and Apple Music, two of the largest music streaming services, have over 150 million subscribers combined.

Many people enjoy this music on the go, in their cars and on their commutes, but listening in the home offers the opportunity to enjoy a higher quality audio experience.

Hamilton Litestat has launched a new range of wireless home audio products that are simple to install and configure, while delivering the high-quality audio that matches today’s tech-savvy consumer demand.

“We’re acutely aware that any developments – whether new build or refurbishments of existing properties – need to be highly attractive to today’s buyers and meet their lifestyle expectations, but also provide an appropriate return on investment for

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developers. Home audio is an area that delivers a high perceived value for buyers while being relatively low cost to install,” explains Gavin Williams, Sales & Marketing Director at Hamilton Litestat.

“We’ve developed a range that’s easy to install and set-up plus very simple to use via a specially-designed app.”

Fixed audio for quality stereo sound Today, one of the most popular home layouts is the kitchen-dining-living room.

This creates a large open plan space with plenty of light, but also allows the whole family to socialise, interact and be together while getting on with their own activities, such as cooking, eating, doing homework, or watching TV. For many, it’s important that this area can also transform into an entertainment space. Well placed, good quality audio can help with this, and Hamilton’s solution is suited to both large open plan spaces, as well as other smaller yet high usage areas.

Four products make up Hamilton’s new wireless audio range, two of which

are the WSA50 Wireless Streaming Amplifier and the H600-80W8 Ceiling Speakers. Using the robust Wi-Fi network, the WSA50 Wireless Streaming Amplifier can stream audio to virtually every room in a property, streaming to several speakers to play the same song simultaneously throughout the home. Or, with additional amplifiers, speakers can be grouped together to create sound zones, so that different audio can be played in each of these areas of the home. By utilising Wi-Fi, increased audio fidelity is achieved compared to Bluetooth, preserving more of what the artist intended and suiting the keenest ear. The amplifier also has a USB port to connect to audio stored on a NAS, USB flash drives and hard disks, and also has built-in Bluetooth should a Wi-Fi connection not be available.

The perfect companion to the WSA50 Wireless Streaming Amplifier is the Hamilton H600-80W8 Ceiling Speakers.

This pairing delivers a high quality and reliable fixed audio option. The passive

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Hamilton has developed an intuitive app that allows for easy set-up and control of the wireless audio solutions across iOS or Android devices. mono speakers, which are supplied in white with a magnetic front grill, contain a six-inch Kevlar cone and one-inch Titanium cone, delivering 80 watts of power and better-quality audio than speakers with built-in amplifiers. Two speakers are required for stereo sound: one for the right channel, one for the left.

Simple control from smart devices Hamilton has developed an intuitive app that allows for easy set-up and control of the wireless audio solutions across iOS or Android devices from anywhere in the home. As well as playing music stored on the device, the app integrates with a range of audio platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal, allowing the user to play music through their preferred streaming service at the swipe of a finger. The Hamilton Player App also offers an easy-to-use EQ function that allows for the bass and treble to be adjusted to suit the listener’s individual taste and preferences.

No programming knowledge is necessary to set up and configure the speakers. They can be grouped together or played singularly throughout the home for the utmost flexibility. It means an

installer can set up the most common preferences, but if a homeowner wishes to change them then they have the flexibility to do this themselves rather than face the costly call-out of an installer.

Installation and speaker positions Whether the project is a new-build property or a redevelopment, installation is simple. The Hamilton WSA50 Amplifier can be installed in a ceiling or mounted on a wall or flat surface. It is recommended that the amp is placed in an easily accessible place, such as near the consumer unit, so that local storage devices can be connected. Professional installers are required to fit a fire hood to enclose ceiling speakers, which maintains the integrity of the ceiling and provides soundproofing for the rooms above. Easy step-by-step set-up instructions for installers can be found on the Hamilton Litestat YouTube Channel, or Hamilton also offers a technical support service to answer questions about individual projects.

Positioning speakers to create the best possible audio is not as difficult as it might first seem.

General rules: Keep speakers around 60cm away from corners and other hard surfaces, such as tall cabinets as these may reflect or hinder the sound For rectangular rooms of less than 30m2, two speakers placed in near opposite corners to create good sound coverage are ideal.

For rooms larger than 30m2

or L-shaped rooms, consider creating separate stereo audio zones using pairs of mono speakers in line with the room usage, with the addition of a single stereo input speaker within any enclosed space.

For long narrow rooms consider using two stereo input speakers at either end, at least. 60cm in from the room ends.

Kitchen diner & entertainment spaces Ceiling speakers are an excellent solution for open plan kitchen diners and entertainment spaces, providing stereo sound throughout the space.

Be aware of ceiling speaker placement above any surfaces that could disrupt the audio. For example, it’s unadvisable to position a ceiling speaker directly over a kitchen surface because the sound will reflect off the worktop and could interfere with conversation.

Small spaces For a small space such as a kitchenette or utility room, single stereo ceiling speakers are an excellent solution. A single stereo input speaker plays both channels through one woofer and two tweeters.

Depending on the size of the room, installing more than one speaker might be preferable: place one above the sink and one in the opposite corner to ensure good audio coverage. These speakers also work in large awkwardly shaped rooms to supplement the main stereo speaker pairing.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq014

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Interiors

Wall to Wall Scott Beattie, Managing Director at Fibo looks at the benefits of waterproof wall panels as an alternative to tiles for bathrooms and kitchens, including the speed of install, quality of the finish and long-term performance.

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iles are the default choice for creating a waterproof wall surface for bathrooms and kitchens.

However, this can be time consuming and expensive to install, especially where the required skills are in short supply. Laminate wall panels now offer a true alternative with significant benefits, without compromising on the finished result.

The smooth and strong surface of the wall panels can withstand both direct water spray and large temperature fluctuations. They are also

30 summer Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

quick to dry, easy to clean and warm to the touch. As an example, Fibo products feature a seven layer birch core and an enhanced moisture barrier backing.

For housebuilders and developers, one of the key advantages of using this type of wall covering for bathrooms and kitchens is that installation is simpler and up to five times faster when compared with tiling – providing both a time and cost saving. Firstly, unlike tiles, the wall panel systems cover large wall areas quickly. The standard 2400mm

high panels cover the full wall height in most bathrooms, with further options available for areas with greater ceiling heights or splashbacks. The panels are available in a variety of widths from 600mm to 1200mm to best suit the dimensions of the space and can be easily cut to size with standard carpentry tools. They can also be applied to any wall surface and do not require the walls to be prepared to the same extent as with tiling. Providing the surface is clean, dry and flat, the laminate wall system can be glued

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directly on to plasterboard or existing tiles. Alternatively, they can even be screwed onto battens or studs.

When installed correctly, high-quality panels are also completely waterproof. For example, Fibo’s Aqualock system technology ensures a secure seal between the panels to create a seamless, waterproof joint – and providing all exposed plywood edges are fully sealed with a recommended polymer sealant – and fitted in accordance with the instructions – they are guaranteed fully waterproof. In addition, with no grouting the panels are more hygienic, easier to keep clean and will stay looking new for longer.

The simple process also ensures a more consistent finish and has the additional benefit of installation flexibility. Unlike tiling that requires specialist skills, the wall panels can be fitted by people with various construction skills, such as carpenters and builders or anyone capable with standard woodworking tools, and without the need for expensive tile cutting blades and machinery. This means that developers are not reliant on one trade to be able to complete the build.

Unlike tiling that requires specialist skills, the wall panels can be fitted by people with various construction skills, such as carpenters and general builders.

Developers can be confident in the longevity of the system by selecting high-quality products that include a warranty. For example, Fibo provides a 15-year guarantee that correctly installed panels will remain watertight and will not crack or delaminate.

Finally, developers do not need to compromise on the design of the bathroom or kitchen as the laminate panels offer a wide variety of patterns and finishes to suit any trend. This includes classic marble, wood and polished stone effects alongside soothing pastels and eye-catching blues, greens, greys and whites. Uniquely, Fibo also offers the option to choose panels with a wide array of tile patterns routed into the surface to recreate the traditional, tiled look. This range of finishes and effects allows any design to be realised and even provides greater choice of finishes when compared with tiles.

Tiles are often seen as the only choice for bathroom and kitchen installations despite the issues around the availability of skills, consistency of the finish and speed of installation. High pressure laminate wall panels offer a real alternative that is faster and simpler to install with no concession on the design.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq015

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Interiors

Luxury Kitchens Caple’s product manager Luke Shipway offers his advice on how housebuilders can create the perfect luxury space in the kitchen.

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he kitchen has become the one room in the home which embraces a hive of activity, from preparing and cooking food to entertaining guests and relaxing with family. And this concept doesn’t change whether you want to design the room in question on a tight budget or you’re able to provide homebuyers with a more luxury kitchen.

However, when it comes to creating highend kitchen design, for the housebuilder it will be key to save where you can to achieve a luxury look for less.

Of course, the major appliances you choose will always play an important role in luxury kitchen design. In this instance, housebuilders will be looking for high-spec models, which will appeal to the buyer.

However, it’s important to consider how well these appliances will work to keep your homebuyers fully satisfied after purchase.

This is why reliability, coupled with design, is vital and this creates a strong argument for buying from a British brand, which designs its appliances in-house. This way, the UK buyer will find the appliances easy to use with all of the functionality they could possibly require and they will produce a pleasing aesthetic in a kitchen, too.

You already know the appliances you specify will play a contributing factor in helping you sell more homes. So, it’s important to ensure the products you choose come from a brand you can trust and, therefore, so can the home buyer.

The latter will expect a lot more for their

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money and, in this instance, co-ordination should be key. Why not consider buying an entire collection of high-performance appliances from one brand? And, if you want to appeal to the high-end market, you could match these with stylish sinks, taps and attractive kitchen furniture from the same brand for a cohesive aesthetic.

Caple, for example, offers this complete portfolio at highly competitive prices.

In luxury kitchen design, built-in appliances tend to lead the way, because they offer a more seamless finish and allow for open-plan living. These days, homebuyers are looking for a more streamlined finish in a luxury kitchen, so integrated appliance demand has increased for refrigeration and laundry, too. And of course could extend to fullyintegrated wine cabinets in the future – a staple appliance for a luxury kitchen.

Cooking credentials Built-in cooking appliances are perfectly suited to a luxury kitchen scheme as they can be fitted side-by-side or above and below within a bank of units for a compact

We have produced our own CapleHome app to connect to your oven remotely, which is packed full with features

cooking solution. Buyers in the high-end market will require more than one oven ‘as standard’ and the available combinations are now endless. The buyer will be looking for a whole host of intelligent features and innovative controls, which will deliver outstanding cooking results. Banks of multifunctional, built-in ovens are proving more popular for a professional cooking display and this trend is widespread. The ultimate cooking wall makes cooking easier with appliances placed together and this should include a multi-functional oven with a large capacity, favourite settings to deliver fantastic cooking results and a variety of programmes and a combination microwave, which provides extra cooking facilities and speeds up cooking times with a number of functions, and warming drawers to keep dishes and plates warm.

Connectivity Smart appliances are an attractive buy for the luxury house buyer and this will set your properties apart from other high-end homes on the market. Essentially, the homebuyer will be looking for models, which will save them time and help them

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in any shape or form in the kitchen.

Ovens, which you can operate with your smartphone, should help you secure a purchase from home buyers who are looking for that little bit extra. At Caple, we have produced our own CapleHome app to connect to your oven remotely, which is packed full with features a UK homeowner will need and actually use, and we’ve placed considerable importance on easy functionality, too.

They will be able to use this to operate our new collection of Wi-Fi ovens we expect to launch later this year.

Connectivity extends to smart thermostats, lighting and security, all of which have their own part to play in the high-end housebuilding market.

Kitchen furniture The kitchen furniture you choose can make or break a luxury kitchen scheme however choosing bespoke furniture will affect your margins considerably. So, our furniture manager Doug Haswell offers this advice: “In luxury kitchen design, the house builder can’t cut corners with low quality kitchen

cabinets as these will need to complement the appliances you choose. In this market, I would suggest choosing a beautifully crafted kitchen furniture collection, which looks bespoke but comes without the associated high price tag. For example, if you’re looking for traditional design, pick in-frame cabinets, which are available in a vast range of sizes. Our in-frame collection offers a portfolio of numerous kitchen designs and colours, so you can still add value without the hefty ‘bespoke’ price tag.

You can even get the kitchen primed so it’s ready for painting then the colour and paint can be chosen by the house buyer.”

Kitchens with true handleless, slabfronted doors, such as our Verse collection,

are one of the latest trends for modern luxury kitchen design for those who are looking for an uncluttered, fuss-free look in their hub of the home. Easy to clean doors with matching lasered edging look good in a minimalist kitchen, and should be favoured as they are so cost-effective.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq016

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Interiors

Ask the Panel N

orbord’s new fully interactive engineered wood panels product guide is proving to be an invaluable online resource for housebuilders, specifiers and architects.

A simple click on the tabs at the side of the guide opens up the chosen product, application or technical information.

Whatever the project, the easy-tonavigate guide makes choosing the right product simple.

The product guide contains all the

information needed on panels in the SterlingOSB Zero, CaberFloor and CaberWood MDF portfolios, including detailed technical product data and installation advice. In addition to this, Norbord’s booklet highlights different applications, including roofing, flooring, walling, timber frames, hoarding, shopfitting, and furniture among others such as moulding and packing.

The guide, which also encompasses

contact information for general enquiries and technical expertise, is the ultimate tool for specifying panel products in the building and construction industries. The guide can be downloaded from the housebuilders’ page on Norbord’s website.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq017

ADVERTISEMENT INDEX Beauxfort ..........................................................................page 33

Grass Concrete Ltd ........................................................page 19

Brett Martin Plumbing & Drainage ............................page 21

Hamilton Litestat ............................................................page 31

Caple ..................................................................................page 4

Norbord Europe Ltd ..................page 11, outside back cover

Domus Ventilation ........................................................page 27

Tissino ............................................................inside front cover

Etex (Exteriors) UK Ltd ..................................................page 15

Ubbink (UK) Ltd ..............................................................page 27

Fassa UK Ltd ....................................................................page 16

34 summer Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

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last word MRA Marketing’s Mike Rigby wonders whether a year spent largely indoors will change the way we build homes in the future.

Has Coronavirus revealed to the nation how small its homes have become?

Space Race N

ow we’ve been forced to spend lots of time in them, many of us have discovered how small and confined our homes actually are. And we’re not alone. We can look in colleagues’ homes via Zoom and other video conferencing tools, and watch TV journalists reporting from their living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and sheds and see that most people live in quite confined spaces. Some seem quite crowded too, with partners, pals or pets coming and going behind the camera, and occasionally getting in on the act.

Few homes were built for this.

Certainly, for the last 100 years or so, people were expected to live most of their lives outside the home. So, it’s not surprising life in lockdown and working from home has been stressful and confining. No wonder people have been bursting to get out.

This isn’t just a sudden change in lifestyle, or perception. In the last 60 years houses have been shrinking, particularly in the last 30 years. As land values have risen, some housebuilders and developers have squeezed more homes into smaller spaces to maximise plot values and returns. Continuing to do that

successfully demands inventiveness and creativity, and a fine understanding of housebuyers’ priorities and preferences, and the tradeoffs they will accept. The winners in the equation have been the master bedroom with ensuite, living room and kitchen; the losers everything else including storage space.

Bedrooms have shrunk. Communal living areas often include the kitchen – not ideal if that is where someone works.

Small bathrooms are a pinch point. Few bathrooms are designed for multigenerational living or regular frequent use.

Bathroom fittings may be suited to light, morning and evening, use rather than throughout the day. Opening shower doors, or leaving shower doors open, can be a hazard for young kids or those who are unsteady on their feet. Older or infirm members of the family may find it difficult to get in and out of the shower safely over high thresholds. They may need a grab handle, or a robust seat in the shower to rest on. Anyone can slip on a wet shower tray. Falling in the shower can be painful or dangerous. In new homes, more thought has probably gone into designing the bathroom layout for the stereotypical young couple, so it looks larger than it is, than into making it work for the mix of people who might use it. When total visits a day are few and fleeting as people rush off to work, or hurry back out in the evening, these limitations are less obvious and less important.

Crammed in all day with other people, it’s not surprising homeowners

think about improving their homes.

Google searches for home improvements soared 42% in the first few weeks of lockdown and, where they could buy, they did. “The consumer market boomed.

Everyone wanted to decorate,” says Paul Roughan, Trade Merchant Sales Director Dulux Trade and BMBI’s Expert for Paint.

Many people, and many businesses, have decided that working from home, for all its small frustrations, is a lot better and more productive than an expensive daily commute. Improving the home, and the experience of working and spending prolonged periods in the home, is a priority.

This is not a temporary disruption, before we get back to life, business, and markets as usual. It’s a turning point.

Housebuilders and developers may decide to rethink their underlying assumptions about the amount, value, and distribution of living space in homes.

Commuting distance may be less of a factor. In time, the resale values of new homes may reflect these changes, as buyers adjust to pay less for what they don’t value, and more for what they do want.

Large numbers of homes that were designed, and later improved or remodeled, to suit the old normal have been found wanting in the new world.

Many homeowners are already modifying or planning to modify them to suit how they live or plan to live and work.

That’s millions of existing homes to adapt and improve. That’s lot of work in the pipeline.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Mike Rigby is the Managing Director of MRA Marketing, a research and marketing company focused on the construction industry. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dq018

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