Move Commercial 68

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JB Leitch are specialist solicitors for property and asset managers with an unparalleled knowledge of leasehold law.

We can provide advice on the rights and remedies when dealing with issues of fire safety, major works and appeals (particularly where matters attract a high degree of urgency).

Appealing. jbleitch.co.uk

Look again at jbleitch.co.uk

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Issue sixty eight Move Commercial

Welcome to Move Commercial

T

he state of our planet and its future has been brought into sharp focus in recent months, as urgent calls to change the way we live have been the subject of protests and headlines.

In this issue we zoom in on environmental issues including air pollution and office furniture going to landfill, exploring the strategies, initiatives and business models at work to address them around the North West.

Air pollution provided the theme for this year’s recent World Environment Day, and with Clean Air Day also approaching on 20 June, what better time to investigate the situation right here in the region and look at the impact of industry?

Plus we catch up with Shane Hanley, director of Liverpool-based Go Green Office Solutions – a growing firm helping businesses to make a more positive contribution to the environment by reusing and recycling old furniture.

We also shine the spotlight on St Helens – the Liverpool City Region borough being transformed by bold visions, investment and a pipeline of major projects.

And we bring you the latest news and biggest events from the business sector around the North West.

Natasha Young, editor natasha@movepublishing.co.uk

News 07 PMC Family Law joins MSB Solicitors in new merger 08 Redwing to relocate as it ‘evolves services’ 09 Special award for long serving Redrow director 10 Reworked Martins Bank hotel plans recommended for approval

Features 11 Key event Metro Mayor speaks at ‘Delivering the Hydrogen Economy’ 12 Appointments Who’s moving where?

14 Clearing the air Air quality in the North West, and how pollution is being addressed around the region

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18 Interview Go Green Office Solutions’ Shane Hanley on environmentally friendly workplace furniture 20 My favourite building…

MSB’s Darren Barwick on why he loves Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium 22 Spotlight on St Helens

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The bold visions and major schemes transforming the North West borough 25 Key event

Advertising Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editor Natasha Young. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editorial Team Lawrence Saunders, Matthew Smith.

Design Mark Iddon.

Cover Image Certain graphic elements by Freepik.com.

Published by Move Publishing Ltd Directors David O’Brien, Kim O’Brien.

Printed by Precision Colour Printers Ltd. Distribution Liaison Manager Barbara Troughton.

Tel: 0151 733 5492 / Mobile: 077148 14662

Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards celebrates hospitality businesses 26 Key event Promising students handed opportunities by future employers at Insight to Business Awards

Copyright Move Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Move Publishing can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.

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ADVERTORIAL

Landlords need to prepare themselves quickly to respond to new legislation, MSB warns Residential and social landlords must prepare themselves now for changes to legislation around standards of living in rented properties, say Liverpool law firm MSB.

Under the Homes (Fitness for Habitation) Act 2018, landlords could find themselves being taken directly to court by tenants who believe their homes are unfit for human habitation. Up until now they had to go through their local authority.

Experts at MSB say it should be taken as a prompt for landlords to take steps now to ensure their properties are up to scratch and are being proactive in resolving health and safety issues before they become contentious.

The new Act inserts a new section 9A into Landlord and Tenancy Act 1985, which provides that there is a new implied tenancy term that a Landlord will ensure that a dwelling is: • Fit for human habitation at the time the tenancy/lease is granted.

• That it will remain fit for human habitation during the term of the tenancy/lease.

In essence, this means landlords must more quickly address issues such as damp and disrepair, or face the possibility of paying damages to their tenants. Social landlords, whether they’re housing associations or local authorities, will also need to take these changes into account.

The Act came into force on March 20 and will apply to new tenancies (including any renewal of an existing fixed term tenancy) from that date. It will also apply to existing fixed term tenancies, which becomes periodic on or after that date. And it will apply to periodic tenants, including an organisation's social assured tenants, from March 2020.

Last year, MSB acquired social housing specialist Knox Ellis and the experts in their team have received full training on the new legislation. They have, in turn, now started to deliver that training to clients as an added value service.

Louise Murphy from MSB said: “Practically speaking, changes to the Act mean that landlords, both in the private rented sector and in the social housing sectors will have to start thinking differently on issues such as ventilation, condensation dampness and mould growth. All properties must now be fit for human habitation, which also means they need to be free from hazards under the housing health and safety rating system.

“It is fair to assume that tenants are already being advised to use the new legislation to pursue claims for disrepair so it’s important you and your organisation is fully prepared and ready to respond to these quickly and effectively.”

Knox Ellis can provide legal advice and specialist training on the Homes (Fitness for Habitation) Act 2019. If you are interested or want to find out more about how this might affect you or your business, please email l.murphy@knoxellis.co.uk or call 0151 420 0718.

“It is fair to assume that tenants are already being advised to use the new legislation to pursue claims for disrepair so it’s important you and your organisation is fully prepared and ready to respond to these quickly and effectively.”

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Latest News

PMC Family Law to merge with MSB Solicitors No.1 Old Hall Street is being transformed

Downing nears completion on Old Hall Street phase A ‘significant’ phase of Downing’s work to remodel Liverpool’s No.1 Old Hall Street is nearing completion according to the developer.

The stage of the commercial district office building’s overhaul includes a completely refurbished and newly extended reception space with additional services and facilities, along with a Grade A office suite.

With the new high specification workspace expected to help ease the city’s concerns of under-supply in the office market, John Clegg, head of property management at Downing, says: “We’re looking forward to completing this phase of our refurbishment project at No. 1 Old Hall Street and creating fresh new spaces for both current and new tenants.

“Our reception space has been transformed to create a bright and welcoming reception, whilst the new Grade A office suite is simply stunning.”

Situated opposite Moorfields station, the multi-tenanted No.1 Old Hall Street is also home to smaller office spaces including Downing’s Flexi Office model.

PMC Family Law is the latest firm lined up to join Liverpool-based MSB Solicitors as a merger has been announced.

The move is part of a wider strategy by MSB to continue growing its family law department in the North of England, and follows last year’s acquisition of Cheeseman & Company.

PMC was founded in 2016 by Pauline McNamara and is a fellow firm recognised in The Legal 500 guide.

News of the merger follows the recent appointment of former PMC lawyer John Owens and will see PMC’s eight staff, including McNamara, join MSB, which now operates four offices in Liverpool and Widnes.

McNamara, who specialises in all aspects of family law including divorce, financial ancillary relief and pre and post-marital settlements, will head up the firm's growing private client department.

PMC Family Law has evolved into a niche family law practice specialising in high net worth divorce

settlements, including valuation of businesses and complex pension and tax issues.

MSB’s managing partner Emma Carey, who was formerly head of family at the firm, says: “I have known and admired Pauline McNamara for a number of years and she and her team have a fantastic reputation in family law.

“I’m genuinely excited for them to be joining our brilliant and highly-motivated MSB family team. The considerable experience they bring opens up huge opportunities for MSB as a firm.”

McNamara adds: “I have been impressed by Emma’s career and am particularly excited about her vision for the future of her firm, her commitment to community and her employees, which is aligned with our core principles.

“There is a synergy between the practices whereby we will benefit from each other’s expertise.”

PMC joins the MSB team from 7 June

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News Latest

Redwing to relocate as it ‘evolves services’ Redwing Living is preparing to set up home in a new location at the heart of Liverpool’s Ropewalks district.

Sales, marketing, property management and asset management teams from the housing firm will relocate from Henry Street to the Saunders Building on Duke Street.

The move to two levels of the Redwing-owned warehouse conversion is expected to take place in July, coinciding with a refresh of Redwing Living’s brand.

Customers will be able to visit the ground floor of the site, which opens onto Duke Street, as it provides a dedicated space for the company’s estate agency with sales advisors on hand.

Meanwhile the lower ground floor, on Campbell Square, will enable teams to work together across client projects in its open plan flexible working spaces.

Lindsay Bromby, operations director at Redwing Living, says: “Our move to 16 Duke Street presents some fantastic opportunities for Redwing as we continue to evolve our service offer.

“We’ll be in the middle of the Ropewalks on Duke Street and a short walk from the Baltic Triangle. There’s huge growth in the property market across the area and Redwing will be at the heart.”

Redwing Living is sponsoring the Community Award at the year’s NWPAs which take place on 10 October at Lutyens Crypt in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Saunders Building will provide a new home for Redwing Living

Work underway on new Halton BMX attraction The BMX pump track is being developed

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Construction is underway to build a new BMX track facility which will provide a focal point for a Runcorn park.

Halton Council has worked with Windmill Hill Big Local, Viridor Credits Environmental Company and the Landfill Communities Fund to secure funding for the £62,000 project.

The BMX pump track is being developed at Phoenix Park by contractor Horticon, which is expected to complete the attraction in time for a July opening.

Councillor Ron Hignett, Halton Council’s executive board member for the physical environment, says: “It will be a great new focal point for the park, which recently saw play equipment getting a disability friendly facelift.

“This is yet another good instance of Halton Borough Council regenerating the area.”

A pump track is a circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden completely by riders ‘pumping’, which involves creating momentum by up and down body movements instead of pedaling or pushing.

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Latest News

Special award for long serving Redrow director One of Redrow’s most respected directors has been honoured with a special achievement award.

Construction boss Keith Collard was presented with the accolade at the housebuilder’s recent Building Responsibly Awards in tribute to a career which has spanned three decades.

Collard oversees construction at Redrow developments across Lancashire, parts of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region including Summerhill Park in Liverpool, Dover Meadows in Maghull and Sanderling Park in Formby.

The 55-year-old, who lives in Coppull in Chorley, began his working life with Redrow as a trainee assistant site manager in 1989, after starting as a forklift driver for the Whelmar Homes operation which Redrow had acquired two years earlier.

His passion for the job saw him move continually upwards and he took on his current director’s role at Redrow Homes (Lancashire) 14 years ago.

Collard says: “As much as I enjoy my job, and as much as this award means, the pleasure comes from seeing young people come through the ranks like I did; and helping apprentices and site managers to develop their own careers and reach their potential.”

Redrow is sponsoring the Innovation Award at this year’s NWPAs which take place on 10 October at Lutyens Crypt in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Collard (right) with Redrow’s chief operating officer Matthew Pratt

Liverpool office furniture supplier announces rebrand

Go Green’s new look website

A Liverpool-based office furniture supplier has announced a rebrand to better reflect its more comprehensive offer.

Go Green Office Furniture is to become Go Green Office Solutions as it aims to build on a strong first six months of 2019.

Alongside its core offer of refurbished office furniture, the company has recently branched out into new stock in order to best serve its customers – prompting the name change.

Established in 2015 by Shane Hanley, Go Green set out to tackle the wastage of perfectly reusable office furniture, which it says is having a substantial impact on landfill.

With work opportunities on large-scale projects becoming a “regular occurrence”, 2019 is expected to be the company’s most successful year so far.

Hanley, director of Go Green Office Solutions, says: “Go Green has a huge passion for helping to create a sustainable future.

“We have a wealth of experience in this sector and we believe that creating a large-scale recycling facility will be a win for everyone - the businesses, the local community and the environment.

“We believe we have created a credible and beneficial solution to an ever-growing problem that threatens our future as we know it.”

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News Latest

Decision day for Bling Building conversion

The distinctive Liverpool city centre building could be given a new use

Photo: © 2019 Google

Plans to transform Liverpool’s Bling Building into a new city centre hotel could be about to progress.

Proposals to turn the distinctive Hanover Street site, originally commissioned by Herbert Howe for his hairdressing and training salon, into the 33-bed accommodation will go before Liverpool City Council’s planning committee on 18 June.

Signature Living is behind the project, having acquired the building from Herbert’s in 2016, and is looking to create a bar and restaurant at ground and mezzanine levels alongside the upper floor bed spaces which will feature across 18 multi-occupancy hotel suites.

According to a document to be considered by

the committee: “The applicant considers the multi-occupancy room model will provide a new tourism offer to the city as it will serve a multitude of visitor groups that are not catered for sufficiently within the existing hotel provision.”

The sixth floor roof level of the building, which was developed as part of the wider Liverpool ONE masterplan, would also be enclosed to provide a rooftop bar for the hotel with a glazed rooftop extension.

Meanwhile treatment rooms are being lined up for the basement to enable hotel guests to enjoy spa treatments.

One wider Liverpool resident has raised

concerns over the impact a rooftop extension would have on the landmark contemporary building, however the council document suggests “the transparent, light-weight design, set back behind the existing parapet and projecting 1.3m in height will not detract from the architectural merit and unique appearance of this iconic building”.

Recommending the scheme for approval subject to conditions, the report adds: “The proposed conversion will regenerate the building and contribute to the local economy and will contribute towards a complimentary and sustainable mix of uses, in a highly accessible location.”

Reworked Martins Bank hotel plans recommended for approval The conversion of Liverpool’s Grade II*-listed Martins Bank building into a luxury hotel could soon move a step closer.

Reworked plans for the Water Street landmark include bar and dining facilities within the ground floor banking hall and a rooftop spa.

It was revealed in 2016 that investment firm Starwood Capital Group, under its Principal brand, was to convert the neo-classical building into a 227-bedroom hotel.

However in May 2018, after French property group Foncière des Régions purchased a 14-hotel portfolio from Starwood which included Martins Bank, the building’s future looked unclear.

And in August 2018 when the original planning consent lapsed, it appeared to place the project in further doubt. But in March 2019 a fresh application emerged from Principal Hayley Group seeking permission to convert Martins Bank into a 215-bedroom hotel.

Principal says the new proposals have been

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developed in line with previous permissions but “revised and adapted to better reflect the arrangement and guest facilities needed for such a development, its commercial viability and operational functionality”.

The ground floor is now proposed to be set up for visitor and guest activities with bars and lounges, with the banking hall screens retained to enclose a restaurant and the cheque signing tables kept as bar furniture.

Liverpool City Council’s planning committee has been recommended to approve the reworked plans at a meeting on 18 June.

During the Second World War much of the country’s gold reserve was secretly transferred to Martins Bank in an attempt to hide the resources in fear of a German invasion.

The gold arrived via three heavily guarded trains at Lime Street station in May 1940 before being transported to the bank’s vaults.

Liverpool’s Grade II*-listed Martins Bank building

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Delivering the Hydrogen Economy Key event Hydrogen ‘key’ to zero carbon commitment, says Rotheram Hydrogen will play a “key role” in the Liverpool City Region’s zero carbon commitment, according to Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.

The leader was among speakers at the ‘Delivering the Hydrogen Economy’ event in Runcorn, which was attended by more than 200 delegates.

Organised by Halton Borough Council, the event featured the launch of the ‘Network-supplied hydrogen unlocks low carbon transport opportunities’ report by gas distribution network Cadent, showcasing the hydrogen projects helping to position the North West as pioneers in the technology.

INOVYN, a wholly owned subsidiary of INEOS, also announced plans for a study into the potential for grid-scale storage of bulk hydrogen in salt caverns in mid Cheshire.

Large-scale, low cost hydrogen storage is said to be essential to the development of hydrogen into the gas grid, and a Cheshire facility is expected to be able to store around 2,000 tonnes at a lower cost than above ground storage.

Government officials, regional politicians and industrial partners were among attendees at the event, which featured further presentations from businesses including Alstom, BOC Gases, North West Hydrogen Alliance, Peel Environmental, ULEMCo and Costain.

Speaking about the Liverpool City Region, Mayor Rotheram said: “If we are to meet our commitment to be a zero carbon city region by 2040, urgent action is needed to move to alternative fuel sources.

Hydrogen will play a key role in that process, and we, with our neighbours, are well-placed to lead the way in this emerging technology.

“We are 100% committed to supporting our city region’s growing low carbon energy sector, through wind, solar and our own Mersey Tidal Project, and hydrogen is likely to be a very important part of the energy mix, as we aim to become the UK’s renewable energy coast.”

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4 1. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram addressed attendees 2. Ed Syson of Cadent, which launched its report 3. A model of Alstom’s ‘Breeze’ hydrogen train - to be converted in

Widnes and used around the UK - was on display 4. More than 200 delegates filled the room

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Appointments

Law firm promotes partner

Dave Matson and Alan Sothern

Duo to oversee developer’s portfolio

Downing has appointed two senior facilities managers to help oversee its growing property portfolio.

Dave Matson was previously a senior facilities manager at CBRE where he managed the commercial portfolio and Liverpool team, and will oversee Downing’s Liverpool and London portfolios.

Meanwhile Alan Sothern joins the firm from engineering and technology solutions provider Spie, where he was overseeing the contract management of new build schools in Liverpool and Greater Manchester. He’ll focus on Downing’s residential properties.

John Clegg, head of property management at Downing which is now looking to bolster its commercial property team with an additional facilities manager, says: “These appointments demonstrate the impressive growth of Downing’s commercial property portfolio and, more importantly, support our long term ambition to continue to build on this success.”

New chief for Sefton Council Dwayne Johnson has taken the helm at Sefton Council, replacing Dwayne Johnson retiring chief executive Margaret Carney.

The position is a promotion for Johnson, who had been the local authority’s director of social care and health since 2014.

Prior to joining Sefton he managed a care home and qualified as a social worker, holding a number of roles in the sector before climbing the ladder to strategic director at Halton Council.

He takes the top job at Sefton as the council works towards its Vision 2030 with partners to ensure the borough is confident and connected.

On his appointment he says: “Having worked here for the last five years, I can see how much Sefton has to offer in supporting existing and attracting new businesses into our area, how engaged our communities are in what we are trying to deliver, and we have such a talented workforce to match.”

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Liverpool’s MSB Solicitors has promoted partner Emma Palmer to lead its family Emma Palmer law department.

Palmer has a global client base and her expertise extends to training other family lawyers, Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) and charitable organisations on various specialist topics.

She follows in the footsteps of Emma Carey, who was previously the head of the firm’s family team before taking on the role of managing partner.

Carey says: “Emma joined us in 2007 and I feel fortunate and privileged to have watched her blossom. She is a fantastic lawyer who successfully combines dynamism with a genuine empathy for her clients qualities that we value very highly at MSB. “Our family law department has grown significantly in recent years and was boosted last year with the acquisition of family law specialist, Cheesman’s. The team is now 45-strong.”

Online.

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EWFM welcomes new managing director

A new managing George Lilley director has been appointed at Eric Wright Facilities Management (EWFM), which is part of the Eric Wright Group.

George Lilley joins the Preston-based company from VINCI Facilities where he was customer director, and brings more than 30 years’ experience in the defence, nuclear, industrial and commercial sectors.

Welcoming Lilley to the team, Jeremy Hartley, managing director of Eric Wright Group, says: “George is an exceptional leader and has a wealth of experience which will help us to further grow and develop our facilities management arm.

“We have implemented comprehensive growth strategies in all seven of our divisions and bringing George on board will help us to deliver our vision for the facilities management team.”

Get the North West’s latest business and property news wherever you are @MoveCommercial

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Lawrence Saunders lawrence@movepublishing.co.uk

With the UK’s biggest air pollution campaign, Clean Air Day, marked on 20 June, Move Commercial assesses air quality in the North West and outlines the strategies presented to deal with this increasing high profile problem.

Clearing the air “Air pollution can harm acutely, as well as chronically, potentially affecting every organ in the body,” concluded scientists from The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) in a two-part review published earlier this year by the American College of Chest Physicians.

Describing air pollution as one of the “most important avoidable risks to health globally”, the FIRS report presents an alarming list of associated conditions - from bone diseases and cancers to type 2 diabetes and fertility issues.

One of the most harmful and abundant pollutants is nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – largely produced as a result of road traffic and other fossil fuel combustion processes.

Studies have found that prolonged exposure to the levels of NO2 currently found across Europe may reduce lung function and increase the risk of respiratory complications.

A recent Friends of the Earth (FoE) report highlighted 126 sites across the North West of England which have missed the annual Air Quality Objective for NO2 levels set by the government and the European Union.

The worst offender in our region was 14

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Manchester’s Oxford Road, which returned an annual average of 65 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3) – well above the 40ug/m3 target.

One of the ways towns and cities can attempt to tackle the problem is through introducing a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) - a defined area in which action is taken to improve air quality including fines for certain vehicles.

FoE wants more CAZ sites rolled out across the UK, and government analysis has shown the tactic to be the most effective method of reducing NO2 levels.

In April this year, the UK’s most far-reaching CAZ, the Ultra Low Emission Zone, came into force in London.

When driving within the same area, which is subject to a congestion charge, most vehicles, including private cars and vans, must now meet strict minimum emissions standards or face a daily charge.

Back here in the North West, following instruction from Westminster, the largest CAZ outside of the capital is being proposed for Greater Manchester.

Covering all 10 Greater Manchester local

council areas, the zone targets high polluting, noncompliant HGVs, buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, vans, motorhomes and minibuses.

Operators and businesses that rely on the prohibited vehicles would be offered help to upgrade to cleaner models through a series of ‘clean funds’.

Unlike London however, the measures, which subject to government backing would be introduced in 2021, do not cover private cars.

Reaction to the proposals from Clean Air Greater Manchester has been mixed.

“I would like to see something with slightly more teeth,” says Dr Graeme Sherriff, research fellow in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford.

Dr Sherriff, who contributes to ‘Healthy Active Cities’ - a research group looking at active travel and sustainable transport - believes private vehicles “are part of the traffic and part of the problem in terms of air pollution”.

The response from a trade association which represents one of the North West’s biggest industries isn’t exactly glowing either. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) argues Greater

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Air quality in the North West Focus

Road traffic contributes significantly to NO2 levels

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One of the biggest potential gains in the decarbonisation of freight is moving vehicles off the roads and on to the rail network.

“

Manchester’s CAZ would “damage the economy in the North West of England irrevocably”.

“The CAZ would bring thousands of businesses and operations into its scope causing running costs to soar and leaving many with no choice but to move out of the city – a blow to Manchester’s bustling town and wider economy,” says Malcolm Bingham, head of policy for the North of England at the FTA. “Commercial vehicles play an essential role in keeping the city’s economy thriving – delivering the goods and services businesses need to operate – and a CAZ would adversely affect the ability of logistics companies to provide these vital services,” he adds.

Bingham contends that the logistics industry is already playing its part to improve air quality by devising and implementing emission-reduction strategies through the Logistics Emissions Reduction Scheme (LERS).

Administered by the FTA, LERS is an industry initiative designed to record, report and reduce carbon emissions from freight transport.

With the average emissions from LERS members close to 13% lower per vehicle kilometre

than the industry average, Bingham says the scheme has successfully demonstrated the sector’s ability to improve emissions without further government intervention.

But with transport recognised as the biggest producer of greenhouse gases in the UK, pressure on the road freight industry to clean up its act is ever increasing.

Published in 2018, Transport for the North’s (TfN) Enhanced Freight and Logistics Analysis Report highlighted vehicle emissions as one of the major challenges facing the sector.

Alongside substituting polluting diesel trucks and lorries for electric models, one method being considered to combat the impact of transport pollution is to move a greater goods tonnage by rail.

“One of the biggest potential gains in the decarbonisation of freight is moving vehicles off the roads and on to the rail network,” says Lucy Hudson, lead officer for freight and logistics at TfN. “On average, rail freight produces 3.4 times less carbon dioxide per tonne-km than road.

Continued overleaf >

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Lawrence Saunders lawrence@movepublishing.co.uk

Air quality in the North West Focus

The Liverpool City Region Hydrogen Bus Project will potentially see up to 25 eco-friendly buses on the city region’s streets

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Poor air quality is a national public health crisis which is shortening the lives of people.

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“The current lack of East-West rail connectivity in the North must be addressed in order to incentivise and allow businesses to move their goods and services by rail rather than road.”

For its part, Clean Air Greater Manchester says its concentration on commercial and passenger transport vehicles is justified due to their more intensive use versus private cars.

Elsewhere in the North West, Liverpool, like Manchester, was highlighted in the FoE report for having several locations which breached NO2 objectives.

Liverpool City Council was mandated by the government alongside nine other local authorities in October 2018 to carry out a detailed study into how it plans to tackle air quality problems.

A spokesperson for the council told Move Commercial it is on track to submit an outline plan to the government before the deadline this autumn.

Whilst we wait to see said proposals, a number of processes are already underway including a switch to a diesel-free council fleet and a ban on taxis retrofitting higher polluting engines.

Last year, the council and NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group launched ‘Let’s Clear The Air Liverpool’ - a campaign to raise awareness of the damaging effect of air pollution on health and the actions needed to improve the quality of the air in the city.

Looking at the wider picture, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has set the

ambitious target of 2040 for the metropolitan area to become zero carbon.

To help meet that objective, Mayor Rotheram established an Air Quality Task Force to raise the profile of the issue, as well as securing £172 million from the Transforming Cities Fund which will be used for sustainable transport schemes such as a cycling and walking network, intelligent traffic control systems and green bus corridors.

Meanwhile in March it was announced the Liverpool City Region is to become the first place in the North of England to use eco-friendly hydrogen buses.

The Liverpool City Region Hydrogen Bus Project will see the creation of a new hydrogen refuelling station at the BOC plant in St Helens, with the first bus trial expected to take place next year.

“Poor air quality is a national public health crisis which is shortening the lives of people across our city region,” says Mayor Rotheram.

“As much as we are doing locally, including our support of the Liverpool City Region Year of the Environment, we need to be mindful that this is a national crisis that demands national and international action.

“So alongside our work to improve air quality I will continue to lobby central government to act, through specific schemes such as accelerating plans to decarbonise the economy and introducing a national scrappage scheme.”

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Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk

As urgent calls to make changes that will save our planet’s wildlife and natural resources are hitting headlines, Move Commercial speaks to the leader of a North West firm helping workplaces contribute more positively to the environment.

As good as new “At the minute there’s 600,000 tonnes of office furniture going to landfill every year in the UK,” says Shane Hanley, director of Liverpool-headquartered Go Green Office Solutions.

“To put that into perspective, I worked out that it’s seven artic loads of furniture going into landfill every day, and a lot of this stuff is beautiful gear that’s not even old – it doesn’t have to go to landfill.”

Since it was established in 2014, Hanley’s business has been clearing unwanted furniture from workplaces, upcycling and reselling the product that’s in tip top condition.

It’s since expanded to provide what Hanley describes as a “full 360” service, ethically recycling furniture and adding new furniture products to its trade along with a design and fit-out offering. The company has recently rebranded from Go Green Office Furniture to a broader name which the man at the helm believes is more fitting to represent his current brand.

According to Hanley, who has followed in the footsteps of family members including his father and uncle to set up a used furniture-focused firm, the past year in particular has been a turning point in Go Green’s growth.

“We moved last year to Brookfield Drive [in Aintree], where we are now, and that’s when we started investing heavily in the company,” says Hanley, having initially operated the business on his own along with ad hoc assistance.

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He explains that the investment has resulted in a boost in staff numbers as well as the increase in space for the now nationally operating firm, which has a 90,000 sq ft storage warehouse alongside its shop and office, as well as a showroom and warehouse in Dublin to further its reach.

“We’ve also got a recycling facility so that we’ll take all the cleared stuff and, if it’s no good for selling on again, we’ll recycle it. We try to do as much as we can in keeping it away from landfill.

“That’s the objective here, so we probably save 50 articulated loads of office furniture from going to landfill every year.”

Hanley says Go Green’s more comprehensive offering of services has enabled the business to “grow enormously in a short space of time,” although he admits branching out into selling new products has prompted questions.

“When we offer a service of new furniture to a client, people say ‘well how are you green if you’re selling new?’” explains Hanley.

“We were doing the used [furniture] and a lot of the time we might not have two or three items and I was losing the job because we couldn’t give them all the matching stuff, so we started matching it up with new products.

“If we’ve got 20 chairs and they need another two then we can order two in and that completes the order.”

Hanley believes there’s still plenty of work to be

done on educating businesses around the impact their office furniture can have on the environment, and “changing the way people think” when they’re equipping workspaces.

“It’s making people aware that you can get a quality product for a used price which is great for the economy, great for the environment and great for their pocket,” he adds.

“People go into new offices and want new furniture but when we put used furniture in and it’s all clean and in place you can’t tell the difference.

“People have this view of [used] furniture that it’s worn or it’s dirty and it’s not.

“What we find is that a lot of designer product that we get in might look worn but we can reupholster it and it will outdo any new product that comes in.”

Hanley also suggests it’s a balance of reaching and raising awareness amongst companies who are looking to offload old furniture before it is disposed of in a less ethical way.

“A lot of people say ‘why didn’t I meet you last month when I dumped a load of furniture?’” he adds.

Aside from enlightening other firms and organisations, Go Green also strives to operate responsibly and donates used furniture to charities while also working to its own environmental policy with factors including sustainability and preventing pollution.

“For a lot of the new [furniture] jobs we do, like one we’re working on in Manchester, the [product] is all

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Shane Hanley, director, Go Green Office Solutions Profile

manufactured in Yorkshire so the carbon footprint is a truck travelling from Yorkshire to Manchester, as opposed to some firms importing from Europe or the Far East.”

Beyond the business, Hanley is also working to play a part in solutions to tackle the broader issue of using fewer natural resources to make furniture in the future.

Sharing his expertise on recycling with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), he’s been exploring ways to remove melamine from wood to uncover reusable material.

“If we can take the melamine off the top of a desk then the wood underneath is good wood, but how can we take it off and recover the wood again to make it new in a cost-effective way?” asks Hanley.

“I’ve been looking at maybe laser or steaming the top off so we’re in talks with [LJMU], but it’s going to

be a slow, lengthy process.

“They’ve been inviting me to speak with different professors and parts of the team.”

Looking ahead, Hanley is optimistic about Go Green’s continued growth. He hopes to expand his sales, warehouse and truck driver teams by the end of the year with a further boost also proposed for the Dublin-based workforce “In terms of growth and turnover, we’re on target this year and for next year we’d hope to possibly double the revenue again,” says Hanley, and he believes the company’s Liverpool location positions it well geographically for any future expansions.

“Where we’re based couldn’t be better anywhere else,” he adds. “We’re very close to the ferry port so we can service the whole of the UK and Ireland – we’re in Ireland every two weeks with a truck. We’re really playing in a massive market.”

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At the minute there’s 600,000 tonnes of office furniture going to landfill every year in the UK.

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Bitesize Thinking

My favourite building With... Darren Barwick partner, MSB Solicitors

Anfield stadium

It’s not the most beautiful building in the city. Additions over the years in a bit of a hotchpotch manner mean it lacks cohesiveness. You are not going to find it in any great architecture books. But its stature isn’t measured by prettiness because it’s more than just a building.

It’s a beacon that dominates its landscape both physically and culturally. Anfield is built on purpose, passion and pride.

It’s borne witness to some legendary victories and some bitter losses. It’s where some of the greatest footballers of their generation have called home.

Tears of joy and tears of pain have soaked into the fabric of this place and Anfield’s character has been forged by the many battles fought at this ground - some successful and some not.

Truly great buildings possess a personality that is uniquely their own and they occupy their place in history with gravitas. This is Anfield.

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Lawrence Saunders lawrence@movepublishing.co.uk

With a bold vision for St Helens town centre and major logistics schemes in the pipeline, Move Commercial takes stock of the projects designed to transform this Liverpool City Region borough.

Spotlight on St Helens Historically a hub for coal mining and the glass trade, traditional industry throughout the St Helens borough has been in decline for a number of decades leading to a marked reduction in jobs and business opportunities.

However since the turn of the millennium, concerted efforts have been made to stimulate the area’s infrastructure and economy.

The borough’s position between Liverpool and Manchester, as well as its proximity to the M6 and M62, means it’s well placed for large scale logistics developments.

And in recent years, a surge in investment has helped foster an optimistic air as crucial employment projects begin to take shape.

“There is such a scale of activity [in the borough],” says Kath Boullen, chief executive of St Helens Chamber.

“It’s going to create many thousands of jobs which is massively welcome for St Helens.

“There are some big logistics developments which are creating jobs and the infrastructure support is really 22

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helpful too.

“There is a good combination of activity going on which is really pleasing to see.”

Boullen highlights infrastructure projects such as the Newton-le-Willows Interchange scheme and the completion of improvements to Windle Island, which she says, “used to cause great hold ups but now flows through beautifully”.

Opened in January 2019, the £18.95 million Newton-le-Willows Interchange combines significant upgrades to Newton-le-Willows railway station with a new 400-space car park and bus interchange.

Also completed earlier this year, it’s hoped the £7m programme of enhancements to Windle Island - the oldest purpose designed intercity highway in the UK - will result in better access in and out of St Helens town centre.

Admittedly that town centre, like many up and down the country, isn’t in the rudest health.

The first half of 2019 alone saw

both Marks & Spencer and Argos disappear from Church Street, with Topshop announcing it’s to shut its branch in Church Square Shopping Centre.

St Helens Council’s £26.6m acquisition of said shopping mall in October 2017 was described as a “key part” of its vision to transform the town centre and turn its fortunes around.

Outlined in its ‘St Helens: Transforming our Town’ vision, the local authority’s ambitious plans include a refreshed retail offering mixing independents with well-known high street brands, as well as an increased number of family friendly restaurants and cafés.

Proposals to redevelop Sankey Canal into a “modern waterfront area” complete with bars, restaurants and apartments were also presented.

However aside from the council’s purchase of Church Square, almost two years on from the document’s release, tangible progression with the project has been ostensibly absent.

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There is such a scale of activity.

It’s going to create many thousands of jobs... and the infrastructure support is really helpful too.

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Spotlight on St Helens Focus

Parkside Regeneration would see a former coal mine transformed with over 1m sq ft of employment space

“Plans of that scale take time but I know there is a lot of work going on in the background to try and work out what is the best approach to take,” explains Boullen.

“I think that will bear fruit but it inevitably will take some time to get that right.

“It’s not an easy task and it’s important to take the time to do the best possible job.”

For Councillor David Baines, who replaced Cllr Derek Long as leader of the council in May, regenerating the borough’s towns and district centres is of chief importance.

“While massive change can’t happen overnight, I’d like to see clear progress over the next 12 months to instil confidence in residents that we’re committed to seeing out these projects,” says Cllr Baines.

“If we do the right things and make the right choices, then we can make sure our town and district centres are a source of pride again.”

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Focus Spotlight on St Helens Proposed Glass Futures facility in St Helens

“ Away from the high street, plans for the borough to become home to a new centre of excellence for glass innovation appear to be moving forward at a distinctly swifter rate of knots.

The disused United Glass site close to the Totally Wicked Stadium has been earmarked for one of two national Glass Futures facilities.

The £70m development would focus on the ‘hot’ side of glass production, with a large experimental glass furnace capable of producing 30 tonnes per day for windows, bottles or fibre glass.

Computer generated images of the proposed centre were released in March following a positive meeting of representatives from the UK and international glass industry at the World of Glass Museum in St Helens.

“It seems the right place to put a development of that nature and it absolutely should be in St Helens,” declares Boullen.

“The people who are working behind that are doing a great job at keeping it to the fore and getting everything approved as it goes along – we're very optimistic for that.”

Looking across the wider borough, two high-profile commercial developments are expected to make strides over the next 12 months.

Firstly, Amazon is set to occupy a 360,000 sq ft warehouse at Bericote’s M6 Major scheme just off the East Lancashire Road in Haydock.

With the site scheduled to complete 24

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in July, the online retail giant has agreed a series of access dates to commence internal works ahead of an operational date later in 2019.

Meanwhile in January, St Helens Council learnt it had been successful in its bid for government funding towards the construction of the A49 to M6 Junction 22 link road.

The new highway is part of wider plans to regenerate the redundant Parkside colliery on the southern edge of Newton-le-Willows.

Parkside Regeneration, a joint venture between Langtree and St Helens Council, submitted an outline planning application in January 2018 for phase one of the development which would see the former coal mine site transformed with over 1m sq ft of employment space Whilst there is yet no date for the application to be considered by St Helens Council, Langtree told Move Commercial it’s expecting work to begin on site in early 2020.

It seems the right place to put a development of that nature and it absolutely should be in St Helens.

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Amazon is set to occupy a warehouse at Bericote’s M6 Major scheme

Image courtesy of Bericote / www.bericoteproperties.com

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Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards Key event Events and attractions celebrated at tourism awards Stars and top events, attractions and venues of the tourism sector were celebrated at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2019 took place at Liverpool Cathedral, hosted by television presenter, ‘Great British Menu’ judge and cook Andi Oliver.

A total of 19 accolades were handed out during the evening, which was organised by Eventful in conjunction with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Worthy winners on the night included National Museums Liverpool, which picked up the ‘Large Event’ and ‘Tourism Experience of the Year’ prizes for its ‘China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors’ exhibition.

Wirral’s five-star Mere Brook House bed and breakfast also took two awards – ‘Guest Accommodation’ and ‘Independent Tourism Business of the Year’.

Meanwhile the ‘Hidden Gem’ award winner was voted for by the public, with Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels taking the title.

Brothers Gary and Colin Manning, who are behind The 60 Group set of restaurants, received this year’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ accolade as they mark 20 years of their 60 Hope Street venue.

Other awards on the night included ‘Tourism Star of the Year’, which went to Matt Cooke at Hope Street Hotel; ‘Tourism Young Person of the Year’, awarded to Paul Dixon at Liverpool Film Office; ‘Best Newcomer to the Visitor Economy’, won by Hinterlands; and ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’, which was handed to Port Sunlight Village Trust.

Aurora won the ‘Small Event of the Year’ category, ‘Entertainment Venue of the Year’ went to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall & Music Room, the prize for ‘Excellence in Business Tourism’ was awarded to Conference Centre at LACE and Caffe Cream of New Brighton was named ‘Café/Bistro of the Year’.

This year’s ‘Bar of the Year’ was The Art School Cellars and Delifonseca Dockside won the ‘Restaurant of the Year’ accolade, with Knowsley Safari Park named ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’, Staybridge Suites Liverpool winning ‘Serviced Apartment of the Year’ and Pullman Liverpool awarded ‘Hotel of the Year’.

Images courtesy of LCR Tourism Awards 2019

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5 1. Mere Brook House won ‘Guest Accommodation of the Year’ 2. Andi Oliver hosted the awards ceremony 3. Liverpool Cathedral provided a stunning backdrop 4. Caffe Cream of New Brighton winners 5. National Museums Liverpool winners

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Key event 2019 Insight to Business Awards Firms back promising students at business school awards Liverpool Hope University’s Business School students had the chance to network with potential future employers as the 2019 Insight to Business Awards took place.

Businesses and organisations including MSB Solicitors, Marketing Liverpool, Everton Football Club and sports education specialists LLS were among a diverse range of firms backing this year’s event.

During the celebration, the supporting local and national businesses awarded sought-after work placement opportunities to 30 promising students.

Senior professional tutor in marketing, Ian McKenna was the MC for the event, which also saw guests enjoy a drinks reception and meal.

Olympic medallist and entrepreneur, Steve Parry was on hand to provide some inspirational words to the shortlisted business students as this year’s keynote speaker.

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1. Students dressed up for the occasion 2. Peter Smith (Marketing Liverpool) with placement winner Libby 3. Tracey Quirk from MSB with three students who won placements at the firm 4. Brain Charity awarded placements to two Business School students 5. Olympic medallist and entrepreneur, Steve Parry inspired attendees with his keynote address 6. There was an opportunity for business leaders and students to network 7. Business School students enjoyed the chance to celebrate 8. Sports education specialists LLS presented two placements to students Holly and Asma 9. Third year accounting and finance student, Thomas Kelly (centre) was awarded a summer placement by Haines Watts 10. Ian McKenna was the MC for this year’s Insight to Business Awards 26

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The North West’s latest business & property news wherever you are. @MoveCommercial

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