April 2012 issue of Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine

GO RACING!

It’s the Construction & Commerce Race Day on 23rd May - SEE PAGE 19 for details

Issue 9 - APRIL 2012

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

This is the last printed issue ...

Off to a flying start - first complete street opened at old RAF base

Sadly, this is the last printed issue of Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine. See page 3.

Development site in Calverton: £400k guide ELKINGTON Design are inviting offers for a residential development site with Outline Planning Permission.

The property - The Cherry Tree Public House, Collyer Road, Calverton, Nottingham - has consent for demolition of the existing public house and construction of 4 three-bedroomed terraced houses, 2 semi-detached houses, 7 two-bedroomed apartments & 3 one bedroom apartments.

Outline planning with some reserved matters has been granted for the development.

The guide price for this site is offers over £399,995.

For more information please contact Ian Elkington at Elkington Design on 0115 9527787, or mobile 07929 610608 or email elkingtondesign@googlemail.com

RESIDENTS living at the first fully inhabited street at Newton Park on the former RAF airfield near Bingham were treated to a formal opening by David Wilson Homes to celebrate the start of an exciting new community at No12 Group Fighter Command’s old headquarters.

The housebuilder hosted the special opening for the new occupants on Meteor Close and local historian Tim O’Brien, aviation artist and author, went along to open it.

Tim comments, “Aware of the book I wrote about the history of RAF Newton, David Wilson Homes kindly invited me to cut the ribbon to Meteor Close.

“They’re very keen to support the heritage of this site and many of the roads are named after aircraft that have been associated with it. It’s a marvellous link with the past, present and for future generations and it is great because it keeps the history alive.”

Tim officially opened Meteor Close, which was so named after the first British jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor; famous for shooting down V1 flying bombs

LIFT OFF: (l-r), Sales Director Philip Lacey, Sales Adviser Keyth Andrews, special guest Tim O’Brien and Site Manager Kevin Richardson cutting the ribbon at the first fully inhabited street on Meteor Close

during World War Two. A Gloster Meteor belonging to No12 Group HQ’s communication flight was often seen parked behind Fairway Crescent which was an extension of the runway.

Philip Lacey, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, comments “We decided to host a special opening at our Newton Park development for existing residents to meet each other and to learn about the history of the site here.

“It’s been really special that we’ve been able to get Tim O’Brien who knows so much about this historical site to formally open it.”

“The residents at Newton Park already feel a great sense of community spirit, so it was ideal to hold an event like this. We hope that everyone who joined us had a great and thoughtful time.”

David Wilson Homes also donated £100 to the RAF Newton Memorial Fund, a local charity in the area.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

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It’s not the pace of life that concerns me, it’s the sudden stop at the end.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Green light given for rail work to BSP Consulting

From page 1

Published By: Builder Magazines PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT

Tel: (01530) 244069 Fax: (01530) 249557

Contact us by email at info@nottinghamshirebuilder.co.uk Visit the website at www.nottinghamshirebuilder.co.uk

The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editorial/ Production Team.

The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. Builder Magazines cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. Builder Magazines reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All property details contained within this magazine are to be regarded as being for outline guidance only.

All potential interested parties are requested to check individual availability of premises for accuracy of details with the relevant selling agents before proceeding further.

Dilapidated bungalow in Mapperley

CHESTERTON HUMBERTS are offering for sale a dilapidated chalet bungalow with potential for redevelopment, subject to planning.

The property - 21 Ethel Avenue, Mapperley, Nottingham NG3 6HD - is situated in an elevated position within overgrown grounds of approximately 0.4 acres.

There is potential for development or redevelopment subject to planning. Interested parties are invited to make their own planning enquiries of the local authority on 0115 901 3901.

Offers in excess of £225,000 are invited.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Chesterton Humberts on 0115 950 5444.

The last printed issue

Six members of the rail team at civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting have been given the green light to continue with their work on and around operational railway lines on key projects.

The company is now sponsoring a team of staff who have successfully completed Personal Track Safety (PTS) courses at Intertrain (UK) Ltd, Doncaster.

The two-day training sessions that the BSP team undertook qualify members of staff to undertake work on or around an operational railway line.

Meanwhile, Nottingham-based BSP Consulting, with offices in Derby, Leicester and Sheffield, has also recently renewed its Link-up accreditation with Network Rail for another year.

BSP’s rail work involves design and inspection of bridges, culverts, gantries, embankments, line-side structures and drainage.

“We have recently been quoting for more consultancy work in the rail sector, so I am very pleased that six members of our rail team have successfully completed PTS, thereby increasing our trackside technical capacity,” said BSP Consulting managing director David Sumner.

BSP Consulting’s in-house rail team, supplemented by a specialist rail consultant partner, has worked on many different types of rail projects, including the design and detailing of reinforced concrete bases for various electrical gear in transformer compounds, the design of a bespoke £1.5m maintenance facility, used during testing of

TRACKSIDE: left to right, senior civil technician Ben McGrath, principle structural engineer Paul Hammersley, chartered civil engineer Matthew Viggars, senior structural technician Dan Hinchley and director Carl Hilton.

Managing director David Sumner also attended the course.

the Virgin high-speed train, and the surveying of a number of bridges over railway tracks and railway bridges over roads and watercourses.

In addition, BSP was appointed ‘bridge strike examiner’ for the Alstom Transport Virgin highspeed train test track, which was subsequently electrified, to support testing of new London Underground trains, and undertook technical appraisals and site inspections for a £6.3 million proposed new signal installations project on the Carlisle to Newcastle line.

Based in Oxford Street, Nottingham, with offices in Pride Park, Derby, De Montfort Street, Leicester and Solly Street, Sheffield, BSP Consulting operates across the UK, offering civil, structural, transportation, environmental and geotechnical engineering services.

Named Consultant of the Year 2009 at the East Midlands Property Dinner, the firm provides a comprehensive range of consultancy services to all sectors of the construction community, from architects, project managers and contractors to developers and estate agents.

The nurse was showing some student nurses around the hospital. “This will be the most hazardous section in the hospital for you,” she said.

“The men on this floor are almost well.”

The magazine was launched last August by my other half, Susan, and I to provide a monthly news and advertising medium for the Nottinghamshire construction industry. We modelled the magazine on our existing publication - Leicestershire Builder - which has been running successfully since 1997.

Unfortunately, just after the first issue was distributed, Susan was diagnosed with a serious illness and passed away three weeks later.

I have continued to publish the magazine since then - and subsidise it substantially - to give it a reasonable chance to reach break-even point.

However, I have been unable to attract sufficient advertising from constructionbased businesses in the Nottinghamshire area so sadly it’s time to call it a day.

The emailed subscription opportunity Without sufficient advertising, a free-issue, mailed-out magazine cannot succeed. But a subscription-based emailed magazine could.

So, if you have enjoyed reading Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine, and you are prepared to pay a modest annual subscription of £12.00 per year to receive it by email, please let me know straight away.

If enough readers join the list, I’ll continue to publish the magazine and distribute it by email to subscribers.

Email your details to me at: info@ nottinghamshirebuilder. co.uk Thanks for reading the magazine - I hope that it has proven to be useful and interesting.

Thanks also to the small group of loyal advertisers who have appeared in Nottinghamshire Builder over the past nine months - I appreciate your support.

Mike Wilkinson

There’s no time like the present, but a couple of minutes ago probably bore a striking similarity.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

New brochure for 2012…

One of the country’s leading suppliers of high quality, ethically sourced landscaping products has launched its highly anticipated 2012 brochure.

Natural Paving Products (UK) Ltd based in Sandtoft Doncaster is celebrating the launch of its new brochure and enhanced website whilst being proud to announce our continuing partnership with FIRED EARTH - one of the UK’s leading brands, to offer an exclusive range of exciting natural stone products that will enhance any home or garden.

The new brochure includes popular favourites such as the York Grey flagstones and block paving from the FIRED EARTH Collection, Midnight Blue natural stone block paving as well as a range of new products, colours and features that have been carefully designed and selected to give the contractor and client the opportunity to choose the very highest quality and innovative natural stone materials for their project.

Gino Bracco, sales director for Natural Paving said: “2012 is a very exciting time for the company and no more so than now as we launch our new brochure and website to make accessing the highest quality landscaping products easier than ever before.

“The brochure is now readily available to our stockists, contractors and the public alike – so contact your nearest stockist, our sales office or visit the website to download a version” The company has seen unprecedented sales for its ranges of natural stone flagstones and block paving over recent months, as they become the desired material choice for patios and driveways as consumers divert away from concrete alternatives.

Additions to the Natural Paving Collection for 2012 includes an enhanced Premiastone Collection with Rustic Quartz, Argent, Ivory, Ibis and Thistle to name but a few new products.

The Cragstone Collection of weathered flagstones and circles is also new for 2012 in a range of stunning colours and variable sizes to suit all feature areas.

Another already popular addition to the Natural Paving offering are the new bull nose sandstone steps available in a lightly textured finish and three new colours.

The new company website is available via www.naturalpaving.co.uk and includes a range of exciting features such as a downloads section, product gallery, colour swatches alongside tips and laying advice.

For more information about the above products or to request a brochure call 0845 072 1150 / email sales@ naturalpaving.co.uk.

Trustmark widens its membership to all FMB members The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the UK’s largest construction trade association, is inviting all its members to join TrustMark, the Government endorsed quality mark, which helps consumers to find reliable and trustworthy local tradesmen. Previously TrustMark was only available to FMB Build Assure members.

All FMB members are now eligible to join TrustMark because of the higher entry criteria now demanded of all new FMB members. The new membership will provide an even better and more rigorous protection for consumers as members’ technical skills will be independently checked through regular on-site inspections, as well as checks on their trading record and financial status.

Stuart Carter, Head of PR & Marketing, TrustMark said: “It’s great news that the FMB is offering all of its members the opportunity to join TrustMark, especially as they have played such a key role as the leading scheme operator for the construction industry. We are here to help protect consumers and signpost them to trustworthy and reputable firms - FMB members have got a lot to gain by signing up with TrustMark. TrustMark tradesmens’ details were viewed more than 3 million times last year through www.trustmark.org.uk, many of which led to additional member leads and were a valuable route to growing their business.”

Brian Berry, FMB Chief Executive, added: “We support any credible attempt to combat the cowboys. The FMB provides services to help building firms run more effective and efficient businesses. Joining TrustMark, as well as being an FMB member, is another way our members can stand out and give themselves a competitive edge as it demonstrates to consumers that their work has been inspected and they offer warranties.

Somercotes development site: £250k

BB&J Estate Agents are offering for sale a residential development site with planning permission for 12 units.

The site - at The former Den Day Nursery, Sleetmore Lane, Somercotes, DE55 1RB - comprises a roughly rectangular, cleared and levelled parcel of land benefiting from road frontage to Sleetmore Lane. The extends to approximately 0.28 acres (0.11 hectares).

By way of a consent referenced AVA/2007/0103 the site benefits from residential planning permission for 8 apartments and 4 townhouses. All planning information should be confirmed with, and further enquiries directed to, the planning team at Amber Valley Borough Council who can be reached on 01773 570222.

The site is available freehold with vacant possession. The asking price is £250,000.

Offers should be made in writing and sent marked ‘Strictly private and Confidential’ for the attention of Mr Christopher Wright and addressed to BB&J, 34 irongate, Derby DE1 3GA. For more information, contact Chris Wright on 01332 292825 or email: c.wright@bbandj.co.uk

Potential Calverton site: £185k DAVID JAMES Estate Agents are inviting offers in the region of £185,000 for a potential development site at 130 Collyer Road, Calverton, Nottingham NG14 6LY.

TOO MUCH PAPERWORK? PHONE NEVER STOPS RINGING? DIGITYPE TYPING SERVICES CAN HELP! VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.digitypetypingservices.co.uk ASK ABOUT OUR CURRENT SPECIAL OFFER! YOUR ADMINISTRATION IN THE BEST HANDS, AT MINIMAL COST

The property comprises a traditional bay-fronted detached house with potential for redevelopment of the plot subject to planning consent.

The vendors are presently trying to obtain outline planning permission for the existing house to be demolished and two pairs of semi-detached houses to be erected. The detached house requires modernisation to personal taste.

Viewing is strictly through the agents on 0115 955 5550, and there is no upward chain.

Offers in the region of £185,000 are invited.

For more information, contact David James Estate Agents on 0115 955 5550.

I don’t mind taking a risk, as long as I know everything will turn out okay.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

New homes figures reveal ever increasing private/public sector divide Figures released at the end of March by NHBC have shown that the gap between private and public sector registrations in the UK continues to expand, with social housing figures contracting year-on-year.

REMEMBER! We include details of development properties free-of-charge in editorial form.

So, if you’re selling an interesting development property, email details to: info@nottinghamshirebuilder.co.uk

and we’ll give the property a free mention.

Tremendous!

Plot to the rear of Tuxford Vicarage FISHER GERMAN Commercial are offering for sale a good size building plot in a quiet location in the popular village of Tuxford.

The plot - to the rear of Tuxford Vicarage, Lincoln Road, Tuxford, Nottinghamshire NG22 0HP - has planning permission from Bassetlaw District Council (ref: 50/09/00006R) for the erection of a new 4-bedroom dwelling with integral garage and alteration to existing access.

Also included in the planning condition is the building of a new garage for the Vicarage.

The asking price is £95,000.

For more information, contact Philip Wardell at Fisher German on 01777 719148 or visit the website at www.fishergerman.co.uk

NHBC registration figures for the public sector decreased 20% in January 2012 compared with January 2011, and 58% in February 2012 year-onyear. (1,854 compared with 2,304 in January 2011 and 1,373 from 3,289 in February 2011). In contrast, private sector housing registrations have experienced consecutive increases this year, with a 9% rise in January followed by 27% in February, compared with the start of 2011.

In total there has been a marginal 2% decrease in the number of homes across all sectors registered to date this year in the UK (16,343 in 2012 compared to 16,705 in 2011).

Commenting on the latest figures, Richard Tamayo, Commercial Director of NHBC, said: “As we near the end of Q1, our latest statistics have revealed a consistent start to the year, with both January and February reporting significant growth in the private sector but a concerning drop in social housing.

“The newly published National Planning Policy Framework and recentlyannounced first time buyers’ mortgage initiative are both important steps in empowering the private sector – the current engine of growth for housing numbers, as our statistics indicate – to produce the volume of homes the country urgently needs. “

Construction Award for Local Talent The Midlands has a reputation for building quality homes, a fact that was confirmed recently as local companies received recognition for the high quality and craftsmanship of their work at the annual Fairgrove Homes’ awards ceremony held in Derby.

This year over 32 suppliers were subject to a strict judging criteria which included the quality of materials and service, reliability, delivery and budgets. In addition they had to provide evidence of exceeding expectations, and effectiveness of communications. Supplier of the year went to SV Timber Ltd of Ilkeston, with DDW Construction Groundworks achieving the Subcontractor of the year.

Steve Midgley, Managing Director at Fairgrove Homes comments; “We pride ourselves on working with only the best local suppliers, and this is their opportunity to prove that they are top of their game in the region. We started these awards in 2003 and each year we have raised the bar in terms of the judging criteria, which has driven up quality as a result.”

“We are proud to say that the winners have exceeded our expectations, consistently delivering over and above their contract, enabling us to provide the top quality craftsmanship, design and reliability that our homes are well known for.”

Richard Rowley of SV Timber said: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award which demonstrates our commitment to providing a top quality service to the building industry. We pride ourselves on not only providing the best timber products in the industry, but in backing this up with excellent customer service and back office support.”

Fairgrove Homes is one of the region’s most respected construction companies. A family business formed in 1995, they pride themselves on delivering a broad portfolio of properties ranging from traditional family homes to contemporary designs, all in the best of locations.

For information on a Fairgrove Homes property log onto www.fairgrove.co.uk

Consumers Hand Out Top Marks To Housebuilding Industry

F

or the first time annual survey reveals 90% of consumers are happy with quality of new homes and would recommend their builder to friends The results of HBF’s seventh customer satisfaction survey reveal that levels of customer satisfaction have once again risen and now match or exceed those in any other industry or sector. The results of the survey, supported and analysed by the National House Building Council, reveal that: • 9 out of 10 buyers (90%) are very or fairly satisfied with the overall quality of their new home • 9 out of 10 buyers (90%) would recommend their builder to a friend These independently verified results come in the midst of a difficult environment for home builders with an uncertain planning system, restricted mortgage availability and a huge burden of regulation threatening to stifle innovation and continuing design improvement.

A woman sees a small boy leaning against a wall smoking a cigarette and taking nips from a hip flask.

“Shouldn’t you be at school?” says the woman.

“School?” says the boy, “You’ve got to be joking. I’m only four.”

Family planning is the art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster.

The checkout said eight items or less, so I changed my name to Les.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Development opportunity in Worksop: £65k

North Midland Construction announces annual results Leading civil engineering and building specialists North Midland Construction plc has announced its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2011.

In spite of the difficult economic climate, progress was made across the group divisions with group revenue increasing by 1.6% to £167.2m however the building subsidiary has experienced severe problems which has caused a reduction in profitability to £0.48 million prior to the write off of £1.26 million goodwill within the building subsidiary, which is a non-cash adjustment.

FISHER GERMAN COMMERCIAL are offering for sale a detached building with planning consent for conversion to two flats.

The property - 111 Potter Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 2HL - has an asking price of £65,000.

For more information, contact Philip Wardell at Fisher German on 01777 719148 or visit the website at www.fishergerman.co.uk

Beeston plot

DAVID JAMES Estate Agents are inviting offers in the region of £100,000 for a proposed building plot at the rear of 232 & 234 Derby Road, Beeston, Nottingham.

An outline application has been submitted to develop the rear gardens by erecting two threestorey semi-detached houses.

For more information, contact David James Estate Agents on0115 922 5555.

Residential development site in Leabrooks, Derbyshire MARK Jenkinson & Son Estate Agents are inviting unconditional offers in the region of £1 million for a residential development site in Derbyshire.

The property - The Former Leabrooks Miners’ Welfare, Greenhill Road, Leabrooks, Derbyshire DE55 1LU - occupies a site of 3.1 acres approx.

The site has Outline Planning Consent for residential development with an indicative layout scheme showing 50 dwellings, subject to a Section 106 Agreement.

For more information, contact Mark Renshaw at Mark Jenkinson & Son on 0114 276 0151 or email: mjr@markjenkinson.co.uk

With regards to its civil engineering division, the prevailing economic climate has led to reduced tendering opportunities and high sales costs outside the secured water industry frameworks and, as a result, revenue declined by 31% to £35.3 million and operating profits by 16.7% to £1.63 million. Its sub division NMCNomenca however has delivered an enhanced performance over the previous year. In addition to its existing framework it is partnered with the three other framework contractors, in the E5 consortium formed to undertake a £200m major projects programme for Severn Trent Water.

The consortium has recently started work on the reconstruction of Stoke Bardolph Water Treatment Works in Nottingham.

Progress has been made in the further expansion of NMCNomenca outside of Severn Trent Water. It will become the foundation for a national water business. The civil engineering division is also heavily engaged in the power, waste and rail sectors, but margins remain extremely competitive.

In view of the complementary nature of the building subsidiary and civil engineering divisions a restructuring has taken place bringing the two divisions into one entity, with Mark Blakeway, who is an existing main board director, becoming managing director.

These management and structural changes will deliver improved performance. This newly formed division has recently been successful in securing a £6.3 million contract for Mars Petcare UK in Melton Mowbray.

The highways division has delivered an exceptional performance, with revenue increasing by 39.6% to £18.8 million and operating profits by 285% to £0.83 million, in spite of major cutbacks within the public sector. Consolidation of the previous geographical expansion has taken place, most notably in the North West, and a particular expertise in public realm contracts has been established, with the latest secured scheme being a £2.2 million contract in Bridgend.

Further success has been achieved in expanding the portfolio of frameworks, which now currently stands at seven.

During the year the scale of the South Yorkshire Digital contract was reduced and this combined with the loss of the Virgin Media term contract mid-year reduced revenue of the utilities division by 20.0% to £32.2 million and operating profits declined by 59% to £0.6 million.

But the division has been successful in obtaining new clients such as Energetics and Electricity North West and term contracts for both BT and K.Com have also been renewed recently.

The building subsidiary has had a very difficult year, delivering an escalated loss on the previous year of £4.8 million, on revenues that were down by 24.2% to £16.7 million. Losses have primarily come from major delays and cost overruns on the most significant project being undertaken and major reverses on two other completed projects. A further review of the major project has revealed that the completion date has further extended into the second half of 2012, with subsequent increased anticipated cost overruns of £1.5 million, which have been provided for in the 2011 results. A significant claim for the losses incurred on this contract is currently being pursued.

The mechanical and electrical subsidiary Nomenca has been the beneficiary of increased expenditure by the water companies as the AMP5 programme is well underway.

Revenue increased by 70.7% to a record £64.2 million, with profitability climbing 36.8% to £1.03 million. The company has secured 17 water company frameworks throughout the country

and services these, alongside other clients, through its network of regional offices established throughout the country. The expansion of the chemical dosing capability, with manufacturing undertaken in Warrington, has continued. Nomenca has now secured five frameworks for the manufacture and installation of chemical dosing rigs with different water companies.

During the year the group gained a British Safety Council 4 star award. All the divisions and subsidiaries achieved the ROSPA gold standard and 9 health and safety awards together with 3 environmental awards were received. In addition the overall accident rate has continued to be considerably below the national average.

Improved environmental performance resulted in a reduction in C02 emissions of 10.3%. The Group continued to maintain its commitment to the community and several projects were undertaken.

Investment in training has continued in recognition of the company being very much a people business, with the development and retention of a skilled and motivated workforce being a priority through its training and graduate and apprenticeship programmes.

“The secured order book for the current financial year is currently around £125m and we are confident that the restructuring and cost reduction measures that have been implemented will contribute to a return to growth,” said Robert Moyle, chairman and chief executive of North Midland Construction.

Former Salvation Army building for sale FISHER GERMAN Chartered Surveyors are offering for sale the Former Salvation Army Hall at 151 Wilmott Road, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 9BN. The property, built in 1888, is a single storey brick detached hall with a pitched slate roof. It is considered suitable for alternative uses, such as offices, storage or some form of community facility, subject to planning.

The accommodation comprises a main hall, kitchen, store room, several rear offices and cloakroom. The total net internal floor area is 2,447 sq.feet.

The property is offered for sale, with offers invited at £135,000.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Philip Wardell at Fisher German on 01777 719148.

Rock is dead. Long live paper and scissors.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Potential residential development opportunity in Eastwood LAMBERT Smith Hampton, on the instructions of Nottinghamshire County Council, are offering for sale a potential residential development site at Church Street, Eastwood, Nottingham NG16 3HQ. The 1.57 acre site is relatively flat and regular in shape and has access from Church Street by way of a road, which has yet to be adopted. The property is currently being used as a car park. Prior to this use, the property was open land but retains an allocation for housing within the Broxtowe Borough Council Local Plan.

Offers are invited on a subject to contract and planning basis. The vendor requires a buyer’s premium of 2% to be added to the purchase price.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Sean Bremner at Lambert Smith Hampton on 0116 976 6604 or email: sbremner@lsh.co.uk

Development site for sale in Basford JONES LANG LASALLE are offering for sale or to let a development site situated south of Northern Court, Basford, Nottingham NG6 0BJ. The 1 acre site previously held planning consent for 16 units (B1 Light Industrial), varying in size from approx. 500 sq.feet to 1,500 sq.feet. This has now expired.

The agents believe the site would also be suitable for owner occupiers seeking a self-build opportunity (subject to obtaining a variation of the planning consent).

The site has most recently been used for open storage land and would be suitable for a similar use.

The majority of the site is owned on a freehold basis with the exception of a rectangular area of approximately 0.03 acres, which is held on a 125 year lease at a peppercorn rent, and was granted in 1982.

The freehold price is available on application.

For more information, contact Matthew Robertson at Jones Lang Lasalle on 0115 908 2128 or email: matthew.robertson@eu.jll.com

Enjoy reading Nottinghamshire Builder?

This is the last printed issue, but you can now subscribe to the emailed version of the magazine for just £12 per year.

Interested? Then email me at: info@ nottinghamshirebuilder. co.uk

New netbooks for school children in Retford - courtesy of Barratts

WITH summer fast approaching, children from Ordsall Primary School in Retford will have every reason to want to stay in the classroom as it means they can use the new net books that have been donated to the school by housebuilder, Barratt East Midlands.

Barratt is currently building properties at the nearby Bridon Place development on Ollerton Road and with a selection of fantastic family homes on offer, donated two Dell net books to the school on Ordsall Road for the pupils to use and enjoy.

Barbara Doughty, Headteacher at Ordsall Primary School, comments “As a school we aim to keep up to date with the very latest teaching methods and we already have a number of net books in place which come in very handy during lesson times.

“When Barratt offered to make a donation to the school, we immediately chose new net books as it means more children will have access to IT equipment and be able to build on their IT skills.”

Mark Wright, Managing Director at Barratt East Midlands, comments “When we build our new homes developments, we try and engage where we can with the local communities and with Bridon Place being a prime family development, the school was the obvious establishment to build a relationship with.

“We are delighted to be able to provide the new net books for the pupils, IT is becoming increasingly more important not only within our working life but also in our social lives, and with this new equipment, the pupils of the school can ensure their skills are up to speed.”

Bridon Place is located on Ollerton Road in Retford and currently offers a modern range of three- and fourbedroom homes priced from £159,995.

Residential development site for 21 dwellings INNES ENGLAND are inviting offers for a residential development opportunity with outline planning consent for 21 dwellings.

The property - Linden House, 261 Beechdale Road, Nottingham NG8 3EY - comprises a three-storey building with a newer two-storey addition constructed of brick with a predominantly flat felted roof.

The 17,350 sq.foot premises are located on a broadly rectangular site of 0.4 hectares (1 acre), with frontage of 75 metres to Beechdale Road and a return frontage of 60 metres to Webb Road.

Internally, the property is in need of refurbishment to meet modern office requirements. The premises have the benefit of good onsite parking providing 70 spaces.

The site received outline planning consent (ref: 11/00211/POUT) for residential development of 21 dwellings on 8th November 2011. The Section 106 agreement requires a contribution towards the provision of new, or the enhancement of existing, off-site public open space. There is no affordable housing requirement.

Offers in the region of £600,000 are invited for the freehold. For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Robert Hartley at Innes England on 07973 103866 or email: rhartley@innes-england.com

Veni, Vidi, Velcro. I came, I saw, I got stuck.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

£180 million in tax unclaimed by UK construction workers “National scandal” of tax inequality slammed as working people urged to reclaim what’s theirs – but watch out for the costly phone calls £180 million of annual tax refunds could be going unclaimed by workers in the UK construction industry, according to figures released in April.

The research, conducted by RIFT, a tax refund specialist, found that up to 518,650 permanent construction employees could be eligible for tax refunds on travel between temporary workplaces.

RIFT is concerned that at a time when tax-avoidance by the wealthy is in the news more than ever before, some workers on comparatively low incomes are losing out on millions of pounds they desperately need.

Unlike self-employed workers who deduct travel expenses as part of their annual self-assessment tax returns, many PAYE construction operatives like labourers, ground workers and bricklayers are failing to claim these expenses back.

In the regions, RIFT calculates that almost £12.5 million of tax refunds go unclaimed in London alone, with a further£4.7 million going unclaimed in both Birmingham and Glasgow.

HMRC were further criticised after it emerged that they make £5 million from the 0845 numbers of the public must call to contact them. Worse, over £500,000 is generated from calls that go unanswered by HMRC agents.

Jan Post, Managing Director of RIFT, said: “It’s a national scandal that thousands of hard working people are missing out on tax refunds that are rightfully theirs while some of the richest people have been handed a tax cut in the recent Budget announcement. We estimate that there could be as much as £180 million pounds floating around HMRC that could be putting food on peoples’ tables who aren’t earning sky high salaries.

“Hard working people are seeing their wage packets stretched more than ever before, and deserve to be able to claw back this money from HMRC. To add insult to injury HMRC then draw in millions more from people phoning them about the refunds.”

Derek Flowers, a construction worker from Deal in Kent, said: “We hear every day how we are all supposed to be ‘in it together’. Money is tight at the moment, and we should be able to get back any tax that we are entitled too. It’s galling to read about the rich paying a smaller proportion of their income in tax than I do when they’re earning millions.”

Former Nottingham rehabilitation unit for sale INNES ENGLAND are inviting offers for a former rehabilitation hospital which is considered suitable for residential development, subject to planning.

The property - The Cedars, Foster Drive, Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG5 3FP - is situated 3 miles north of Nottingham city centre in a good quality, primarily residential locality.

Constructed on the 4.33 acre site are two large buildings, one of which is currently derelict, together with a former bungalow.

Nottingham City Council have indicated to the selling agents that they would consider redevelopment of the site for residential purposes.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Laura Kwiecinski at Innes England on 07921 948501 or email: lkwiecinski@innes-england.com

Persimmon Trials LABC Persimmon has chosen LABC to carry out Building Control on a large number of sites. Work has already begun on the first site in Sunderland.

The next scheduled sites will be in Leeds, Newcastle, Cheshire and York, with over 1,500 new homes expected to be built in the first half of this year.

Other sites are being prepared in the East Midlands with LABC currently undertaking ‘house type approvals’ using its new regional account management team. LABC is also preparing a similar package for Persimmon in the South West region.

For the first time on such a large project, a framework pricing structure has been agreed among the participating local authority building control departments. This means that Persimmon is able to roll out the new houses across different cities and regions using a known schedule of fees for all sites.

The unique benefit with using LABC is that Persimmon gains the national commitment of the largest building control provider in England and Wales and all the advantages of local surveyors providing the inspections on site.

This local knowledge, online account management, structured fees and access to LABC’s Registered Details Housing Types, all played a part in Persimmon’s decision to switch to LABC for building control.

In addition to all of these benefits, LABC surveyors will carry out as many on-site inspections as they believe is necessary to ensure compliance. LABC surveyors will work with both Persimmon’s and the LABC Warranty teams to take into account any specific site issues and produce quality new homes matching the original design specification.

Paul Everall, Chief Executive of LABC comments, “We are really proud to have been selected by Persimmon and have worked hard to bring all the advantages of LABC to a major developer.

By adding central account management and client liaison, we have been learning how to service PLC home builders. It has been nearly five years since the launch of LABC Warranty and we have been learning, developing and integrating new ideas into the service we give to all our clients - large and small. We find that everyone is interested in the same goal, to build quality, high performing homes quickly and on budget. For LABC this has meant us joining our best people together into client teams. It’s exciting and rewarding that Persimmon is putting its trust in us.”

Site for 14 dwellings in Swadlincote CALDERS Chartered Surveyors are offering for sale a residential redevelopment site with planning permission for 14 dwellings.

The site - at The Old Print Works, 47-51 Alexandra Road, Swadlincote, DE11 9AW - extends to approximately 0.473 acres (0.19 hectares).

The site forms part of the town centre conservation area and has a long frontage with vehicular access from Alexandra Road and a further gated frontage to Stanhope Road, both of which are established residential locations.

Planning permission for the development of 14 dwellings on the site was granted by South Derbyshire District Council (ref: 9/2011/0424/SMD) on 8th November 2011.

Eight of the units are new build dwellings and six are to be formed from the conversion of the traditional buildings on the Alexandra Road frontage.

Offers are invited subject to contract based on a Guide Price of £495,000.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Calders on 01827 61144 or email: enquiries@calderssurveyors.com

How do I set a laser printer to stun?

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Have your say on planning decisions Nottingham City Council is developing a new Land and Planning Policies Development Plan that will help determine planning applications.

Last autumn, the council carried out a consultation about make changes to existing planning policies. During this process the council also invited suggestions from citizens and stakeholders about land that could be suitable for future new development.

A further consultation, which ends on 30th April 2012, will seek views about these additional sites. If you wish to have your say, please visit visit the Council’s Land and Planning Policies webpage or contact the planning policy team on 0115 8763974 or email: ldf@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

Don’t Have A Pension? How Investing In Property Can End Retirement Anxiety A report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers this month has found that the standard projections used by pension and investment companies are too high and should fall from 7% a year to between 5.25% and 6.5%. Commenting on this report, Colordarcy.com say that investing in property can provide a welcome boost to pension portfolios.

Even though the Bank of England claimed the effect on pensions has been exaggerated, Colordarcy are keen to point out that the report

by PWC shows that investors might need to look into alternatives such as property which can generate a better return on investment in the long term.

Loxley McKenzie Managing Director of Colordarcy said, “Most standard savings accounts are paying out little more than 0.93% in interest and a £100,000 pension pot pays out just £5,236 a year, so is it any wonder that property with long term capital growth offers us such an attractive alternative?”

On a cautionary note, good returns on investment are not available when investing in just any property - the best strategy is to find property that will not just pay for itself, but generate a strong and growing income on the initial investment say analysts at Colordarcy.

“Not all property markets provide these kinds of opportunities and many investors can get caught out by investing in a falling market, or one with a lack of tenant demand.

Before approaching any property investment opportunity, investors should first look at the net rental yield” added McKenzie.

“Investing in property will not only pay your bills in retirement, it can also provide you with a regular income even before you retire.

With your traditional pension on the other hand, you will have to wait years until you retire before you receive anything back.”

The best thing about investing in property, according to Colordarcy, is that when you compare it to traditional pensions, the investor is in control rather than the fund manager. The investor decides when to change direction and when it is time to sell the asset to release a lump sum of cash.

Former Bramcote Lorne School for sale

SANDERSON Weatherall are inviting offers for the Former Bramcote lorne School at rectory lane, gamston, retford, Nottingham DN22 0GG. The property comprises 54,250 sq.feet of buildings on an attractive 21.39 acre site.

Unconditional offers are invited for the freehold.

For more information, contact Andrew Ellis at Sanderson Weatherall on 0113 221 6040 or email: andrew. ellis@sandersonweatherall.com

the best place to immerse yourself in all things creative SHORT COURSES FOR SUMMER 2012 From Typography to Textiles, Product Design to Portfolio Building, Acting to Architecture and Fine Art to Photography – you can be sure to find your creative short course at Nottingham Trent University.

Attending a short course will allow you to engage with the expert tutors and state-ofthe-art facilities that make NTU one of the most exciting and creative universities in the UK. We aim to challenge your ways of making and doing and help you achieve your creative ambitions.

We have courses that are ideal for beginners, improvers or professionals. You might be exploring your drawing and painting skills or improving your knowledge of graphic design and software. You might be a student hoping to build an exceptional fashion portfolio for a college application or a teacher wishing to

experiment with new methods and materials.

Whatever your experience and aspirations you will be in good company.

> Graphic design by Antony Radcliffe

All our summer courses run during the daytime and are conveniently held at our city-centre site.

You must be 18 or above to enrol – except for our courses specially created for 16-18 year olds in our portfolio building section.

BOOK NOW

Read about our courses, tutors, venues and how to book at: www.ntu.ac.uk/creativeshortcourses Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813 creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk

> Architectural model making, Mausdlay building

If it’s true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

This list represents just some of the courses we have on offer.

10

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Renewable Specialists Fit Solar Panels at Nottingham Environmental Landmark One of Nottingham’s most environmentally responsible companies is adding to its green credentials with the installation of a bespoke solar PV system.

Leicester-based Intelligent Energy Solutions (IES) installed 84 panels on the side elevation of Enviroenergy’s London Road premises, saving the company over £1,000 per year.

IES secured the contract to install 20.16kW solar panels on the 30 year old building as part of Nottingham City Council’s Commercial PV Framework.

Using the steam produced when domestic and commercial waste is burnt at the Eastcroft incinerator, Enviroenergy generates and supplies electricity and hot water to properties across the city, including the Victoria Centre and Lace Market shopping precincts.

IES completed the bespoke installation of Sungrid SG-240P6 panels on 30 degree angled frames to maximise output, whilst maintaining the structural and aesthetic integrity of the building and ahead of the Government’s extension to the Feed in Tariff (FiT) deadline of March 3rd 2012.

Peter Searancke, managing director, Intelligent Energy Solutions commented: “The Enviroenergy installation presented some physical challenges for the team; working at significant height, wind speed and weather conditions but the installation was completed on time and to budget. Sungrid was chosen because they produce high quality, high efficiency solar panels that deliver a great value proposition. The design of these panels enables the manufacturer to offer leading material and performance warranties, which is critical for an installation like this.”

Councillor Alan Clark, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Energy, said: “The installation at the London Road heat station is yet another example of how the City Council and its partners are delivering against its manifesto pledges and energy strategy.

“This scheme complements the other PV projects installed at Walter Halls and Dovecote Primary Schools and the current installations at Ambleside Primary School and the Tennis Centre. Together all of these systems will generate 279kWp of electricity which is enough to meet the demands of 65 homes per year or illuminate 8000 35w light bulbs.”

Andrew Estrop, Manager, Enviroenergy added, “The London Road Heat Station was ideally suited for the installation of a sizable PV array. We worked closely with IES to develop and design a system which will benefit the City of Nottingham for many years to come.”

IES is also supplying and installing a multiple heat pump system at the Al-Farqan community centre in Leicester. This installation is helping the centre to achieve and exceed a 13% energy production from renewable sources whilst reducing their energy bills and CO2 emissions.

When the new patient was settled comfortably on the couch, the psychiatrist said: “Since this is your first session, perhaps you should start at the very beginning.”

“Of course,” replied the patient.

“In the beginning, I created the heavens and the earth ...”

I got strip-searched at the airport. Why those customs officers had to take their clothes off I’ve no idea.

Former nightclub with consent for development

SANDERSON Weatherall are inviting offers for the former Berlins Nightclub at 1 Hockley, Nottingham NG1 1FP. The site has planning consent for an office and retail development over six floors comprising 691 sq.metres of retail and 3,256 sq.metres of offices (planning ref: 08/01720/PFUL3).

Architect’s drawings have been prepared in respect of a potential scheme, and details are available upon request. The agents believe that the property is suitable for alternative schemes, subject to planning. prospective purchasers are asked to make their own enquiries of the local planning department at Nottingham City Council on 0115 876 4447.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Chris Green at Sanderson Weatherall LLP on 0113 221 6142 or email: christopher.green@ sandersonweatherall.com.

Under no circumstances are direct approaches to the property to be made.

Forticrete Launches New Gemini Traditional Sandfaced Roof Tiles Forticrete, a specialist UK manufacturer of concrete roofing tiles, has once again extended its popular range of Gemini roof tiles. The new Gemini Traditional Sandfaced range has a riven appearance giving architects and specifiers the opportunity to give buildings the look of a weathered roof.

Richard Tite, Southern Sales Manager at Forticrete commented:”Many architects and specifiers are on the lookout for a tiling solution that not only blends seamlessly with the local and traditional vernacular of the UK built environment, but that is guaranteed to help make any building that extra bit special. As such, Forticrete worked closely with a number of clients to develop the Gemini Traditional Sandfaced range.

“Part of our popular Gemini tile range, this new riven textured collection provides a unique and cost effective tile which boasts an older, weather-beaten finish.

“Available in two new colours, the Ember Blend and the Mercia Blend, we are confident that our new Traditional Sandfaced tile will help create exciting and interesting streetscape for any development, helping buildings to sit perfectly within their environment.”

Part of the company’s ECOTILE family of products, Forticrete’s Gemini roof tiles have less CO2 emissions per m2 roof and improved coverage, using less tiles per m2 making it a much more cost effective solution.

Specifically developed as an alternative to plain tiles, the Gemini tiles offer significant environmental benefits for clients; a carbon reduction of 40% per roof when compared to concrete plain tiles.

As well as being extremely energy efficient, these next generation roofs tiles are aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-install and high in quality. They have been specifically designed as interlocking tiles which are just 270mm x 337mm overall, yet because of a carefully judged central groove and innovative ‘double cambered’ design, they have the appearance of two traditional plain tiles side by side when laid, effectively laying two tiles at a time.

Forticrete has a strong commitment to the environment and sustainable building. Having already adopted the ISO 14001 environment management system, it was recently accredited to ‘very good’ for the BES 6001 standard across its entire product range and all its manufacturing sites, a truly fantastic achievement.

He has no enemies, but he is intensely disliked by his friends.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012 11

Workloads for SME House Builders Worst on Record says FMB New build workloads for small house builders in the social housing market are at their lowest level since 1999, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its latest State of Trade Survey, the only one of its kind looking at small and medium sized (SME) companies in the construction sector.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “Social housing new build workloads are at their worst since 1999 when the FMB’s State of Trade Survey records began. Around 66% of building companies reported lower workloads, a marked increase from 47% at the end of 2011. The private new housing sector fared little better with around 55% of firms indicating that workloads had fallen in the first three months of 2012, compared with 45% in the last three months of 2011.”

He continued: “The fact that workloads for small house builders are at an all time low is very worrying given the nation’s chronic shortage of affordable housing. Although the Government has introduced a number of promising initiatives to try and help the industry, support tends to be awarded to the large volume house builders meaning SMEs still miss out.

The industry has lost around 69% of its smaller firms since the late 1980s and will lose even more of them if the Government and local authorities continue to drive them out of the market with the additional burdens of red tape and financial contributions that they are expected to pay.

“What is really worrying is that our survey shows that the SME building sector has now been in recession for four years. These dismal results for small builders demonstrate the length and severity of the recession in the construction sector not helped by the fact that 84% of firms expect building materials costs to increase over the next six months.”

Download the FMB State of Trade Survey from the FMB website (www.fmb.org.uk) or the Nottinghamshire Builder website (www.nottinghamshirebuilder.co.uk)

Beckingham development site for four dwellings FISHER GERMAN Chartered Surveyors are offering for sale a development site with outline planning permission for the erection of 4 detached dwellings and associated garages.

The site - at Willow Croft, The Green, Beckingham, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 4NL - currently comprises a four-bed detached bungalow with a large established garden plot extending in all to approximately 0.71 acres.

Planning permission (ref: 06/07/00022) was granted on 24th July 2007 for an exclusive cul-de-sac development of four detached houses. For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Fisher German on 01777 709943.

Nottingham City McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd (c/o Agent: Mrs Sarah Carpenter, Planware Ltd, The Granary, First Floor, 37 Walnut Tree Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 1BD) - Erection of infill extension, alterations to elevations and roof, and general refurbishment of restaurant and patio area, plus reconfiguration of drive-thru area - at McDonalds Restaurant, Castle Bridge Road, Nottingham NG7 1GX. Nottingham University Hospitals (c/o Agent: Paul Gittins, PG Partnership, 2B Parkyn Road, Daybrook, Nottingham NG5 6GB) - Erection of single storey ward extension into existing courtyard area - at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital Site, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB. Nationwide Property (c/o Agent: Mr Dino Labbate, Swish Architecture Ltd, 5 Grangelea Gardens, Bramcote, Nottingham NG9 3HR) - Erection of new retail store - at 43A Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 6BE. Nottingham City Council (c/o Agent: Anil Parmar, CPMG Architects Ltd, 23 Warser Gate, Nottingham NG1 1NU) - Erection of new classroom block with associated works - at Northgate Primary School, Suez Street, Nottingham NG7 7GB. Keepmoat Homes Ltd (c/o Agent: Zahid Khan, BM3 Architecture, 28 Pickford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midland B5 5QH) - Erection of residential development of 40 dwellings and associated works - at Site of 285315A and Garage Block to rear, Highbury Road, Nottingham.

Gurdwara Baba Budha Ji (c/o Agent: Mr Peter Landa, DSL Group, 1 Concord House, Malton Road, New Basford, Nottingham NG5 1EG) - Change of use from B1 (office use) to D1 (Place of Worship) - at Haydn Road, Nottingham.

J & R Developments Ltd (c/o Agent: Mr Dino Labbate, Swish Architecture Ltd, 5 Grangelea Gardens, Bramcote, Nottingham NG9 3HR) - Conversion from hostel to 6 self-contained apartments, erection of single storey extension

and replacement windows - at 9 & 9A Castle Street, Nottingham NG2 4AE. Clerical Medical Unit Linked Fund (c/o Agent: Mr Matthew Jones, Drivers Jonas Deloitte, Four Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2HZ) - Extension and alterations to existing warehouse - at Clearway Distribution, Firth Way, Nottingham NG6 8XF. Mr Martin McQuaid (c/o Agent: Roger Andrew Bewers Architect, 92 Keepers Cottage, Bramcote Drive West, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1DU) - Erection of 2 dwellings following demolition of existing garage block - at Garages south of 20 Church Street, Old Basford, Nottingham.

Mrs Karen Wales (c/o Agent: Mr Alan Goodwin, 20 Easthorpe Street, Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6LA) - Conversion of existing dwelling into 2 dwellings - at 2 Mimosa Close, Nottingham NG11 8SP.

Ashfield Prosper Properties Ltd (c/o Agent: Ellis Riley & Son) - Residential development - at Former Wraggs Farm, Dalestorth Road, Sutton-inAshfield, Nottinghamshire.

Heathcote LD LLP (c/o Agent: Axis Architecture) - Erection of 8bedroomed Care Home for adults with learning disabilities - at 218 Watnall Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

Messrs Millward, Shaw & Webster (c/o Agent: Ian Baseley Associates) - Outline Application for residential development for a maximum of 230 dwellings including access and associated development - at Gilcroft/St Andrews Street and Vere Avenue, Skegby, Sutton-inAshfield, Nottinghamshire.

Scarcliffe Properties Ltd Change of use from offices to 9 self-contained flats - at Former Government Buildings, Outram Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire County Council - Single storey extension linking to existing two-storey school - at Kingsway Primary School, Kingsway, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

Continued on page 13

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he’s too old to go anywhere.

12

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

New measures to improve mixed neighbourhoods Two measures to help provide mixed residential neighbourhoods, with a variety of homes and facilities, came into effect in March.

A new planning requirement means landlords will need permission before they can divide family homes into small houses for multiple occupation for between three and six people to share.

And there will be a ban on agents’ To Let boards in areas of the city where there is a high concentration of sub-divided houses. Instead, Nottingham City Council has produced its own more discreet and uniform design for signs at properties for rent.

The Council has been given the go-ahead by the Government to adopt the new measures to help create neighbourhoods with a mix of houses and services and prevent areas of the city being given over to bedsits and losing facilities because the population is made up of predominantly young single people.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, the City Council’s Portfolio holder for Planning and Transport, said: “We want to build thriving communities of families and older and younger people who can support each other and sustain local services and facilities.

“There is a history in many cities of areas where the majority of family homes have been converted into houses for multiple occupation populated by young single people. Local schools, shops and other facilities close because there are very few families left to use them. In areas near universities, where the majority of young people are students, it means houses and whole streets can be empty for a third of the year.

“Creating and protecting balanced neighbourhoods has enormous benefits for everyone who lives there. It means having a variety of decent homes in safe and attractive environments where people of all ages and lifestyles can live.

“The introduction of these planning measures will help us curb further increases in the concentration of houses of multiple occupation and ensure that neighbourhoods have a healthy mix of good quality housing and suitable community facilities for all residents.”

Nottingham is one of several cities to be granted an Article Four Direction requiring landlords to get planning approval before they convert their properties into shared accommodation for up to six people. Planning approval is already needed for the conversion of larger houses into accommodation for seven or more unrelated people. The new regulation came into effect on March 11.

Later this spring the City Council will begin replacing To Let boards in areas of the city where there are high concentrations of HMOs and unsightly rows of rental signs that remain in place all year round.

These are in Dunkirk, Lenton, Radford and the Arboretum, covering areas around the Lenton triangle, Triumph Road and Ilkeston Road, and Lenton and Castle Boulevards.

Councillor Urquhart said: “Once again this is in line with actions taken by other cities to tidy up neighbourhoods and stop the cumulative impact of rows and rows of To let boards that are so detrimental to local streets and communities, look a mess and signals areas with high transient populations, often of students, and can lead to increased crime levels.

“We are not banning To let boards. Instead we have a new set of guidelines showing how we want letting boards to look and how we want them to go up.

They will be smaller, of a uniform design and will be flush to the wall.

“We have consulted widely and over a long period of time on both these measures and we believe they will make an enormous difference to the look and feel of many of our streets and neighbourhoods.”

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Proposed Building Rules Will Cost Homeowners Thousands, warns FMB Government plans to force homeowners to spend thousands of pounds extra on green home improvements when they extend their homes will be impractical, unpopular and counterproductive, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “There is an urgent need to improve the energy efficiency of our existing homes but people should be encouraged and not forced to take action as the current proposals will only backfire on the Government. In the current economic climate when many homeowners are struggling to pay their bills it makes no sense to impose this hidden tax.”

Berry continued: “A survey of our members reveals that 70% of FMB building companies do not believe that the Government’s proposals are technically, functionally or economically feasible to implement for most domestic extension projects. Our research also shows that 73% of builders think that home owners would carry out less work as a result of the proposals with a further 69% expecting homeowners to turn to cowboy builders instead to get around the proposed legislation. ” Berry concluded: “The Government needs a rethink about the best way to encourage homeowners to make their homes greener and more energy efficient as the current proposals are self-defeating. What is needed is a range of incentives to help kick start energy efficient home improvements. A good way would be to reduce VAT on energy efficient repairs or lower the Council Tax. The last thing homeowners need at this time is extra cost.”

Atlas Copco Launches New Silent Demolition Products Atlas Copco Construction & Mining has updated its silent demolition range with a new combi cutter, the CC 950, and two new bulk pulverisers.

To complement the new product offering, a dedicated microsite has also been launched to offer customers easy access to information about Atlas Copco’s entire silent demolition range and can be viewed at www.atlascopco.com/ silentdemolitionukus The CC 950 is the latest addition to Atlas Copco’s light combi cutter offering and features a 360º hydraulic rotation device which enables attachments to be placed in position quickly and easily. With an operating weight of 920 kg, the CC 950 can be fitted onto carriers between 9 and 16 tons, and exerts a crushing force of 55 tons. This makes the CC 950 perfectly suited for less demanding demolition work, such as eliminating masonry and lightly reinforced concrete structures.

Atlas Copco Construction & Mining have also introduced two new hydraulic bulk pulverizers. Thanks to their innovative angled shape, the bulk pulverizers are ideal for secondary demolition tasks, such as the additional reduction of reinforced concrete elements. The new pulverizers are available for carriers of 18-35 tons and feature broad jaws to ensure structures are demolished with fewer bites.

The huge jaw dimensions also facilitate energy efficient high throughput, with speed valves shortening the opening and closing time of the jaws to ensure less fuel consumption during pulverizer operation.

An apple a day, if well aimed, keeps the doctor away.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012 13

Forty more NET building jobs advertised Recruitment is underway for forty labouring jobs created by the multi-million pound construction of Nottingham’s two new tram lines.

The new vacancies currently being advertised have a deadline for applications of 26 March 2012.

These 40 jobs, follow a further 70 jobs which have previously been advertised for the construction of the NET Phase Two, taking the total to 110 jobs created so far since the project received the go-ahead

by Government in December 2011. Of these vacancies, 60 have already been filled by people in the Nottinghamshire area by the project’s design and construction contractor, Taylor Woodrow Alstom Joint Venture.

NET Phase Two is the project to build two new tram lines to extend Nottingham’s tram network to Clifton via Wilford and Chilwell via Beeston.

The new jobs are being recruited to through Nottingham City Council’s Employer Hub, which matches the needs of recruiters to the skills of local unemployed people.

The new vacancies offer a range of labouring opportunities including digging trial holes, which will be used to help investigate the exact locations of the various utility services which need to be moved out of the way of the new tramlines, to drivers of mini diggers and construction lorries.

Council Leader, Councillor Jon Collins, Portfolio Holder for Training, Employment and HR at Nottingham City Council, the Promoter of the NET Project, said: “In a time of such economic constraints and few job opportunities, it is great to be advertising a further 40 job opportunities so soon after the initial 70 NET construction opportunities which were advertised in December.

“NET Phase Two is generating construction work opportunities for local companies and people, and will help to stimulate the local economy to generate long term employment growth, inward investment and regeneration which we know building new tram lines brings.”

Councillor Collins, continued: “I would encourage anyone who is looking for work from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to take a look at the opportunities that are available. We are keen for as many of these vacancies as possible to be filled by local people.”

All of the vacancies for the tram project will be available through the Nottingham Employer Hub and can be viewed at www.nottinghamjobs. com. People can contact the Hub by

phone on: 0115 876 4493 or 0115 876 4508 or email: hub@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for application form.

The Nottingham Employer Hub matches the requirements of employers that have vacancies with job seekers who are looking for work.

It is one central hub for advertising job vacancies and is in close contact with the Job Centre Plus, colleges of Further Education, 3rd sector organisations, training providers, as well as Nottingham’s two universities. It also works with local employment partnerships to ensure that those that are seeking work have the best possible opportunity of finding out about employment opportunities.

Taylor Woodrow Alstom Joint Venture is the design and construction partner of Tramlink Nottingham, the consortium which has been awarded the concession to build and operate the expanded tram network.

Martin Carroll, Taylor Woodrow Alstom’s Project Director, said: “Working alongside the Employer Hub has been extremely helpful. It is an excellent facility and ensures vacancies which arise can be widely promoted to job seekers.

“We are keen to recruit local people as we complete what is a complex construction phase and, as the project gathers pace, further job opportunities will be created not only within our organisation but also within local companies which become part of our supply chain.”

NET Phase Two will: Generate construction work opportunities for local companies and people, as well as stimulating the local economy to generate long term employment growth of up to 8,000 jobs and could boost the local economy by around £390m per year.

Provide access to about 1270 City workplaces, to which about 55,000 employees commute, and a further 600 workplaces in Beeston/Chilwell.

Serve two of the three biggest employers in Greater Nottingham - The University of Nottingham and the Queens Medical Centre.

Serve 20 of the 30 largest employers in Greater Nottingham, who will be within 800m of a tram stop.

NET Phase Two will enhance accessibility to nearly 30% of the Greater Nottingham population, who will be within 800 metres of a tram stop.

Information about NET Phase two can be viewed on: www.thetram. net/phasetwo

Continued from page 11 Mr Jackson (c/o Agent: Paul Gaughan Building Consultants) - Application to replace extant planning permission V/2009/0568 - Outline Application for 3 dwellings - at Rosedale, Roberts Lane, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

Rippon Homes Ltd - Residential development comprising 5 bungalows including the demolition of the existing bungalow - at Rose Cottage and land adjacent Penine, Greenfields, Skegby, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

Mr Boyington (c/o Agent: Ministry of Design Uk Ltd) - Six apartments - at 60 New Lane, Stanton Hill, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

Chairman of Underwood Villa Football Club (c/o Agent: Peter A. Fletcher QS & Building Consultant) - Single storey Football Clubhouse & changing facilities with multifunction area, kitchen, toilets and showers - at Underwood Villa Football Club, Bracken Park, Felley Mill Lane (North), Underwood, Nottinghamshire.

Mr Parker (c/o Agent: Eaton Design) - Four detached dwellings - at Peartree Cottage, Peartree Lane, Teversal, Nottinghamshire.

houses - at land to the rear of 232 & 234 Derby Road, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 3AN. Mr P Maltby (c/o Agent: Mrs Tracey Clegg, 35 Charles Avenue, Chilwell, Nottingham NG9 5ED) - Construction of 4 dwellings - at Site of former garage blocks, Ellis Grove, Beeston, Nottinghamshire.

Mr & Mrs N Sandhu (c/o Agent: Mr Robert Shepherd, 72 Crossman Street, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2HQ) - Change of use of former miners’ welfare club to form a shop, 4 flats, shutters to the ground floor windows and doors and front boundary wall - at 125 Eastwood Road, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2HQ. Miss L Winters (c/o Agent: Mr Steven Goddard, Beech Lawn, Green Lane, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1BY) - Demolish building - at Beeston Maltings, Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Notts. NG9 1JG. Mr Tony Hutchings (c/o Agent: Mr Terry Lawton, 37 Lambley Road, Lowdham, Nottingham NG14 7AZ) - Convert property to create 4 flats and construct dormers - at Mega Cobs, 75-77 Trafalgar Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire NG9 1LE.

Sun Healthcare Ltd (c/o Agent: Paul Newbould Planning & Building Design Services) - Extension to existing care home and conversion of roof space incorporating four dormer windows to create additional bedrooms - at Jubilee Court, Jubilee Road, Sutton-inAshfield, Nottinghamshire.

Mr F Mitchell (c/o Agent: Mr D Isherwood, Rose Park, Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicestershire LE8 4DP) - Ouline application to construct 139 dwellings including details of access, appearance, layout, and scale with landscaping reserved for future consideration - at land adjacent to Hempshill Hall, Low Wood Road, Nuthall, Nottinghamshire NG6 7AB.

Bassetlaw

Gedling

Mr J Brown (c/o Agent: Mr R McBride, 511 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG5 2JL) - Refurbishment and structural improvements to existing property to create 3 residential units and retail unit and re-insertion of canted bays on front elevation - at 11 Eldon Street, Tuxford, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 0LB.

Broxtowe Ms Julie Abbott & Mr H Biran (c/o Agent: Paul Johnson, 54-56 High Pavement, Nottingham NG1 1HW) - Outline permission to construct 1 pair of semi-detached

Mr D Higgins (c/o Agent: Mr Frank Elkington, Elkington Design, Old Manor Farm, Woodborough, Nottingham NG14 6DJ) - Demolish existing dwelling and construct 3 dwellings with garages - at 15 Lambley Lane, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5BG. Aldergate Properties Ltd (of 46 High Street, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 7DL) - Change of use to community enterprise and business centre - at Former Church Drive School, Church Drive, Daybrook, Nottinghamshire NG5 6LD. Continued on page 15

I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.

14

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Builders’ Problems SOLVED Help me get out of the contract!

Problem: I run a small carpentry company and have been working on a fair sized new build project, employing several self-employed operatives. The main contractor I have sub-contracted to has been an absolute nightmare to work for.

There have been no materials on site, dangerous scaffold and poor working drawings to name but a few, hence it has been a struggle to make any money.

The main contractor has now started paying me late, not paying the full value of my invoices, not paying for variation work that had been previously agreed, and making it quite impossible for me to carry on. Yet the main contractor still shouts and screams when things aren’t going its way.

I want to be released from this project as soon as possible, but can’t afford for them not to pay me.

I can imagine they will be really awkward about it. Is there a proper procedure for doing this so I will have the law on my side when it gets ugly?

Thanks.

John, Melton Response: Hello John. It is impossible to provide any definitive advice as first and foremost your sub-contract must be studied to determine the precise nature of the terms and conditions you have agreed upon, with the emphasis on payment and termination.

Whatever you do, do not just walk away from your sub-contract, no matter how tough things may have got. If you do walk without any valid [legal / contractual] reason and / or without giving proper notification, it could be said that you have abandoned your work and thus leave you exposed to being pursued for damages for

breach of a fundamental condition.

You must firstly see what your payment terms are. Even if your sub-contract is silent on payment, under the Housing, Construction and Regeneration Act, payment terms will be implied into your sub-contract. Ensure that you are submitting payment applications (as opposed to invoices) on the correct date (usually monthly), and then ensure that the main contractor pays by the final date for payment.

If no or insufficient payment is received by the final date, then you should issue a seven day notice of intention to suspend works, which will entitle you upon the expiry of the notice if any monies remain outstanding, to suspend your subcontract works – in other words to leave the site.

Where the main contractor has failed to provide materials which caused you a delay, then you must record this delay at the time and if you have incurred any cost as a result of the delay, then you must calculate the cost and claim from the main contractor.

Dangerous scaffold will breach

health and safety regulations and I suggest that you instruct your own safety officer to carry out an inspection. If the scaffold is unsafe to work on, you must not allow your operatives to work on the same. Obviously any delays incurred as a result of unsafe scaffold should be claimed against the main contractor.

If the ‘poor working drawings’ are so poor that you cannot possibly construct from them, then this would have the same impact as having received no information at all. Again any delay caused by this should be recorded and the costs made known to the main contractor.

Don’t succumb to bully-boy tactics from the main contractor and be very firm in your attack. Good luck. © Michael P. Gerard MSc, PGDipLaw, PGDipBar, FCIOB, MCIArb, MAE The advice provided is intended to be of a general guide only and should not be viewed as providing a definitive legal analysis.

Author background Michael is a Barrister, Chartered Builder, Registered Adjudicator & Accredited Expert in quantum and planning matters.

He is Managing Director of Michael Gerard & Co www.michael-gerard.co.uk a company of chartered building consultants and quantity surveyors who provide a specialised service in the areas of construction law, quantum, programming, business recovery and insolvency support to the construction industry.

Sainsburys planning application for West Bridgford A planning application has been submitted on behalf of Sainsbury’s Supermarkets for the construction of a supermarket on Wilford Lane in West Bridgford.

The construction of a 9,700sqm gross (4,646sqm net sales area) foodstore (Use Class A1) with ancillary customer restaurant and concession units; associated servicing, car parking and parent pick-up/drop-off parking area, landscaping and highways works.

The site has a frontage onto Wilford Lane and access from the Beckett Way and includes land previously occupied by The Chateau Public House/restaurant.

Cotgrave building plot: £90k WILLIAM H BROWN Estate Agents are offering for sale a single building plot with detailed planning consent for a four-bedroomed detached family house.

The planning reference is 10/01643/FUL. The plot - at The Hawthorns, Colston Gate, Cotgrave, Nottingham NG12 3YJ - has a site area of approximately 260 sq.metres with a frontage to Colston Gate.

The asking price is £90,000.

For more information, contact William H Brown on 0115 958 7766 or email: nottingham@ sequencehome.co.uk

Considerate Constructors National Award for Hicks Lodge The Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre project completed by Robert Woodhead for the Forestry Commission has won a Bronze Considerate Constructors Scheme 2012 National Award.

The Site Manager for Robert Woodhead Ltd at the Hicks Lodge development was Peter Winson, who collected the Award on behalf of Robert Woodhead at the Awards ceremony.

Peter confirmed,”This places the Hicks Lodge development in the top 7.5% in the country. With over 8500 sites registered and 650 sites entering the Awards to receive the Bronze Award is amazing.”

The site was particularly commended for the high standards reached in the categories of Considerate; Environment; Cleanliness; Respectful; Responsible and Accountable and for its exceptional achievements in the Neighbour category.

“Robert Woodhead Ltd is a strong advocate of the Considerate Constructors Scheme and encourages Site Managers at all sites to follow and exceed the Considerate Constructor Scheme guidelines. Peter Winson, the Site Manager at Hicks Lodge certainly did that, in fact at one point during the development he was involved in catching a runaway horse, preventing the horse from going onto a main road. Peter also assisted its injured rider back to a pick up point,” comments Glenn Slater, Business Development Director at Robert Woodhead Ltd.

Peter Winson (left) receives the award from Derek Bostock, National president and works for National Federation of Builders

I stayed up all night playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012 15

Extending NET over Nottingham Station

Work began on 10th April to start construction of a bridge for trams to travel over Nottingham Station.

The first stage of the work, which is part of the extension of Nottingham’s tram system to Clifton via Wilford and Chilwell via Beeston (NET Phase Two), involves constructing a pier on Station Street to support the new bridge.

In total three interconnecting bridges will be built over Station Street, Nottingham Station, and Queens Road respectively, so that trams will be able to travel between the current NET Line One terminus , over Nottingham Station and down onto Crocus Street in The Meadows.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation at Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s hugely exciting that just a few months after signing the contracts to extend the tram system, the contractor is already embarking on such a significant piece of work.

“This work is also a timely reminder of why the City has taken the bold step of being the first city in the UK to introduce the Workplace Parking Levy, which is helping to fund both the extensions to the NET system and the redevelopment of Nottingham Station, to transform the station into a modern transport interchange befitting of a city of Nottingham’s size and stature.

Councillor Urquhart continued: “NET Phase Two is already generating jobs and construction work opportunities for local companies, and will help to stimulate the local economy to generate long term employment growth, inward investment and regeneration which we know building new tram lines brings.”

Martin Carroll, Project Director of construction contractor, the Taylor Woodrow Alstom Joint Venture, said: “Clearly this is a major element of the overall extension scheme and will result in an impressive structure. It is a complex construction project to create the three interconnecting bridges and, in all, will take 21 months to complete.

“We are working hard alongside the City Council and a variety of other partners, including Network Rail, in order to minimise disruption and, of course, it is important that services into and out of the railway station itself are maintained whilst the work goes on.”

To be able to carry out the work to create the pier support for the Station Street bridge safely, part of Station Street, between Trent Street and Carrington Street, will be limited to one-way traffic heading westbound (towards Carrington Street).

The one-way traffic system will remain on Station Street until late 2013 to allow other NET bridge works and works as part of the transformation of Nottingham Station.

NET will help to cut congestion and provide improved public transport links, serving 20 of the 30 largest employers in Greater Nottingham, which will be within 800m of a tram stop.

Nottingham City Council is the promoter of the NET Phase Two project.

Site for 10 houses in Retford

FISHER GERMAN are offering for sale a town centre residential redevelopment site with consent for 10 houses.

The site - at St John Street, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6JP - has most recently been used as a carpet warehouse with car parking and loading areas.

Planning permission (refs: 01/08/00076 and 01/08/00077L) was granted by Bassetlaw District Council on 20th May 2008 to demolish the warehouse and erect 10 new houses on site.

The freehold of the site is available for sale at an asking price of ‘Offers in the region of £425,000.’

For more information, contact Fisher German on 01777 709943 or visit the website at www.fishergerman.co.uk

Continued from page 13 Governors of Christ the King School (c/o Agent: CP Associates, Braemar Court, 1311A Melton Road, Syston, Leicester LE7 2EN) - Extension and remodelling of technology areas - at Christ the King Comprehensive School, Darlton Drive, Arnold, Nottinghamshire NG5 7JZ. Sin Free Investments Ltd (c/o Agent: Luke Turner, KB Architecture, 20 Fletcher Gate, Nottingham NG1 3FZ) - Erect 4 detached dwellings and garages - at land at 143A Plains Road, Woodthorpe, Nottinghamshire NG3 5QX. Mr & Mrs Dunning (c/o Agent: Elkington Design, 26 Dalebrook Crescent, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire NG15 6RG) - Create new access point from Collyer Road, for existing dwelling and construct 2 two-bedroom detached bungalows - at 130 Collyer Road, Calverton, Nottinghamshire NG14 6LY. Mr P Bratt (c/o Agent: Mr Tim Fletcher, TF Architectural Services, 1 Marrison Way, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0ED) Proposed residential development at 250 Main Road, Ravenshead, Nottingham NG15 9GX.

Mansfield Prospect Estates/Highbank Homes Ltd (c/o Agent: Mr Stuart Booth, JWPC Ltd,, 1B Waterview, White Cross, Lancaster, Lancs. LA1 4XS) - Residential development comprising 17 dwellings - at land at 7 Oxclose Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire NG19 8DF.

Newark & Sherwood Holy Trinity Catholic Primary & Nursery School (c/o Agent: Mr Alan Wallis, John Halton Design Ltd., Church View, Church Lane, Brandon, Lincs. NG32 2AP) - Alterations to existing building, reconfigured internal layout and front extension to school - at Holy Trinity RC Primary School, Boundary Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 4AU. Mr & Mrs Wells (c/o Agent: Mr Clive Davies, Orchard House, 3 Farndon Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 4SB)

- Demolition of rear extension, alterations and extensionsto former Baptist Church to form dwelling - at Collingham Baptist Church, Baptist Lane, Collingham, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 7LT. Mr C T Sheldon (c/o Agent: John Chapman, A J Chapman, Ferndale, Wigsley Road, Thorney, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 7DF) - Proposed conversion of threshing barn to dwelling - at Pitomy Farm, 121 Low Street, Collingham, Nottinghamshire NG23 7NL.

Rushcliffe Mr & Mrs Houghton (c/o Agent: Trevor Muir, 104 Lambley Lane, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5BL) - Construction of 2 dwellings with vehicular access following demolition of existing dwelling - at Sulney West, Station Road, Upper Broughton, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 3BQ. Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd (c/o Agent: Peter Hall, Indigo Planning Limited, Toronto Square, Leeds LS1 3HJ) - Construction of a foodstore with ancillary customer restaurant and concession units, associated servicing, car parking and parent pick up/drop off parking area, landscaping and highway works - at Land on Wilford Lane, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

Runwood Homes Ltd (c/o Agent: Ron Hudson Designs, Runwood House, 107 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet, Essex SS7 2QL) - First floor front extension to create 14 additional bedrooms - at Leawood Manor, Hilton Crescent, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire NG2 6HY. Mr & Mrs Jones (c/o Agent: Mr S. Cheung, 217 Scraptoft Lane, Leicester LE5 2HT) - Construction of reception block, toilet/shower block, machinery storey and stable, following demolition of stables and toilet block - at Thorntons Holt Camping Park, Stragglethorpe Road, Stragglethorpe, Nottinghamshire NG12 2JW. Mr danny Wood (c/o Agent: Mr Terry Lawton, 37 Lambley Road, Lowdham, Nottinghamshire) Construct 2 two-storey dwellings with integral garages - at 1 & 1A Green Close, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire NG12 5HJ.

I took a course in speed waiting. Now I can wait an hour in only ten minutes.

16

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Coffee Time Crossword Community Repaint: Gentle Exercise for your Brain!

Easter Egg-cess? Traders, Take Stock Of Your Tins!

ACROSS 1. Pulling 4. Aussie animal 7. Storing charge 8. Gallantly 9. Actor, ...

Sutherland 12. Fought off 15. Degree-holder 17. Call 18. Gestures farewell 21. Elevated flat

region 22. Ships’ bottoms 23. Made light of, ...

over

DOWN 1. Conceding 2. Soldier’s sack 3. Chew 4. Eager, ... as mustard 5. Military flying facility (3,4) 6. Skilfully 10. Nightmare, bad ...

11. Secret agents 13. Alcoholic 14. Save from potential loss 16. Smudges 18. Stroll 19. Water springs 20. Suspend © Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd

SOLUTION ON PAGE 21 An agent is telling a night club owner about a new striptease act he’s got. “You should see the size of her,” says the agent.

“She’s got a 96-26-36 figure.”

“And what sort of dance does she do?” asks the owner.

“Well, it’s not a dance as such,” says the agent. “She crawls on-stage and tries to stand up.”

Calling all painters and decorators! Did you know that donating your leftover, reusable paint to Community RePaint can help you to save money on disposal costs?

The UK-wide paint reuse network is encouraging those in the trade to take stock of their tins following the busy Easter Bank Holiday in a bid to get more businesses supporting local paint reuse.

Community RePaint schemes collect unwanted, surplus paint and redistribute it to individuals, families and communities in need, improving the wellbeing of people and the appearance of places across the UK. Painters, decorators and retailers can donate leftover or surplus reusable paint to a local Community RePaint scheme for a small fee to cover processing and running costs, a charge that will be considerably cheaper than waste disposal.

Schemes accept all brands of the following types of paint in their original container; emulsion, gloss and tile paint, eggshell, satin paint undercoat, primer, masonry and floor paint, exterior paint, varnishes and woodstains.

To find out how to donate paint, traders can contact Community RePaint on: 0113 200 3959 or visit the website to locate their nearest Community RePaint scheme: www. communityrepaint.org.uk

Paint Reuse Can Cut Decorators’ Disposal Costs In 2011, householders, traders and paint manufacturers donated 343,957 litres3 of paint to Community RePaint schemes, which then distributed 217,112 litres to community groups and individuals saving 565 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of taking 192 cars off our roads.

“Easter is a busy time of year for painters and decorators. Spring has sprung and householders who don’t DIY often GSI – Get Someone In - to spruce up their homes,” said Community RePaint Network Manager Martin Pearse. “Traders with leftover, reusable paint can donate it to a local Community RePaint scheme, which will both benefit their business and help to protect the planet.”

The Community RePaint Network has been sponsored by Dulux since 1993. David Cornish, PostUse Recover Manager, added: “Throwing valuable paint away is just plain daft – never mind having to pay hundreds of pounds to do so! If the painting industry can help people to use paint that would otherwise be wasted, then that’s a good result for everybody and we are very proud to support Community Repaint in their excellent work.”

You make the beds, you do the dishes, and six months later you have to start all over again.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012 17

The Restoration Man Channel 4’s Restoration Man is set to return for another series and is looking for owners of unusual or historic buildings to take part!

Presented by the architect George Clarke, Restoration Man follows owners who breathe new life into historic and vulnerable buildings in the UK by converting them into their dream homes. As well as practical advice, George looks into the history of each building, why they were built and how they have evolved over the years within the local community.

We are looking for a variety of properties such as follies, former public toilets, dovecotes, old military and railway buildings and towers. Properties can be listed or unlisted and owners should ideally have full planning permission and finance in place.

Please contact the Restoration Man team on 0333 577 7772 or email: restorationman@tigeraspect.co.uk

Barn for conversion

FISHER GERMAN are offering for sale a traditionally constructed barn with detailed planning consent for conversion into a 2-bedroom dwelling with off-street parking and gardens.

The barn - at Redfern Farm, Main Street, Walesby, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 9NU - is one of a number of properties for sale within Redfern Farm. All are offered for sale independently or as a whole.

For more information, contact Fisher German on 01777 709943.

New furniture training facility is topped out

The official ‘topping out’ ceremony has taken place to mark the latest stage in the construction of Webs Furniture Training’s new state of the art £2.2 million training facility that is being built on its site in Beeston.

Webs training director Peter Sisson was joined by senior designer at CPMG Architects, Richard Thorpe, and Craig Harrison, site manager for Mansell Construction Services, to mark the completion of the main structure and roof. Work on the new building started in August 2011 and when completed in May will provide high quality teaching space, offices and facilities for the 14 staff and 200 learners.

Webs Furniture Training Ltd is a national provider of quality apprentice and adult training for the furniture and associated industries. It is expanding its business with the refurbishment of a late Victorian Lace Mill and construction of a new two-storey extension to provide a 1900m2 training facility.

The new multi-million pound academy is being part funded by the Skills Funding Agency and has been designed by Nottingham-based CPMG Architects with Mansell Construction Services undertaking the construction.

Peter Sisson said: “The topping out ceremony marks a significant landmark in the construction and brings us even closer to our completion date. Despite hitting slight delays with the snow and ice we experienced in January the Mansell team has worked tirelessly to keep the build on track and ensure the facility is ready for the spring. The opening of this facility will be important not just for young people in the East Midlands but also for the furniture industry as we will be providing training using the latest technology and techniques to ensure skilled craftsmanship continues in the UK.” Remember: if you bring your child up to be polite and courteous at all times, he will never be able to change lanes on a motorway when he grows up.

When I’m not in a relationship, I shave one leg so it feels like I’m sleeping with a woman.

Eastwood development site: offers around £400k LAMBERT Smith Hampton are inviting offers in the region of £400,000 for a development site at Hill Top House, Nottingham Road, Eastwood, Notts. NG16 3GL. The site extends to 0.64 acres and is fenced off with gated access. It was formerly used as council offices and more recently secured planning consent for demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new two storey police station. The site is suitable for other uses and interested parties are advised to liaise direct with Broxtowe Borough Council in relation to potential changes of use.

Viewing is strictly by prior appointment with the sole agent.

For more information, contact Alex Nix at Lambert Smith Hampton on 0115 976 6612 or email; anix@lsh.co.uk

On my walls I have pictures of the rooms on the first floor, so I never have to go upstairs.

18

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Anchors away for Focus Consultants’ latest museum project East Midlandsbased project managers Focus Consultants played a major role in the opening this week of a new £15 million maritime museum featuring the story of the Titanic.

The new SeaCity Museum in Southampton was unveiled exactly 100 years after the ill-fated ship set sail from the city on her maiden voyage.

Five days later she sank in the Atlantic Ocean, off Newfoundland, with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

Focus Consultants, based in Nottingham and with offices in London, Leicester, Lincoln and Boston, has been project manager for the new museum scheme in conjunction with Southampton City Council.

The development involved converting the grade II listed former Magistrates’ Courts adjoining the Civic Centre, Southampton City Art Gallery and the Guildhall, and is the centre piece of a major regeneration of the city’s new Cultural Quarter.

“This has been a tremendously exciting project to be involved in, and we are very proud of the new SeaCity Museum, which represents a real asset to the maritime heritage of Southampton and its tourist attractions,” said Focus Consultants partner Steven Fletcher.

“The team at Focus Consultants has wide experience of both heritage and tourism schemes, and SeaCity Museum is a combination of the two. It’s expected to attract thousands of visitors, and 2012 is a particularly significant year for the museum to open, given that it’s exactly 100 years after the Titanic went down and it’s such a momentous event in Southampton’s history.”

Focus Consultants developed the Heritage Lottery Fund application for stage 1 and stage 2 of the project along with Southampton City Council. The company acted as project manager for the whole scheme, including the building and exhibition works, and also contract administrator for the exhibition works.

The SeaCity Museum features two permanent exhibitions focusing on Southampton’s Titanic story and the city’s role as a gateway to the world, as well as a special exhibition marking the centenary of the Titanic disaster. It has been designed and built to engage visitors of all ages with exciting interactives throughout its three galleries: Gateway to the World, Southampton’s Titanic Story and Titanic the Legend.

The museum, which was opened by British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, is expected to attract 150,000 visitors every year.

Building constructor was Kier Construction and architect was Wilkinson Eyre Architects, with the exhibitions being designed by Urban Salon and installed by 8Build.

Focus Consultants, which has its head office at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, specialises in creative approaches to securing funding packages and delivering high quality projects across the UK. Since its creation in 1994, Focus has secured over £800 million of grant assistance, and delivered more than £1 billion of projects and programmes - including enterprise support, innovation, culture, health, regeneration, affordable homes and energy carbon sustainability projects.

Representatives from Focus attended the official opening of SeaCity Museum, which took place on April 10th.

CBI: Minimum wage rates a ‘relief’ The CBI have welcomed the new National Minimum Wage rate announced in March, commending the Low Pay commission for “listening to businesses”.

CBI chief policy director Katja Hall said: “Businesses will welcome the approach taken to this year’s National Minimum Wage rates. The moderate rise in the adult rate and the freeze in the youth rates will come as a relief to the many hard-pressed firms right across the country.”

“With youth unemployment at its highest level for a generation, we must take great care not to price young people out of a job. Freezing the minimum wage will help reduce one of the barriers to employers deciding whether or not to take on a young person.”

Federation of Master Builders Appoints Brian Berry as Chief Executive The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the UK’s largest trade association in the building industry, has appointed Brian Berry as its new Chief Executive.

Derek Bostock, National President of the FMB said: “I’m delighted that Brian Berry has agreed to take on the role as the FMB’s first Chief Executive. Brian Berry has an excellent track record in the construction sector having worked for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and more recently as Director of External Affairs at the FMB. His achievements speak for themselves having quadrupled the FMB’s media profile and ensuring that the FMB is listened to seriously within government, the media, and the built environment sector generally.”

Bostock continued: “The construction sector industry is facing a very tough time with an estimated 45,000 people expected to leave the industry this year. The FMB is working towards a new business plan to ensure that the range of services that we offer to builders is the very best in the market. It’s more important than ever that small building companies have the expertise and single voice that the FMB is able to offer them. Brian’s background makes him ideally suited to achieving our aim to transform the FMB into a professional trade association.”

Brian Berry, commenting on his appointment said:“Leading the UK’s largest trade association in the building industry is an exciting challenge. The FMB’s drive towards becoming a professional trade association is something that I’m personally committed to as it will help ensure that FMB members are recognised as the best in the building industry. The FMB’s application to government later this year to become a Competent Person Scheme operator will be the first milestone on this journey as will the review of how FMB delivers services to its members.”

Bill suffers from claustrophobia and agoraphobia at the same time.

He spends most of his time standing in doorways.

I used to know identical twins.

They looked so alike, it was incredible.

Sometimes they’d even manage to borrow money from each other without the other knowing about it.

I want to get a tattoo of myself on my entire body, only 2 inches taller.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012 19

Construction & Commerce Race Day: 23rd May 2012

Make a date: Wednesday 23rd May 2012 at Southwell Racecourse!

Nottinghamshire Construction Forum has negotiated a discount on ticket prices for NCF supporters for what promises to be another great day out for the construction sector.

To order your tickets, go to http://www.southwell-racecourse.co.uk/ construction-and-commerce-offer.html Don’t take to long, though - last year they all went very quickly!

Construction & Commerce Race Day 2012 builds upon the highly successful 2011 event staged at the centrally located Southwell Racecourse.

Race Day 2012 is a fantastic opportunity for firms to: • Showcase products and services to the construction sector with display and advertising space • Gain cost-effective publicity through event and/or race sponsorship • Entertain colleagues and clients whilst enjoying a fabulous day out together Book the day in your diary now.

For full details of the Race Day please go to the NCF Race Day page on the website at www.nottsconstruction.co.uk

Nottinghamshire Builder ~ READER OFFER ~

Go on line to www.southwell-racecourse.co.uk to book tickets with the code ncf2305 This will reduce the cost from £11 to just £9!

Sponsor a Race! It’s not as expensive as you may think!

The Race Sponsorship package is priced at £450+VAT per race.

This includes: • The race named after your firm or organisation • Best turned out award & winning connections presentations and photographs • Racecard advertising • Four free entry tickets and race cards • National & local Press publicity of racecard • Track announcements & commentary • Live coverage on Sky National TV ‘At the Races’

Race sponsorship should be routed via www.nottsconstruction.co.uk or email mervyn@ces-build.co.uk

SPAB’S 2012 Scholars Hit the Road to Architectural Discovery

There is no parallel in the world of architectural conservation to the annual SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) Lethaby Scholarship.

The three newest recruits to this unique and long-established training scheme for young architectural and building professionals now join a roster of talented individuals, many of whom now care for the most significant buildings in Britain.

Architects Charlie De Bono, 34, and Henry Sanders, 26, and structural engineer Justin McAteer, 30, have just set off on a journey of discovery that will take them the length and breadth of the country as they gain firsthand experience of conservation skills and building crafts. For the next six months they will travel together meeting fellow architects, building specialists and craftspeople working on historic sites and in workshops and studios throughout the British Isles. The aim is for SPAB’s Scholars to gain direct hands-on experience of building conservation in action guided by experts in the field and to use this knowledge to inform their own approach.

Follow their progress at SPAB’s new dedicated blog: http:// spabscholarsandfellows.wordpress.com/ And find out more about the SPAB Scholarship in this illustrated online interview with former scholar Andy Faulkner: http://bit.ly/IfuAj5 This highly regarded, prestigious educational scheme has run for more than 80 years. Since 1930 it has set 145 young architecture and building professionals on the road to positions of great responsibility in the conservation sector. Charlie, Henry and Justin are, in no particular order the 149th, 150th and 151st SPAB Lethaby Scholars to hit the conservation trail.

The Scholarship continues to have enormous relevance. With growing concern at the lack of skilled professionals with the knowledge and understanding needed to deal sensitively with historic buildings, SPAB remains convinced that the best way to learn about construction methods, materials and the range of repair methods available today is out on site.

Philip Venning, SPAB Secretary, says: “The Scholarship is special. In fact, it remains an absolutely unique opportunity in the conservation world. It has been very gratifying to see former Scholars going on to take up significant roles and positions, spreading the message of the importance of sensitive repair. We are delighted, once again, to send a new group of Scholars out on the trail and we are confident that they will enjoy equal success and satisfaction both in the months ahead and in their future careers.”

The SPAB Lethaby Scholarship is awarded annually to up to four young architects, building surveyors or structural engineers who have completed their college-based training and have a demonstrable enthusiasm for historic building conservation.

After spending the first six months as a close-knit group, they separate for the last three months of the programme, developing their own specific areas of interest relating to the life and culture of the British Country House.

Former SPAB scholars are today among the UK’s leading conservation experts, caring for many of the most significant buildings in Britain – some are cathedral architects, some look after palaces, great country houses, National Trust houses and English Heritage sites. Others care for lesser known gems of equal historic and architectural interest. The Scholarship is a prestigious and rigorous educational award designed to foster excellence and promote understanding of the unique skills and crafts that continue to underpin our built heritage.

It’s been lovely, but I have to scream now.

20

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

Constructing a Brighter Future Launched in 2008 the National Construction Academy (NCA) is one of the UK’s leading providers of training to the construction industry.

From our bases in Nottingham and Leicester we work with a range of employers to deliver bespoke construction training requirements and to date have trained over 1500 learners.

Apprenticeships

At the NCA we are experts in providing a full apprentice training service, without boundaries or barriers, for employers who are looking to invest in the future skills of their business.

We can offer various levels of service to make it easier for you to employ an apprentice from recruitment through to completion of apprenticeship. In some circumstances we can undertake all the HR and payroll function for you as well as offering on going support and guidance to both you and your apprentice.

We offer apprenticeships in a number of disciplines including; bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, electro technical and painting and decorating and are therefore well placed to be able to provide your business with an apprentice that fits your organisation’s needs.

And, with the incentive of an employer apprenticeship grant there has never been a better or more exciting time for your business, and the building sector as a whole, to employ an apprentice.

The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers is an incentive (run by the National Apprenticeship Service) of £1500, available to 40,000 small medium enterprises taking on a 16-24 year old apprentice for the first time.

What is more, the grant is in addition to the funded training costs, which are fully funded for 16-18 year olds and half funded for apprentices aged 19-24.

Up-skilling your workforce If your business is not looking for an apprentice in the craft skills areas of your business, then perhaps you may want to up-skill your existing workforce - in areas such as admin, customer service or sales - which can ultimately lead to a more productive and competitive organisation.

We are also expert in helping both young people and adults to get onto the employment ladder or back into work via our Foundation Learning courses, diplomas or programmes for the unemployed, which are delivered in our purpose built training facilities.

Working with local schools We pride ourselves on helping to develop the skilled workforce of the future and offer bespoke training courses and specialist information, advice and guidance for year 10 and 11 pupils at local schools. By delivering vocational courses not only do we give youngsters the opportunity to gain hands on experience, they also get a recognised qualification (NCA is accredited to deliver City and Guilds and Construction Awards Alliance (CAA) courses).

Now more than ever, it is really important that we invest in the education and training of our younger generation. At a time when one in five people aged between 16 and 24 cannot find work we need to ensure we do all we can to get this generation into employment.

By providing them with a range of options at an early age to learn a trade from which to build a career, we feel that the NCA is helping them to construct a brighter future.

Quality is the priority for every member of our team; promoting progression and support in everything we do. We encourage students to improve their skills through our training and believe that everyone should have access to quality courses.

Case study: Mitchell Harrison The learners that we have on our courses come from varied backgrounds, some already have industry experience that they are looking to build on whilst others are new to the construction sector.

Mitchell Harrison, 18, is one example of a learner who is well on his way to achieving academic success. He started training with NCA, for three days a week, at the beginning of February 2012.

Despite spending many of his formative years in care and moving between secondary schools, he still has a great desire to achieve.

“I love my days at the NCA and I really hope that I will be able to transfer my skills into paid employment,” said Mitchell. “My late mother made furniture as a hobby and I would love to be able to follow in her carpentry footsteps.”

Mitchell has excelled so much within his training he has set about working on a personal project, creating a wooden bike from the academy’s discarded wood stocks that sits a proud 2 ft high.

Lee Wignall, Mitchell’s tutor at the NCA, said: “Mitchell is a smart, articulate young man with a real desire to learn. He will progress straight from Foundation Level Carpentry and Joinery onto Diploma Level 2, which is testament to his hard work and level of skill.

“On completion of his courses we will look to place him with an employer on an Apprenticeship training package, which will no doubt see him on the path to a successful and fulfilling career.”

To find out more about how the NCA in Nottingham could benefit you or your business please contact us: Email: Nottingham@ ncacademy.co.uk, Tel: 0115 986 1746.

Residential development site in Mansfield Woodhouse BB&J Estate Agents are inviting offers for a residential development site at Sherwood Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire NG19 7NS. The site comprises a roughly rectangular parcel of land located at the corner of Sherwood Street and Debdale Lane. The site is cleared and by way of a consent referenced 2005/0861/NT, it benefits from planning permission for the erection of four two-bedroom apartments and the repositioning of existing access.The vendors have completed construction of the foundations for the proposed development so that the planning permission would not lapse.

All planning information should be confirmed with, and further enquiries addressed to, the planning team at Mansfield District Council, who can be reached on 01623 463463. Offers in the region of £79,950 are invited for the freehold.

Offers should be made in writing and sent marked ‘Strictly Private and Confidential’ for the attention of Mr.Christopher Wright and addressed to BB&J, 34 irongate, Derby DE1 3GA. For more information, contact Chris wright on 01332 292825 or email: c.wright@bbandj.co.uk

I try to daydream, but my mind keeps wandering.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012 21

Upcoming local auctions County Council Leader Here is a list of local property auctions planned for 2012 - why not go along and see if you can pick up a bargain!

Thursday 26th April 2012 BIGWOOD - at Aston Villa FC, Holte Suite, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 233 0500.

Nottinghamshire County Council Leader Coun Kay Cutts has welcomed the news that the long-awaited dualling of the A453 has been given the final go-ahead.

Thursday 17th May 2012 GRAHAM PENNY - at The Pedigree Suite, Derby County FC, Pride Park Stadium, Derby - 11.30am start - tel: 01332 242880 or email: info@ grahampenny.com Thursday 17th May 2012 SAVILLS - at The Centenary Suite, Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Colwick Road, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 2.30pm start - tel: 0115 934 8020 - visit: www.savills.co.uk/ auctions Monday 21st May 2012 - GRAHAM PENNY - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Colwick Road, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 11.30am start - tel: 0115-958 8702 or email: Nottingham@ grahampenny.com Wednesday 23rd May 2012 LOVEITTS - at The Allesley Hotel, Birmingham Road, Alelsley, Coventry CV5 9GP - 12 noon start - tel: 024 7652 7789 or email: auctions@loveitts.co.uk Thursday 24th May 2012 COTTONS - at Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 247 2233 or email: auctions@cottons.co.uk Wednesday 30th May 2012 - BAGSHAWS RESIDENTIAL - at Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL - 11.30 start - tel: 01332 361308 - email: auctions.derby@ sequencehome.co.uk - www. bagshawsauctions.co.uk Thursday 28th June 2012 BIGWOOD - at Aston Villa FC, Holte Suite, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 233 0500.

Thursday 5th July 2012 - GRAHAM PENNY - at The Pedigree Suite, Derby County FC, Pride Park Stadium, Derby - 11.30am start - tel: 01332 242880 or email: info@ grahampenny.com Tuesday 10th July 2012 BAGSHAWS RESIDENTIAL - at Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL - 11.30 start - tel: 01332 361308 - email: auctions.derby@ sequencehome.co.uk - www. bagshawsauctions.co.uk Tuesday 10th July 2012 GRAHAM PENNY - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Colwick Road, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 11.30am start - tel: 0115-958 8702 or email: Nottingham@ grahampenny.com

welcomes news of A453 go-ahead

Thursday 12th July 2012 COTTONS - at Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 247 2233 or email: auctions@cottons.co.uk Thursday 12th July 2012 - SAVILLS at The Centenary Suite, Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Colwick Road, Nottingham NG2 4BE 2.30pm start - tel: 0115 934 8020 - visit: www.savills.co.uk/auctions Thursday 6th September 2012 GRAHAM PENNY - at The Pedigree Suite, Derby County FC, Pride Park Stadium, Derby - 11.30am start - tel: 01332 242880 or email: info@ grahampenny.com Tuesday 11th September 2012 GRAHAM PENNY - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Colwick Road, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 11.30am start - tel: 0115-958 8702 or email: Nottingham@ grahampenny.com Wednesday 12th September 2012 - BAGSHAWS RESIDENTIAL - at Pride Park Stadium, Derby DE24 8XL - 11.30 start - tel: 01332 361308 - email: auctions.derby@ sequencehome.co.uk - www. bagshawsauctions.co.uk

Thursday 13th September 2012 - COTTONS - at Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 247 2233 or email: auctions@cottons.co.uk Thursday 18th October 2012 GRAHAM PENNY - at The Pedigree Suite, Derby County FC, Pride Park Stadium, Derby - 11.30am start - tel: 01332 242880 or email: info@ grahampenny.com Tuesday 30th October 2012 GRAHAM PENNY - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Colwick Road, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 11.30am start - tel: 0115-958 8702 or email: Nottingham@ grahampenny.com Thursday 1st November 2012 COTTONS - at Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 247 2233 or email: auctions@cottons.co.uk

On 30th March, roads minister Mike Penning announced the decision on the public enquiry on the A453, which was held in November 2009.

Work will now begin on preparatory work, with main engineering work set to begin next winter. The scheme is expected to be completed in late 2014, early 2015. Work had originally not been due to begin until after 2015.

The Government confirmed funding for the improvement to the A453 in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. However, this was subject to completion of statutory planning and order making processes. The scheme has now cleared this stage after the Minister accepted an independent Inspector’s recommendation following the public inquiry that the scheme orders should be made.

“This is absolutely marvellous and is the news we’ve been waiting for for a long time,” said Coun Cutts.

“I am absolutely delighted that the Secretary of State has given the goahead and that work will now begin on this vital piece of infrastructure which will bring huge benefits to the Nottinghamshire economy.

“The A453 is the weakest link in the regional road network and, in its current state, is severely limiting the economic recovery and development of the area.

“To the region as a whole it has been estimated that its improvement would bring a boost to the economy of £540m.

“I would like to thank the government for bringing this important scheme forward and recognising how important it is to Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands economy as a whole.

“Credit is also due to the local business community who have campaigned consistently for many years for the A453 to be improved.

“I personally cannot wait to see work commence and be among the first to drive along the new road once it is completed. This is fantastic news for everyone in Nottinghamshire.”

The current timeline for work is as follows: •advanced site clearance and accommodation works to start summer 2012 •main civil engineering works set to begin during winter 2012/13 •completion in late 2014/early 2015.

The cost of the scheme is estimated to be between of £141m and £194m, with the County Council contributing £20m and Rushcliffe Borough Council £500,000.

As well as dealing with long-standing congestion and safety problems on the A453, the scheme will improve access to East Midlands Parkway station, and the Enterprise Zone at Beeston.

Building plot at Walesby FISHER GERMAN are offering for sale a building plot measuring 0.15 acres, with full detailed planning consent to construct s 3bed detached house with superb rural views.

Coffee Time Crossword Solution

The plot - at Redfern Farm, Main Street, Walesby, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 9NU - is one of a number of properties for sale within Redfern Farm.

All are offered for sale independently or as a whole.

For prices, and more information, contact Fisher german on 01777 709943.

It was so cold last week that the local flasher had to go round describing himself to people.

22

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012

£6.7m modernisation project Nottinghamshire County Council have begun work to refurbish three day centres in the first stage of a major county-wide modernisation programme.

The overall aim of the project is to bring together people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health needs and older people who previously had separate day services into 14 buildings where all the facilities are shared.

Older people from 11 of the 12 day services, which were attached to care homes, have already transferred into the shared buildings. There will be further transfers of smaller Council run day services into the shared buildings over the next 12 months. This will help towards a saving of £4.9 million a year. Staff from the small day services that are transferring will be asked to move to the new location with the service users they already know.

A total of £6.7 million will be spent on refurbishing the shared day service buildings to make them suitable and accessible for everyone, as well as improving the overall environment and facilities.

The building work will also create different group areas where a number of activity sessions can run at the same time. This will also mean that the buildings are suitable for the wider community to use out of hours, such as adult education or neighbourhood watch groups.

Australia and New Zealand launch biggest migration drive in 40 years

Feeling peckish?

Get down to the Jukebox Cafe!

Australia and New Zealand are conducting one of their biggest migration drives in years to attract skilled trade’s people down under.

Paul Arthur, director of migration advisors The Emigration Group said: “There is a huge shortage of skilled trade’s people down under. In New Zealand’s Canterbury region alone they are looking for 30,000 construction workers to help with the rebuild programme and Australia is no different, with skilled construction workers from electricians to plumbers and engineers in demand. As a result there is major migration drive underway, offering a great opportunity for Brits looking to move down under.”

The Emigration Group have teamed up with SkilledMigrantJobs.com, the Down Under Tradies Group and The UK Joint Industry Board to provide a series of trade specific events for UK and Irish trades people who are looking to emigrate.

The events offer the opportunity to meet with, listen and talk to key Industry bodies and companies that can offer work opportunities and placements in Australia and New Zealand and find out first hand what the training and regulatory requirements are for working down under.

The first event is being held in London, Twickenham Stadium on the 21 and 22 April, the second in Birmingham, Aston Villa FC stadium on the 28 and 29 April.

Paul said: “If you’re a skilled trade’s person serious about emigration down under, now is the perfect time, there are lots of job opportunities and with the correct help a good chance of making a successful visa application.”

He added: “Working down under is a totally different environment to the UK; there is more of a positive attitude, less stress and everyone working together to try and help the economy to keep growing.”

To book a ticket to one of the events visit SkilledMigrantJobs.com/Trades.

For more information about emigration to New Zealand and Australia, visit www.emigrationgroup.co.uk or call 0845 230 4391.

If you work in the building trade you need to refuel regularly with good grub. But where do you go?

The Jukebox Cafe, situated close to the junction of Bentinck Road, Alfreton Road (A610) and Hartley Road in Nottingham is very popular with builders.

Why not pop in and sample their award-winning Builder’s Breakfast, and finish off with a large mug of tea.

If you don’t have time to sit down and eat in, don’t worry - they offer a full takeaway service.

Call them today on 0115 979 2741 or have a look at the menu on the website at www.jukeboxcafe.co.uk

Harry is a keen gardener who managed to give himself a hernia lifting his huge champion marrow. Now he’s switched to pumpkins and has developed two new strains.

Former church for conversion to a 4-bed character home CHESTERTON Humberts Estate Agents are offering for sale a substantial, Grade II Listed semidetached former church for conversion into a fourbedroom character home, set in lovely semi-rural surroundings.

The property - The Old Church, Moorgreen, Nottinghamshire NG16 2FE - comprises a brick and slate former United Reformed Church, which is Grade II Listed, and was built in the late 18th century, with many interesting and original features.

The Old Church is attached to the adjoining cottage which has been upgraded and is NOT included as part of the sale. The Old Church is offered for sale as a conversion project.

Listed Building Consent was granted by Broxtowe Borough Council (ref: 09/00199/LBC) dated 27th May 2009. Details should be found on the Broxtowe Borough Council Website under Planning and Building Control, Property History Search and enter the above reference.

All main services are believed to be available for connection, but prospective buyers should make their own enquiries.

The Guide Price is £250,000.

Viewings are by appointment only - please contact the selling agents, Chesterton Humberts, on 0115 9505 444.

No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

Nottinghamshire Builder Magazine - APRIL 2012 23

Residential land opportunity Land and remediation specialist Merriman Ltd is now taking registrations of interest in

Annesley Colliery, Hucknall Road, Nottinghamshire 3.15 hectares (7.78 acres) • • • •

Outline planning consent for 124 residential units (subject to S106) Freehold with vacant possession on completion Remediation to be completed by Merriman from mid-end 2012 Registrations of interest invited in relation to all or part of the site

For further information and a Technical Information Pack e: sales@merrimans.com t: 0116 269 6363 w: www.merrimans.com/land/register.php Alternatively, please contact Peter Sutton (Consultant for Merriman Ltd) to discuss this opportunity further: 07968 573554

Not only is smoking bad for you, apparently it’s one of the leading causes of statistics.

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