November 2014 leicestershire builder magazine by Michael Wilkinson

‘Adult Apprentices’ - a first for homebuilder Small builders face serious barriers to growth

Small house builders and developers in the UK face serious barriers to growth with planning, access to finance and land availability highlighted as the biggest challenges for small companies. Research by the NHBC Foundation shows that there has been a significant decline in the number of small firms active in house building in recent years – halving between 2007 and 2013, with only 2,710 estimated to have been building last year. Continued on page 4 ...>

Development land in Carlton FISHER GERMAN Chartered Surveyors are offering for sale a residential development opportunity off Nailstone Road, Carlton near Nuneaton. The property comprises a 0.352 acre site with Outline Planning Permission (ref: 14/00311/OUT) for demolition of the existing house and outbuildings and the erection of up to 4 new dwellings. The property is being offered for sale by Informal Tender. For more information, contact Luke Brafield or Ben Marshalsay at Fisher German on 01530 567472 (email: luke.brafield@fishergerman.co.uk or ben.marshalsay@fishergerman.co.uk

Local homebuilder David Wilson Homes East Midlands has taken on 14 new apprentices, including several who are already well experienced in the construction industry. Four of the new intake will be the first ever non-school leavers, or ‘adult apprentices’, to be employed in this role by the company, as the Bardon-based homebuilder seeks to address a ‘generation gap’ in its workforce. The company, which has trained more than 100 apprentices in the last 12 years, will be employing the new starters to work on quality developments across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as the home building sector continues to grow. Each apprentice will work on an assigned development for part of their working week, as well as taking part in classroom based learning at a local college. 32-year-old Warren Yeoman, an apprentice joiner from Braunstone, said, “I’ve been working as a carpenter for years now, but I’ve never actually got the proper qualification, so I’m grateful to David Wilson Homes for taking me on and giving me the opportunity to finally get one.” Kyle Buswell, a 25-year-old apprentice joiner, also from Braunstone, said, “I’ve been working on sites for a while through agencies, but I’m at the age now where I want to be looking at something more permanent, and an apprenticeship should help me get that.” Ryan Thompson, a 26-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Leicester, said, “I’ve been labouring my whole working life, but I never got the qualifications when I was younger. I see this as a chance at getting into the industry properly and working my way up in the trade.”

Advert & Article Deadline is 15th of each month - Magazine out on 1st of each month

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Former Glenfield bus depot with consent for 5 houses LAMBERT SMITH HAMPTON are inviting offers for the Former Glenfield Bus Depot at Glenfield Frith Drive, Leicester LE3 8PQ. The site comprises an existing brick building with caretaker’s house and adjacent land currently being used as a Leicestershire County Council bus depot. The site is situated within a residential location, with a new housing development to the western boundary and the Hall Primary School to the eastern boundary. There are rights of access for both the school and adjacent nursery premises from the private road. The 1.02 acre site has Outline Planning Consent (ref: 13/0053/1/1/OX) and indicative scheme drawn up for 4 four-bed houses and one three-bed house with garages and associated landscaping. The Guide Price is £400,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Jane Taylor at Lambert Smith Hampton on 0116 255 2694 or mobile: 07711 484874 or email: jtaylor@lsh.co.uk

David Wilson’s ‘adult apprentices’ From page 1 22-year-old Arran Beany, an apprentice bricklayer from Hugglescote, said, “I’ve already done an apprenticeship in joinery, so I’m pretty used to working on building sites. I’ve always wanted to be a bricklayer though, and now that I’m on the course I can’t wait to get stuck in!” Darren Langton, Construction Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said, “You can become an apprentice at any stage of your career, whether you’re looking to make a start or have years of experience under your belt and are looking for a change of career. We employ the very best homebuilders here at David Wilson Homes, and we welcome all our new recruits to the team.” David Wilson Homes is part of top apprentice employer Barratt Developments, which has created more than 3,000 new jobs at its sites across the country in the past year alone and has pledged to take on 1,100 apprentices, graduates and trainees over the next three years, in addition to the 600 trainees already recruited since February 2013. To find out more about apprenticeships at David Wilson Homes please log on to www.buildingcareerstogether.co.uk For more information about local David Wilson Homes developments please call 0844 811 5544 or log on to the website at www.dwh.co.uk

Latest news from Loughborough University

Conference will provide insight into responsible sourcing in the construction industry A conference taking place later this year at Loughborough University is set to provide a unique insight into the latest developments on responsible sourcing in the construction industry. The conference is being organised by the Action Programme for Responsible Sourcing (APRES) in association with the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA). It will take place on 27th November 2014. At the event leading figures in the construction industry will deliver a range of presentations on new developments on responsible sourcing in construction. The event will, in particular, focus on the impact of global supply chains on UK sites. Some of the key issues to be examined include:

• • •

The reputational risk a supply-chain exposé could have on a project The environmental and social criteria increasingly being featured in pre-qualification documentation Comparison of assessment criteria in construction in relation to other sectors

Speakers are confirmed from organisations leading the field in responsible sourcing. They include client organisations, contractors, supply chain companies and academics in the field. There will also be presentations from The Ethical Trading Initiative and the International Council on Mining and Minerals. The conference will be of interest to a range of professionals working in construction and on infrastructure projects, especially those in design, specification and procurement roles in construction companies, manufacturers and suppliers. The conference costs £90 for members and £150 for non-members. The event has a value of six hours towards CPD. Further information is available online by visiting: www.ciria.org/e14233 Professor Jacqui Glass, Network Manager for APRES comments: “The market has embraced the concept of responsible sourcing and for the conference we have brought together an impressive range of speakers. This one-day event is an ideal opportunity for those with an interest in this area to find out about the very latest developments in responsible sourcing and best practice that we can learn from major UK projects.” APRES was established by Professor Jacqui Glass from the Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough. It is a network for knowledge sharing and dissemination of responsible sourcing in the construction industry. The APRES network currently involves more than 100 member organisations and 200 individuals. Membership is free and more information is available at http://apres.lboro.ac.uk

Batman came up to me and hit me over the head with a vase and he went “T’PAU!” I said: “Don’t you mean KAPOW? He said: “No, I’ve got china in my hand.”

Tim Vine How long have I been working for this company? Ever since they threatened to fire me.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Residential development opportunity in Leicester City Centre

ANDREW GRANGER & Co. Commercial are offering for sale a Listed building in Leicester City Centre with detailed planning permission (ref: 20132289, dated 16th April 2014) for 44 residential units. The property – 14 Deacon Street, Leicester LE2 7EF – comprises a part two-storey and part four-storey Grade II Listed factory building constructed in 1893. It was built for Luke Turner & Co for the manufacture of elastic webbing, and is iron-framed with brick cladding and hipped, slated roofs. According to the agents, the building lends itself perfectly to residential conversion, allowing the retention of many of the historic features. Although the main frontage is to Henshaw Street, vehicular access is from Deacon Street. The planning permission is subject to a S106 Agreement with the following contribution obligations: • Informal Green Space: £5,498 • Equipped Children’s & Young Peoples’ Space: £7,488 • Outdoor Sports Space: £25,563 • Natural Green Space: £2,531 Total Contribution: £41,080 The existing total floor area of the property is 31,293 square feet, and the new build part of the proposed scheme will add 4,673 square feet. The site area is 0.35 acres. The property is connected to main electricity, gas, water and drainage services. The asking price is £1.65 million. For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Kevin Skipworth at Andrew Granger & Co on 0116 242 9933 or email: Kevin.skipworth@ andrewgranger.co.uk

Small builders face serious barriers to growth From page 1 The report Improving the prospects for small house builders and developers explored the business environment that small firms are experiencing and, supported by the HBF, the HBA and the FMB, captured the views of nearly 500 small house builders and developers. It found that despite encouraging signs of house-building growth in the UK, the early stages of the recovery do not appear to have improved prospects for smaller builders. The main findings are: • Planning – One third said that that the planning application process and conditions attached to planning represented a major challenge to their business. • Finance – Securing suitable finance for projects was identified as a major challenge for nearly a quarter (22%) of smaller companies. • Land availability – The availability of land at a suitable price was seen as a major challenge by 14% of the small companies. • Skills – Nearly three quarters (74%) felt that there would be insufficient good quality subcontractors and trades to meet the needs of a growth market over the next 2-3 years. The report contains a number of recommendations to address these barriers and help small house builders to prosper and grow. These include: 1. Planning – Speed up decision making on planning decisions and planning conditions and improve communication. 2. Finance – Promote the Builders Finance Fund for smaller builders (Government initiative announced in the spring Budget). Banks should offer more flexible funding arrangements and conditions to reflect the cash flow challenges of developing a site. 3. Land availability – Make information on land availability more accessible, particularly for underused/surplus public assets and ‘brownfield’ opportunities. Increase, where possible, the availability of small stand-alone plots. Offer some parcels of land, typically for 1 to 10 homes on larger development sites. Neil Smith, Head of Research and Innovation, NHBC, said: “Small house builders and developers have made a significant contribution to the UK’s housing output over the years. “Our research has found that the current business environment is not conducive to growth for small builders and developers. There are a number of factors at play, related in particular to the planning system, access to finance, land availability and a shortage of skills. “For small companies, who often have limited financial resources or reserves, small differences in the way lending is structured and delays related to planning applications (among other factors) can be critical and make all the difference to the long-term viability of their business. “The UK is still building way below the number of homes we need. We must make it a priority to address these barriers if small house builders and developers are to prosper and make a greater contribution to the housingmarket recovery.” For more information, and to download the research, please visit www. nhbcfoundation.org/improvingtheprospects

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ NOVEMBER 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ Tel: 01530 244069

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Loughborough property with consent for conversion to 5 dwellings: £300k guide price JAMES SELLICKS are offering for sale a two storey detached property with planning permission (ref: P/14/0994/2) for conversion to 5 dwellings.

Confusion over Green Belt perpetuates housing crisis, says CLA The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, has said the Government’s continued practice of associating the Green Belt with environmentally protected designations is misleading the public and preventing critically needed houses from being built. The organisation said the Government is consistently failing to distinguish between the Green Belt which may, or may not have environmental importance, and environmental designations such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and National Parks. CLA Midlands Rural Adviser Donna Tavernor said: “It needs to be made clear to all that the Green Belt is, first and foremost, a planning policy. Green Belt designation is put in place to prevent urban areas growing into each other, allowing for recreational open spaces near towns and cities. However, not all Green Belt land is environmentally important or even being well managed to provide outdoor space for recreational use. “In such exceptional cases, it is vital that development on some areas of the Green Belt is considered so critically needed homes can be provided. The Government must correctly distinguish between environmental designations such as AONB or SSSIs and the Green Belt, so the public is absolutely clear about this emotive subject. “Continually including the Green Belt when listing environmental designations, as the Department for Communities and Local Government has done in its recent guidance on protecting the Green Belt, is extremely misleading. It hinders any chance of a reasonable debate surrounding planning and the provision of housing and will only serve to perpetuate the housing crisis.”

The property – Tatmarsh House, 2 Gladstone Avenue, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 1NP – is located within walking distance of Loughborough town centre. Guide Price: £300,000. For more information, contact James Sellicks on 0116 285 4554 or email: Leicester@jamessellicks.com

Lib Dem 300,000 housing target easier said than done, says FMB The Liberal Democrats’ pledge to build 300,000 new homes needs to be underpinned by a pro-SME housing strategy if it has any hope of being achieved, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Lib Dem’s 300,000 new homes target is the most ambitious yet. If we are to reach anywhere near that level of house building, we would finally be keeping pace with the demand for housing while also starting to address the backlog. Sadly, this hasn’t happened for several decades. The last time we built over 200,000 new homes was in 1988.” Berry continued: “The introduction of 15 year local plans would help, but more importantly still, the Lib Dems must reinvigorate the SME house building sector through greater access to small sites and improved access to finance.” Berry concluded: “The intension to create at least ten new garden cities could help increase housing delivery, but it is crucial that the procurement processes for these projects do not shut out SMEs. A balanced and diverse house building industry, which can attract more small firms back into the sector, is essential for a sustainable industry that can develop what is required over the next 15 years and beyond.”

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

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

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

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My wife and I are dieting now... and by dieting, I mean we’re not telling each other about the junk food we eat.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Shepshed development site for 3 houses: £400k guide price SHOULER & SON Estate Agents are offering for sale a 0.5 acre development site at the end of an unadopted lane off Brick Kiln Lane, Shepshed, Leics. LE12 9EL. The site has the benefit of full planning permission (ref: P/13/2009/2 – granted on 9th May 2014 by Charnwood Borough Council) for 3 five-bedroom detached houses with double garages. The Guide Price is £400,000-£450,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Shoulers on 01664 410166 or email: housesales@shoulers.co.uk

Sky high housing costs leave nearly two thirds of Midlands renters stuck in ‘rent trap’ Nearly two thirds (60%) of private renters in the Midlands are stuck in the ‘rent trap’ and unable to put any money towards a deposit for a home of their own, according to new figures from Shelter. The report shows that the ‘rent trap’ is gripping people across the country, with 5 million renters in England unable to save towards a home of their own. And things are only getting worse - years the proportion of renters in the country who are not saving anything towards a deposit has jumped by 13%. The charity is warning that sky-high rents and swelling house prices are leaving millions priced out and unable to put anything aside for a home of their own. Recent figures from LSL Property Services showed that people in the West Midlands are paying an average of £560 per month on their rent, with people in the East Midlands paying an average of £563 per month. Shelter’s Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, said: “With the ‘rent trap’ taking hold of young people and families across the Midlands, the prospect of a stable home is becoming a distant dream for far too many. Instead they’re facing a lifetime of moving from one unstable and expensive rental property to the next. “Successive governments’ failure to build enough affordable homes has left a generation burdened with sky-high rents and soaring house prices, with many struggling to make ends meet – let alone save for a deposit. “Politicians must meet people half-way by taking real action to build the affordable homes this country desperately needs, and give ‘generation rent’ the chance to put down roots in a place they can call home. If they don’t, things are only going to get worse for future generations.”

RICS UK Residential Market Survey

Steam evaporates out of UK housing market House price momentum slows to June 2013 level as demand slips for third consecutive month in the UK

reater caution appears to be being exercised across the UK housing market as house price momentum slowed to the same level it was 16 months ago, according to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey. Nationally, new buyer demand slipped for the third consecutive month and in London, caution took a particular toll, with prospective new buyer demand seeing its fifth consecutive monthly decline – a trend not seen since April 2012. In Scotland, the effects of the referendum on independence appeared particularly significant, with a net balance of 6% more surveyors reporting a drop in the number of interested buyers (compared to a net balance of 49% seeing more interest in August). Meanwhile, stock coming onto the market remained virtually unchanged in September (a net balance of -1%), which led to a number of surveyors reporting a ‘return to more sensible prices’, as properties staying on the market for longer were now beginning to receive offers below asking price. Interestingly and likely in response to political rhetoric around Mansion Tax, the survey showed a drop in 12 month member price expectations for larger properties (three and four or more bedrooms), which have fallen since the start of the year to 2.2% (down from 3.8% at the start of the year) for three bedroom properties and 2.0% for four or more bedroom properties (down from 3.5% at the start of the year). At a national level, the slow-down in buyer activity stands in contrast to the lettings market, where demand has continued to grow solidly across the majority of the UK, despite new instructions to let not keeping pace with the rise in tenant demand. However, despite market conditions, surveyor expectations for price growth over the coming three months remain positive with only surveyors in London expecting to see values decrease and prices across the rest of the UK still expected to rise by on average 2.1% over the year. Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, said: “Demand and supply are looking a little more balanced, which is removing some of the upward pressure in prices, particularly in London. This is a healthy development. Part of this is down to the Bank of England becoming more vocal about the risks, part of this is down to affordability, part of this is down to the new mortgage rules and part of this is down to expectations of higher interest rates. However ideally, more supply should be coming onto the market, but with interest rates still at historically low levels and long term house price expectations positive, households are not under any real economic pressure to sell. Next year, we expect the house price outlook to be far more subdued.”

Comment from the British Property Federation

‘CIL needs further reform, but not abolition’ The British Property Federation (BPF) has commented on a report released today by Savills and the Home Builders Federation which reveals that the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) has had a detrimental effect on development levels. The report, ‘CIL: is it delivering?’, shows that local authorities that are charging the levy have seen a 49% fall in the number of new residential planning consents granted in the 12 months following the implementation of CIL. The report also shows that the London Mayoral CIL, with its relatively straightforward, ‘catch-all’ approach has been particularly successful, representing the majority of CIL receipts collected. Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, said: “We welcome this research as it supports concerns that we have harboured over the past few months over CIL is blocking development and not providing sufficient money for necessary infrastructure. “We are pleased that the much more straightforward London Mayoral CIL, with three flat rates at relatively low levels, has had fewer issues. This shows that with the right changes made to it, CIL could still work, and that outright abolition is not the answer. We think that a more simple, flat-rate tariff would be much more productive.”

“Always leave them wanting more” is my standard approach to paying bills.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ NOVEMBER 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ Tel: 01530 244069

I was not a particularly small child. I was the one who always got picked to play Bethlehem in the school nativity.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Measham cottage requiring renovation: £220k guide price

State of the art concrete plant opens in Whetstone MAXI Readymix Concrete have opened a brand new concrete plant which they believe will satisfy the stringent requirements of the modern-day construction industry.

FISHER GERMAN Chartered Surveyors are offering for sale a period detached cottage requiring renovation. The property – Crossroads Cottage, Swepstone Road, Measham, Leics. DE12 7HF – is situated in a rural position approximately one mile from the village of Measham. The accommodation comprises: porch, reception hall, two reception rooms, breakfast kitchen, utility, three bedrooms, bathroom, front & rear gardens, outbuildings, plus a paddock of approximately 0.82 acres. The site extends to around 1.31 acres in all. The Guide Price is £220,000. For more information or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Fisher German on 01530 412821 or email: ashby@fishergerman.co.uk

After extensive research into concrete plant manufacturers’ technologies around the world, the company decided to invest in a state-of-the-art Liebherr of Germany plant. The facility - which was installed this summer - is capable of producing 100 cubic metres per hour of compacted concrete, with silo capacity of 400 tonnes and aggregate capacity of 650 tonnes. Maxi Readymix deliver to projects of all sizes, from major civil engineering projects to small house builders, farms, domestic driveways and DIY projects. Their mixes range from GEN mixes through to self-compacting and Gyvlon flowing floor screeds. A suite of admixtures and fibres are also available to produce mixes to structural engineers’ design specification. So, whether your requirement is concrete that can be pumped, poured, high flow, ultra high strength, lean, rapid hardening or slow setting, the new Maxi plant has the expertise and equipment to meet your needs.

Labour housing commitments welcomed by HBF The house building industry welcomes Labour’s recognition of the country’s acute housing crisis and its commitment to increase housing delivery to 200,000. Whilst we await the detail and look forward to working with Labour to develop policies, commitments to assist first time buyers and ensure more land comes forward more quickly are clearly sensible. In terms of the specifics unveiled so far; • Finding ways to bring forward more land for development more quickly is also key if we are to deliver the homes we need. If the

Housing Growth Areas can do that, and work with companies of all sizes within the wider market, then that is a positive. In our plan led system, ensuring local authorities have Local Plans in place is also vital. Currently only just over half have an adopted housing plan. Policies focussed on driving the number of authorities with plans up will clearly assist and ensure all parties can work together to deliver the homes an area needs and reduce the tensions and conflict associated with ‘planning by appeal’. • Assisting smaller developers will be key. If we are to build 200,000 homes a year, getting more companies of all sizes building new homes is essential. SMEs

were particularly hard hit by the recession and policies that give them access to business finance and allow them to bring sites forward will help significantly. • First time buyers are key to the market and the industry’s ability to deliver. First time buyers’ inability to buy during the downturn played a significant part in the drop in housing supply. However, any policies that seek to manage markets will need careful thought and to be aligned to other demand side polices. • Delivering new towns is a complex process. If Labour can find a way to bring forward such ventures it would provide a boost to housing supply in the long term. A focus on positive short-term

policies however must remain. Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said: “ We welcome the commitment by Labour to increase housing supply. Whilst we have seen a big increase in house building activity in recent months, we are still not delivering enough homes to meet the country’s needs. Policies that would result in more land coming forward for development more quickly and further assist first time buyers would clearly provide a boost to housing supply. We look forward to working with the Labour party to develop their policies as we move towards the general election.”

Actions speak louder than words, but talk is cheap and you have to consider that in this economy.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Builders’ Problems SOLVED

Tree Root Damage Problem: I am in the building industry and have been an avid reader of Leicestershire Builder for many years. However, my problem is personal and I hope you can assist.

Response: Hello Martin.

At the bottom of my garden of my own house I have a 5 metre Laburnum tree which is maintained yearly. Three years ago a neighbour whose garden backs onto ours, felled several mature trees 11 metres across and built a large brick outbuilding on clay with permitted development and no building regulations. In 2013 we received a letter with reports and evidence stating that subsidence had occurred on their outbuilding and our tree was partly to blame, as well as other neighbouring trees. I was asked to remove my tree. I carried out my own investigation and found that the foundations on my neighbour’s outbuilding is just 1 metre deep, but should be 3 metres deep in order to prevent heave from decaying roots. The neighbours are now about to repair the damage but state that any further damage, I could be held liable. The question is, can I be held liable now or in the future given that they obvious potential for subsidence foreseeability before building it?

Martin, Melton Mowbray

From your outline, 1 metre deep foundations are not suitable, and I doubt whether the design was actually carried out by a qualified engineer (and whether, in designing the foundations, was BS 5837 ‘Trees in Relation to Construction’ implemented). I suspect that an experienced and competent engineer would not have allowed such shallow foundations to have been built after the removal of trees in the vicinity knowing that there would be a risk of heave and / or subsidence. With this in mind, I suspect that the original movement would have been caused by heave, and hence

the root cause (no pun intended), will probably be due to the foundations being insufficiently designed. That said, if any damage is caused to the neighbouring building in the future and the cause is found to be from your tree, then your neighbour will have a cause of action against you (see Delaware v. City of Westminster ([2001]. My advice is to consult a Chartered Building Surveyor and / or a qualified arboriculturist to see what best action is to take. In addition, it may be wise to also consult your house insurers. Also make sure that the tree is not subject to any TPO’s (Tree Preservation Orders), and you are not in a conservation area. © Michael P. Gerard The advice provided is intended to be of a general guide only and should not be viewed as providing a definitive legal analysis.

Michael P. Gerard Author background Michael is a Practising Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Builder, Registered Construction Adjudicator & Accredited Expert in quantum and planning matters. He is Managing Director of Michael Gerard & Co., and a Consultant Solicitor with Edward Hands & Lewis, based in Leicestershire.

Glenigan re-launches construction KPIs report with Department for Business Innovation & Skills Construction intelligence providers Glenigan continues its commitment to track improvements across the industry by re-launching its UK Construction Key Performance Indicators Annual Report. The report, prepared in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and endorsed by the Department of Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) and Constructing Excellence, maps trends and sets benchmarks across the construction sector. Based on data from thousands of projects completed during the preceding year, the Construction Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have become a mainstay of the industry since their initial development in 1998.

The KPIs are collated by Glenigan from surveys of construction clients, contractors, sub-contractors and consultants, covering issues such as client satisfaction, profitability, safety and environmental protection. The re-launched report will include data from both 2012 and 2013, providing a clear picture of how construction companies have reacted to changing market conditions as the industry moves into recovery. Robert Davis, Content Director at Glenigan, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the CITB to re-launch the report at this critical time for the industry.

We would also like to thank BIS and Constructing Excellence for their ongoing endorsement. “The Construction KPIs provide a set of tools that can be used by companies across the sector to evaluate their performance and raise their game against their peers, bringing lasting benefits to the whole industry.” Stephen Radley, Director of Policy and Strategic Planning at CITB, said: “As the sector returns to growth, with skills and materials in short supply and margins still squeezed, it is more important than ever that companies are working as efficiently as they can. The results of

this research will play an important role in benchmarking performance as the recovery becomes more sustained.” Don Ward, Chief Executive of Constructing Excellence, said: “Thanks to Glenigan and CITB it is good to have this data available again, along with the annual report of industry trends. “As ever these provide a valuable baseline for companies and projects to benchmark themselves. I will be interested to see how the industry’s performance has kept up during the recession, in particular whether the improved performance of the previous ten years was sustained or whether performance fell back along with workload.” Findings from the 2014 UK Construction Industry KPI Report will be released at a launch event at BIS Conference Centre in London on 13 November.

The ice cream said it’s best if eaten by May 2015 but I hate to leave things to the last minute.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Thursday 4th December 2014

Toughest job I ever had: selling doors, door to door.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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I always take my wife morning tea in my pajamas, but is she grateful? . . . No, she says she’d rather have it in a cup.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Single building plot for sale in Barrow upon Soar: £59,950 SHOULER & SON Estate Agents are offering for sale a single building plot with full planning permission (already commenced) for the erection of a 1½ storey detached house having two/three bedrooms.

Have a say on Leicester’s future growth PEOPLE are being invited to help shape an important plan that will guide development in Leicester over the next fifteen years.

The plot – at 71 North Street, Barrow upon Soar, Leics. LE12 8PZ – measures approximately 22m by 13.5m giving a total area of 297 sq.metres. It is situated overlooking the park with a lovely open aspect. There is no vehicle access or off-road parking. Demolition of the former bungalow has already taken place and it is understood that Charnwood Borough Council have confirmed that this work is accepted as starting the project. Therefore the planning permission (ref: P/05/3416/2) is current and live. However, potential purchasers should make their own enquiries with Charnwood Borough Council to check that this is the case. The Guide Price is £59,950. For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Shoulers on 01664 410166 or email: housesales@shoulers.co.uk

Sharp rise in private housing and private commercial activity Private housing and private commercial construction activity fuelled a record workload in Q3 2014, according to the RICS UK Construction Market Survey – the highest recorded since 1994.

It is a statutory requirement for all local authorities to prepare a local plan. This must set out planning policies in the authority area and will be important when deciding planning applications. The new Local Plan for Leicester will offer a vision for future growth and set out priorities for development in the city. An eight-week public consultation began on Wednesday 15 October to ask people for their views on issues and options proposed for the next Leicester Local Plan, which is due to be adopted from 2016. People will be asked to comment on challenges and proposals covering three key themes: a growing city, people and spaces, and the environment. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “The Local Plan is an important opportunity to steer future development in the city. “Future growth needs to be planned to ensure that we create the sort of confidence that will help attract major investment and ensure that people living in Leicester reap the benefits of new business, jobs and other facilities. “This first consultation will give people the chance to help shape the Local Plan by telling us what they think of our ideas, and raise any issues they think need addressing.” The consultation closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 10 December, when work will begin on drafting the Leicester Local Plan. The draft plan will be published for further public comment before being submitted to the Secretary of State and Planning Inspectorate for approval in 2015. A final round of public examination involving an independent inspector will then take place before the new plan is adopted in 2016. To take part in the ‘Leicester Local Plan: Issues and Options’ consultation visit www.leicester.gov.uk/haveyoursay

Despite the shortage of quantity surveyors (57% of respondents cited this issue as a problem), industry workloads continue to make a strong recovery, with 46% more surveyors reporting a rise in activity (up from a net balance of 41% in August). This marks the eighth consecutive quarterly rise in workloads. The private housing sector grew robustly across all parts of the UK, with the London and the South East regions seeing the strongest growth. In the private commercial sector, workloads also reached a series high, with a net balance of 59% more surveyors reporting an increase in activity. However, while still positive, workloads in infrastructure saw much more balanced growth with 27% more surveyors seeing activity levels rise. Significantly for Northern Ireland, for the fourth consecutive quarter, infrastructure and private industrial sector growth in Northern Ireland remained flat (0% net balance). Across the whole of the UK, the main factors which were found to be limiting building activity were a shortage of labour, followed by access to finance and a shortage of materials (both a net balance of 58%). Significantly, demand for bricklayers increased strongly on the previous quarter, with 71% of respondents now saying that this is an issue (compared to 59% in Q2 2014). Planning and regulation factors were the fourth highest limiting factors (a net balance of 51%). However, despite these concerns, the strength and breadth of the growth that is being reported is promising and feeding expectations for further growth over the coming year. As a result, 47% more surveyors expect to see profits increase, rather than decrease, and 58% more respondents expect to take on more people in response to the rising workloads. Commentating on the data, Alan Muse, RICS Director of Built Environment, said: “Unprecedented housing demand, the bounce back from a very deep recession and government’s commitment to invest £36 billion in over 200 infrastructure projects is driving much-needed confidence across the industry, translating into UK workload sentiment now standing at its highest level in two decades. “Government must now ensure it builds on these foundations of confidence with the mechanisms to get house building and infrastructure projects out of the pipeline and into the ground. RICS believes a National Infrastructure Delivery Plan and enforced local planning are among the measures it recommends to make this happen.”

Our office just got a new conference table. It sleeps 16.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Second Unit For Select Catering Solutions At Airfield Business Park

Politicians’ Promises Not Exactly Safe As Houses Opinion article by Russell Quirk, CEO of emoov.co.uk; borough councillor and former Chairman of Planning at Brentwood Borough Council.

T A family run business specialising in the distribution of catering disposables and food packaging is expanding its office and warehouse space at Airfield Business Park, Market Harborough. Select Catering Solutions Ltd originally relocated to Airfield Business Park in 2011 but after significant expansion in the last 12 months, including its sister business, Caffe Carrara, had outgrown its existing warehouse space. The company has now secured a second unit on the site, built by award-winning house builder and developer, William Davis Ltd, and is in the process of moving stock. “Airfield Business Park has provided the ideal location for our growing businesses as it’s easily accessible via road and rail,” explains Paul Armstrong, managing director at Select Catering Solutions. “When we realised we needed to expand, we knew we wanted to remain on the Park so were delighted to be able to take a second unit and cement the future of both of businesses in Market Harborough.” Select Catering Solutions’ second unit comprises 4,499 sq ft and will be used as its distribution hub and warehouse storage. The company’s existing unit will become head office for its Caffe Carrara business, an artisan coffee brand and school, and the move is expected to create jobs in both sales and warehouse operations.

EXPANDING: (L-R) Paul Watkins, senior project co-ordinator, William Davis Ltd and Amanda Lawrence, surveyor, Budworth Hardcastle help Paul Armstrong, managing director, Select Catering Solutions Ltd move into his new unit at Airfield Business Park, Market Harborough. “Our hope for Caffe Carrara is that it will become a brand that is synonymous with Market Harborough. Once the move is complete, we will develop the coffee school into a larger educational centre to covers topics such as coffee farming, processing and roasting. We also hope it will give us the opportunity to host events such as the National Barista Championships,” added Paul. William Davis has just two industrial units remaining at Airfield Business Park, ranging in size from 4,467 sq ft to 6,017 sq ft. Paul Watkins, senior project co-ordinator at William Davis commented: “Airfield Business Park has proven popular with ambitious, thriving businesses like Select Catering Solutions. We are pleased that the company has enjoyed such success that it has committed to a substantial expansion and we hope that, when the time comes, we will be in a position to help them with any further expansion plans. There is a great level of interest for the remaining units at Airfield and we are currently taking enquiries for both.”

I went to the record shop and I said: “What have you got by The Doors?” He said: “A bucket of sand and a fire blanket.”

Tim Vine

here must be an election soon because all of a sudden, leading politicians are making promises on housing.

Just a few weeks ago, David Cameron pledged to provide 100,000 homes at a subsidy to first time buyers under 40. He might want to look at age discrimination legislation before he pushes this across the floor of the Commons, but it was nonetheless the opening shot in the 2015 election campaign where this much manipulated issue is concerned. In the street battle that now ensues, Ed Miliband, in order to counter this, has announced that he will force developers to give first refusal to local first time buyers on up to 50% of what they build by way of a mechanism he calls ‘Housing Growth Areas’. It’s as yet unclear how the army of clip-board carriers that will have to police this edict will operate or, indeed, how much they will cost and where that budget comes from. Local councils presumably, as if there were not enough strain on them already financially. But in all the inevitable ‘my policy is better than yours’ shouting that we will now contend with in the coming months is this – Yet more promises of ‘x’ amount of new houses to be built. Ed, in his recent announcement, pledges ‘200,000 homes per year by 2020’. Yet the reality is that there have only been four years since 1990 when such levels have actually been achieved (between 2004 and 2008). And, of course, no meat on the bone is imparted in so far as HOW these aspirations will be achieved. At all. As a property guy, I’m nauseous at the easy statements and the subsequent failures that we see on this important subject year after year, politician after politician. It’ll take more than an election leaflet to provide enough homes for a population that is living longer, increasing in size by way of immigration and that has a growing rate of single occupiers (over 20%). It needs a plan and the guts to tackle nimbyism and to appropriately redesignate some elements of our green belt that are not really green belt at all. Then, a proper shake up of our lazy planning system that is still too heavily interfered with by Government yet has meant LESS houses being built since 2010 when Eric Pickles took over the brief, not more. Again, despite his guarantees of improvement. Local authorities should be incentivised further to identify the swathes of their own publicly owned land that can be easily developed for residential use yet languishes, ignored. I know this can be done because I’m addressing it in Brentwood and have recently provided 52 homes on two small, council owned sites that had sat empty under various previous council administrations for years and years. Serving our growing population with a viable methodology and a genuine ambition to provide much needed accommodation of all types (rental, social too) rather than just spouting vote-seeking chat is what we need to hear from our political elite. House building has seen a marked decline since the 1970’s and all previous Governments can shoulder that blame. In 1979 Labour handed over a record of 321,000 properties built in each of its years in power. In 1997, the Conservatives passed the baton at 208,000 homes per annum. 2010, when Gordon Brown threw the keys to Downing Street to David Cameron, just 189,000 houses had been built in each year that his party presided. Now, a pitiful 139,000 units are what passes as the most up to date achievement. Funnily enough, we’ve seen a similar percentage reduction in the number of people that vote over the years. Not a coincidence, I’m sure.

I run a support group for cats that have never had their pics posted on the internet.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo. I had to put my foot down.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Workers would be over £90 Jewson Flies The Flag a week better off had pay For Construction At The risen at pre-recession rate Skills Show 2014 Workers in the East Midlands would be over £90 a week better off if real wage growth had remained at its prerecession rate, according to new analysis published by the TUC. The analysis shows that even using the government’s preferred inflation measure (The consumer prices index), which excludes housing costs, workers in the region would be earning £91 a week more had pay had continued to rise at 1.9 per cent a year after the crash. The TUC says the analysis shows how much working people’s living standards suffered during the recession and how pay has failed to recover during the recovery. This is the seventh year that average weekly earnings have been falling – the longest period since records began in the 1850s, says the TUC. Last month Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said that average weekly earnings have fallen by around 10 per cent in real terms since the financial crisis. Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Lee Barron said: “Workers in the East Midlands would be over £4,700 a year better off had wage growth remained at its modest pre-recession rate. “Instead, pay has fallen off a cliff and shows little sign of recovering any time soon. Ordinary households are not sharing in the recovery and are facing their seventh consecutive year of real wage cuts. “Families in the East Midlands are struggling to make ends meet. They are having to increasingly rely upon credit cards, running down savings and many are falling prey to pay day lenders. It is clear that unless the East Midlands gets a pay rise soon the region’s personal debt problem will get even worse. Impact of pre-recession rate on real wages in the East Midlands

Source: TUC analysis of Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings The pre-recession rate is the average annual rate for the years between 1999 and 2008. The recession began in the spring of 2008, and annual rates cannot be calculated before 1999 using ASHE (Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings) data.

Detached bungalow at Green Lane, Overseal: £290k guide FISHER GERMAN Chartered Surveyors are offering for sale a detached bungalow which has been extended to provide spacious accommodation.

Jewson has announced that it will be the lead sponsor for the Landscape Gardening and Carpentry competitions at The Skills Show 2014. In addition, Jewson’s HR Director Mike Warner will take to the floor to offer real insight into a rewarding career with a builders’ merchant. Taking place from the 13th – 15th November at the NEC in Birmingham, the show will provide hands-on demonstrations and advice on career opportunities. The aim is to inspire young people to explore further education, skills and apprenticeships. As the lead competition sponsor, Jewson will provide a variety of building materials for the Landscape Gardening and Carpentry competitions. The event holds 60 competitions across five skill areas, allowing visitors to witness the specific skills brought to life across a range of trades, all competing on a national platform. Promoting careers in the construction industry and encouraging the younger generation to learn skilled trades or to take up roles within merchanting is an issue that Jewson is firmly committed to. “We can’t get away from the fact that there remains a skills shortage in the construction industry,” explained Mike Warner, HR Director at Jewson commented: “However awareness is key to the issue. Young people need to understand all the options open to them when it comes to choosing a career path. “That’s why Jewson is so passionate about actively encouraging young people into the construction industry, which offers a multitude of rewarding roles. The Skills Show is an ideal platform for us to help fly the flag – and a chance to talk directly to attendees about the opportunities within the merchant sector and beyond.” On Friday 14th November at 1.55pm, Mike will be presenting at the show, focussing on real people and real jobs, aiming to give attendees a realistic insight into a career in merchanting and the benefits it can bring. Mike concluded: “Construction is such a diverse and varied career path and as for working in the merchant sector, for me it’s been a rewarding and varied career. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences, passing on advice and helping others who want to set out on their own path.” For more information on careers at Jewson visit: http://www.jewson.co.uk/ about-us/careers/

The two/three bedroom property – Seal View, Green Lane, Overseal, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE12 6JP – has generous gardens plus an additional area of land which has previously been used for growing vegetables and could be suitable for development, subject to obtaining the necessary consents. The Vendors wish to include an overage clause with the sale, whereby 50% 0f any uplift in value on implementation of planning permission for development will be payable to the vendors or their successors. The Guide Price is £290,000. For more information or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Fisher German on 01530 412821 or email: ashby@fishergerman.co.uk

Why do doctors always ask you where it hurts and then put pressure on it?

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

EMC Tiles’ starter pack is a career boost for trainee tilers EMC Tiles, which took over the Leicester Tile Centre in June, gave local trainee tilers a career boost with special introductory starter packs. The twelve trainees, aged from 19 to 55, are with the Leicester based Vocational Training Enterprise Centre, VTEC and have been working with Jobcentre Plus to achieve a level one ceramic tiling qualification from the AIMS programme. VTEC’s Chief Executive From left :EMC Tiles Leicester contracts manager, Mark and founder, Sean Lynch, Asman, trainee tiler, Tahir Mahmood and VTEC chief who is himself a tiler by executive, Sean Lynch. trade said: “At the moment there is no other training available for would be tilers in the city – so this initiative plus the support of EMC Tiles is very welcome indeed. “For my own training, I had to travel to Nottingham, where EMC Tiles has been actively involved for many years in supporting trainees, through the company’s links with New College Nottingham.” The starter packs contained essential tiling tools as well as basics such as pens, pencils and notebooks – plus a tea mug! The packs were presented by EMC Tiles Leicester’s Contracts Manager, Mark Asman. He said: “EMC Tiles is boosting and enhancing the support for entrants to the tiling trade which was already established by the Leicester Tile Centre. “We have donated a lot of surplus manufacturers materials left over from our highly successful three day trade event, which was held last week, to help trainees. “We are looking forward to giving continued and improved support for beginners in the industry.” EMC Tiles managing director Barry Slawson said: “Qualified and expert tile fixers are the lifeblood of our industry and we have always considered it essential to give all the support we can to trainees. “The company has long established and industry recognised links with college courses – where we sponsor prestigious annual awards for talented newcomers. “Our newly-opened £500,000 Regional Centre of Tiling Excellence in Nottingham has specialist training facilities to enable trainees to learn directly from craftsmen and leading industry figures. “We are delighted to introduce the EMC Tiles ethos, standards and commitment to the training for future generations to the Leicester and the county.”

Barlestone farmhouse requiring work FISHER GERMAN Chartered Surveyors are inviting offers in excess of £275,000 for a period farmhouse requiring structural stabilisation, together with 7.60 acres of grazing land. The 10-bed property being offered – Garland Lane Farm, Garland Lane, Barlestone, Leics. CV13 0JD – comprises paddock land with buildings and a farmhouse which is currently divided into two dwellings. The house is in a poor condition, having suffered significant subsidence. The property requires structural work to stabilise the building. If this is viable, the work will allow modernisation to take place. If not, there is an opportunity to apply for planning permission for demolition and redevelopment of the site of the house into one or possibly two replacement dwellings. Such a scheme would be dependent on obtaining the necessary consents. Attached to the house is a garage and a range of outhouses. For more information or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Fisher German on 01530 412821 or email: ashby@fishergerman.co.uk

Innovation centre attracts 24 new businesses in its first year A £5.8 million innovation centre in Leicester has attracted 24 new hitech businesses in its first year. Leicester’s Dock – based on a new enterprise park close to the National Space Centre at Pioneer Park – opened in October 2013. It now has tenants for 28 of its 54 units across a mix of office, light commercial and laboratory workspaces. These means the centre has already met its second year target. Twelve new jobs and seven graduate placements have also been created at Dock in its first year. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We want Dock to act as a catalyst for the development of an innovation and technology hub at Pioneer Park. “The centre’s first successful year, and the obvious demand for space for hi-tech businesses to set-up and grow in, are encouraging signs for the future of this important industry sector in Leicester.” Ellipse Energy was one of the first companies to move into Dock. The company specialises in helping homes, communities and businesses save money, reduce carbon and develop sustainable sources of energy. Managing director Cuan Forrest said: “Since moving into Dock 12 months ago we have secured orders in excess of £1.4milllion, tripling our annual turnover. “We have been able to create two new fulltime and two part-time jobs. We have recently incorporated a sister company, ‘4M Energy Saving’, and created an additional two new posts there. “Our growth aspirations for the next year should allow us to create another five new roles.” “Dock has provided much more than office space. The business support, workshops and networking events have provided valuable training, information and contacts to help us develop our business further.” New start-up Innotech Resourcing – a specialist technology recruitment business – recently joined the growing business community at Dock. Managing director Keith Holmes said: “Dock is ideally located to deliver our service across the UK. There is a wealth of talent and entrepreneurship at Dock and that has helped create an environment that encourages business to collaborate and bounce ideas around. “The team here has been superb in their support for business during its early stages. Being part of this dynamic community will be an inspiration through the exciting times ahead.” Dock was named as the Regeneration Project of the Year at last year’s RICS (Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors) awards. The building has also been shortlisted in the ‘sustainable development of the year’ category at the ProCon Leicestershire 2014 Awards. Dock is supported by £1.9million from the European Regional Development Fund and £294,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency.

My dog reacts to the vacuum cleaner the same way I react when my wife says “We need to talk”.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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The first time I got a universal remote control, I thought to myself “This changes everything.”

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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I like to show my girlfriend who’s boss in our house by holding a mirror up to her face.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

I don’t often lose my phone, but when I do it’s set on ‘Silent’.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Quality landscape design is the key to longterm profitable developments Investing in good quality landscape design will yield numerous long-term benefits for developers and should be the first thing they consider when planning a scheme, says the Landscape Institute. Launching ‘Profitable Places’ – a guide aimed at showing developers and house-builders how landscape professionals can help them achieve their business goals – the Landscape Institute highlights how investing in the public realm can pay dividends, not only in added sales values but in increased rates of sales, positive customer perceptions and longterm desirability. Underpinned by informed research into the property industry ‘Profitable Places’ highlights a number of developments where investing in the landscape has successfully increased property prices, as well as adding capital and community value by creating socially dynamic spaces and a sense of place. Citing Cambridge’s Stirling Prize-winning Accordia housing scheme as a case study, the guide highlights the way in which its community landscape – which incorporates around three times the amount of green space of other housing developments – has enabled people and especially children, to thrive. Landscape design can be used to create coherent streets and open spaces, that not only improve the quality of life of local residents, but pays profit dividends for the developer. Research present in ‘Profitable Places’ shows how, in parts of London, developers who invest in the public realm can expect to see a doubling of the average housing values, whilst property values in England rose by as much as 34 per cent for properties that had park views and were near parks. Landscape professionals can also help new schemes avoid long and costly delays to the planning process by making new developments more palatable to existing communities. Well-considered landscape design and public realm improvements such as the enhancement or the introduction of cycling routes or open spaces, can all help to highlight the benefits of new schemes to local residents. The avoidance of potential planning disruptions is a significant incentive, with 61 per cent of councillors in England and Wales identifying public opposition as the most significant barrier to housing development.

Like Father, Like Sons at Redrow RETURNING to the Redrow fold was like coming home for Scott Price – his dad and brother also work for the company. Dad Vince has been employed by Redrow for 18 years and is currently the project manager at The Willows in East Leake. Scott and brother Ryan are following in their father’s footsteps. Scott is now the site manager at Tudor Gardens in Atherstone; while Ryan is the site assistant at The Willows, working alongside Vince. Scott, who first joined Redrow straight from school in 2006, says: “I’ve always wanted to work in construction – I think it’s in my genes. I started out as an apprentice bricklayer and by June 2010 I’d progressed to assistant site manager. Last year I went to work for another company as a site manager but was glad to come back to Redrow. I prefer both the way Redrow operates and the homes they build. Redrow is a great company to work for as they offer plenty of opportunities for career development Ryan and Scott Price are following in and there’s lots of support and help available. I wouldn’t want to their father Vince’s footsteps by working work for anyone else.” for Redrow. It’s not just Scott that rates Redrow as an employer – the company was the only volume housebuilder to be listed in the 2013 Building Good Employer Guide. Redrow constructs around 3,000 homes annually across England and Wales. The company directly employs 1,350 people and provides employment for thousands of sub-contractors on its new homes developments. “When I was a bricklayer my dad steered me towards management but it was my choice,” Scott, who lives with his parents in Coalville, adds. “It’s been a great help that my dad’s been able to teach me things and given me the benefit of his experience.” Scott’s brother Ryan completed an apprenticeship as a joiner before training as a site assistant. Dad Vince has three NHBC Pride in the Job ‘Quality’ awards under his tool belt. “I’m proud that Scott and Ryan have both chosen to follow in my footsteps and learn a trade,” Vince says. “When Scott was training we worked together and now I have Ryan on site with me. It’s great being able to work with my sons and help them build successful careers.” More information on how a career at Redrow could be ‘The Making of You’ is available online at www. redrowcareers.co.uk.

Interesting properties at the next HEB auction The following properties are among the lots being offered for sale at the next HEB property auction on Wednesday 12th November 2014 at The Gateway Hotel, Nuthall Road, Cinderhill, Nottingham NG8 6AZ – 2.30pm start. LOT 13: Former Cinema/Retail Premises with land to rear at 700 Woodborough Road, Mapperley, Nottingham NG3 5GJ Occupying a site of 0.46 acres. Basement premises let on a tenancy at will at £10,000 per annum. Ground floor retail unit let, although tenant not in occupation and not paying the rental. Suitable for redevelopment for a variety of uses, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consent. Surrounding uses to the premises are predominantly residential although there are a number of commercial uses nearby to include Sainsburys, Aldi and Nottingham Finance Company. Tenure: Freehold subject to the existing tenancies. Guide Price: £275,000-£300,000 LOT 16: Vacant Office Building with On-site Parking at Park Hall Centre, Park Road, Bestwood, Nottingham NG6 8TQ Vacant office building offering a total of 4,831 sq.feet. On-site parking for approximately 10 cars. Suitable for alternative uses subject to obtaining necessary planning consent. The premises are situated within Bestwood Village which is a predominantly residential area to the north of Nottingham. The surrounding uses are a mixture of residential and commercial with the Bestwood Village Social Club, Clocktower Business Centre and Eden Lodge Care Home being immediately adjacent. Guide Price: £150,000-£175,000 LOT 17: Terrace property in need of substantial repair and remodernisation at 7 Trent Lane, Sneinton, Nottingham NG2 4DF. Two reception rooms plus kitchen. Two bedrooms on the first floor with additional bedroom on the second floor. Property in need of substantial refurbishment and repair. Investor/developer opportunity. Guide Price: £50,000-£55,000. For more information, contact HEB on 0115 950 6611 or email: auctions@heb.co.uk

I’ll be tweeting telepathically the rest of the day... so if you think of something funny? That was me.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

early a third of UK home owners are looking to carry out work on their home in the next three years, with up to £6 billion in projected works planned annually, according to a new study from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Encouragingly, almost 40% of these are set to be major refurbishments, including new kitchens, new bathrooms and home extensions, while smaller works such as loft conversions and conservatories account for 38%. More than one in five home owners (22%) cited that the primary reason for their home improvements is being unable to buy a new home, and thus feeling compelled to upgrade their current space. Home owners are putting families first, as wider motivations include planning for having a family, and parents wishing to boost their children’s’ inheritance in future. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, which commissioned the study, said: “We have seen a rising trend of multi-generational households – with grown-up

Home owners set to spend £6 billion on property upgrades children opting to stay with their parents while they save money for their own homes – this study suggests more than a million home owners across the country want to build extra space as their children are unable to fly the nest.” The study also reveals the following insights: -Half of home owners feel their properties are in urgent need of modernisation to increase its value -A quarter of home owners in London wish to upgrade in order to let out their spare bedrooms or whole properties -Home owners in London, followed by Wales and Yorkshire are most likely to upgrade for stayat-home kids who haven’t been able to move out -Almost half of home owners in

UK house building hits highest level for seven years: NHBC New house building figures just released by NHBC show that new home registrations have hit their highest level since 2007. The figures for Q3 2014 reveal that overall new home registrations have increased 8% on the same period last year with the private sector continuing to be the main driver of growth. These figures represent the highest year to date figures and the highest Q3 figures since 2007. In total, 36,343 new homes were registered with NHBC between July and September this year (28,468 private sector; 7,875 public sector), compared to 33,573 (24,984 private sector; 8,589 public sector) for the same period in 2013. This represents a 14% increase for the private sector, with the public sector still under-performing when compared to last year’s figures. However, NHBC anticipates that public sector registrations will begin to grow again as the next phase of the Government’s Affordable Housing Programme has recently been allocated. As the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, NHBC’s monthly registration statistics are a leading indicator of the health of the country’s new homes market. Commenting on the latest statistics, NHBC’s Chief Executive Mike Quinton said: “We are very encouraged to see that house building is again beginning to show signs of accelerated growth across the UK. Following the dramatic growth in 2013, we saw a period of consolidation in the first half of this year, but our latest data would suggest that the pace of growth is picking up again. “Our figures show that the sharp housing upturn we have seen over the last couple of years is a genuine broad-based recovery across the whole of the country, with pockets of strong growth in the North East, Yorkshire & Humberside and West Midlands. It is now increasingly apparent that housing growth is no longer London and South-East centric, with these regions beginning to show signs of cooling. “However we must not lose sight of the fact that the UK still has a chronic shortage of new homes. We have seen over recent weeks that all the main political parties regard housing as an ongoing key issue, reinforcing the fact that the country urgently needs more high quality and affordable new homes.”

Northern Ireland feel compelled to upgrade their current homes as they cannot afford to move. The study also shows that when it comes to choosing a builder, one in four home owners feel out of their depth. Word of mouth remains essential, with personal recommendations (82%) cited as the most common way to choose a builder, followed by trade association websites (36%). When prioritising how to choose a builder, reliable references comes up top (63%), followed by the cost of the quote (61%), the professional manner when quoting and estimating (59%), whether their firm is a member of a professional trade association (55%). Over half of home owners rate knowledgeability as a top priority when discussing the project (54%).

Worries that come up top of the list when choosing a builder are: oFear of being ripped off (55%) oWorry that they’ll make major mistakes (29%) oAnxiousness that they will disappear before finishing the project (29%). Berry adds: “FMB’s ‘Find a Builder’ matching service is a simple, easy to use online tool to ensure home owners have absolute confidence when choosing a builder. Our members have a minimum of 12 months’ trading history and have passed credit checks, public record and director checks, and all new members must be inspected while a job is in progress before they can join us.” Berry concluded: “All our members have also signed up to our stringent Code of Practice and have agreed to abide by our dispute resolution and complaints procedure, including independent adjudication through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Our builders can offer warranties on their work and all of our members are eligible to join the government-endorsed TrustMark scheme for tradespeople.”

Development opportunity for 19 apartments in Leicester INNES ENGLAND are offering for sale a single storey industrial building with planning permission for construction of a three-storey development with archway access through to a central courtyard area consisting of 19 apartments. The property - 101 Knighton Fields Road West, Leicester LE2 6LH is constructed in two bays of brickwork under a pitched roof supported on steel trusses. The floors throughout are concrete. The gross internal area is 4,691 sq.feet. Price on application - contact Peter Hotchin at Innes England on 0116 255 5455 or email: photchin@innes-england.com

Former depot at Western Park to become available Shortly to be marketed by Leicester City Council on a long lease the Grade II listed, former depot building at Western Park, Leicester. Dating from the early 19th Century, the 2/3 storey building is of solid brick construction with a slate roof. Total floor space 455.9 sq m (4,907 sq ft). Likely use conversion to residential, but other uses possible subject to planning. For further information please contact Andrew Nielsen in Property on 0116 454 2138, email andrew.nielsen@leicester.gov.uk

My dog is like one of the family. And I’m not saying which one.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

THE BEST DAILY EVER HAS ARRIVED, AND IT’S ALL NEW. Discover the New DAILY at Guest Trucks. W W W. I V E C O. C O. U K

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I was at an ATM and this old lady asked me to help check her balance, so I pushed her over.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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Land off Nailstone Road, Carlton, Nuneaton, Leicestershire Prime residential development opportunity For sale by informal tender • Gross site area approximately 0.352 acre (0.143 hectare) • Exclusive village near the historic town of Market Bosworth • Outline planning permission for up to 4 new dwellings – application no. 14/00311/OUT (Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council) For more information please contact: Luke Brafield 01530 567472 luke.brafield@fishergerman.co.uk Ben Marshalsay 01530 567465 ben.marshalsay@fishergerman.co.uk

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northamptonshire Braybrooke Land off Church Close, Residential Development Opportunity The site has the benefit of outline planning permission for 14 dwellings and the demolition of Braybrooke Primary School. • Total land area - 1.56 acres (0.63 hectares)

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Auction Diary

East Midlands housing market ‘reaches breaking point’

Leicester City ASVA UK Ltd (c/o Agent: Design Studio Architects Ltd, Unit 12 Gower Street, St Matthews Business Centre, Leicester LE1 3LJ) – Demolition of part of public house and erection of 7 dwellinghouses – at John O’Gaunt Public House, Somerset Avenue, Leicester. Miss Bharti Raja (c/o Agent: SKM Design, 8 De Montfort Mews, Leicester LE1 7FW) – Extensions and alterations to community building – at 4 Glen Street, Leicester.

The East Midlands is cracking under the pressure of the broken housing market with some areas desperate for regeneration alongside places where house prices are out of reach for ordinary families, according to a new report from the National Housing Federation. East Midlands Broken Market, Broken Dreams reveals that despite house prices being below the national average in the East Midlands (£166,526), they are still almost seven times the average salary in the region. The average salary for people in the East Midlands of £24,352 doesn’t come close to the £38,063 required for an average mortgage in the region, pricing thousands of hard-working families out of home ownership.

Mr Kooner (c/o Agent: Shyam Sudera, Design Studio Architects Ltd, Unit 12 Gower Street, St Matthews Business Centre, Leicester LE1 3LJ) – Demolition of retail unit and erection of four storey block with retail unit on the ground floor and student flats (18 bedrooms) above – at 188 Welford Road, Leicester.

Mr Himat Popat (c/o: 18-20 Albion Street, Leicester LE1 6GB) – Change of use from one flat to 2 flats – at 18 Albion Street, Leicester. Mrs Dipika Chohan (c/o: 14 The Yews, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5EF) – Change of use from Working Men’s Club to place of worship, community centre and leisure & assembly - at 2A Layton Road, Leicester. Mr D Tailor (c/o Agent: DT Designs Ltd, 74 Wyvern Avenue, Leicester LE4 7HH) – Residential development: erection of 2 four-bed houses – at land at rear of 479 Uppingham Road, Leicester. Crown Buildings Newarke Ltd (c/o Agent: Staniforth Architects, The Warehouse, 1A Stamford Street, Leicester LE1 6NL) – Change of use from storage to 2 student flats – at 5-9 Upper Brown Street, Leicester. Mr Pradip Modhvadia (c/o: 98 London Road, Leicester LE2 0QS) – Change of use from office to 2 flats – at 98 London Road, Leicester. Leicester College (c/o Agent: Moss Architecture & Interiors Ltd, 2 Chancery Place, Millstone Lane, Leicester LE1 5JN) – Single storey building to college – at Leicester College, Painter Street, Leicester.

November 2014

Wednesday 12th November 2014 HEB - at The Gateway Hotel, Nuthall Road, Cinderhill, Nottingham NG8 6AZ – 2.30pm start - tel: 0115 950 6611 or email: auctions@heb.co.uk Wednesday 19th November 2014 AUCTION HOUSE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - at Hilton Northampton Hotel, 100 Watering Lane, Collingtree, Northampton NN4 0XW at 11.00am - tel: 01604 259 773 or visit www. auctionhouse.uk.net Thursday 20 November 2014 GRAHAM PENNY - at King Power Stadium, Leicester - 11.30am start - tel: 0116 202 5048 - www. grahampenny.com Wednesday 26 November 2014 BAGSHAWS RESIDENTIAL - at The Gateway Suite, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Grandstand Road, Derby, DE21 6AF - tel: 01332 542 296 or 01332 542 298 or www. bagshawsauctions.co.uk

Vivienne Properties Ltd (c/o Agent: F & C REIT Asset Management, 5 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PB) – Change of use from offices to 23 apartments – at 8 Millstone Lane, Leicester.

Planning applications are continued over the page ...>

December 2014 With the average house price reaching over a quarter of a million in Rutland, South Northamptonshire and the Derbyshire Dales, even hard-working families are feeling the pinch. Almost a fifth of all households claiming housing benefit last year were in work and in South Northamptonshire, where the average house is nearly nine times the average salary, almost a quarter of households claiming benefit are in work but struggling with housing costs. The report warns that this housing crisis will only be solved if more affordable homes are built. Like large areas of the country, the East Midlands is not building enough new homes to keep up with demand. Over the next 20 years 385,000 new households are expected to form in the region. At current building rates that would leave a shortfall of over 220,000 homes by 2031. Not only would house building provide new affordable homes for local families, it would also boost the local economy. Every new home built in the East Midlands would add just under £80,000 to the regional economy and create much needed job opportunities – vital for areas such as Leicester and Nottingham where more than one in 10 people are unemployed. Kate Warburton, external affairs manager for the East Midlands at the National Housing Federation, said: “Although the housing crisis is very different in different parts of the East Midlands, the solution is the same. Building the right houses in the right places at the right prices is integral to creating stronger communities where people want to stay. “The housing crisis in the region has been a generation in the making so short term initiatives aren’t going to fix it for this generation, or the next. We are calling on the next government to commit to ending the housing crisis within a generation by publishing a long-term plan for housing within a year of coming into power.”

Decision on 4,500 homes deferred As reported in the Leicester Mercury, a meeting to decide whether 4,500 houses are to be built on farmland has been deferred by Charnwood Borough Council. The planning application, submitted by Commercial Estates Group (CEG) in December 2013, is for thousands of houses to be built on farmland to the north of Hamilton and east of Thurmaston. Councillor Peter Osborne, who chaired the meeting, almost immediately decided to defer a decision until a later date, to enable members to thoroughly read a large amount of additional information relating to the application.

Thursday 4 December 2014 -COTTONS - at Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham, B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 247 2233 or email: auctions@cottons.co.uk Thursday 4 December 2014 - SAVILLS - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Nottingham NG2 4BE - 2.30pm start - tel: 0115 934 8020 - www.savills. co.uk/auctions Friday 5 December 2014 GRAHAM PENNY - at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick Park, Nottingham - 11.30am start - tel: 0115 958 8702 - www. grahampenny.com Thursday 11 Dec 2014 CPBIGWOOD - at Aston Villa FC, Villa Park, Birmingham, B6 6HE - 11am start - tel: 0121 233 5046 www.bigwood.uk.com Thursday 11 December 2014 GRAHAM PENNY - at the Ipro Stadium, Derby - 11.30am start - tel: 01332 242880 - www.grahampenny. com Thursday 11 December 2014 - AUCTION HOUSE LEICESTERSHIRE - 6pm start - at The Shuttle Suite, The National Space Centre, Exploration Drive, Leicester, LE4 5NS - www. auctionhouse.uk.net

Holding an auction? Tell us and we’ll publicise it here free. Brilliant!

There’s no excuse for laziness.. but if you find one, let me know.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

JR Properties (c/o Agent: Cartwright & Gross, The Golden Lion, 89 Middle Hillgate, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3EH) – Change of use of upper floors from education to student accommodation comprising 17 bedspaces in 9 flats – at 163A London Road, Leicester.

Panel Systems marks 40 year anniversary with new factory opening

Knighton Investments Ltd (c/o Agent: The Drawing Room (Architects) Ltd, 130 Moat Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2GE) – Two houses – at 27 Newmarket Street, Leicester. Action Homeless (c/o Agent: RG+P Ltd, 130 New Walk, Leicester LE1 7JA) – Change of use from post office and flat to 4 flats – at 71 Bonsall Street, Leicester. Leicester City Council (c/o Agent: Halsall Lloyd Partnership, 53 Forest Road East, Nottingham NG1 4HW) – Change of use from hostel to 9 flats – at 129 Loughborough Road, Leicester. Mr Virk Paramjit (c/o Agent: Volta Designs, Kemp House, 152 City Road, London EC1V 2NX) – Change of use from house to 5 self-contained flats plus single and two storey extensions to rear, and dormer extensions to front and rear – at 243 Melton Road, Leicester. Mr Viresh Popat (c/o Agent: Zone Development, Zone Office, 72-74 Western Road, Leicester LE3 0GE) – Change of use from offices plus two storey extension to student accommodation comprising 17 onebed flats – at 160 Upper New Walk, Leicester. Leicester City Council (c/o Agent: Faithful+Gould, Broadgate House, Broadgate, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2HF) – Single storey to rear of residential home – at Barnes Heath House, Humphries Close, Leicester. Just Roofing (c/o Agent: Brian Barber Associates, The Granary, Spring Hill Office Park, Harborough Road, Pitsford, Northants. NN6 9AA) – Erection of 3 two-storey houses – at 7 Layton Road, Leicester. Westleigh Developments Ltd (c/o Agent: RG+P Ltd, 130 New Walk, Leicester LE1 7JA) – Residential development comprising 68 dwellings – at Whittier Road Allotments, Heathcott Road, Leicester.

Blaby District Richard & Robert Waterfield (c/o Agent: TMCS, 5 Martin Avenue, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4NH) – Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 8 dwellings – at land at 17 Poachers Close, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8SF.

Hinckley

Work starts on new £15m Leisure Centre Panel Systems, a leading manufacturer of decorative and composite panels, is celebrating opening a dedicated CNC machining and cutting services factory in Sheffield, after securing an RGF (Regional Growth Fund) grant of £90,000 during its 40th year in business. The company has made a total investment of £150,000 in plant and equipment, forming a dedicated new CNC Machining & Cutting services division. This will broaden Panel Systems’ CNC machining capabilities for products supplied to the construction, furniture, automotive, caravan and leisure equipment industry. The investment includes the latest 3-axis and 5-axis machines which offer precision cutting, routing and machining for a full range of board materials, as part of Panel System’s creation of its new CNC Machining & Cutting Services division. The company has also established two other dedicated divisions – Architectural & Composite Panels based at its Parkwood Industrial Estate and Foam Fabrication & Distribution also based at Waleswood Industrial Estate in Sheffield. Regional Growth Fund Establishing the three dedicated divisions has also led to the creation of 10 new roles across its business in the last three months. Chris Ibbotson, managing director of Panel Systems, said: “This is a very exciting time for our business. With three clear dedicated divisions, we have ambitious plans for the future, based on our expertise and use of the latest technology. We are delighted to have been awarded Regional Growth Fund (RGF) funding from the LEP’s “Unlocking Business Investment” programme which has enabled us to invest in our new factory and it is fantastic to be able to create new jobs here in Sheffield in our 40th year.” Over the past 40 years, Panel Systems has built a reputation for offering innovative, bespoke panel solutions for a diverse range of markets. The new Architectural & Composite Panels Division provides a bespoke service of structural bonding, metal pressing fabrication and CNC punching of panels that are widely used in the construction industry to provide stunning facades to new and refurbished buildings. The division manufactures a range of building boards which improve thermal performance and reduce the carbon footprint of a project; providing energy savings. The Foam Fabrication & Distribution Division offers hot-wire cut Styrofoam and distributes the full range of Styrofoam building products, including Floormate, Roofmate, Perimate and Styrofoam RTM throughout the UK. The division also distributes Thermhex a polypropylene honeycomb panel core. Panel Systems has also invested in new 3D CAD/CAM software to improve its capability and offer improved customer service across all three divisions For more information, visit the website www.panelsystems.co.uk or call direct on: 01909 771 285. For CNC pricing enquiries email cnc@ panelsystems.co.uk.

CONSTRUCTION work on Hinckley’s new multimillion pound leisure centre has begun. Places for People Leisure - the company appointed to design, build and run the new centre on behalf of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council for the next 20 years - has contracted Pellikaan Construction Ltd to build the £15 million facility on the site of the former council offices in Argents Mead. Initial works will include the excavation of archaeological trenches and the removal of several shrubs and trees that will later form the new grassed play area to the side of the new leisure centre as well as access to the car park. Leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Councillor Stuart Bray said: “I am pleased works are starting on the new state of the art facility. This is an exciting moment and great news for people in the borough.” Set to open in spring 2016, the new environmentally friendly, stateof-the-art facility will feature: • An eight court sports hall • An enhanced gym, cafe • An eight lane, 25 metre main pool • A learner pool • A separate wet play area ideal for young families • A sauna and steam room • Dance studios The area around the new leisure centre will be landscaped and a clear, grassed play area suitable for school and community use will be formed. The current leisure centre on Coventry Road will remain open as usual until the new facility is ready.

Nice try, but I’ll believe a salad is “to die for” when a convict chooses one for his last meal.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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I think girls get so easily annoyed at each other because they don’t understand women either .

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Applications invited for 2015 William Morris Craft Fellowship “Knowledge is the key to success and that’s what you gain on the SPAB Fellowship” - 2013 Fellow Johnnie Clark A country-wide conservation tour offering committed craftspeople hands-on experience in the repair of historic buildings – that’s what successful applicants can look forward to as a SPAB (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) 2015 William Morris Craft Fellow. Up to four successful candidates will travel together across the country to learn more about traditional building crafts from masters of the trades. This is a unique, life-changing opportunity the only scheme of its kind! We’re looking for craftspeople with a passion for old buildings and conservative repair. Applicants must have completed their apprenticeship and demonstrate a high level of competence. The Fellowship is an advanced training programme, devised to encourage and nurture craftspeople at the beginning of

Fellows at work at the Natural Building Centre their careers, who are employed in any trade relating to the repair of historic buildings. The programme is now more relevant than ever given the lack of skilled people needed to care for Britain’s historic buildings and structures. The sixmonth practical training is divided into three blocks of two months, enabling the Fellows to return to

their employment between each block. During the first two blocks they travel as a group, making daily site visits, studying repair projects, and meeting professionals, contractors and craftsmen. The final block is devoted to the individual needs and interests of each Fellow in consultation with their employers.

Since 1986 SPAB has organised and administered the Fellowship to promote and develop the specialised skills required for the repair and maintenance of historic buildings and to promote understanding of the importance of conservative repair. Former Fellows have included carpenters, masons, thatchers, plasterers, leadworkers and glaziers. There are no course fees as training and administration costs are borne by SPAB as part of the award. Fellows also receive a bursary in the region of £5,800 towards basic travel and living expenses. The packed 2015 programme will run from 16 March to mid December. SPAB is inviting applications now for the 2015 William Morris Craft Fellowship. For further information or to obtain an application form, please visit our website (www.spab.org.uk/ education-training/fellowship/) or email: education@spab.org.uk. The closing date for applications is 1 December 2014 and interviews are held at 37 Spital Square, London on 4 February 2015.

Before couples get married, they should have to assemble an IKEA bookcase together.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Blaby District Mr Mark Davis (c/o Agent: RG+P, 130 New Walk, Leicester LE1 7JA) – Demolition of industrial buildings and proposed residential development of 102 dwellings (Revised scheme) – at land at Warwick Road/ Cambridge Road, Whetstone, Leicester. Mr James Doran (c/o Agent: Brian Dearlove Partnership, Unit C Edward House, Grange Business Park, Enderby Road, Whetstone, Leicester LE8 6EP) – Erection of 3 detached dwellings, detached garage serving plots 1 and 2 and associated access and landscaping – at 8 Glenfield Frith Drive, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8PQ Taylor Wimpey Ltd (c/o Agent: Alison Wright, Savills (L&P) Ltd, Wytham Court, 11 West Way, Oxford OX2 0QL) – Proposed residential development (maximum 88 dwellings) accessed from Barry Close, open space and infrastructure (Resubmission) – at land off Barry Close, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester. Mr Balbir Sandhar (c/o Agent: N.McMinn, Ink/Drawn Ltd, Federal Tower, 44 Abbey Street, Leicester LE1 3TD) – Erection of 7 dwellings – at 17B Holmfield Avenue West, Leicester Forest East, Leicester LE3 3FE. Aggregate Industries UK Ltd (c/o: Bardon Hall, Copt Oak Road, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9PJ) – Erection of 3 dwellings – at land adjacent to 8 Dovecote Road, Croft, Leicester. Mrs Julie Millward (c/o Agent: Peter Goddard, Building Design & Technical Service, Maple Cottage, 195 Main Street, Thornton, Leicester LE67 1AH) – Erection of 2 threebedroom dwellings – at 122 Little Glen Road, Glen Parva, Leicester LE2 9TS.

Hinckley & Bosworth Mr Dave Baxter (c/o Agent: Alan Thurstance, ADC Ltd, Britannia House, Britannia Way, Lichfield, Staffs. WS14 9UY) – Extensions and alterations to premises to form 8 additional ensuite bedrooms – at The Red Lion, Atherstone Road, Pinwall, Atherstone, Warks. CV9 3NB. Mr Zeesham Aslam (c/o Agent: Roger Lee Planning Ltd, 18 Leeds Road, Methley, Leeds LS26 9EQ) – Erection of 19 dwellings – at land south of Lindley Wood, Fenn Lanes, Fenny Drayton, Leics.

Planning applications are continued over the page ...>

Life Tenancy Investments an alternative to Buy-to-Let

‘One size does not fit all for office to resi conversion’ says BPF The British Property Federation (BPF) has pledged its support for an extension of permitted development rights, which allow office to residential conversions without planning permission, following the end of the scheme in 2016. It has, however, expressed concerns over government proposals to introduce a ‘one size fits all’ test to assess which areas should be exempt from the scheme. When the scheme was introduced in 2013 local authorities, in a hard-fought and competitive process, applied to the Secretary of State for areas of significant offices to be exempt. The government has proposed that from 2016, local authorities must assess whether they are eligible for an exemption according to strict criteria set by central government. The BPF is concerned that the criteria will not suit the diverse range of regions in the UK. Further to this, the administrative burden of the self assessment could introduce unacceptable levels of uncertainty for local authorities and prospective developers, and will end up leading to less, rather than more, development. The BPF instead suggests that the Secretary of State should identify broad criteria for what constitutes a strategic office location. Responsibility will then be passed on to the local authority to assess the most strategically important offices in the local area. Developers will be able to benefit from a subsequent consultation process, and the local authority can make a decision about its own employment land. The BPF has broadly supported permitted development rights believing that they play a part in supplying much-needed homes in the UK. Since their introduction in May 2013, nearly 9,000 homes in London have received planning permission, which is significantly higher than the past 10 year average of 865 per annum. The BPF has supported DCLG’s plans to extend permitted development rights to allow laundrettes, casinos, amusement arcades and nightclubs to be turned into homes. It cautioned that plans to allow industrial units and warehouses to change to residential use would not significantly boost housing numbers as such buildings are often deliberately set apart from residential areas, and would require significant changes to be turned into satisfactory homes. Liz Peace, chief executive, British Property Federation, said: “A top-down, onesize-fits-all approach to office to residential conversions is not an efficient way to create more homes. Consider the different needs of a borough like Westminster to a small metropolitan area outside London. There is no way that the same set of criteria can apply to both areas. Allowing local authorities to each assess their own situation will yield much better results. “Extending the current rules to other resources in a community such as laundrettes and casinos also offers potential, although we remain unconvinced that many developers would choose to turn a warehouse into a residential hub.”

Increasingly, auction houses are seeing property investment opportunities being put up for sale. These “Investment Homes Under the Hammer” are in fact Life Tenancy Investments, a fully legitimate and lucrative alternative to traditional buy-to-let. Life Tenancy Investments operate in the same way a standard property lot with 100% freehold ownership for the highest bidder. The only difference is that the property purchased is occupied by Life Tenants. Guy Charrison of the Guy Charrison Property Consultancy, who has both sold Life Tenancy Investment’s at auction and invested personally, explains: “Long since the preserve of institutional investors and pensions funds, Life Tenancy Investments enable properties to now be bought by individuals at a fraction of their open market value, in some cases up to half price. The opportunity to own a UK property outright, for such a discounted price, complete with the previous owners (the Life Tenants) in place to care for and maintain the house meets the criteria for many bargain hunting auction attendees today.

House building propels SME construction sector H

ouse building is leading the growth in the SME construction sector but the industry has a long way to go to recover to pre-recession levels, according to the latest research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Results from the FMB’s State of Trade Survey for Q3 2014 show SME workloads growing across most sectors, with the strongest growth coming from private house building. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “We are at last seeing strong, consistent growth in workloads for SME house builders but the building industry is still a long way from being ‘home and dry’. The private housing market is recovering from a very low base after a recession which saw house building fall to record lows. Half of all SME house builders went to the wall or were forced to diversify into another area of construction.”

Berry added: “In the late 1980s, two-thirds of all new homes were built by small local builders but by 2010, this had dropped to just one third. Current statistics reveal that SME house builders now deliver only a quarter of all new homes. Since the recession hit, a major factor in this has been the serious difficulties SME house builders experience in accessing bank finance, which show little sign of improving in the short term.” Berry concluded: “The threat of serious skills shortages is also becoming increasingly apparent. Our latest research shows 41% of SME construction firms are now reporting difficulties in recruiting

bricklayers – an increase of 7% when compared to three months ago. Carpenters and joiners are also proving difficult to come by with 41% of firms reporting difficulties finding these tradesmen, an increase of 15% when compared to the second quarter of this year. The construction industry has lost 350,000 people since its peak before the recession and this will have a knock-on effect for many years to come. Although the SME sector has entered a period of sustained growth, the legacy of the most deep and protracted recession we have ever experienced has left us with a rocky road to genuine recovery.”

My favorite exercise is a combination of a lunge and a crunch. It’s called lunch.

Purchasing Managers’ Index® MARKET 244069 SENSITIVE INFoRMATIoN

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 EMBARGoED UNTIL: 09:30 (UK), 2 october 2014

Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI®

Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI® Development Sharpest expansion of construction output for eight months

Sharpest expansion of construction output for eight months Key points: 

Hinckley & Bosworth

Faster increases in commercial and civil engineering activity



Residential activity rises sharply, but at slowest pace for four months

Mr Jaggi Rehill (c/o Agent: Hayward Architects Ltd, 19 Station Road, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 1AW) – Prior approval of a proposed change of use of a building from office use to a use falling within Use Class C3 (dwellinghouse); change of use of former Job Centre and associated offices to residential apartments – at Bosworth House, 46 New Buildings, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 1HW. Hill Moren Cars (c/o Agent: Piers Newbold, David Newbold Associates, 1 Hawthorn Avenue, Breaston, Derbyshire DE72 3BL) – Erection of new showroom and workshop – at Hill Moren Cars, 32 Shaw Lane, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9PU. Mr Dean Shaw (c/o: Redrow House, Kinshall Green, Wilnecote, Tamworth, Staffs. B77 5PX) – Reserved matters submission to Outline Planning Permission 12/01119/OUT for the erection of 122 dwellings – at Jarvis Porter, Coventry Road, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 0JJ. Mr Mike Green (c/o Agent: Amy Willoughby, Foxhall Farmhouse, Charwelton, Daventry, Northants., NN11 3YY) – Erection of 3 dwellings – at Brookvale Cottages, Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester. Mr Pallett (c/o Agent: S.Oakland, Oakland Energy, 21 Gurney Crescent, Littlethorpe, Leics. LE19 2JL) – Erection of 11 dwellings and associated works after demolition of existing buildings – at Arden Direct Marketing Ltd, Island House, Arthur Street, Barwell, Leics. LE9 8GZ. Mr P Morris (c/o Agent: Mrs Sally Price, Price Planning Associates, 60 Albert Road, Tamworth, Staffs. B79 7JN) – Demolition of a dwelling and erection of 2 dwellings with garages – at 84 Leicester Road, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 1LT. Ms Shirley Gardner (c/o Agent: Jeff Lineker, Acorus Rurual property Services Ltd, Pendeford House, Pendeford Business Park, Wobaston Road, Wolverhampton WV9 5AP) – Change of use of an agricultural building to 3 dwellings – at The Barn, Cold Comfort Farm, Rogues Lane, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 3DX. Mr K Landers (c/o Agent: Alex maitland, Amatco Design Services, 23 Highway Road, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8FR) – Demolition of 119 High Street and erection of 3 dwellings with associated parking, garaging and formation of new vehicular access – at 117 High Street, Earl Shilton, Leicester LE9 7LR.



Confidence towards the business outlook slips to 11-month low

KEY POINTS: • Faster increases in commercial and civil engineering activity • Residential activity rises sharply, but at slowest pace for four months • Confidence towards the business outlook slips to 11-month low Strong output growth was maintained across the UK construction sector in September, supported by sharp rises in housing, commercial and civil engineering activity. However, while the overall performance of the construction sector was close to its strongest since the summer of 2007, latest data indicated that new order growth and job creation both eased to their lowest for four months. Moreover, supply chain pressures resulted in a further steep increase in input costs, as well as further delays in the receipt of construction materials. Adjusted for seasonal influences, the Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) posted 64.2 in September, up fractionally from 64.0 in August. The latest reading signalled a sharp expansion of overall construction output that was the steepest since January (and the second-fastest seen over the past seven years). The rise in the headline index was driven by an acceleration in both commercial and civil engineering activity growth during September. Commercial construction increased at the strongest pace since January, while civil engineering output rose at the most marked pace for six months. Meanwhile, housing activity remained the fastest growing area of construction output in September, but the rate of expansion eased to its weakest since May. Survey respondents widely linked sustained construction output growth to the improving economic backdrop and an associated improvement in clients’ willingness to spend. Moreover, some firms noted that greater business investment spending patterns, alongside a ripple effect from ongoing housing market strength, had helped boost commercial development activity during September. Robust construction output growth in September was supported by a further strong expansion of incoming new work. That said, the latest increase in new business was the least marked since May.

Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI

Source: Markit/CIPS

Strong output growth was maintained across the UK construction sector in September, supported by sharp rises in housing, commercial and civil September data pointed to a engineering activity. However, while the overall performance the construction sector to furtherof moderation in was jobclose creaits strongest since the summer of 2007, latest data tion that across thegrowth construction secindicated new order and job creation bothtor eased their lowest for four months. fromto July’s survey-record high. Moreover, supply chain pressures resulted in a Sub-contractor increased for further steep increase in usage input costs, as well as

opportunity in Castle Bytham

further delays in the receipt of construction materials.

Adjusted for seasonal influences, the Markit/CIPS ® UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index ® (PMI ) posted 64.2 in September, up fractionally from 64.0 in August. The latest reading signalled a sharp expansion of overall construction output that was the steepest since January (and the secondfastest seen over the past seven years).

The rise in the headline index was driven by an acceleration in both commercial and civil engineering activity growth during September. Commercial construction increased at the strongest pace since January, while civil engineering output rose at the most marked pace for six months. Meanwhile, housing activity remained the fastest growing area of construction output in September, but the rate of expansion eased to its weakest since May. JAMES SELLICKS

Chartered Surveyors Survey respondents widely linked sustained construction output growth to the improving are offering for and sale an an associated economic backdrop improvement in clients’ willingness to spend. interesting development Moreover, some firms noted that greater business opportunity 29 High investment spending at patterns, alongside a ripple effect from ongoing housing market strength, had Street, Castle Bytham near helped boost commercial development activity during September. Grantham.

The property stone Robust constructioncomprises output growtha in September was supported by a further strong expansion of cottage for renovation, a detached incoming new work. That said, the latest increase in stone barn for conversion to a new business was the least marked since May. three-bed house, and 2 new-build September data pointed to a further moderation in family homes. job creation across the construction sector from The survey-record Guide Pricehigh. is £475,000. July’s Sub-contractor usage increased for the fourth month running and the For more information, contact the fourth month running and the Tim Brown at James Sellicks on squeeze on sub-contractor availPage 1 of 3 Markit Economics 01572 Limited 2014 724437. ability remained substantial, ©despite moderating from August’s 17-year record. Alongside pressures on skilled staff availability, construction companies pointed to ongoing supply chain bottlenecks in the wake of strong demand for construction materials in September. Latest data indicated that delivery times from vendors lengthened sharply over the month, with survey respondents mainly cit• Do you hate the house you live ing low stocks of bricks and blocks in? at suppliers. • Is it ugly, dated, impractical? Looking ahead, construction firms are highly upbeat about the busi• Have you got the money to ness outlook, with more than half renovate it - but lack the ‘know(54%) expecting a rise in activity how’ to do a radical redesign? over the next 12 months and only • Would you 12% forecasting a fall. However, like the help the latest survey signalled that the of a grounddegree of positive sentiment eased breaking since August and was the lowest for British almost a year. architect Tim Moore, Senior Economist at to help you Markit and author of the Markit/ transform the CIPS Construction PMI®, said: “UK place you construction firms experienced a don’t want to sustained and strong output recovlive in, into a space that works for ery during September, in contrast to you and your family? the weakening picture seen across If so, we would like to hear from the manufacturing sector at the end you. We are making a new series of this summer. Survey respondents for Channel Four Television that highlighted that improving domestic celebrates the power of good economic conditions helped boost architecture to transform unloved funding availability and foster conhousing stock into exciting spaces in fidence towards large scale project which to live. commitments, especially in the You need to have your own commercial development sector. budget and want a radical redesign “Housing activity remains the of your home. We are looking for brightest spot in the construction projects that can be achieved in 3-4 sector, but its outperformance has months. started to fade. Moreover, residenPlease email: uglyhouse@betty. tial construction continues to see co.uk or call: 0207 290 0548. the most intense pressures on supply Katja Macintosh chains and skilled labour availability.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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Loughborough Affordable Housing Development Given The Go Ahead Planning permission to be build 26 new affordable homes in Loughborough has been secured by Leicester based architectural design and property consultants, The Martin Design Partnership. The £2.4million development on North Road is being built on behalf of affordable housing provider Waterloo Housing Group in partnership with contractor and developer Williams Homes and is being part funded by the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA). Due to start on site shortly, the new homes will form part of the on-going regeneration of the area and will utilise a 1.3 acre brownfield site previously earmarked for office and industrial use. Scott Moore, Managing Partner, TMDP said: “We are delighted that planning has been secured for this project and that the construction of these new homes can finally get underway. It makes perfect sense to utilise this brownfield site to create much needed affordable housing for Loughborough and when complete, the new development will galvanise the on-going regeneration of the area.” Neil Adie, Waterloo Housing Group Head of Development said: “We are really pleased to have this opportunity to work with our partners to be able to provide these much-needed affordable rented and shared ownership homes, which make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs in Charnwood. We are grateful for invaluable funding support for these homes from the Homes and Communities Agency.” Commenting on the project, Steve Williams, Director, Williams Homes said: “Now that plans have been approved, we are eager to begin construction of these new, high quality affordable homes and bring this disused site on North Road back to life. “We are looking forward to working with Waterloo Housing Group on this project and through our partnership, we can directly address the shortage of affordable housing in Loughborough and provide local homes for local people.” Scheduled for completion in November 2015, the two and three bedroomed homes will be available for both rent and shared ownership and will address the shortage of affordable homes in Loughborough.

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Melton Borough Governors of Gaddesby Primary School (c/o Agent: Mrs S Setayesh, YMD Boon Ltd, York House, Fernie Road, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7PH) – Extension and remodelling of Gaddesby Primary School, comprising 4 classrooms, toilet facilities and a new hall – at Gaddesby Primary School, 22 Ashby Road, Gaddesby, Leics. LE7 4WF Unnamed Applicant (c/o Agent: Alison Wright, Savills, Wytham Court, 11 West Way, Oxford OX2 0QL) – Residential development for up to 200 dwellings including means of access, open space and associated development – at Field No. 3968, Melton Spinney Road, Thorpe Arnold, Leics. Unnamed Applicant (c/o Agent: Stephen Mair, Andrew Granger & Co, Phoenix House, 52 High Street, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7AF) – Construction of 3 detached residential properties – at The Bowery, 2 Church Lane, Wymondham, Leics. LE14 2AG. Paul Kenyon (c/o Agent: Blakedown Sport & Play Ltd, Apollo Office Park, Ironston Lane, Wroxton, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 6AY) – New educational development comprising multi-purpose buildings, sports hall, new campus access road, associated works and 3G sports pitch – at Brooksby Melton College, Hoby Road, Brooksby, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 2LJ.

Lyons provides blueprint for boosting SME house building

he Labour Party’s Lyons Housing Review provides a long overdue blueprint for increasing the capacity and output of small and medium sized (SME) house builders to help build the much needed 200,000 new homes a year, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “This is the most comprehensive review of housing delivery we have seen in recent years. Given the extent of the housing shortage we face, the target of 200,000 new homes per year is ambitious, but it is a necessary ambition. To achieve this aim we will need to significantly boost the capacity of the house building industry and Sir Michael Lyons has rightly identified the SME house building sector as a crucial part of the housing sector’s capacity. It is very pleasing to see that Lyons has recognised the barriers that small house builders face, which prevent them from building the homes we need, such as access to finance and a shortage of small sites, and has put forward a package of measures to address them.” Berry added: “As well as endorsing the ‘Help to Build’ loan guarantee initiative, which Labour is already in the process of developing, the report makes the groundbreaking recommendation of a return to a simpler, ‘redline’ system for outline planning applications for smaller sites. The focus across the whole of the report of pushing more land into the system is also extremely welcome and Lyons rightly highlights the need for a focus within this on the identification of smaller sites and packaging opportunities for SMEs as part of larger developments.” Berry concluded: “Taken together these amount to a very significant package of measures which would allow smaller builders to deliver many more homes. In order to reach their 200,000 target though, a future Labour government would need to significantly increase investment in social house building, as private sector capacity is unlikely to be able to increase sufficiently to hit that target by 2020. I would be keen to see more detail on Labour’s plans for capital investment in housing as their strategy develops.”

Redevelopment opportunity in Granby: £225k guide price

Harborough District Mrs Tracey Uppal (c/o Agent: Chris Woods, BRP Architects, 1 Millers Yard, Roman Way, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7PW) – Construction of 2 new dwellings, associated garaging and landscaping with additional garaging to Bybrook House; demolition of Hornbeam House, 1A Cross Bank and existing barn off Banbury Lane - at Hornbeam House, 1A Cross Bank, Great Easton, Leics. LE16 8SR. Mrs E Carr (c/o Agent: Andrew Granger & Co, Phoenix House, 52 High Street, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7AF) – Erection of 9 dwellings (Resubmission) – at land at rear of 26-30 London Road, Great Glen, Leics. Mr I P Crane (c/o Agent: Sworders, The Gatehouse, Hadham Hall, Little Hadham, Ware, Herts. SG11 2EB) – Erection of 50 dwellings including scout hall, land for new pre-school or other school use, provision of allotments, public open space, access & associated landscaping (Revised scheme) – at land off Crowfoot Way, Broughton Astley, Leics.

RICHARD WATKINSON & Partners are offering for sale a redevelopment opportunity at Belvoir Vue, Sutton Lane, Granby, Nottinghamshire NG13 9PY. The property comprises a detached bungalow sitting centrally within its 0.49 acre plot. Outline planning permission (ref: 14/00139/OUT) was granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council on 8th April 2014 to demolish the existing dwelling and erect a 50% larger replacement dwelling. The Guide Price is £225,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Richard Watkinson & Partners on 01949 836678 or email: bingham@richardwatkinson.co.uk

Charnwood Town Hall to Host Examination in Public of Core Strategy Charnwood Borough Council has welcomed the resumption of the examination of its Core Strategy. The hearings will resume at Loughborough Town Hall on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. The Core Strategy outlines the Council’s vision of where future development should take place in the borough. It has to be scrutinised by a planning inspector before being approved or rejected. In March, Planning Inspector Kevin Ward suspended the examination of Charnwood’s strategy to allow the Council extra time to provide more up-todate evidence of future housing need across Leicestershire. That information has now been provided. Councillor Eric Vardy, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said: “We are pleased that the examination of our Core Strategy will be resuming in December. “We are now looking forward to it getting underway again and would like to thank all parties involved, including residents, for their patience. “This is a complicated process however it is imperative that we get this right, not just for the good of Charnwood today, but for the good of Charnwood in the future.” The examination will look at all areas of the Core Strategy including its proposals about where to site new homes, businesses and travellers’ sites in Charnwood. It will also consider the plan to expand the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park. Members of the public can attend the Examination in Public. It will resume in the Victoria Room at Loughborough Town Hall on December 9. It will run until December 19 and then break for Christmas. It will begin again on January 6, 2015 and run until January 16. Sessions are being held most days but check www.localplan. charnwood.gov.uk

I have spent the afternoon re-arranging the furniture in Dracula’s house… I was doing a bit of Fang-Shui

Tim Vine

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Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

New Iveco Daily is “Van of the Year 2015” The New Daily, the third generation of Iveco’s light commercial vehicle, has been named the “International Van of the Year 2015”. The annual award is organized by a jury panel of 23 leading journalists from major international commercial vehicle publications. The winner is the van that, according to the Jury, “has made the greatest contribution to the standards of efficiency and the sustainability of transport of goods by road with respect to environment and safety of people”. The prestigious award was presented during the 65th edition of the Hanover International Motor Show, the largest commercial and industrial vehicle show in Europe. In the most competitive year ever since the awards programme was established in 1991, the Iveco New Daily won by a margin of 17 points over the shortlisted finalists from Fiat, Ford, MercedesBenz and Renault/Opel. In voting, New Daily was the first choice of the 23 jury members. Receiving the award from International Van of the Year Chairman, Jarlath Sweeney, Pierre Lahutte, Iveco Brand President, said: “We are delighted that our New Daily has been awarded the prestigious Van of the Year accolade. The New Daily is a major step forward in improving TCO, Comfort, Driveability, Productivity, and Sustainability. We would like to dedicate this award to our customers who every day count on this reliable and dependable working companion”. New Daily is a completely renewed vehicle which presents itself with a load volume efficiency at the top of its category, best-in-class for volume and capacity, car-like comfort, plus driveability and fuel consumption further optimized. These are the main features of the third generation of the light commercial vehicle of Iveco of which 80% of components have been redesigned. The third generation of the Daily is also focused on business requirements and offers a considerable reduction in fuel consumption compared with the previous model, with a significant improvement in vehicle running costs, together with the best performance in the category offering a wide range of engines, transmissions and axle ratios. The ongoing quest for efficiency is also embodied in a range of state-of.the-art, intuitive control devices which help businesses to create a productive working environment. IVECONNECT is equipped with a 7” touch screen built into the dashboard and comes complete with radio, CD player and iPod/iPhone and MP3 compatible USB port, along with Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel controls and an AUX/video port. The Daily is a “global” vehicle: more than 2.6 million Daily vehicles have been sold to date in over 110 countries worldwide. It is produced at the Iveco Suzzara plant, near Mantova in Italy, where the company has recently made substantial investments to renew the production lines.

Three plots at Nether The Hammond Quiz is back again! Broughton: £235k guide Jonathan Hammond and his team at Hammond Property Services have put together another brain teasing quiz to keep our grey matter working over the festive season. As with their previous quizzes, all of the answers are on the last page ... but not in the correct order. You just need to be able to work out how the ‘clever’ clues can give you one of the answers. The quiz is set to last throughout the winter months and over the Christmas period. It will be ideal to bring out with family and friends once all the turkey has been eaten and the conversation is ‘running dry’! Many entries received last year were from those who took the quiz with them on holidays over Half Term and New Year - hence numerous entries from all over England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, Eire, 11 from the United States, France, Germany, The USA, New Zealand, Turkey, Cyprus & Patagonia! To print off your own copy of the Quiz, visit their home page at www.hammondpropertyservices.com If you require an original copy, give Jonathan a call on (01949) 87 86 85……or e-mail him at: quiz@hammondpropertyservices.com

BENTONS Estate Agents are offering for sale a parcel of land with full planning consent for 2 three-bed bungalows and a twobed bungalow, situated on the edge of Nether Broughton.

The 0.27 acre site – at 23 Main Road, Nether Broughton, Near Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 3HB – comprises the former car park to the Red House Public House & Restaurant, which has now been delicensed and is now being converted into a substantial single family home. The site is situated in a delightful Vale of Belvoir location with outstanding south-facing open views to the rear. Full plans are available from the selling agents. The Guide Price is £235,000. For more information, contact Bentons on 01664 563892 or email: sales@bentons.co.uk

Harborough District Morcott Developments (c/o Agent: ADM Surveyors Ltd, 3A The Parade, Needham Avenue, Glen Parva, Leics. LE2 9JW) – Demolition of existing building and erection of 5 dwellings (Reserved Matters) – at Smiths Timber & Joinery Co Ltd, Misterton Way, Lutterworth, Leics. LE17 4AB. Walter Ward (Contracts) Ltd (c/o: Winters Cottage, Nevill Holt, Medbourne, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 8EG) – Erection of 6 dwellings (Revised scheme) – at The Paddock, Drayton Road, Medbourne, Leics.

Rutland County Jones & Brown (c/o Agent: Maurice Fairhurst, Fairhurst Consultancy, 41 Wartnaby Road, Ab Kettleby, Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE14 3JJ) – Change of use of water tower to office; construction of workshop and store with associated parking and delivery areas – at The Water Tower, Wing Road, Manton, Rutland. Mr M Evans (c/o Agent: Stephen Mair, Andrew & Granger & Co, Phoenix House, 52 High Street, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7AF) – Erection of 20 residential dwellings – at land off Main Street, Cottesmore, Rutland.

NW Leics District Mr S Hall (c/o Agent: Housemartin Design, The Carthouse, Charnells Court, main Street, Swepstone, Coalville, Leics. LE67 2SG) – Residential development of up to 34 dwellings, including retention of No 191 Loughborough Road – at 191 Loughborough Road, Whitwick, Coalville, Leics. LE67 5AS. Development Management, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfield Road, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 2TN - Outline planning permission for residential development up to 3200 dwellings: up to 16 ha of employment land of B1/B2 and B8 uses; a mixed use community hub of up to 4ha comprising a local convenience retail unit (2000sqm); up to 1000 sqm of other A1 retail, A2, A3 food and drink, B1 and D1 uses, sites for Gypsy, Travellers and Showpeople provision total ling 1ha; 2 primary schools up to 2ha each; strategic open space including allotments; access roads and new strategic link road; open space/landscaping and associated works; principal means of access; all other matters to be reserved (CBC application P/14/1833/2) – at land west of Loughborough, Leics.

Planning applications are continued on page 42 ...>

Ever notice the roof of your car is the worst cup holder ever?

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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Actions speak louder than words, but talk is cheap and you have to consider that in this economy.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

£300,000 cash boost for Whetstone thanks to new homes development FIVE-star homebuilder, David Wilson Homes, is set to contribute nearly £300,000 in support of local projects in Whetstone, Leicestershire, thanks to its latest new homes development, Whetstone Park. The funding, which totals £296,202.40 comes as part of the initial planning agreement and is being given by the homebuilder to support community investment for both new and existing residents. Whetstone Park will provide a total of 150 traditional two, three, four and five bedroom homes over the coming years, underpinning approximately 300 jobs for local people. John Reddington, Managing Director of David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “At David Wilson Homes, we strongly believe that community investment is one of the most important aspects of any new housing development and to that end, we plan to contribute a great deal to the local area, both in terms of the homes we will be building and the jobs we will be creating.”

A computer generated image of Whetstone Park Specific contributions include: •

Off-site cycle ways – £100,000

•

Bus passes – £97,500

•

Police services – £49,398

•

Health care – £30,336.90

•

Library services – £9,240

•

Travel package – £7,927.50

• Off-site highways – £1,500 Bordering open countryside, Whetstone Park is located in the quiet village of Whetstone, just south of Leicester. Over half of the development will be kept as public open space, incorporating winding

footpaths and clusters of trees, making it an ideal location to enjoy family life. Residents also benefit from fantastic commuter links, with junction 21 of the M1 less than a 10 minute drive away. David Wilson Homes prides itself on creating exceptional homes in the finest locations and recently achieved the maximum five star housebuilder rating in a customer satisfaction survey ran by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), for an unrivalled fifth consecutive year.

Willie Thorne Needs More Golfers

In recent years Snooker and Strictly Come Dancing star Willie Thorne has played golf with around a 100 golfers to raise money for RAINBOWS HOSPICE. The event is again being held at The Forest Hill Golf Club and it is your chance to meet and play golf with Willie as well as raise money for an excellent cause. You are welcome to come and play – or just be a spectator on Tuesday November 18. Arrival time is 9.00am with a shotgun start at 10.00 o’clock. This is a full handicap Stableford competition with excellent prizes. The entry fee includes soup, sandwiches, mince pies and mulled wine. Players will be given a Santa Suit and must wear it to play. This adds to the FUN element of the day and also to the difficulty of playing competent golf! Entry forms and enquiries can be obtained from David Hollins on: 0116 2290495 or mobile: 07930 200213 or email: david.hollins3@ntlworld.com This is a great day of FUN, Willie is a keen golfer and is looking forward to meeting all the players. Please make a special effort to make up a team of 4 and join in the fun and also help Rainbows.

David Hollins

Forticrete launches new range of radius blocks

Forticrete has extended its range of Dense Concrete Masonry with the addition of a new Radius Block, developed to create curved blockwork, softening the aesthetic of standard masonry block. As part of the company’s ECOBLOCK range of masonry, these machine manufactured decorative concrete facing blocks are manufactured using up to 45% recycled content. The new Radius Block is available in various finishes and in all standard Dense Concrete Masonry colours. The new Radius Block boasts a 490mm outer radius, a 380mm outer face, 300mm inner face, 100mm thickness and is 215mm in height. The block is also available in a half block option which provides a 185mm outer face. Finishes featured in the Radial Block range include Shot-blasted, which provides a weathered appeal, Fairfaced, which provides a structural product and finish in one, the popular Burnished Venezia and Polished Florentine which is used to create expanses of reflective walls. For more information on Forticrete’s range of products, visit www.Forticrete.co.uk.

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Selling plots or development properties?

GET A FREE MENTION! We include brief details of development properties free-ofcharge in editorial form. So, if you’re selling an interesting development property, building plot or property for conversion, email details to:

info@buildermagazines.co.uk and we’ll give the property a free mention. Tremendous!

The hardest thing after my divorce was learning to finish my own sentences.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Bonfire Night

Wordsearch Puzzle

If you can find the names of 12 items associated with Bonfire Night in the Wordsearch grid on the right, you could win yourself a VIP Meal For Two at Frankie & Benny’s New York Italian Restaurant. All you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark a line through - 12 items commonly associated with Bonfire Night. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your marked entry forms to: BLUE TOUCH PAPER, Leicestershire Builder, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Thursday 20th November 2014. Please remember to fill in your name and address. The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the Frankie & Benny’s VIP Meal for Two. Good luck! APOLOGIES FOR THE BLOOMER IN LAST MONTH’S COMPETITION! Two of the words didn’t make it into the grid! Loads of entrants pointed this fact out to us - sorry!

Residential development opportunity in Braybrooke CARTER JONAS are offering for sale a residential development site with Outline Planning Permission for 14 dwellings and the demolition of Braybrooke Primary School. The site – at Church Close, Braybrooke, Northamptonshire – extends to 1.56 acres and is being offered for sale on an unconditional basis. For more information, contact Carter Jonas on 07500 093844 or email: Tristan.peck@carterjonas.co.uk

Here are the 12 Bonfire Night items you have to find: BANGER • BONFIRE TOFFEE • CATHERINE WHEEL COLOURED MATCHES • GUNPOWDER PLOT • GUY FAWKES JUMPING JACK • ORGANISED DISPLAY • PENNY FOR THE GUY ROMAN CANDLE • SKY ROCKET • SPARKLERS Name: .............................................................................................................. Address: ............................................................................................................. .............................................................................Postcode: .............................

Last Month’s Wordsearch Winner:

R.GREENWAY of Westfield Lane, Mansfield Congratulations! Your Frankie & Benny’s Voucher will be with you soon.

Fully let student investment for sale in Nottingham: £900k HEB Chartered Surveyors are inviting offers in the region of £900,000 for The Gregory, Ilkeston Road, Nottingham NG7 3HG. The property comprises a former public house which has been converted to a high standard to provide six flats totalling 21 bedroom spaces, with two flats and seven bedrooms per floor. The current gross rental income is £93,159 per annum which the selling agents have calculated provides an initial yield of 9.78%, allowing for purchaser’s costs of 5.8%. The premises, which are situated one mile from the Nottingham Trent and Nottingham Universities, have been fully let since their conversion 3 years ago. Offers in the region of £900,000 are invited. For more information, contact Matt Cullen at HEB on 0115 979 3493 or email: mcullen@heb.co.uk

I bought a book on obedience seven years ago, but it turns out the dog is a slow reader.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

Properties being offered at the Auction House Northampton sale NW Leics District Davidsons (c/o: Wilson House, Leicester Road, Ibstock, Leics.) – Erection of 65 dwellings (reserved matters) – at land at Ibstock Road, Ravenstone, Coalville, Leics. Radleigh Group and G Baker, P Baker & V Cave (c/o Agent: S Lewis-Roberts, Pegasus Group, 4 The Courtyard, Church Street, Lockington, Derby DE74 2SL) – Erection of 44 dwellings together with public open space, National Forest planting, landscaping, drainage, infrastructure and vehicular access off Loughborough Road – at land adjacent to 86 Loughborough Road, Whitwick, Leics. Westleigh Developments (c/o Agent: RG+P, 130 New Walk, Leicester LE1 7JA) – Demolition of depot buildings – at Former Leicestershire County Council Depot, Highfield Street, Coalville, Leics. LE67 3BL. Belvoir House (c/o Agent: Mr Kurosh Morad, KMC Consultancy, 9 Southfields Drive, Leicester LE2 6QS) – Partial demolition, extension, alterations and refurbishment of former hosiery factory to provide 26 self-contained flats with associated landscaping and boundary treatment – at Belvoir House, 30 Paddock Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 2AN.

Charnwood Borough Mr Bade Newby (c/o Agent: A+G Architects Ltd) – Construction of 3 houses and alteration of existing workshop to form 2 apartments together with the formation of a new private drive serving the above units together with No 7 and No 9 Melton Road – at 3A Melton Road, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, Leics. MBCW Ltd (c/o Agent: A D Drawing Services) – Site for residential development – at 170 Colby Drive, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8LB. Mr T Howlett (c/o Agent: AGB Design Consultants Ltd) – Erection of 7 detached dwellings with associated infrastructure – at land adjacent to 64 Brick Kiln Lane, Shepshed, Leics. LE12 9EL. Mr S Turner (c/o Agent: Robert Powell) – Erection of 3 detached dwellings – at 8 Ashleigh Drive, Loughborough, Leics. Messrs.Davies (c/o Agent: Tenacity Planning Consultants) – Conversion of farm buildings to form 5 dwellings (Revised scheme) – at Home Farm, Main Street, Beeby, Leics. LE7 3BL.

The following interesting properties are being offered at the Auction House Northampton sale on Wednesday 19th November 2014 at Hilton Northampton Hotel, 100 Watering Lane, Collingtree, Northampton NN4 0XW at 11.00am: LOT 10: The Station House, Beswick Close, Rushton, Northamptonshire, NN14 1RD Believed to date from the year 1857 with classical Victorian Gothic architecture and many original features retained. The property is Listed Grade II as a building of Architectural or Historic interest and is offered together with the benefit of ample off road parking space and lawned garden which may be enclosed for domestic use. The entire property extends to an area of approximately 1,700 square feet arranged in part over two floors, together with a cellar and outbuilding. The property stands directly adjacent to the Midland Mainline. Guide: £100,000 - £125,000

LOT 12: Towells Land, Malham Drive, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN16 9FS The site is bare land with a number of tall mature trees and is approached through the highly regarded Persimmon homes development, now completed, standing on the outskirts of Kettering close to the Asda Superstore and adjacent to a residential care home. Detailed planning permission was granted on the 17th January 2011, planning reference KET/2010/0731 for the construction of four three bedroomed semi detached houses, four three bedroomed detached houses and one four bedroomed detached house. Guide Price: £300,000-£325,000. For more information, tel: 01604 259 773 or visit www. auctionhouse.uk.net

Teachers to be offered a lesson in off-site build Northern Ireland off-site construction specialists The McAvoy Group will be at the Academies Show, NEC Birmingham on 26th November 2014 where it will showcase its modern methods of construction at stand number 216. McAvoy is a major player in the Education sector in the UK and Ireland, having achieved accredited supplier status on a number of key UK frameworks, including Crown Commercial Service, and several other Local Authority Frameworks for school buildings provision. As an accredited contractor under the Crown Commercial Service framework McAvoy was awarded 12 Design and Build school projects totalling £55m by the Education Funding Agency (EFA). To date seven have been delivered, two will be completed by the end of the year and a further two are due to commence construction in 2015. The Academies Show is attended by influential UK educators, making it one of the most important events in the national schools’ calendar.

If you enjoy reading Leicestershire Builder Magazine, please pass it on to a friend or colleague after you’ve finished with it. Thanks! The boss just put me in charge of obeying him.

Charnwood Borough Mrs Sarah Coleman (c/o Agent: HSSP Architects Ltd) – Erection of 3 dwellings and widen access of 53 Avenue Road to allow access to site with erection of dorme extension (Revised scheme) – at 53 Avenue Road, Queniborough, Leics. LE7 3FB. Mr Clint Jones (c/o Agent: BHC) – Erection of 3 dwellings (Revised scheme) – at 103 Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8HL. Mrs Harjinder Kaur (c/o Agent: Jayesh Vaja Architectural Services) – Conversion of 2 dwellings to form 4 flats – at 732-734 Melton Road, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8BD. Asiatic Luck Corporation (c/o Agent: DLP Planning Ltd) – Site for the erection of up to 250 dwellings with associated infrastructure (Duplicate application of P/13/2054/2) – at land north-east of Hallamford Road, Shepshed, Leics. Mr & Mrs Philpott (c/o Agent: Peacock & Smith) – Erection of 2 detached dwellings with access off Platts Lane – at land at rear of 80 Main Street, Cossington, Leics. LE7 4UW Mr N Preston (c/o Agent: Parkinson Dodson & Associates) – Erection of 2 detached dwellings – at land adjacent to 2 Water Lane, Seagrave, Leics. LE12 7LL

Jephson Raglan merger gets HCA go ahead The merger of Jephson and Raglan has been given the go ahead by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The new organisation will be called Stonewater and will be one of the UK’s most significant social housing providers, both in terms of assets and geographic spread with around £160 million in turnover and £1.6 billion in assets. The HCA gave their green light to the merger in September; HCA and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approval to Jephson, Marches and Raglan Rule changes should be finalised in time for the merger to take effect from 1 January 2015.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069

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