Public Sector Building News - May 2020

www.psbnews.co.uk May 2020

ONE THOUSAND MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHED BY HUFTON+CROW EBBSFLEET GARDEN CITY - 221 HOMES APPROVED

FRASER BROWN MACKENNA ARCHITECTS UAE NEW SCIENCE BUILDING

LAYING FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF LEARNING

LEE EVANS PARTNERSHIP’S DESIGN FOR EDUCATION CAMPUS SUBMITTED FOR PLANNING

EDUCATION

HOUSING

SAFETY

Saunders Boston Architects adds colour to Waterbeach Community Primary School

What impact could the new Conservative Government have on the housing market?

Covid-19 - What is happening on university sites in the face of campus closures?

The renewable heating alternative

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Contents

PSBN

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING NEWS

Editor Maria Lapthorn editor@psbnews.co.uk Editorial Assistant Francesca Amato editorial@psbnews.co.uk Production/Design Laura Whitehead design@psbnews.co.uk Sales Manager Chris Lewry chris@psbnews.co.uk Sales Executive Lucy Robinson lucy@psbnews.co.uk

On the cover Saunders Boston Architects adds a splash of colour to Waterbeach Community Primary School.

Read more on page 07.

UAE New Science Building - Page 21

Accounts Richard Lapthorn accounts@psbnews.co.uk

Features

Circulation Manager Leo Phillips subs@psbnews.co.uk

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06

Planning reform must have small builders at its heart, says FMB

Crest Nicholson to launch new development in Kegworth

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19

Project - One Thousand Museum photographed by Hufton+Crow

Garbmann encourages donations of PPE for local care home homes

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22

Work completed on Woolwich school for specialist education requirements

Project News - 221 homes approved for Ebbsfleet Garden City

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26

Leasehold homes – mis-sold, not misunderstood - By Raam Kanbi

Lee Evans Partnership’s design for education campus submitted

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Latest News - What Covid-19 means for the UK property market

People on the move - Bakerhicks strengthen with new appointment

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INVESTMENT IN ROADS AND POTHOLES IN ENGLAND IS MUCH NEEDED, WRITES BRUCE SPENCERKNOTT, MD OF MINSTER GROUP “Road users and workers alike will be welcoming the announcement that £2.5 billion is to be set aside for pothole repairs in England over the next five years, but the most astonishing figure is the £600 billion that’s to be invested in infrastructure.

For decades, Britain’s road network has been overlooked despite ever increasing traffic. Investment in roads is essential to the success of so many businesses and to the growth and quality of life in every village, town and city so I’m really pleased that the government is investing in real change for the country. I’m excited to see the ambitious and important projects which can now be pursued with this historic investment to keep Britain moving.

As managing director of a civil engineering firm, I’m fully aware of the damage potholes can cause. While local authorities do an excellent job with the resources they have available, action is desperately needed to improve the quality of roads and deal with the situation.

This huge new pothole funding will fill millions of potholes every year, helping to speed up journeys, reduce vehicle damage and make our roads safer- a benefit not only for motorists but also the wider economy. The chancellor put it perfectly: We can’t level up Britain and spread opportunity if we are spending our journeys dodging potholes and forking out for the damage they cause.

The funding package will also cover resurfacing works, preventing potholes from occurring in the first place, which could make an enormous difference.

Currently, councils across England fix a pothole every 17 seconds but it’s so important that they have the budget for long-term road maintenance so that potholes can be prevented with cracks and patches being repaired before they become a problem.

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I look forward to seeing the benefits that this much-needed funding will bring to road infrastructure and the wider economy; here’s to eradicating the scourge of potholes and helping people to have safer, more efficient and smoother journeys each and every day.”

RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY PROJECT PIPELINE SWELLS TO FOUR-YEAR HIGH Planning applications for new renewable electricity projects hit a four-year high in 2019, shows a new analysis of Government figures by px Group, the leading energy and industrial solutions business. px Group’s analysis shows that planning applications submitted in the UK for renewable electricity projects rose to 269 in 2019, up from 204 in in 2018, 185 in 2017 and 154 in 2016 - a 75% increase in just three years.

Renewable energy projects include solar farms, offshore and onshore wind generation, and anaerobic digestion facilities. px Group says that the figures show a growing appetite among energy companies for launching renewable energy projects. More projects being planned is likely to be a result of growing demand for cleaner energy as the UK focuses on cutting down emissions.

In the 2019 Queen’s Speech, the UK Government said it wanted to significantly increase its energy generation from wind capacity. Of the planning applications made for renewable projects in 2019, 90 were for wind technology, compared to 47 the year before.

Last year saw zero-carbon sources, including wind and solar power generation, supply more energy than fossil fuels for the first time since the industrial revolution,

which reflects the UK’s shift to cleaner, ‘greener’ energy.

Geoff Holmes, Chief Executive Officer at px Group, said:

“

To see the number of renewable projects in the pipeline rise is extremely encouraging. It goes without saying that as more of these projects get off the ground, the faster the UK can get to a point where clean, green sources provide an even greater share of the UK’s energy. Of course, there is a lag time between submitting plans to councils and projects becoming fully operational, so more projects being in the pipeline is not a quick fix.

“

px Group plays a leading role in managing some of the UK’s largest renewable energy facilities, placing it at the forefront of the UK’s transition to renewable energy. px Group is project managing the development of the world’s largest biomass fired power station, the Tees Renewable Energy Plant, which will supply electricity to 600,000 homes. It also operates the Part Talbot Biomass plant, which generates enough electricity to power 10,000 homes.

Latest News

PLANNING REFORM MUST HAVE SMALL BUILDERS AT ITS HEART, SAYS FMB Planning reforms are key to fixing the housing crisis, but more attention is needed on supporting local authorities to improve their ability to respond to planning demands, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the ‘Planning for the Future’ announcement made today.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The current planning system is a major barrier for small house builders, so today’s announcement that it will be brought into the 21st century through digitisation and simplification is a victory for common sense. I’m pleased to learn that the Secretary of State will engage particularly with small to medium-sized (SME) house builders to ensure the new system works for them. Key to increasing the volume and quality of new homes coming through is reversing the decline in small house builders.”

Berry continued: “That the Government has also made the decision to intervene in local authorities’ plan-making processes by setting a 2023 deadline to update their local plans is helpful. A recent Public Accounts Committee report found that fewer than half of local authorities had an up-to-date local plan, which goes to show that inaction is hampering housing numbers.”

Berry concluded: “More detail is needed in terms of how local authorities plan to provide a good quality service to SMEs. While linking fees to performance and offering rebates to developers is a step in the right direction, local authorities need support to get the basics right. That means a dedicated phone number where house builders can get through to someone, the ability to arrange meetings that don’t cost an arm

and a leg, and regular, good-quality communication. The FMB stands ready to support this review and reform process.”

NEW CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT GRANTS SCHEME FOR PARISH COUNCILS ON ITS WAY A new Climate and Environment Grants (CEG) scheme to fund projects with an emphasis on sustainability and countering climate change for parish councils in the North Devon district is on its way.

At a North Devon Council’s Full Council meeting, councillors agreed to the introduction of the new scheme, allocating £20,000 for grants as part of the revenue budget for 2020/21.

Grants will be available to parishes with populations of less than 1,000 (as of November 2019) towards their project for the following: • training costs • set up costs and/or promotion • purchase of goods or equipment • costs of an event(s) to raise awareness of an issue

Lead Member for Climate Change at North Devon Council, Councillor Caroline Leaver, says: “Through the new CEG we hope to encourage and support projects and local initiatives to put into action peoples creative ideas. Ideas to support sustainability and improve the environment and tackle climate change issues such as reducing carbon and improving biodiversity. These projects could include “wilding” open spaces, wild flower meadows, more sustainable approaches to graveyards and renewables, to name just a few.”

Lead Member for Environment at North Devon Council, Councillor Netti Pearson, says:

“

I’m delighted that the council is able to offer this new grant scheme to our smaller parishes. We really need to do as much as we can to support and promote activities that protect and enhance our natural environment and help to counter the effects of climate change. A good point about the CEG is that it can also be used as match-funding by parish councils to attract other funding from external sources opening up further opportunities to our parishes.

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COMING SOON TO LEICESTERSHIRE: CREST NICHOLSON TO LAUNCH NEW DEVELOPMENT IN KEGWORTH Award-winning developer, Crest Nicholson, has announced it will launch its brand new Kegworth Gate development in Leicestershire, in Spring 2020. Located on Long Lane in the attractive village of Kegworth, the development will comprise a contemporary collection of 179 three and four bedroom homes.

Ideal for first time buyers, young professionals and families, the houses have been carefully crafted offering a range of flexible layouts to suit the needs of the purchaser. The modern homes have been thoughtfully designed to reflect the character of the natural surrounds, featuring a high specification throughout.

Bonnie Campbell, Sales Manager, Crest Nicholson Midlands, commented: “We are delighted to announce that Crest Nicholson will be returning to Leicestershire in 2020, with the launch of Kegworth Gate. We expect the development to be popular with families who are attracted to the sought-after area of Kegworth and want to enjoy the amenities of the village on their doorstep.

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“

Interest has been high ahead of the launch, so we recommend potential purchasers register their interest as soon as possible to secure their plot of choice.

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with a guaranteed cash buyer before moving.

Situated in quaint village of Kegworth, residents at Kegworth Gate will enjoy a range of amenities within walking distance, including convenience stores, a bakery, pharmacy, hairdressers, doctor’s surgery and a range of popular pubs and restaurants to dine in. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, there is plenty of open green space and walking routes, particularly alongside the picturesque River Soar.

The government-backed Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme is available on a selection of properties at the development, allowing home hunters to buy with just a 5% deposit. Under the scheme, the government offers an interest free equity loan of up to 20% of the cost of the home, meaning that only a 75% mortgage is needed to make up the rest.

Families are well catered for in the area with Kegworth Primary located on the doorstep, as well as Kegworth Village Hall Pre-School for infants, both rated by Ofsted as ‘Good’. For students aged 11 – 18, Wilsthorpe School is located in nearby Long Eaton and also rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

Selected homes at Kegworth Gate will also be available with Crest Nicholson’s SmoothMove scheme, taking the hassle out of selling your current home. SmoothMove takes care of everything from getting the purchasers current house valued, to booking viewing times and paying estate agents’ fees. Alternatively, for those that have home already to sell, buyers may be eligible to use the Part Exchange scheme, helping purchasers sell their existing home

The homes at Kegworth Gate boast excellent transport connections, with neighbouring Loughborough, Nottingham and Derby all within easy reach. Ideal for jetsetters, residents will enjoy quick access to East Midlands airport via the M1, with regular flights connecting to Europe and beyond.

East Midlands Parkway train station is just a short drive away, providing trains to Derby in less than 20 minutes, Nottingham in under 15 minutes and to London St Pancras in under two hours.

Project News

SAUNDERS BOSTON ARCHITECTS ADDS A SPLASH OF COLOUR TO WATERBEACH COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL Saunders Boston Architects’ colourful renovation of Waterbeach Community Primary School, Cambridge, is now complete and open for use to local students.

The Cambridge-based practice, which specialises in the education sector, designed the development with the aim of improving existing facilities and increasing student capacity; widening access to positive learning environments and better education opportunities for the local community.

The new development, delivered alongside Kier for Cambridgeshire County Council, considers the visual impact of colour to create a vibrant atmosphere for learning, which can be seen in rainbow-glazed bricks around the outside of the building and as a continued theme within the school.

Margherita Cesca, Senior Architect at Saunders Boston Architects, said: “A well-designed school is an essential foundation for students’ learning to flourish. When working on Waterbeach Community Primary School, we wanted to create a space that would inspire students and teachers and stimulate a positive learning environment in which to learn and grow together. Colour was extremely important to this design, as it helps to create a motivating atmosphere in which creative and original thinking is encouraged.”

The school now includes a two-storey teaching block extension consisting of 12 classrooms, a group learning room, an improved and extended main entrance, and revised landscape and interior design. In line with the

practice’s aim to enhance learning through its design, it has incorporated a ‘Learning Street’ that connects all 12 new classrooms and is naturally lit by two large skylights; allowing important break-out space for students and teachers.

Jane Green, Headteacher at Waterbeach Community Primary School, said: “Ensuring that students feel inspired by their surroundings is of huge importance; it has been brilliant to see Saunders Boston Architects bring this vision to life for us.

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The rainbow theme running throughout the whole school connects us as a community hub and reflects the bright, ambitious learning attitude of our students.

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As part of Saunders Boston Architects’ continued commitment to education and the community, the practice worked with the school’s students from the outset to develop the project and inspire future architects; inviting them to visualise their dream school through the use of virtual reality (VR).

Margherita Cesca continued: “Working with technologies such as VR and Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become an integral part of our design process at Saunders Boston Architects. The tools allow for innovative planning and enable us to visualise and expertly adapt every element in our designs.

“We especially enjoyed involving the students in our design process! We look forward to the students of Waterbeach Community Primary School thriving in their new learning environment.”

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Project News

LAYING FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF LEARNING First Spade in the Ground as Redevelopment of Burnham Grammar School Begins Students at Burnham Grammar swapped their pens for spades this week, stepping out of the classroom to mark the start of the school’s redevelopment.

Leading specialist education contractor, Wates Construction, commenced its build on the new school facilities, marking the milestone with a ground-breaking ceremony.

Students from the school stepped out to join the Wates Construction team, including Jonny Wates, senior staff, the DfE, Joy Morrissey MP and governors on site as the contractor began work on the new 8,321sqm facility, which is set for completion by Autumn 2021.

Construction work will see the creation of a brand-new three-storey “superblock” which will provide secondary education for over 1050 11-18 year old pupils. The design of the new building has placed large communal spaces at the heart of the school, surrounded by state–of-the-art teaching facilities.

Following the completion of the superblock, which includes teaching, learning, performing arts and drama studios and sports facilities, the school’s old buildings will be demolished with the area returned to sports fields in Autumn 2022.

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Wates Construction was appointed to deliver the project by the Department for Education/Burnham Grammar School as part of the Department for Education’s Priority School Building Programme and Condition Improvement Fund.

Alec Jackman, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Southern Home Counties, said: “We’re delighted that the school’s pupils joined us to break the ground on the exciting new facilities Wates is creating for Burnham Grammar.

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We understand the impact learning environments can have on the development of young people and attainment levels which will be a central focus to our approach and insight throughout the process. We will be drawing on our 11 years of experience as a trusted contractor for the education sector here in the Thames Valley Region to ensure the quality delivery of this new school building.

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He continues: “Wates is delivering six schools in the Thames Valley area as part of the DfE’s Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) Thames Valley A and B batches including Brakenhale School in Bracknell. Given this track record, it was great to see parents and stakeholders’ positive responses at the development’s public consultation, who were impressed with the design and reassured by our methods which minimise disruption and disturbance to residents and the school throughout construction.”

Alec concludes: “We’re implementing innovation in offsite manufacturing to minimise disruption in the build, which will see a number of elements modularised; including the building’s electrical, mechanical and plumbing services.”

Dr Andy Gillespie, Headteacher of Burnham Grammar, said: “It is fantastic to see work starting on our new buildings. The project will deliver first-class facilities for our students for many years to come. This is the biggest construction project in the School’s history and will transform the site into an inspiring campus environment. We have developed a strong and positive relationship with Wates during the design stage and look forward to that continuing as the new building takes shape.”

Safety & Security

ERA DOORCAM - SMART TECHNOLOGY’S LATEST LEAP FORWARD With remote-controlled security operating systems becoming ever more popular, the latest tech development in home security is the ERA DoorCam Smart Home WiFi Video Doorbell. Using a Smartphone app, DoorCam allows householders to view callers and talk to them in real time, whether they’re home or not, offering not only convenience, but thanks to a motion detector which alerts householders when someone has arrived, added security and peace of mind.

PSBN120020 ERA Half Page.indd 1

Security simplicity With ease of operation in mind, once DoorCam is wired in, the householder can simply plug in the WiFi chime which comes as standard, connecting up to four more chimes in the home.

DoorCam allows for two-way talk with high quality sound with adjustable volume, brightness and colour to suit.

High quality technical spec DoorCam allows for two-way talk with high quality sound with adjustable volume, brightness and colour to suit. The video camera has a 180° field of view and records in 720pHD resolution. Infrared night vision ensures 24-hour operation and DoorCam is easy to DIY install or for professional installation, by a qualified electrician.

For further information visit www.eraeverywhere.com, email info@eraeverywhere.com or contact the sales team on 01922 490000.

14/01/2020 09:27:08

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Safety & Security

COVID-19 - WHAT IS HAPPENING ON UNIVERSITY SITES IN THE FACE OF CAMPUS CLOSURES? HOW WILL THESE SITES BE PROTECTED? Julie Barker, Non-Executive Director of CUBO and founder of Julie Barker Associates, takes a look at what is happening on university sites in the face of campus closures. How will these sites be protected?

We are working in challenging and fast-moving times and college and university campus services professionals are at the frontline, steering and managing the safe management of their premises and looking to ensure students that have to remain on campus (due to the fact they are unable to return home in the face of flight and border closures), are safe, and that their wellbeing is protected.

With the current COVID-19 outbreak still taking hold, no one quite knows what the next few months will bring.

Right now, all uni’s are closed as instructed by the Government, with the exception of halls and catering areas that service those students still in residence in halls.

There is no question that for any international student who is selfisolating away from their families, it will be a difficult time. University res-life teams are working hard to put contingency plans in place and ensure that those in isolation or with no facilities who may well be experiencing stress and anxiousness over their situation, will be provided with a more comprehensive package to give them support and monitor their well-being.

Different arrangements will be available on different campuses dependant on site, factoring in student numbers still on site and the facilities available - for example, those with shared kitchens maybe expected to cater for themselves with just Res-life support structure to ensure they are okay and have someone to contact.

What this all means in reality is that front line staff, including security teams, catering staff, caretakers, Res-Life teams and facilities teams will now be the only staff on site with the exception of some essential research – e.g. medical but even then it will be only key staff by arrangement.

And, as a result, academic buildings will have been secured fully with security patrols and CCTV monitoring.

In the majority of cases, halls and supporting areas will be the only areas open and inevitably, these will be closely monitored.

Student and staff wellbeing and safeguarding are linked in with security

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and access control. For example, many universities are currently looking carefully at how they manage campuses and actively monitoring who comes on site and who is on site – CCTV and the use of smart card systems in order that they can understand what is happening and activity on campus.

This approach doesn’t have to be costly or complex, and can provide valuable audit trails for staff, student and visitor movement. Right now, it has become a security imperative!

In some ways the securing of the buildings is no different to that which is done over Christmas period. The difference with this situation is not only ensuring the site is secure, and remains secure in changing circumstances, but in ensuring regular comms with those on site, being able to provide for them and have the resources within the team to do it.

We are all into unchartered territory and inevitably, there will be learnings to take away from this national crisis both across emergency preparedness (no emergency plan would have covered the truly exceptional circumstances we all find ourselves in today) and procedures and processes that impact on the front lines.

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There are many unknown quantities with the current situation but front line staff are absolute heroes and are working hard to respond to the changing situation as it evolves on a daily basis.

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Housing

WHAT IMPACT COULD THE NEW CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT HAVE ON THE HOUSING MARKET?

By Jamie Johnson, CEO, FJP Investment An estimated 8.4 million people in England are living in unaffordable, insecure or unsuitable homes. That’s more than a seventh of England’s population.

This striking statistic, which comes from the National Housing Federation (NHF), is at the heart of the relatively broad and very common term ‘the Housing Crisis’. It is one of the most pressing domestic issues affecting the UK and, as such, it will rightly be high on the list of issues demanding attention from the new Conservative government.

In late October 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the decision to call a snap election, with a view to strengthening the Conservative Party’s hand in the House of Commons. The move paid off; the Conservatives secured an overwhelming majority, winning 365 seats – 48 more than two years previously.

Central to the election campaign was Johnson’s promise to “get Brexit done”. But looking beyond the Brexit deadline of 31st January, what other changes could – and, importantly, should – we see from the new government? More specifically, what impact could the election result have on the housing market in 2020?

More new-builds have been promised In my living memory, there has not been an election campaign that has not featured party promises regarding the housing crisis. As highlighted by the aforementioned NHF statistic, the UK requires more homes; millions of them, and they must be of a high standard.

Government after government has made promises about how it will fund developments, incentivise housebuilding and ensure more affordable homes are erected.

Johnson and his cabinet have followed suit. The Tories say they are committed to building 300,000 new homes every year by the mid-2020s. Moreover, it has set a target of adding one million new-builds to the country’s housing stock by the end of the current parliament (2025).

Onlookers will take such promises with a rather hefty pinch of salt, given the frequency with which targets like these have been missed.

For example, the ministry of housing, communities and local government (MHCLG) says that annual new-build dwelling starts in the first six months of 2019 totalled 160,640, a 1% decrease compared with 2018 and well short of the amount required. Furthermore, successive Conservative governments have failed to deliver a single new “starter home”, despite promising to build 200,000 by 2020 (and setting aside £2.3 billion to get this initiative off the ground).

It is unsurprising, therefore, that when FJP Investment commissioned a survey of more than 750 UK adults after the election result, the majority (61%) said they believe the government will fail to reach its target of a million more newbuilds by 2025.

Clearly, the new Government will have to convince the British people that it can boost supply in the housing market.

Making new-builds more beautiful Simply building more new homes is, however, only half of the battle. One of the more interesting themes to emerge from 2019 was the fact that new-builds are unpopular with large swathes of the population.

The main reasons? Because they are deemed to be ugly, located in undesirable areas or finished to a poor standard.

A separate piece of research from FJP Investment in mid-2019 highlighted these points. We commissioned an independent survey of more than 2,000 UK adults, finding that half of people think new-builds are typically unattractive, and even more (63%) think they are “devoid of character”. Moreover, we found that 60% of people worry that new-build houses and flats are often finished to a poor standard.

Of the 8.4 million people in England living in unaffordable, insecure or unsuitable homes, 1.4 million are in properties that are of a poor quality. Building more “affordable” new-builds that are not up to standard will, in fact, only exacerbate the problem.

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The Government must ensure new housing is of a high-quality – penalties for developers who miss the mark or additional public investment in new developments are a couple of examples for how this could be achieved.

Making new-builds more aesthetically pleasing will also be important; it will ensure people want to buy or rent them, while also supporting private investment if the end product is better looking.

Indeed, we have already seen signs that the Government wants to achieve this: on 27th July 2019, in his first speech on domestic policy as prime minister, Boris Johnson voiced his commitment to “emphasising the need, the duty, to build beautiful homes that people actually want to live in”.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick reiterates this point at the Tory Party conference later in the year.

Ultimately, this can only be achieved through a close partnership between developers, local councils, and the wider government.

Stamp duty reforms Leaving new-builds and the housing stock to one side, another topic that seems likely to undergo scrutiny in 2020 is stamp duty. For one, the Government has already proposed a stamp duty surcharge of 3% for non-UK residents who are buying a UK property.

But could further stamp duty reforms be afoot? It would seem so.

It has, for example, been suggested that the threshold at which no stamp duty will be paid could rise to as much as £500,000. It might be completely scrapped for first-time buyers all together.

More radically, Johnson has even hinted previously that the tax could be set for a major overhaul – it could be paid for by the seller, not the buyer.

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Such a drastic change appears unlikely, but the Government will be keen to review how it can reform the tax to simultaneously fuel greater activity in the property market while also improving the public coffers.

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Indeed, figures released in October 2019 by HRMC showed that stamp duty dropped year-on-year by 7% to £11.9 billion in the 2018-19 financial year.

For me, whether it is spending commitment for new-builds or creative tax reforms, I am intrigued to see what the Government includes in the 2020 Spring Budget on 11th March. This will give us a much clearer indication of what Johnson et al have in store for the housing market over the coming parliament, and it provides a much-needed opportunity for addressing critical issues that have been pushed to one side over recent years because of Brexit. Let’s hope this opportunity is not wasted.

Jamie Johnson is the CEO and co-founder of FJP Investment, an introducer of UK and overseas property-based investments to a global audience of high net-worth and sophisticated investors, institutions as well as family offices.

Founded in 2013, the business also partners with developers in order to provide them with a readily accessible source of funding for their development projects.

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ONE THOUSAND MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHED BY HUFTON+CROW One Thousand Museum is a 62-storey residential tower opposite Museum Park in Miami. With views across Biscayne Bay, this popular 30-acre park was redeveloped in 2013 as one of downtown Miami’s primary public spaces and includes the city’s new art and science museums.

The tower’s design continues Zaha Hadid Architects’ research into highrise construction that defines a fluid architectural expression consistent with the engineering for the entire height of a structure.

One Thousand Museum’s concrete exoskeleton structures its perimeter in a web of flowing lines that integrates lateral bracing with structural support.

Reading from top to bottom as one continuous frame, columns at its base fan out as the tower rises to meet at the corners, forming a rigid tube highly resistant to Miami’s demanding wind loads; its curved supports creating hurricane resistant diagonal bracketing.

“The design expresses a fluidity that is both structural and architectural,” explains Zaha Hadid Architects’ project director Chris Lepine. “The structure gets thicker and thinner as required, bringing a continuity between the architecture and engineering.”

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Project

Project Data Height:

709 ft

Gross Area:

911,027 sq ft

Levels:

62

Townhouse Units:

4

Half Floor Units:

70

Full Floor Units:

8

Penthouse:

1

Parking Spaces:

260

Project Team

One Thousand Museum incorporates glass fibre reinforced concrete form-work which remains in place as construction progresses up the tower.

This permanent concrete form-work also provides the architectural finish that requires minimal maintenance.

Behind the exoskeleton, the faceted, crystal-like façade contrasts with the solidity of the structure.

With its frame at the perimeter, the tower’s interior floor plates are almost column free; the exoskeleton’s curvature creating slightly different plans on each floor. On the lower floors, terraces cantilever from the corners, while on the upper floors, the terraces are incorporated behind the structure.

The top floors of the tower feature an aquatic center, lounge and event space. Landscaped gardens, terraces and pools are located above the lobby and residents’ parking.

Architect:

Zaha Hadid Architects

Design:

Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher

Project Director:

Chris Lepine

Project Team:

Alessio Constantino, Martin Pfleger, Oliver Bray, Theodor Wender, Irena Predalic, Celina Auterio, Carlota Boyer

Competiton Team:

Sam Saffarian, Eva Tiedemann, Brandon Gehrke, Cynthia Du, Grace Chung, Aurora Santana, Olga Yatsyuk

Consultants Local Architect:

O’Donnell Dannwolf Partners

Structural:

DeSimone Consulting Engineers

MEP:

HNGS Consulting Engineers

Civil:

Terra Civil Engineering

Landscape:

Enea Garden Design

Fire Protection:

SLS Consulting Inc

Vertical Transportation:

Lerch Bates Inc

Wind Tunnel Consultant:

RWDI Consulting Engineers & Scientists

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Water Management

HOW CAN WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES HELP MEET THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE?

By Niall Greenan, Head of Civil Engineering at Lyons O’Neill The UK is in a state of emergency. The coronavirus outbreak has demanded urgent action to halt its spread and prevent our health services becoming overwhelmed. Responding to the virus has required strong government leadership and the cooperation of individuals and businesses to curb rising case numbers. Research and expert knowledge has also proved essential in discovering more about the disease and exploring new ways of managing its impact.

But the UK - and the world - was already in a state of emergency before this current crisis began.

Climate breakdown may be occurring more gradually but it’s equally as urgent and needs a similarly coordinated response. This February’s mass flooding was another stark reminder that, if left unchecked, climate change will wreak increasing havoc on landscapes and livelihoods.

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Responding to the climate change emergency is the responsibility of every individual, company and national government, but must be of particular concern for the construction industry. Buildings and construction accounts for almost 40% of energyrelated carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and has a great impact on the natural environment. It’s up to all of us working in this sector to do all we can to meet the climate change challenge.

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One key way this can be achieved is through the use of sustainable water management techniques.

These techniques seek to avoid environmental destruction caused by surface runoff and reduce unnecessary pollution by allowing for water reuse. The importance of such methods in addressing climate change was highlighted in October’s Government response to the Committee on Climate Change 2019 progress report, which cited Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) as a crucial part of national government strategy.

The role of SuDS is to ensure that water moving in and around a site mimics the natural movement of water and any surface water is drained efficiently and sustainably. It differs from traditional drainage methods by refusing to direct water to nearby drains and offers opportunities for water storage. SuDS also allows for pollutant removal which reduces the risk of pollutants leaching into the surrounding environment and means

the processed water can be reused for other purposes. By controlling surface water runoff and allowing for water recycling, SuDS therefore minimises environmental damage, decreases flood risks and helps reduce water wastage.

SuDS are increasingly becoming a legal requirement in UK construction.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), last revised in February 2019, states that major developments should incorporate sustainable drainage systems unless there is clear evidence that this is inappropriate. The systems installed must also take account of advice from the lead local flood authority (LLFA), have appropriate proposed minimum operational standards, include maintenance arrangements to ensure an acceptable standard of operation for the lifetime of the development and, where possible, provide multifunctional benefits. f you want your project to benefit from SuDS then this should be factored into plans from the very beginning of the design process.

A civil and structural engineer will conduct a thorough site investigation

- and even employ techniques such as 3D modelling - to explore the below ground drainage challenges of the site in question. They will also conduct capacity checks and investigate foul and surface water pumping stations and then use all this information to create a bespoke drainage strategy.

techniques to achieve a sustainable design. Water butts were installed within the gardens so residents could reuse rainwater for gardening and reduce their water use. An attenuation tank was also designed to accommodate 1 in 100 year storm events for all the remaining surface water on site.

SuDS have a key role to play in minimising environmental damage at a local and national level but they can also help individual projects meet their sustainability goals. They have a significant impact on a project’s BREEAM rating, for example. This was seen in our work at Harris Academy Purley, a three storey school near the Fiveways intersection in Croydon, which achieved an “Excellent” BREEAM rating. In order to achieve this goal, our team designed an infiltration system to discharge the surface water from the site to the water table, so the local water cycle would not be disrupted. The credits won through these techniques proved invaluable in gaining the high level score.

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SuDs aren’t just invaluable in the education sector. Our work at the Childs Terrace housing development in Northolt also involved SuDS

Find out more about the pledge and join us in signing here.

RMIG City Emotion

In the face of global challenges like climate change, the choice of certain drainage systems may seem insignificant. However, every decision has a cumulative effect.

If we want to protect future generations from increased flooding, water shortage and environmental destruction then sustainable water management needs to be a priority. We can’t afford to ignore the climate change emergency.

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Lyons O’Neill are signatories of the UK Structural Engineers Climate & Biodiversity Emergency Declaration.

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DYNAMIC INFRASTRUCTURE RESPONDS TO CORONAVIRUS AND ALLOWS FREE USE OF ITS AI-BASED BRIDGE MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY The New York and Tel Aviv based company Dynamic Infrastructure has decided to open free of charge its AIbased technology to enable Departments of Transportation and Private Public Partnerships (PPP) to continue to remotely manage the critical maintenance of bridges and tunnels during the global emergency resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. This will enable engineers and maintenance managers to continue critical tasks remotely when face to face meetings or site visits are difficult or impossible due to the situation.

Dynamic Infrastructure, which provides maintenance managers and operators visual medical files with full analysis of their assets, will open its system and virtual assistive capabilities, free of charge. “A live 3D bridge with the related online visual medical records analysis enables remote discussions and decision making, avoiding unnecessary face-to-face meetings and still provides a power tool for taking the relevant operation and maintenance decisions,” said Daniel Granatshtain, Dynamic Infrastructure’s CTO. “People are still struggling to find the right way to ‘keep the maintenance running’ when workplaces and families are under full or partial quarantine. We know that remote access to assets, strong sharing capabilities and a knowledgeable decision support system can make a difference for our customers,” added Daniel.

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Dynamic Infrastructure harnesses the power of AI to disrupt Operation & Maintenance of critical transportation assets. Founded by industry professionals with decades of operation and maintenance experience for PPPs and DOTs, Dynamic Infrastructure has become an industry leader and key driver of a data revolution in decision-making processes related to bridge and tunnel Operations & Maintenance. Headquartered in New York, NY, with offices in Germany and Israel, Dynamic Infrastructure maintains a close relationship with its clients and government institutions.

NOTTINGHAM COUPLE ENJOY GREENER ENERGY WITH A SOLAR PV SYSTEM Passionate about helping save the planet, Sean and Terri set out to reduce their carbon footprint with a solar PV system on their house in Nottingham. They are now enjoying greener energy and saving money on their energy bills thanks to a 4.8kW solar PV system installed by Geo Green Power.

Excited to start their green journey, Sean and Terri sought quotes from several solar energy companies but found none of them offered the same solution or inspired the same level of confidence as Geo Green Power.

Explaining their choice to go with Geo Green Power, the couple said: “We felt very comfortable with the surveyor, Jack, and were impressed with his enthusiasm.

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He came across as being knowledgeable, professional and genuine. He was open, direct, and honest, and there was no hard sell.

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The installation and commissioning took place in a single day, and Sean and Terri added: “We were extremely impressed with the whole installation and commissioning process.

“It was smooth, efficient with no fuss, no mess and all of the installation team were professional, respectful, and courteous.

Outstanding!”

The 4.8kW system is now saving 1.8 tonnes of CO2 every year, taking Sean and Terri a long way on their journey to reduce their carbon footprint. Their smart meter shows them in real time how much electricity they are drawing from the grid and they’re always satisfied to see the green line reduced to zero on a clear day.

They’re not done with their green journey yet. Keen to reduce their use of the grid completely, they plan on installing battery storage to make the most of their solar energy overnight.

Company News

GARBMANN ENCOURAGES DONATIONS OF PPE FOR LOCAL CARE HOMES Personalised clothing specialists, Garbmann, are in contact with local care homes to help provide them with packages of the personal protective equipment they are struggling to receive. As well as investing over £650 into PPE itself so far, the company is also encouraging donations from others.

The most sought-after items include disposable aprons, gloves, face masks, coveralls, hand sanitisers, goggles and face visors. All items should be unused and unpackaged.

The plans are being made in an effort to support key care workers, many of

DYER & BUTLER DELIVERS WINTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE WORKS ON BEHALF OF NETWORK RAIL Dyer & Butler, a multi-disciplined engineering services specialist focused on essential infrastructure including airports, railways and highways and part of M Group Services, delivered a number of emergency response works on behalf of Network Rail over the winter period.

whom have not been able to get hold of the correct PPE. Providing them with the equipment they need is a vital step towards keeping them safe, as well as containing the spread amongst the elderly or unable, ultimately helping to save lives.

Laurence Sharpe, Owner and Director of Garbmann, who provide custom safety gear and PPE, explains how companies can make donations:

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Anyone can donate.

All donations are fully tracked, and you will be publicly thanked for helping, plus those receiving the PPE will be notified of who has donated.

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“Businesses who are currently in lockdown may have excess equipment lying about which isn’t currently being used, especially building, scaffolding or deep clean

& Butler’s first major works incident response reactive emergency callout from the Network Rail works delivery team) following inclement weather and high tides that saw water from the river Ouse penetrating the existing embankment • December 2019 - Markbeech Tunnel (minor works): emergency drainage works adjacent to the tunnel area • December 2019 to February 2020 Wivelsfield (major works): a reactive emergency callout to assess and implement embankment stabilisation • January 2020 - Hever (major works): embankment stabilisation and de-vegetation works following an embankment slip

companies, and we urge you to try and help where you can. Get in touch with us at enquiries@garbmann.com or call 01799 786003 if you think you have something you’d like to donate. We will advise on shipping address and if local, we’ll be happy to collect.”

Network Rail Works Delivery Manager, Nad Campbell, commented: “The wet weather conditions we experienced over the winter period had an inevitable impact on a number of railway cuttings and embankments across our network.

“The delivery of these critical works play a vital role in ensuring that our passengers and our staff remain safe and disruption is kept to a minimum.

“These works require a great team effort and I am proud of the collaborative, round the clock approach that underlines our commitment to putting passengers first.”

Dyer & Butler’s works delivery team has provided a range of preventative intervention and reactive response services including embankment strengthening, flooding protection and drainage repairs following heavy rainfall across Network Rail’s Kent, Sussex & Wessex route.

The projects delivered to date include: • October 2019 - Croydon Park Hill (minor works): installation of erosion protection at the crest of the existing cutting as part of flood protection works • November 2019 to December 2019 - Southease (major works): embankment stabilisation measures and flood protection works (Dyer

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PAINTING MADE EASY WITH INNOVATIVE NEW INTERIOR DOOR The practice of painting doors on site has been getting harder over the last few years. A lack of skilled resource to carry out such finishing work is one factor, but also the spiralling labour and materials costs associated with this, not to mention the drain on time involved, all contribute to concerns for Housebuilders and Contractors throughout the industry.

Now a solution has been presented by leading interior timber door manufacturer Vicaima. With the introduction of its innovative Primed 2 Go doors.

Painting doors just got easier with new Primed 2 Go from Vicaima.

With its revolutionary new surface fi¬nish, Primed 2 Go reduces time on site and saves money by removing the need to sand or prime the face of doors before painting. This development has been achieved with the addition of a specially formulated ultra-smooth and opaque polymer face. The new surface means that even for less experienced painters, a professional finish can be achieved more easily.

Developed to accept a wide range of modern paints, and tested to EN ISO 2409/DIN 53151 – grade 0-1, the surface ensures excellent

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Painting doors just got easier with new Primed 2 Go from Vicaima. With its revolutionary new surface finish, Primed 2 Go reduces time on site and saves money by removing the need to sand or prime the face of doors before painting. paint adhesion with the majority of commercially accepted paint systems, including water based applications. The face surface of Primed 2 Go flush doors only require a wipe clean to remove particles and dust, before painting can commence, thereby saving both time and money on site during the installation process.

As a Vicaima product, Primed 2 Go is manufactured to the same high standard as all of their doors.

Examples of which include: Hollow core doors with lock blocks on both sides making installation fully

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reversible and for performance applications Primed 2 Go doors are also available in both half-hour FD30 and one-hour FD60 fire rated. Both hollow core and FD30 doors have timber rails and are lipped on two edges, although these edges would of course require recommended treatment after fitting. Primed 2 Go doors are also available in both glazed options and with decorative grooves where desired, for added design flexibility.

Make life easy for yourself with Primed 2 Go: • Reduces site time and cost • Less materials required to complete finishing • No face sanding required • Easier to achieve a professional surface finish • Ultra-smooth and opaque surface • New polymer face will accept wide range of paint types • Tested to EN ISO 2409/DIN 53151 – grade 0-1 • All Primed 2 Go products are FSC® Certified Download a brochure today or visit the Vicaima website www.vicaima.com. For further inspiration and trend-setting ideas from Vicaima.

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Project

Client

University of East Anglia

Architect

Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects

Main Contractor

RG Carter

Structural Engineer

MLM

MEP Consultant

Johns Slater Haward

Cost Consultant

Aecom

Acoustic Consultant

Ramboll

Planning Consultant

Ingleton Wood

Fire Engineer

Aecom

Briefing Consultants

CPB Projects

Project Manager

Real Consulting

Principal Designer

Lend Lease

Landscape Architect

Wynne-Williams Associates

Heritage Consultant

Cambridge Architectural Research Unit

Ecology Consultant

Wild Frontier Ecology

Fume Cupboard Specialist

Mike Dockery

Approved Building Inspector

MLM Building Control

Photography

Tim Crocker & FBM. Unless otherwise stated.

Start Date

January 2016

Planning Approval

November 2017

Start on Site Date

January 2018

Practical Completion

September 2019

Form of Contract

Design & Build

Gross Internal Area

7,200m2

Net Internal Area

4,550m²

Net to gross ratio

63%

Construction Cost

£20m

Construction cost per m²

£2,780/m

UAE New Science Building Designed by Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects, The New Science Building at UEA provides state of the art, flexible, undergraduate teaching laboratories & general teaching in a purpose built building at the Western edge of the UEA’s parkland campus.

The brief for this building was to create an open, accessible building that could become a hub for the Western part of the campus, in a building which

will both allow sciences to grow and to attract more students to study at UEA. This new building also helps to deliver a key part of the strategy for the renewal and improvement of the UEA Estate over the next 20+ years in particular reducing emissions from a building type which is historically wasteful & inefficient and providing decant space for the Grade II listed ‘Lasdun Wall’.

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DESIGN ENGINE’S SCHEME FOR NEW STOWE SCHOOL DESIGN TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING BUILDING SUBMITTED FOR PLANNING The Design Engine scheme for a new Design Technology & Engineering Building at Stowe School has been submitted for planning consent.

Stowe School has been based since its founding in 1923 in the historically recognised Stowe House site, formerly the seat of the Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos.

Following an invited design competition in 2016, Design Engine were subsequently commissioned to develop designs for the new Design Technology & Engineering building for Stowe School to replace existing facilities.

221 HOMES APPROVED FOR EBBSFLEET GARDEN CITY

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Ebbsfleet Garden City will get a further 221 homes after plans were approved for a scheme by Bellway Homes.

At the end of 2018 Bellway was given approval for a 100-home scheme on land nearby at Craylands Lane.

86 houses and 135 apartments, 30 per cent of which are affordable including three wheelchair accessible homes, were approved

by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s planning committee on a site that was a former chalk quarry near Ingress Park at London Road and Tiltman Avenue in Swanscombe.

The land had not been used in a decade since it was occupied by a plant hire company and work has already started on the homes.

There are now nearly 2,000 homes completed in Ebbsfleet Garden City with nearly 5,000 residents.

Twenty per cent of the site will be open space including a play park and new pedestrian and cycle routes.

A primary school is open and two others are planned to open in September 2020 and plans for a major secondary and primary school campus have been submitted.

The scheme also includes provision for charging electric vehicles and solar panels are included across many of the buildings.

A pub and hotel opened in 2017 with a second one given approval for Castle Hill with work expected to start early this year.

The new building at Stowe will serve as the creative hub to introduce pupils to modern design and manufacturing skills and sit alongside and support the other STEM subjects of science and mathematics. The school strongly believes that Design Technology should be considered a STEM subject offering pupils valuable practical skills as they move from theory to manufacturing.

The subject complements the application of knowledge, understanding and skills in mathematics and science, deploying both theory and practice simultaneously. Stowe has established itself as the country’s leading school for Robotics and this new facility will embrace developing technology in mechatronics, Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Manufacturing, Computer Aided Engineering, 3D printing and other cutting edge technology.

The unique nature of the school campus, sitting within the grounds of Stowe House (and occupying the house itself) demanded a rigorous approach to the setting of the new building. The initial stages of the project therefore involved an in-depth analysis of the campus as a whole in order to explore all options for the location of the new facility. The brief asked for a new stand-alone building that would replace the outdated facilities, to house state-of-the-art workshops that would embrace developing thinking in all areas of design, technology and engineering.

The proposed two-storey building is sited within woodland, to minimise visual impact and to ensure logical adjacencies with other faculties.

The materiality of the building will contribute greatly to its relationship with its historic architectural and landscape context. Stowe School also wanted to

Project News

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE AT CROYDON DEVELOPMENT

explore how the building could work as an educational tool, expressing how different materials are employed in contemporary architecture.

To assist with the proportions of the building and its sense of repose in the landscape we have introduced a horizontal split in the elevation establishing a low level and high level material. This has the effect of reducing the overall visual mass of the elevations within the woodland.

The proposed bronze-coloured material for the upper level will tonally complement the woodland setting but will also maintain a low sheen and reflection. By manipulating contrasting tones of material on different planes we have been able to introduce depth and pattern to the elevation. Brickwork is proposed to the low level area. The brickwork colour and texture is intended to have a parity with adjacent brick buildings. Architecturally, this creates a ‘monolithic’ base on which the more ‘open’ upper facades appear to sit, echoing the traditional and Classical forms of Stowe House.

We have been anxious to make connections with the historic estate through materiality but also through geometry. Many of the buildings and follies on the estate take their architectural proportioning from classical design principles. As part of the creative narrative behind the building and as a proportioning system we have adopted the golden ratio (Golden section) to compose the colonnade elevation.

The building will play a central role in ensuring the continuing success of Stowe School as an outstanding centre for Product Design and Robotics in the UK.

David Gausden, Director at Design Engine, said: “We have been working closely with engineers Buro Happold to explore how the building can serve as an educational tool, to illustrate how different materials are employed as structure and fabric.

The interior of the building will be developed to reveal how materials are connected, and how spaces are serviced. We hope the building will fuse the act of drawing and making, helping to inspire a new generation of creative individuals and problemsolvers.”

Dr Anthony Wallersteiner, Head, Stowe School, said: “The Design Technology & Engineering Centre at Stowe is unashamedly modernist, but follows classical principles; it is

The finishing touches have now been added to a new homes development in Croydon where construction has come to an end.

Bellway London’s Ikon development, off Purley Way, has brought 96 new apartments to the area and transformed the former Lombard House site. The final step of construction – the development’s landscaped podium gardens for residents’ use – has now been completed.

Plans were initially approved for the development in 2017, with building work beginning soon after. Now, only eight apartments remain for sale, with properties available to move into straight away.

Daniel Williamson, Head of Sales for Bellway London, said: “Ikon was just the start of Bellway London’s legacy in Croydon to provide muchneeded homes for the local area.

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We’ve seen over 90 per cent of buyers here take advantage of the London Help to Buy scheme to purchase, for some, their first London home.

“Alongside Bellway building these homes, the residents have built a

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great community and we hope they enjoy the development’s new podium gardens now they have been completed.

“The last few apartments at Ikon remain for sale – they are all available with London Help to Buy and ready to move into straight away. I’d urge people to get in contact if they are interested but if anyone misses out, Bellway London will also be launching Vista24, its second Croydon development, next year.”

The London Help to Buy scheme enables buyers to purchase a home with a five per cent deposit and minimum 55 per cent mortgage. The remaining 40 per cent is provided in the form of a government-backed equity loan that is interest-free for the first five years.

bold and innovative, but sits discreetly in the sylvan landscape. The architects of Design Engine are following in the footsteps of Adam, Kent, Borra, Soane and Gibbs. I am confident that Design Engine will produce a superb building which will in turn take its place among the architectural wonders of Stowe. “

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Leasehold Homes

LEASEHOLD HOMES – MIS-SOLD, NOT MISUNDERSTOOD

By Raam Kanbi, partner, Real Estate Residential London, JMW Solicitors The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) released its results of their probe into the leasehold practices on 28 February 2020, and found evidence of potential mis-selling and unfair contract terms in the leasehold housing sector. The Chief Executive of the CMA, Andrea Coscelli, commented on the results in the press release, saying:

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We’ll be looking carefully at the problems we’ve found, which include escalating ground rents and misleading information, and will be taking our own enforcement action directly in the sector shortly.

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It is reassuring for buyers (in particular first-time buyers) to know that the CMA are now planning enforcement action. Often, the only route onto the property ladder for most buyers is by purchasing a leasehold property.

For many first-time buyers, this means using their lifetime savings that they have worked hard to create over many years and pouring them into their first home. In some cases, this is not enough and many buyers are also relying on the bank of mum and dad (their life savings too being utilised) to help finance a purchase.

The concept of owning a property as a leasehold is often very confusing for buyers, as is the differentiation between a property that is leasehold, freehold or share of freehold. It is easy for buyers to be intentionally or unintentionally misled as to what exactly they are buying and what their legal interest in the property actually means. Often, the differences and consequences are not explained until much further into the transaction, at which point the prospective buyer will have already made financial and personal commitments to the transaction and find themselves with no option but to continue with the purchase.

The costs attached to buying and owning a leasehold property can also be quite significant, which was included within the scope of the CMA review. With leasehold properties, there are often various annual costs associated with the same, typically in the form of a rising ground rent and different forms of service charges.

These charges can be quite excessive and not laid out to buyers at the point of offer or reservation, and the CMA will do well to ensure that developers and estate agents in particular are fully transparent and disclose as much of this crucial financial information at the earliest possible stage.

The result of the CMA investigation is another clear signal that there must be a reform in the sale of leasehold properties. There have been longstanding concerns on the levels of ground rent and the increase mechanisms being unreasonable or unfair, which led to the consultation on tackling unfair practices in the leasehold market by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in 2017.There was an overwhelming response calling for ground rents to be abolished and to level the playing field for both buyers and existing leaseholders.

Since the 2017 consultation, there has been some progress in the restriction of new build leasehold houses and a gradual move away from doubling ground rents (which are now largely unacceptable to lenders) to increases in line with RPI. Some developers and landlords have also taken steps to offer a variation of lease terms to existing leaseholders with doubling ground rent. However, there is still much to be done to protect buyers and owners from unfair practices, not just when initially purchasing a property but also during the ownership of the lease, such as the route to challenging service charges and purchasing the freehold.

It is not yet clear what enforcement action the CMA will take or when this will happen, but it is encouraging to see further recognition that this is a problem that needs to be address, and the beginnings of steps being taken to ensure that consumer protection laws are upheld when marketing and selling leasehold properties.

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About Raam Kanbi - Raam is a new build specialist and often acts on off-plan purchases and contract assignments. He also advises first time buyers and purchasers using the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme. Raam also acts in all manners of residential conveyancing transactions such as sales, purchases and re-mortgages for first time buyers and property investors.

WERNICK DELIVERS SECOND MODULAR BUILDING FOR SWANSEA UNIVERSITY The University procured a £4.9m teaching facility from a local provider for their Bay Campus.

Students have moved into the twostorey, 2,600m² building following an end-to-end build programme of just 28 weeks.

Situated on Swansea University’s prestigious Bay Campus, the H-shaped structure offers eight spacious teaching areas for up to 2,000 students, and space for the Student’s Union. The comprehensive interior fitout includes folding partitions to create flexible spaces, lecture suites, PC labs and quiet zones.

The building, officially named ‘Y Twyni’ (meaning The Burrows), was procured through Fusion 21’s Education and Modular Buildings Framework, and was built ‘offsite’, using the latest innovations in modular design and build.

Modules were manufactured in a quality-controlled factory environment in six weeks, with ground works on campus taking place simultaneously.

The modules were then craned into place to form a complete building.

While the principal driver of a modular solution is time, the method presents a range of environmental benefits too. For example, up to 90% fewer vehicles arrive on site and less waste for landfill is produced at each stage of the build. Concrete and plaster use are significantly reduced, as are C02 emissions from on-site generators.

Wernick utilised their latest modular system – Swiftplan®. As well as ensuring building efficiency, the system allows for greater versatility for the addition of

architectural features. In the case of Y Twyni, these include curtain walling, which provides open, sun-drenched areas and rain screen cladding, which gives the exterior a contemporary feel.

Swiftplan’s® industry-leading noncombustible wall-panelling system will ensure an extra level of safety, and a hybrid natural ventilation system will provide a comfortable environment for occupants.

The innovative structure sits alongside a range of pioneering buildings on the campus, including the UK’s first energy positive office – the ‘Active Office’, delivered by Wernick in 2018. Like the Active Office, manufacture of the new teaching facility took place at the Wernick Buildings factory in Port Talbot – 13 miles from the Bay Campus.

Swansea University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor Martin Stringer said: “Y Twyni represents the University’s commitment to developing flexible learning spaces, sustainable building methods, and working with local manufacturers.”

Stuart Wilkie, Managing Director at Wernick Buildings added:

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We are delighted that our local University is embracing modern methods of construction and all that modular buildings have to offer. Higher education institutions such as Swansea University are leading the way by providing innovative and inspiring spaces to enhance the student experience.

Website: www.wernick.co.uk

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LEE EVANS PARTNERSHIP’S DESIGN FOR MAJOR EDUCATION CAMPUS IN SOUTH EAST SUBMITTED FOR PLANNING Lee Evans Partnership’s (LEP’s) design for an ‘education campus’ in Whitecliffe, Ebbsfleet Garden City – in the Dartford area of Kent and close to the Bluewater Shopping Centre – has been submitted for planning to the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation by developer Henley Camland. The campus will eventually offer more than 2,200 places to nursery, primary and secondary school pupils, as well as serve as a key community sports facility.

The proposal – known as Alkerden C of E Academy – includes provision for a nursery, a new two-form-entry primary school, an eight-form-entry secondary school, a dual-use community sports centre with external sports pitches and associated ancillary facilities for the emerging local community. The sports facilities are aimed at supporting more than 500 users at any particular time and will be designed to a Sports England specification. The design has been submitted following extensive consultation with members of the public. The combined schools and associated facilities will occupy an 11.1 hectare site, making it one of the largest educational facilities ever to be built in Kent.

The development – on the former Eastern Quarry where chalk was once quarried, and parts of which were originally 12 metres below ground level – is currently one of the largest development sites in the UK. Over 6,250 new homes are planned for the site, alongside additional schools, community amenities, commercial and employment ventures, and leisure facilities. Once the education campus is completed, the facilities will be managed by the Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust.

The scale and design of the scheme will reference the site’s industrial and agricultural heritage, with the brickwork of the primary school drawing on the original reddish-brown quarry topsoil, and the brickwork of the secondary school drawing upon the underlying chalk landscape.

This approach allows two distinctive elements to be created within a single, shared identity. A landmark ‘corner’ has been incorporated into the design to serve as a public-facing ‘showcase’ for the work of students at the secondary school. The site has been arranged along a central spine which connects the two schools with the external sports facilities, as well as with the wider local community. The primary school classrooms have been arranged to be north-facing, allowing the provision of a greater number of external south-facing play areas. Selfcontained ‘cloistered’ spaces will also be included where students can meet and interact.

The primary school and nursery will accommodate 446 pupils aged 3 – 11, while the secondary school will provide space for 1,680 students aged 11 – 18 years and will include a specialistresourced provision for pupils whose principal challenge to learning in a conventional school environment is a diagnosis of autism.

A dual-use sports centre will be incorporated into the secondary school design to support the requirements of both students and the local community, and will comprise of

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a four-court sports hall, dance studio, fitness rooms and a café/bar area.

Externally, four full-sized grass pitches will be provided, together with an allweather pitch, running track and field facility. ‘Fastrack’, a rapid bus transport system, will provide efficient and dedicated bus routes to the campus, linking key local destinations.

LEP’s design incorporates sustainable methods of construction as far as possible, opting for cross-laminated timber (CLT) as the principal structural material in the primary school. This will reduce the amount of embodied energy in the building, as well as minimising the quantities of VOCs used in the construction process. The shape of the ventilation cowls on the rooftops of the primary school reference the appearance of oast houses and kilns typical of Kent and allow for fresh air to be circulated throughout the building.

Lee Evans Partnership’s London Partner, Mark Nolan, said: “We have an exceptionally strong understanding of the site context and, in particular, the issues involved in working on a school of such a significant scale as this. We feel that – despite the project’s size – our design will create a welcome, comfortable and productive learning environment that positively encourages staff and pupil wellbeing.

We recognise that a well-designed learning environment brings benefits to the student experience and delivering this was central to our approach from the outset. As a result, we collaborated closely with the project engineers to

Project

optimise the orientation and elevations of the building and maximise natural daylight, thermal comfort and air quality, while also limiting the school’s energy usage and carbon footprint.

All Images: © Lee Evans Partnership

“

As one of the first large-scale civic projects to be built within the development, we acknowledge the importance of establishing a place which will become a centre for the local community by maximising opportunities for the school facilities to be used outside regular school hours.

The design process has been driven by close collaboration between the design team, Henley Camland, the Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.

We look forward to seeing how the creation of this leading education and community facility will benefit the surrounding, growing community in the future.

“

Other features of the proposal include:

• Encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transport, whereby children, parents/carers, teachers and support staff will be encouraged to walk, cycle or use buses as far as possible • Incorporating the ‘Five Capitals Model for Sustainability’ to capture the multi-faceted benefits of Alkerden Education Campus in the context of its social, physical, natural, human and economic ‘capital’, and to identify the project’s sustainability aspirations with the aim of ensuring these are included within the proposed nursery, primary and secondary schools, and community sports campus • Exploring the use of several energyefficient fabric and systems options in the design approach to determine the most effective strategy for minimising the development’s

energy demands and thereby helping to reduce the scheme’s embedded and operational carbon footprint • Creating a distinctive identity for the 6th form centre, which will be housed to the south west of the site and will include a roof terrace.

The design rationale is to create an aspirational space for younger students • Incorporating a series of external terraces for teaching and social interaction The campus will be built alongside separate plans to deliver new housing in the villages of Alkerden and Ashmere which, collectively, form the Whitecliffe area of Ebbsfleet Garden City. As part of a separate application, it is intended to construct a community hub on a nearby site. This hub will provide a variety of essential community facilities, including a ‘Life Long Learning Centre’, public library, community information centre, adult education services, a Job Centre, a base for local police, youth services, and a community centre.

Peter Nelson, Director of Henley Camland, the Landowner and Client and overall project Director says: “The Alkerden C of E Academy is one of the cornerstones of our vision to deliver exemplar facilities to support

the housing alongside the parks, lakes, shops, offices, cafés, bars and restaurants we will be providing throughout Whitecliffe. The quality of the campus, which Lee Evans Partnership and the rest of the team have produced, and the teaching excellence provided by the Trust will ensure Whitecliffe is a great place to live and raise children.”

Stephen Carey, CEO, Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust says: “We are delighted to have been selected as the Academy Operator for this exceptional development. We are excited by the project and welcome the responsibility and privilege that this opportunity offers to provide an exceptional, inclusive education to the new Garden City community. The new schools within the Education Campus will join our existing family of successful Trust schools located in nearby wards that surround and connect the Garden City development. We anticipate that we will be able to contribute significantly to the development of the civic community through our work on place-making with the students.

We are grateful to our partners in this project for the collegiate approach which has provided the opportunity for our educational vision to determine key aspects of design and thus create a place of learning where all can be offered the chance to achieve their very best.”

Primary School Elevation

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Latest News

WHAT COVID-19 MEANS FOR THE UK PROPERTY MARKET What practical steps are Alchemi Group taking in response to the Coronavirus outbreak?

Like many London businesses we’ve asked our team at Alchemi Group to work from home until further notice, while keeping visits to the Westminster Fire Station site to a minimum and making a greater use of facetime.

What measures do you have in place if you have to shut down activity on site at Westminster Fire Station?

Some of the products we are using for Westminster Fire Station are coming from overseas - including European countries currently affected by the corona virus - and in anticipation of delayed deliveries we’re working closely with our contractors to consider resequencing of programmes to mitigate delays.

Have you noticed any changes in buyers / seller / landlord / tenant behaviour as a result of the virus?

The Central London sales market was off to a strong start at the beginning of the year and with a lack of quality, bespoke new build homes on market, we experienced a significant increase in enquiries for our Westminster Fire Station development. This was felt

particularly after the recent budget announcements which set the clock ticking for overseas buyers keen to complete purchases before next April when a 2% surcharge in SDLT will be levied. As our Westminster Fire Station development is due to be launched at a time which will coincide with this change, we’ve been building a healthy list of interested purchasers.

The corona virus has, however, clearly paused this interest as people rightly prioritise health and family.

How do you think the pandemic will affect the residential property market this year?

The pandemic will certainly delay what was building up to be a strong Spring Market. However, we expect there to be pent up demand that will make for a busy summer – if the virus subsides with warmer weather. The recently reduced interest rates should lead to cheaper borrowing costs which will also increase purchaser appetite. The government has recently written to the Mayor lamenting the very disappointing average of 37,000 homes a year being built in London right now – against a target of 65,000 a year. This may lead to a significant pent up demand and supply imbalance later this year.

By Charlie Baxter, Managing Director and co-founder of Alchemi Group,

NEW FIGURES SHOW HOUSEBUILDING RATES FAILING TO MEET GOVERNMENT TARGETS – AND CORONAVIRUS YET TO TAKE ITS TOLL The number of new build homes started and completed in the last quarter of 2019 fell below government targets, according to new government figures published today – and the industry says the coronavirus pandemic is set to impact these further.

According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the new build dwellings figures should be regarded as a leading indicator of overall housing supply.

Today’s figures show that:

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• On a quarterly basis, new build dwelling starts in England were estimated at 34,260 (seasonally adjusted) in the latest quarter, an 11 per cent decrease compared to the previous 3 months and a 17 per cent decrease on a year earlier.

Completions were estimated at

44,980 (seasonally adjusted), a 1 per cent decrease from the previous quarter and 3 per cent higher than a year ago.

• Annual new build dwelling starts totalled 151,020 in the year to December 2019, a 10 per cent decrease compared with the year to December 2018. During the same period, completions totalled 178,800, an increase of 9 per cent compared with last year • All starts between October and December 2019 are now 99 per cent above the trough in the March quarter 2009 and 30 per cent below the March quarter 2007 peak. All completions between October and December 2019 are 78 per cent above the trough in the March quarter 2013 and 7 per cent below the March quarter 2007 peak.

Clive Docwra, Managing Director of leading construction consulting and design agency McBains, said: “The government’s ambitious housebuilding target – delivering a million homes in the next five years – was always going to be extremely challenging, and the latest statistics bear this out.

However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will mean this is now virtually impossible. Many sites are empty, supply chains have been disrupted and multi-million pounds worth of private investment is on hold for the foreseeable future. That will knock back housebuilding rates months, if not years. The government has already announced an unprecedented package of measures to help support business, but once we’ve turned the tide on the virus further help, such as tax incentives, will be needed to get the UK building again.”

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10/02/2020 11:34:47

People On The Move

a family-friendly business and it is testament to the company that so many employees have been working here for so long.”

As a sales manager, Andrew oversees multiple sites across Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire, and has seen first-hand why Bellway developments in this region are so popular.

He said: “Our homes are well received because of the finish of the product and the build quality is really good. I think another aspect is also the sales teams that we have at our sites. A lot of our sales advisors have been working for Bellway for a number of years and so they know the product really well, which obviously helps massively when talking to customers and answering any questions they might have.

ANDREW BUILDS ON CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE WITH NEW ROLE AT BELLWAY A new sales manager has joined the team at Milton Keynes-based housebuilder Bellway Northern Home Counties.

At 29, Andrew Odams, from Buckingham, already has a wealth of experience in construction and other aspects of the industry, having studied architecture and environmental engineering at the University of the West of England, Bristol, followed by a six-year stint with another housebuilder.

He started his new job based at Bellway’s divisional headquarters in Caldecotte, Milton Keynes, last month.

He said: “I have always had an interest in the building industry. I am really enjoying working for Bellway; everyone that I work with has been very accommodating and welcoming.

“It’s been nice going to a friendly workplace with a more open management style. It really feels like

“

The fact that this division has three sales managers also means that we are able to visit the sites more often and we can regularly talk with our team face-toface and gauge if anything needs fixing or any problems need solving.

“

Bellway Northern Home Counties is currently building new homes across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.

BAKERHICKS STRENGTHEN GROUND ENGINEERING CAPABILITY WITH NEW SENIOR APPOINTMENT BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design, engineering and project delivery company, have further strengthened their ground engineering capability with the appointment of Paul Hooton as Associate Engineer to lead the expansion of their dedicated ground engineering team.

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A Chartered Civil Engineer and Registered Ground Engineering Advisor, Paul brings extensive geotechnical experience and knowledge, having worked on numerous high-profile projects, including Manchester Metrolink airport line extension, Congleton Link Road and the East Coast Mainline power supply upgrade. His skills have been deployed across multiple sectors, including rail, highways, aviation, flood protection, utilities, leisure, commercial and local government projects, with clients comprising public bodies, private developers and design and build contractors.

His experience of desk studies, ground investigation, interpretation of investigation results, ground modelling, geotechnical design, and technical

reporting will be of particular benefit as the business expands. As will his expertise in the investigation and treatment of mine workings; the installation of soil nails, rock mesh and rock anchors; earthwork asset inspections; and the supervision of earthworks schemes.

Prior to Joining BakerHicks’ Civil & Structural team, Paul was a principal geotechnical engineer at Atkins. He has also held similar senior positions, including the role of technical director at Hydrock and Jacobs, in a career spanning over 18 years.

BakerHicks were recently appointed to the Geotechnical Lot for the North West and Scotland region on the Network Rail Design Services Framework covering CP6.

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