NEWS Pictured left to right are Dan Germann, managing director of Keepmoat South with Councillor John Mowles, Ipswich Borough Council’s Housing portfolio–holder look at plans of the new development at Bader Close
New homes planned
Under the microscope
Ipswich Borough Council has appointed national housing and regeneration specialist, Keepmoat to deliver more than 100 much-needed high quality affordable new homes in the town. The £10m scheme, which is the first major house-building programme the Council has commissioned in the last five decades, is part of a commitment to deliver hundreds of homes across the Borough over the next five years. The new development will see the construction of 108 affordable homes to the Holywells / Gainsborough area of Ipswich on the site of a former sports field off Bader Close. Work will commence in Spring this year and is expected to be welcomed by more than 3000 households currently on the council’s housing waiting list. The scheme will be a mix of house types and styles consisting of 77 two-bedroom homes, 11 four-bedroom homes, ten two-bedroom bungalows and ten one-bedroom bungalows.
New analysis published by Creditsafe reveals that nine of the ten most searched for companies in 2013 operate in the construction industry. Topping the list was Farnrise Construction Limited, a growing construction firm headquartered in Gatwick, closely followed by Daniel Contractors Ltd and Mansell Construction Services Ltd. The construction industry is undergoing a minor resurgence in the UK with Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union,
New installation at Canary Wharf Fireproof cable cleats manufactured by Ellis have been installed throughout the new BP4 Tower at Canary Wharf, London. Designed specifically for installation with fire protection (FP) rated cables, the Phoenix cleats are manufactured in 316L stainless steel and are both fire proof and corrosion resistant. They were specified by Hilson Moran through Ellis’ UK distributor, ETS Cable Components and installed by electrical contractor, Phoenix ME Limited. “In order for FP rated cables to continue working in an emergency they need to remain intact and in place,” said Ellis’ UK sales director, Paul Nolan. “If these cables aren’t properly restrained then the risks are clear – the loss of vital services and the likelihood of live cables falling and causing potentially lethal hazards.” Working in conjunction with Exova Warringtonfire, BRE and ETS, Ellis initially developed its Phoenix range in 2011. Prior to launch the products underwent a wide range of tests, including exposure to fire, impact and water spray, all of which
combined to ensure that the range offers fire protection to the same level as the cables it is installed to protect. “Any building should strive to ensure that the products used to protect the emergency systems are the best available, but when you consider BP4 is a 130-metre, 23-storey, 530,000 sq ft development in the heart of one of London’s key business districts then it’s fair to say that in this instance it was an absolute imperative,” continued Paul.
estimating annual growth of 5.1 per cent. A further sign the construction industry is picking up is evidenced by the fact that none of the most searched construction industry firms in 2013 had entered administration in the previous 12 months. In 2012, 57 per cent of the most searched construction companies had been declared insolvent. Chris Robertson, managing director at Creditsafe UK, said: “While the construction industry in the UK appears to be undergoing a minor revival, across Europe concerns about the viability of operators remains. That the overwhelming majority of the most searched companies operate in the construction industry reinforces the nervousness many firms have about the long-term financial health of the sector. With major infrastructure projects in the UK including HS2 and an expansion of runway capacity yet to come to fruition, growth will have to be driven by investment from the private sector.”
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