Category Archives: Property

Environment, Environment News, News, Property, South East

Norwich school receives hedgehog home from housebuilder to help prickly pursuit

A school in Rackheath has received a hedgehog home donation for National Hedgehog Awareness Week, to help reverse the decline of the species.

Developer Barratt and David Wilson Homes donated the habitat as part of the annual National Hedgehog Awareness Week, which took place at the beginning of May.

The awareness week is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, and aims to highlight the issues hedgehogs face, whilst providing solutions for what people can do to support them.

Following the society’s suggestion to buy or build a hedgehog home, the housebuilder donated a ‘hogitat’ hedgehog home to Rackheath Primary School, located on Willoughby Way near the developer’s Woodland Heath development.

Helen Grogutt, Class Teacher at Rackheath Primary School, said: “We often find a hungry hedgehog within the school grounds so it is lovely to have a safe home for them where we can put some food and water.

“The children were very excited when it arrived and have been keen to find out what type of food we should leave out for hedgehogs. We are fortunate in having a lovely wildlife area with a bug hotel and will initially place our new hedgehog home here and hope for visitors!

“We are very grateful to Barratt and David Wilson homes for this gift.”

As of July 2020, the British hedgehog was officially classified as vulnerable to extinction, meaning it is more important than ever to protect our prickly neighbours.

Annette Hurst, Sales Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties, said: “As a leading housebuilder, we know that home is where the heart is and that’s true for all types of residents, human or otherwise!

“We hope our donation will give local hedgehogs protection and a safe home at Rackheath Primary School, whilst also encouraging the pupils to consider the wildlife near their own homes.”

Woodland Heath is a development of three and four bedroom homes, offering the perfect village lifestyle while also boasting great commuter links to Norwich city centre, with Norwich Railway Station and Norwich International Airport just a short commute away.

For more information about the new homes being built at Woodland Heath, call the Barratt Homes sales team on 033 3355 8488 or the David Wilson Homes sales team on 033 3355 8489. Alternatively, you can visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk.

Carbon Reduction, News, Property, Property News

Revealed: The Support Councils Need To Deliver Net-Zero Targets

A survey of 50 UK-wide council representatives (from 45 separate councils) by strategic property advisers Cluttons and sustainability consultants AESG has found that the majority need support on kickstarting and accelerating their Net Zero strategies. 

The representatives – all ACES members – were asked about their current Net Zero journeys, the most important factors, challenges they faced, their understanding of their own council’s carbon footprint and offsetting proportions. 

The research found that 58% of council respondents were still in the initial stages of their net zero strategies, while 11% had not yet started their journey. Just over a quarter were in the ‘delivery’ phase of their strategy to date. 

When it came to the main drivers for councils setting their net-zero strategies, most cited the financial savings that came from achieving carbon reductions and the environmental benefits that it would bring to the local area. Government regulations were next on the list, a driver that was especially prominent for councils with ambitious net-zero targets of 2030. 

On obstacles on the path to net zero, over two thirds of respondents (71%) cited financing the journey as their greatest challenge, with ‘skills to implement’ and ‘time’ following close behind. This supported the idea that councils within the UK do not currently have the resources available to meet their net-zero goals and without further governmental assistance, the most ambitious targets may not be met. 
 

Niall Keighron, sustainability practitioner at Cluttons, said: “With the UK Government’s commitment to net zero, the implementation of ESG strategies across the country is crucial. Yet it is clear that councils lead a lot more support and resource – not just for implementing the strategies, but to help create them, understand what’s needed and accelerate towards delivery. The council representatives themselves state that finance, skills and time/resource are the biggest obstacles to overcome. By sharing expert insight and practical know-how we can work with councils to meet Net Zero challenges head on and supercharge the UK’s drive towards net zero.” 

When it came to levels of understanding, only 24% of councils and government representatives had a ‘clear’ or ‘comprehensive’ understanding of their current carbon footprint, with 37% stating they did not understand their carbon footprint. On strategy, levels of understanding were also lower than expected with 69% of respondents stating they only had a ‘not clear’ or ‘average; understanding of their own council’s net-zero strategy and roadmap for implementation. Only 27% had a ‘clear’ or ‘very clear’ understanding. This issue of a lack of clarity continued into the levels of carbon offsetting’ in their council’s climate strategy. Unfortunately, 68% did not know if their strategy included offsetting – supporting the earlier result that many respondents did not understand their own climate strategy. Of the respondents that knew offsetting was included in their strategy, 20% was the average figure suggested, however the majority stated their council’s exact offsetting figure was yet to be determined 

Keighron continues; “These results highlight the challenges that most councils are currently facing. Despite net-zero targets rapidly approaching, the majority of local councils are still unaware as to how they will be expected to meet these, questioning whether these targets and declaration of climate emergencies were made as they were seen as achievable goals or in response to public pressure and statuary obligations. Again, this is where the private sector can help bridge the gap between what’s expected and what is practical and engage councils and communities accordingly.”
 

Overall, the findings from the net-zero survey, distributed amongst councils across the UK, suggest that despite over 75% of local authorities in the UK now declaring a climate emergency, very few have a clear understanding of how their targets will be achieved. The most ambitious of commitments may have been made in response to public pressure and statuary obligations, rather than a sincere belief that net-zero targets will be met. Despite the majority of councils being unaware as to how much carbon offsetting will contribute towards their net-zero strategy, it is felt that without greater financial assistance, and significant and rapid progress, offsetting may be heavily relied on. However, with the price of carbon offsetting due to rise significantly in the coming years, councils will be forced to look at reducing their own emissions first but will require further governmental assistance in order to do so.
 

Sam Luker, consultant at AESG, concluded: “Cluttons and AESG decided to run this research to highlight the serious challenges facing the country when it comes to achieving net zero – not to criticise the lack of progress to date. Our aim is to foster greater collaboration between the public and private sector and support an acceleration towards net zero. It is good to see that there is a realisation that significant changes are necessary if UK councils are to be anywhere near their targets in the next eight years. Now is the time to support these changes and really move the dial on the UK’s net zero ambitions.” 

News, Property, South East

More than 600 homes bought with Help to Buy at Vistry Eastern developments

Vistry Eastern has helped more than 600 homebuyers in the region step onto or move up the property ladder with the Help to Buy scheme.

The Chelmsford-based housebuilder has sold 647 new properties through its Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands with Help to Buy since the Government initiative was launched in 2013.

The scheme, which comes to an end next year, was set up to enable purchasers to secure a new-build home with just a five per cent deposit and a 75 per cent mortgage – the remaining 20 per cent being provided in the form of an equity loan from the Government, which is interest free for the first five years of homeownership.

Vistry Eastern, which is part of Vistry Group, incorporating Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Vistry Partnerships, builds new homes across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex – many of which are eligible to be purchased with Help to Buy.

Jason Colmer, sales and marketing director at Vistry Eastern, said: “Help to Buy has proved to be an invaluable tool for buyers unable to save up for a typical 10 per cent deposit or secure a large mortgage on a new home. We are proud to be part of a scheme which has put the dream of homeownership within reach of many more people – including the 647 households who have purchased using Help to Buy at one of our developments.”

The initiative was initially open to both first-time buyers and existing homeowners purchasing new-build homes priced up to £600,000 before it was revised in April last year.

The new version, which ends in March 2023, is only available to first-time buyers purchasing properties which fall within the relevant regional price cap – ranging from £186,100 in the North East to £600,000 in London.

Jason said: “Although Help to Buy is no longer available to second-steppers, it still represents a fantastic opportunity for first-time buyers looking to get a foot on the property ladder. Vistry Eastern is building hundreds of new homes throughout Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and many of these properties are below the regional price cap of £407,400 in the East of England and £437,600 in the South East.

“Our developments are situated in locations which meet the needs of a wide range of buyers, from people keen to stay close to their families in the region to those looking for a convenient commute to Cambridge, Chelmsford and London.

“First-time buyers who want to use Help to Buy will need to reserve their new home by December 2022 in order to meet the March 2023 deadline. With this timescale in mind, we would recommend that anyone wishing to benefit from the scheme starts searching now.”

For more information about the new homes being built by Vistry Eastern, visit lindenhomes.co.uk and bovishomes.co.uk.

Awards, Midlands News, News, Property

Sam scoops Rising Star award at prestigious Props

Bromwich Hardy graduate surveyor Sam Cooper has been named the Midland’s rising property star – after just one full year in his job.

Sam scooped the Rising Star award at the inaugural Midlands Props awards after judges heard the 25 year old concluded 34 separate in his first full year worth millions of pounds.

Sam said he was hugely honoured to have won the title and paid tribute to his colleagues at Coventry-based Bromwich Hardy for their part in his success.

“I have been fantastically fortunate to start my career at such a wonderful company and to be learning so much from a remarkable team,” said Sam.

Judges were told Sam had secured £1.4million of lease deals for 202,000 sq ft of space, 22 separate industrial lettings worth £1.1 million and six office lettings equating to 40,000 sq ft.

Awards host Jonnie Irwin – of TV’s Escape to the Country and A Place in the Sun – told guests at the awards ceremony at Birmingham’s Grand Hotel that Sam was like ‘a machine’.

Sam, who joined Bromwich Hardy in July 2022 and who is halfway through a Masters in Real Estate at Birmingham University, added: “It was a real shock to be shortlisted and I never dreamed I would actually win.

“I have had an incredible first year in the job and would like to thank all my clients, colleagues at Bromwich Hardy and most importantly founding partner Tom Bromwich for taking me under his wing and passing on some of his expert knowledge.

“I have my sights firmly set on becoming a chartered surveyor so there is still plenty for me to learn and lots of hard work ahead.”

Tom said: “Sam is a remarkable young man who has made a huge impact both on our business and the commercial property market in the Midlands in general in his first year in the job.

“He has a maturity beyond his years and an understanding both of the industry and – more importantly – the people we do business with, quickly winning their confidence and trust. He is already a key part of our team and we look forward to working together for many years to come.”

Bromwich Hardy was shortlisted for three awards at the event, also being nominated for best regeneration project with Complex Development Projects for a scheme which including the creation of the Telegraph Hotel Coventry, whilst Tom was shortlisted for office deal of the year for the sale of Bishops House on Tachbrook Park, Warwick.

The awards recognise the leaders making a difference in the world of Midlands real estate and raise funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity.

Property

Tips for Improving Ventilation in Your Home

We spend up to 90% of our time indoors. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to keep your home properly ventilated. Several particles pollute the indoor air daily: smoke, pollen, and smog from the outside, for example.

But other day-to-day activities might contaminate the air too, such as cooking or burning a candle. The range of solutions is broad, from opening the windows to installing AOV smoke control systems. If you seek ways to improve your home ventilation, read on to find some tips.

 

1) Open the Windows and Doors

Not to state the obvious, but opening the windows and doors will bring in fresh air and thus improve ventilation at home. You don’t even need to open them wide – even slightly cracking them open will help.

 

  • If possible, open several doors and windows to ensure airflow and renovation.
  • If you tend to sleep with the windows closed, make sure to open them first thing in the morning.

 

2) Install Fans

Fans can be a great tool to improve airflow, as they force air to be in constant movement. However, here are some tips to consider:If possible, place the fan close to an open window. That way, you’ll blow the air outside and get rid of potentially harmful particles like a virus.

  • Don’t point fans toward people. If you do, you might be directing contaminated air directly at them.
  • Consider ceiling fans. They help improve airflow whether the windows and doors are open or closed.

 

3) Install AOV Smoke Control Systems

AOV stands for Automatic Opening Vent. These control systems vent air or smoke for natural ventilation. They come with sensors that determine when the building or room needs ventilation.

They mainly serve as prevention systems in the event of a fire – they detect smoke and other harmful particles and open the windows to prevent residents from inhaling them.

If you’re concerned about your loved ones’ safety and the potential damage contaminated air can cause, an AOV system is your go-to option.

 

4) Consider a Dehumidifier

These appliances remove excess moisture from the air and thus keep your room at optimum humidity. They help maintain optimal condensation levels, improving the air quality at home as a result. Here are some of their benefits:

 

  • Cost-effective. You can buy a dehumidifier for an affordable value for money.
  • Reduction in humidity levels, combatting mould, and improving air quality.
  • Reduction in allergens. If you experience allergies frequently, a dehumidifier can reduce the allergen particles in the air.
  • Small size. These devices don’t take up a lot of space, meaning you can place them anywhere at home.

 

5) Dry the Laundry Outside

The UK is well-known for its humid weather, especially in seasons like winter. That can lead us to dry the laundry clothes indoors. But drying the clothes inside can create condensation and accelerate mould growth.

Try to dry your clothes in a covered outdoor area like a patio. If indoors is your only option, open the windows to allow excess moisture to escape.

 

The Bottom Line

We spend a lot of time indoors. Home ventilation is necessary because it ensures the air you breathe is rich in oxygen and poor in allergens or toxic particles.

The best way to ensure home ventilation is to open windows and doors to allow airflow. Other tips are to install dehumidifiers or control systems that detect harmful particles and prevent you from inhaling them.

 

Construction, Construction News, News, Property

Johnson Controls supports FPA-approved fire suppression and maintenance services

  • Johnson Controls calls for UK property developers, landlords, building owners and occupiers to align with new fire safety guidelines
  • Johnson Controls works with the UK fire safety organisation FPA to educate commercial and residential owners and occupiers
  • Regular servicing and maintenance of fire safety systems help protect lives and validate building insurance policies

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced it offers the products and services, backed by rigorous standards outlined by the UK’s national fire safety organisation, the Fire Protection Association (FPA). The FPA published a guide for sprinkler owners and specialist sprinkler maintenance contractors to inspect, service, test and maintain sprinkler systems to meet the required standards.

The UK fire suppression industry is a fragmented market, which was lacking a sector-wide benchmark. The lack of clear guidelines leaves many businesses open to risk; using contractors who do not fully comply with the FPA’s guidelines, which are critical to safety. The FPA released its guide to provide best practice and further educate property developers, facilities managers, contractors, building owners and occupiers on the importance of compliance and the quality-of-service provision required within sprinkler-protected buildings.

The service and maintenance routines outlined in the FPA guide are the minimum tasks necessary to comply with the legal requirements of both BS EN 12845 and ‘LPC Technical Bulletin TB203 – Care and Maintenance of Automatic Sprinkler Systems’.

Sprinkler systems are considered to provide a high degree of reliability to safeguard both life and property against the effects of a fire, but to ensure this protection is available when needed it is imperative systems are routinely serviced and maintained in accordance with these relevant standards. Poor standards in maintenance can range from issues like sludge coming from the sprinkler itself through to the less visible issues such as whether the sprinkler system is adequately attached to a water pipe.  Johnson Controls who manage design and installation of sprinkler systems, also offer service and maintenance and operate under a strict procedural checklist of standards approved by the FPA.

“Johnson Controls developed the first ever sprinkler and over the last 130 years we have developed a world-class end-to-end fire detection and suppression product portfolio. We fully support the compliance guidelines the FPA has introduced,” said Adrian Kay, Head of Technical Compliance and Quality at Johnson Controls UK&I. “All non-residential buildings should regularly maintain their fire safety systems to comply with the law. This means more education is needed by those who operate and maintain these systems and it’s part of our duty of care to help our customers achieve compliance. For some building owners and occupiers required to achieve net-zero targets, maintaining fire suppression systems may also provide benefits beyond protecting the lives of those who live, work and play in those buildings.”

News, Property

Nottinghamshire housebuilder makes grand gesture to homeless charity

Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands has recently made a £1,000 donation to a Stapleford-based charity which supports young people who have experienced homelessness, and those who are at risk.

Broxtowe Youth Homelessness helps people aged between 16 and 25 to not only prevent homelessness in the first instance, but also to provide those already without a home with the help they need to rebuild their lives and empower them to successfully move on.

The contribution from Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes is part of the developer’s Community Fund scheme and will go towards the charity’s Care 2 Work project, which involves working with young people in the care of Nottinghamshire County Council and providing them with employability skills and relevant work placements.

Jessica Brannan, Manager at Broxtowe Youth Homelessness, said: “We had been in discussion about working with Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes on another project, however sadly it wasn’t possible due to COVID-19.

“Due to the relationship we had built with the developer and its interest in the work we do, the company wanted to support us in another way and decided to make a donation. It meant a lot that they had got to know what we do and felt passionate enough to find another way to support us.

“It has been a very difficult period for us with many of our services having to shut and various funding being delayed. We were able to continue offering advice to acute cases but the work we do to prevent homelessness and help people move on from homelessness was paused.

“Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes builds new communities and I think it’s great that it supports the wider community around its developments.”

Broxtowe Youth Homelessness was established in 1984 and has since continued to mitigate the impact of youth homelessness throughout Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Jack Sherman, Marketing Manager at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands, said: “We are very proud to be supporting such a brilliant charity, which is doing an excellent job of helping to tackle homelessness within the local community.

“For many of us, it is easy to forget how fortunate we are in our daily lives, and that’s why it is important to think about how we can help others who are in need of a helping hand.”

Mark Cotes, Managing Director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Midlands, said: “The work that Broxtowe Youth Homelessness carries out in the East Midlands to help minimise youth homelessness is admirable.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the Care 2 Work project through our Community Fund scheme. This provides disadvantaged young people with an excellent opportunity to rebuild their lives and develop key skills for employment.”

For more information on how to support Broxtowe Youth Homelessness, visit https://broxtoweyouthhomeless.org.uk/.

Barratt Homes is delivering new homes in Nottinghamshire and supporting the communities in which it builds. David Wilson Homes has also started building a range of properties at its Old Mill Farm development in Brinsley.

For information about the properties Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes is building in the area, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk.

News, Property

bpha to In-source and Digitalise Housing Repair Service Amid Rising Industry Costs & UK Skills Shortage

Totalmobile to digitalise workstreams for service efficiencies and improved customer experience

Totalmobile, a UK leader in Field Service Management software solutions, has been appointed by bpha to improve customer access to its services through an integrated digital service.

The project, due to go live by the end of 2022, will see the Bedfordshire-based housing association with over 19,000 managed homes and 500 staff, insource the service and digitalise all planning and scheduling for repairs and planned works. The project will enable full visibility of all works scheduled or in progress, enable greater transparency of the works process from start to end, and ultimately deliver better customer service.

Job management software, Connect, and mobile workforce management solution, Mobilise, both from Totalmobile, will be deployed to provide an easier-to-manage service. The solutions, along with other field service management capabilities, will also enable the clear measurement of workforce productivity.

The new service will use technology to get closer to the customer through remote assistance video technology and be able to triage potential works before sending someone onsite. This will reduce the need for many pre-inspections for surveyors and increase the number of jobs able to be completed correctly first time.

The service will also provide managers with a holistic view of the service, with every contractor integrated into it to improve planning, management, and customer communication. A customer relations portal will be available, providing the repairs service contact centre with more control and visibility of the whole repair journey. This portal will also integrate with a contractor portal. A field service app on a mobile device will be used by surveyors and operatives completing repairs to access and report on jobs and help bpha meet its health and safety obligations.

Mark Earle, head of inhouse maintenance for bpha said: “The main engagement most customers have with us is through our repairs service. We manage over 19,000 homes. Keeping them all safe, warm and in great repair has a huge impact on how customers rate their overall experience when dealing with bpha.

“Bringing our repairs and maintenance service in house means that when our customers report a repair, it will be undertaken by a bpha colleague, who lives by our values, and puts customer satisfaction at the heart of everything they do.

“During the last 12 months, we have consulted with customers extensively. We asked about their experience and how they wanted it to improve. In designing our service, we are incorporating feedback to ensure it delivers what our customers have told us they would like.”

Mark continued: “We chose Totalmobile as it was the only provider that could do everything we needed, and the solution meets customer need perfectly.

“We will get complete visibility of the repairs process from top to bottom through easy to use dashboards, we will be able to understand exactly how much a job will cost in advance, schedule the works with the utmost of efficiency, and ensure our contractors and customers are well informed.”

David Webb, MD Property and Facilities Management at Totalmobile said: “We are seeing an increase in demand for technologies that empower housing providers to take more control of their services and enable them to have complete transparency of the operation. This visibility and control enables them to manage costs, continually optimise housing services, and get closer to their customers.”

International News, News, Property

Estateguru finances €16.7M of loans in March 2022

Estateguru Group, the property investment and financing platform, today reveals it financed €16,7M worth of loans in March 2022 alone, bringing the total amount of financed loans to over €555M.

While showing a slight decrease compared to February (€17,3M), the overall amount for Q1 2022 surpassed that of the same period in 2021 by 9% and, despite the current macroeconomic circumstances and market volatility causing some hesitation among investors, Estateguru has seen a 27% increase in revenue compared to Q1 2021. This shows clear year on year growth for the Estonian based fintech and demonstrates the high demand for alternative lending across Europe.

In addition, the platform welcomed over 4,000 new investors, amounting to nearly a quarter of the total number of new investors for the whole of Q1 (16,300).

This growth trajectory is set to continue following the onboarding of Judith Tan, Head of Capital Markets, earlier this year who will focus on providing institutional investors access to the European SME property lending market that is estimated to be worth €400bn.

 

Marek Pärtel, Co-founder and Chairman at Estateguru, comments:

“The figures we have seen in March, and indeed the whole of Q1, are promising and set us on a good path for achieving our ambitious growth target to triple in size this year. Similarly, strong debt management across the board, particularly in Estonia, has reduced the default rate to 5% to bring it in line with our long-term targets.

Hopefully, with an increased focus on institutional investment over the next few months, we’ll see more growth in the coming months and can help even more SMEs take advantage of alternative lending options – currently still a mostly untapped opportunity.”

Charity & CSR, News, Property, South East

Essex foodbank benefits from housebuilder’s egg-themed donation

A kind-hearted housebuilder has donated more than 20 baskets of Easter eggs to Chelmsford Foodbank for local people to enjoy.

Developer Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties – which is headquartered in Chelmsford and builds new homes across the county – has provided the foodbank with baskets full of seasonal treats to help spread happiness after Easter.

Sales Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties, Annette Hurst, delivered the supplies to the foodbank for its beneficiaries to enjoy.

Clive Pickett, Volunteer at Chelmsford Foodbank, said: “On behalf of all those in food poverty in our city who have received some of the Easter eggs for their families, thank you to Barratt and David Wilson Homes for thinking of us and them at this special time of year. We are so grateful of the support.”

Located on Beehive Lane, Chelmsford Foodbank is part of a nationwide network supported by the Trussell Trust, a charity that works to end hunger and poverty in the UK. They provide three-day emergency food parcels to those in need, as well as providing users with toiletries and other additional items, such as pet food.

Annette said: “It was a pleasure to be able to donate Easter eggs for local people to enjoy. As well as building new homes for the community, we have a strong belief in supporting the areas where we build and strengthening our relationship with the local community.

“Chelmsford Foodbank plays such an important role in helping vulnerable people in the area, and we hope to be able to continue to support the commendable work that they do.”

Food collection points are located in Chelmsford at local superstores, including Tesco on Princes Road, Asda at Chelmer Village Centre, and Asda South Woodham Ferrers.

Chelmsford Foodbank is open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

Items which the foodbank is currently in need of include crisps, sponge puddings, cuppa soups, powdered custard sachets, tea bags, long life fruit juice, long life milk, and powdered potato sachets.

For more information on the foodbank or to make a donation, visit https://chelmsford.foodbank.org.uk/.

 

More information on the homes being built by Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties can be found by visiting www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk, or calling 033 3355 8488 (Barratt Homes) or 033 3355 8489 (David Wilson Homes).