06.17view on how financiers can help SMEs reach Government targets. 43 GLASS & GLAZING DE&MYSTIFYING...
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06.17 SUPER-PRIME MOVERS
Transcript of 06.17view on how financiers can help SMEs reach Government targets. 43 GLASS & GLAZING DE&MYSTIFYING...
06.17
SUPER-PRIME MOVERS
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17COMMENTTHE STATE OF PLAYBrian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, considersthe effect of the state playing a far more activerole in the sector.
24CASE STUDYLIVING LIKE A KING IN KNIGHTSBRIDGEJack Wooler reports on Kingwood, a new luxurydevelopment in the highly sought-after area ofKnightsbridge in London.
39FINANCE & INSURANCELENDING A HANDWith UK builders failing to keep up withdemand, Mark Holden of Go Develop offers hisview on how financiers can help SMEs reachGovernment targets.
43GLASS & GLAZINGDE-MYSTIFYING CONDENSATIONWill Goodenough of Whitesales discusses thevarious causes of glass condensation and mistingin properties, to help developers avoid the issues.
49ROOFINGTHE TRUE COST OF POOR QUALITYGraham Copson of Klober explains the reasonsbehind the introduction of a new British Standardfor the increasingly popular method of dry fixing.
53SMART HOME TECHNOLOGYSMARTEN UPAs smart home systems enter the mainstream,Dean Reddy of ABB advises housebuilders whatto look for when considering smart buildingtechnology.
56STONEWORK & MASONRYSET IN STONE, ON A BUDGETChilstone Architectural Stonework dispelsthe myth that incorporating stonework intoa development is a costly and time-consuming process.
Appointments & News .......................................30-31Bathrooms & Wetrooms.....................................28-29Building Products & Services ...........................32-33Doors, Windows & Conservatories.................31-33Finance & Insurance ............................................38-41Floors & Floor Coverings....................................38Glass & Glazing......................................................42-46Ground Reinforcement ......................................40Heating & Renewable Energy..........................45
Kitchens & Appliances........................................45Landscaping & External Finishes ....................46Rainwater & Greywater Products ...................47Roofing ....................................................................48-52Smart Home Technology...................................53-55 Stonework & Masonry ........................................56-58
Classified & Directory ..............................................59
04-12INDUSTRY NEWS
14EVENTS & AWARDS
15HOUSEBUILDER NEWS
16INDUSTRY MOVERS
17-19COMMENT
21-23NEW DEVELOPMENTS
24-26CASE STUDY
30PRODUCT FOCUS
35-38ECO PRODUCTSSHOWCASE
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FEATURES:ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
CONTENTS06.17
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A week before the General Election, Nationwide announced figuresshowing that house prices had fallen for three months in row, the firsttime this had happened since 2009 – the depths of the recession. Thisprompted the mortgage lender to say this was evidence the housingmarket was “losing momentum.”
While the reasons for this are hard to pin down, and are probablymulti-factorial, Nationwide thinks the sustained weakness of the poundhas put a squeeze on household budgets and this could be a majorcontributor. The cost of living is increasing as import costs rise, and wagegrowth is not keeping pace.
The firm hoped that the parallel shortage of housing supply would helpto keep prices stable however, but this is not good news for thosewanting to see a massive uplift in supply to meet demand. The idea thatfirms will voluntarily build thousands more houses only to see theirvalues drop is counter-intuitive, not to say fanciful.
And it might be a bit old hat now, but it’s not an issue that is going to goaway – we need the hard hats to be on sites, and this could be thebiggest problem going forward when it comes to delivery. In fact,relying on migrant labour as construction does currently, could a drop insupply post-Brexit mean the industry can’t find people it needs to evenbuild the bare minimum it requires to tick over, taking the drop in pricesinto account?
Political leaders on both sides seeking to win votes reasserted theirdesire to cut immigration pre-Election, yet even leading Tories such asDavid Davis have admitted that levels may even need to rise furtherpost-Brexit to support our economy. Research has found that 700,000people will need to be recruited into the housebuilding sector over thenext five years just to maintain current building levels of around 140,000per year.
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research has said thatover half of London’s construction workforce is made up of migrantlabour. Dean Clifford, of high-end London housing developer GreatMarlborough Estates, recently spoke out on the potential risk caused byan immigration crackdown, saying “cutting immigration will kill off thelife-blood of construction workers who have made large housing schemesa reality.”
It is not an outlandish prediction to say this is going to be the big issuefor the sector to tackle in the coming years.
James Parker
James Parker, Editor
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06.17
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ON THECOVER
Finchatton’s Kingwood –go to page 24
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FROM THE EDITOR
INDUSTRY NEWS 5
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In their Election manifestos the major UKpolitical parties each offered their owncommitments to revive the strugglinghousing sector, anc commentators fromacross the industry spoke up to reflect onthe policies.
Industry voices generally reactingfavourably towards the renewed focus ontackling the country’s housing crisis.Both the affordability and quality of homeswere common topics, along with promisesto tackle the growing issue of supplyin construction.
Brexit of course remained a central theme,but it appears that addressing the country’s“chronic lack of housing” has become apriority in Westminster.
CONSERVATIVESMost of the commentators in the house-building sector focused on the ConservativeParty’s manifesto, it being the incumbentGovernment and leading polls at the time ofits release. Mixed with the much-aired fearsaround austerity measures, most welcomedthe party’s recognition of key housing issues,while offering advice for future success.
Sarah McMonagle, director of externalaffairs at the Federation of Master Builders(FMB), implored Theresa May to putSME housebuilders at the heart of her plansfor housing.
“The importance of addressing thecountry’s chronic shortage of homes isas great as ever,” said McMonagle,commending the party’s appreciation of the“scale of the challenge ahead of us.”
She hoped for a more “diverse” and“innovative” sector, blaming the decline inthe number of SMEs for a “haemorrhaging”of the industry’s capacity.
McMonagle said: “There is a welcomeemphasis on balancing the pressure forincreasing the delivery of new propertieswith the need to deliver those homes to ahigh standard,” McMonagle continued,reminding the party of SMEs’ “strong focuson quality.”
She concluded: “By supporting greaterdiversity in terms of the companies buildingour new homes, a Conservative governmentwould be killing two birds with one stone.This is a vision that SMEs can build on.”
Richard Beresford, chief executive of theNational Federation of Builders (NFB),argued that, although there could have beenfurther detail, the Conservativeshave listened to the concerns of theconstruction industry.
The NFB believes small builders are avital factor in the housing revival, and sinceSMEs train two-thirds of construction
apprentices, the trade body would haveliked to have seen the manifesto tackle theshortcomings of the apprenticeship levy.However, it acknowledged the manifesto’spromise to pass levy funds and apprenticesto SME firms across the supply chain.
“Over the coming years,” said Beresford,“we will certainly be finding out whetherthis manifesto is for a ‘Stronger Britain and aProsperous Future’.”
Lewis Johnston, Royal Institute ofChartered Surveyors (RICS) parliamentaryaffairs, warned that the immigration targetmust not restrict access to the skilledconstruction workforce Britain needs.
With the “renewed vigour” to reduce netmigration, Johnston was concerned that suchan aim “will take no account of the need forskilled workers,” entreating theGovernment not to “sacrifice the needs ofthe UK construction sector for the sake of anarbitrary target.”
He said: “Currently, 17 per cent of theUK’s construction workforce were bornoutside of the UK, and it is a recurringconcern across the built environment sectorthat excessive restrictions on immigrationcould jeopardise the delivery of the housing,infrastructure and construction projects theUK badly needs.”
Natalie Elphicke, chief executive of TheHousing & Finance Institute, thought theConservative manifesto provided thecountry “with a clear framework forbuilding the homes the country needs.”
In particular, she welcomed “pledges toextend support for deprived coastalcommunities, and to proceed with morehousing devolution.” Elphicke asserted thathousebuilding is “most effectivelyco-ordinated” at a local level.
“In awarding councils,” she continued,referring particularly to areas outside ofthe big cities, “more power and money tomeet their regional housing demands, wewill be adopting an approach best placedto deliver the homes our country needs forthe future.”
LABOURWhile suffering a less than ideal start to hisleadership, a late poll indicated thatCorbyn has eroded the Conservative leadto just five points, possibly putting Labourback in the running.
Labour’s manifesto gives a similarly highprofile to the housing crisis as its rivals, whilepainting an optimistic picture of the futureof the sector. An NFB spokesperson saidthat despite this, the manifesto “regretfullylacks detail”. According to the trade body,despite clear efforts to deliver cultural
Manifestos address “chronic” shortage
Richard Beresford, CEO of the National Federation of Builders
Brian Berry, CEO of the FMB
“ CURRENTLY 17 PER CENTOF THE WORKFORCE WEREBORN OUTSIDE OF THE UK,AND IT IS A RECURRINGCONCERN ACROSS THESECTOR THAT EXCESSIVERESTRICTIONS ONIMMIGRATION COULDJEOPARDISE THE DELIVERYOF THE PROJECTS THE UKBADLY NEEDS” Lewis Johnston, Royal Institute of CharteredSurveyors
change in housebuilding and construction,Labour has failed to identify the mainobstacles to growth for SMEs.
The NFB was however “delighted”at Labour’s ambition to make publicprocurement fairer, tackling “the scourge oflate payment” across supply chains.
Both the NFB and the House BuildersAssociation were disappointed that theLabour manifesto failed to tackle reform ofthe planning process.
“The planning system is a major barrier togrowth for many construction businesses,” aspokesperson said. “While agreeing thatplanning authorities have experienceddebilitating budget cuts, under-resourcingis not the main factor stifling the UK’shousing supply.”
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB,responded more favourably to Labour’smanifesto, agreeing that the party’s proposalto link up housing and skills policy would bethe “right approach” post-Brexit.
Berry commented: “Jeremy Corbyn hassaid that freedom of movement would endunder a Labour government, and it istherefore right that the party has a clear planto build the homes we need and train thepeople we need to build them.”
He said it was a “strength” of themanifesto that it features “such a clearfocus” on apprenticeships and high quality
training. “The commitment to doubling thenumber of NVQ Level 3 apprenticeships by2020 will be well-received by smallconstruction firms.”
It was not all praise, however. “WhileLabour’s ambitious targets on house-building, to be delivered partly through itsNational Transformation Fund, arewelcome,” Berry argued, “there is littleto address the fundamental issue ofindustry capacity.”
“Whichever party is in government after the general election, a councilhousebuilding programme would be acatalyst to boost the capacity of the SMEhousebuilding sector,” he concluded.
Gwyn Roberts, Home Quality Markproject leader and Homes andCommunities team leader at BRE, alsogave cautious praise: “By way of example,the Labour Party has recently pledged tobuild one million new homes duringthe next five years,” commented Roberts.
This is “all well and good,” hecontinued, “but there has been nocommitment given to the quality ofthese homes and the viability ofdelivering quality homes andcommunities,”soliciting parties to keepseeking quality improvements in boththe built environment, and inpeople’s lives.
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Research has revealed that 51 per cent ofnew build homes across England haveexperienced ‘major’ faults.
Conducted by YouGov for the housingcharity Shelter, the survey found that 51per cent of homeowners reportedexperiences of major problems withconstruction, utility faults and poorly orunfinished furnishings.
Figures were published alongside aShelter report, entitled New CivicHousebuilding, with 4,341 UK adultstaking part in the YouGov online survey.Shelter concluded in its report that the
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“Majorfaults” inover half ofEngland’snew-builds
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Working at height continues to bethe biggest danger for constructionworkers, according to the Building SafetyGroup (BSG).
The figures echo the latest constructionsector statistics published by the Health &Safety Executive (HSE). Despite an overalldrop in fatalities, falls from height stillremain the single biggest cause of fatalitieson construction sites and in the workplace.
THE FIVE AIMS OF THE CIOBMANIFESTO
1. Continue support for theIndustrial Strategy and recogniseconstruction’s role in improvingproductivity
2. Work alongside the constructionindustry to support a robustsystem for training and skillsdevelopment
3. Recognise and address both theopportunities and risks that Brexitwill bring
4. Ensure quality is at the heart ofthe nation’s constructionprogramme
5. Focus on regional investment inconstruction to rebalance the UKeconomy
Ahead of the general election, theChartered Institute of Building (CIOB) hasreleased its own construction manifesto,‘Building the Case for Construction’.
Intended to improve policy making andprovide a better understanding of theconstruction industry’s contribution tosociety, the CIOB has outlined five inter-linked policy proposals for prospectiveparliamentary candidates and the nextgovernment to consider.
Christ Blythe OBE, chief executive ofthe CIOB, believes the quality of ourbuilt environment “affects every memberof society.”
“Construction creates and maintains theplaces that people live, work and play, theinfrastructure that supports them and theservices that sustain them,” continuedBlythe. “It is vital that those elected torepresent their constituents in Parliamentunderstand this.”
He said the manifesto “showcases”construction as a solution to majorpolicy issues.
“It is crucial that policy makersappreciate the contribution of theconstruction sector,”he concluded, adding:“The decisions made today will be felt fordecades and generations.”
The CIOB will be communicating withprospective parliamentary candidates,urging them to consider the importance ofthe built environment, both at a local andnational level.
CIOB buildscase forconstruction
housebuilding sector has been favouringbig developers and land traders over thosewho will eventually live in the homes.
Graeme Brown, Shelter’s interim chiefexecutive, commented: “For decadeswe’ve relied on this broken systemand, despite the sweeteners offered todevelopers to build the homes we need, itsimply hasn’t worked.
“The current way of building has had itsday, and it has failed the nation.”
The release follows Bovis Homes’recent £7m compensation to its customers,after angry customers formed a Facebookpressure group complaining aboutservices received.
According to the Shelter report, thesystem is currently skewed, producinghouses that are both of poor quality andyet also expensive.
Figures released indicated that eight in10 working, private renting families cannotafford to buy a newly built homeregardless of the Government’s Help toBuy Scheme. The numbers were at theirworst in the West Midlands, in which 93per cent of families were found to beunable to purchase an averagely pricednew home.
Shelter has proposed an equitypartnership model to bring down the costof land. If adopted, this model would seelandowners put their land into a businesspartnership as equity over the long term,benefitting from rising values year afteryear, rather than taking a one-offwindfall payment.
The report said the most “important risktaken by a speculative developer is howmuch to pay for a plot of land.”
“This is fundamental to the speculativehousebuilding model,” it explained, “asland is often the single largest cost inbuilding homes, especially in the areaswhich need homes most.”
Falls remainbiggest killeron sites
BSG’s findings were based on a reportwhich combined the results of over 20,000site inspections conducted during 2016.Working at height was found to be the mostsignificant hazard identified during sitevisits, accounting for 19 per cent of allbreaches recorded. Dust/fumes was insecond place, accounting for five per cent.
A total of 24,634 non-complianceincidents were logged by safety advisorsthroughout 2016.
Over the last five years they haveresulted in the deaths of 97 constructionworkers, accounting for 45 per cent of allfatal injuries. They are also the largestsingle cause of non-fatal accident relatedinjury, responsible for 33 per cent of allnon-fatal injuries, including 11 per cent ofthe injuries, resulting in an absence of morethan seven days.
The three main sources of injuries andfatalities from heights are fragile roof lights,scaffolding and ladders, which are theaccidents that can easily be prevented,according to Chris Chapman, technicalmanager at BSG. He commented:“Everyone can do more to ensure that workis properly planned, supervised andconducted by qualified workers who havethe required skills for the task in hand.
“To significantly reduce the dangers ofworking at height, construction companiesshould always try to complete as muchwork as possible from the ground, ensuresafe access and egress, and importantly,make certain that any equipment used issuitable, stable and strong enough forthe job.”
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The UK has the smallest homes in Europe,with the average three-bedroom homemeasuring 88 m2, smaller than theregulatory minimum, says online estageagent Sell House Fast.
The company says that the looseningof planning regulations means thatconversions of ex-commercial property toresidential can see homes measure 13 m²,the size of the average bedroom.
With the UK in the midst of a housingcrisis, suffering a shortage of both existingstock and new build housing, house pricesare sky-rocketing at a rate far higher thanrelative earnings in the UK.
With demand extremely high, and withso few properties available, developershave seized the opportunity to sellsub-standard housing for inflated prices,according to Sell Homes Fast.Furthermore, councils are approvingex-commercial property to be convertedinto ‘micro homes’.
Sell House Fast investigated theregulations for property sizes in the UK,and assessed the guidelines which cameinto force in 2015, requiring flats to be atleast 37m², and sets out minimum guideson new homes.
The Government has however relaxedthe planning regulations to allow theconversion of office buildings intoresidential property, without needing toabide by minimum size standards. As a
result, the company found that thesebuildings fall far below the recommendedsize. Last year, ex-commercial propertyprovided 12 per cent of new homes inEngland, a significant rise for the market.
Research showed that the UK has amongthe smallest homes across Europe, alongwith the smallest size regulatoryallowances. Even other countries withdense populations such as the Netherlandsand Germany have substantially largerhomes (115.5 m² and 109 m² respectively).
Those who live in Denmark were foundto have the roomiest homes, with anaverage dwelling measuring 137 m².“Perhaps not by coincidence, Denmarkfrequently tops the ‘happiest country’chart,” Sell Homes Faster said.
For some residents in the UK however,micro-homes are ideal, often offeringcheaper rent, and being a lot easierto maintain, said Robby du Toit of theproperty website. He commented: “Thereis a rising culture of spending less time athome, especially for the young where thehouse is just a house – somewhere to sleep,eat and leave important possessions. Forsuch populations, these homes are ideal.”
“However,” he continued, “for familieswho need substantial space these homesare not viable, and the lack of suitableoptions out there is making peopledelay buying their own home andhaving children.”
UK’s “smallest homes inEurope” as little as 13 m²
Following a recent London CentralPortfolio (LCP) report on the new buildcrisis in London, where sales have fallen asmuch as 41 per cent, LCP has analysedthe effect that this crisis is having on therental market.
Reports published last week, based onHomeLet statistics, highlighted aslowdown in London rents, reflecting thefirst annual fall in values (1.2 per cent)since 2009. While this has been generallyattributed to the Brexit-effect, LCP haveindicated a more nuanced picture for thelettings market, which is now beingimpacted by a proliferation of newdevelopments, resulting in supplybeginning to outweigh demand insome areas.
According to LCP, the London marketsouth of the Thames is beginning to sufferas large numbers of the planned 22,000units between Battersea and Nine Elmshave come to market. Typically purchasedby foreign buyers as rental investments,figures demonstrate a significant annualincrease in available rental properties in thearea, amounting to 28.1 per cent. This hasbeen accompanied by a six per centdiscount on asking rents over the lastthree months.
Alongside an increased supply ofproperties with reduced asking prices, thenumber of properties actually let hasdropped 14.8 per cent over the sameperiod, and there has been a fall inachieved rents of 2.8 per cent. This is dueto tenants’ increased bargaining power, andhas been exacerbated by high asking rentsfor flats in new developments, at a timewhen corporate housing budgets arebeing tightened.
Naomi Heaton, CEO of LCP,commented on the figures: “In much thesame way as we see in the sales market,there is increasing fragmentation in thelettings market, according to property type(new build or traditional stock) and byprice point.
“Alongside the oversupply of rental stockin new build heartlands, the uncertaineconomic outlook has resulted in tightertenant budgets. It is therefore notsurprising that recent reports indicate a 14.8per cent fall in the number of propertiesrented South of the River over the lastthree months, and a six per cent discounton asking rents.”
LCP reported the rental market is muchstronger in areas with limited new builds.
LCP analysesLondon market
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industry news 11
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Demand for residential development inLondon is no longer driven primarily bylocation, according to Knight Frank’s latestLondon Development Design Study.
The study suggests that thoughtfuldesign, efficient layouts and the right mixof amenities, service and specification arenow the key drivers for maximisingdemand and value for developers.
Working together with cost consultantsCore Five and MSMR Architects, KnightFrank has analysed how design andspecification can influence developmentcosts, as well as the desirability of schemes.
Following an exclusive survey of buyersin prime and super prime new-builddevelopments in London, space, layout,architecture and views were all found to bean increasing focus for purchasers. As themarket has become more product-led,developers have focused on improving thequality of their building and the facilitieson offer.
The survey found that 88 per cent ofrespondents said that specification was animportant or relevant factor when buying ahome, while 64 per cent said they would bewilling to pay more for higher qualityfinishes and better specification.
In terms of technology in new homes,buyers ranked their internet usage,television, heating, cooling and security asmore important than built in speakers andtablet integration.
More than 43 per cent said super-fastbroadband is the most importanttechnology for them. Broadband is also themost used technology for 63 per cent of
respondents, with the least used beingbuilt-in surround sound speakers and fullhome automation systems.
Ian Marris, Knight Frank’s joint head ofresidential development, commented:“There are instances where specificationcan add to the desirability of adevelopment, but this needs to be balancedagainst the additional cost.”
He believes that modern buyers areincreasingly looking for “best in class”products, “not a specific area or post code.”
“As the market becomes ever moreproduct-led,” considered Marris, “theimportance of getting the units mix,apartment configuration and quality righthas never been more relevant.”
“The best-performing developmentsfollow a clear methodology, combininggood ceiling heights, quality specificationand a considered approach into howindividuals use the wider building andits amenities.”
London developmentsprioritise specificationover location, says study
Housing policy should be overhauled to cutcar parking space and allow more efficientlydesigned apartment buildings, according todeveloper Moda Living.
In its response to the housing WhitePaper consultation, the company saidthat overly restrictive car parkingstandards, which require the provision ofinappropriate levels of car parking, exceedthe requirements of the build to rentmarket. Renters are increasingly‘asset-light,’ choosing to use ride sharecompanies or car hire brands.
The developer also wants reform ofoverly restrictive national residential spacestandards. This is because such rules failto recognise the high levels of amenityand shared places offered by premiumrental developments.
Moda Livingcalls forhousing policyoverhaul
Greater flexibility in the interpretationand application of these standards shouldform a key element of emerging Build toRent policy, said the company.
Tony Brooks, managing director of ModaLiving, said: “The reality is that hugeinvestment is going in to considerableshared areas that residents will be free toaccess. It’s therefore essential these thingsare considered when planners are tottingup the amount of space a resident hasaccess to.”
When “Given the choice,” he said,“between a tiny private balcony you can’tfit a table on to, or having a slice of a muchbigger, shared space, it makes sense that weconsider how we can offer people a higherstandard of living without a ‘computer saysno’ approach to space standards.”
Overly restrictive communityinfrastructure levy (CIL) payment terms onbuild to rent schemes can also have a directand detrimental impact on the ability todelivery new homes.
Brooks commented: “Where finance istied up in income-producing assets, lessup-front profit is generated compared withhousing built for sale. This means thatbuild to rent therefore needs to be treateddifferently within the planning system ifwe want to build more homes, faster.”
THERE ARE INSTANCESWHERE SPECIFICATIONCAN ADD TO THEDESIRABILITY OF ADEVELOPMENT, BUTTHIS NEEDS TO BEBALANCED AGAINST THEADDITIONAL COST IIan Marris, Knight Frank’s joint head ofresidential development
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Delays and rising costs in the planningsystem are driving small companies awayfrom housebuilding and slowing downattempts to tackle Britain’s housing crisis,according to the National HousebuildingCouncil (NHBC).
New research from the NHBCFoundation revealed that small builders areexperiencing “deeply frustrating” delays,with a third waiting more than a year forlocal authority planning approval andnearly 80 per cent experiencing asignificant hike in planning related fees inthe last two years.
The NHBC report, ‘Small house buildersand developers: current challenges togrowth’, outlines the climate faced by smallfirms, using the experiences of almost 500companies who typically construct less than10 homes a year.
Figures showed that the number of smallfirms active in housebuilding continues todecline, accounting for just 12 per cent ofmarket share in 2015, compared with 28 percent in 2008.
Earlier this year, the Governmentpledged “radical, lasting reform” totackle Britain’s housing shortage,including accelerating the planning systemby making it more accessible andincreasing its support for small and moreinnovative builders.
Commenting on the report, Neil Smith,NHBC head of research and innovation,said: “While the planning process isrecognised as a necessary control, smallhousebuilders and developers continue toexpress considerable frustration with it.
“The increasing complexity, time takento achieve a decision, and theunpredictability and inconsistency withinthe planning process are slowing thedelivery of new homes and, in some cases,causing companies to leave this market.”
According to Smith: “Greater certaintyand more standardised approaches, clarityconcerning the fees and tariffs, along with amore responsive service from planningdepartments could increase predictabilityand significantly help to speed up theprocess, thereby increasing the number ofhomes built.”
The report found that the lack of viablebuilding land was another major barrier forsmall housebuilders, with 37 per cent
identifying it as their most serious obstaclefor growth.
Housebuilders also raised concernsabout a shortage of skilled workers and alack of interest among young people inbecoming apprentices.
SME builders“frustrated”with planningdelays
LendInvestjoins the HBF
LendInvest has joined the Home BuildersFederation (HBF), intending to underlinethe company’s commitment to supportingproperty developers.
Ian Thomas, chief investment officer atLendInvest, said: “The HBF is recognisedas the voice of the home building industryand becoming a member will help us tosupport the growth of SME builders inevery region of the UK.
“There’s no silver bullet to solve thehousing crisis, but by forging links of thiskind we hope to drive momentum behindindustry initiatives to increase sector skills,enhance the voice of the property sectorand ultimately put more homes onBritish streets.”
John Slaughter, director of external affairsat the HBF, commented on theundersupply of homes in the UK, saying:“it will take partnership between all partsof the home building industry to deliverthe homes the country needs.”
“For this reason,” he continued, “we aredelighted to welcome LendInvest as anassociate member of the HBF and lookforward to their continued contribution insupporting small housebuilders to scale.”
The HBF is representative body of theprivate sector housebuilding industry inEngland and Wales, and its members areresponsible for 80 per cent of housingoutput each year.
The organisation currently supports theLendInvest Property DevelopmentAcademy, a non-profit, two-day coursedelivered in five key cities across the UKand intended to create a new generation ofproperty entrepreneurs.
A 3D printed model of Barking Riversidehas been unveiled, reportedly the largestmodel of its kind in the UK.
Created by 3D technology specialists,Hobs Studio, the model measures 3.6m x2.6m x 1m, and incorporates over 1,000buildings at a scale of 1:750. A third ofthe surface of the model shows theRiver Thames.
Matthew Carpen, project director forBarking Riverside Limited, said thecompany was “pleased to be championingthe use of this technology for the industry.”
Produced over a four and a half weekperiod, the model has been printed on whatis thought to be the largest SLA 3D printerin the UK. The iPro 9000 XL has a buildsize of 1500 mm x 750 mm x 550 mm.
Using approximately 35 litres of resin,the model has been printed through aprocess known as stereolithography (SLA).
Michelle Greeff, MD of Hobs Studio,commented on the technology: “3D print-ing allows the production of models to runconsiderably faster, while also creating amore accurate and detailed result.”
“It’s not just the printing that is acomplex process,” he added, “postproduction is also key, with our specialistteam adding in the final details to ensurethat the model really captures the essenceof Barking Riverside.”
Barking Riverside, one of Europe’slargest Brownfield developments, is setto deliver over 10,800 new homes inEast London.
UK’s largest 3Dprinted masterplan modelunveiled
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2017
Housing Heroes Awards26 June, Manchesterhha.secure-platform.com
Housing 201727 – 29 June, Manchesterwww.cihhousing.com
Housing Design Awards10 July, Londonwww.hdawards.org
Housing Festival13 July, Cardiffwww.cih.org/cymru/housing_festival
National Housing Awards7 September, Londonwww.nationalhousingawards.co.uk
RESI Conference13 – 15 September, Newportwww.resiconf.com
NHF Annual Conference & HousingExhibition19 – 20 September, Birminghamannual.housing.org.uk
UK Construction Week10 – 12 October, Birminghamwww.ukconstructionweek.com
Build Show10 – 12 October, Birminghamwww.ukconstructionweek.com/build-show
24housing Awards12 October, Coventrywww.24housingawards.co.uk
RCI Show1 – 2 November, Coventrywww.rcishow.co.uk
Women in Housing Awards2 November, Manchesterwww.womeninhousingawards.co.uk
Women in Housing Conference2 November, Manchesterwww.womeninhousingconference.co.uk
WhatHouse? Awards17 November, Londonwww.whathouse.com/awards
Events& awards
The National Federation of RoofingContractors has announced the winners ofthis year’s UK Roofing Awards. Thewinners were revealed at a ceremony thattook place on Friday 19 May at ParkPlaza, Westminster Bridge, London andwas hosted by BBC Breakfast’sSteph McGovern.
Commenting on the competitionwinners, James Talman, chief executive atNFRC said: “Congratulations to all ourwinners. The Awards is the highlightof the roofing calendar and this year wasno exception. The judging panel wasblown away with the quality of entriesand every winner should be proud oftheir achievement.”
Winners across the 11 competitioncategories were as follows:• Green Roofing
Skygarden Ltd working with Topek;project: The Macallan Distillery
• Hard Metal RoofingRoles Broderick Roofing; project: ExeterCollege, University of Oxford
• Heritage RoofingEmerton Roofing (Western); project: TheBoat House
• Lead Roofing – Sponsored by ChandlersRoofing SuppliesK&M Leadwork; project: GoringClock Tower
• Liquid Applied Roofing andWaterproofingMitie Tilley Roofing; project: NorthTerminal, Gatwick Airport
• Mastic Asphalt / Hot MeltPrater Ltd working with RadmatBuilding Products; project: Fitzroy Place
• Reinforced Bitumen MembranesM&J Group; project: Fleet Bank House
• Roof SlatingContour Roofing (Essex); project: StJoseph’s College
• Roof TilingRowlands Roofing working with MarleyEternit; project: Quintain House
• Sheeting and Cladding – Sponsoredby ECICLakesmere; project: Greenwich EnergyCentre (Optik Cloak)
• Single Ply RoofingCarlisle Construction Materials workingwith Topek; project: The MacallanDistillery, Speyside
In addition to the category winners, awardswere also presented to the followingaccolades for their outstanding standards ofworkmanship and technical excellence:• Roof of the Year – sponsored by SIG
Roofing, this award was presented toRowlands Roofing in association withMarley Eternit for work on QuintainHouse. This award was chosen by theUK Roofing Awards Judges from thisyear’s winners.
• CITB Exceptional Contribution toTraining – this award went to BeverleySexton of Jackson Jackson & Sons
• Young Leadworker of the Year (LeadSheet Association) – this award wasscooped by Jay Stubbs, a self-employedleadworker trading at LDN Leadwork
• Murdoch Sponsor’s Award (LeadContractors Association) – CelticLeadwork won this award for its work ona Primary School in Notting Hill, London
• Murdoch Award (Lead ContractorsAssociation) – Conservation LeadworkLtd won this award for its work onCulham Court Chapel
Details of all winners can be found at thefollowing URL:www.nfrc.co.uk/uk-roofing-awards
UK RoofingAwards 2017 – winners announced
UK’s safesthousebuildershonouredNHBC has announced the winners of thefirst round of its annual Health and SafetyAwards; the UK’s only awards scheme tohonour the safest homebuilders.
Every year several thousand constructionworkers are injured while working. Througheffective management of working areas andaccess routes many of these could beavoided. The matter of health, safety andenvironment (HSE) continues to be one ofthe top priorities in housebuilding.
The NHBC Health and Safety Awardsare designed to recognise and reward thevery best in health and safety, as well ashelping to drive up safety standards in theindustry by showcasing best practice.
A total of 56 site managers have beenawarded Commended status for their sitesand will now go on to compete for theHighly Commended and National titles.The winners are to be announced at a galaevent on 7 July. All of the competing siteshave been visited by NHBC Health andSafety advisors and were scored against thehighly stringent health and safety standardsset for the competition.
housebuiLder news 15
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An impressive work of art has been createdby award-winning artist and sculptor,Graeme Mitcheson, to complement one ofWilliam Davis Homes’ new developments.
The sculpture marks the entrance toDaisy Bank, in the village of Hathern,Leicestershire. Made out of four hugepieces of stone, initially totalling 14 tonnes,Graeme’s work is reportedly intended toreplicate the ‘most delicate symbols ofnature,’ flowers.
Peter Waterfield, land manager at WilliamDavis Homes, said that including a pieceof public art was “always part of thedevelopment plan.”
“The seed of an idea began to grow backin July 2014 when landscape architects,Bellinger Design, who work closely withWilliam Davis Homes, consulted with thelocal community about what sort of artworkthey would like,” explained Waterfield.
Prototype designs and models were puton display in the village, with residentsinvited to vote for their favourite. “I wasthrilled when they chose mine,” saidGraeme Mitcheson, a former student ofLoughborough College of Art.
Mitcheson explained the thought processbehind the work: “The piece is inspired bythe local area, particularly the wild flowermeadows leading down to the river. It alsoechoes a former use of the site as a plantnursery, as some locals recounted remem-bering fields filled with roses grown forcommercial purposes, so it just had tofeature flowers.”
The decision to go ahead with thesculpture was given the full support ofHathern Parish Council, followed by theinstallation of a special concrete foundationdesigned by the housebuilder’sstructural engineers.
Five Building for Life Awards have beengiven to the Kent division of Barratt DavidWilson (BDW) for its developments acrossthe region.
Three of the developments werepresented with the top ‘outstanding’ rating.Only 10 developments were ratedoutstanding across the country, makingBDW Kent the housebuilder to pick upthe most.
Mark Bailey, regional director for BDWKent, commented on the awards: “All fiveof these awards are a fantastic achievementfor our new homes developments,”congratulating “all of the individualteams involved.”
He continued: “We are especiallyproud to have been awarded an outstandingrating across three of these sites, as theyare renowned for being extremely hardto win.”
The three ‘outstanding’ rateddevelopments are Aylesham Village, Kent(Barratt Homes), Chestnut Grange inAshford, Kent (David Wilson Homes) andNew Mill Quarter in Hackbridge, Sutton(David Wilson Homes). Saxon Placein Harrietsham and Castle Hill inEbbsfleet also received the Building forLife quality mark.
Building for Life 12 is the latest industrystandard for the design of new housingdevelopments in the UK, and measuresnew schemes against 12 specific criteria.Endorsed by Design Council CABE, theprinciples of the assessment that saw threeof the developments exceed the aims of thenew National Planning Policy Framework.
David Wilsonreceives fiveBuilding forLife Awards
Artist creates florallandmark for Leicestershiredevelopment
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AldwyckAldwyck Housing Group hasannounced the appointment ofVanessa Dockerill as executivedirector of development.
Vanessa joined Aldwyck in 2013as commercial manager beforebeing promoted to deputydirector. She has over 20 years ofdevelopment experience havingpreviously worked with Redrow,Charles Church and as commercialdirector at Taylor Wimpey. Vanessaholds a BSc in Quantity Surveying,an MSc in Construction Law and isa member of the CharteredInstitute of Arbitrators.
Vanessa will take up her newrole on 1 July, taking over fromJoe Cook who leaves the Group tobecome the chief executive of anew business division of aproperty PLC.
Group chief executive IanMcDermott said “I am delightedthat Vanessa is joining theexecutive team. She has the skillsand experience to continue Joe’sgreat work and to deliver ourambitious growth plans. We arecommitted to building over 800much needed new homes overthe next four years to meet theneeds of local communities.”
Dockerill said: “I am hugelyexcited by my new role and theopportunities it brings. Aldwyckhas a long and successful trackrecord in development and acommitment to grow its deliveryprogramme. Housing associationshave a significant role to play intackling the housing crisis and Iam determined to help Aldwyckachieve this.”
Karbon HomesA new executive director has been appointed to lead the growthstrategy for newly formed landlord Karbon Homes, and take charge ofthe company’s ambitious development programme.
Charlotte Carpenter has joined Karbon from a background working ineconomic development and regeneration roles in the North East, andpreviously for the Scottish Executive in Edinburgh.
Karbon Homes was formed last month through the merger of IsosHousing, Cestria Community Housing and Derwentside Homes, andnow owns and manages around 24,000 homes regionwide.
The landlord’s ambition is to develop more than 500 homes eachyear to help tackle the housing crisis in the north, and play a role indeveloping the region’s economy.
Carpenter said she was excited by the promise of what Karbon Homescould achieve. “What I saw in Karbon Homes was an opportunity to helpgrow and shape something truly innovative and distinctive,” she said.”We can have a real impact on improving lives and communities.”
Most recently, Charlotte worked for regionally-based landlord HomeGroup, where she was director of strategy, policy and communications.
AtlasBuild to Rent owner-operatorAtlas Residential, has appointedDominic Martin as director ofoperations. Based out of itsLondon office, he will oversee theexpansion of Atlas’ UK propertymanagement and operationsbusiness, which now includesmanaging apartmentcommunities on behalf of institu-tional investors in addition to itsown principally owned assets.
Martin comments: “It is anexciting time to join Atlas, as weare reaching a tipping point in theevolution of the PRS, where moreschemes are coming onto themarket and the Government haspledged its clearest support yet inits housing White Paper.”
PLATFORM_Following its recent joint-ventureagreement with Invesco RealEstate, build-to-rent developerand operator PLATFORM_ hasannounced a major new hiringfrom Premier Inn. Alan Druckmanhas joined the company asoperations and commercialdirector. He will oversee allaspects of pricing, customerservice and operations, bringingsignificant experience with him.
Alan said: "Having worked forone of Britain’s best-knownbrands, it’s exciting to be in at thestart of a new phase forPLATFORM_ as it expands intonew cities. There’s a genuineopportunity to create real valueacross build-to-rent portfolios.”
INDUSTRY MOVERS
OctagonOctagon Developments has madea number of changes to is board.
David James is relinquishing hisrole as chairman, as he joins RogerWyatt as a non-executive director,while Colin Tutt becomesexecutive chairman. Tim Banks isnow the chief executive officer inaddition to his role as financedirector. Angus McQuhae will takeon all the Group’s land, sales andmarketing responsibility whileJohn Pope continues to lead thesuccessful Octagon Bespoke team.
Avant HomesScottish housebuilder AvantHomes has bolstered its construc-tion team with the appointmentof a new construction director.
Bryan Galloway brings over 30years’ experience in the construc-tion industry to his role havingpreviously worked for nationalhousebuilders including WimpeyHomes, CALA Homes, MillerHomes and Barratt East Scotland.
Vanessa Dockerill Charlotte Carpenter Tim Banks
Bryan Galloway
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Brian Berry, chief executiveof the Federation of Master Builders An interesting development during the
shortened election campaign period hasbeen the re-emergence of council
housing as a subject of bipartisan interest. Asustained programme of Government fundedsocial housebuilding in the Corbyn-led Labourmanifesto doesn’t come as much of a surprise,but the fact that the Conservatives havelikewise come round to the idea that for thecountry’s chronic housing shortage to be solved,the Government (local and national) will need toplay a more direct role as a builder of homes,is intriguing.
The prospect of direct state intervention inhousebuilding will sit uncomfortably with somedevelopers, who will believe that every effortshould instead be focused on rectifying the arrayof issues facing the private sector. While suchsevere problems exist within the planningsystem or, for many SMEs, accessing financeremains such an uphill battle, surely all theavailable financial and political capital should bespent on getting private housebuilders firing onall cylinders?
The counter point would be that the size ofthe gap between the number of homes theGovernment believes we need and the numberwe are building means that every policy andapproach is worth serious consideration.Historically, the only times when the UK hasachieved levels of housebuilding above what wehave now has been when local authorities wereempowered to invest in building on a significantscale. The absence of public sector activity hasleft the country effectively fighting its housingcrisis with one hand tied behind its back.The fact that we currently spend £1 onhousebuilding for roughly every £4 spent onhousing benefit shows the shortcomings ofthis approach.
The question then arises about who would bebuilding these proposed homes? The argumentthat a national programme of housebuilding
could act as a catalyst for SMEs would seemobvious coming from the FMB, but it’s beenechoed across the industry and beyond. LastJune, the influential House of Lords EconomicAffairs Committee argued that not only shouldthe state be playing a more active role in thedelivery of new homes, but that in doing so, itshould be using its considerable financial heft to stimulate the smaller end of the sector,which has been suffering from serious longterm decline.
Of course, most SME housebuilders wouldrather strike out on their own, as working for amajor contractor tends to be less than ideal. Askthe vast bulk of small contractors whether theywould rather be acting as direct contactors andthey will say yes. Nevertheless, the reality is thatmany smaller scale housebuilders engage incontracting work and the social housing sector –whether it’s local authorities or housingassociations – tends to provide relatively goodclients, not least when it comes to the thornyissue of prompt payment. Councils can easilypush through their own planning proposals, andsupply much faster and more certain future workstreams than the risky private sector.
On top of that, public sector contracts offerthe opportunity to small housebuilders to buildup their capacity and experience, allowing thesefirms to acquire the kind of resources, workforceand skills necessary to kick on and branch outwith their own developments. In this way,government funded housebuilding can act as acounter-balance to the cyclical nature of thesector, providing a reliable stream of work toboth contractors and developers struggling witha drop in private demand. Whichever party winson June 8th, the signs are that we are entering aperiod in which the state will be playing afar more active role in our sector, one thathopefully puts SMEs at the fore and supportsthe development of the private sector industryat the same time.
THE INDUSTRY ADVOCATE
brian berry, chief executive of the fmb, considers the effect ofthe state playing a far more active role in the sector
the state of play
the signsare that weare nowentering aperiod inwhich thestate willbe playing afar moreactive rolein oursector
COMMENT 17
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Liam O’Hara, marketingdirector, SIG BuildingSolutions
THERE IS ANONGOINGPOSSIBILITYTHAT THEUK’SDEPARTURECOULD SEETHEREMAINING27 EUMEMBERSIMPOSEDUTIES ONBRITISHEXPORTS
Since the Referendum decision, the UKeconomy has defied some analysts’predictions and remained robust, but with
the new Government now aiming to push forwardwith the exit from the EU, we will soon see thetrue impact of the historic decision, with tradedeals being a major area of focus.
Following Brexit, UK trade deals will falloutside EU guidelines. In addition to the removalof rules and regulations around the movement ofproducts and materials – particularly raw materials– another major potential effect is currencyfluctuations that could significantly increase thecost of importing these materials to the UK.
The immediate effect of the vote was a sharprise in import prices, which rose in July at thefastest annual pace for five years following a fallin the value of the pound. Data from the Officefor National Statistics showed that the pricescompanies pay for metals, oil and other materialsbought from abroad rose 6.5 per cent in the 12months to July, pushing up companies’ overallraw material costs by 4.3 per cent.
This increase in import prices alsoforeshadowed a wider pickup in inflation, withthe Bank of England forecasting that it couldweigh on spending for the next year and beyond.One catalyst for the pickup is the falling pound,with sterling declining by 13 per cent against thedollar on the back of the referendum.
As it continued to fall in subsequent months, itcreated something of a mixed blessing for UKmanufacturers and suppliers. On the one hand,the fall in the value of sterling made productsmore competitive in key export markets includ-ing the US and Mexico, but in contrast it has alsonudged up costs for materials sourced fromEurope and Japan.
COST CONCERNSAs Brexit becomes a reality, costs will be a keyconcern for those who import or export rawmaterials, particularly with regard to tariffs,which have not existed for UK exports to othermembers of the EU since 1973, when Britain
was part of what was then the EuropeanEconomic Community.
In the interim the EU has expandedsignificantly to include 28 countries. For UKorganisations exporting goods to the rest of theEU, there is an ongoing possibility that the UK’sdeparture from the union could see the remaining27 EU members impose duties on British exports.
In a world where global trade is not onlycommonplace but vital to the existence of manyindustries, the EU functions as a customs union,with common external customs tariff rates.Britain may therefore need to strike individualdeals with separate member states on reducingduties bilaterally.
The impact could also vary depending on thesector; if the rest of the EU refuses to allow UKexporters special access to its markets, UKexports may be struck by bound tariff rates thatthe EU has already said it will respect under itsagreements with the World Trade Organization.
These generally keep tariffs low for goods thatthe EU needs to import, such as raw materials,basic manufactured goods like steel exports, andminerals such as clays and gypsum – so UKexporters in the building and constructionindustry may fare better than many other sectors.
Another consideration from an importperspective is the possibility of businesses beingat a cashflow disadvantage due to the delaybetween payment of customs charges on entryand entitlement to recover the VAT as input taxon the next VAT return.
Organisations based in the UK may thereforeneed to consider using deferment and customswarehousing arrangements to mitigate the impact,which – when it comes to quite numerous andlarge materials such as those used in the buildingsector – could present additional challenges.
Of course, many questions will remainunanswered as the actual Brexit process beginsover in the coming months, but businesses thattake steps to prepare and mitigate the impactnow will be the ones to benefit when the UK’sdeparture from the EU is complete.
Liam O’Hara of SIG Building Solutions looks at one of thebiggest future issues likely to impact the sector.
HOW WILL BREXITIMPACT OURMATERIAL COSTS?
BREXIT
COMMENT 19
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Aresidential conversion in Greater Manchester whichfeatures 184 high specification one- and two-bedroom microapartments has secured development finance.
Fabrick, by Inspired Asset Management, is a permitteddevelopment office-to-residential scheme which converts SimChem House, a 7,614 m² office building on Warren Road in theprime Manchester suburb of Cheadle Hulme, just eight miles fromthe city centre.
Built in the 1960s, the building is set to undergo a radicaltransformation, being stripped back to the shell and core andre-skinned with an all new contemporary residential facade.
Fabrick’s micro-apartments range in size from 30 m² to 38 m² fora one bed, and 49 m² to 57 m² for a two bed. They will be designedto a high specification, including hardwood flooring, graniteworktops and designer bathrooms. Residents will also have accessto a communal rooftop terrace and Wi-Fi ready club lounge.
The development is situated conveniently for commuters, justmoments away from Cheadle Hulme railway station, providingdirect trains to Manchester Piccadilly in just 16 minutes, andStockport in only 6 minutes.
Manchester Airport is a 10 minute drive, and is home to the new£800m Airport City Manchester development and its £130m ‘China
Cluster’, set to be the UK’s first airport city and a leading businesshub in the region.
Mark Skinner, chief executive at Inspired Asset Management,commented: “We only completed on the scheme in February, so toget funding so early on highlights the confidence in our proposalsand the location.”
“Despite recent growth,” he said, “prices are still below their2008 peak, which shows where they are in the cycle.”
He described Manchester as the country’s “second city.”The scheme is Inspired’s first in the north, and has an estimated
GDV in excess of £28m.More than 30 apartments have already been reserved. Prices start
at £130,000 for a one-bedroom micro apartment, and construction isexpected to commence in the summer.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
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421-home Chelmsford riversidescheme gets go-ahead
Unanimous planning consent has been granted to ChelmerWaterside, a new residential-led riverside quarter designedby PRP for Taylor Wimpey. The masterplan delivers
421 new homes and public spaces on the edge of Chelmsford city centre.
The masterplan will offer homes across a number of tenures andtypologies, together with a new public square, green spaces andcomplementary non-residential uses.
South-east of the city centre, the site occupies a peninsula,bounded by the River Chelmer and the historic Chelmer andBlackwater Navigation. The principles of the masterplanacknowledge a key vista to the Grade II listed Moulsham Mill andpresent a varied and vibrant frontage the river edge. A new publicsquare will integrate the Essex Record Office, home to an archiveof over 1,000 years of Essex history, fitting seamlessly intothe scheme.
Buildings of varied heights and forms will be knitted togetheracross the landscape, which extends towards and interacts withthe riverside setting. PRP’s proposals also intend to increasepermeability through the site, while buildings will be orientated tomaximise views to the water for residents and visitors throughout.The design has been developed across PRP with input from arange of in-house disciplines, including architecture, urban design,landscape and sustainability.
Scott Cromack, associate director at PRP, was pleased to be
involved in the “exciting project,” praising the design intent, whichaspires “to deliver a high quality residential development.”
Stephen Wood, senior planning manager at Taylor Wimpey EastLondon, added that the “ambitious scheme” is the result of“shared aspirations for high quality design,” and of “collaborativeworking practices.”
He said these factors “will work together to create a vibrant,bustling new riverside quarter for Chelmsford, and revitalise thishistoric stretch of the river Chelmer.”
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NEW DEVELOPMENTS 23
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Kingwood is a luxury development inthe highly sought-after area ofKnightsbridge, a short walk from
London’s Harrods. The premises is nearingcompletion, with only two of the tenapartments yet to be finished.
The property is the latest collaborationbetween owner Javad Marandi anddeveloper Finchatton. Marandi purchasedfive townhouses on Hans Place andHerbert Crescent in 2011, partnering withFinchatton to design and develop thesuper-prime Knightsbridge scheme.
Overlooking Hans Place Garden,Kingwood is situated a stone’s throw fromSloane Street, London, famous for theluxury super-store Harrods, and a long listof boutique shops. The garden is oftenargued to be the most prestigious gardensquare in the Royal Borough of Kensingtonand Chelsea.
Arranged across four buildings, thedevelopment consists of five apartmentsand a duplex penthouse. Two of theapartments are located on the ground,lower ground and basements floors, withextensive living and entertaining spaces,offering three bedrooms and bathrooms.Three lateral apartments span across thefirst to third floors, each with five bedroomsand bathrooms. The three bedroom, fourbathroom penthouse covers the fourth andfifth floors.
EXTERIORThe design of the building draws from thedetailed rose red brick facades which formthe character of the Hans PlaceConservation Area. Each of the fourtownhouses have a different pattern anddetailing, their differences being key totheir distinctive appeal. Bespoke brickswere made using CNC (computernumerical control) cutting technology, andthen laid with precision and hand-rubbedin situ.
The design of the bricks, displaying
CASE STUDY
“Super-prime” developments arebecoming more common in thecapital, with the right location andspec attracting high prices – JackWooler reports on a recent example,Kingwood in Knightsbridge.
THE DESIGN OF THEBUILDING DRAWS FROMTHE DETAILED ROSE REDBRICK FACADES WHICHFORM THE CHARACTER OFTHE HANS PLACECONSERVATION AREA
Living like aking in Knightsbridge
circular hoops, is actually an abstraction of acoffee bean. Coffee beans were firstbrought into the UK from Jamaica by SirHans Sloane in the late 16th century, andhis name is found throughout the area, withseveral streets named after him includingSloane Street and Hans Place.
The apartments enjoy south-facing viewsover the gardens of Hans Place, providing acommunal garden to the internationalbusiness executives and the super-rich.The space is just over an acre in size, andcontains mature plane, chestnut and limetrees. Restricted to the public, the privategarden is listed Grade II on the Register ofHistoric Parks and Gardens.
PLANNINGBeing in Kensington and Chelsea’s HansTown Conservation Area, any applicationto the local council had to take in toaccount the various regulations andguidelines. These requirements cover themany listed buildings in the area, views andvistas, the importance of gaps betweenterraces, environmental improvements, andmuch more.
In an area of London with such sensitiveplanning obligations, for Kingwood thewhole process had to be handled carefully,with the developers in constant dialoguewith both the council and planning consult-ants. As part of gaining planning permission,the front facade along Hans Place had to beretained, proving challenging from aconstruction and logistics point of view,considering that building was completelyrebuilt on the inside. Permission was alsodependant upon the integration of acontemporary mansard structure.
The planning application needed toevolve over time, with an opportunity
arising at the beginning of theredevelopment process to purchase theadjacent building on Herbert Crescent.This necessitated further extensions andimprovements to the original consent andscheme. As a result, the development washeld up slightly while new permissionswere sought. This delay proved profitablehowever, with the new scheme (which is asbuilt today) allowing for more expansivelateral apartments to be created, with betterfloor plate design throughout the building.
In 2015, the Royal Borough ofKensington and Chelsea released itsBasements Planning Policy, CL7. Thisrequires that basements, among otherthings, ‘not exceed a maximum of 50 percent of each garden or open part of thesite,’ and ‘not comprise more than onestorey,’ only providing exceptions to muchlarger sites. With basement permissions notbeing such an issue at the time of planning,Kingwood is lucky to be able to feature fivefloors below ground, providing space for theextensive amenities on site.
LUXURIESThe building has been completely rebuiltand its interior exquisitely designed byFinchatton, as you’d expect in order toattract its high-end customer base. withbespoke touches exhibited throughout thegrand rooms. While the interiors have beenspecified to the highest degree in even thesmallest of places, buyers can choose tokeep the properties as finished,or to completely replace everything.Items such as art, for example, are moredependant on personal taste.
Not stopping at luxury design, it is also inthe amenities provided that residents willexperience the high life. Amenities and
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CASE STUDY 25
The building has been completely rebuilt and its interiordesigned by Finchatton, with bespoke touches exhibitedthroughout the grand rooms
26 CASE STUDY
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services include a 24-hour concierge, a1,300 sq ft gym with a separate functionaltraining room, spa treatment suite, secureresidents’ underground car parking, gamesand media room, and wine cellar, all housedin five subterranean floors.
Alongside the gym is a private residentialfitness and wellness service, provided byone the most sought-after professionalfitness teams in London, SP&Co, and itsnewly launched ‘BodySPace’. Kingwoodresidents have access to in-house,world-class fitness and wellnesstechnologies, equipment, programmes andtreatments, the like of which it is claimedhave not previously been available inprivate residential developments.
Adding an extra element of class toproceedings, Kingwood has introduced afully-equipped professional cateringkitchen for owners’ use when entertaining,which is serviced by a separate staff liftdirect to each principal apartment, alongwith a dedicated chauffeurs’/staff restroom.
Specifiers are increasingly introducingsmart technology into developments ofthis sort to optimise convenience andefficiency. With Finchatton’s super-primespecification, smart features were taken tothe next level. From remote controlled, endof bed TV lifts, to smart windows that can
be opened, locked and covered with blindsat the push of a button, Kingwoodapartments offer the cutting edge oftechnology. Smart heating and lightingare also integrated across the propertiesallowing for seamless home automationand control.
Danielle Joyce, senior designer atFinchatton, explained the designphilosophy behind the finished resultresidents will enjoy: “Kingwood isorientated around the views over HansPlace Garden and focused on enabling asmuch natural light to reach key spaces.Hence the floating tread staircase in thePenthouse and the double height rooflight above.”
Providing some highlights of thebuilding’s luxury specifications, Joycespoke of the interior’s “polished whiteplaster walls,” “Italian stone” and “wideplank wood flooring.”
She described the development as “21stCentury living behind the facades of whatwere 19th Century townhouses.”
The properties range from a stilleye-popping £21m, up to £31.5m, butsome of the leases are already agreed.Only two apartments are yet to befinished, with both due for completionthis month.
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Pineland FurniturePineland Furniture is a family ownedbusiness which mainly designs andmanufactures bespoke high quality kitchenfurniture. Pineland also makes freestandingand built in furniture for bedrooms, livingrooms etc. Pineland uses traditional methods and materials to craft its products.The company feels that too many kitchenstoday look synthetic and uniform in design –more like a science laboratory than the“engine room” of the home. Over the years,Pineland has established a satis:edcustomer base stretching UK wide, fromLondon and the South East, throughoutWales to Scotland.
KloeberKloeber is recognised as a market leadingspecialist in timber and aluminium foldingsliding doors and bespoke glazing solutionsin timber, aluminium and composite.O8ering a complete package of glazingsolutions including folding sliding doors,sliding doors, windows, French and singledoors, :xed frame glazing and roof lightsKloeber is a one stop shop for the self-builder and home renovator. With atailor-made service from inception tocompleting including survey and :ttingservice if required. Visit one of their threeextensive showrooms or call to discuss yourindividual project.
SIPS@ClaysEstablished over 12 years ago by Ian & Alison Clay on the back of the familyhousebuilding business, SIPS@Clays hasestablished itself as one of the leadingsuppliers of SIPs in the UK. Using theKingspan TEK Building System they design,engineer, fabricate and erect the SIPs fromtheir factory at Skipton in North Yorkshire.Over the years they have worked in manysectors including self-build homes, privateresidential developments, extensions,schools, medical centres, o9ces, outdoorpursuit’s centres and even a temporarycathedral! The company has numerous casestudies to view on its website.
PRODUCT FOCUS
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30 APPOINTMENTS & NEWS
Designer contracts supports Everest challenge
Designer Contracts, one of the UK’s largest flooringcontractor, is supporting a Mount Everest climb forThe Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishingindustry’s charity. Damian Walters, chief executiveof the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom andBathroom Installation (BiKBBI), is to raise £100,000for the charity, by attempting to scale the icyprecipices of Mount Everest’s summit. He’ll thenspend three to four weeks acclimatising to the high
altitude by tackling local peaks, before the climb up the mountain. PeterKelsey, MD said: “Designer Contracts is delighted to sponsor Damian’sEverest challenge in aid of the Furniture Maker’s charity.
01246 854577 www.designercontracts.com
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Aggregate Industries invests £2mAggregate Industries’ Masterblockbusiness has invested £2 million intoimproving its block product operationsat three of its factories across thecountry, in response to a steady increasein demand from the housing industry.With the need for new homes in the UK
increasing, and strict targets imposed on councils, there has inevitablybeen a surge in housing activity. This has led to an increase in demand forblock products, and the investment in Masterblock will enable it toincrease its production capabilities of lightweight and dense concreteblocks to help meet the demand.
01530 510066 www.aggregate.com
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Kingspan takes the devil out of detailing
Kingspan Insulation has released a newtechnical bulletin and RIBA approvedCPD article, designed to supportenhanced detailing. The documentsexplore the effects of linear thermalbridging around openings in the build-ing envelope, and present new research
on the subject, allowing specifiers to use Kingspan Kooltherm Cavity Closeras a premium performance, one-size-fits-most solution. The CPD articleand technical bulletin are based on a thermal modelling study of jambdetails by BRE Scotland. The study covers a variety of cavity wall constructions closed using Kingspan Kooltherm Cavity Closer.
01544 388 601 www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk/psidetails
�
VEKA UK names Renolit 'Supplier of the Year'
Renolit has scooped the top accolade inThe VEKA UK Group's second annualSupplier of the Year awards. The VEKAUK Group is committed to quality inevery aspect of product and service,and the team are proud to celebratesuppliers that go above and beyond inproviding the materials needed for
VEKA and Halo's industry-leading PVC-U profile systems. Renolit won best'Manufacturing Consumables', as well as being named 'Supplier of the Year'.The company provides the high spec foils that make up The VEKA UKGroup's enviable 'Variations' colour collection.
01282 716611 www.vekauk.com
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APPOINTMENTS & NEWS; DOORS, WINDOWS & CONSERVATORIES 31
TTA Awards Night – another great success for the industry!
The TTA Awards 2017 once again provided a great showcase for the tiling industry. This year the Awards, hosted byEmma Jesson, took place at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel in central London. The winners of 22 categories weredeclared during the course of the evening – six of these being determined by public vote, the rest beingadjudicated by the TTA’s panel of expert judges. “I think this eleventh TTA Awards has been our most successfulever,” says TTA chairman Ian Kershaw. “It’s always great to recognise the real achievers in our industry, whether theyare tile fixers, manufacturer, retailers, distributors or contractors. It shows the real strength of our industry that we are able to demonstrate such a wealth of talent, enterprise, hard work and creativity from within our member companies.” The Gold sponsors were: ARDEX, BAL, Bellota, Impey Showers, Norcros Adhesives and Tilemaster Adhesives. As well as the serious business of presenting Awards, the event was once again a greatnetworking occasion and an opportunity for the industry to get together and enjoy some top class entertainment. The evening also raised £2,500 for Children Today, the TTA’s nominated charity, for whom the industry hasbeen raising money for the past 11 years.
0300 365 8453 www.tiles.org.uk
Vent-Axia supports local Youth Charity
Crawley-based Vent-Axia, one of the UK’sleading ventilation company, presented acheque to The Worshipful, the Mayor ofCrawley, Councillor Raj Sharma on Tuesday 9th
May to support the Mayor’s charity for 2016/17,Crawley Community Youth Service. The cheque
was presented by Jenny Smith, Marketing Manager of Vent-Axia in theMayor's parlour in Town Hall, The Boulevard. Vent-Axia chose to supportCrawley Community Youth Service as its charity for its 80th anniversaryyear. Crawley Community Youth Service aims to encourage young peopleto be positive role models who can create engaged vibrant and equalcommunities throughout Crawley.
0844 856 0590 www.vent-axia.com
All change at this year's Network VEKA AGM!
Network VEKA, has hosted anotherfantastic Members' Weekend and awardsceremony. The day kicked off with aspecially built Business Centre, wheremembers could chat to various supportingcompanies and affiliate partners abouthow they could work together for even
greater success. The afternoon's speeches began with MD of The VEKA UKGroup Dave Jones, who discussed the many ways the Network has grownin recent years, and continues to grow. Before Marketing Director DawnStockell unveiled some major changes being launched for Network VEKA'sbranding going forward. *More to be announced*
01282 473170 www.networkveka.co.uk
BAL Product Support team named as Top-10
BAL’s team of Product SupportTechnicians (PSTs) have been named asone of the top-10 best flooringproducts or services in the UK followinga public vote. BAL PSTs were one of 50products and services shortlisted for theTomorrow’s Contract Floors Awards2017 after being nominated for the
awards by readers of the magazine. It is the only product or service fromthe tiling industry that has made the Top-10. The BAL PST service iscompletely free and available across the UK for tiling professionals. It is oneof the many support services available to members of YOU+BAL.
01782 591100 www.bal-adhesives.com
2017 marks 40th anniversary for Vortice UK
Burton-upon-Trent based ventilationsystems manufacturer Vortice set upbusiness in the UK in December 1977.To celebrate, Vortice will be running aseries of promotions based on the 40ththeme, for the six months up until
December. General Manager Kevin Hippey said: “Vortice started with acore range of ventilation products, establishing itself as a renownedmanufacturer with some of the most energy efficient, beautifully styledventilation products in the world.” Vortice was originally founded in Milan,Italy by Attilio Pagani in 1954. Pagani’s first product was a cookerextraction unit made of thermosetting resin.
01283 492949 www.vortice.ltd.uk
H+H adds module to its online academy
H+H has launch a third module onto itsalready popular online training academy.New to the academy, ‘Benefits of Aircrete forSeparating Walls’ joins ‘What is Aircrete’ and‘How Aircrete is Used’ as in-depth modulesdesigned to clarify and demonstrate the
benefits and uses of aircrete in housebuilding. The five minute coursedefines separating and flanking walls before detailing the thermal andacoustic benefits of using aircrete in construction and why aircrete is theideal choice for use in cavity separating walls. The third module sitsalongside regularly updated H+H news, animations, case studies and literature making it a one-stop-shop for everything aircrete.
01732 886333 www.hhacademy.co.uk
Ford Windows racing ahead
Sheffield-based fabricator and installerFord Windows is celebrating a newmilestone in its continuing growthand development – its 40th year inthe industry. And, despite its maturity,the company is continuing to grow.Philip Shackley believes that Ford
Windows’ strong relationship with Eurocell has been a key factor in thecompany’s success. “We chose Eurocell because of its excellent reputationfor fabricator support and innovation. It’s thanks to its excellent productand our own commitment to best-in-class customer service that we havebeen able to grow to this size and still expand.”
0800 988 3049 www.eurocell.co.uk
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Protect your most important tools
Your hands are your most important tools so keep them protected with Hand Armour, a new multi-use barrier cream from Everbuild – A Sika Company.
Providing protection against any wet or dry contaminants, it has been designed to help stop the skin from absorbing harmful substances as well as protecting against abrasion. The non-greasy, unscented formula is easily absorbed into the skin, and with only a small amount needed to provide unbeatable protection, a little tube goes a long way. Available in 100ml tubes, Hand Armour is packed into printed display boxes which are sure to attract attention when sat on the counter, bringing builders back for this product time and time again.
For further information about Hand Armour or any other product within the Everbuild and Sika ranges,contact your local sales representative, call the sales office or visit the Everbuild website.
0113 240 2424 www.everbuild.co.uk
Cladding makes an ‘Ideal Home’
Every year one of the most popular elements of the Ideal Home Show at Olympia is the full size show homes.Visitors to this year’s show were treated to two stunning properties, both featuring Freefoam Fortex cladding.Pale Gold Double Shiplap cladding formed the exterior finish of a three apartment structure designed to reflect thethree stages in life, first time buyer, family home and downsizing. Visitors were invited to ‘climb the property ladder’apartments to navigate first-hand the design and practical challenges faced by designers and city dwellers alike.Pale Blue Weatherboard cladding was used to great effect on the second show home. A traditional cottage with acontemporary twist designed to appeal to metropolitan families relocating to the countryside. The house featureda beautiful thatch roof and timber cladding with the lower level also clad with ultra hard-wearing, low maintenanceFreefoam Fortex PVC cladding. Freefoam Marketing Manager, Louise Sanderson commented “ With over 20,000visitors each day we were really pleased to have the Freefoam cladding range exposed to such a large, engagedhomeowner audience. Available in a choice of eight subtle colours the range has been developedspecifically for both renovation and new build projects, the perfect product to create an ‘Ideal Home!”
01604 591110 www.freefoam.com
32 BUILDING PRODUCTS; CLADDING & FACADES; DOORS, WINDOWS & CONSERVATORIES
UK Construction could lose 8 per cent of its workforce post-Brexit
A new report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has revealed that should the UK lose access to theEU single market, the UK construction industry could lose almost 200,000 EU workers post-Brexit. The report warnsthat failure to secure access to the single market could place the UK’s predicted £500 billion infrastructure pipelineunder threat. Duncan Wietscher, Director of Newview Windows & Conservatories, comments: “It is in our best interests to make a success of Brexit and secure the best trade deals we can but a loss of access to the single markethas the potential to impact in the short term, making it harder for our cities to compete on a global stage andnegatively impacting the economy. We desperately need to secure access to the single market or put alternativeplans in place to safeguard the future of construction and our country.” Much of the industry is dependent on EUworkers, with 30 per cent of construction professionals surveyed by RICS stating that hiring non-UK workers wasimportant to the success of their businesses. But overseas construction professionals are not currently regarded ascritical by the government and therefore are not prioritised during the VISA application. Duncan stressesthat more importance should be placed on technical construction skills.
01903 244 449 www.newview-homes.co.uk
Could modular homes be the answer to Britain’s housing crisis?
It is a widely-reported fact that not enough houses are being built in the UK. The race is on to meet housingrequirements and the industry needs to find more efficient ways of constructing housing. One solution is modularhomes. Off-site built homes can be produced in half the time of traditional constructed homes and reduce therequirement for skilled labour, which may help relieve the burden of the skills shortage, should it intensifyfollowing Brexit. Modular homes have become widespread in Europe. But will modular homes spark interest in theUK? Michele Wietscher, director of Newview Windows & Conservatories, comments: “Modular homes have gaineda bad reputation over the years for their quality and perhaps haven’t been taken seriously by the industry orpotential buyers, but this is changing. Recently a 48-home modular housing scheme in Manchester has been soldand occupied, showing buyer interest is definitely there as well as the opportunity for similar schemes across theUK.” Although some original common features of modular homes made them undesirable to buyers, newer modelscan go toe-to-toe with traditionally built homes on quality. And an increase in quality does not equate toan increase in cost; the cost for a modular home can be up to 15 per cent cheaper than a traditional one.
01903 244 449 www.newview-homes.co.uk
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Network VEKA supports revamp
Rugby Double Glazing recently markedthe opening of its revamped showroomwith an invite-only open day for friendsand customers. The Midlands-basedcompany is a member of pioneeringinstaller support organisation, NetworkVEKA; members of which are committedto using PVC-U systems from The VEKA
UK Group, and are continually assessed for the highest standards of work.Guests visited one of Rugby Double Glazing’s most recent jobs in WestHaddon; a garden room, officially opened by six-times World SnookerChampion and Network VEKA Brand Ambassador Steve Davis.
01282 473170 www.networkveka.co.uk
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We’re in! Network VEKA evolves
Network VEKA has announced the next phase in itsevolution, rebranding as Independent Network. Builton a solid 20+ year heritage as one of the UK’s mosttrusted independent installers, Network VEKAinvested significantly in consumer research to identifyopportunities to better connect with consumers. Theresearch confirmed that the Network VEKA ‘recipe’ is
fully aligned to consumer needs, however its ‘packaging’ requiredimprovement to better engage with homeowners. Member companies –many of which have been part of the installer support organisation sinceits advent in 1996 – got their first look at Independent Network’s newbranding at the recent Members’ Weekend.
01282 473170 www.networkveka.co.uk
BUILDING PRODUCTS; DOORS, WINDOWS & CONSERVATORIES 33
Mix and match doors with a little help
As one of the country’s foremost door manufacturers, Premdor has one ofthe most extensive collections of internal and external door designsavailable to the UK market. It can therefore be seen that the extent of thecolourways, designs and finishes provides the perfect opportunity to addvalue to a home or commercial establishment by mixing and matchingcontrasting door styles upstairs and downstairs, including externalentrance doors. Whilst the use of internal wall colour, texture and designis the accepted norm, the concept of using doors to achieve adecorative effect can often be overlooked. Whether it be new build or arefurbishment project the co-ordination of a Contemporary Oak finishdownstairs complementing a White Moulded option upstairs can lead to adramatic decorative effect. To begin to understand the endless creativepermutations see the latest Premdor product brochure and letyour imagination mix and match.
0844 209 0008 www.premdor.co.uk
Eco Products ShowcaseIn this issue we look at recent trends in Eco Products
Consort Claudgen has launchedthe MRX1 Multizone wirelesscontroller which can control up to eight heating zones using the existing CRX2controllers. Each CRX2 cancontrol multiple Consort RXheaters in the same room orzone. The MRX1 has a largetouchscreen LCD colour display. A seven-day programmewith six time periods per daycan be set separately for each zone and if required, beduplicated across other zonessaving time.
Body text Company name Body text Company name Body text Company nameEarthwool® DriTherm CavitySlabs are a full fill solution forthe thermal insulation ofmasonry cavity external walls.They are 455mm wide to suitstandard vertical wall tiespacings, ensuring a closed jointwith adjacent slabs. BBACertified for use in all exposurezones; Non-combustibleEuroclass A1 Reaction to Firerating; Moisture resistant; Fasterand more cost effective to installthan rigid foam boards. Pleasecontact Knauf Insulation todayor visit the company’s website.
Ventilation systems supplierVortice has been awarded thecontract to supply intermittentventilation fans to Midlands-based housebuilderWilliam Davis. The first site to be completed is Mill Fields, set in the Leicestershire villageof Broughton Astley. This select development of two tofive bedroom homes offersstunning views of open countryside and the houses are all well specified. For moreinformation about Vortice fansvisit the company’s website.
M-TRAY® sedum green roof fromWallbarn is the perfect solution. All the necessary substrate,drainage and filtration elementsare measured and pre-loadedinto the specially designedplastic module. Sedum plantsare pre-grown and fullyestablished and everything iscontained. There is no mess andnothing spills out. Each modulecan be carried by hand. Justplace them down and cliptogether. The joints will becomeinvisible to form a seamless, fullyestablished green roof.
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ECO PRODUCTS SHOWCASE 35
Stylish centrifugal fans for healthy indoor air quality
01283 492949
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4 DIFFERENTOPERATING MODES
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Our MRX1 Multizone wireless controller can control up to 8 heating zones using the existing CRX2 controllers, where each CRX2 can control multiple Consort RX heaters in the same room or zone.
Get multizoned with our MRX1 controller
great energy and cost saving
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central controller
can be retrofitted to RX systems
Eco Products ShowcaseIn this issue we look at recent trends in Eco Products
We Build It Ltd is a UK manufacturer of domesticsewage treatment plants, whofocus on high quality, affordableproducts. All of its sewage treat-ment plants are based on thesuccessful and simple extendedaeration method. We Build It candesign, manufacture, install andservice sewage treatment plantsfor single houses and smalldevelopments. Its products canalso be used after an existingseptic tank to enable the effluent to be dischargeddirectly to a water causeway.
Are you aware of the harmbeing done to the environmentand the costs involved whenhiring a chemical loo?
For any project on a site withoutfacilities, use an ‘Eco-T’ from EcoToilets. No chemicals, no smells,no hazardous waste, no otherwaste and no water.
When you’ve finishedconstruction, flat pack the‘Eco-T’ and take it to the nextphase or new site, economicallyand environmentally sensible.
Harrowden Turf Ltd is one ofthe UK’s largest producers ofquality lawn turf, topsoil, wildflower turf and green roofingmaterials. Harrowden Turfproducts are grown on threesites. All of the turf is grown tothe same high standard on verysimilar but distinctive black soils.Black soil is not peat. It is finetextured, rich in organic matternutrient and relatively low insand, clay and other heavy particles. This mean that therolls of turf weigh far less thanturves grown on mineral soil.
EnviroVent is pleased toannounce that it is one of thefirst ventilation manufacturersto be BIM ready. Using BIMcompliant Revit design software,EnviroVent’s design team is ableto provide detailed technicaldrawings that fully comply withGovernment regulations. Thisincludes showing ventilationsystem locations, duct runs,ancillaries and quantitiesrequired. EnviroVent’s BIMcompliant drawings are free todownload from the NBSNational BIM library.
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36 ECO PRODUCTS SHOWCASE
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ECO PRODUCTS SHOWCASE 37
The Kellogg Tower at Sudbury, in NorthWest London, previously the Londonheadquarters of the international
contractor M.W Kellogg, is being transformedinto a contemporary residential scheme knownas Atrium Point. The existing buildings are beingsustainably refurbished, with solarpanels, air source pumps and heat recoveryunits, all contributing to meet CO2 reductions n the redevelopment.
It is currently one of the largest office-to-residential schemes in the capital and willrealise a mix of a 290 studios, one and twobedroom apartments. Many of the units will
benefit from a cantilevered steel balcony,supported to the existing reinforced concreteslab and structural thermal performance is a keyconsideration. Market-leading thermal breaksuppliers Schöck, are the go-to company forthis type of specification, with the availabilityof their innovative Isokorb type RKS forrefurbishment applications. The product is fullycertified as an “Energy saving component” bythe Passivhaus Institute in Darmstadt, Germany,which highlights the importance of thermalperformance, even for refurbishment projects ofthis type.
The type RKS is a load-bearing thermal break
with a 120mm insulation element thickness thatallows the replacement, or addition, ofbalconies to an existing building, by connectingcantilevered steel balconies to the reinforcedconcrete slab. It minimises thermal bridges atconcrete-to-steel connections on cantileverbalconies and transfers negative moments andpositive shear forces. This offers a number ofdifferent options for integrated, energy-efficientbuilding renovation and guarantees enormousscope for design.
The RKS also provides LABC registration, thehighest level of BBA Certification and easilymeets the necessary Building Regulations.
For your free copy of the new ThermalBridging Guide and /or the Schöck SpecifiersGuide – call Schöck or visit the website.
01865 290 890www.schoeck.co.uk
Schöck retro t solution for majoro�ce-to-residential conversion
Graphic of the Isokorb type RKS in position
Work in progress at Sudbury Hill
BEAM & BLOCK FLOORINGLINTELS
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High efficiency small circulators
Small circulating pumps are key componentsof all wet heating systems in the UK. Theyperform either as standalone pumps or asintegrated pumps in combis and systemboilers and they keep water circulating inunderfloor heating systems too.
Wilo offers a family of small circulatingpumps for all applications that are renownedfor their reliability and energy efficiency. Headto the website or call to find out more.
01283 523000 www.wilo.co.uk
Therma V High Temperature heat pump
LG’s Therma V High Temperature heatpump can deliver hot water at up to 80degrees C for cascade dual refridgerantcycles of R410a and R134a and up to 65degrees C for single refrigerant hightemperature systems. The new hightemperature version of the unit is idealfor projects where replacement of an
older heating system with an air source heat pump is required and otherenergy efficiency measures are not possible or feasible. To find out moreabout LG high temperature air source heat pumps head to the website, or email LG.
[email protected] partner.lge.com/uk
Designer Contracts at Housing 2017
One of the UK’s largest flooring contractor,Designer Contracts, will showcase its latestproducts and service offering at theChartered Institute of Housing 2017Conference and Exhibition. Following a
successful event in 2016, the company is returning to Manchester topresent its portfolio of floorcoverings, curtains and blinds, showhome anddesign services and furniture and lighting. A supplier for Procurement forHousing, Designer Contracts combines the buying power and delivery of anational business with local knowledge and customer service. Thecompany works with a number of social housing and local authorityorganisations and with 12 regional depots across the UK.
01246 854 577 www.designercontracts.com
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Affordable homes benefit from acoustic floor
Profloor Levelling System from the A.Proctor Group has once again beenspecified to enable a level finished floor tobe installed on uneven concrete floors. TheLincoln Court development consists of 22new affordable homes available.Developed to allow a level finished floor to
be installed on a cambered, stepped, or uneven sub-floor, ProfloorLevelling System is typically used to take out the irregularities in mortarscreeded floors. The floor is levelled by inserting packers in each levellingbase to adjust the level of the timber battens, and create a level finishedfloor with no need for wet trades in the process.
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38 ECO PRODUCTS SHOWCASE; FINANCE & INSURANCE; FLOORS & FLOOR COVERINGS
Regardless of snap elections and Brexit, there’s a bigger underlying issue at the heart of
our economy – the British housing marketremains chronically undersupplied, and hasdone for the last two decades. Various Cgures are bandied around, but
many agree that around 300,000 new homesneed to be built each year to cope withdemand, even if net migration were to fall substantially.There has been some improvement.
In 2015-2016 almost 190,000 net additionalhomes (including 164,000 new builds) werecreated, but even this is 15 per cent belowthe 2007-08 peak. With still only about halfthe necessary homes being built each year,this situation is only likely to worsen beforeit gets better. For the past decade, SME housebuilders
and developers have had a particularly toughdeal. Between 2007-2009, with the Cnancialcrash heavily affecting businesses, a third ofsmall companies ceased building homes.Over half the country’s new builds are
built by just seven PLC housebuilders, whohave the scale, Cnance and synergies todominate. It’s a tragedy that, along with theusual challenges of red tape and bureaucracy,many lenders simply shut their doors tosmall and medium housebuilding companies,scared of their own shadows and that of theregulator. LTVs (loan-to-value mortgages)have been wound back, and policy U-turnscontinue to be a problem.
Decision making in the UK is slow,inefCcient and dysfunctional, and timedrags on – time delays being a house-builder’s number one enemy. Now we havethe rising cost of imported materials(thanks to the drop in sterling) and the fearthat one in four construction workers couldbe lost from a ‘hard’ Brexit. With shortterm sentiment Ductuating as every pieceof Brexit news is aired, it’s plain to see thathousebuilders are continuing to face somechallenging circumstances, and it’s the jobof land and build funding companies tohelp them as a strategic partner.The Government continues to meddle
with the sector by way of its tax andregulation obsession and recent changes tostamp duty, including a second home buyerstax. It’s in this sort of environment wherehousebuilders and developers in need ofCnance, must seek out a fast, Dexible andcompliant alternative to the mainstreamlenders that are of poor quality and areoften inefCcient.
Most banks simply don’t understand the essential partnership of developer and funder. From a ‘computer says’ mentality to an over-reliance on a less-than-perfect credit records, hurdles such as thesecan leave a great new build project dead in the water, with banks applying the selective amnesia that they are so wellknown for.Since the credit crunch, mainstream
lenders have been slow to return to small-scale development Cnance, if theyhave returned at all. Many focus on a developer’s history as the be all and end all – ignoring both the merits of anindividual build project and the fact thateven the best developers can have setbacksover the years.For specialist funders that know
property and ignore macro-economic noise,the playing Celd looks different. Free ofthe capital restrictions and overhead coststhat banks have to contend with, they canoffer tailored Cnancing that Cts. The possibility is there to select
companies who offer unique solutions tofunding, such as supporting their partnerswith 100 per cent LTV full funding for allland and build costs. The best companieswill cover all a developer’s soft costsand SDLT. It is important to choose a reputable
company that can consistently guaranteefunds on time, with a fast and fuss freenature that’s easy to do business with. This ensures developer partners can dowhat they do best: crack on and develop.When working in partnership with a
300,000 NEW HOMES NEEDTO BE BUILT EACH YEAR TOCOPE WITH DEMAND
With UK builders failing to keep up with demand, MarkHolden of Go Develop o%ers his view on how&nanciers can help SMEs reach Government targets.
LENDING A HAND
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
FINANCE & INSURANCE 39
dedicated property Cnancier there’s justone, close relationship, one set of legalfees, and one survey fee, keeping things simple and efCcient. No long-winded inter-creditor agreements and red tape – just a one-stop funding solution.
Making things easy for its partners andkeeping its criteria simple is the mark of agood Cnancier. Some of the bettercompanies, for example, focus on experi-enced new build developers, preferablywith planning in place and a target GDVof £2m-£15m.
A project can then be swiftly appraised and a proCt share agreed, usually withdeveloper partners keeping the lion’s shareof proCts and allowing them to expandtheir operations, stretch their capital over multiple sites and secure more brand Dagsin the ground.
Helping to return the number of housebuilders in operation to 2007 levelscould equate to boosting the housingsupply by 25,000 homes per year. It’s vitalto cut through the lenders doing U-turns,cut through the macro-economic noise,and be certain that in these uncertaintimes, housebuilders and developers canuse an investor’s money to make morefor themselves.
Mark Holden is MD at Go Develop
OVER HALF THE COUNTRY’S NEW BUILDS ARE BUILT BYJUST SEVEN PLC HOUSEBUILDERS
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40 FINANCE & INSURANCE
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Both misted glass and condensationare far from uncommon problems.They have plagued homes,buildings
and glazings of all sorts for generations,caused by a host of external factors.Although damp is a common problem withsingle-glazing, modern layered insulatedglazing has experienced its own share ofcondensation, despite the best efforts ofmanufacturers. This old issue is slightlymore complex than people often think.
Condensation or window misting impliesone signi2cant thing – lack of thermalconsistency in a building’s structure. Asthermal images demonstrate, manybuildings suffer from gaps in their thermalbridges, holes through which energyescapes, causing con3icts of temperatureand depositing condensation on thesurfaces. These thermal gaps often exist inthe form of windows or wall-3oor connec-tions. In minor instances, condensationcollects and forms damp or just looks ugly.In rare cases, cavities between layers ofglazing can gradually 2ll with water andneed replacing entirely. So why does thisoccur so often, and what can be done tocombat it?
CAUSES OF CONDENSATIONThe direct cause of condensation isprobably familiar from science lessons atschool, where moisture in the air cools andcollects on a surface. There are a number offactors however that impact the ways inwhich moisture forms on surfaces, andwhere exactly it manifests. Double glazingis particularly prone to condensation, but
the placement of moisture and on whichface it forms can help you to deduce whatyour particular problem is, and how to dealwith it quickly and effectively.
INNER CONDENSATIONCondensation forming on the internal faceof the window can usually be put down toone or a combination of several factors:surface temperature of the glass, externaltemperature and climate, internal airtemperature, internal humidity and the
internal ventilation rate. All of these factors(except, of course, the external climate) canbe controlled and modi2ed if need be. It isoften advisable to try to collect water fromthe source as soon as possible to avoidcondensation and damp problems. Keepinga building well-heated and ventilated willhelp to prevent condensation, as will warmedge spacer bars, which work to regulatethe temperature of the thermal cavity.
OUTER CONDENSATIONAt 2rst look it may give the impression ofpoor glazing, but condensation forming onthe outer edge of a window suggestsentirely the opposite. Outer condensation iscaused by a few external factors: the heatbeing passed from the interior through theglass (which, itself, is caused by thetemperature differences between the inter-nal and external surfaces), heat exchangeby convection with the external air andheat loss by radiation. Studies have shownthat in overcast weather, heat exchange byradiation is fairly minimal, but in clearconditions a considerable amount of heat islost to the sky.
The higher the quality of the thermalinsulation (measured in U-values), of the
Will Goodenough of Whitesales discusses the variouscauses of glass condensation and misting inproperties, to help developers avoid the issues.
DE-MYSTIFYINGCONDENSATION
CONDENSATION ORWINDOW MISTINGIMPLIES ONE SIGNIFICANTTHING – LACK OF THERMALCONSISTENCY IN ABUILDING’S STRUCTURE
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GLASS & GLAZING 43
window, the less heat that transfers to theexternal surface, meaning that the externalsurface is almost always signi2cantlycolder, causing outer condensation. Quitecontrary to what some may assume, outercondensation is in fact indicative ofhighly ef2cient glazing, and is nothing toworry about.
SANDWICHED CONDENSATIONThis is the condensation that really causeshassle. Internal or external condensationcan be mopped and polished, but it is whenmoisture somehow seeps its way into thecavity between the two layers of doubleglazing that annoyance is caused. It looksunsightly, is virtually inaccessible andcannot be remedied by any simpler meansthan having windows removed andreplaced. In extreme cases, this space can2ll up with water.
Unfortunately, traces of moisturebetween the layers of a double-glazedwindow are a sure sign that sealings havefailed and that the glaze is no longer air- orwater-tight. Take care to consider theconditions: temporary inner condensationcan be caused by periods of high humidityor particularly cold weather, or inbathrooms and kitchens where short burstsof humidity are expected. However, shouldyou notice condensation between layers
that is still there after some time, or whenconditions have changed, it is likely thatthey need replacing. Once sealing hasgiven way, the whole window will decayquite abruptly, so it is important that anyinstances of moisture are monitored andacted upon.
CONDITIONSVery often, condensation comes down toconditions, some of which are controllableand others which are not. But in any case,the only time condensation becomes a
real issue for glazing is when it issandwiched between the layers, at whichpoint nothing but replacement can solvethe problem. In the meantime, give a bitof extra consideration for the temperatureand conditions of the building. Maintainboth comfortable heat and ventilation tosustain thermal efficiency, keeping air andheat flowing.
Will Goodenough is key account manager atWhitesales
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44 GLASS & GLAZING
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HEATING & PLUMBING; KITCHEN & APPLIANCES 45
• 100% solid wood kitchens – no MDF, chipboard or ply• Dovetail jointed drawers – mortise and tenon joints for carcases• Free design service, individual, hand drawn plans• Non-standard sizes, at no extra cost, to suit your kitchens dimensions• Fully assembled units; no annoying ;at-pack assembly• Straightforward, easy to understand costing: prices include VAT & delivery• Knotted, primed and painted units are now available
Pineland is a privately owned, family company that has been established for over 20 years.We believe in listening to our clients, and our hand drawn plans, re;ect our customers desires and opinions. The :nal design combines well planned functionality, with eleganceand beauty, and our clients are often surprised how all this can be achieved at such areasonable cost.
Visit our website: www.pineland.co.uk Email: [email protected] call our of1ces: CLEOBURY MORTIMER, SHROPSHIRE: 01299 271143
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House builders and developersreputations rely on building quality homes that exceed expectations.Whilst maintaining a long termquality reputation. Exceptionaldesign,engineering and overall quality make theTerrier perfectfor all your new build developments.
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GeoCeramica® a game-changer for driveways
Brett Landscaping has introducedGeoCeramica®, a new product rangewhich integrates porcelain with aninnovative pre-bonded drainage mortarbase. This brand-new development inpaving vastly increases the ease-of-installation and long-term durability of
porcelain paving in the UK market. Inspired by nature, GeoCeramica® isavailable in four beautiful variations, each coming in several colours toprovide maximum design flexibility from the driveway through to thegarden. GeoCeramica® paving in 40mm is ideal for use on patio’s whilst the60mm thickness allows for its use on driveways.
0845 6080570 www.brettpaving.co.uk
Charcon supplies to Gateshead BIG
Charcon, the commercial hard landscaping division ofAggregate Industries, has supplied a complimentaryrange of precast concrete flags, blocks and kerbs toEvolution Gateshead for its renowned multi-millionregeneration project: Gateshead BIG. Gateshead BIG isthe UK’s largest residential regeneration programmeoutside of London. Drawing from its extensive range offlag and block paving, Charcon was able torecommend an appropriate and cost-effective paletteof over 10,600m2 of hard landscaping materials.
5,880m2 of Moordale® Textured flag paving in Grey was installed, offering apremium yet cost-effective solution for the pedestrian areas.
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Call 01483 271317 or email [email protected] for next-day delivery from stock.
People do better in daylit houses. They’re happier, healthier and sleep better and longer.
Rooflights let in 3 times more light than a vertical window the same size – all day, all year. Whitesales are the UK’s daylighting experts. Our rooflights maximise environmental performance, cut energy bills and boost saleability and rentability.
Explore our high-performance rooflight range and discover the full benefits of daylighting at www.whitesales.co.uk/about/daylight-theory.
46 GLASS & GLAZING; LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS
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Aluminium
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We have astyle to match
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Traditional and moderngutters, pipes and hopperscome in a comprehensiverange of aesthetic styles,
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For more informationplease call
0113 279 5854or email
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RAINWATER & GREYWATER PRODUCTS 47
The UK’s leading manufacturer of plasticpiping, rainwater systems and underfloorheating, Polypipe, is looking to add colour
and vibrancy to the rainwater market with thelaunch of its Elegance Colour range.
As more homeowners opt to invest in homeimprovements over moving, due to the risingcosts of admin charges and stamp duty,Polypipe’s new eye-catching rainwatercollection is ideal for brightening the exterior ofany refurb home or new build development.
Elegance Colour is the only high qualityrainwater guttering system available in 11vibrant colours across three collections,providing architects and developers with thechance to add an extra feature to their designs.
Elegance Colour provides a choice of distincthand-applied colours incorporating Anti-ChipTechnology, which can be supplied in a cast ironor matte finish. The rainwater collection, whichincludes colours such as Chartwell Green,Brilliant Blue and Pastel Pink allow a property tostand out from the rest of the street.
Each system is available in the classicSovereign and contemporary Square profiles tocope with the level of rainwater a home may be
exposed to.Furthermore, Elegance Colour is
manufactured from modern PVCu, is resilient,light and easy to install and will not be weath-ered by heavy rain or years in the sun, ensuringhigh performance many years after installation.The range comes with a 10-year guaranteeproviding buyer peace of mind, while theguttering and downpipes are 100 per centrecyclable, ensuring minimum impact on theenvironment when they are finally replaced.
Paul Jackson, Elegance Colour ProductManager, Polypipe, comments:
“We wanted to bring some new thinking torainwater systems, which are often installed as a
necessity rather than a differentiator. TheElegance Colour range is simple way to add afinishing touch to new design, and we haveprovided a range of colours and styles suitablefor any project.
“Each product is manufactured to Polypipe’smarket leading standards, and the range comeswith a number of quality assurances forreliability, performance and longevity with aselection of quality fittings and fixtures. Themost difficult decision will be decidingwhich colour to use to add a unique look toyour design.”
Information on the full range of products canbe found by visiting the website.
For information on adding Elegance Colour toyour projects please email Polypipe.
[email protected]/elegancecolour
Polypipe launches Elegance Colour as more homeownersrepair rather than relocate
01327 701 [email protected] hambleside-danelaw.co.uk
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DO IT ONCE. DO IT RIGHT.
Following widespread problemsassociated with use of mortar onroofs, publication of a new NHBC
Technical Standard and an update to BS5534 in 2015 prompted a dramaticincrease in dry fixing of ridge, hip andverge. The downside is that such marketconditions tend to attract supplierskeen to capture quick market share and,inevitably, this brings with it variationsin quality.
The absence of a British Standard governing these products will finally be addressed later this year when BS8612is published. Its overriding aim will be toprevent cheaper products being marketedwithout technical data to corroborateperformance and long-term effectiveness.
Ultimately, product selection is theroofer or builder’s responsibility butawareness of those which minimise riskof premature failure and unplannedmaintenance can only be a good thingfor all concerned.
This is particularly important given the fact that, in a short space of time, thewidening choice of dry fixing materials has effectively encouraged a ‘commodity’approach to procurement. The result hasbeen an increase in the number ofcomplaints and failures.
It is worth emphasising at this point the extent of problems associated withmortar fixing prompted British Standardsand the NHBC to decide that it could nolonger be relied on as a sole means offixing. Complaints to housebuilders maycontinue to attract media attention buttend to focus on deficiencies of particularcompanies rather than products. Less wellknown is the fact that the number ofclaims under the NHBC Buildmarkwarranty had reached such a level thatunderwriters felt the cost was no longersustainable. With evidence suggestingthat the upward trend was set to continuesomething had to be done.
Being aware of the consequent boost tosales that such a move was bound toprovoke, the decision to produce a BritishStandard specifically for dry fixing wasonly a matter of time. It will cover ridge,hip and verge products, but will notextend to valleys and eaves. Even so,manufacturers will have to conform tospecific aspects of technical performancein relation to features such as durabilityand weathertightness. Just as importantly,greater transparency is likely to berequired in terms of supporting technicaldata and it is also likely that the type andquality of accessories such as mechanicalfixings will be specified.
The problem for homeowners, landlords and contractors alike however isthat, for now at least, it’s impossible toknow which products can be relied on.
Despite this, some elements which oftenseparate better products from the rest canbe checked with relative ease.
A good example of this is the backingused on a ridge or hip roll, as only thehighest performing adhesives will bondsecurely to dusty surfaces and withstandsevere weather. A backing such asButylon, which is used on the Roll-Fixventilated dry ridge/hip manufactured by
Klober, is designed to bond immediatelyto provide instant protection. Anyadhesive which can’t do this is at risk ofearly failure as it will be affected by rainand wind while curing.
With some manufacturers providing little or no information on the projecteddesign life or testing of their products this is all good news. At the moment,the only certain way to be sure ofperformance is to look at what hasstood the test of time.
This is not to say that all lower costproducts should be avoided. However, itis legitimate to examine the likely meansby which the cost has been reduced as therisk will undoubtedly be greater. Ofcourse, there will always be pressure inthe supply chain to keep costs as low aspossible but for those whose main sellingpoint is price it may have been achievedthrough the omission of components fromkits, ‘cro’ clips to secure small tile cuts onhips being a good example.
THE WIDENING CHOICE OFDRY FIXING MATERIALSHAS EFFECTIVELYENCOURAGED A‘COMMODITY’ APPROACHTO PROCUREMENT
Graham Copson of Klober explains the reasons behindthe introduction of a new British Standard for theincreasingly popular method of dry )xing.
THE TRUE COST OFPOOR QUALITY
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ROOFING 49
A ridge or hip kit should include all theaccessories a roofer needs to fit a givenlength of tiles, something which alsoprovides a simple means of product comparison.
A high proportion of dry fix sales arereplacing use of onsite silo mortar and for merchants such products present clear potential for continued growth. It should be in their interest to ensure the products they supply are ones thatcontractors will keep coming back for but at the moment, they have an unenviable task.
The development of features suchas universal seals for use with roundor angle ridges/hips adds furtherdifferentiation in terms of quality but itis clear that an absolute definition ofwhat is required to guarantee lastingperformance is needed.
For the moment, with demand for such products at an all-time high in theUK housebuilding sector, the reputationof dry fixing is not being helped byproducts available on the market whichare being sold with little more than apromise of performance.
Graham Copson is technical manager atroofing solutions manufacturer Klober
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50 ROOFING
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ROOFING 51
As a decision maker, when selecting thebuilding products for new housingdevelopments, you know performance
is a criterion of greater importance whenchoosing a roofing material.
When it comes to longevity, few roofingmaterials can compete with natural slate. Aslate roof will easily last over 100 years, which isat least double of what other roofing materialscan offer.
With such a high durability, slate turns out tobe a very cost effective roofing material. Therepair and maintenance expenses during its lifetime are extremely low. Unlikehandmade products, its colour and propertiesstay, unalterable, through time with no needof maintenance.
Besides, natural slate is totally inert andecological, with a simple, efficient productionprocess. By being 100 per cent natural,slate is the roofing material with lessenvironmental impact.
Leading the world in natural slate productionsince 1892, CUPA PIZARRAS offers the widestrange of roofing slates in the market. Choosingtheir slates means opting for peace of mind.Unlike other brands, CUPA PIZARRAS producesand transforms its natural slate in its ownquarries and processing plants. Moreover, there
is a team of natural slate experts ready to adviseyou on any project complexity that may appearduring construction.
This is why thousands of housebuilders anddevelopers worldwide have chosen theinimitable quality of CUPA PIZARRAS' slate.
If you have any roofing project in mind, don'thesitate to contact them!
01312 [email protected]
Roo�ng slate – A sustainable and long-lasting solution
There is no other material forroo�ng such as slate. Ifthinking of a high quality andlong-term roof with nomaintenance, roo�ng slatesare the best option.
Continually improving the standards in non-lead flashings
Call us on 01604 433000 or visit our website for details. www.ubbink.co.uk
• Complements the market leading Ubiflex range with more options and solutions for installations
• 25 year guarantee
• BRE tested to 100mph and Class A fire rating pass
• Widest installation temp. range: -30° to +180°
• Looks more like Lead with a smooth finish
• Duo Colour – Grey/Black per roll: hold less stock
• Exteme Fix adhesive allows installations in damp conditions reducing delays on site
NEW Ubiflex ExtremeNEW Ubiflex Extreme
Ubiflex – the world’s 1st choice in easy to install flashings
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52 ROOFING
Following NFRC Roofing Awards win, SikaSarnafil Registered Contractor ContourRoofing, has once again been recognised
for its outstanding work, making the shortlist inthe Single Ply category.With the success, Ewart Grove, a London
residential new build, Contour was called onagain by client Paul Simon Homes to offer apremium waterproofing solution forCheltenham House. Another new build projectin London, comprising of 11 luxury apartments,the entire roof and vertical works are shapedlike a Rubik’s Cube – a puzzle that was no matchfor Contour Roofing’s problem solving skills.Originally specified with metal cladding,
the client wished to replicate this look for lesscost, while achieving a beautiful finish. Jonathan Woods, Managing Director at Contour,once more proved that Sarnafil’s single plymembranes can accommodate the mostcomplex builds.Contour worked closely with Sika Sarnafil to
generate a bespoke specification with SikaSarnafil’s recently launched Self Adheredmembrane in lead grey, and décor profiles to emulate metal seams.
Custom-made Sarnametal details were cut andfabricated to accommodate the various anglechanges on the roof, including vent grills to thebase of the cube.Sarnafil’s new spray-applied adhesive Primer
610 was quickly and carefully applied to all thevertical areas, to accommodate the applicationof the Self Adhered Membrane. The weight ofeach drop proved extremely challenging, andhad to be secured with a peelstop, and fixed atevery point with stainless steel SFS fixings. The décor profiles were installed with upmostprecision and careful measurement, creatingsymmetry and uniformity.
Jonathan Woods explained: “Every singledetail on this project has been carefully plannedbefore application of the products. Coupled with the wealth of experience investedby our contract manager and award-winningfitters, the project was finished to perfection. “Sarnafil advised us to use the new Primer
610 and Self Adhered membrane and helped usto understand the product with demonstrationsat its training academy and our offices. Changeis always tough, certainly with experiencedfitters, but we insisted that the Self Adheredmembrane was paramount for the success ofthe roofing works at Cheltenham House. The product is quick and easy to use and leavesa beautiful finish to any application it’s used on.”Carly Tang of Paul Simon Homes said: “After
the huge success of Ewart Grove, we reachedout once more for the services and expertise ofContour and again they did not disappoint. We were able to offer a project well underbudget and on time, thanks to the hard work ofthe team and the innovative Sika Sarnafil SelfAdhered product.”
01707 394444 gbr.sarnafil.sika.com
Rubik’s cube roof solved by Contour Roo�ng and Sika Sarna�l
Klober’s new wall and underfloor vent range
Roofing accessory manufacturer Kloberhas introduced an extensive range of walland underfloor vents for both new buildand refurbishment projects. It includesthrough-the-wall and drill vent sets, weep and face-fit vents, interlocking
airbricks, liners, extensions, converters and ducting for either background ventilation or that required by heating appliances and central heating. For plumbing work, products are supplied with elongated spigots. All conform to the relevant Building Regulations and British Standards and,where appropriate, are BBA, BRE or IAB certified. They come with a 10 yearguarantee and are available in up to five colours.
01332 813050 www.klober.co.uk
Marley Eternit launces Universal Dry Verge
Marley Eternit has launched a ground-breakingnew Dry Verge system that will make it quicker andeasier for contractors and housebuilders to fit toNHBC and British Standards, whilst offeringoutstanding performance and durability. Unlikeanything else on the market, the new Universal DryVerge is compatible with all three majorinterlocking tile types - large standard, mediumformat (15” by 9”) and large format thin leading
edge, as well as Marley Eternit’s own Lincoln clay interlocking pantile. Thismeans contractors only need to buy and carry one type of dry verge foruse with the majority of manufacturers’ interlocking tiles.
Protect AluFlash – more than a lead replacement
AluFlash from Protect is a versatile weather flashing material for use in construction. It offers a cost-effectivealternative to lead, especially given the recent fluctuation in lead prices. Compatible with brickwork, blockworkand common roof materials such as concrete, clay, slate and metal, it requires no specialist tools or skills to install.Aluminium based, it is environmentally friendly and removes the inherent risk of theft associated with lead. Itshigh-tack butyl adhesive layer enables it to retain the strength of the substrate as well as preventing wind uplift.AluFlash is malleable and available in grey and terracotta. It comes in in two finishes: cross-corrugated for mouldingover complex shapes such as profiled roof tiles and corner junctions and also embossed, for applications such aspitched roof valleys and soakers. Being non-toxic it is suitable for rainwater harvesting and water trough systems.AluFlash is supplied in 5m rolls in a variety of widths, minimising wastage and time cutting to size. Unlike lead, nopatination oil is required and at less than 2kg, the product is easy to carry. AA fire rated and BM TRADA certified, it isavailable to buy through merchants and online at www.bpdstore.co.uk. For more information pleasecontact Protect or visit the website.
0161 905 5700 www.protectmembranes.com
Home automation is growing rapidlyin popularity. A recent study bymanagement consultancy
McKinsey found that the global market forsuch systems has grown 31 per cent overthe past three years and is expected to seeexplosive growth. Advances in technologymean that smart home systems are nowavailable to the mass market, giving morehomeowners than ever before the ability tocontrol heating, lighting, curtains and evendoors with their smartphones.
For housebuilders and developers, smarthome systems can add signi<cant value.They can also make properties more desirable to buyers due to their potential tosave energy, along with enhanced controlsthat can add an air of luxury to a home.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER?Before investing in a smart home system,housebuilders and developers shouldconsider several factors.
Firstly, what functions do potentialbuyers want and what systems provide this?Home automation can include control of lights, heating, blinds, air conditioningand door communication from anywhere in the world.
Not only can these be controlled individually, but occupiers can also createscenes, for example ‘movie night,’ wherelights are set low and blinds closed, or a‘morning scene,’ where the bathroom andbreakfast room are already warm when youget up in the morning. Some systems aregeolocated to automatically adjust lighting,temperature and curtains to the times ofsunrise and sunset. It is important to knowthe options available and the abilities of thesystem you’re investing in.
Secondly, how easy is the system toinstall and use? In the past, smart homesystems called for specialist contractorswith in-depth knowledge. Nowadays, a new generation of systems is available. These are designed to be quick and easy to install, conducted by electrical contractors rather than specialists. This has signi<cantly reduced the cost and complexity of installation.
Once installed, a straightforwardhandover to homeowners is important to
minimise the need for ‘hand-holding’. This means that developers and theircontractors can shift their focus onto thenext project.
To achieve this, occupiers should feelcon<dent, controls should be easy tounderstand and support should be easy toaccess if needed.
Thirdly, home buyers may want to addnew devices and functions in the future soit’s important to ask how future-ready thesystem is. Does it have the ability to adaptand grow without signi<cant rewiring? Willthe manufacturer continue to offer supportand add new functions and devices incoming years?
CLARENDON HOMESClarendon Homes, a housebuilder anddeveloper based in Kent, gave a smarthome system a trial on a development of 14three to <ve bedroom detached housesafter a suggestion by its electrical contractor, Darren Faulkner.
Having attended a half-day trainingworkshop in Kent, Faulkner had thecon<dence to carry out the installationacross the entire development of 14 housesin little more time than would be requiredfor a normal project.
The system can integrate up to 64 mart home devices, which is ideal forproperties with up to <ve bedrooms. It is
HOME AUTOMATIONINCLUDES CONTROL OF LIGHTS, HEATING, AIRCONDITIONING, BLINDS &DOOR COMMUNICATIONACCESSED FROMANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
As smart home systems enter the mainstream, DeanReddy of ABB advises housebuilders what to look forwhen considering smart building technology.
SMARTEN UP
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SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY 53
commissioned on a tablet app or laptop,where the contractor uses simple drag anddrop controls to create a house layout andposition smart home devices inside it.Not only is it intuitive for electricalcontractors to install, but it is also easy forcustomers to pick up using a similarcontroller app via their own smartphone,tablet or over the web. Some products allowyou to control lights, blinds or curtains andheating from an app with just a swipe of a<nger or through voice control.
Reporting on his experience of installingthe smart home system for ClarendonHomes, Faulkner found that the handoverto home buyers went smoothly, with newhomeowners able to understand the systemquickly and able to access support througha help button.
Following the success of the trial project,Clarendon Homes gave the go-ahead toroll out smart products across all of theproperties in their portfolio.
ENERGY SAVING AND WOW FACTOROther housebuilders are also seeing thebene<t of smart home systems. Forexample, in Poland, smart products were akey selling point for the developer of a newhousing project called Ossowska 85 nearWarsaw, featuring 24 homes. The energysavings and lower bills were a differentiator
when selling the homes and the productsalso gave a ‘wow factor’ during viewings.
Developer Maciej Piorkowski wasimpressed with the systems’ fastinstallation, which saved valuable timeduring commissioning, an importantfactor for projects where cost control is apriority. He said the products offered him“a modern and cost-efficient homeautomation solution that [he] can promoteas a key benefit of the homes.”
A WIRELESS FUTURE Smart home technology is evolving fast, so it’s worth knowing about recentadditions and future trends.
One manufacturer’s update is a wirelessproduct that can be used to extend existingschemes or deliver new projects withoutthe need for re-wiring. Security is a top
priority for the wireless version and tosupport this, each installation has its ownrandomly generated encryption key.
Another recent innovation in smartsystems is the addition of a weatherstation, so that homes can adapt to theweather automatically.
Voice control has already been added tomany systems, and in the future gesturecontrol will allow occupants to change lightsettings with a sweep of their hand.
As our world and homes become moreintegrated with technology, it is importantthat smart home technology matcheshome buyers’ expectations of functionalityand ease-of-use, and that systems shouldbe able to grow with the needs of buyers.
Dean Reddy is ABB’s product marketing managerfor building automation
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54 SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY
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Over the last couple of years, hometechnology has been referred to in anumber of ways: smart home, home
automation, custom installation and theintegrated home.
To give a simple definition, it is theintegration of technology in the home. Thisincludes a wide range of features, such asentertainment systems, multi-room audio,lighting control, smart security, heating systems,blind control and so on. The majority of peoplenow use some sort of technology in their life,for lifestyle and / or work. Thanks to iPhones,iPads and other devices, we as a society havenever been more in tune with technology.Home technology provides a multitude ofbenefits to us.
The benefit of integrated home technology isthat all integrated technology can be controlledfrom one interface, either on control panelssituated throughout the home or via mobiledevices, proving the simplicity and ease ofmanaging home technology.
From finger-tip electronic control over anyaspect of your home, to pre-programmedsettings that turn on your lights and unlock yourdoors when your car pulls in the drive, hometechnology is the future of 21st century homes.Capable of assisting us with everyday duties tobespoke requests, home technology isbecoming the norm for homeowners up anddown the country, with more and more newhouse buyers expecting their property to betechnology ready.
Today’s integrated home allows you tocontrol, conceal and operate electronic systemswithin your home as never before – this is theworld of CEDIA, the leading global authority forhome technology professionals, who can makethis a reality.
Infrastructure is kingCEDIA® has recently sponsored and contributedto the latest Publicly Available Specification(PAS) by the British Standards Institution (BSI)titled, ‘Design and Installation ofTelecommunications and BroadcastInfrastructure within the Home’. A credible anduseful tool for developers, the PAS includes allthe latest technical standards and regulationsrequired when designing and installing a smarthome wiring infrastructure.
As market leaders in the home technologyindustry, CEDIA has been working with the BSIto create a document that outlines therecommendations for designing and installing adomestic wiring infrastructure for both singleresidential dwellings and most homes withmultiple occupations. Based on therequirements outlined in BS EN 50173 and BSEN 50174, ‘Design and Installation of
Telecommunications and BroadcastInfrastructure within the Home’ provides thelatest technical guidance and recommendationsfor integrators working on new build propertiesto meet the changing and increasingrequirements of designing and installing adomestic wiring infrastructure that supports aconnected, integrated home.
How CEDIA can helpAlthough this code of practice outline thefundamentals of the required infrastructure foran integrated home, CEDIA members are fullyequipped to design and deliver more bespokesystems, dependant on the needs of adeveloper. All CEDIA professionals are trained inthe latest technologies, design, projectmanagement, and installation techniques.Working with a CEDIA member is the bestassurance housebuilders have that the finalsystem will meet their expectations, without anyunexpected set-backs.
Build a relationship with a hometechnology professional To ensure the best service from design toinstallation, it’s important to build a relationship
with a home technology professional from theget-go. CEDIA members are the best informedand trained in the latest technologies, design,project management and installationtechniques. CEDIA members understand thattechnology in the home is becoming moreand more valuable, and will specify a system and infrastructure that most suitsyour development.
CEDIA Finder ServiceCEDIA offers a Finder Service on its website,which allows clients to locate their nearesthome technology professional. Users can searchCEDIA member companies by postcode,services, and certification. This will provide youwith enough information to start theconversation. You can find your CEDIA membervia www.cedia.org/find-a-cedia-professional
01480 213 [email protected]
Build right for Smart Home Technology
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SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY 55
Replacing damaged or crumblingstonework can be tricky, andadding stonework details to a
property can prove costly. Not only do youhave to match the colour to avoid unsightlydifferences that can ‘glare out’, but youmust also <nd a way to match the details ifyou want to restore stonework. Handcarved stone is expensive to buy and
labour costs can mount up.This begs thequestion, how do you blend in new work ina discrete and cost-effective way? Cast stone is essentially a mixture made
from reconstituted stone, but because itdoesn’t start off solid and is shaped inmoulds, it has several =exible uses thatmany housebuilders don’t think of. Somecompanies use skilled craftsmen who hand
<nish their products, so you don’t have toskimp on details and can create a <netexture, almost identical to Portland stone.
RESTORATION When restoring a property, some craftsmencan take an impression from existingstonework and cast a mould for a newaddition to replace the damaged piece.Cast stone can be coloured to match theshade of your existing stone and itweathers to blend in naturally. HeverCastle in Kent has used this method torepair its statement staircase after thebalustrading was damaged by a fallen treein the famous 1980s storm. Hever neededsomething substantial, but didn’t want toclose the staircase for the many hourslabour needed to hand carve the detailsfrom natural stone. Kew Gardens also usedthis method to replicate some longforgotten stone urns.
REPLICATIONGarden ornaments can be cleverly resortedin this way too. The Temperate House atKew Gardens is a famous example, withthe urns that adorn the roof edge appearingas though they have been there for severaldecades (pictured right). They haven’tbeen there for as long as many assumehowever. The original urns were removedand placed in storage during the Blitz, forfear of falling stone damaging Kew and itsstaff. After the war the urns remained instorage, forgotten until one gardenerrediscovered them. Sadly, many urns hadbeen stolen in the years that had passedand only a few remained intact. Kew Gardens approached a cast stone
company in Kent to create moulds fromthe remaining urn and replicate them toline the roof edge once more, restoring thetemperate house to its pre-war glory.This method has been used in many
ways, including the restoration of Victorianstyle window surrounds to a mismatchedterraced house, whose previous owners hadreplaced the feature windows in the 1970swith something now ugly and dated. Theneighbouring houses were used to makethe mould, creating smart new Victorianstyle stonework on the house front tomatch the rest of the street.
ANTIQUINGCast stone can be made to look old.Garden designer John Everiss used this
CAST STONE CAN BECOLOURED TO MATCH THE SHADE OF EXISTINGSTONE ON A PROJECT
SET IN STONE, ONA BUDGETChilstone Architectural Stonework dispels the myththat incorporating stonework into a development is acostly and time-consuming process.
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56 STONEWORK & MASONRY
method to age the stonework in hisPeople’s Choice Award-winning ArtisanGarden for the 2016 RHS Chelsea FlowerShow. He wanted his ‘temple’ creation tolook like it had always been there andwould stand for many years to come. Usinga mixture of paint colours, soot andantiquing spray, over a few weeks thestone darkened to the right shade for hispowerful and enthralling statementgarden at Chelsea. He even had the caststone piece engraved to make his messagemore striking.
STEEL REINFORCEMENTExploring reinforced cast stonecomponents, combining style withstrength, can prove to be a key addition totransform building plans. They can makearchways weight-bearing and open upmany different design possibilities. Caststone components can interlock or bemade bespoke, designed usingCAD drawings.
Talking to cast stone manufacturers earlyin the process can really help with buildingsolutions and save hours of work. Most arehappy to offer free quotations and workwith architects and builders. From classicaldesigns to contemporary lines, they oftenhave a set of established moulds that canbe adapted or incorporated effectively
to save money and time, maximisingyour budget.
FINISHING TOUCHESSimple coping and pier caps can addlongevity and a stylish <nish to walls andgate posts, adding kerb appeal andchannelling rain away from brickwork toextend the life of your wall. Stone windowsills and door surrounds can make a homeappear polished and increase the valuecost-effectively. New builds in villages or
semi-rural spaces can make a qualitystatement and add to the local ambience.Adopting a classical design using stone sills,door surrounds and porticos can add statureto a build that stands it apart.
While natural stone will always have itsuses, it is worth considering cast stone apractical alternative for homes and gardens,large and small.
Chilstone Architectural Stonework createbespoke handcrapted �re cast stone.
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STONEWORK & MASONRY 57
Contact us for specialist services and advice by calling 01869 220 050. Alternatively you
can email us on [email protected] or visit the website www.century-stone.co.uk
Specialists in stone cladding
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58 STONEWORK & MASONRY
Victoria Park, Fordcombe Road, LangtonGreen, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0RD
HandcraftedFine Cast Stone
Bespoke ArchitecturalSolutions from
Restoration to New Builds
www.chilstone.com01892 740866
Air tightness &testers
CLASSIFIED & DIRECTORY 59
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