Housebuilder

& Developer

Grenfell Tower:Industry reaction asthe investigation getsunderway Page 05

The Social Network:Patrick Mooney sayslessons must belearned from Grenfell Page 20

Housebuilding sectoroffers words ofencouragement tonew Housing MinisterPage 08

07.17

A NEW WAY OF LIVINGReport predicts £70bn growth in Build to Rent by 2020, with renters benefitting from

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19COMMENTA CULTURE OF COLLABORATIONAs the dust begins to settle after the GeneralElection, those working in construction have hadan almighty challenge working out just what ahung Parliament might mean.

25CASE STUDYCOULD KODA BE THE ANSWER?A sustainable factory-made modular home hasbeen launched in partnership with the BRE,which is hoped to provide a new answer to thegrowing UK housing crisis.

29AIR CONDITIONING & VENTILATIONFAST RECOVERYMartin Passingham of Daikin UK explores how a960 mm parapet wall nearly ruined airconditioning plans for a listed five-storey housein Hyde Park, London.

33BATHROOMS & WETROOMSTAPPING INTO THE MARKETChris Tranter of Bristan explains how focusingon homeowners’ needs when it comes tobathroom products can help towards ahouse purchase.

38PLUMBING & DRAINAGEPLASTIC: NOT JUST A PIPE DREAMRichard Eddy of Polypipe offers advice on thebest way to specify and use plastic-basedsystems on brownfield development sites.

45SOCIAL HOUSINGNEW AGE BATHROOMSMartin Walker of Methven UK considers the roleplayed by technology and design in the creationof usable bathrooms for the country’s ageingpopulation.

47WATER & DAMP PROOFINGON ANOTHER LEVELBrian Davison of Delta Membrane Systemsdelves into the benefits of including a basementin a property, and advises on how to preventwater damage.

Air Conditioning & Ventilation ........................27-31Appointments & News .......................................27Bathrooms & Wetrooms.....................................31-34Building Products & Services ...........................35-36Cladding & Facades .............................................36-37Doors, Windows & Conservatories.................37Drainage & Plumbing............................................38-39Finance & Insurance ............................................39Fires & Fireplaces ..................................................40-41Floors & Floor Coverings....................................41Ground Reinforcement ......................................41

Insulation ................................................................42-43Kitchens & Appliances........................................43Landscaping & External Finishes ....................44Rainwater & Greywater Products ...................48-49Social Housing ......................................................46Stairs, Balustrades & Balconies ........................49Stonework & Masonry ........................................49 Timber & Joinery ..................................................49Water & Damp Proofing.....................................49

Classified & Directory ..............................................50-51

04-15INDUSTRY NEWS

14EVENTS & AWARDS

17HOUSEBUILDER NEWS

18INDUSTRY MOVERS

19-23COMMENT

24NEW DEVELOPMENTS

25-26CASE STUDY

41PRODUCT FOCUS

PRODUCTS:

FEATURES:

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

CONTENTS07.17

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The Grenfell Tower fire is probably the worst disaster of its kind since WW2,and what will necessarily be an extended period of investigation isunfortunately going to add further misery and trauma. However for theconstruction industry, and in particular those overseeing the system ofregulations that are supposed to govern quality, this tragedy has thrown up ahost of very searching questions which they must answer.

For anyone that knows the complexity of Building Regulations and theinspection regime, it should come as less of a surprise than to the generalpublic that all 181 samples have ‘failed’ the BRE’s new fire safety tests.

Yes, the cladding may have been switched for a cheaper alternative that didnot offer “limited combustibility” required under Regs, but as commentatorshave pointed out, this may not give the full picture. I do not wish topontificate or add more confusion in the wake of such devastation, but it isimportant that we avoid any knee-jerk conclusions – this needs to also bethe approach taken by the investigation. It must leave no stone unturned.

Cladding is being stripped from buildings which were the subject of well-meaning regeneration programmes designed principally to drasticallyimprove thermal performance, and try and make inroads on the UK’ssluggish carbon reduction performance. If we just focus on one very visibleconstruction element, aren’t we missing the bigger picture?

What might be the most unforgivable legacy, because it could and shouldhave been addressed, is that the system of regulations which should protectbuilding users have been allowed to grow piecemeal into a web ofconvoluted and contradictory guidance which is hard for anyone to clearlyinterpret.

It’s of course true that Building Regulations being vague and/or confusingcould be useful for some seeking to achieve cheaper and less appropriatealternatives. Approved Document B has been interpreted by somecommentators to mean that the insulation, not the cladding surface itself, isrequired to be fire retardant however, further clouding the issue. In this way,Grenfell may have ‘complied with regs’ but the cladding could still havebeen a major part of the reason for the fire spreading so rapidly.

If Approved Document B does not explicitly state that cladding should be oflimited combustibility, we should not be surprised that this is interpreted tomean that it doesn’t. Should we have accepted a regulatory framework where‘desktop studies’ on product performance can be accepted if sufficient testdata doesn’t exist on them?

The only good thing to come out this appalling tragedy may be thepossibility that the regulatory framework might be turned inside out, so thecountry ends up with a truly robust system that protects its citizens.

James Parker

James Parker

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ON THECOVER

Vantage Point Archway Tower© Essential Livinggo to page 13

4 INDUSTRY NEWS

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FROM THE EDITOR

INDUSTRY NEWS 5

Police believe the fire at Grenfell Tower inwest London has resulted in an estimated80 deaths, though many believe the finaltoll which is reportedly unlikely to surfacethis year will exceed that figure.

The 24-storey block, refurbished in 2016,suffered severe damage in the fire on 14June which rapidly spread through many ofthe 120 flats. Eyewitnesses reported manyresidents trapped in their homes.

Grenfell Tower, which is part ofLancaster West Estate built in 1974 byKensington and Chelsea Borough Council,was part of a borough-wide regenerationproject and was re-clad last year, with

Rydon as main contractor. The two-year,£10m refurbishment was managed byKensington and Chelsea TenantManagement Organisation (KCTMO) onbehalf of the council. A communal heatingsystem was installed in addition to rainscreen cladding, replacement windows andcurtain wall facades.

The BBC reported that the localGrenfell Action Group had claimed,before and during the refurbishment thatthe block constituted a fire risk, andresidents had warned that access to thesite for emergency vehicles was“severely restricted”.

CLADDING CHECKSLocal authorities and housing associationsacross England have been asked tocarry out urgent safety checks on theirbuildings’ cladding.

The Government has revealed that atotal of 120 tower blocks have failed firesafety tests on cladding, following Grenfell.

Speaking during Prime Minister’sQuestions following the fire, the PMiterated that she believed the claddingused for Grenfell Tower fell short ofBuilding Regulations. She said that 100per cent of the cladding samples tested bythe BRE were found to containcombustible material.

In the aftermath of the fire, MelanieDawes, permanent secretary at DCLG(Department of Communities and LocalGovernment), wrote to social housingproviders asking them to identify if “anypanels used in new build or refurbishment

Grenfell Tower blaze leavesat least 80 dead

“IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BEST EXPERTISE FROM ACROSS OUR INDUSTRY, THERESEARCH COMMUNITIES, THE PROFESSIONS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS DRAWN OUTTO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY AT THIS CRITICAL TIME OF NEED”Dr Peter Bonfield, chief executive of the Building Research Establishment

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Picture courtesy of Natalie Oxford

6 INDUSTRY NEWS

are a particular type of cladding made ofAluminium Composite Material (ACM).”

While the police investigation into thetragedy is still ongoing, it is suspectedthat the composite aluminium andpolyester-coated panels used duringthe tower’s refurbishment may havecontributed to the rapid spread ofthe blaze.

In the correspondence released by theDCLG on 19 June, Dawes stressed that“ACM cladding is not of itself dangerous,but it is important that the right type isused.” Housing providers who find thistype of cladding on their buildings have totest samples of it ‘at no cost’, while the‘testing facility’ will also be made availableto residential landlords.

Landlords were required to do thechecks by the end of the day “or as soon aspossible thereafter,” ensuring they:

• identify and record the number ofproperties that are more than 18metres high;

• identify and record the propertiesthat have been clad with aluminiumtype panels;

• inspect those identified to establishwhether they are panels made of anAluminium Composite Material (ACM)and record this.

The letter stated that landlords need tocheck if the core material of the ACMpanels is of limited combustibility whensuch cladding is used on buildings morethan 18 metres high.

ADVISORY PANEL APPOINTEDCommunities Secretary Sajid Javid hasannounced an independent expertadvisory panel to recommend measures tobe put in place to safeguard buildings. Theexpert panel will look at any immediateaction that is required, “so the public canbe confident that everything possible isbeing done to make all public and privatebuildings safe as quickly as possible,”said Javid.

The panel will be made up of a range

of building and fire safety experts, andwill be chaired by Sir Ken Knight,former London Fire Commissioner andformer Government Chief Fire andRescue Adviser.

Other core members of the panel will beDr Peter Bonfield, chief executive of theBuilding Research Establishment; RoyWilsher, chair of the National Fire ChiefsCouncil; and Amanda Clack, president ofthe Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyorsand a partner at EY.

The panel has a wealth of experience infire and building safety, including testingprocesses. They will also draw in widertechnical expertise as necessary to informtheir advice to the Communities Secretary.

Dr Peter Bonfield commented on theappointment: “It is important that the bestexpertise from across our industry, theresearch communities, the professions andthe public sector is drawn out to supportthe government and society at this criticaltime of need.

“I look forward to working with Sir Kenand drawing in expertise which will helpaddress the challenges faced. I knowthat the will to positively contributefrom professional bodies and others isstrong, and we will deploy this to supportour work.”

A separate independent Public Inquirywill investigate what happened and whowas responsible for the disaster, and will bechaired by retired Court of Appeal judgeSir Martin Moore-Bick.

HOUSING ACQUIREDThe Government acquired 68 homes in aluxury residential development in southKensington to rehouse some of theresidents affected by the GrenfellTower disaster.

Sajid Javid announced that the homes,a mix of one, two and three bedroomflats across two blocks, are “newly-builtsocial housing”, part of the KensingtonRow scheme. It is hoped they willbecome permanent homes for some thedisplaced residents.

Javid said: “Our priority is to get

everyone who has lost their homepermanently rehoused locally as soon aspossible, so that they can begin to rebuildtheir lives.”

Kensington Row, part of the £2bnWarwick Road masterplan, is developed bySt Edward (part of Berkeley Group)and features a 24-hour concierge, a leisuresuite, a private cinema and gardens, whileapartments on sale start at £1.5m.

The developer has committed extra staffto complete the social housing flats by theend of July, while the Government-imposed working-hour restrictions havebeen relaxed in order to fast-track thecompletion. The Government has alsoprovided additional funding to fit out theflats and promised that each home willbe fully furnished and completed “to ahigh specification”.

STATEMENT FROM THE FIRESECTOR FEDERATION ONGRENFELL TOWER

Although a fire on such a scale isunprecedented in the UK, there havebeen a number of similar incidents bothhere and around the world. The FSF haslong expressed major concerns aboutthe apparent disjoint in the processeswhich aim to ensure fire safety withinthe built environment, as well asconcerns about the combustibility ofcertain modern building materials.

While we must wait for a fullinvestigation into the cause of the fireand the reasons for such rapid firespread, the Fire Sector Federation willbe continuing to campaign forimprovements in fire safety legislationand in ensuring the safety of the publicand our built environment.

Paul Fuller CBE, Chair of the Fire SectorFederation said: “Today’s tragedy willbe felt throughout the fire sector,where all our efforts are focussed onensuring the safety of our communitiesand of ensuring that our buildings areadequately protected.

“We wish to express our heartfeltcondolences to all those affected bythis terrible event and pay tribute tothe fire service which once again hasshown its bravery and professionalismin its response to this incident.

“There is no doubt that there will bequestions to answer and the Fire SectorFederation will continue to investigateand campaign for improvements in fireprotection and fire safety legislation.”

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Sajid Javid Melanie Dawes

INDUSTRY NEWS 7

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£2.3bn of funding for infrastructure tosupport housing has been announced byCommunities Secretary, Sajid Javid.

The so-called Housing InfrastructureFund (HIF) is intended to finance thebuilding of roads, bridges, energy networks

and other utilities, the absence of which isfrequently a major setback in developments.

Javid explained the reasons behind themove: “To build the homes this countryneeds, we need to deliver the right infra-structure, in the right place, at the right time.

“By investing in local infrastructure, wecan help unlock the building of thousandsof new homes in the areas where they areneeded most.”

He said the fund will “make sure wehave better public services in place forlocal communities.”

Funding for schools, healthcare centresand digital infrastructure to accommodategrowing communities and relieve pressureon public services will also be available.

The move is part of the rollout of the£23bn National Productivity Investmentfund announced in the 2016 AutumnStatement. The wider fund targets spend-ing on areas critical to boostingproductivity, including on housing, trans-port and digital communications.

Exchequer secretary to the treasury,Andrew Jones commented: “Where welive plays a huge part in our lives; fromthe distance of our commute to the localfacilities available.

“By ensuring we have enough housing inareas where it is needed the most, we canboost productivity and support newcommunities to grow and thrive.”

Local Government Association chairmanLord Porter commented that, goingforward, “What’s crucial is that the arrange-ments to access this fund areflexible, especially around differenthousing tenures, and that all councilscan access funds to deliver housing fortheir communities.

“Councils know their communities andthe places in them best, and so it’s rightthat approaches to invest in localinfrastructure are led by local authorities.”

£2.3bn of capital grant funding willbe allocated to local authorities on acompetitive basis. The funding will beavailable from 2017-18 to 2020-21.

WHERE WE LIVE PLAYS A HUGE PART IN OUR LIVES; FROM THE DISTANCE OF OURCOMMUTE TO THE LOCAL FACILITIES AVAILABLEAndrew Jones, exchequer secretary to the treasury

£2.3bn infrastructure fundannounced

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Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West, hasbeen appointed as the new Housing andPlanning Minister.

Sharma will now fill the role of Ministerof State for the Department forCommunities and Local Government,becoming the sixth Housing Ministersince 2010.

With no background in housing,Sharma is a qualified accountant by trade,previously working in corporate financebefore moving into politics.

He has previously served as the PM’sinfrastructure envoy to India, minister forAsia and the Pacific at the Foreign andCommonwealth office, as well being on theTreasury and Science select committees.

With a 2,876 majority, Sharma wasre-elected in the recent general election,down from his 6,650 lead in 2015.

INDUSTRY REACTIONBrian Berry, chief executive of the FMB,welcomed the appointment. He said it is“vital” that, to deliver the Government’sambitious housing targets, Sharma “ensuresthat the recommendations within the 2017Housing White Paper…are deliveredin full.”

“The fact that the Conservative Party’smanifesto opened up the possibility of localauthorities taking a more active role inhousebuilding suggests that theGovernment was still open to new andradical approaches to solving the housingcrisis. It would be a shame if suchradicalism was dropped in light of thehung parliament,” Berry commented.

He concluded: “We look forward toworking closely with the new Minister,whose experience in the Treasury shouldhold him in excellent stead for thechallenges ahead.”

Praising Sharma’s “parliamentary recordin highlighting the damaging impact of latepayment” for SMEs, the House BuildersAssociation (HBA) congratulated the newMinister on his appointment, lookingforward to establishing a “good workingrelationship” with him.

Rico Wojtulewicz, policy advisor for theHBA, commented: “We need to get on withthe job of reforming the planning process,unlocking access to finance for SME housebuilders and enabling them to takeon more apprentices.”

“Our members,” he continued, “areencouraged by Sharma’s previousparliamentary work on tackling latepayment, supporting sustainabledevelopment and valuing local employ-ment. As housing and planning minister, wehope he will be a champion for SMEs.”

Dan Gandesha, founder of PropertyPartner, urged the new Minister “to makeclear without delay that commitmentsmade in the Housing White Paper stillstand, and that investment in homes of alltypes remain key priorities for the newgovernment, particularly when it comes toaffordable, quality rental stock.”

He hopes the “disruptive 3 per centadditional stamp duty charge” will bereviewed, as well as suggesting that, “if the

incoming minister also acted to speed upthe planning process alongside taxing landas soon as it has planning permission, toprevent land banking, then they wouldbe set to make a revolutionary impacton the problems faced by buyers andtenants nationally.”

FAREWELL, BARWELLGavin Barwell, the now formerConservative Housing Minister, lost hisseat in Croydon Central to Labour.

After a night where the Conservativeslost 12 seats, the UK was left with a hungparliament, and Barwell without a job. Hewasn’t out of work for long however, andhas since been appointed as chief of staff toPM Theresa May.

Barwell won his Croydon Central seatwith a slim majority of 165 votes in 2015,but in the general election Labourcandidate Sarah Jones received 29,873to Barwell’s 24,221.

He is likely to be missed by many inthe construction industry, with hisHousing White Paper having laid downthe future agenda.

Barwell was however responsible for acontroversial Conservative U-turn duringthe campaign, after rebutting promises tobuild a “new generation” of social housingin the manifesto. The pledge to buildthousands of new social homes in factrelated to “affordable rented homes”.

Brian Berry said Gavin Barwell “deservescredit for his work in pushing forward awide range of reforms,” hoping that hissuccessor can “build on his legacy.”

8 INDUSTRY NEWS

Sharma is sixth HousingMinister since 2010

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Housebuilders need to do more to attractwomen and young people if the industry isto avoid a “workforce crisis”, according tonew research from the NHBC Foundation.

The report, entitled ‘The gender and ageprofile of the housebuilding sector’, warnsof a significant shortfall in workers causedby an over-reliance on an ageing, maledominated workforce, not forgetting thepotential restrictions to migrant labourfollowing Brexit.

With estimates showing that the sectorneeds to recruit 700,000 more people toreplace those retiring or moving on, plus anextra 120,000 if the Government’s aim tobuild one million new homes by 2020 is tobe achieved, the NHBC Foundation hascalled on Government and housebuilders torecognise the seriousness of the problem,urging them to act now to addressthe shortfall.

Based on data from the Office ForNational Statistics’ Labour ForceSurvey, and detailed interviews withhousebuilding companies and sectorindustry commentators, the report providesinsights into age and gender diversitywithin the housebuilding sector.

The report revealed that just 12 per centof the UK’s housebuilding workforce isfemale, with the majority working insecretarial or administration jobs, less than4 per cent having a skilled trade role. It alsofound that young people, especially girls,are put off working in the industry, becauseof the negative, stereotypical image of a

male-dominated housebuilding industry. One of the main findings of the

report is that women are still seriouslyunder-represented in skilled, technical andmanagerial roles in housebuilding. Itidentifies a number of challenges that needto be tackled by the sector, and the broaderconstruction industry, that are deep-rootedand endemic, such as ongoing stereotypingand antiquated recruitment practices.

Uniformed and outdated careers advicein schools is also failing to make all youngpeople aware of the variety of jobs androles on offer, with advisers “unable toeffectively promote the many attractivecareer opportunities in the sector.

Chi Onwurah MP said it’s “hugelyencouraging” to see NHBC recognisethat diversity isn’t an “optional add-on,but a key measure of success in themodern world.”

She commented: “Having worked as anelectrical engineer for two decades, I knowthe importance of achieving greaterdiversity in male-dominated professions.

“Like NHBC, I believe more can bedone to promote opportunities for women

Housebuilders must domore on diversity to avoida workforce crisis

FIVE OBSTACLES TO AGE ANDGENDER DIVERSITY IN THECONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

• Working Conditions – The belief thatall work in the industry takes placeoutdoors in all weathers

• Fears of a sexist environment –concerns about the language andbehaviour of male workers on site

• Poor hiring and recruitment practices– over-reliance on gender-biasedrecruitment literature andadvertising, and an over-use ofpersonal contacts and networks torecruit workers

• Skills shortages – cycles of recessionand growth mean that many skilledworkers leave the industry duringdownturns, which has a knock-oneffect of reducing the talent pool

• Outsourcing of site staff – a largeproportion of on-site trade roles aremanaged by sub-contractors, andtherefore housebuilding companiesthemselves have little say on who isactually working on site

in the housebuilding sector, and inspire thesector’s next generation of female leaders.”

Zara Fairman is Redrow Homes’ sitemanager and 2016 NHBC Pride in the JobSeal of Excellence winner. She commentedon her experiences as a woman working inthe housebuilding industry: “It’s a realprivilege to be able to show that it’s not justa man’s world, and that women can do wellin the housebuilding industry.

“It’s also important to know that youdon’t necessarily have to be from a trade orengineering background – there are lots oftransferable skills needed for this job.”

The Chartered Institute of Building(CIOB) has announced the formation of aCommission of Past Presidents.

In light of the report into the defects thatled to the closure of 17 schools inEdinburgh earlier this year and subsequentevents, the Commission will investigate theissue of build quality in the constructionindustry, and what needs to be done toaddress it.

The formation will consider whatsteps the CIOB needs to take to addressthe already identified issues aroundmanagement and supervision, theimportance of the education framework,and whether there are further steps theindustry can take to contribute toimproving build quality.

Chair of the Commission, CIOB pastpresident Paul Nash, said the tragic eventsat Grenfell Tower “further underlined theneed for an urgent review of the way inwhich quality is managed in our industry.”

He continued: “While aspects of thepublic inquiry must necessarily focus onthe issues of regulation and inspection, Ithink we have to look beyond this, at thebehaviours that have led to a lack of focuson quality at all stages of the build process,from design and procurement through toconstruction and re-fit.

“As professionals, we have a duty tothe industry and wider society to actresponsibly and ethically. This defines whatit means to be a professional. And we allhave a responsibility for the reputation ofour industry and, most importantly, thewellbeing of those who use the buildingsthat we create.”

Commissionformed totackle buildquality issues

British construction and building firmsare thought to be largely unaware of thenew wide-ranging data protection ruleswhich come into force in less that a year’stime, despite 25 per cent admitting themaximum fine for non-compliance wouldforce them out of business.

According to a YouGov survey of190 construction firms, which wascommissioned by law firm Irwin Mitchell,only 30 per cent admit to being aware ofthe new General Data ProtectionRegulations (GDPR) which commence on25 May 2018.

GDPR represents the biggest change tothe way businesses process personal infor-mation in 25 years, replacing existing dataprotection laws, the firm said. Under thenew rules, the maximum fine for certaindata breaches in the UK will rise from£500,000 to €20m or 4 per cent of globalturnover, whichever is larger.

77 per cent of respondents were unawareof the new fines, and 25 per cent admittedthey would go out of business if theyreceived the maximum punishment.

Joanne Bone, partner and data protectionexpert at Irwin Mitchell, said the resultswere “concerning.”

He commented: “With next May’s

deadline fast-approaching, and with somuch at stake, our study reveals there’s avery real possibility that a large number ofconstruction companies will not becompliant in time.”

Under the new regime, the notification ofcertain data breaches where there is animpact on privacy must be given to theregulator within 72 hours. However, thesurvey found that only 18 per cent ofconstruction companies are certain thatthey would be able to detect a data breachwithin their organisation. Only 27 per centsaid they were confident they would notifythe relevant stakeholders within therequired timescale of three days.

Bone added: “It’s hard to think of abusiness today that does not use personaldata – if the data relates to an individual,you will be caught by the new dataprotection laws.”

Gordon Anderson, head of constructionLondon at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Good datagovernance can build customer trust, andthe right permissions may also helpconstruction businesses take advantage ofthe ‘Big Data Revolution’, enabling themto commercialise their data to theiradvantage. But ignoring the new rules canlead to hefty fines – at the very least.”

INDUSTRY NEWS 11

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As the UK prepared for the generalelection, overall construction contractfigures in May dropped to their lowestvalue for more than three years, withresidential and education the only sectorsto buck the trend.

According to the latest edition of theEconomic & Construction Market Reviewfrom Barbour ABI, £4.9bn worth ofconstruction contracts were commissionedin May, which was a £500m reduction onthe previous month, and a significant£1.5bn drop compared with figures fromMay 2016.

Looking at construction across the UKregions, it was the South West that ledwith 18 per cent of the UK’s constructioncontract value, largely thanks to a £400mmechanical and engineering contract atthe Hinckley Point nuclear plant projectbased in Somerset.

London, which usually sits firmly at thetop of the regional rankings for marketshare, only accumulated nine per cent ofthe UK’s total construction contract valuein May, with five regions contributingmore value than the capital.

Residential and education constructionwere the only areas in which contract valuesincreased from May to April. Both increaseswere only minimal however, at 1.9 and 0.9per cent respectively. The remainingsectors all saw decreases, with infrastructurehit hardest, falling by 22 per cent on themonth and by almost 40 per cent comparedto 12 months ago.

Outside of the Hinckley point contract,some of the biggest projects awarded inMay include a £300m Blyth offshore windfarm off the coast of Northumberland, a£130m halls of residence planned at theUniversity of Hull, and the luxury VincentTower hotel scheme in Liverpool, whichis valued at £70m.

Michael Dall, leading economist atBarbour ABI, commented on the figures:“While the pre-election jitters will haveno doubt affected these recent figures,many of the sectors within construction –such as the infrastructure and medical &health sectors – have been performingbelow par for some time now, with theindustry being too heavily reliant onresidential building performing stronglyeach month.”

Constructioncontract figuresdrop to three-year low

New data protection rules posethreat to construction firms

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INDUSTRY NEWS 13

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Digital change is radically alteringconsumer expectations in the mortgagemarket and “raising the bar” for whatborrowers expect from their homebuying experience, according to researchpublished by the Council of MortgageLenders (CML).

Launched at the recent CML MortgageTech UK conference in London, theresearch ‘Digital Change and MortgageBorrowers’ iterates that technology has thepotential to differentiate what individuallenders have to offer to customers,enhancing the competitiveness of the UKmortgage market.

The research, which was conducted forthe CML by associate Accenture, includedinterviews with firms and customers fromacross the mortgage sector. The researcherslooked at developments in mortgagemarkets around the world, and howtechnology is affection other industries.

Figures showed that 84 per cent ofcompanies believed technology couldimprove customer experiences andrelationships, with 76 per cent believing itcould improve their own operationalcapabilities. Researchers also found that 68per cent thought technology could putcustomers in greater control, and 40 percent believed it had the potential to unlockthe power of data.

Using apps, customers can now arrangeand manage their mortgages to digitalproperty searches, with technology able todeliver automated decision making.

However, the research also highlights thechallenges for lenders in a market in whichtwo-thirds of customers prefer to speak toan adviser about complex products, andvalue being able to ask questions andreceive and personalised service.

Other challenges technology presentsinclude the limitations imposed by legacythinking and systems, the need for externalcollaboration and to keep pace with change,and the way in which compliance with

necessary regulation can inhibit the pace ofdigital development.

Commenting on the research, CMLdirector general Paul Smee said: “Thisreport highlights the enormous potential oftechnology in the mortgage market.

“It is already enhancing what lenders areable to offer their customers, as well asimproving the efficiency of work behindthe scenes.”

He gave a word of advice: “The pace ofchange will not slow, and firms will need toensure that their plans for developingtechnology are underpinned by theclearest possible understanding of all theimplications of digital change.”

THIS REPORT HIGHLIGHTSTHE ENORMOUSPOTENTIAL OFTECHNOLOGY IN THEMORTGAGE MARKET Paul Smee CML director general

Digital change raising thebar for lenders, says CML

Nearly half (45 per cent) of those workingin a trade occupation believe their businesswon’t make a loss as a result of thecountry’s decision to leave the EU.

A survey of trade industry workers,conducted for TradePoint, revealed thatwhile 30 per cent of respondents believethe effects of Brexit have already started tobe seen in the UK, it still hasn’t taken holdfor those working in the trade.

The main concern raised by 21 per centof those in a trade was the loss of skilledworkers, yet 34 per cent of respondents had“no concerns” over Brexit, and 43 per centof those in a trade who voted to leave theEU said Brexit presented no concern.

25 per cent of respondents envisagedbetter trade deals with the rest of theworld as the main opportunity for the tradeindustry as a result of Brexit.

79 per cent of leave voters in the tradeindustry agreed the sector will be able tosupport itself when it comes to sourcingmaterials, whereas for those who voted toremain, only 42 percent agreed.

Lisa Wise, marketing manager atTradePoint, said: “While the effects ofBrexit are still yet to be determined, weare glad to see that those working in thetrade are positive their sector and theindustry will continue to grow fromstrength to strength.”

Survey revealstrades bullishabout Brexit £70bn of institutional funding is set to be

invested in the UK’s Build to Rent market,says a report published by Knight Frank.

Investment is expected to climb from£25bn in 2016 to £70bn by 2022, accordingto the report. The model is well-establishedin North America, where it is known asmultifamily housing.

Build to Rent has been praised forits ability to offer Americaninspired hotelstyle rented housing, providing renters witha choice outside of buy-to-let landlords.

The report predicts that the proportion ofhouseholds in the private rented sector willrise to 24 per cent by 2021, with some 68per cent of renters currently expecting tostill be living in the rental sector in threeyears’ time.

The survey results reiterated that rentalaffordability remains the key concern fortenants looking for rental property.

Darryl Flay, chief executive at EssentialLiving, commented on the company’sapproach when Building to Rent: “Ourambition is to provide professional services,onsite management and a range of loungesand workspaces that enable renters to thinkof the whole building as their home.”

Some such properties include onsiteresidents teams to encourage a hotelfeel, whether it’s to mount a TV or collecta parcel.

He believes this approach is onlypossible by developing and designingbuildings “specifically for renters.”

£70bn to beinvested inUK Build toRent market

14 INDUSTRY NEWS

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Work is underway to transform a formerarmy barracks into the UK’s first housingand enterprise project for service veterans.

The multi-million pound development,at the former Erskine Barracks nearSalisbury, will see Our Enterprise workalongside Redrow homes to establish thefirst purpose built community basedcampus for services veterans, creating newhomes and an enterprise hub.

Plans were approved by WiltshireCouncil in 2016 for 292 family properties tobe built by Redrow and 44 one and twobedroom flats for former service personnelto be developed by Our Enterprise for OurWilton Trust.

The flats will be available to rent byveterans for between six to 24 months, andduring that time they’ll receive businessand skills training at the enterprise hub.The project will provide a range of jobs forveterans, who will be running the onsitecommunity cafe and their own groundmaintenance enterprise, alongside arange of volunteering, training andeducation opportunities to support their“move to independence.”

A former field base for the US Armyduring World War II, Erskine Barracks wasnamed after British war hero General SirGeorge Erskine. It was a major militarybase for UK forces right up until 2010,when troops were relocated elsewhere.

The abandoned site became available forhousing development in 2010, butcommunity leaders were keen for the area’smilitary heritage to be respected.

Receiving considerable support, theproject was granted £3.5m from theLibor Fund and £500,000 from the ArmedForces Covenant.

Matthew Bell, CEO of Our Enterprise,commented on the project: “I believe wehave come up with a scheme which will

reinvigorate this community and transformmany lives for the better.

“Hopefully it will be a blueprint forfuture developments across the UK,and help open doors for our returningservice personnel.”

Work is now underway on the site, withthe first veterans due to move in mid 2018.

Enterprisingfirst project forveterans

Carrowbreck Meadow, a development of 14eco-homes which is the largest of its kindin Greater Norwich, has won a nationalplanning award.

The scheme took the top prize in the‘Excellence in Planning to DeliverHousing’ category at the Royal TownPlanning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards forPlanning Excellence 2017, held at aceremony in London.

Carrowbreck Meadow is a developmentof 14 Passivhaus homes in a woodlandsetting. The scheme is said to have set newbenchmarks for sustainable development,not only meeting the demandingrequirements of full Passivhauscertification, but also providing 43 percent of the site as affordable homes, an“over-provision” of 10 per cent.

The positioning of the homes maximisesaccess to solar energy in winter, whilepreventing overheating in summer. Theirthermal bridge and draught-free buildingenvelope is said to exceed regulations forairtightness five times over.

Fresh filtered air is provided to thehomes by a heat recovery system, capableof achieving over 90 per cent efficiencies.All homes have electric car sharing points,rainwater butts and connection points forphotovoltaic installation.

Nick Raynsford, former planning andhousing minister and chair of the judgingpanel, was impressed with the “innovativeand proactive approach taken,” and the“excellent use of publicly-owned land.”

He continued: “With over 40 per cent ofaffordable housing on the site, it is a greatexample of how innovation, quality andaffordable housing can be delivered handin hand.”

Running for over 40 years, the RTPIAwards for Planning Excellence celebrateexceptional examples of planning and thecontribution planners make to society.

Norwich ecoscheme winstop planningaccolade

2017

National Housing Awards7 September, Londonwww.nationalhousingawards.co.uk

RESI Conference13 – 15 September, Newportwww.resiconf.com

Health & Housing14 – 15 September, Belfastwww.cih.org/events

NHF Annual Conference & HousingExhibition19 – 20 September, Birminghamannual.housing.org.uk

British Homes Awards21 September, Londonwww.britishhomesawards.co.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

London Build Expo25 – 26 October, Londonwww.londonbuildexpo.com

RCI Show1 – 2 November, Coventrywww.rcishow.co.uk

Women in Housing Conference2 November, Manchesterwww.womeninhousingconference.co.uk

Women in Housing Awards2 November, Manchesterwww.womeninhousingawards.co.uk

WhatHouse? Awards17 November, Londonwww.whathouse.com/awards

Homes22 – 23 November, Londonhomesevent.co.uk

Events& awards

INDUSTRY NEWS 15

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The latest virtual reality design softwarefrom Virtual Worlds has been launched,allowing what is claimed by its developersto be an ‘unprecedented’ level of spatialawareness and immersion to housebuildersand buyers.

In contrast to previous iterations ofthe software, 4D Theatre doesn’t requirea controller, allowing customers to walkaround their ‘dream’ kitchen, bedroomor bathroom freely via a speciallydesigned headset.

The headset tracks a users body andhand movements, relaying them onto thescreen, “making customers feel like theyhave jumped in to the room created bythe designer.”

Products from more than 100manufacturers are represented within thesystem, increasing the level of immersionand allowing users to do anything fromstepping inside a shower to opening up acabinet drawer, by physically “walking overand touching them.”

Consumers and developers can freely

move around the room using the headset,giving them a platform to experience thefull potential of the space and experimentwith a range of configurations, quicklyand easily.

Nathan Maclean, managing director andVirtual Worlds, commented on the launch:“Our software is all about providingcustomers with peace of mind, giving themthe information at their fingertips to ensurethey have an informed decision through thedesign process.”

Virtual reality breaks newground in housing

The London Assembly HousingCommittee has released a report whichlooks at the scope of Transport for London(TfL) to develop homes.

The report ‘Homes down the track – amarathon and a sprint for TfL’ makes anumber of recommendations to TfL, theMayor, and their partners.

TfL, like most other public landowners, isnot currently a property developer. This isbrought to attention by the report, whichsays that going that route will mean timeand money, and implies organisationalchange with long-lasting consequences.

The London Assembly warned thatdelivering affordable homes on expensivesites requires significant subsidy, adding thatmany TfL sites are in inner London, so theopportunity costs could prove substantial.

It urged small developers to get back tobuilding homes, rather than ‘just loftextensions and conservatories’. The reportsuggested TfL needs to work closely withthe boroughs, as planning authorities, toshoulder some of the extra costs.

‘Homes downthe track’

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Berkeley Homes East Thames has beenawarded this year’s Sir George EarleTrophy by the Royal Society for thePrevention of Accidents (RoSPA) at its2017 Health and Safety Awards.

The Sir George Earle Trophy is thepinnacle of the RoSPA Awards scheme, andis internationally recognised.

Bringing together organisations from arange of industries, the annual ceremonycelebrates best practice in health andsafety management.

Berkeley Homes East Thames beat 20other companies to be awarded the Trophy,with judges praising the passion of itssenior leadership team in upholding robustand effective health and safety standards.

Karl Whiteman, divisional managingdirector for Berkeley Homes EastThames, commented on the award: “Ourtalented and varied workforce is ourstrongest resource, and their health andsafety is paramount.

“We believe that a safe environment iscreated through the active participation ofsenior management and staff in identifyinghazards and taking positive action toeliminate or control them, and are proud ofour record in doing so.”

Errol Taylor, RoSPA’s acting chiefexecutive, said the panel was impressedwith Berkeley Homes East Thames’“competency assurance throughout thesupply chain, as well as their readinessto assist partners in improving theirown performance.”

“Innovation was also a strong feature oftheir entry,” he continued, “with a simple,

yet effective example of this being varioustrade contractors sharing the same officeson site, ensuring that learning was sharedand communication improved.”

In recognition of Berkeley Homes EastThames’ record on health and safety, thebusiness will be invited to become andactive member of RoSPA’s NationalOccupational Safety and HealthCommittee for 12 months.

Berkeley’sEast Thamesbranch picksup RoSPAtrophy

Larkfleet Homes has donated £4,000 to anOakham school, while helping youngstudent journalists to learn about jobs inthe construction industry.

The housing developer welcomed yearfive and six students from the YoungJournalist Academy at Cottesmore MillfieldAcademy in Oakham to receive a chequefor £4,000 for the school and to learn aboutthe roles of Larkfleet employees.

Students used a camera, microphone andpre-prepared questions to interviewLarkfleet employees. The talented groupasked questions such about what eachmember’s role involved, what qualificationsthey needed to attain the role, andwhat their proudest moment at thecompany was.

The information the students gatheredwill form part of a real-life report for otherstudents to enjoy and use as a guide whenplanning their future careers.

Sam Hart, Larkfleet sales director, saidhis experience as an interviewee was “agreat pleasure.”

“They all enjoyed a tour of our showhome,” he continued, “followed by thecheque presentation for £4,000.

“I was extremely impressed with theirenthusiasm and talent, and we definitely

Site managers David Mills and Dean Ellisof Duchy Homes have been announced as‘Commended Winners’ at the NHBCHealth and Safety Awards.

Mills and Ellis are two of 56 sitemanagers from across the UKhousebuilding industry that have beencommended in the first round of judgingfor their management of their SouthYorkshire developments: Tower Gardens inScawthorpe and Watermill Gardens inPenistone, respectively.

Both will go on to compete for theRunner up and National Award, to bereleased at a gala event held in Birminghamon 7th July 2017.

The awards are the sixth year runningthat Duchy Homes have been recognisedin the Small Builder category for excellencein Health and Safety.

Stephen Ashworth, NHBC health andsafety services manager, gave his“congratulations” to them on their success.

He said: “To win an award at this levelclearly shows commitment to preserving anexcellent health and safety record, and upsthe ante for other site managers.

“We wish both David and Dean thevery best luck in the next stage ofthe competition.”

Now in its eighth year, the NHBCHealth & Safety Awards recognise sitemanagers’ excellence in health and safety.The awards also help to drive up safetystandards in housebuilding by showcasingand sharing best practice.

Duchy�Homesstaff�win�healthand�safetyaward

have some future stars among the group!”Each of the students were presented

with a safety helmet and high-visibilityvest, which they were able to take awaywith them.

Rachel Thomas, headteacher atCottesmore Millfield Academy, said:“Interviewing staff at Larkfleet Homes willform part of the students’ work to learnabout different jobs, which they will thenshare with other students on the youngjournalist academy website.

“The students had a great time learningall about construction roles, and enjoyedthe tour of the showhome. They are alsodelighted with their builder’s helmets andhigh vis jackets!”

Larkfleetdonates�£4,000to�youngstudents

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HOUSEBUILDER NEWS 17

18

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ChurchillChurchill Retirement Living hasappointed Ian Byers as regionalmanaging director for its SouthEast region. Based in the Group’sregional head office in Byfleet, hejoins Churchill’s main Board,working closely alongsidechairman and CEO SpencerMcCarthy to develop the Group’sstrategic growth plans for this key region.

Byers is returning to thebusiness after two years away,during which time he has builthis own successful sportsmanagement business, 17Management, representing anumber of Britain’s internationalsporting stars. Prior to that hespent 12 years as part of ChurchillRetirement Living’s seniormanagement team, and has manyyears’ experience in the specialistretirement housebuilding sector.

Byers’ appointment comesduring a highly successful periodfor Churchill Retirement Living,with a number of recent industryaward wins and continued stronggrowth. The company nowemploys over 500 staff across sixUK offices.

Churchill’s chairman and CEOSpencer McCarthy said: “I’mdelighted to welcome Ian back tothe Churchill Board. His appoint-ment comes at an unprecedentedtime of award wins and successfor the group, but we still haveplenty more to achieve. To do thatwe need the very best people, andI am looking forward to workingwith Ian to achieve our goals forthe South East region in 2017.”

One HousingOne Housing has announced that Richard Hill will be joining theorganisation as its new chief executive in September 2017. Hisappointment follows the departure of Mick Sweeney earlier this year.

Hill was previously chief executive of Spectrum Housing Group untilits merger with Sovereign in 2016 where he has since been workingalongside the chief executive to ensure successful integration of the twoorganisations. Before that he was deputy chief executive at the Homesand Communities Agency (HCA) and director of investment at the HCA’spredecessor, The Housing Corporation. He also has a strong backgroundin strategy, policy and public affairs.

Commenting on his appointment Hill said: “I’m very pleased to bejoining One Housing. It’s led the way in developing commercial projectsto fund its social purpose and is a thriving and diverse organisation thatseeks to push boundaries and help redefine housing associations for the21st century. These are challenging times for registered providers butdemand for affordable homes has never been greater. One Housing isalready part of the solution and I’m looking forward to helping drive itforward to achieve even more.”

AcornAcorn Property Group hasappointed Richard Roach asdesign and build manager in theirdirect build subsidiary, AHConstruction Solutions.

Roach is one of several strategicappointments by Acorn aimed atincreasing its in-house team ofindustry experts.

Roach brings with him a wealthof knowledge in a wide range ofconstruction techniques,sustainable design and inPassivhaus projects. His new rolesees him managing the detailedconstruction designs, ensuringthey meet all technological andstatutory standards and maintainthe different by design ethos ofAcorn Property Group.

BarrattBarratt Developments hasappointed Jessica White as itschief financial officer.

White is currently Barratt’sgroup financial controller, withextensive experience in thehousebuilding sector. She joinedWilson Bowden as a corporateaccountant in 2005, andfollowing Barratt’s acquisition ofWilson Bowden in 2007, wasappointed Barratt’s head offinancial accounting.

White said: “I am delighted tobe appointed as Barratt’s chieffinancial officer. In my 12 years atthe company, I have seen first-hand Barratt’s commitment bothto the quality of its product and toits people.”

NFBClare Watson, director of Preston-based construction companyBernard Watson, became chair ofthe National Federation ofBuilders (NFB) on 8 June at theNFB AGM, which was followed bya celebratory gala dinner.

The NFB’s annual generalmeeting saw the outgoing NFBchair, Simon Girling, director ofSEH French, hand the ceremonialchains of office over to Clare tomark the beginning of her 12 month term.

LarkfleetLarkfleet Homes has appointmedof Adrian Green as its new headof commercial.

Green has joined the team tomanage the commercialdepartment and brings with him awealth of experience to focus onthe long-term interests of thebusiness. Green said: “I amdelighted to join Larkfleet. It is anexciting time to join the business.”

Ian Byers Richard Hill Clare Watson

Adrian Green

INDUSTRY MOVERS

As the dust begins to settle after thegeneral election, those working inconstruction have had an almighty

challenge working out just what a hungParliament might mean. The eighth of June wasobviously another bad night for the pollingindustry, but what will the consequences be forthe housebuilding sector?

The most immediate result was that theMinister for Housing and Planning, GavinBarwell, lost his seat, making the appointment ofa replacement a pressing priority for TheresaMay. Barwell deserves credit for his role in theGovernment’s sensible and very ‘pro-SME’ Housing White Paper. At a time whensmaller housebuilders were crying out for somereal action on increasing the availability of smallsites for development, the White Paper had apleasing focus on this area and should lead inpractice to a significant increase in theopportunities available to small scale buildersand developers. 

Barwell’s replacement, Alok Sharma MP, has aresponsibility to ensure that the measurespromised in the White Paper are delivered andimplemented in full. Given that theGovernment has upped its housebuilding targetto 1.5 million new homes from 2015 to 2022,Sharma has a huge task ahead of him, and hewill need to hit the ground running, gettingto grips with his new portfolio very quickly.He’s the sixth person to hold the officein seven years. This is a high level ofturnover for such a key ministerial position andthe industry is hoping to see more stability inthis post in the coming years.

The wider implications of a hung Parliamentare harder to gauge. The precarious balance inthe Commons has given rise to the idea thatcross-party collaboration will now have to drivethe Brexit process. Both Labour andConservative politicians have stressed that thescale of the task at hand, in terms of exiting theEU, demands a more consensual, bipartisanapproach to negotiations. If such anendeavour can be undertaken in the spirit ofco-operation, then is it beyond reason to hopethat the same could apply to tackling thecountry’s chronic shortage of homes? 

While he was Chancellor, George Osbornehad already begun to explore the possibility of

taking big ticket spending decisions out ofpartisan hands through the creation of theNational Infrastructure Commission, which waschaired by Labour’s Lord Adonis.

While there are substantial differencesbetween the Labour and Conservative positionson housing policy, there is a general (albeitblindingly obvious) consensus that the only realsolution is to significantly increase output. In arecent House of Lords report, members of allstripes found grounds for agreement on one ofthe best ways to build more homes – expandingthe output of smaller housebuilders.

Judging by the conversations we’ve had withleading politicians on all sides, there isgeneral unanimity on many of the barrierscurrently preventing SME housebuilders from doing precisely that. Everyone seems toaccept that there needs to be a significantimprovement in the ability of smallerdevelopers and new market entrants to accessdevelopment finance.

Likewise, we’ve heard few objections toour argument that there needs to be a realincrease in the number of small sites availableto smaller scale developers. Furthermore,the announcement earlier this year that councilswould be allowed to raise planning fees inorder to better resource their planningdepartments could have just as easily beenLabour policy as Conservative.  

Obviously, there remain big dividing linesbetween the two camps, most of which revolvearound the type of homes that we are building,and how active a role the Government shouldplay in financing development. It’s also possi-ble that the principle of ‘English votes forEnglish laws’ could allow a minorityGovernment to press ahead with its housingplans, as housing is a devolved policy areaand the Conservatives enjoy a comfortablemajority within England. 

Nevertheless, as I remarked upon last month,an interesting quirk of the general electioncampaign was that the Conservative manifestostarted to inch towards Labour territory when itcame to housing policy, and it would seem thereare grounds for a real exchange of ideas onbuilding more homes. In these extraordinarytimes, would it be so out of the ordinary for areal culture of collaboration to emerge?

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Brian Berry is chief executiveof the Federation of Master Builders

THE INDUSTRY ADVOCATE

COMMENT 19

A Culture ofCollAborAtion

the newhousingminister hAs toensurethAt themeAsures promised inthe whitepAper AredeliveredAndimplementedin full

A hung parliament demands a greater focus on cross-party,collaborative working to unlock housing delivery.

In the immediate aftermath of the terriblefire at Grenfell Tower, among the manyquestions being asked are some that strike

at the very heart of social housing, and what sortof future it has in a modern society.

While we will have to wait for the publicinquiry to establish the full facts and identify thelessons to be learned, we should still askourselves how it is that clear warning signs overrecent years were missed. Did a drive for costsavings take priority over safety, why were thetenants’ concerns not acted upon and what is thecouncil (their landlord) doing with so muchmoney in its bank accounts?

Recent disclosures of warning letters sentto Government ministers about outdated andnot fit for purpose fire regulations make foruncomfortable reading, but they also highlightthe shortcomings in a regulatory system that isboth myopic and ineffectual. Social housing hasbeen the subject of what is called co-regulationsince 2009, with landlords in England basicallyresponsible for policing themselves.

Their regulatory body, the Homes &Communities Agency has set a series ofstandards for landlords to follow, but staff andBoard members of the HCA are really onlyfocusing on value for money and governance athousing associations. Local authorities and ArmsLength Management Organisations (likeKCTMO, the body which managed GrenfellTower on behalf of the council) are expected tofend for themselves.

WEAK REGULATIONThis ‘hands off’ or light-touch system wasbrought in by Eric Pickles and Grant Shapps,the former Communities Secretary and HousingMinister. They also abolished the AuditCommission and its Housing Inspectorate,which brought inspections of all social landlordsto a crashing halt. Why publicly funded andsupported housing should be exempt from thisscrutiny, while other services like schools,colleges, hospitals and care homes are stillsubject to regulation and inspections is

anybody’s guess. The cost savings havebeen minimal.

We cannot say with any certainty that thesedecisions directly led to the tragedy at GrenfellTower, but they certainly created the climate orenvironment in which landlords could get a bitslack. Couple this with the need for councils tomake huge cuts in their frontline services due tothe savings imposed on the public sector andyou can perhaps see why some poor decisionsmight have been made.

What we do know is that the housinginspectors brought about positive changesin landlords’ approaches to gas safety andin listening to and acting upon tenants’ viewson service delivery and their landlords’performance.

It will be interesting to see if the publicinquiry recommends a resumption of inspectionsor other changes to the regulatory system toimprove tenants’ safety. But the initial reactionfrom the DCLG which has asked councils andhousing associations to provide information ontheir tower blocks, particularly those whichhave been recently refurbished, does suggesta change in the mood music around scrutinyand oversight.

The owner of Grenfell Tower is the RoyalBorough of Kensington & Chelsea, and sadly thecouncil’s immediate response, in the daysfollowing the fire, was so chaotic that theGovernment was forced to step in along withLondon Councils and the Red Cross to ensuresurvivors got the help they needed.

But even then reports emerged ofresidents from the tower block being offeredaccommodation up to 200 miles away (inPreston, Lancashire), or in temporaryaccommodation in other parts of London, whileothers were forced to stay with family andfriends if they wished to stay in the borough.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT CHANGES DEFERRED Some temporary relief has been provided withthe news that the planned rollout of UniversalCredit into North Kensington in July has been

Patrick Mooney, managing director at Mooney ThompsonConsulting, tells of the lessons that need to be learned in thewake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy

LESSONS MUST BELEARNED

20 COMMENT

WE SHOULDASK HOW ISIT THATCLEARWARNINGSIGNS OVERRECENTYEARS WEREMISSED

Patrick Mooney is managingdirector at MooneyThompson Consulting

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THE SOCIAL NETWORK

deferred, as DWP officials said they wantedlocal job centre staff to focus on supportingclaimants affected by the fire.

Universal Credit pulls together sixseparate benefits into one monthlypayment, but it has been beset by delays,implementation problems and latepayments, that has seen claimants run uplarge rent arrears (of thousands of pounds inmany cases) and reliant on food banks tofeed themselves and their families.

Kensington and Chelsea was due tomove to the “full service” digital-onlysystem of universal credit on 19 July aspart of the wider phasing in of UCacross the UK by 2018. DWP officialscorrectly spotted that any disruption tobenefits with the new system wouldcause extra difficulties for local claimantsalready coping with the tower blaze andits aftermath.

Just three months ago, a cross-partycommittee of MPs highlighted seriousconcerns with the operation of UC,including claimants waiting 12 weeks ormore for their first payment (the standardwait is 42 days) leaving many poorerclaimants destitute. The Trussell Trust foodbank network reported that in areas wherethe full UC rollout has taken place, foodbank referral rates were running at morethan twice the national average.

The Work and Pensions Committeewrote to Damian Green MP in April sayingthe practical operation of UC must be anurgent priority for the DWP straight afterthe General Election. Among the issuesthey highlighted were:

• Vulnerable claimants struggling to adaptto receiving UC as a single monthlypayment.

• The seven waiting days at the start of aclaim, for which claimants receive nobenefit, adding to claimants' financialdifficulty.

• Poor communications between landlords,support organisations and the DWPwhere UC ‘full service’ is operating.

• UC inadequately supporting claimants inemergency temporary accommodation.(The last one is a particular concern forGrenfell Tower’s displaced tenants.)

Senior members of the cabinet havebeen indicating that the age of austerity isover. Whether this leads to further changesin the roll-out of UC and how it operatesremains to be seen. For me, it’s a questionof wait and see. What happens with theplanned and recently made welfare benefitcuts will be an important early test for thenew minority Government. But reversingor postponing the welfare cuts are bigticket items that will cost billions ofpounds each year.

WEALTH GAPThe borough where the fire took placeis the richest in Britain with a meanhousehold yearly income of over £120,000,but it also contains some of the country’spoorest and most deprived wards. It is thiscontrast between the rich of Notting Hilland South Kensington and the poor ofNorth Kensington that makes the eventsat Grenfell Tower so poignant and difficultto accept.

While it has been revealed the councilrecently had reserves as high as £300m andinvested several million pounds in settingup an opera company, it was also looking forsavings in the cost of the tower block’srefurbishment completed last year at acost of around £10m. It would appear thatby spending an extra few thousand poundson the external cladding, panels witheffective fire retardant qualities could havebeen installed.

Retrofitting a sprinkler system wouldprobably have cost in excess of £100,000but that must look a cheap price incomparison to the cost in lives and propertythat has been destroyed in the blaze. Notall councils with tower blocks will have thismoney sitting in their reserves, so this willbe an early challenge to the Government’sresolve and whether it makes the necessaryfunding available for checks and fire safetyworks to be completed.

The fire happened shortly after PrimeMinister Theresa May announced that AlokSharma MP would be the latest Minister tohold the housing portfolio. This wasunfortunate timing and it makes the newminister’s job no easier.

Sharma has inherited the unenviable taskof leading the campaign to fix the country’sbroken housing market. Without aParliamentary majority of any substancethis could be a very difficult brief unless heworks to develop cross party support for themeasures outlined in the Housing WhitePaper and manages to extract moreresources from his former political mastersat the Treasury.

UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONSBut at least Sharma will not have toface any questions over why he sat onrecommendations to update and simplifythe fire safety regulations, as recommendedby the coroner at the inquests into the sixvictims of the Lakanal House fire inSouthwark, south east London in 2009.BBC One's Panorama has been showncopies of letters sent by the All-PartyParliamentary Fire Safety and RescueGroup, to at least four Governmentministers in recent years. These warned theGovernment it “could not afford to wait foranother tragedy”.

Ronnie King, a former chief fire officer

who sits on the group, says the Governmenthas ignored repeated warnings about towerblock safety. “We have spent four yearssaying ‘Listen, we have got the evidence,we’ve provided you with the evidence,there is clear public opinion towards this,you ought to move on this’,” said King.

DCLG promised a review in 2013, but itwas soon delayed. In March 2014, theparliamentary group wrote: “Surely… whenyou already have credible evidence tojustify updating… the guidance… whichwill lead to saving of lives, you don't needto wait another three years in addition tothe two already spent since the researchfindings were updated, in order to takeaction? As there are estimated to be another4,000 older tower blocks in the UK withoutautomatic sprinkler protection, can wereally afford to wait for another tragedy tooccur before we amend this weakness?”

“As a consequence the group wishes topoint out that should a major fire tragedy,with loss of life, occur between now and2017 in, for example, a residential carefacility or a purpose built block of flats,where the matters which had been raisedhere, were found to be contributory to theoutcome, then the group would be boundto bring this to others’ attention.”

The last of the four ministers in DCLGto receive a letter was Gavin Barwell, whohas since moved on to become TheresaMay’s chief of staff at Number 10. Hereceived his letter from the parliamentarygroup in September 2016. In Novemberlast year and then in April this year, MrBarwell said his department had beenlooking at the regulations, and would makea statement “in due course”. The fire safetygroup pointed out that it had been “given asimilar response by three successiveministers since 2010” and it “is now time tolisten to what the Fire Sector is saying”.

As the most recent Housing Minister tonot produce updated guidance, Barwellmay soon face some very difficultquestions about why the overdue firesafety guidance and new buildingregulations was not published on his watch.This will be determined by the judgeleading the Grenfell Tower publicinquiry, and this time we must ensure thatany recommendations are implementedas quickly as possible, and without anyfurther delay.

COMMENT 21

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Courtesy of Natalie Oxford

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Mike Lomax is marketingcommunications manager atTarmac Cement, and chair ofthe Chartered Institute ofMarketing’s ConstructionIndustry Group (CIMCIG) Last month, I hosted a debate event at the

House of Lords with a number of keyplayers from across the construction

sector. It was organised by the CharteredInstitute of Marketing’s Construction IndustryGroup (CIMCIG), an organisation which Ichair and which has the specific purpose ofraising the status of the marketing professionwithin construction.

The event focused on CIMCIG’s stance onthe current state of industry – primarily that weneed to be looking for new ways to attract thenext generation of construction professionals.Part of that is to work on the image ofconstruction to widen its appeal to a broaderrange of young people.

As the organisation has argued, activity in theindustry is strong at present and with so manybuilding starts taking place, we are going to needthat new talent coming in in order to maintainmomentum. Mark Farmer, the author of agovernment report released last year, estimatesthat 700,000 people need to be recruited overthe next five years. So, where does CIMCIG come in?

One of the initiatives currently underwayis the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s firstever specific marketing qualification for theconstruction industry. This dedicatedprogramme, which has been developed in closecollaboration with CIMCIG, has beendesigned to equip a new generation of youngmarketers to tackle the unique demands of ourcomplex sector.

The course combines CIM training material

with construction-specific insight, case studiesand practical knowledge, and includes studentmentoring by established industry experts. Withso many junior marketers leaning towardsFMCG industries, our goal with this programmeis to attract that talent back to the B2B sector.

The new programme will provide a solidfoundation both for junior marketers and forthose in a marketing support role within theindustry, and will give them practical skills andknowledge which they can apply immediatelyto make a positive impact on their businessand industry.

Alongside this qualifications drive, CIMCIG isalso strongly in favour of more apprenticeships.

Other factors involved include moves towardsgreater diversity in the sector. Construction iscommonly associated with older men and notwithout reason – of all those working in theindustry today, 45 per cent are older than 45 and89 per cent are men. One of our speakers at theevent, Jane Nelson, group executive director atthe Mears Group, is currently leading a jointproject with the Construction Industry TrainingBoard (CITB) to encourage more women intothe trades.

We have been arguing for years for anew approach, and these developments areheartening to see. But they’re just the start. Nowis the time for us to come together as an industryand to look for ways to make it an attractivecareer destination for young people.

Construction still employs 10 per cent of theUK workforce and has a rich and prestigioushistory. Let’s make sure it has a bright future.

Mike Lomax, explains why the construction industry needsto modernise its image and how a new industry initiativeshould help to improve marketing to the next generation.

REFRESHINGCONSTRUCTION

22 COMMENT

THE NEWPROGRAMMEWILL GIVETHEMPRACTICALSKILLS ANDKNOWLEDGEWHICH THEYCAN APPLYIMMEDIATELY

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Ian Graves is a legal directorin the planning team at lawfirm Shakespeare Martineau

theRe is awidespRead,althoughMistaken,belief thatthe uk is asMall,cRowdedisland

There is a housing crisis in the UK. Foryears, supply has failed to keep upwith demand, pushing up prices to

unsustainable levels and frustrating theambitions of millions of would-be homeowners.

There aren’t enough homes being built,and they’re being built in the wrong places.So why are large swathes of land in some of thecountry’s most sustainable locations off-limitsfor development? Done right, the strategicrelease of green belt land for housingdevelopment could go a long way towardssolving the problem.

Firstly, there are two myths which need to bedealt with. Many wrongly equate the green beltwith open countryside. The reality in manycases couldn’t be further from the truth, as muchgreen belt land is of limited environmentalvalue. The quality of the land in environmentalterms is actually irrelevant to green beltdesignation: by definition, the only criterion forinclusion in a Green Belt is proximity to anurban area.

There is also a widespread, but mistaken,belief that the UK is a small, crowded island. Infact, according to the Department ofCommunities and Local Government, just 9 percent of land in England is developed, whereasmore than a third has a restrictive designationsuch as green belt, national park or Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty. Nor isdevelopment in the UK particularly intensive byEuropean standards. Evidence consistentlyshows that the general public significantlyoverestimates how much land is built on,probably because the population is concentratedmainly in a few areas of the country. Ironically,the policy priority given to brownfielddevelopment within urban areas probablyincreases this perception.

Green belt designations are a major constrainton development, restricting the supply ofhousing and increasing its cost. That high costdisproportionately affects lower and middle

income groups, and the young. Green belts alsoencourage the ‘leap-frogging’ of developmentfurther away from urban areas, leading to longercommutes and greater environmental impacts.Building at high density on brownfield landmeans that many of the homes that are built aresmaller than buyers desire. All of this results inexpensive homes, of the wrong type, in thewrong places.

These are real costs that should be weighedagainst the benefits of preserving the green belt,and often the public is unaware of the hiddentrade-off that is being made. The benefits of thegreen belt are felt mainly by those who ownhomes in or near them. Unsurprisingly, they areusually its staunchest defenders, and their viewshold great sway politically. The voices of thosewho don’t yet own a home, or live in a smallerhome than they need, or that’s in the wrongplace, aren’t being heard. Planning policy needsto cater for the needs of everyone, not justexisting homeowners.

Even limited development of the green beltcould put a large dent in the housing shortfall.Green belt locations are generally sustainable,being on the edges of large urban areas. InLondon alone, one study showed that almost amillion homes could be built on green belt landwithin 10 minutes walk of a train station. Thereare real opportunities to build large numbers ofhomes in the places people want to live, withoutharming the environment.

So, it’s time to re-think the green belt. To beclear, this does not mean allowing unrestricteddevelopment or concreting over the countryside.What is does mean is moving away frommechanistic policy designations and giving realthought to what should be protected and why.

The targeted release of green belt land inthe most sustainable locations could help solvethe housing crisis, while bringing overallenvironmental benefits. That, however, willrequire real political courage, something that’sbeen in very short supply over recent years.

ian graves of shakespeare Martineau explains why hebelieves green belt release shouldn’t be off-limits

Releasing thegReen belt

COMMENT 23

24

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Countryside has been granted planning permission for a newneighbourhood renewal scheme in the London boroughof Barking and Dagenham, subject to a Section 106

agreement being finalised. The site in Dagenham, known as Becontree Heath, covers three

parcels of land on Wood Lane, near the Grade II listed Art DecoDagenham Civic Centre.

It will comprise 170 homes, alongside a replacement busterminus and retail space for a local pharmacy. The regenerationproject is providing the local area with a mix of both market andshared ownership homes.

With support from the Greater London Authority (GLA) for theproject, Countryside submitted a plan for 124 privately ownedhomes (comprising 82 apartments and 42 houses) and 46 sharedownership apartments.

With a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments and three-bedroom houses, the development is intended to attract a varietyof London buyers.

Andy Fancy, operations director at Countryside Partnerships,said: “We have had an excellent response and great cooperationfrom the local community and London Borough of Barking andDagenham during the consultation on this development.

“We believe that our plans for Becontree Heath will transformthe area, while providing much needed homes to the region andsupporting new and existing communities.”

The successful application included connecting the entiredevelopment to the borough’s district heat network. The schemewill deliver heat from an energy centre directly to the end user, andcaptures power that may ordinarily be lost, in turn lowering costsand reducing the scheme’s carbon footprint.

After consultation with the community, improved pedestrianlinks, landscaping that includes play areas and parking provisionare also part of the submission.

Planning awarded for 170-homeBecontree Heath development

Developer Investin has started work on a new builddevelopment in Ashford, Kent. Designed by HolderMathias Architects, the ‘Vista’ residential scheme will be

built on either side of the former Charter House, completing the352-unit mixed use development, and transforming unused areasof the site into apartments.

The scheme will comprise two buildings of four and six storeys,and include 109 one and two bedroom apartments. Communalroof gardens will be provided for the residents and most of the flatswill include a private balcony, terrace or ground level garden. Allflats will be finished to high quality specification and featurecontemporary fixtures and fittings.

Holder Mathias’ concept responded to a complex project brief tomaximise available space on a constrained island site, achievinglarge scale development while reacting sensitively to the height

and scale of the surrounding buildings. The design wassubsequently adapted to integrate Ashford Borough CouncilResidential Space Standards without detriment.

In preparing for construction, innovations in modern methodsof construction and off-site manufacture proposed by thecontractor and their consultants have been investigated andadopted to provide for thermal efficiency and a simpler, fasterconstruction programme.

Chris Hall, director at Holder Mathias, said the Vistadevelopment will “transform an under-utilised central site toprovide quality homes for the area.”

Construction has already started on site, with completionexpected January 2019.

Work starts on£12m mixed-usescheme in Kent

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

CASE STUDY

The ‘Koda’ house has been launchedin the UK, a 25m2 sustainablemodular structure that can be

erected in a day. Already in use across Holland and Estonia,

Koda addresses the need for temporaryhousing on disused sites across the country,providing fast and economical homes.

An individual Koda house can be builtfor £150,000, including construction,planning costs, delivery, installation andconnections to basic necessities like water,electricity and sewage.

The structure doesn’t need foundations,and can be moved on the back of alorry, creating an effective solution forunder-utilised land before it is permanentlydeveloped. Koda has been designed byEstonian developer Kodasema to allowstacking, with multi-storey modulesscheduled for release in 2018.

This is not the first time modularmicro-homes have been introduced to theUK, with companies such as ISO Spaces

creating moveable and re-usable short-termaccommodation in Ealing, London, usingre-purposed shipping containers.

Kodasema however intends for its hometo ‘shake up’ the UK property market,providing a multi-purpose self-build struc-ture that the company believes can be usedas a city centre home, a lakeside summerhouse, a cafe, an office, workshop, studio, oreven a classroom.

Open plan living dominates the design,with a full-height quadruple-glazedwindow at the front, providing acousticand thermal insulation, while filling theinteriors with natural light. The bathroomand mezzanine bedroom are located at theback of the building, with a living anddining space and terrace at the front.

John O’Brien, associate director forConstruction Innovation at the BRE,believes the “simple, yet effective” designcould help “alleviate the pressures of thehousing crisis,” and offers the potential tosupply “relatively cheap” temporary homes.

Koda, a sustainable factory-mademodular home has been launched inpartnership with the BuildingResearch Establishment (BRE) toprovide a new solution to the UK’shousing crisis.

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BRE-backed £150ktemporary home arrives

HBD07_2017 15-26_Layout 1 12/07/2017 10:05 Page 25

26 CASE STUDY

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He comments: “This trend of short-termuse of derelict land, which can be leftuntouched for years, even during theplanning stages, is becoming morecommon, especially in London.

“Koda would provide a cost-effectiveoption to house those on the waiting listfor affordable accommodation, or offertemporary rental apartments for youngprofessionals, students, and those lookingto downsize.”

“On a wider point,” continues O’Brien,“it could also be the perfect housingsolution for those that move regularly fortheir jobs, and require medium termtenancies in cities across the UK.

“You could pack your suitcase and movefrom Koda to Koda, and be in familiarenvironment in another town or city, withall the usual amenities.”

FEATURESAs part of the homes’ energy efficiency,Koda features photovoltaic panels togenerate energy and reduce its carbonfootprint. Accompanying these are thin,vacuum-insulated concrete walls, keepingthe building cool in the summer and warmin the winter, as well as providing noise insulation.

The homes come with smart homesystems, including alarms, an entry systemdoor lock, programmable mood lighting andclimate control. Installation does notrequire extensive digging or foundations,and so can take less than a working day toassemble on site, with materials able to bedisassembled reused easily.

The concept was initially unveiled lastyear, but the first Koda home has now beeninstalled in the BRE’s Innovation Park inWatford, a research facility displayingfull-scale prototype homes, demonstratinginnovative approaches to low-carbon andenergy-efficient housing.

Kodasema is a recent winner of WANUrban Challenge 2017, a global ideascompetition with a focus on London’shousing crisis. The Koda house is due forrelease in 2018.

v

INSTALLATION DOES NOT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE DIGGINGOR FOUNDATIONS, AND SO CAN TAKE LESS THAN AWORKING DAY TO ASSEMBLE ON SITE

Designer Contracts is recycling winner again

Designer Contracts has been named‘Take Back Partner of the Year’ by Carpet Recycling UK for the third time.The company initially trialled a recyclingscheme, in conjunction with CRUK. Thescheme works by diverting 90 per centof its fitters’ unfitted carpet into feltunderlay. What isn’t turned into under-

lay is used in the equestrian sector for arena flooring. This innovativescheme saves a staggering 250 tonnes of waste going to landfill every year.The company has recently invested £40,000 in a baling machine that helpsto recycle 70 tonnes of cardboard and 20 tonnes of plastic every year.

01246 854577 www.designercontracts.com

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Aggregate industries employee celebrates 40 years

Paul Marley, an Internal Sales Representative forthe Building Products division of AggregateIndustries, is celebrating 40 years with one of the leading construction materials supplier,having started with the company in 1977. To commemorate his 40th anniversary, Paul was presented with a Long Service Award byBuilding Products Sales Director, Jeremy Lee.

Paul comments: “I can’t quite believe it’s been 40 years. I thoroughly enjoywhat I do and where I work, which is what has kept me here for so long. 40 years is a long time and things have certainly changed during my time. I look forward to many more years with the company.”

01285 646900 www.aggregate.com

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Cavity Barriers protect against fire spread

According to Document B of the UKBuilding Regulations fire barriers must be installed in cavity areas that are vulnerable to the spread of fire. Using the correct passive fire cavityprotection system within a building iscrucial, in the event of a fire, intumescent

fire barriers activate and seal holes, penetrations and cavities, preventingthe spread of fire. Two storey buildings and above require cavity barriers tostop fire from spreading through walls, floors and cavities. The Envirograf®Cavity Barrier range fully satisfies the requirements stated in Document Bof the Building Regulations.

01304 842 555 www.envirograf.com

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Fantastic FIT Show for The VEKA UK Group

As FIT Show drew to a close, it would behard to describe it as anything other thananother success for The VEKA UK Group.With a footfall of over 13,000 people acrossthree days, the event was the perfectopportunity to demonstrate a selection ofnew products with visitors spoilt for choice

when it came to the latest in PVC-U door and window innovations. Guestswere treated to the first look at new innovations such as the SmartFoldDoor, SmartFold Window and the PVC Residential Door and Side PanelCombination. More highlights included the M70, FlushSash Slim SightlineWindow, VEKA Screen, Vertical Slider and Lift & Slide Patio Door.

01282 716611 www.vekauk.com

EGGER Protects from the weather for longer

New research and rigorous testing ofEGGER’s flagship flooring product,EGGER Protect, has shown that thestructural board can remain exposed to the elements for 60 days. This givesUK house builders peace of mind when dealing with unforeseen delays.EGGER Protect is manufactured from

the company’s P5 flooring grade particleboard with a weather resistantsurface layer applied to both sides. The board has a hard-wearing, anti-slipsurface, is quick to install, and can be used with underfloor heatingsystems and tiles.

0845 602 4444 www.egger.com/building

Specflue celebrates silver anniversary

As Specflue celebrates its 25th year in business,the company’s guiding principles remain thesame – a deep commitment to the highestpossible quality, pioneering innovation, and apassionate belief in offering outstandingcustomer service. It is these values that havedriven Specflue to become one of the UK’sforemost suppliers of flue, chimney, wood

burning fire and renewable heating products. But Specflue’s expertise isnot confined to product supply. It also runs a state-of-the-art trainingcentre comprising a mix of classrooms and practical areas to educate andraise standards within the solid fuel and renewables sectors.

0800 902 0220 www.specflue.com

LG embedded wi-fi wall mounted air con units

LG has launched a new range of wallmounted air conditioning units with a plethora of new features includingembedded wi-fi, and compatibility with its multi-split range. In addition,the 10-year compressor warranty thatalready applies to its single split wallmount units is now extended to include

the multi split range. All three new units feature Embedded wi-fi so you caneasily access your air conditioners by using smart internet devices such asAndroid or iOS based mobile phones – wherever you are and howevermany air conditioners you may have.

HVAC.marketing@lge.com partner.lge.com/uk

Omnie MVHR Systems specified for eco-homes

Following the example of the German PassivHausstandard and Canadian Super-E systems, theconsultants designing a development of highlyenergy efficient homes in Suffolk have opted toincorporate Omniemechanical heat recovery ventila-tion systems. The eco-houses are being fitted withMVHR units by local plumbing/heating specialist. Thewarm air extracted from the kitchen and other wetrooms will pass through each unit’s high efficiencyheat exchanger to temper the incoming fresh air. The

MVHR’s 75 mm diameter semi-rigid ducts are connected back through amanifold and to the low wattage fans, then to the external terminals.

01392 363605 www.omnie.co.uk

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AIR CONDITIONING & VENTILATION; APPOINTMENTS & NEWS 27

Did you know that the air in your house could be more polluted than the air in your street outside?

Johnson & Starley’s range of innovative ventilation solutions reduce humidity and condensation, helping to provide a fresher and healthier living environment for your family.

So if you only do one thing to give impure air the cold shoulder, make sure it’s to contact Johnson & Starley for a healthier home solution.

Home sweet home?

* source: BEAMA, of 122 homes surveyed

90OF OUR TIME IS SPENT INDOORS*

% 91OF HOMES HAD A B O V E T H E A P P R O V E D L E V E L S O F I N D O O R P O L L U TA N T S *

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Call us now to see which solution is right for you

01604 762881

Balancing comfort requirementsagainst the practical and logisticalrealities of installing an air

conditioning unit can be a major dilemma.This is especially true in urban areas whereboth outdoor space and available ;oorspace is restricted, and often comes with a premium price.

This results in the units being installedon the roof of buildings or requires the installer to :nd a discrete alcove or corner to hide them. However, withinner city planning regulations protectingunique lines of sight, tall air conditioningunits are frequently installed in basements– meaning valuable usable space is lost.

Finding a solution that meets both the demands of the urban environment and planning restrictions can thereforepresent several challenges for bothinstallers and developers. This was recently seen during an installation inLondon’s Hyde Park.

Following a multi-million pound redevelopment of a listed :ve-storey house,a 960 mm parapet wall nearly scupperedplans to air condition the plush apartments.

Planning constraints meant the heatrecovery condensing units originally speci:ed for the second, third and fourth

;oor apartments were too tall to go on the roof behind the parapet wall.

Leading the installation was London-based contractor Hoveair. With airconditioning a key speci:cation for theluxury apartments’ bedrooms and livingareas, the installers recommended a newequipment manufacturer.

Hoveair project director, David Collins,says: “We were awarded this project on ourinnovative design solution to overcome thedif:culties of renovating a listed building in aprestige area of London.”

The choice of low height mini-VRV heatpumps, which stand 918 mm tall after beingmounted on 95 mm rubber bearers, satis:ed building control and the air conditioning solution subsequently gainedplanning permission.

Made especially for urban environments with high-density residentialproperties, compact units like the productused are designed to have an especially lowpro:le. Ideal for projects where space islimited and within inner cities, whereelevation control restrictions are in place,these systems can provide a compactsolution, with some products also offering ahigh level of energy-ef:ciency.

Installed behind parapet walls or on

balconies, mini units such as the two modelsinstalled on this project are effectively‘unseen’. They are also quiet at 51 dBA and52 dBA respectively, and at 94 kg, are easyto move into position – an added bene:twhen installing units on rooftops.

David Collins added: “Selection of thisequipment has enabled us to provideheating and cooling in each of the apartments in an energy ef:cient manner. Italso enabled us to overcome the urbanlimitations by having a signi:cantly smallerfootprint, lower pro:le and limitednoise, the mini-VRV unit helps ensurecompliance with the stringent planningconditions for this project.”

“We will de:nitely consider this solutionfor future residential projects,” he continued. “Heat recovery systems wereoriginally speci:ed to give future residentsthe ;exibility to use cooling and heating

Martin Passingham of Daikin UK explores how a 960 mm parapet wall nearly ruinedair conditioning plans for a listed .ve-storey house in Hyde Park, London.

FAST RECOVERY

DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FORURBAN ENVIRONMENTSWITH HIGH-DENSITYRESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

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AIR CONDITIONING & VENTILATION 29

simultaneously, if needed. The mini-VRVheat pump systems provide either heatingor cooling, but we have kept the ;exibilityby providing each of the upper apartmentswith two systems, one for each living areaand one for the bedrooms.

“The large apartment beneath is airconditioned with a conventional heat recovery system served by a 16 hp condensing unit discreetly positioned at therear of the building.”

The apartments have a mix of discreet,concealed fan coil units – including wallmounted vertical chassis units and mediumstatic ceiling units – meaning the air conditioning is almost as invisible indoors asit is outdoors.

For high-density urban areas, wherespace is an expensive commodity andplanning restrictions aim to reduce thevisual impact of air conditioning units,knowledge of the latest climate controlsystem innovations is key.

By incorporating climate control systemsdesigned speci:cally for urban residentialproperties, a comfortable indoor climate canbe achieved without compromising valuablefree space, while complying with planningregulations.

Martin Passingham is product manager at Daikin UK.

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30 AIR CONDITIONING & VENTILATION

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CCL Wetrooms launch the new Frameless Grill

CCL Wetrooms, one of the UK’s leadingWetroom Specialist have launched thelatest development in Wetroomdrainage – the new Frameless Grill –incorporating the minimalistic beautyof a Stone-Infill Grill, but without theborder of a metal frame. The newFrameless Grill, which only has a 5mm

shadow gap visible around the perimeter of the drain and no visible frame,has been designed to complement all brassware finishes and sanitary waredesigns, including the latest in luxury boutique trends such as brushednickel, copper and rose gold.

0844 327 6002 www.ccl-wetrooms.co.uk

Vortice wins new contract

Ventilation systems supplier Vortice hasbeen awarded the contract to supplyintermittent ventilation fans to Midlands-based housebuilder William Davis. The firstsite to be completed is Mill Fields, set in theLeicestershire village of Broughton Astley.Vortice Specification Manager, Ken

Johnson, said, “After discussions with William Davis it was clear that thequality of the products specified was of the utmost importance. The fanschosen are stylish and discreet, making them the ideal choice forbathrooms, utility rooms and kitchens. We are delighted William Davis haschosen Vortice products for these beautiful homes.”

01283 492949 www.vortice.ltd.uk

New anti-slip shower trays from Roman

International shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has launched a new range of Shower Trays, which are anti-slip. Roman has added thisdedicated range of Anti-Slip ShowerTrays to their existing collection of Solid Surface Trays. They are available in matt white or matt grey and they are

internationally approved for their Anti-Slip properties. These Shower Trayspresent a stylish finish with a domed aluminium waste cover. Roman canaccommodate a variety of colour finishes and sizes to your specification,including stone effect finishes to coordinate your bathroom design.

01325 311318 www.roman-showers.com

Roman Innov8

International shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has launched anew collection of frameless pivotingShower Enclosures. This innovativecollection encompasses elegantlyminimalist frameless Pivot DoorEnclosures with a full length pivotingtube. These frameless Enclosures

lead the way in inclusive and stylish design trends, presenting a moderncollection. Innov8’s outstanding differential is the low threshold, allowinglevel entry access into the Shower Enclosure. Finishing touches include thesubtle silver frame and stylish chromed brass ergonomic feature handle.

01325 311318 www.roman-showers.com

Stylish solution to assist supported living

One of Britain’s brand leader in helpfultoileting solutions has developed a stylishsolution to help developers of assisted andsupported living communities future-proofthe homes. Clos-o-Mat, has introduced anew range, designed to enable elderly anddisabled people have a stylish bathroom

that can be easily adapted, evolved to meet immediate, and future, needs.The Vita range of bidet toilets looks like, and can be used as, conventionalWCs. All have built-in douching and drying, so, if required/preferred, theuser is hygienically and consistently cleaned afterwards without they – ortheir carer having to clean with toilet tissue.

0161 969 1199 www.clos-o-mat.com

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Hoisting compliance with lifetime homes

With the continuing emphasis on givingpeople the ability to remain in their ownhomes for as long as possible, housingproviders are being offered a new resourceto create lifetime homes. To help architects,social housing providers and builders get itright from the outset, Clos-o-Mat has

produced a new white paper – Design Guidance & Considerations for aDomestic Accessible Toilet/Wetroom. The white paper covers everythingfrom adequate space to manoeuvre a wheelchair through the role ofcolour and texture to the structural considerations to accommodatepersonal care assistive technology.

0161 969 1199 www.clos-o-mat.com

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Vero Air

The new Vero Air collection fromDuravit retains the iconic, rectangularcharacter of the Vero washbasins whileintroducing new technical distinctions.Through the recent additions of rimlesstoilets, a new range of bathtubs andvarious pieces of furniture, Vero Air hasbecome a complete bathroom range

while retaining its strong, design-focused identity. The straight interiorsurface and precise edges of the Vero Air washbasins reflect the collection’slinear charm. The use of patented c-bonded technology sees thewashbasin and vanity unit combined to form a minimalist masterpiece.

01908 286 680 www.duravit.co.uk

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Miena: fine-edged washbasin bowls

Kaldewei has produced yet anothericonic bathroom design with the newMiena washbasin bowls. The washbasinbowls, designed by Anke Salomon, aremade of superior single layer of steelenamel combining the highest standardsof minimalist design with a uniquefine-edged quality. The Miena washbasin

bowls are round or rectangular and come in two different sizes. What iscompletely new is the diversity of colour: customers can choose from theexclusive Coordinated Colours Collection, such as Oyster Grey and LavaBlack allowing for greater individuality.

01480 498053 www.kaldewei.co.uk

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AIR CONDITIONING & VENTILATION; BATHROOMS & WETROOMS 31

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32 BATHROOMS & WETROOMS

wetroominnovations@hotmail.com

Contact us for your free brochure/price list

Tel 01629-815500

A leading trade wet room supplier

High quality products

Next day delivery

Fantastic customer service

Huge range including -

Hudson Reed offer a unique range of space saving storage

Hudson Reed has expanded their bathroom furniture collection to include some stylish, space saving storagesolutions for the smaller bathroom.The furniture range offers simplicity, value and quality and has been designed with flexibility in mind. Storage is keyto the collection and this versatile range includes Stand Alone, 1000mm, 1100mm, 1200mm or 1500mm widefurniture combinations. Featured with a selection of slimline and L Shaped polymarble basins. The slimline basins are perfect for the smallerbathroom such as ensuite or cloakrooms.Available in four stylish finishes, all with fully co-ordinating cabinets and accessories: Gloss White, Driftwood, GreyAvola and the latest on-trend colour Hacienda Black.All furniture is supplied pre-constructed as standard, making it quicker and easier to install, with integrated softclose as standard. Reassurance of quality is essential, so for added peace of mind we offer a five year guarantee onour combination furniture against manufacturing defects.

01422 417099 www.hudsonreed.co.uk

Stuart Turner gain WRAS approval

Flomate iBoost, the ultimate solution to low mainswater pressure from Stuart Turner is now WRASApproved! Water boosting pump manufacturer StuartTurner designed and developed Flomate iBoost toboost the mains supply to larger properties withmultiple bathrooms using high flow combinationboilers or an unvented cylinder system, where higherpressure and flow are required. Flomate iBoost is thelatest edition to Stuart Turner’s range of mains boost

pumps. The system is simple to install, with an ingenious access aperturedesigned within this engineered appliance and yet is compact enough tosit within any standard 600mm kitchen larder cupboard.

01491 572655 www.stuart-turner.co.uk

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Thermostatic shower range

MX Group’s impressive ‘one stop shop’ range of shower and bathroomproducts continues to be welcomed by those looking for high quality, reliableproducts for new developments andrefurbishment projects up and down thecountry. In particular, the range of

thermostatic shower options has caught the imagination. MX has added asignificant number of new options to this range, with options available forevery application. From stylish and modern to the more traditional singlelever options. they are all fully thermostatically controlled and suitable forboth high and low pressure systems.

01684 29331 www.mx-group.com

Studor shows the way to health and hygiene in the bathroom

While unpleasant, a bad smell in the bathroom is not in itself dangerous. However, it may well be indicative of amore serious and potentially life-threatening issue. The smell can indicate that the water trap seal, has been lost,potentially posing serious health risks. Water trap seals started being fitted on bathroom and kitchen fixtures afterthe 1854 cholera outbreak in London, in which hundreds of people died. Today, cholera is not a risk in the UK, butwithin all our drainage systems sewer gases and pathogens such as SARS, legionnaires, norovirus and others arealways present. For the last 40 years, drainage ventilation expert Studor has been solely focused on developingproducts that maintain the water trap seals in our buildings. Studor’s Trap-Vent solution, the combination of awater trap and Air Admittance Valve (AAV), can easily be retrofitted to an existing bathroom, and is also ideal forsmall group venting in, for example, hotels, care homes and hospitals. It protects the water trap seal between thedrainage system and the room, stopping bad odours and pathogens escaping from empty traps. The StudorTrap-Vent is a combined trap with a 50mm water seal and an integral AAV. It reduces the need for secondaryventilating in small fixture groups and replaces conventional S traps and P traps.

info@studor.net

Anew home isn’t just a 5nancialinvestment for consumers – it canbe a huge emotional attachment too.

Homes are a place to build a life andexpress an individual sense of style.

With prospective homeowners believingthat it takes eight years to save enoughmoney for a deposit, the decision to buy israrely taken lightly, and many buyerswon’t settle for anything less than theirperfect home.

When it comes to a successful build, it’soften the subtler details which make all thedifference. With this in mind, it’simportant to carefully consider the overalldesign concept, whether it’s a starterhome, city-centre apartment or a largefamily household.

A recent survey by GoCompare foundthat 25 per cent of homebuyers are put offbuying if the house has an outdatedkitchen or bathroom. In light of this, it’scrucial that a housebuilder’s choice oftaps and showers matches the lifestyleaspirations of the house-hunters they arelooking to attract.

While the inclination may be to justinvest on the ‘big ticket’ items, the smallertouches are equally important, able to add asubtle, but striking design distinctionwhich enhances the overall design.

BATHROOM TAPSIn line with customer expectations,housebuilders are expected to deliver ever more stylish homes. Beyond beingpurely functional, taps can help create

bathrooms that are distinctive and on trend,providing that ‘something extra’ that somany buyers hunt for.

For small apartments targeted towardsthose looking for style and sophistication,taps featuring a wide spout and a luxuriouswater cascade effect are the perfectchoice, creating an eye-catching focal pointfor the room.

In residences like these where space is at

a premium, the use of trough sinks offers apractical, deep ledge for accessories such assoap dishes. By combining this withchunky yet petite taps, it’s easy to provide acontemporary design without taking upunnecessary space.

When catering to modern households,speci5ers need to consider a variety ofneeds. According to the IntergenerationalFoundation think tank, over 500,000households have at least three generationsliving under one roof, and that number isexpected to rise to 556,000 by 2019, with asigni5cant increase in the number ofpeople aged 85 or over.

This has an inevitable effect on lifestyles,and the bathroom is arguably the place inthe home where this can have the greatestimpact. In such multi-generational house-holds taps with long handle controls areideal, as young children and the oldergenerations can use them easily and safely.Equally, crosshead taps are especially well-suited for elderly members as they are amore familiar style, and are therefore easierto use for those with memory issues.

Chris Tranter of Bristan explains how focusing onhomeowners’ needs when it comes to bathroomproducts can help towards a house purchase.

TAPPING INTO THEMARKET

A RECENT SURVEY BYGOCOMPARE FOUND THAT25 PER CENT OFHOMEBUYERS ARE PUT OFFBUYING IF THE HOUSE HASAN OUTDATED KITCHEN ORBATHROOM

WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK

BATHROOMS & WETROOMS 33

SHOWERSA powerful shower can be a big plus forattracting potential homebuyers lookingfor speed and practicality during theworking week, plus a little extra luxury atthe weekend.

When it comes to specifying a shower,electric options are the natural choice.Water is heated on demand rather thanbeing drawn from a hot water tank, whichmeans electric showers are a highlyeconomical and ef5cient choice. Thismakes them great for ensuite bathrooms,where occupiers can enjoy a piping hotshower, however busy the main bathroomis, and no matter how much hot water therest of the family uses.

With the many advanced featuresavailable on electric showers, includingwarm up modes to bring water up to apre-set temperature and anti-limescaletechnology to prolong shower life,housebuilders can choose a model whichis both impressive to the consumer, andalso cost-effective.

For households including elderlymembers, electric showers are availablethat have been speci5cally designed withease of use in mind. Features can includelarge, easy to move dials, raised markingsand an audible click when settings areadjusted. Some manufacturers even offer

an illuminated stop/start button with anLED digital display.

In modern builds, it is important thatproducts are both affordable and stillinclude digital elements, able to suit eventhe most tech-savvy customer pro5le.

When buying a new property, thebathroom is often the most importantroom to consider. It is therefore importantfor housebuilders to stay up-to-date on

the latest products which suit the needs ofthe various households that could inhabit it.

By choosing the right products,housebuilders can be assured that theoverall design of their development will beenhanced, offering style and functionalityfor potential homeowners.

Chris Tranter is speci%cation product managerat Bristan

WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIFYING A SHOWER, ELECTRICOPTIONS ARE THE NATURAL CHOICE

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34 BATHROOMS & WETROOMS

Unrivalled variety of designs:

Leading solution for

designs functions and sizeson site

insulating

waterproof

Bespoke production and technical

WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK

Aggregate extends Lafarge Cement offering

Aggregate Industries has extended itspacked products offering with the introduction of six new products to theLafarge Cement range. Products in theportfolio include Concrete Mix and Postmix,both premixed ready to use applications.Mortar Mix, also premixed and ready to use.Other additions include Super White Cement,which provides natural looking concrete.

Sulfate Resistant Portland fly ash cement has a high sulfate resistance andis recommended for use in below ground applications. The final addition isHydrated Lime, a high calcium, non-hydraulic, hydrated lime.

01285 646900 www.lafargecement.co.uk

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Norcros Pro-Gyp Base Fast Track Sealer

Norcros Adhesives, manufacturer oftiling adhesives, grouts and surfacepreparation products, speeds up tilingon to green screeds with its latestsystem solution. Pro Gyp-Base Fast TrackSealer greatly reduces the minimumdrying times. The new productcomprises a three-stage preparation

system for fixing ceramic and porcelain tiles on to screeded surfaces. It issold as a kit containing all the elements necessary to achieve a successfulbond, including a primer, moisture suppressant and gritted primer. Used together, the system allows for fast track tile installation.

01782 524140 www.norcros-adhesives.com

Expand your range with Constructa-Pro

The expanding foam range from Everbuild – A Sika Companyis growing once again with the addition of Constructa-Pro; ahigh strength adhesive foam designed for use in a multitudeof applications. Developed to be fast curing, Constructa-Prois ideal for small jobs which require a quick fix as well as largeapplications including fixing plasterboard and insulationsboard, fixing skirting boards or as a mortar substitute forbuilding rough garden walls. Once cured, it is also rot-proofand moisture and temperature resistant from -40˚C to +80˚C.

Gun applied and available in 750ml tins, Constructa-Pro can be used onstone, brick, concrete blocks, wood, plasterboard, metal and much moremaking it a truly multi-purpose adhesive foam for the trade.

0113 240 2424 www.everbuild.co.uk

LITEWork Working Clothes for Summer

A change of season means a change of focus on whatyou wear on site. That’s why Snickers LITEWorkgarments can help you keep your cool when the heat ison. The newest LITEWork Trousers, Shirts, Shorts, T-shirtsand Jackets are working clothes that have all thefeatures and functionality of Snickers’ other NextGeneration working clothes, but without the heavierweight fabrics. Just like high performance sportswear,

they are super-light, quick-drying garments – with Mechanical Air Flow™and moisture transport features - that keep you looking good and feelingcool wherever you are on site in warm weather. The unique 37.5®Technology fabric is interwoven in all these garments.

info@snickersworkwear.co.uk

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BUILDING PRODUCTS & SERVICES 35

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Contact us for specialist services and advice by calling 01869 220 050. Alternatively you

can email us on info@century-stone.co.uk or visit the website www.century-stone.co.uk

Specialists in stone cladding

36 BUILDING PRODUCTS & SERVICES; CLADDING & FACADES

All bases covered

One of the leading construction connector manufacturer’s Simpson Strong-Tie has expanded its range of postbases to include additional solutions for new and retrofit applications.The range includes concealed post bases; bases with site-adjustable heights from 100 – 150mm; bases whichcan be adjusted even after the columns have been installed; and options to cast into concrete or to fix downusing studs.A brochure is available for download, which includes installation advice, performance characteristics and safeworking loads.Sales Director Jon Head explains: “With the off-site construction footprint increasing all the time, we’ve seen agrowing demand for post base and column support solutions, prompting us to not only make more optionsavailable ‘off the shelf’ but not expand our ‘made to order’ service to cope with ever more interesting and uniquehouse design.” Request or download a copy of Connectors for Timber and Masonry Construction from SimpsonStrong-Tie’s website.

01827 255600 www.strongtie.co.uk

Everyone’s going grey!

Freefoam Building Products are delighted to showcase this recent installation using their complete range of greyPVC roofline and cladding products. The property in Leicestershire originally featured a render finish to the entireupper level. It had become patchy and discoloured and either needed replacing or covering. Likewise the whitefascia and black guttering were also in need of updating. The homeowner was introduced to the Freefoam range by local supplier Tru Plastics Ltd. Fitting PVC cladding to the exterior gave the property an instant facelift. The homeowner chose Fortex Pro, a Double Shiplap style board, in Slate Grey. Adding a woodgrain foil finish fascia and soffit in Anthracite Grey and a gutter system in the same shade created an attractive co-ordinated look.Russell Skellett from Tru Plastics explained “Being able to offer homeowners a complete suite of products in coordinating and matching colours is a major USP for our company. Our customers are asking more and more forcolour and the Freefoam range gives us the perfect solution.” Freefoam is the colour specialist. Manufacturing fasciaand soffit in eight stunning shades and eight woodgrain finishes alongside cladding products in ten beautifulcontemporary shades gives customers a really wide choice.

01604 591110 www.freefoam.com

Designer Contracts invests in designer shades

Designer Contracts has invested in specialistblind making machinery to manufactureblinds through the new arm of the business –designer shades. The machinery to produceVenetian and roller blinds is now set up andin operation at the company’s nationaldistribution facility in Kettering. Peter Kelsey,

MD of Designer Contracts said : “This investment further enhances ourcentral curtain making facility which enables us to manage the productionprocess from start to finish. It means that we keep our costs as low aspossible to the benefit of all our customers, underpinning our promise ofsupplying our range of products at the most competitive price.”

01246 854577 www.designercontracts.com

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Cembrit offers new choice for weatherboard

Cembrit, is entering the UK market with a brand-newfibre cement weatherboard – Cembrit Plank.Extremely versatile, low in maintenance, and rot, rust,warp, crack, sun, heat, rain and fire resistant, thisboard is an excellent alternative to timber and plasticbased alternatives. The overlapping plank is designedto look like painted timber, but will retain itsattractive appearance long after alternatives havestarted to age. Furthermore, Cembrit Plank does notrequire toxic preservative treatments in the way

timber weatherboarding does. The range includes a comprehensive set ofcolour matched accessories, including the roofline trims.

sales@cembrit.co.uk

Schueco gain Q Mark Certification

Schueco UK, has announced that as a systemsupplier two more of its popular sliding doorsystems – the Schueco ASS 70.HI lift/slide doorand the Schueco ASS 70 FD folding/slidingdoor – have been awarded Q Mark ProductCertification by Exova BM Trada. Both systemsare widely specified right across the UK, being

suitable for both commercial projects and the domestic market. Q MarkProduct Certification covers a wide range of characteristics includingweather performance, mechanical strength, operating forces, corrosionresistance of fittings and PAS 24 security. In addition, the tests certify thedoors’ opening and closing performance over 50,000 operating cycles.

01908 282111 www.schueco.co.uk

New brochure showcases Aztec’s Collection

Halo fabricator Aztec Windows is boosting awareness of its ‘timber alternative’ Prestige Collection® ofwindows and composite doors with an impressive new brochure, designedentirely in-house and delivered in its ownwax-sealed envelope! Neil Evans, Sales

Director for The VEKA UK Group commented, “The Prestige Collection®has helped Aztec Windows create a niche with homeowners who cravethat timeless timber-inspired style. This beautiful brochure is testament totheir hard work, the quality of their offering, and using Halo products tothe fullest. It certainly gets our seal of approval!”

01282 716611 www.vekauk.com

New VEKA Imagine door lifts expectations

Debuted at the FIT Show 2017, VEKAGroup’s new Imagine Lift & Slide Patio Door is the latest addition to itsluxurious, innovative and technicallyadvanced Imagine suite of doors.Designed to ‘let nature into your livingspace’, the system can incorporatebetween two and four sashes; any and

all of which can be configured to ‘lift and slide’. Thanks to its safe andsecure construction – utilising extra large steel reinforcements within theprofile – the Imagine Lift & Slide Patio Door is strong enough to easilyhandle both residential and commercial applications.

01282 716 611 www.vekauk.com

Opening doors to superb style

Offering more than 200 door designs, JB Kind’s 2017 Door Collection brochure hasinnovative, inspiring and classic door designsto suit every type of project. Introducing theexceptionally durable and weather-resistantExternal Extreme doors made with MEDITE®TRICOYA® EXTREME, a UK first, suppliedprefinished in white with the benefit of a 10year guarantee. Exclusive new Laminate inter-nal doors, available in two cool contemporarycolours (grey and ivory)with a texturedtimber grained effect, plus much, much more.

www.jbkind.com

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CLADDING & FACADES; DOORS, WINDOWS & CONSERVATORIES 37

SafeGuard successfully delivers

When Peterborough based Ashwood Homes was looking for a localsupplier of quality windows and doors for its Crowland Development,SafeGuard, the major supplier of glass related products and servicesacross the UK, ticked all the boxes. Commercial Manager at AshwoodHomes Adam Murfet, explains: “The Crowland Development consists of 50plots of two and three bedroom homes, 10 of which are affordable unitsfor Axiom Housing Association. As the first new build development inCrowland for many years, we were looking to source a local supplier whocould deliver on quality and we certainly found that in SafeGuard. The sitesold off plan extremely quickly and all plots were sold prior to completion,which is testament to the build quality. Ashwood Homes handpickscontractors very carefully in order to ensure our reputation for quality isupheld and SafeGuard didn’t disappoint. We would definitely recommendthem and invite them to tender on future projects.”

01780 751442 www.safe-guard.co.uk

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This year, the housing crisis hasbeen high on the news agenda,following the release of the

Government’s highly anticipated HousingWhite Paper, and with housebuilding beinga key issue in the recent elections. One ofthe Government’s key recent initiatives hasbeen to propose a Brown6eld Register, sodevelopers can secure ‘planning permissionin principle’ on previously used sites fromlocal authorities.While brown6eld sites have been pushed

for over 20 years by various governmentsand departments, progress has been slow,with issues such as land remediation costsand design issues hampering develop-ments. But, every year that passes withusable plots of land lying dormant, thepressure to get building increases as thedemand for new houses creeps up. Asreported in 2014 by Building ConsultancyDaniel Watney, there are 10,000 hectares ofbrown6eld land suitable for housing aroundEngland alone, which would support467,000 homes.Many developers are reluctant to take a

risk on brown6eld sites unless there is theopportunity to dictate more favourableterms at the outset of building, such asallowing higher density developments toincrease the viability of a project. Often,the existing infrastructure in and aroundthe site needs to be upgraded anddeveloped to provide new modern access to

previously used sites, which adds to theoutlay of any project.One of the biggest issues facing

developers at the outset of a brown6eldsite development is getting the drainagesystem right, in order for new housingunits to be able to connect into existingsewerage networks. Brown6eld sites can cause headaches for

designers and contractors alike, but usingmaterials such as plastic piping canproduce quicker installation times, onsitedesign 7exibility and long term durability,offering developers the peace of mind topush ahead. Using plastic systems can alsohelp to mitigate the prohibitive costsassociated with building on brown6eld

sites, and can offer practical solutions tocomplex design challenges.Assessing the ground conditions across a

brown6eld site is, unsurprisingly, a crucialplace to start. It is important that thetopography of the ground is fully evaluatedand that damaging chemical elements suchas petroleum residues and tar deposits areremoved during remediation.By using products that hold the correct

approvals, the risk of chemical degradationto the product is vastly mitigated. Plastic-based foul and surface water drainage pipesare designed to accommodate normalground movement, and are tried and testedin all conditions to meet the requiredindustry standards.Importantly for brown6eld sites, many

plastic products are fully adaptable andcompatible with existing drainage andsewer systems that may be encounteredwithin brown6eld sites, and are designedwith a wide range of easy to use 6ttings andancillaries. In addition, using plastic pipingis ideal on sites where developers need torely more on components manufacturedoffsite. Due to the often restrictive space ofbrown6eld sites, transporting ready-madesections of a system to be installed directlyonsite can make a big difference.Plastic is inherently lightweight,

helping to reduce the costs of major plantequipment required on site, which also

Richard Eddy of Polypipe o(ers advice on the best wayto specify and use plastic-based systems onbrown)eld development sites.

PLASTIC: NOT JUSTA PIPE DREAM

WITH THE CONSTRUCTIONSECTOR BRACING ITSELFFOR A SKILLS SHORTAGEOVER THE COMING YEARS,PLASTIC BASED SOLUTIONSWILL BE INVALUABLE TOENSURE A SMALLERWORKFORCE CAN KEEP APROJECT ON TRACKWWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK

38 DRAINAGE & PLUMBING

helps to improve health and safetyconditions for contractors.Once the below ground system is

installed, the resulting housing units willbene6t from the huge variety of aboveground drainage options plastic piping canprovide. Whether in an individual houseunit, or in a high rise building project, theadvantage of plastic plumbing is that its usecan ensure the development can continueat speed. For hot, cold and heating applications,

plastic plumbing is incredibly versatile.Almost all eventualities of a buildingdesign can be accommodated using plastic

piping, offering longer pipe lengths andcoils with trusted 6ttings technology thatreduce the need for more complex jointingtechniques and hot works associated withtraditional materials such as copper. Withthe construction sector bracing itself for askills shortage over the coming years,plastic-based solutions will be invaluable toensure a smaller workforce can keep aproject on track.Polybutylene pipe provides users with

many bene6ts, and greater 7exibility. It isideal for most domestic hot and cold waterplumbing and heating systems, offeringexceptional durability and long-term

performance, which has seen it becomethe preferred material choice for today’sbuilding projects.Polybutylene has excellent resistance to

freezing temperatures, which helps it tomaintain durability in heating and waterapplications. This means that in the rareinstance that water freezes within the pipe,the risk of a burst is greatly reduced.One further advantage is the highcorrosion resistance of plastic piping,meaning that the use of hard or soft water,depending on your location, will not cause along-term issue.As more people want to move to major

towns and the Government continues topush developers to 6nd solutions to usebrown6eld sites more regularly, supplychain manufacturers will continue topromote time saving, cost saving systemsthat can make life onsite easier forcontractors. Ensuring that a drainagesystem is correctly installed on site is one ofthe key components of getting a brown6eldsite development off the ground. Usingmaterials such as plastic offers greater7exibility and adaptability to conditions onthe ground, without the risk of product andsystem failure.

Richard Eddy is below ground drainageproduct manager at Polypipe.

DRAINAGE & PLUMBING; FINANCE & INSURANCE 39

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DRU is a designer and producer ofcontemporary gas fires. It is best knownfor its high-end gas fires with unique

features. These include the Dynamic Burnersystem for high, dense flames; the Eco Waveapp that enables the fires to be controlledfrom a smartphone or tablet and thePowerVent® extended, motorised flue systemthat enables gas fires to be installed in the mostunlikely locations.

Many people would love to own a DRUgas fire, as they are the pinnacle of designand luxury.

Installed with or without a chimneyIn response to this demand, DRU has developedits Global gas fire range. This includes balancedflue gas fires that can be installed with orwithout a chimney and conventional flue gasfires, which are compatible with all standardUK chimneys.

They are fires that are beautifully designed,with all the hallmarks of quality DRU products,but at prices that are affordable for allhouseholds and available from approvedfireplace retailers throughout the UK.

Large selection of shapes and sizesThere are classic letterbox-shaped fires, such asthe Global 90 and 100. There are insert gas firesfor chimney installation, including the 22”Global 55 in landscape or portrait versions.There is also a selection of 2-sided and 3-sidedmodels and even a freestanding gas stove – theGlobal Beau.

Global gas fires by DRU can be enjoyed assimple, frameless fires that don’t detract fromthe quality of the flame picture. They can also becombined with some attractive, tailor-made firesurrounds. Good examples of this are the Global55XT with the Jessica surround and the moreexpansive Global 70XT, which offers a choice ofCarla or Grace surrounds.

Choice of interior &nishesTo fully appreciate DRU Global gas fires, youneed to consider the range of interior finishesthat are available, each transforming thecharacter of the fires in very subtle ways. Forexample, you can have a smooth black finishfor a contemporary feel, a classic brick finish fora more rustic feel and even a mirrored Ceraglassfinish, which gives the flames a dramaticinfinity effect.

All DRU Global gas fires are operated byelectronic remote control and can be run onnatural gas or LPG, so they are suitable for urbanor rural properties.

It all adds up to an enticing selection ofmodern gas fires that represent excellent valuefor money.

For more information and to find your nearestGlobal by DRU dealer, visit the website.

0161 793 8700 www.drufire.com

Global by DRU brings gas &re luxury to all households

DRU Global 70XT CF with Grace surround

DRU Global 100 Triple

DRU Global 55

DRU Global Beau gas stove

WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK

40 FIRES & FIREPLACES

NuaireNuaire has introduced a new range of in-linecarbon Elters that remove the highest levelsof Nitrogen Dioxide from the air, as veriEedby the BRE. IAQ-BOX remove up to 99.5 per cent of NO2, and up to 80 per cent of harmful Particulate Matter, the main by-products of traDc fumes and industrialpollution. IAQ-BOX introduces an industryErst in its double-width carbon Elter – IAQ-BOX-D. Designed for larger properties,its wider surface area lowers air resistancefor a quieter-running MVHR system andbetter Fow-rates. Its Elters have a four year lifespan. Both the double and singlemodels measure just 170mm in depth,giving designers valuable space savings.

Pineland FurniturePineland Furniture is a family ownedbusiness which mainly designs andmanufactures bespoke high quality kitchen furniture. Pineland also makesfreestanding and built in furniture forbedrooms, living rooms etc. Pineland uses traditional methods and materials to craft its products. The company feels that too many kitchens today look synthetic and uniform in design – more like a science laboratory than the “engineroom” of the home. Over the years, Pineland has established a satisEedcustomer base stretching UK wide, fromLondon and the South East, throughoutWales to Scotland.

GerForIn January, the Government unlocked £7 billion in a dramatic expansion of the government’s aCordable housingprogramme to meet the diverse housingneeds of the UK. It’s a burgeoning sectorwhere international Fooring and interiorsspecialist GerFor have devised a stunningrange of social housing refurbishment andnew build luxury vinyl Fooring solutions tomeet the exacting standards that will berequired to fulEl the forthcoming demand.In 2016 GerFor won the CFJ/CFA product ofthe year category with their TaralayImpression Control range. This safetyFooring collection is perfect for bothrefurbishments and new builds.

PRODUCT FOCUS

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FIRES & FIREPLACES; FLOORS & FLOOR COVERINGS; GROUND REINFORCEMENT 41

Conventional and Balanced Flue Gas Stoves

Paragon branded efficient, realistic highquality gas flame technology is nowavailable in a freestanding stove designboth for conventional and balanced flue systems. The new Paragon gas stovemodels are manufactured with heavy-duty, seam-welded steel bodies anddoors in keeping with high quality solid

fuel originals. Conventional flue models can be fitted into Class one, Classtwo and Pre-cast flues and come complete with an innovative closure platesystem. BF models have a rear mounted “through the wall” flue system. Formore information or to arrange a display please Charlton & Jenrick.

sales@charltonandjenrick.co.uk

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Monarfloor Bridgestop ideal for uplift

Icopal’s Monarfloor Bridgestop acousticisolation system is an ideal solution forhousebuilders looking to take advantage of the£1.2bn Starter Homes Land Fund and developbrownfield sites. The system offers superioracoustic performance for separating partycavity walls on raft foundations or continualslab, reducing costs by more than 18 per cent.

Monarfloor Bridgestop can be used in conjunction with raft foundations orcontinual slab. It isolates both masonry leafs from each other, reducingflanking transmission, and preventing an acoustic bridge by the collectionof mortar at the base of the cavity.

0161 865 4444 www.monarfloor.co.uk

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Clearstone’s resin bound for exclusive home

Clearstone installs resin bound driveway for Apeks Developments, a company obsessed with creating homes of distinction in London. Demanding quality and reliability from their contractors, they choose Clearstone for afuss-free installation. With Clearstone resin bound there are no joints – even on the largest areas – ensuring asmooth and uninterrupted surface. Just sleek natural beauty – the perfect complement to the contemporary, state-of-the-art homes that Apeks creates. “Clients are very positive about Clearstone’s resin bound,” says AdamRamalingum, project manager for Apeks. “They are delighted with the choice of colours and the fact that it is SUDScompliant and low maintenance”. Clearstone mixes only the highest quality UV-stable resins and aggregatesblends, so their paving won’t crack or fade and, because they formulate their own products, they offer a 10-yearguarantee. “Clearstone’s service is excellent: Sales Director Andy Forsey is extremely helpful and prompt at arranging to measure up. In the last development in Barnes where Clearstone laid a driveway and internal garagespace, we ended up having to push the job back twice. But a couple of ‘phone calls to Andy and he re-scheduled.Clearstone staff went out of their way to accommodate us,’ says Adam.

01273 358177 www.clearstonepaving.co.uk

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/buildwithdritherm

EcoTherm launches new Eco-Cavity Full Fill

EcoTherm Insulation is pleased to announcethe launch of EcoTherm Eco-Cavity Full Fill.The new foil faced, rigid PIR insulation board has been designed to allow simplecompliance with the energy requirements of the Building Regulation and Standards,without requiring alterations to standardwall designs. The insulation board dimen-sions are sized to co-ordinate with brick and block sizes, allowing them to be quickly

installed with standard wall tie methods whilst their tongue and grooveedges offer a superior fit and moisture resistance.

technical@ecotherm.co.uk

Brochure app innovation from BLANCO

A new app from BLANCO UKmakes downloadingand sharing the company’s kitchen sink, tap and appliances brochures easy. The free, simple-to-use app gives the trade instant access toBLANCO’s extensive range of kitchen taps,kitchen sinks, induction hobs, extractor hoodsand accessories. Once downloaded within theapp, the product brochures provide detailedup-to-date information, specifications andinspiration, allowing additions to be made tocustomers’ kitchens based on the latestinnovations and cutting-edge design.

info@blanco.co.uk

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• 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: enquiries@pineland.co.ukOr call our of1ces: CLEOBURY MORTIMER, SHROPSHIRE: 01299 271143

NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE: 01606 41292

P NELAND FURNITURE LTD – 01299 271143

The Structural EnvelopeHas Now Been Pushed!

ICF goes Offsite

High Insulation LevelHigh StrengthHigh Build SpeedButLow CostLow Skill LevelsWithNo Drama

polarwall

www.polarwall.co.uk0845 838 2181

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INSULATION; KITCHENS & APPLIANCES 43

Celotex insulation installed to create energy-saving coastal property

Sue and Dick Russill were given the opportunity to create their retirement dream home – a beautiful cliff-topdwelling overlooking the Pembrokeshire coast. The couple wanted the construction to be timber-frame with highlevels of thermal insulation, and for the home to be able to make the most of passive solar gain. The wall insulationcomprised 70mm of rigid insulation panels using Celotex GA4000, along with a multifoil blanket enveloping theexterior frame. The pitched roof insulation included 120mm Celotex XR4000 boards, as well as bubble insulationmembrane and mineral-wool cladding. Both Celotex GA4000 and Celotex XR4000 enabled the pitched roof andflooring throughout the property to achieve lower U-values, with the inclusion of low emissivity foil facings furtherenhancing thermal performance within cavity air spaces. Both certified under BBA certificate number 95/3197 and16/5352, with low global warming potential (GWP) and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP). Celotex XR4000 andCelotex GA4000 were able to future-proof the energy performance of the Pembrokeshire property. Aside frominsulation requirements, the exterior was covered in fibre-cement cladding in a grey colour that compli-mented the contemporary appearance of the building, whilst fitting in well with the surroundings.

01473 822093 www.celotex.co.uk

Strength to strength with Ultra paving range

Brett Landscaping has introducedStamford Ultra, the latest edition to thehugely successful patio paving rangeStamford, after seeing a sustained increasein demand from its customers. The classicStamford economy wet-cast concrete flagpaving range, with its simple riven styling,

offers exceptional value. Now for 2017 this range will now be augmentedby Stamford Ultra which adds more variety than ever before. The gentlyrippled texture of Stamford Ultra provides a completely different aestheticto the range giving customers a fantastic alternative to the riven surface ofregular Stamford paving.

0345 60 80 577 www.brettpaving.co.uk

�

Meeting the demands for wooden decking

Osmo UK, an eco-friendly wood and finishesexpert, offers a range of decking oils toprotect and maintain the beauty and qualityof exterior decking. The product rangeprovides resistance against water and dirt,while also offering an appealing satin oil-based protective finish. The eco-friendlyingredients help to regulate the wood’smoisture content, reducing swelling or

shrinking, whilst enhancing the natural characteristics of the wood. Thefinish also prevents the wood from cracking, peeling or blistering. Availablein different shades to complement and protect a number of wood species.

info@osmouk.com

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HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPERIS INDEPENDENTLY

VERIFIED BY ABC

44 LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL FINISHES

Junnell Homes Ltd developed SalternsReach, a luxurious housing scheme inWest Sussex.

Jonathan Bingham, Construction Director atJunnell Homes, explained what his team wantedto achieve at Salterns Reach: “As with all JunnellHomes’ projects, we wanted to create aboutique-style development consisting ofproperties with a bespoke design that wouldshowcase real character and style.”Jonathan explained that the choice of hard

landscaping materials was taken into carefulconsideration as the exterior of a home is socrucial when trying to appeal to home buyers.He noted: “Paving was selected as the most appropriate hard landscaping material due tothe attractive and hard-wearing qualities that itoffered – making it a more superior option thanthe likes of tarmac, concrete or gravel.”Jonathan continued: “We liaised with

Tobermore’s South East Sales team and BethMoore (long-standing Landscape Designer atTobermore), who provided various landscapedesign options and the most suitable productsto use for each. This was a fantastic service andhelped us find the best solution.”

Tobermore’s Hydropave Tegula Duo andHydropave Tegula 240 was specified as theseproducts are manufactured with an aged,antique appearance that allowed the landscapeto blend beautifully with the traditionalsurroundings of the site. Jonathan commented on this decision:

“The aesthetics and technical capabilities of theproducts met our design vision; hard-wearing,suited to purpose, easily repairable and offereddesign flexibility.”In addition to the visual appeal of Hydropave

Tegula Duo and Hydropave Tegula 240, theproducts provide a permeable function – a legal

requirement for new housing schemes in the UKthat feature ten or more units. Tobermore’sHydropave permeable paving is designed toallow rainfall to infiltrate naturally into theground as method of flood prevention andoffers cost savings over traditional drainagemethod such as pipes or manholes.The properties at Salterns Reach successfully

reached completion in late 2016. Jonathancommented: “We feel the project was a successand we are very pleased with the outcome.”

0844 800 5736www.tobermore.co.uk

Tobermore deliver aesthetic and functional hard landscaping solution for Junnell Homes

Thanks to better healthcare andadvancements in technology, theUK’s population is living longer.

While this is of course a positive development, it also presents bathroommanufacturers and designers of new-buildsocial housing with a series of newchallenges to address. More than 11 millionpeople are now aged over 65, with one in three of us aged 55 and over, so it is vitalthat society is prepared to meet the needsof the elderly.

In a recent survey about housing optionsfor the elderly conducted by Shelter, more than 50 per cent of respondentsbelieved their current bathrooms requiredmodi<cation in order to make them moreaccessible and easy to use. This need forchange is also supported by recent NHSstatistics, which revealed that it spends£16m each year on treating elderly patients for injuries related to falls in andaround baths.

The Foundation for Lifetime Homes and Neighbourhoods identifiedbathrooms as a key area in need of

future-proofed design, to allow for theaccommodation of all ages and abilities.Along with urging the bathroom industry– including specifiers, installers andmanufacturers – to support inclusiveliving, there is still much more to be done.To address this, members of the BathroomManufacturers Association (BMA) havetaken the initiative and are trying totackle the challenges facing the ageingpopulation and aid members in makingtheir own commercial decisions.

Manufacturers are working hard todevelop products that improve safety andaccessibility, and help create bathroomspaces which are usable for the duration ofa person’s life. Product enhancements suchas longer, more ergonomically designed, or even looped lever handles, can makeshowers and taps easier to operate, makinga positive impact on the overall bathroomexperience. Similarly, new taps whichfeature clearer markings and instructionsmean that those operating them canidentify which is hot and which is coldmore easily.

While design is important, so too is thedevelopment of new technologies. Often, the needs of the ageing populationare dismissed simply as mobility challengeswhich can be resolved by installing walk-inshowers or baths. While providing someassistance, these methods fail to addressmany of the more serious issues the elderlyface in the bathroom.

Showering, for instance, presents a much greater set of challenges.Temperature, =ow and spray pattern can allimpact upon an older person’s showeringexperience, and these considerations have

Martin Walker of Methven UK considers the role played by technology and designin the creation of usable bathrooms for the country’s ageing population.

NEW AGE BATHROOMS

THE NHS SPENDS £16MEACH YEAR ON TREATINGELDERLY PATIENTS FORINJURIES RELATED TOFALLS IN AND AROUNDBATHS

WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK

SOCIAL HOUSING 45

helped to shape recent technologicaladvancements in showering products. And, with the rise in multi-generationalliving, these considerations bene<t thewhole family, including small children.

So, where possible, speci<ers need to beequipped with adequate information aboutthose who will be living in the property andusing the bathroom.

When specifying products for theelderly, safety is of paramount importance, as hot water can cause serious injury within seconds. In fact, severe scalding is the second most common cause of household injuries, with 570 serious bathwater scald injuries, and more than 20related deaths, in the UK every year.

Thermostatically controlled productscan help here, as they accurately controlthe temperature of water for showering,bathing and hand-washing. Theseproducts contain valves that maintain apre-set temperature even if the waterpressure varies when other appliances areused. Once installed and maintainedcorrectly, they can significantly reduce therisk of scalding in the home.

Complementing this, elderly customerscan also bene<t from ‘cool-to-touch’ showerbar technology which ensures that

the temperature of the valve never exceeds that of the mixed water. Being safe and comfortable to touch, userscan rest assured that they won’t scaldthemselves if they accidentally touch theshower body, especially where showerspace is limited.

When specifying for the older customer,installers will <nd it helpful to referto products conforming to BuildCert’sTMV scheme, which aims to minimise therisk of scalding.

Elderly users often have sensitive skin as well, so showers with a softer =owcan be helpful. Unlike conventionalshowers that sometimes produce an uncomfortable needle-like spray, specialistproducts can create an optimum waterdroplet size, providing greater warmth and coverage and an immersive, full body experience.

The overarching message when lookingat the future of bathrooms is thatinclusivity and versatility are imperative.Installed products should address theneeds of the ageing population withoutalienating users from a design perspective.The bathroom should be a user friendly,relaxing and, most importantly, safe placeto be.

Martin Walker is CEO of Methven UK.

THANKS TO BETTERHEALTHCARE ANDADVANCEMENTS INTECHNOLOGY, THE UK’SPOPULATION IS LIVINGLONGER

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46 SOCIAL HOUSING

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.

01250 872261 www.proctorgroup.com

Keeping cosy with Kooltherm

Kingspan Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board has been specified as part of an innovative, large-scale whole building retrofit system installed on a social housing development inSolihull, dramatically reducing its energy

requirements. The all-in-one retrofit solution was installed around theexisting building to create a highly-insulated envelope, limiting thermalbridges. Kingspan Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board was selected as a keycomponent of the system due to its ability to deliver premium thermalperformance relative to its thickness. Kingspan Kooltherm K5 External WallBoard features a fibre-free core and is manufactured with a blowing agent.

01544 387 384 www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk

Texline vinyl fl ooring, with its Gerfl or Fibre Technology backing, gives greater warmth and comfort underfoot as well as sound deadening qualities. It is safer, quieter and more hygienic than standard vinyl fl ooring.

TexlinePERFECT FOR

SOCIAL HOUSING

REFURBISHMENT

www.gerfl or.co.uk contractuk@gerfl or.com01926 622600

Contact us now.

When asked in what type of houseyou would usually .nd abasement, the average person

would think of a multi-storey property,probably terraced, and built in the Victorianera, perhaps slightly later. The picture many have in their minds

when it comes to basements is a damp area,illuminated by a solitary light bulb.Because of this, basements are oftenconsidered a relic from times gone by, adank place where a rickety old boiler rattlesaway in an effort to keep to the housewarm, or where all those old photographsare kept – the dumping ground forworn-out cardboard boxes. While many perceive basements as

serving little or no use, there is a strongargument to include basement areas onnew-build developments, the mostprominent being the ability to increaseusable living space. Land that might once have been ignored,

seen as unsuitable for construction, is now‘in the frame’. With developers currentlypushing through as many properties aspossible onto a plot, the negative effect ofsmaller and more compact housing is beingseen across the country, and is particularlyacute in London. In situations such as these, creating extra

space without a detrimental effect on theecology of a dwelling will always be be ofbene.t to the homeowner. In larger, moreexclusive sites, a basement can be the idealplace for a ‘granny annex’, wine cellar,gymnasium, home cinema, or play area forkids and grown-ups alike. When it comes to construction,

instinctively the thought process is toensure moisture from the outside isprevented from ingressing into thebuilding, but that need not be the case.The most common solution for belowground construction would be tanking, theapplication of a layer of cementitiouswaterproof render on the walls, likened to awaterproof screed on the /oor. This canalso be achieved by using a sheetmembrane, asphalt or other liquid-appliedwaterproo.ng material. Hydrostatic pressure, the external water

pressure around the basement, is anothercritical factor. It is crucial that the tankingbe securely .xed to the substrate, as thepressure from the water table around thebasement can be signi.cant. Hydrostaticpressure will force water through tinygaps very quickly, so great care shouldbe taken at this stage to ensure that thewaterproo.ng meets the demands madeof it.Many argue that rather than doing your

utmost to prevent water entering thebuilding, with a real possibility of failure, itwould be more bene.cial to deal with thewater once it has entered the building. This

Brian Davison of Delta Membrane Systems delves intothe bene%ts of including a basement in a property,and advises on how to prevent water damage.

ON ANOTHERLEVEL

MANY ARGUE THAT RATHER THAN DOING YOUR UTMOSTTO PREVENT WATER ENTERING THE BUILDING, WITH AREAL POSSIBILITY OF FAILURE, IT WOULD BE MOREBENEFICIAL TO DEAL WITH THE WATER ONCE IT HASENTERED THE BUILDING

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WATER & DAMP PROOFING 47

is how the problem is often dealt with inrefurbishment situations. Cavitymembranes with a studded pro.le are usedon the internal face of the walls andconcrete /oors to form a waterproofstructure. The studded side is placedagainst the wall and the /oor to create an

area that allows water to /ow down to the/oor and into a drainage channel to asump. It is then pumped out to a suitabledrainage outlet. Compared to the tanking options,

this is a relatively straightforward andcost-effective solution to dealing with the

water that seems to inevitably .nd its wayinto a building. The method has been usedon countless properties, domestic andcommercial, in both new build andrefurbishment applications. There is no escaping the fact that a

well-built and .nished basement area hasthe potential to bring much more usablespace to a property, and there is no needwhatsoever for this space to quicklybecome redundant. The extra space a basement brings, all

within the footprint of the land parcel, canbe invaluable, and is one way of bringingadded value that will remain with aproperty for decades to come. Basementsmight have been a thing of the past, butthey also have a real future in the modernhousing market. Advice on all aspects of basements is

offered by the Basement InformationCentre, particularly in its publication‘Guidance Document - Basements forDwellings’. This is an essential read forthose new to this type of work, as itprovides practical guidance on meeting therelevant requirements in Schedule 1 of theBuilding Regulations.

Brian Davison is managing director of DeltaMembrane Systems.

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48 WATER & DAMP PROOFING; RAINWATER & GREYWATER PRODUCTS

SnapIT – Stylish and simple guttering

The SnapIT extruded aluminiumrange from Rainclear Systemssimply clicks together without theneed for nuts or bolts savingsignificant time at installation. Thislong-lasting aluminium rainwatersystem in 26 smooth finish coloursfor a contemporary look or Textured

Black/Ivory White to add heritage character to your property comes in Half-round 115mm & 125mm or vintage Moulded 125mm x 100mm profiles.63mm & 76mm round downpipes with a swaged neck simply slot together.Visit the website for 25 per cent off SnapIT in July, Matt Black SnapIT.

0800 6444426 www.rainclear.co.uk

Felmoor Park receives premium protection

The Scandinavian log cabins and lodges atthe picturesque Felmoor Park inNorthumberland have been given a strikingnew finish thanks to Remmers woodcoatings. Remmers HK Stain was selected to provide not only effective weatherprotection but protection against blue stain,rot and insects. HK Stain is a “2 in 1” productwhich eliminates the need for an additional

wood preservative primer and is perfect for both soft and hardwoods. Theproduct penetrates deeply into the wood while leaving it fully breathableand it doesn’t flake or peel.

sales@remmers.co.uk

Fawcetts Yard taps into rich seam of Neaco style

Neaco’s glass balustrade and aluminiumdecking systems have addedcontemporary style to balconies atFawcetts Yard, a development of luxuryhomes in Harrogate designed by BramhallBlenkharn and built by HACS Construction.Ric Blenkharn of Bramhall Blenkharn said:“I’m more than happy with the service andproducts supplied by Neaco – their combi-

nation of decking and balustrade has been excellent choice for thisdevelopment. I'm familiar with the products, having used them on anumber of other projects as well as my own home.”

sales@neaco.co.uk

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Remmers Sets Sail at Red Wharf Bay

Red Wharf Bay Sailing & Watersports Club isset in an area of outstanding beauty at TraethBychan on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales.The member’s clubhouse has been sited herefor over 50 years due to its suitable sailingwaters. The members of the committee

decided that the exterior of the building was looking a little tired and arefresh was needed before the new season started at Easter. RemmersCompact Opaque PU topcoat was selected for the job due to itsperformance characteristics and suitability to coastal locations. Over twoweekends of good weather, the clubhouse was transformed and the newcolour gave the clubhouse the refreshed look it deserved.

01293 594010 www.remmers.co.uk

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RAINWATER & GREYWATER PRODUCTS; STONEWORK & MASONRY; TIMBER & JOINERY 49

Air conditioning & ventilationBeko Technologies LtdTel: 01527 575778 www.beko-technologies.co.uk

ESS VentilationTel: 01428 751646www.esscontracting.co.uk

NuaireTel: 029 2088 5911 www.nuaire.co.uk

Wilo UK LtdTel: 01283 523000 www.wilo.co.uk

Balconies &balustradesBalco Balcony Systems LtdTel: 0800 652 4526 www.balcouk.com

Windoor UK Tel: 0870 067 88 10 www.windooruk.co.uk

Air tightness &testers

Call Today: 0800 587 1000www.bsria.co.ukcompliance@bsria.co.uk

Fast ResponseFully AccreditedUK’s No. 1

Quote Ref:-BS001 to receive a discount

BUILDING REGULATIONCOMPLIANCE TESTING

Part E: Sound InsulationPart F: VentilationPart L: Air Tightness

Nationwide ServiceATTMA MembersCompetitive Fees

Bathrooms & showersLecicoTel: 01234 244030www.lecico.co.uk

MultipanelTel: 0131 290 2862www.multipanel.co.uk

Building products &servicesA. Proctor GroupTel: 01250 872261 www.proctorgroup.com

Alumasc GroupTel: 01536 383844 www.alumasc.co.uk

British GypsumTel: 0844 800 1991 www.british-gypsum.com

Everbuild Building ProductsTel: 0113 200 9494www.everbuild.co.uk

Building products &servicesF H BrundleTel: 01708 25 35 45www.fhbrundle.com

FP McCannTel: 0287 964 2558www.fpmccann.co.uk

NHBCTel: 0844 633 1000www.nhbc.co.uk

NorbordTel: 01786 812921 www.norbord.co.uk

Roger BullivantTel: 01283 511115 www.roger-bullivant.co.uk

SIG plcTel: 0114 285 6300 www.sigplc.com

Swish Building ProductsTel: 01827 317200 www.swishbp.co.uk

Tarmac / LovellTel: 0800 917 8888www.tarmac.co.uk

Bridging & development AnanceQuivira CapitalTel: 0203 051 5298www.quiviracap.com

CAD & softwareStanding StoneTel: 01661 886653 www.standing-stone.co.uk

Coatings, sealants &paintsBarrettine GroupTel: 0117 960 0060 www.barrettine.co.uk

DeckingSaige Longlife DeckingTel: 01789 721576www.saigedecking.com

Floors & BooringGerBor Tel: 01926 622 600www.ger+or.co.uk

Folding slidingdoorsFolding Sliding Door CompanyTel: 0845 644 6630 www.foldingslidingdoors.com

Environmental reportsGeoSmart InformationTel: 01743 276 150www.geosmartinfo.co.uk

Doors & windows

Garador LtdTel: 01935 443791 wwww.garador.co.uk

Marlin Specialist Glazing SolutionsTel: 01535 603909 www.marlinwindows.co.uk

SKAALATel: 01224 224 567 www.skaala.com

sash window locks

ROLA

ROLA

www.sashwindowlock.comTel: 0844 482 20 34 Fax 01708 768 825

Finance & insuranceBusiness Lending Group – BLG Development AnanceTel: 0845 465 6500 www.business-lending.co.uk

CRL ManagementTel: 0207 127 5198www.c-r-l.com

Hampshire Trust BankTel: 0207 862 6200www.htb.co.uk

Holden Group Holdings LtdTel: 0208 974 4715www.go-develop.co.uk

Moody Venture CapitalTel: 01277 351860www.mvc*nance.co.uk

Trade Direct Insurance ServicesTel: 0800 028 0380www.tradedirectinsurance.co.uk

United Trust BankTel: 0207 190 5555www.utbank.co.uk

Fires & AreplacesClearview StovesTel: 01588 650401 www.clearviewstoves.com

SpecBueTel: 0800 9020220 www.spec+ue.com

Glass & glazingSelectaglaze ltdTel: 01727 837271 www.selectaglaze.co.uk

IronmongeryIronmongery Direct (Essex Fittings Ltd)Tel: 0808 168 28 28 www.ironmongerydirect.com

Heating, ventilation& plumbingBegetubeTel: 01463 246600 www.begetube.co.uk

EncasementTel: 01733 266 889 www.encasement.co.uk

EnviroventTel: 0121 685 2100 www.eaton.com

Rob Berridge Plumbing & HeatingTel: 01923 778176www.robberridge.co.uk

UK Plumbing SuppliesTel: 01625 877222 www.uk-plumbing-supplies.co.uk

InsulationCellectaTel: 08456 717174 www.cellecta.co.uk

Greentherm Solutions (Icynene)Tel: 01229 716039www.uksprayfoam.co.uk

Kingspan InsulationTel: 01544 388 601 www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk

Knauf InsulationTel: 0844 8000135www.knau*nsulation.co.uk

Conservatory roofsMade for TradeTel: 0844 335 1226www.madefortrade.co

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50 CLASSIFIED & DIRECTORY

Digital IssueThe digital issue of Housebuilder& Developer provides all thesame content as the print issuewith the added advantage ofbeing instantly availablewhenever and wherever you haveaccess to the internet. In additionto its ease of access the digitalissue of Housebuilder &Developer gives direct links toadvertisers, allowing you to visit apotential supplier’s website withthe simple click of a mouse.Subscribe atwww.hbdonline.co.uk

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www.hbdonline.co.ukThe Housebuilder & Developerwebsite is an online provider ofpast and present products andnews items for housebuilders &developers. Regularly updatedwith hundreds of press releaseshbdonline.co.uk is a one-stopsource for all the latest pressreleases providing you withaccess to information aboutproducts and services yourequire for all projects as well asrelevant news and case studies.

HBD NewsletterEmailed on a fortnightly basis, the Housebuilder & Developernewsletter is designed to provideyou with the latest informationon products and services ofinterest, direct to your inbox. Youcan quickly gather a snapshot ofinformation from up to 12carefully selected companies andeasily follow links through tofurther information onwww.hbdonline.co.uk, or godirect to the company’s ownwebsite. Brochures and videos arealso regularly available. Subscribeat www.hbdonline.co.uk

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Kitchens & appliancesShaws of DarwenTel: 01254 775111 www.shawsofdarwen.com

Lighting & electricalMitsubishi ElectricTel: 01707 276100 www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

Natural stone landscaping productsJacksons FencingTel: 01233 750393 www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk

Natural Paving Products (UK) LtdTel: 0845 072 1150www.naturalpaving.co.uk

Oak productsAntique Buildings Ltd Tel: 01483 200477www.antiquebuildings.com

Courtyard DesignsTel: 01568 760540 www.courtyarddesigns.co.uk

Plasterers & ceilings Plaster Ceiling Roses Tel: 0161 408 2882 www.plasterceilingroses.com

Pumping stationsJ T PumpsTel: 0844 414 5800www.jtpumps.co.uk

Rainwater productsAluminium RooBine ProductsTel: 0116 289 44 00 www.arp-ltd.com

Rainclear Systems LtdTel: 0800 644 4426 www.rainclear.co.uk

Yeoman RainguardTel: 0113 279 5854 www.rainguard.co.uk

Tools & equipmentTrend Machinery & Cutting ToolsTel: 01923 249911www.trend-uk.com

Timber productsHoppings Softwood Products PLC(Q-Products)Tel: 0800 849 6339www.hoppings.co.uk

Smoke & Are protectionKidde Fire ProtectionTel: 0800 917 0722 www.kiddesafetyeurope.co.uk

Sewage treatmentTT Pumps LtdTel: 01630 647200 www.ttpumps.com

Temporary accommodation

Stonework & masonryHaddonstone LtdTel: 01604 770711www.haddonstone.com

Sytex Uk LtdTel: 01483 234 885 www.sytex.co.uk

Safety & securitySafetyworks & SolutionsTel: 01487 841 400 www.safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk

Sprue Safety ProductsTel: 02477 717 700www.sprue.com

HBD IS INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY ABC

Professional servicesRenault UK LtdTel: 0844 335 0000 www.renault.co.uk

Robust Details Ltd (NHBC)Tel: 0870 240 8209 www.robustdetails.com

SkyTel: 020 7705 3000 www.sky.com

Product approval &inspectionBritish Board Of AgrementTel: 01923 665300www.bbacerts.co.uk

Power toolsRobert Bosch UK LtdTel: 01895 838847 www.boschprofessional.com

Makita (UK) LtdTel: 01908 211678www.makitauk.com

To get your company listed here,contact us today on

01435 863500www.hbdonline.co.uk

RooAng & claddingEurocladTel: 02920 790 722 www.euroclad.com

Eurocell ProAlesTel: 0300 333 6525 www.eurocell.co.uk

Freefoam Building ProductsTel: 01604 591 110www.freefoam.com

Kemper SystemTel: 01925 445 532www.kemper-system.com

Marley EternitTel: 01283 722588www.marleyeternit.co.uk

Monier RedlandTel: 08705 601000 www.monier.co.uk

National Federation of RooAng Contractors (NFRC)Tel: 020 7648 7663www.nfrc.co.uk

To get your company listed here,contact us today on

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CLASSIFIED & DIRECTORY 51

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"Gas has a proven track record of providing heating and hot water to homes, so we had no doubts that LPG would be a trustworthy option that was hassle-free to install."

– EMMA ALLEN, PROJECT MANAGER AT BIMINSTER HOMES

Cost e� ciency never looked so goodCalor gas gives developers a low-cost, hassle-free energy solution that provides rural homes with all the benefi ts of mains gas:

• Average installation costs of £500 per plot• Underground tanks improve site aesthetics• LPG boilers fi t easily within standard house designs

Call us today on 0345 6038095 to fi nd out more about the benefi ts of Calor gas for housing developments without mains gas.