Yorkshire Building Society names new Non-Exec Director
Yorkshire Building Society has confirmed Debra Davies as an new Non-Executive Director.
Debra has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, with the majority of her career at American Express where she gained deep and broad experience at senior levels in customer focused roles, both consumer and business-to-business.
She also currently serves on the Board at AXA UK PLC and Intrum AB.
John Heaps, Chair of Yorkshire Building Society, said: “Debra has considerable experience, skill and knowledge in the financial services sector. Her focus on renumeration and risk and her great interest in social purpose and sustainability will, I’m sure, be of considerable value as we continue to grow and develop.”
In addition to the non-executive role, Debra will also chair the Society’s remuneration committee, subject to regulatory approval.
Debra said: “Yorkshire Building Society’s strong mutual heritage and clear customer-focused approach was particularly appealing. I’m looking forward to using my experience and expertise to ensure, among many other things, we’re attracting and rewarding the best talent to lead and deliver outcomes that are in the best interests of our membership as a whole.”
Architect trusted with board role
An architect from York has been appointed to York Civic Trust’s board of trustees. The organisation helps safeguard the city’s heritage buildings and historic monuments.
Matt Seddon is an associate director at Brewster Bye Architects in Leeds, where he has worked for almost 20 years. His architecture work includes the acclaimed restoration of the historically important crescent at St Leonard’s Place in York city centre, which has been transformed back into grand houses and apartments.
Matt said: “The York Civic Trust is a membership organisation that is run by volunteers for the benefit of everyone who lives, works and visits the city.
“As well as owning and running Fairfax House, which is an impressive Georgian town house dating back to the 1760s in the centre of York that is open to the public, the trust is involved with several restoration projects throughout the city. It also provides the City of York Council with crucial planning reports and recommendations.
“My role will be to provide a contemporary viewpoint and insight into the most recent planning rules and regulations when reviewing policy documents and creating planning reports for the Local Authorities and Council on behalf of the trust.
“I will also help the board of trustees to review and consider new uses for the historic buildings it is responsible for. It’s a fascinating role that will allow me to play a part in the protection of some of the city’s most interesting and historic buildings.”
York Civic Trust also works with local primary and secondary schools across the city as well as the University of York to educate pupils and students about the importance of York’s history and architecture. It is responsible for awarding and erecting the famous blue plaques seen on many buildings across the city.
Plans submitted for phase one of Attercliffe Waterside scheme
Sustainable developer Citu has submitted plans for the first phase of the landmark Attercliffe Waterside scheme in Sheffield.
The 23-acre urban regeneration scheme, which will transform brownfield land either side of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, will be one of the largest zero carbon communities in the UK, featuring more than 1,000 homes alongside climate conscious creative workspaces, an arts venue and retail opportunities to bring the neighbourhood to life.
The first phase, located on the north side of the Sheffield and Tinsley canal, will develop the heart of the district, transforming six existing buildings into the new neighbourhood’s cultural centre including bars, an independent bakery, music venue and art studios.
A public and commercial square will be created, alongside a series of walkable, south facing courtyard areas and new routes down to the canal. A new pedestrian and cycling footbridge will connect phase one to the south side of the river.
Phase one will also include 447 new homes including a mix of apartments and houses, built using Citu’s timber-framed housing system which combines bold architecture with flexible designs, and sustainable, low carbon materials to ensure the highest standards of energy efficiency.
The houses will be constructed on a podium which sits above an under-croft carpark and there are plans to remove cars from the particular stretch of Effingham Road, to replace with pedestrianisation, public realm and incorporation of a cycle lane, as part of the developer’s ambition to create a car-free landscape.
If planning is approved, work will begin on the leisure and commercial elements of the scheme in the autumn and due to complete in 2024, ahead of construction starting on the homes in 2025.
Chris Thompson from Citu said: “Our vision is for this area to become a new destination in Sheffield, filled with independent, creative, and spirited businesses to kickstart the regeneration of Sheffield’s East end.
“For so long, this part of the city has remained derelict and underused, and we were keen once the development deal was signed in May to swiftly move forward with our planning submission.
“We’ve prioritised the leisure and commercial elements of the scheme first to put this area on the map as a place to visit and enjoy, and then when the homes are built, a place to live.
“We’re not just building homes, we’re creating a new neighbourhood complete with its own identity, one that incorporates the heritage and beautiful waterside location of this place. And underpinning this, is our ambition to establish a low carbon community that will enable future generations to live more sustainable lifestyles.”
Citu has major ambitions for the scheme to set new standards of sustainability for Yorkshire, building on its multi-award-winning treatment of previously vacant or derelict brownfield land which include low-carbon residential neighbourhoods in Kelham Island, and the Climate Innovation District to the south of Leeds city centre.
The land at Attercliffe Waterside, which is owned by Sheffield Council, was brought to market in 2019 and billed as ‘one of the most exciting development opportunities in the north of England’. In May of this year, it was announced that Sheffield City Council and Citu had exchanged contracts on a development agreement for the site.
Cllr Ben Miskell, chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “It is fantastic to see the next stage in this development coming forward to create 1000 new zero carbon homes in Attercliffe. If approved, the scheme will provide much needed homes for the city, and will complement ongoing Levelling Up and Transforming Cities projects set to rejuvenate the once thriving area.”
BRM welcomes new senior associate
BRM, a commercial and private client law firm providing advice and services to businesses and individuals in Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire, continues to grow with a new senior associate solicitor, Travis Wood, joining the Sheffield Real Estate division.
Travis joins BRM from a large Midlands firm and has significant experience in property development and investment work across a number of sectors. His appointment will enable the Sheffield property team to continue to support and grow its client base in the city and beyond.
James Alger, head of the Sheffield Real Estate department at BRM, said: “We are pleased to have added an experienced and commercially focused senior associate in Travis to our team in Sheffield. He possesses the technical quality and affability we always look for in what is a very challenging recruitment market presently. He will be a great asset to the team.”
Travis, who has recently relocated to Sheffield to join the firm, says: “I am enthusiastic about my move to the firm, known for its high quality of work and strong commercial focus and I am delighted to have moved to Sheffield at an exciting time in the city’s continued growth and redevelopment.
“I particularly enjoy climbing in my spare time and with the close proximity of the Peak District there could not be a better place to combine work and recreation.”
Travis’ appointment is another in a long line of appointments made by BRM recently. Together with other recent hires, the Real Estate team now numbers 25 lawyers across the firm’s offices.
Adrian Sheehan, executive director and head of Real Estate, says: “The Commercial Property legal market in South Yorkshire is dynamic with existing firms active and new ones coming to the region.
“Our expansion supports our desire to manage our clients’ requirements in an efficient and flexible manner tailored to their business. We believe this appointment will help us maintain our strong service levels and the growth of the team will add to the breadth of expertise we offer. We are happy to welcome Travis to the firm.”
More than half residential landlords prefer selling up to energy efficiency upgrade work
Residential landlords in the UK are more likely to sell their properties rather than make the energy-efficient upgrades needed to meet the government’s new EPC ratings by 2025, according to a survey by York-based Green Building Renewables.
Its survey revealed that 63% of landlords in the UK are considering selling rather than making the energy-efficient upgrades necessary to meet the government’s new Energy Performance Certificate ratings in the next two years.
From April 1, 2025, the minimum EPC rating will be raised from E to C for new tenancies and for existing ones from April 1, 2028.
MD Chris Delaney said: “The results from this survey are startling. The fact that such a high percentage of landlords would rather sell their energy-inefficient properties than improve them with technologies like solar panels and heat pumps raises some significant questions for the government and policymakers.
“Eighty per cent of the buildings that exist today will exist in 2050; as a nation, we have a serious responsibility to transform our buildings and make them more energy efficient, and residential landlords have a critical role to play in this transition.
“The fact that so many were concerned about the costs suggests that something has fundamentally gone wrong in the messages and their understanding of energy-efficient upgrades. Improving the fabric of their properties and installing technologies like heat pumps should be seen as an investment and not a financial burden in the properties they own.”
Despite a range of incentives to upgrade properties, 41% of landlords anticipate spending between £5,000 and £10,000 per property, and more than a quarter expect costs to exceed £10,000. The perceived financial burden seems to be deterring landlords from seeing these upgrades as an investment in their properties’ long-term value.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 3.4 million UK residential lettings in 2023. The data shows the average rent in the UK has been rising in recent years. In 2023, the average rent for a two-bedroom property in England was £1,098 per month, and the average rent for a three-bedroom property was £1,327 per month.
Philip Fellowes-Prynne, CEO of Green Building Renewables’ parent company Efficient Building Solutions, added: “We call upon policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the wider community to collaborate and explore innovative solutions to make upgrading properties as attractive a possibility as it is beneficial to the buildings and the UK economy.
“By developing robust financial incentives, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and implementing comprehensive educational campaigns, landlords should be empowered to embrace energy efficiency as a smart business strategy and a crucial step towards a greener future.”
Exploring the future of digital construction: an insight into #Dcw2023
Waldeck were back at Excel London for another insightful Digital Construction Week! This year’s theme was around ‘Exploring the Future’.
This year Associate Director, Veronica Ruby-Lewis, attended Digital Construction Week (DCW) 2023 on behalf of Waldeck; a conference committed to driving architecture and design, construction, engineering, and operation forward by focussing on new technology that can improve project delivery and team collaboration.
Following the event, Veronica told us about her top industry insights to take away. Veronica shares: “This year’s programme had a lot on offer, it was great to attend some very insightful presentations across the various stages.
“Seminars of particular interest for me were in relation to the Building Safety Act, including ‘Building Safety Act 2022 – How Digital Solutions can help Industry Unleash the Potential of the Golden Thread’ and ‘The Golden Thread to ESG: The Built Environment’s Opportunity & Calling’.”
In summary, her top 3 insights from the event covered the ‘Golden Thread’, Technologies and a Digitalised Construction Industry:
The ‘Golden Thread‘
As the UK construction industry prepares for the Building Safety Act to arrive later this year, a key topic at DCW was the ‘Golden Thread’, a term which emerged following Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of the Building Regulations and Fire Safety in response to the Grenfell devastation.
Hackitt’s recommendation for the government to mandate a digital (by default) standard of record-keeping raised some questions about how the industry goes about delivering it.
It has been made quite clear, that whilst the government has detailed what information shall be made accessible within this Golden Thread, it is important for the industry to not wait around in the hope that the government will mandate how we deliver it, as this isn’t going to happen.
The Golden Thread isn’t an ‘off-the-shelf software solution’, the standards have been set by government and are what we must adhere to, but it is up to us, being the duty holders to determine what tools are used to deliver against those standards, hence why the industry has such a wide range of tools available.
Technologies
Amongst the array of talks across the various stages, the new asset management stage had an inspiring session on the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, thought to be the biggest restoration challenge the UK industry has seen!
The presentation showcased the power of available technology today, and how it can be leveraged for one of the UK’s most complex historic building renovations, demonstrated through:
Retrospectively creating a fully operational physical asset; recreating a detailed Revit model from 10,000+ scans, with integration, and analysis of data from sensors or other sources to monitor and optimise the performance of an asset.
Optimising geometry for real-time interrogation; Revit models comprising only of data rich components to aid decision making, whilst utilising the point cloud data as the backdrop to aid locating and navigation.
Enhancing internal spaces; utilisation of machine learning to turn 2D images into 3D models.
Engaging stakeholders; creating interactive digital environments to improve understanding of a building, aid decision making, and rehearse construction scenarios.
Digitalised Construction Industry
It is extremely clear that ‘Building Safety’ is a driver for a digitalised construction industry, with standardised product information being key to minimise risk, but how do we move to this?
A panel discussion, chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt, with representatives from across the construction process highlighted the mammoth task of sifting through existing product data so that only useful data is shared with the supply chain.
As a result, with the designers having all the data available to them about a product from the manufacturer, they would be able to make the decision and select the right product, meaning the industry could see what is being designed as actually what is being built.
Final Thoughts
Veronica concluded: “One of my key takeaways from the day, is that the industry plays a pivotal role in the safety of occupants, and the Building Safety Act 2022 ensures tragedies, such as Grenfell, do not happen again.
“In addition to this, and as discussed in one of the sessions ‘The Golden Thread to ESG: The Built Environment’s Opportunity & Calling’, what we at Waldeck, other consultants across the industry and our clients must now do is take this opportunity to look at environmental and social considerations in design that impact occupants directly or indirectly, such as energy efficiency, adoption of renewable energy sources and public spaces to name a few, going some way to meet the UK’s sustainability targets.”
Technologies
Amongst the array of talks across the various stages, the new asset management stage had an inspiring session on the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, thought to be the biggest restoration challenge the UK industry has seen!
The presentation showcased the power of available technology today, and how it can be leveraged for one of the UK’s most complex historic building renovations, demonstrated through:
Retrospectively creating a fully operational physical asset; recreating a detailed Revit model from 10,000+ scans, with integration, and analysis of data from sensors or other sources to monitor and optimise the performance of an asset.
Optimising geometry for real-time interrogation; Revit models comprising only of data rich components to aid decision making, whilst utilising the point cloud data as the backdrop to aid locating and navigation.
Enhancing internal spaces; utilisation of machine learning to turn 2D images into 3D models.
Engaging stakeholders; creating interactive digital environments to improve understanding of a building, aid decision making, and rehearse construction scenarios.
Digitalised Construction Industry
It is extremely clear that ‘Building Safety’ is a driver for a digitalised construction industry, with standardised product information being key to minimise risk, but how do we move to this?
A panel discussion, chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt, with representatives from across the construction process highlighted the mammoth task of sifting through existing product data so that only useful data is shared with the supply chain.
As a result, with the designers having all the data available to them about a product from the manufacturer, they would be able to make the decision and select the right product, meaning the industry could see what is being designed as actually what is being built.
Final Thoughts
Veronica concluded: “One of my key takeaways from the day, is that the industry plays a pivotal role in the safety of occupants, and the Building Safety Act 2022 ensures tragedies, such as Grenfell, do not happen again.
“In addition to this, and as discussed in one of the sessions ‘The Golden Thread to ESG: The Built Environment’s Opportunity & Calling’, what we at Waldeck, other consultants across the industry and our clients must now do is take this opportunity to look at environmental and social considerations in design that impact occupants directly or indirectly, such as energy efficiency, adoption of renewable energy sources and public spaces to name a few, going some way to meet the UK’s sustainability targets.” Housebuilder creates Partnership Division to increase affordable homes provision
Bourne-based Allison Homes has launched a Partnerships Division dedicated to delivering affordable homes across its operating regions, ensuring that as a company it is building homes for customers in all sectors of the market.
The new division will have a key role in helping the company achieve its target of building 2,000 new homes annually by 2027, with at least 500 of these homes delivered in partnership or in joint venture each year.
John Anderson, CEO of Allison Group, said: “With our experienced team, our financial strength and our resources, I am very excited about our ability to deliver in this market.”
“The power of the Allison Partnerships offering is derived in part from our financial strength, having completed our management buyout in 2021 and the closing of our £120m debt facility coupled with the unrivalled experience of the Group’s leadership team.”
“With Gordon More (former Interim CEO of Homes England) and Dave Sheridan (former CEO of Keepmoat) as non-executive directors there is a wealth of knowledge about building and maintaining partnerships. Moreover, there’s a personal commitment from these individuals, influenced by their own life journeys, to make quality homes available to all members of society – not just those who can afford market prices.”
The first three Partnership schemes to be delivered by the new division will be 130 homes in Norwich with Legal & General, 121 in Bourne, Lincolnshire, with Longhurst Group, and a further 130 in Whittlesey Green, Cambridgeshire with Accent Group.
Every home on each of these developments will be affordable and made available for sale or rent. With an impressive existing land bank, the company plans to seed key relations and accelerate this part of its business by offering land and build-package deals to more housing providers across its other key regions in the near future.
“Housebuilding shouldn’t be regarded as simply transactional, but the start of a long-term relationship with home buyers, local stakeholders and communities,” said John. “We’re building a business that will span generations.”
As part of the partnerships package, Allison Group is committed to give £100 for every home built through a partnership scheme, to a local charity. Over the five years the aspiration is to donate a total of £200,000 by 2027. By working with chosen local charities, the company will provide opportunities to build relationships with partners and other key local stakeholders, whilst supporting good causes that matter to local communities.
The company’s Manning Road development in Bourne, created in partnership with housing group, Longhurst Group, has ut sizeable amounts into the Butterfield Centre, Toolbar and Don’t Lose Hope, with ongoing support and volunteering activities planned.
Fenland-based homeless charity The Ferry Project is another organisation receiving a substantial donation and ongoing support from the company, to coincide with the Whittlesey Green development, being delivered in partnership with Accent Group.
John added: “Allison Partnerships is about so much more than just building affordable homes – it also demonstrates our commitment to our corporate values of kindness and community”.
Josh earns promotion to Associate Director with Wright Vigar
Lincoln accountancy company Wright Vigar has promoted Josh Bowden to the position of Associate Director.
During his time with Wright Vigar, Josh has been at the forefront of driving positive change and progress, says the company. Notably, he has been instrumental in the successful implementation of cutting-edge software solution for audits, enhancing the firm’s capabilities and efficiency in delivering top-tier audit services to clients.
As the chair of the Audit Committee, Josh has showcased exemplary leadership skills and a deep understanding of the intricacies of the industry. His guidance and strategic vision have been pivotal in shaping the firm’s audit practices and ensuring compliance with the highest standards of excellence.
In addition, Josh looks a diverse portfolio of clients, consistently delivering tailored solutions and excellent client service.
Kevin Shaw, MD at Wright Vigar, said: “Josh’s unwavering commitment, exceptional leadership, and pursuit of excellence have not only brought value to our firm but have also positively impacted our clients’ businesses. We look forward to witnessing the continued growth and success he will undoubtedly bring in his new role.”
Josh’s promotion to Associate Director further strengthens Wright Vigar’s leadership team and reinforces the firm’s commitment to nurturing talent from within its ranks.
Funds released to spur on technical developments in agriculture
More than £14million is to be made available to unlock innovation and develop solutions in the farming sector in two new research and feasibility competitions under the Farming Innovation Programme, Defra has announced.
It is part of the government’s delivery of investment worth £600million in innovation and productivity in the sector over three years, and adds further support to the development and take-up of innovative practices on farms to boost productivity and sustainability whilst meeting net zero targets.
The competitions are open to farmers, growers, foresters, research organisations and businesses involved in agriculture to collaborate on novel ideas and solutions.
Previous rounds have led to investment in automations to improve soft fruit yield; a ‘herd’ of lightweight, battery-operated, asparagus-harvesting robots; and the use of ultraviolet as a disinfectant in the dairy and poultry sectors.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “These competitions are all about encouraging collaborations between farmers and growers on the one hand, and research organisations and industry on the other, to help bring ideas from the planning stage into practice.
“The success of the previous competition rounds and the broad scope of ideas coming forward showcase the range of possibilities available for driving up productivity and solving some of the industry’s biggest challenges. I encourage everyone to take a look at what’s on offer in the latest competitions and apply.”
Defra has published guidance for the third round of the Small R&D Partnerships competition, seeking to help businesses develop a new farming product or service and take it to commercialisation on the open market. Worth almost £10million, it has been developed in partnership with the Transforming Food Production Challenge and is delivered by Innovate UK. The second round of the competition has already funded projects including exploring how to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint to help sheep farmers contribute to the journey towards net zero, and a project combining generation of electricity with growing berries to power operational processes such as automated picking, sensors and vehicles. It comes alongside new guidance for a £4.5million Feasibility Studies competition which aims to support businesses and researchers through the difficult testing phase of an idea, checking whether it works in practice and helping them assess whether to invest in a project. It looks for early-stage solutions that have the potential to substantially improve the overall productivity, sustainability and resilience of farming, and move existing agricultural sectors to net zero. Successful applicants in previous rounds include a study to identify fungal strains that can help fight against insect and fungal pests in wheat crops, reducing the costs associated with multiple applications of chemical pesticides, mechanical damage from repeated spray applications and crop yield losses. Farmers, growers, foresters, research organisations and businesses are encouraged to read the guidance ahead of applications opening. Applications for the Small R&D Partnerships competition open next week, and the Feasibility Studies competition window is open from 18 September. Dr Katrina Hayter, Executive Director for the Healthy Living and Agriculture Domain at Innovate UK, said: “We look forward to supporting the next round of applicants and identifying promising partnerships that hold the potential to address the sustainability, efficiency, and net zero challenges confronting the UK’s agrifood industry. “Feasibility studies mark the initial stage in researching an idea that could improve farming, while small R&D partnerships are a vital step to empowering businesses to forge novel farming products and services, paving the way towards successful commercialisation.“By fostering collaborations between farmers, growers, agri-businesses and researchers, these partnerships become the driving force behind transforming innovative solutions into practical applications.”
Sewell Group moves two consultancy businesses to Bridgehead Business Park
Sewell Group has invested in a new office building on Hessle’s Bridgehead Business Park as the business continues to expand.
The 9,500 square foot office, formerly occupied by Beal Homes, will house two of the company’s consultancy businesses, Shared Agenda and data intelligence firm Parallel. Previously based at offices in Willerby, the companies are experiencing a growth in local, regional and national clients and have outgrown their current space. The offices will also be used to provide extra hot desking space for the wider Sewell team. The location of the business park, with easy access to the motorway network, means the companies are well placed to serve their expanding client base across the north, and liaise easily with sister consultancy company Community Ventures, which has offices in Leeds, Stockton-on-Tees and Nottingham. Jo Barnes, MD of Sewell Estates, said: “Being a business that was established in East Yorkshire in 1876, it was important for us to keep our local roots as we expand. Professional services have been under-represented in the area for some time, so we are keen to invest further in developing talent within the region and attracting people from across the country. Whilst our Group will continue to have its headquarters on Leads Road in Hull, this new office base will help us to respond to our recent growth. “Our team are really excited about the move, as it will give them a better working environment, more space, and extra facilities to help make their working day run more smoothly. It’s important to ensure an attractive workspace that enables modern, collaborative working methods for our teams and our customers. As a part employee-owned business, we are investing in our future, as our ownership model enables us to take a much longer-term view than some other companies.” “Refurbishment of an already built facility, rather than reverting to a new-build, was also important for us as part of our journey to sustainability. Our construction team at Sewell Construction are skilled in transforming existing spaces and making them more sustainable. The upgrade of the building, with the installation of solar panels and more energy efficient systems, alongside a complete refurbishment designed by our team, brings together our in-house skills. I’m delighted with the emerging results and we expect to move into the property in September.” Bridgehead Business Park is a 612,000 square foot business development on the outskirts of Hull.