MOUNT VERNON, N.Y., Oct 09, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Aris Energy Solutions announces that it has been selected for a Department of Energy funding award for its proposal Modular Fuel Cells Providing Resiliency to Data Centers and Other Critical Power Users. Aris celebrates this $2.66 million 3-year award with its esteemed program partners the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), West Virginia University (WVU), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Gaia Energy Research Institute, and Velocity Data Centers.

Steve Almeida, Aris Director of Fuel Cells and CHP, commented: We are grateful for this opportunity with the DOE, our partners, FCHEA and SOLIDpower to bring a Resilient fuel cell-based energy solution to the markets. Our scalable solution will increase Energy Efficiency, enhance Electrification, minimize downtime ensuring Resiliency, while decarbonizing Data Center operations. In a present/post Covid World, critical power is where we need it most, in our homes and businesses. Hence, small capacity fuel cells will prove a preferred medium transitioning towards a hydrogen economy, as we will also demonstrate functionality via hydrogen/natural gas blend.

The core fuel cell technology, the modular/scalable BlueGEN micro fuel cell was developed by SOLIDpower, a European company with facilities in Italy and Germany. Aris is currently installing early units in the U.S. and will demonstrate a key feature that will be integrated into the fuel cell system: Resiliency. Near term targeted markets include small/distributed data centers and other critical power users, some of which are in the small commercial segment, and multi-family residential.

Through both the kW size scale-up and cost reductions that are incorporated into this DoE program plan, the markets will broaden to include Medium Size Commercial, Institutional, Municipal and larger scale Data Center/Critical Power users.

Separately, but closely aligned with the goals of the DoE program, Aris is installing BlueGEN units in real world applications.

Lou Lombardozzi, Aris Director of Engineering & Project Development said: Were pleased to announce grid interconnect approval allowing for BlueGEN installation in a single-family home. This achievement enhances commercial readiness; an objective of the DoE program.

Dan Connors, Ariss COO and Co-Founder, added: The market has made its two key needs very clear: Resiliency and De-Carbonization. Beyond the Resiliency goal on this program, we seek to advance the BlueGENs current ability to De-Carbonize buildings and facilities of all types. We believe the BlueGEN fuel cell can become a key part of a Resilient and De-Carbonized energy infrastructure.

We encourage you to Learn More About This Program and Aris Energy Solutions (PDF): https://ariswind.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PR-Web-link-20201008-1.pdf

About ARIS:

Founded in 2013 and lead by executives with decades of experience in the electric utility, engineer, construction and fuel cell industries, Aris Energy Solutions is introducing the BlueGEN mCHP fuel cell solution to a broad range of US markets.

More information: https://ariswind.com/

News Source: Aris Energy Solutions

Related link: https://ariswind.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/aris-energy-solutions-and-partners-win-dept-of-energy-award-to-advance-modular-fuel-cells-from-development-to-deployment/

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Aris Energy Solutions and Partners Win DoE Award to Advance Modular Fuel Cells from Development to Deployment - Massachusetts Newswire

(Kristen Frier)

Here is a handy guide on the key players in the upcoming provincial election: The NDP, Liberals, Green Party, and Conservative Party. This should fill you in on their stances regarding housing, public health, the economy, and other issues that matter to you.

Housing

In the last election, the BC NDP promised to build 114,000 affordable homes in B.C. over the next 10 years. Their new platform continues to stick by that promise, in addition to promising to fund 4,900 units of affordable rental housing for seniors, families, and low-to-middle-income earners. Along with building more than 2,000 modular homes, the fund will support 280 transitional housing units for women and children experiencing domestic violence. It will also provide housing for Indigenous people and help fund new student housing at universities throughout the province.

The BC Liberals are pledging a one-year suspension of new fees and taxes, delaying projects, incentivizing local governments to approve more rental units, and making public hearings more accessible to communities. They want to make broader use of the Certified Professionals Program, encourage pre-zoning with density benefits, and enable landlords to apply for financial support during COVID. Additionally, they want to extend property tax reductions and deadlines to housing developments and implement rebates to encourage rental housing investment.

The BC Green Party has yet to put out a current public statement on this issue.

The BC Conservatives have committed to reviewing the existing 95 per cent of Crown land in B.C. and allocating 1 per cent of that Crown land to the development of more affordable housing. They are also encouraging financial institutions in B.C. to finance the development of affordable housing and increase the threshold to qualify for Property Transfer Tax exemptions for first-time home buyers.

Public health

Because of COVID-19, public health is a huge issue in the upcoming election.

The BC NDP party recently promised a new hospital in Cloverdale and 10 new urgent and primary care centres by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the BC Liberals have promised to bring back Medical Service Plan premiums and free flu shots for all British Columbians, should they be elected.

The BC Conservative plan includes supporting publicly funded healthcare systems as the primary facilitator of health care services in British Columbia. If elected, they will support the development of efficient and affordable mental health and addiction initiatives for British Columbians.

The provincial economy

COVID-19 has completely changed the economy as we know it, and everyones eyes will be on the provincial parties to see what they plan to do.

The BC NDP has promised to invest $20 billion into creating jobs and supporting the technology, forestry, mining, creative, and tourism industries.

The BC Liberals have promised a 60-to-90-day holiday on the Provincial Sales Tax, Hotel Tax, and Employer Health Tax. They also have said they want to apply short-term commercial rent relief, increase the tourism marketing budget, and develop a rural B.C.-specific economic strategy. The party has encouraged implementing a moratorium on red tape that would add costs for businesses.

The BC Green Party has yet to put out a platform on this issue.

The BC Conservatives want to introduce competitive provincial, personal, and corporate tax rates to encourage investment, growth and job creation in all regions of British Columbia. They want to cut red tape and regulatory burdens through a systematic review, simplification and reform of all Governmental regulations.

The environment

Climate change and its impacts on our environment have emerged as an important subject in politics, particularly in B.C.

The BC NDPs platform promises to invest $111 million into combatting and preventing wildfires, modernizing environmental regulations, and implementing a made-in-BC Wild Salmon Strategy.

The BC Liberals have not put out a public platform on this issue. In contrast, the BC Green Party has called for the current government to implement a moratorium on forestry in high-risk old-growth ecosystems across the province and take further action in protecting wild salmon.

If elected, the BC Conservatives will work on balancing economic development opportunities with environmental protection through water and park conservation and protecting hunters and fisheries rights.

Other issues

Apart from those mentioned above, each of the parties has committed to other issues affecting British Columbians. The BC NDP has pledged to co-develop legislation with B.C. First Nations based on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

The BC Liberals platform, for the most part, seems primarily focused on supporting safe reopenings of schools, tourism, and small businesses, as well as taking action on hate crimes and supporting seniors.

The BC Green Party has been actively speaking about banning conversion therapy and ending private contracting of long-term seniors care.

The BC Conservatives platform includes items on democratic reform, financial management, education, and public safety.

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EXPLAINER: Party Platforms for this Provincial Election - The Runner

Last month, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government announced that the government is boosting its Land Release Fund (LRF) and the One Public Estate (OPE) programme with an additional 30m to help release surplus land for housing.

The housing minister, Chris Pincher, said the LRF will offer councils the opportunity to bid for a share of a 20m pot for remediation works and infrastructure to bring their surplus sites forward for housing targeting small sites with a focus on supporting SME builders while the OPE programme will provide 10m, supporting the earliest stages of development.

I welcome these efforts from the government to kickstart housebuilding. They form part of Boris Johnsons build, build, build campaign, which is also championing the most radical reforms to our planning system since the Second World War to make it easier to build better homes where people want to live.

However, if the government is serious about moving the dial on the housebuilding industrys productivity levels, ministers must be proactive in bringing land forward and designating parcels exclusively for factory-built homes.

For decades now, traditional housebuilders have proven time and time again that they do not have the capacity to deliver on housing targets currently set at over 300,000 new homes a year in the UK.

In 2019, the number of homes delivered by developers in the UK reached over 170,000 for the first time in 11 years. While this is certainly an achievement worth applauding, it doesnt take a mathematician to work out that this is still woefully below official targets. And given the current crisis, output is likely to be far below this figure for the foreseeable as firms are forced to adhere to social distancing guidelines impacting adversely on onsite productivity.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to delivering more homes, but innovative methods of delivery can certainly bring additionality to the market and help speed up delivery.

Homes England recently revealed in its end of year report that it had acquired 19 sites across the country with capacity to build 5,000 new homes. Its going to be crucial that some of this land is earmarked for modular housing developments.

Housing associations also have a key role to play in using their own funds and their own land to increase the uptake of MMC and housing output, and should be encouraged to collaborate closely with Homes England and other stakeholders.

Housing associations are already becoming more active in the land market as this provides ownership over the construction process and allows them to retain control of programmes. The majority of this activity is for small sites between 50 and 100 units, according to Savills, with bidding activity rising by 150% in the past two years.

Steps in the right direction are being made, however. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick, at this years Chartered Institute of Housing event, said he was making MMC central to the governments new 12bn affordable homes programme in order to deliver better and more sustainable homes.

These certainly werent empty promises. The following morning, Homes England stated that housing associations looking to sign lucrative partnership deals as part of the Affordable Housing Programme will have to commit to using Modern Methods of Construction to build out at least 25% of their pipeline.

The significance of this policy cannot be underestimated for a number of reasons.

Firstly, there is an urgent need to speed up the delivery of affordable housing. There are over 1m families waiting to be housed in the UK but, according to the latest government data, only 57,485 affordable homes were delivered in England in 2018-19. By building homes using modern methods, the government can speed up construction programmes as modular housing can be delivered in half the time of traditional methods.

Secondly, this policy will help tackle fuel poverty. High energy prices have placed a worrying proportion of the British population in fuel poverty, with government figures estimating that there were 2.5m fuel-poor households in England in 2017 roughly 11% of the total number of households.

This problem is likely to be worsened with Covid-19 beginning to take a grip on personal finances. As the government begins to pare back the furlough scheme, the younger generation, already facing slowing wage growth, are likely to be affected the most as the hospitality and retail industries continue to announce swathes of job losses.

By manufacturing more homes offsite, the government can begin addressing this problem. This is because by building homes in a factory-controlled setting, high levels of airtightness can be achieved, helping to keep homes cooler in the summer and allowing them to be heated more cheaply in the winter. At ilke Homes, were able to deliver homes that cost as little as 1-a-day to run saving young professionals and families hundreds of pounds on bills each year.

The need for change in UK housebuilding has never been greater. Covid-19 has laid bare the huge inequalities that exist in British society, and the only way to begin addressing the housing crisis is to diversify the supply of new homes. The government must take a top-down approach to this and introduce ambitious policies that encourage the industry to welcome innovation with open arms.

Dave Sheridan

Executive chairman

ilke Homes

+44 (0)1904 924 100

http://www.ilkehomes.co.uk

Twitter: @ilkehomes

LinkedIn: ilke Homes

YouTube: ilke Homes

Originally posted here:
Ambition, ambition, ambition: The key to solving the UK's housing crisis - Planning, BIM & Construction Today

The Ontario government has significantly ramped up its use of special orders that eliminate the requirement to give public notice before changing the way land can be developed.

Ministers zoning orders, or MZOs, were once considered a tool only for extraordinary cases. They allow the minister of municipal affairs currently Steve Clark to set aside local planning processes and public consultations, and designate land use without the possibility of appeals.

The Star reported in June that Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government had used the tool eight times since taking office in 2018; the previous government had filed just two MZOs throughout 2016 and 2017. The Ford governments count has more than tripled since, hitting 26 MZOs by early October.

The tally includes a flurry of orders related to long-term-care developments this summer two in Toronto, and many others across the GTA. Several of the orders were connected to pandemic-era efforts to speed up development of nursing homes that meet modern standards.

Not all the MZOs are solely for nursing home beds: some permit uses from food and retail to offices and retirement homes. A piece of provincially owned land in Torontos Thistletown will also permit a wide range of residential development. The province declined to detail its plans for that site, saying no final decisions have been made since it scrapped a plan developed by the former Liberal government.

Other MZOs issued in Toronto this summer expedited construction on a pair of modular housing projects for the homeless.

While critics acknowledge that MZOs, in some cases, can be appropriate and serve the public interest, several argue that the Ford governments escalated use since taking office in 2018 is unprecedented, reduces government transparency and undermines local planning processes.

What it does is send a signal to the development world that, hey, this is possible. We can just sidestep the development process and go straight to the Minister, said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture wrote to Clark in August and expressed concern with the uptick of MZOs in municipalities with robust planning systems, arguing that doing so short-circuited planning principles and policies, while depriving affected people of consultations.

The Greenbelt Council, in a report sent to Clark in July, recommended MZOs be used sparingly. Where they were deemed necessary, it urged greater transparency through a detailed and specific explanation of the proposals urgency, size and nature.

But the province said its orders this summer kickstarted critical projects, and that any MZOs filed for non-provincially owned land were requested by municipalities.

Torontos chief planner, Gregg Lintern, said the city still held consultations for the modular sites granted MZOs, though he acknowledged that not everyone may be satisfied by its efforts.

For the modular sites, MZOs meant not having to turn to Torontos committee of adjustment, which has been in a backlog, he said.

COVID-19 demanded an accelerated response to issues like homelessness, which the new supportive housing units could address, said Lintern.

Victor Doyle, a retired bureaucrat who spent decades in Ontarios housing ministry, acknowledged that efforts to increase long-term-care beds or supportive housing were hard to take issue with.

If (the pandemic) is the rationale for expediting them, then thats all that should be allowed, Doyle said.

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He was skeptical of zoning orders allowing for other uses as well.

My biggest concern is these things are promoted as cutting red tape, he added. But the red tape theyre cutting is basically the cutting out of any citizen participation.

With files from Noor Javed

Visit link:
Ontario government ramps up use of special orders to rezone land without appeals - Toronto Star

SlimWall with aluminium posts provided the perfect modern pool fencing solution for this home in Westlake, QLD. SlimWall is a premium fencing solution from Modular Walls that works with aluminium posts to offer designer aesthetics, high quality, durability and value for money.

When designing a swimming pool on their property, homeowners must consider many aspects from both financial and aesthetic perspectives. From pool systems, coping and decking to landscaping and pool fencing, each feature must be carefully considered before making the final selection. Decisions must be based on the budget while avoiding cheap, low quality solutions or those that compromise the aesthetic.

The Westlake homeowner sought a sophisticated boundary for their pool oasis while insisting on a cost-effective solution that didnt blow out the budget.

Combining quality and value, SlimWall has transformed the fencing market, making the high-end aesthetics of rendered fencing far more accessible at a fraction of the price and a quarter of the install time.

SlimWalls sleek design, noise reduction capabilities and ability to integrate lighting, infills, slats and more, make the modular fencing system versatile in application, helping homeowners create a truly magical outdoor oasis, similar to the Westlake home.

Australian Made for Aussie backyards, in Aussie climates

SlimWall installed with aluminium posts delivers long-lasting durability and weather protection to pool fencing installations in Australian backyards. Also available with the TrendWall system, the aluminium post option is perfect for coastal homes and modern pool fences that cant stand up to particularly corrosive environments.

Though 85% of Australians live in close proximity to coastal environments, surprisingly, many Aussie Proof fences are actually not covered by warranty if situated within 1km from the coast. With 13% also living with a pool in the backyard, this aluminium post option for SlimWall fencing is truly an Australian Made product, designed by Aussies, for Aussie homes, in Aussie climates.

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Modern pool fence for Aussie homes with SlimWall and aluminium posts - Architecture and Design

The Campus will attract significant inward investment, creating high value jobs in the region, and accelerating the development and deployment of new drugs, diagnostics and healthcare technologies to patients.

Birmingham is set to lead the delivery of medical innovation in the Midlands through the development of Birmingham Health Innovation Campus; attracting significant inward investment, creating high value jobs in the region, and accelerating the development and deployment of new drugs, diagnostics and healthcare technologies to patients.

The Campus will be the only science park in the Midlands dedicated to translational health and life sciences research and will sit at the heart of an already well-established critical cluster of health excellence led by Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) - a strategic alliance between the University of Birmingham and two co-located NHS Foundation Trusts - University Hospitals Birmingham and Birmingham Womens and Childrens.

The development of the 10-acre Birmingham Health Innovation Campus is being delivered through a long-term collaboration between the University and the UKs leading property provider for the science and technology sector, Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General.

The Campus will provide up to 657,000 sq ft state-of-the-art lab, office and incubation space providing co-location opportunities for all stages of health and life science businesses. The first phase includes a 133,000 sq ft, six-storey building housing a new innovation centre the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) - that will bring together the leading strengths of the region in genomics and diagnostics for healthcare technologies development and evaluation, clinical trials and healthcare data and informatics. The PHTA will provide a range of prototyping, incubation and laboratory facilities for early-stage businesses and access to business support to develop and rapidly bring innovations to market.

The first phase building will also provide space for larger, more established SMEs and scaleups working in medtech, precision medicine, diagnostics and digital healthcare, creating a thriving cluster of businesses working together and in collaboration with the surrounding clinical and academic community.

The 10-acre site has already received development funding from Birmingham City Council and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and has been designated a Life Science Opportunity Zone by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). It will catalyse the development of a new high-growth life sciences cluster for the city and region and by 2030 Birmingham Health Innovation Campus will have seen 210m investment, creating around 10,000 new jobs, and delivering more than 400m GVA to the local economy.

Professor Tim Jones, University of Birmingham Provost and Vice-Principal, explained: With access to Birminghams world-class genomics laboratories, health data programmes, healthcare technology development teams, clinical trials leadership and academic expertise, Birmingham Health Innovation Campus will become the ideal place for innovative health and life sciences businesses to thrive.

This ambitious new development will leverage the existing integrated BHP ecosystem to drive innovation and economic growth all centred on a shared mission to transform the health of all citizens, in Birmingham and beyond, by accelerating the development and adoption of healthcare innovations.

Dr David Hardman, Managing Director of Bruntwood SciTech, commented: This is a huge opportunity for the UKs life science sector. By creating an environment that will not only help businesses to form, scale, collaborate and grow, we will establish a new thriving life sciences hub, which will create much needed capacity for the West Midlands and help to attract further international investment to the region and beyond.

Working alongside Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham Health Innovation Campus will help to align academic, NHS and industry capabilities. It will also provide additional much-needed world class facilities for pioneering healthcare businesses and will bolster the UKs position as a life sciences leader on the global stage.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: Life sciences is an incredibly exciting and important sector that we have been quietly growing in the West Midlands over the last few years. Now with todays announcement we are cementing our ambition to be one of the global leaders in this sector.

The timing of this announcement, given the clear current economic challenges, is also critical. By acting as a catalyst for investment, the campus will help to create a significant number of high-quality, well-paid, local jobs for local people.

Todays announcement is momentous for the West Midlands. I applaud Birmingham Health Partners and welcome Bruntwood SciTech, and I am pleased to have played my part in making it happen.

Eleanor Jukes, Strategic Investment Manager Future Cities at Legal & General Capital, said: The Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, once completed, will provide world-leading office and lab facilities which will not only boost economic growth and job opportunities in the region, but also aid the development of potentially life-saving treatments and technologies. Over the next ten years this landmark scheme will unlock over 10,000 new jobs and contribute around 400m to the local region, acting as a major catalyst for economic recovery in the wake of Covid-19.

Work will begin on an extensive public consultation in the coming months, with the first phase currently set to complete in 2023.

For more information please contact Citypress:

Callum Brown:callum.brown@citypress.co.uk Tel:0161 235 0361

About University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the worlds top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.

Bruntwood SciTech

Bruntwood SciTech is the UKs leading developer of innovation districts, creating the environments and ecosystems for science and technology businesses to form, scale and grow.

A 50:50 joint venture between leading property company Bruntwood and Legal & General, Bruntwood SciTech provides high quality office and laboratory space and tailored business support, offering unrivalled access to finance, talent and markets, an extensive clinical, academic and public partner network and a sector-specialist community of over 500 companies.

Bruntwood SciTech has unique experience in creating and developing strategic partnerships with UK regional cities, universities and NHS Trusts to drive economic growth through investment in science and technology infrastructure.

Bruntwood SciTech has a portfolio of over 1.8m sq ft including Alderley Park in Cheshire, Platform in Leeds, Innovation Birmingham, a cluster in the heart of Manchesters Oxford Road Corridor innovation district - Manchester Science Park, Citylabs 1.0 & 2.0 part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) campus and Circle Square - a joint venture with Vita Group and a development pipeline of 850,000 sq ft which includes Birmingham Health Innovation Campus.

About Legal & General Capital

Bruntwood SciTech represents one of a number of Legal & General Capitals recent investments in the health and life sciences sectors. The company is working to nurture and grow a series of innovation districts in key locations throughout the country, including through a 4bn partnership with the University of Oxford and a significant investment in the 24-acre Newcastle Helix, which is home to the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing and National Innovation Centre for Data. Earlier this year Legal & General formed a 20m partnership with Edinburgh University to develop the Advanced Care Research Centre (ACRC) and, on 14 September, provided a 5m to donation to Newcastle City Council, helping to develop a series of affordable living facilities for elderly people as well as a new model residential care home.

Legal & General Capital (LGC) is the early-stage investment business and alternative assets originator of Legal & General Group. With a direct investment portfolio of 3bn (as at 30 June 2020), LGC invests shareholder capital to deliver attractive financial returns through the development of real assets and operating businesses. LGC self-manufactures attractive, matching adjustment-eligible direct investments to back Legal & General Retirements growing annuity liabilities and creates a portfolio of alternative assets for Legal & General Investment Management, such as build to rent (BTR) housing, specialist commercial real estate, climate and energy infrastructure and principal investing (including funding for SMEs and early stage enterprises).

Legal & General has invested around 25bn in levelling-up regional economies, including through major regeneration schemes in Cardiff, Newcastle and Salford. Legal & General recently made a commitment to enable all new homes across its portfolio to operate at net zero carbon emissions by 2030, including Legal & General Modular Homes, CALA Group, Legal & General Affordable Homes, Build to Rent and Later Living.

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210M world-class life science campus set for the West Midlands - University of Birmingham

As many people are spending more time at home and the office is being called into question, how is technology being used and adapted in residential real estate and where do we go from here, panellists at a PlaceTech event asked.

PlaceTech: Residential, was hosted by Place North Wests sister publication PlaceTech and sponsored by Node, Bruntwood Works, Mills & Reeve and Mallcomm. This was the latest event under our new conference format, using a platform called Remo that enables networking on digital tables, as well as many other interactive features.

Ticketholders receive a copy of the video recording of the event. To buy access to the video for 25+VAT, email events@placenorthwest.co.uk

Key questions

Main takeaways

Panel one

Martin Prince-Parrott, design manager, Cordia Blackswan

Samantha Rowland, director, senior living, Savills

Dan Pollard, chief manufacturing officer, Ideal Modular Homes

Judith Sykes, senior director, Expedition Engineering

In August, Liverpool-based Ideal Modular Homes landed a 300m contract with the Royal Borough of Greenwich proof that off-site construction in the residential sector is now accepted? Ideals Dan Pollard said: We certainly hope so the methods we use and the speed we can deliver at are proven, the industrys progressed massively in the last 15 years, and is fully accredited with the insurance and mortgage industries.

We have both wired and wireless systems, depending on the spec; as an industry weve adapted swiftly to regulatory changes.

Shortages in materials and labour in traditional building have been accentuated by Covid, but with the standardised, sustainable supply chains we have weve not been affected as badly we have a fully functional factory, and supply of materials hasnt dried up.

Another prominent topic during Covid has been the rise in active travel, but are developers looking to factor this in? Judith Sykes said there are forward-thinking developers who try and see things holistically but that theres a long way to go: the majority of housing coming forward nationally is barely above building regulations, although the Future Homes Standard will help.

Sykes said that evidence is emerging of renewed rural desirability: Were now seeing rural communities many thought of as unsustainable come to the fore, but how do you build home-working into that? How do you make it connected and affordable, with the infrastructure necessary to link into larger conurbations?

Weve been looking at this for two years and are now being inundated as people see the value of the model. No one wants to commute all the time, or be in their home all the time, so third spaces are key too.

The reshaping of town centres is also topical. How do we re-zone urban centres to make them sustainable?

For developer Martin Prince-Parrott, the appeal of modular is in clarity of cost and timeframe. He agreed that leaving the city is a theme:

The biggest swing in interest right now is from urban core to suburban lower density. City living has been at the top of the agenda for a long time because of efficiencies, but take away socialising, restaurants, communities, what are you left with? Not enough, for too many people. They default to a human desire for space, the opportunity to exercise, and to be around a community thats around more often

How do you make it work? Design around people the companies that excel, from Apple to Zoom, have fulfilled a need people have and moved quickly.

Co-living might grow, its a market created by often-poor HMO provision. The cost of renting a one-bed flat is prohibitive for some young people living and working in one room isnt ideal, so co-living can offer balance and community, the chance to be around people of your own age.

Repurposing retail is tough because with larger floorplates light doesnt reach the centre.

Provision of care and senior living space is much talked about, and Samantha Rowland confirmed there is a distinct lack of supply.

Affordability is also an issue. She said: The mid-market is something everyones focusing on more now, getting more mixed tenures: rent, shared ownership, outright sale. Give people choice at its core, this is about realising this generation is living independently for longer but also offering benefits of being part of an organised living community.

Rowland added: I can see reworked shopping centres working: senior people want to be close to shops and cafes, they like to get out and enjoy retirement some operators already starting to snap up retail facilities to redevelop for senior living.

Panel Two

Lucy Sharp, head of corporate PR, Moda Living

Victoria Davies, principal associate, Mills & Reeve

Henry Pethybridge, director, WiredScore Home

James Owusu, founder, CubicLease

Lucy Sharp, presenting, said:

Moda is a 2013-founded build to rent specialist, looking to establish next-generation neighbourhoods Angel Gardens in Manchester opened last year and the Lexington in Liverpool opens next year.

Tech plays a fundamental role in the day-to-day life of our residents, which started with our My Moda app, which allows people to manage what they need: concierge, rent payment, potential upgrades, reservations. During lockdown it kept people our residents and more connected, at one point we were screening events to 33,000 people: balcony workouts ,wine-tasting, cooking classes.

Were now partnering with Utopi. We can improve user experience hugely, the wellness of the building gives the best living experience, and measuring temperature, humidity, windspeed, CO2, all plays into that.

Modas partners help the developer use tech to improve the residents experience

Have people and places with greater tech felt the benefit during Covid? And how can tech be part of things in a future that looks less certain?

Henry Pethybridge said: Covid has accelerated digital transformation and things are changing faster: were seeing a doubling down on futureproofing digital infrastructure to cope with buildings for five to 10 years. One challenge for residential developers is adapting layouts to support home working better.

A better definition of smart buildings is needed, and weve created a smart council, with 40 key players: it will work by focusing on user outcomes and build back to what tech empowers. We see four key areas: providing inspirational user experience, cost-effectiveness, performing well on sustainability, and being future-proof.

Pervasive wifi is now essential in development: three years ago, people only expected it within apartments, so it wasnt factored in, but people have so many devices now and expect seamless service. Its not easy to retrofit for, so important to factor into current projects. Another factor is tall buildings: phone masts are only ten storeys tall, so people at the top of tall buildings absolutely need wifi.

Sharp said: Its really important to build tech in as much as you can at the blueprint stage, Utopi have worked with us to design buildings with sustainability in mind, driving operational costs down, possibly by 3m to 4m across a development.

We use aggregated anonymised data, protecting privacy, to show levels of use of facilities, and promote things accordingly, or over time dedicate more space to in-demand things, such as co-working space. The app keeps people up to date on workspace available, whats being cleaned following use being safe in that knowledge that youre using a workspace thats just been cleaned feels groundbreaking right now.

Its about using data to work out the best way to change how a building works in future.

James Owusu said: One of the things tech should enable is the speed people can move in, integrating different parts of the viewing and administrative processes. It needs secure information flow, and we provide that.

Weve talked about hotelisation and things are heading that way for parts of the market. One area of interest is people coming in to work in different countries on short-term visas, and making that process as easy in easy out as possible.

Smart tech shouldnt drive up prices the key benefit is driving down operational costs, and a good developer should be able to fix problems without upping costs.

Victoria Davies said that expectations are high at the top end: Clients spending millions on a house expect everything to work straight away.

There are more people leaving cities, now with a clearer idea of what they want: a home that will support two people home-working, but also home-schooling, it needs to have the data infrastructure, and also access to green space. The priority had been to be near transport links, but people are prepared to be further out now.

With that in mind, tools like digital walkthroughs are hugely important the VR experience will become the norm.

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Residential sector expands offer to fit shifting demands - Place North West

Liverpool City Region has launched a programme that could make it a national centre of excellence for modern methods of construction for housing and related infrastructure.

The programme will develop cutting edge technology to retrofit existing homes and build new homes with new, state-of-the-art, methods of construction.

It is being developed in a collaboration between the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), the Construction Innovation Hub, Peel Land and Property, Torus Group, Housing Associations, and industry partners.

The programme will aim to retrofit 10,000 homes over the next 10 years, bringing them up to at least the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) C rating for energy efficiency, as part of a post-COVID recovery stimulus package, while developing and upskilling the workforce by applying new methods and systems of refurbishments and construction.

Under the new build element of the programme, the MTC and LCR stakeholders have aggregated an initial pipeline of more than 6,500 homes to be built over 10 years.

At the same time, it will support the development and success of the modular, digitised manufacturing sector in the LCR, increasing productivity, ensuring a strong supply of employment opportunities across the supply chain, and supported by an apprenticeship programme.

Todays announcement marks the beginning of the first phase of the LCR National Centre of Excellence in Modern Methods of Construction for Homes project, one of the key projects in the city regions 9bn Building Back Better economic recovery plan, launched in August.

The programme will focus on an initial pilot using a sample of Torus properties, which will provide insight and intelligence to inform a larger programme. Torus is a social purpose regeneration and housing group, the largest in the North West, where all profits are reinvested to build stronger communities.

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: Even in difficult times, our region is constantly looking for better ways of doing things.

The Modern Methods of Construction project has the potential to be an industry leader in new and innovative ways of getting houses built and, I hope, help to tackle the UKs housing crisis.

This also has the potential to radically improve energy efficiency across the region through a comprehensive retrofitting scheme, which should not only address energy poverty in some of our poorest communities, but help us save the planet, too.

Whilst we fight for existing jobs, especially in the hospitality sector, it is vital that we focus on pushing forwards in developing new sectors and skills that will bring us thousands of new jobs post-COVID-19.

He added: The past few months have been exceptionally difficult, but I am determined that our region will Build Back Better from them. Ill be doing all I can to make our region greener, fairer and more resilient than before.

The Modern Methods of Construction programme will develop specialist technologies which aim to achieve significant reductions on initial and life cycle costs, halve delivery times, and realise the following benefits:

Carbon Reductions the work will contribute to reducing carbon emissions in all those properties retrofitted, providing a first stage to retrofit for the remaining homes not reaching the standard in the city region in line with carbon targets.

Reduction in Fuel Poverty many of the homes targeted will contain households who are in fuel poverty and the work will reduce energy bills. The Liverpool City Region has a high incidence of fuel poverty compared with the national average (14% in LCR above the national average of 10%).

Health Benefits linked to the reduction in fuel poverty, residents will also be able to adequately heat their homes leading to a reduction in poor health impacts, especially those with existing health conditions such as asthma, COPD and other respiratory illnesses.

Shared and Assisted Living there is currently a lack of diversified housing stock to meet the needs of younger generations, the ageing population and social minority groups. Affordable housing alone cannot fulfil this need. Modular housing allows for the creation of contemporary shared living models. This can offer a solution to the challenges facing society such as unaffordable rent, loneliness and isolation, and the mobility requirements of an ageing population.

Increased Skills & Employment the work will provide new and increased jobs in many trade skills with a wide range of levels of learning opportunities. Housing retrofit is one of the best generators of jobs for expenditure with an estimated 30 jobs per 1.3m spend. For every 1m spend there will be at least one new apprenticeship created as part of the contracts as well as other learning opportunities at schools, colleges and local SMEs.

Process Innovation in partnership with the MTC, and in line with an ambition to become the National Centre of Excellence of Modern Methods of Construction, the programme will be deployed using cutting-edge methodologies, reducing unitary costs and increasing quality, while developing new trade skills for the supply base.

Innovation several companies in the city region and the North West have already created new technologies such as infrared radiators which can be tested at scale in real life situations to demonstrate their effectiveness for more widespread usage. Further innovations will be developed and tested with the MTC partnership to further reduce costs and innovate in retrofit housing. Industrial and academic partners will also be involved in ensuring innovation is incorporated into the programme and its delivery.

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Region aims to pioneer modern methods of construction to boost economic recovery - The Business Desk

So says the man heading the redevelopment of Wigan Piers famous buildings, although in this instance Harinder Dhaliwal is talking about the new homes that have sprung up alongside them.

The ready-made modules arrived shrink-wrapped on the backs of lorries from a factory in Derbyshire over the August bank holiday weekend and were lowered and stacked by crane to overlook the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, causing quite a stir in the process.

Since then, workmen have been putting the finishing touches to the eight town houses who should be welcome residents within weeks.

So what is so special about these waterside dwellings that makes them worth their 270k to 285k asking prices?

Well the two main things are that they come virtually ready to live in, bar bringing your own furniture and other possessions, and they have all manner of mod cons and eco-friendly features in the quest for comfortable and carbon-neutral 21st century living.

And there has been no shortage of interest in the properties, says Mr Dhaliwal, the MD of Manchester-based Step Places, as he gives us a tour of the show home. While there are a few finishing touches to be put to the overall site, three have already been snaffled up and there have been people of all ages and backgrounds showing an interest in the in the remainder.

He added: As a place-making business we are always looking to future-proof our homes.

We dont cut corners and all kinds of features here come as standard that would not be in the price of a national house-builders home.

One feature is an air source heat pump: a low energy heating system which extracts warmth from the air and is seen as the future of domestic heating, especially as gas will be abolished in all new homes (apart from for use in cookers) by 2023.

The sound-proofing (and heat-proofing for that matter) is remarkable. The front of the homes is but a few yards from Wallgate and at the time of the tour, heavy traffic was swooshing past in heavy rain. Yet when the door was properly closed, not a sound from outside could be heard. All flooring and tiling is already in place for the new residents - in fact they were in place before arriving in Wigan!

There is decking at the rear looking out onto the canal. It is made from recycled plastic so is extremely low maintenance and each of the three-storey buildings has a roof terrace on the top floor.

The homes are fitted with alarms while security lighting and an outdoor plug for a computer or heater are also handy extras.

The master bedroom with en suite is on the top floor, a second bedroom, also with en suite on the middle storey along with a third room that could either be used as an office or a third bedroom and off from the ground floor kitchen is a room which can double as a downstairs toilet and utility room.

Mr Dhaliwal said: The term of the moment is MMC: modern methods of construction and this is exactly what these modular homes are.

They are the future of house-building in many ways. Everything is done to a high specification and there are all manner of features that would in the past not have come as standard.

By doing so much of the work in the factory - including flooring, tiles, windows and doors - you are able to maintain a consistent standard of excellence which building regulators expect of developers these days. And it can also save time. On rain-drenched days like this one you would not be able to have a bricklayer on site, but this way, all that comes ready done on the back of a 38-tonnne lorry.

It is also virtually maintenance-free.

Mr Dhaliwal said there were still a few matters to attend to including some landscaping and the creation of an allotment on the land between the final home and Seven Stars Bridge, but otherwise the project had been completed in a matter of six months, the first part of it having involved laying the services and foundations.

He added: We are very proud of this project. There is nothing else like it anywhere else in Greater Manchester, never mind Wigan, so far as I know. And we want people to move into something that is more than just a place but a home.

And so what of the trio of Pier buildings that Step Places have also been working on?

The homes were meant to be the final part of the sites jigsaw but are now set to be the first to be completed.

Well, work has slowed on the attractions refurbishment due to the Covid-19 pandemic - and has also taken longer than expected because of all kinds of quirks and faults being gradually uncovered in the venerable buildings - but it hasnt stopped.

Externally Mr Dhaliwal says that there are more railings to renovate, several doors to install and the section between what used to be The Orwell and The Way We Were (Now Piers No3 and No4) tidied up and landscaped.

The last of these will be left until last because so many heavy vehicles have been driving all over it throughout the work.

Once that is complete Step Places can concentrate on the inside. A huge amount of rotten timber work has already been replaced although there is a keenness to keep as many features from the buildings industrial and touristy pasts in place as possible when they are used as a food hall, micro brewery and events venue.

The next step is to install the M&E - mechanical and electrical features - including plumbing, power and ventilation.

Mr Dhaliwal said he reckoned that that would take four to five months to complete, after which a future-proofed shell will be handed over to The Old Courts and businesses to fit out.

His best guess at an opening date for the public was next June.

He said: This is a very special project and we want to get every aspect of it to be just right.

When it opens I am sure it will be well worth the wait. There wont be anything like this for miles around and I think people will come to visit from a long way away.

The original dateline for opening had been earlier this year, then it moved to October and now, due to Covid and the Old Courts saying recently that they need to concentrate on generating more money for their Royal Court Theatre project on King Street before turning to the Pier, there had been fears it might keep slipping further and further into the future.

But Becca Heron, Wigan Councils director for economy and skills, said: We remain as committed as ever to the opening of Wigan Pier with a long-term vision of developing a new offer that will attract visitors, which includes culture, leisure and employment opportunities.

The opening of the Pier has never been more important with the cultural and events sector being badly hit by the pandemic and we hope itll be operational in early 2021.

A picture special of the Pier homes interior will be published on Friday October 9

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Housing boss lifts the lid on Wigan Pier's new homes - Wigan Today

Modular building is a flexible and cost-efficient method of construction that has made great strides in popularity over recent years. In spite of this, confusion, preconceptions and hesitancy around Modern Methods of Construction have led project managers to opt for alternative methods.

The misconceptions and general confusion relate to the poor reputation of Britains post-war, prefabricated buildings. Their lack of longevity has cast doubt over modular construction techniques but in truth, Modern Methods of Construction can produce permanent, stylish and multi-storey buildings that last for decades.

These common misconceptions are leading people to doubt MMC, when actually it is a cost-effective, premium solution that has already benefitted many industries and has the potential to transform British construction altogether.

After the Second World War, more than 156,000 homes were built to provide urgent accommodation for families whod lost their homes during The Blitz or for soldiers returning home. They were designed to be a temporary solution that local authorities would aim to replace with permanent housing.

The misconception that all modular buildings are only temporary is something that Darwin Group delights in proving wrong. MMC provides the efficiency of off-site construction, whilst delivering structures that will withstand the test of time often out-performing traditional builds.

The current housing crisis along with the target to deliver 300,000 new homes every year by 2025, saw the Government invest directly into modular housing production for the very first time last November a landmark moment in dispelling the myths around MMC. Instead of the short-term solutions chosen in the 1940s, modular housing is now being used to deliver permanent developments to serve densely populated areas.

Our state-of-the-art production facility in Shrewsbury, Shropshire is a closely controlled environment that allows Darwin Group to have complete control over quality management and even greater flexibility to plan production to meet demand.

We highly value precision within a project and this is instilled at every stage of our construction process. Being precise off-site ultimately results in a smoother construction process on-site.

Unlike traditional methods of construction that require a live building site for long periods of time, off-site construction allows for the majority of work to be completed away from site which is ideal for us as we specialise in education and healthcare facilities. Being able to build off-site is much safer and more convenient in these cases, as we avoid the complications of busy live school or hospital environments.

MMC has also allowed Darwin Group to continue to deliver our builds during lockdown. Our controlled factory environment where social distancing and strict site working practices can be adhered to has enabled us to swiftly deliver much-needed emergency facilities for the NHS.

We wanted to do everything we could to help fight the global Covid-19 pandemic, and Im proud to say that Darwin Group was behind landmark facilities in Wigan at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and Wolverhampton at New Cross Hospital.

Actually, it can. Modular buildings are made from the very same high-quality materials as traditional structures, meaning theyre no more harmful for the environment in some cases, the materials we use can provide better durability and insulation, lowering the carbon footprint of the end user.

However, Modern Methods of Construction allows you to go further than that. Our clients are more and more frequently prioritising sustainability and trying to minimise their impact on the planet. This is where MMC holds a real advantage because our builds are prefabricated in our industry-leading factory (away from site), there is much less waste of materials, providing a more sustainable and eco-friendly way of building.

Our days on-site are also far fewer than traditional construction projects, meaning there is less use of heavy equipment and machinery, reducing power consumption. At Darwin Group, we aim to minimise waste and the consumption of resources at every stage of construction. Our in-house team are experts in SBEM, BREEAM and Passivhaus and create buildings that minimise environmental impact and maintenance throughout their lifespan.

The quality and precision of a modular build means that it requires very little maintenance, as the structure is strong and can withstand extreme environmental pressures. If the purpose of a building changes and the layout or size of a build no longer meets a clients requirements, then modular structures can in fact be easily modified.

As mentioned, Darwin Group recently delivered a new ward for the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, where we created a space that could be quickly adapted at a low cost. This was pivotal, owing to the buildings function as an emergency Covid-19 nightingale ward. The modular build was designed, manufactured and completed onsite ahead of schedule in less than 40 days.

The structure was point loaded via columns located in the perimeter of the building. The services were also sectioned in dedicated service zones meaning that should the ward need to be transformed into a different configuration in the future it would be far easier than a typical refurbishment project. Following the pandemic, there is the potential for the permanent ward to be used for bariatric patients, adding quality and longevity to the project. Future-proofing a build in such a way provides the client with the confidence that their investment will continue to be of value as their needs develop over time.

A common misconception is that modular contractors are not the principle contractor and rely on other companies to complete key parts of the project such as groundwork, foundations, roads, paths and landscaping. However, this is not the case with Darwin Group. As an experienced design and build principal contractor, we manage all project requirements.

Our unique, turnkey service covers all aspects of design, planning and construction from start to finish. This seamless process proves straightforward for our clients, simplifies building warranties and or guarantees and also works out to be a lot more cost-effective than traditional construction methods.

Darwin Group is able to work within a clients budget constraints to find a complete solution for their individual project. We also offer financial payment plans and assist with funding applications to ensure that aspirations and budget constraints align.

Wrong! Every project we undertake is bespoke and many factors come into play during the design process. From small outbuildings, to stand-out structures, to large multi-story extensions, MMC can provide a cost-effective solution for all of these requirements. At Darwin Group, we always deliver exceptional looking, affordable buildings.

Notably, as part of our diverse in-house team of construction experts, we have a talented team of designers and architects. They work closely with our project managers to carefully consider the location, size and purpose of the building, creating a bespoke solution that looks exceptional but remains affordable.

A recent project that needed a considered design approach was Reddiford School in Pinner, North West London. As part of the planning process, Harrow Council specified the need for a method of attenuating rainwater in the instance of a significant storm, adding additional complexity to the build. Our design solution was to use the roof of the building to hold and attenuate rainwater. The water is gradually released into an underground storm drainage system, maximising available space and providing a satisfactory solution.

Charles Pierce

Managing director

Darwin Group

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The myths of Modern Methods of Construction - Planning, BIM & Construction Today