Southern Expansion Plans for Lovell

Posted on by Posted in Useful Resources

bobbirchMorgan Sindall’s housing development arm, Lovell, has opened a new office in Hampshire as part of a southern expansion drive.

Headed by newly-appointed area manager Bob Birch, who joins the company from residential developer Mansell, Lovell’s new office is on the Solent Business Park in Whiteley, Fareham.

The southern area team expects to build in the region of 150 homes in the next 12 months, with numbers set to increase over the next five years as it consolidates its market presence in Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Wiltshire. Lovell currently has 25 office- and site-based workers operating out of the Fareham office and more than 150 subcontractor staff working on its local sites.

Schemes for Lovell in the region include a £30m regeneration programme for Southampton City Council at three city estates where the company is building 221 homes.

Mr Birch, who has also previously worked for Barratt and St George said:

“As the housing market continues to recover, we are in an excellent position to build on that success and help deliver the quality new homes which are so badly needed across the South of England,”

“Alongside building new open market and affordable homes, we see major opportunities in the development of new housing for armed forces personnel and in the field of extra care housing where we have considerable expertise. There will also be opportunities to work with our sister company Morgan Sindall Investments on its large-scale joint venture regeneration partnership projects in Bournemouth and Slough.”

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Display deal offer from Infrarad

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

Infrarad-picInfrarad Limited offers designer space heating, which it says consumes half the energy required to run conventional radiators, to leading builders’ and plumbers’ merchants, and kitchen and bathroom retailers.

The company has announced a display deal for kitchen and bathroom retailers that offer a substantial discount to display two of its models. For £650 (£1540 at trade list), the bathroom or kitchen retailer can display two designer glass infrared towel radiators with and without towel warmer options; a 500W and 800W Contract model; a 250W or 350W Curve; and a 1kw Slimline Power Heater.

Peter Ferguson, Infrarad’s managing director said:

“We have looked at what the retailer/merchant wants in the way of displays and came up with this package,”

“It is not cast in stone and we can vary it. However, it does give a good cross-section of the product range and, as we know, people like to see and touch what they are buying and this deal covers all options. For such a small investment, the returns could be huge”.

The glass radiator towel-warmers are designed for wall-mounting in all bathrooms irrespective of the heating system.  They feature built-in controls for independent function and are available with optional towel rails.

Two models are available, rated at 500W and 700W, in either black or white glass. In addition, new ranges of standard glass, granite and mirror radiators, with outputs of 400W and above, will shortly be launched says Infrarad.

www.infrarad-heating.com

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K Kitchens: “Take two trends”

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

k-kitchensAccording to K Kitchens, two of the biggest trends currently influencing the UK kitchen furniture market are the integrated handle design and the painted door finish. So, K Kitchens has unveiled a new kitchen, Palemro, which it says perfectly blends these two popular looks into one.

Joining the K Painted Collection, the Palermo kitchen features an integrated ‘J-Pull’ handle within a slab-style door design, available in 32 painted finishes. With a satin finish, the Palermo door is made to order and coated with three coats of water-based satin paint, followed by one coat of acrylic lacquer to give a durable finish.

Charlotte Mooney, kitchen buyer at K Kitchens, said:

“Doors with integrated handles are experiencing continued growth at the moment as they become ever more present in all ends of the market, offering endless design opportunities for kitchen living spaces. 

“With no protruding handle, the look is very clean, simplistic and continuous, creating fluid lines to satisfy modern open-plan living. Our new Palermo kitchen boasts a seamless look making way for efficient kitchen design that can be highly functional as well as inspirational.”

K Kitchens says that all its cabinets are sustainably sourced and manufactured in the UK. They feature an18mm carcase with a 8mm solid back as standard, and are complemented with Hettich cabinet hinges.

Available on a four-week lead time, the painted Palermo door is exclusive to PJH Group and is joined by a comprehensive portfolio of storage solutions from the ‘K-Store’, lighting systems from Sensio, drawer organisation and fittings from Hettich, and a range of leading brand appliances and sinks.

www.k-kitchens.co.uk

www.pjhgroup.com/online

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Vokèra rewards it’s customers with improved and extended Affinity

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vokeraFollowing consultation with the market, Vokèra has revamped its Affinity loyalty scheme.

Originally launched back in 2006, Affinity has been remodelled to retain the essence of the scheme that focuses on giving unparalleled support and rewards to installers.

Eleanor Fox, marketing director at Vokèra, said:

“The backbone to Affinity is a new platform of accessibility that allows our customers to engage quickly and easily with the scheme, bringing them closer to Vokèra and the business benefits on offer. Thanks to developments in mobile technology, many installers operate now in an ‘always-on’ business world. This upgrade to Affinity ensures that we keep pace with these changes, enabling faster and more direct communication with our customers from wherever they are and through whichever device they prefer to use. To get on board with the scheme, installers can simply register through the Vokèra App or via the Affinity website, it could not be easier.”

These developments follow detailed market surveys conducted by Vokèra with existing Affinity members and non-members, inviting their views on loyalty schemes in general and Affinity in particular. As a result, Vokèra has ensured Affinity will help installers and make their everyday working lives easier. By signing-up for the scheme, installers can register a Vokèra boiler for warranty, register for their Affinity points and Vokèra will also notify and pay the Gas Safe Register fee on their behalf in one single registration via the Vokèra App.

Eleanor added:

“Our research also told us that installers wanted more opportunities to earn rewards. One of the great elements of our new Affinity platform is that we can deliver on flexibility at an individual level, ensuring that what we are offering to our customers is exactly what they are looking for. Additionally the new scheme provides installers with marketing support, information on products, spare parts, stockists, literature and technical support on the move and much more.”

Affinity Pro is an enhanced membership package for installers, allowing them to provide finance options for boiler installations. Vokèra’s chosen finance partner is a Green Deal Provider so as well as being able to offer finance, installers can also benefit from the Green Deal and its incentives under Vokèra’s Partner’s umbrella organisation, providing support with the back office paperwork and administration, without the need for costly outlay. Installers need to sign up to this enhanced package, which will be offered on a subscription basis, where they will gain full training to utilise the iPad App so they create quotes, store all their jobs and process finance.

Eleanor said:

“The more interaction we have with our customers, the more we help them and the more they will enjoy working with Vokèra. We want to inspire brand loyalty and the re-launch of Affinity supports this brand ethos.”

Vokèra is accepting pre-registrations for the new Affinity scheme from September, ready for the launch in October 2014. The Vokèra App is available in iOS and Android and can be downloaded from the App store or Google Play, alternatively visit: www.vokeraaffinity.co.uk for more information and to register.

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Bosch urges RHI recognition for gas absorption heat pumps

Posted on by Posted in Renewable Energy

boschgahpThe Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has been urged not to miss the opportunity to recognise gas absorption heat pumps (GAHPs) within the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) when the scheme is formally reviewed later this year.

Geoff Hobbs, business development director at Bosch Commercial and Industrial Heating, argues that GAHP technology offers non-domestic investors the ‘best of both worlds’ when it comes to efficient use of the UK’s gas infrastructure – a strength that could prove invaluable for years to come.

Geoff said:

“With the forthcoming review of the RHI, our government has the perfect opportunity to give gas absorption heat pumps the recognition they deserve as one of the most effective and efficient ways to utilise natural gas, not to mention LPG for those businesses located off the gas grid.

“Given the extensive nature of the UK’s gas network, a measured approach to the integration of renewable technologies was always needed. GAHPs could prove invaluable by providing an alternative means of delivering renewable heat without compromising our existing gas infrastructure.

“By using gas or LPG as the primary energy source directly at the point of use, rather than electricity which is generated largely in coal or gas power stations, GAHPs have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than comparative technologies, which is great news for both the new build and refurbishment sector.

“What we need to do now is ensure the industry’s consultants, contractors, and specifiers have access to the technology, training, and support packages to reap the benefits of what is without doubt a technology yet to fulfil its full potential in the UK.”

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