Focus Consultants appointed to project manage phase two of Trent Basin scheme

Indicative sketch 

Focus Consultants has been appointed to project manage the second phase of the Trent Basin development in Nottingham.

The company was project manager, energy and sustainability advisor, and employer’s agent for phase one of the scheme, which was completed at the end of 2016 and featured 45 low energy homes, including eight apartments.

Now the company has been appointed as project manager, employer’s agent and sustainability advisor (HQM) for phase two, with work by builders Willmott Dixon now underway on the next 31 homes.

When the whole scheme is finished, the £100 million residential development will have created 500 low energy homes as part of the 250-acre Waterside Regeneration area in Nottingham beside the River Trent.

Partner at Nottingham-based Focus Consultants Keith Butler said: “The Trent Basin scheme is unique in Nottingham and a pioneer in terms of low energy living.

“As a company with specialists in low energy construction and development, Focus is very pleased to be playing key roles in this scheme. Almost all the properties built in phase one have been sold or reserved, and we are looking forward to working on phase two to bring additional low-energy, low-carbon homes onto the residential market in Nottingham.”

The second phase of 31 properties will comprise a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses along with two-bedroom maisonettes. The first of these new homes will be ready to move into in 2019.

Trent Basin is the vision of award-winning Nottingham developer Blueprint and has high green energy credentials.

It is setting the bar for community energy schemes by installing Europe’s largest community battery (2MWh), and solar photovoltaics that will generate, store and distribute energy at a neighbourhood level, and is also launching a unique energy company for residents. Funded by Innovate UK, the pioneering energy scheme has a project team behind it which includes a large consortium headed by the University of Nottingham.

Nick Ebbs, chief executive of Blueprint, said: “We’re thrilled we’ve got the green light from the city council’s planning committee to start work on phase two and we can’t wait to see our vision come to life along this historic stretch of the River Trent.

“There’s already a commitment to low energy living shared among the residents, with many of them embracing electric cars, car-sharing and cycling to work. We plan to install additional electric car charging points at Trent Basin and are looking forward to the completion of Nottingham’s first Eco Expressway along Daleside Road which will complement our ambitions for the community by giving buses, bikes and electric vehicles priority along one of Nottingham’s busiest routes.”

Focus Consultants, which is based at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, and also has offices in Leicester, London and Boston in Lincolnshire, provides a range of services to the property and construction industry, including sustainable development support, project management, building surveying and quantity surveying.

The company also specialises in funding and economic development including area regeneration strategies, funding applications, economic impact appraisals, business plans, and research and evaluation. Since 1994 Focus has also secured for clients more than £953 million of grants for projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.3 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country.

Further details about the Trent Basin development can be found at www.trentbasin.co.uk Visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk for more information about Focus Consultants.

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Sustainability team at Focus Consultants appointed on one of Nottingham’s ‘greenest’ projects

Sustainability experts at Focus Consultants have been appointed to help Nottingham’s new Digital Media Hub become one of the top three environmentally sustainable sites in the city.

The £9.1 million Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies is scheduled to be the flagship part of Nottingham Trent University’s Creative Quarter Campus and the main site of the Confetti Institute.

Work has just got underway on site on the six-storey building, which will connect the existing Confetti college centre on Convent Street and the Higher Education Centre on Parliament Street.

Designed by award-winning architects Allan Joyce, the striking building is hoping to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, with the expectation that it will be one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in Nottingham.

Focus, which has its headquarters at Nottingham’s Phoenix Business Park, has been appointed as the BREEAM Assessor and the BREEAM Accredited Professional, providing the design team with expert advice on built environment sustainability, environmental design and environmental assessment. 

Senior sustainability surveyor Jessica Bullers said: “The Energy and Sustainability team at Focus Consultants has had a long-standing, close relationship with Nottingham Trent University, providing sustainability support on a number of the university’s building projects.

“Working as the sustainability champion and simultaneously as the BREEAM assessor, we have established a good assessment process - leading to this latest project being potentially one of the most highly rated BREEAM buildings at the university, which is well recognised for being the UK’s ‘greenest’ university. For the past three years, NTU has been awarded first place in the People & Planet University League, which ranks all 145 UK universities on their commitment to and management of sustainability. 

“Focus is proud to have been appointed to the team developing the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, which is not only a flagship part of NTU’s Creative Quarter Campus but likely to become one of Nottingham’s most environmentally friendly buildings too – an honour for a Nottingham-based company like Focus, which has been supporting the city in its development for more than 21 years.”

The new hub, due to be completed by summer 2018, will feature spacious contemporary classrooms and studios, a large Learning Resource Centre with private study facilities, creative social spaces and a rooftop garden. In addition to acting as Confetti’s headquarters and main reception, it will deliver all digital media games and interactive activity.

Work began before Christmas demolishing part of the existing Confetti site on Parliament Street to make way for the new build.  The demolition unearthed some key archaeological findings including Medieval artefacts, caves and a 700-year old well that have helped rewrite the history of Medieval Nottingham and provide information about the way the area was used over 700 years ago.

Contractor Stepnell has now begun work on site. 

Focus Consultants, which also has branches in Leicester, London and Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire, offers a range of support on all aspects of sustainable development, as well as services in funding and economic development, project management and building surveying.

For more information visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Focus Consultants appointed as energy consultants on retirement village scheme

Hughenden Gardens Village

Experts at Focus Consultants have been appointed as the consultants on a 260-home retirement village being built in Buckinghamshire.

Members of the Energy and Sustainability Team at Focus have been retained to advise, support and assess a range of related aspects for the Hughenden Gardens Village development being built by registered charity The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council, Wycombe District Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The contract is being handled by the Leicester office of Focus, which is headquartered in Nottingham and also has branches in London, Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire.

Partner Jason Redfearn, who leads the ECS Team at Focus, said: “Focus Consultants offers support on all aspects of sustainable development and associated energy advice through our professional team, and we are very pleased to have been appointed on this new community being built as a retirement village near High Wycombe. This project continues a strong track record for Focus in the delivery of Supported Living schemes across the UK.”

The role of Focus includes BREEAM Assessor services targeting a ‘Very Good’ rating, Part L1a and Part L2a services supporting the team in compliance with Building Regulations.

Hughenden Gardens Village is being built by Galliford Try on a five-acre site on Hughenden Road, just to the north of High Wycombe town centre and features 105 one-bedroom and 155 two-bedroom apartments. There will be apartments available for purchase, shared ownership and rental, and care will be available on site for residents who need support to live independently.

The development, which also includes a village centre, with a range of health and leisure facilities, is due to open next year.

Focus Consultants offers a range of support on all aspects of sustainable development, as well as services in funding and economic development, project management and building surveying.

Press release issued by Nottingham based Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk