DID YOU KNOW? THE CALFORDSEADEN NEWSLETTER SPRING 2012

ALSO INSIDE . . .

NEW ‘HOUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE’INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

STATUTORY PAYMENT TERMS

PLANNING GRANTED FOR NEWRETIREMENT VILLAGE

MICHAEL WHATFORD’S RETIREMENT

DIGBY ROAD, HACKNEY

HSE APPROVE COST RECOVERYSCHEME FEE FOR INTERVENTION

HOUSING STRATEGY UPDATE

BROMLEY SOUTH CENTRALCathedral scheme clears next hurdle

INTRODUCTION

arch 31st 2012 brings the retirementof Michael Whatford. As one of thefour founding partners involved in

the setting up of calfordseaden in 1989, (themerging of The John Calford Partnership andAlfred E Seaden & Partners), Michael hashelped develop the business into the well-respected, national multidisciplinaryconsultancy that it is today and on page11 we look back at the early days of his career.

Michael de Georgio is also retiring from the Equity

Partnership. We are delighted that Michael is staying

with the Practice and continuing to provide both

clients and staff with the benefit of his experience in

quantity surveying and employer's agent services.

There have been many new developments and key highlights at calfordseaden recently including:

Andrew Shearman's appointment as ManagingDirector of calfordseaden health & safety.

Gary Barley appointed as BIM Manager.

Completion of the award winning Code forSustainable Homes Code Six development at St. John's Church, Wembley.

The design and project management of some of the UK's first local authority homes for 10 years.

Hayes Academy opens new Block M - anoutstanding building for an outstanding school -designed by calfordseaden.

Launch of Housing for Older People joint initiativewith Jolliffe and Flint and Trimmer CS.

Recruitment of staff across the Practice.

Increasing workload within the commercial sector.

Completion of Oldham Sheltered PFI, one of the largest housing for older people schemes in the country.

Further award winning schemes, including CotneyCroft & Peartree Way, Stevenage; Graylingwell Park,Chichester; Bermondsey Spa, Bermondsey;Packington Square, Islington; Hillside Hub,Stonebridge; and the Gurdwara, Gravesend to name a few.

Low carbon consultant accreditations for AnthonyKerr and Nathan Gould.

Sascha Newton qualifying as a Town Planner.

Going forward, calfordseaden are fully embracing

Building Information Modelling (BIM) and many of our

clients are already realising the benefits of our interdis-

ciplinary approach. We envisage widening our scope

of services to provide an even more comprehensive

construction & property solution, maximising the

opportunities of BIM and other technologies.

2012 represents a new era in the development

of our organisation and we will continue to rise to the

challenges that our clients and the marketplace bring

and to develop and encourage our staff to excel in

meeting and exceeding those challenges.

Finally, keep an eye out for details of a major

event on 11th July 2012 . . .

‘There’s something fishy going on !!’

Terry Bartholomewat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222 E tbartholomew@calfordseaden.co.uk

The evolution of calfordseadencontinues apace and we would like to update you on pending retirementsand latest developments.

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CONTENTSNEW ‘HOUSING FOR OLDERPEOPLE’ INITIATIVE LAUNCHEDPages 1-2

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNTPage 3

STATUTORY PAYMENT TERMSPage 4

THIS IS BROMLEY SOUTHCENTRALPages 5-8

PLANNING GRANTED FOR NEWRETIREMENT VILLAGEPages 9-10

MICHAEL WHATFORD’SRETIREMENTPages 11-12

DIGBY ROAD, HACKNEYPage 13

HSE APPROVE COSTRECOVERY SCHEME FEE FOR INTERVENTION Page 14

HOUSING STRATEGY UPDATEPages 15-16

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Designed by:calfordseaden

calfordseaden.co.uk/graphic-design

ALL ARTICLES ARE AVAILABLEON OUR WEBSITE:WWW.CALFORDSEADEN.CO.UK

or councils and registered providers this further complicates their options, as many have buildings designed for

sheltered housing that do not meet today’sdesign and space standards, customeraspiration or lifestyle requirements.

What is to be done with these buildings,typically built in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s?Significant funding to upgrade and renovateis needed, but will still not give the necessaryoccupation or rent levels to make themattractive to live in or viable to run.

calfordseaden, Jolliffe and Flint and Trimmer CS have formed an association to help landlords assess all aspects of the building, land valuation, future housing management and business planning to enable informed and creative solutions.

Each organisation has creative and highlyexperienced professionals with extensive track records in understanding both the soft and hardchallenges of conversion, renovation and totalredevelopment options for all types of sheltered and extra care housing.

Our combined approach gives the opportunity to assess your stock, building by building to identifydeficiencies and ways of updating or converting; or whole estates where an option appraisal couldidentify under occupation. Such an appraisal wouldidentify the opportunity to consolidate through new build extension or rationalisation, possibleopportunities for capital receipt for investment and joint venture initiatives.

Visit the website at: www.housing-for-older-people.co.uk

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John Spence and Ian Walker write. There is much discussion about where and howcare for the elderly should be delivered. Thedebate around quality and security of careand care homes is questionable in the mindsof many older people and their families;

whether they should stay in their homes and have care tailored to theirneeds, or move into an extra care home or retirement village?

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NEW‘HOUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE’

INITIATIVE LAUNCHED!

By offering a multi‑disciplined service, ourclients receive a complete service fromconception through to completion.

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VISIT THE WEBSITE AT: www.housing-for-older-people.co.uk

For further information contact:

John Spenceat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222 E jspence@calfordseaden.co.uk

Ian Walkerat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222 E iwalker@calfordseaden.co.uk

Alan Lambat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222 E alamb@calfordseaden.co.uk

The New Housing for Older People websitewas designed by Alan Lamb, calfordseaden.For further information on our graphicdesign service please contact:

HOUSINGREVENUE ACCOUNT

n April 2012 this will change, with the 175 local authorities that still retain their housing stock being responsible for

running their own housing revenue account.

They will be able to keep the rents they collect and setthem, raise finance for their own housing developmentsand refurbishment programmes, and will also beresponsible for putting in place long-term businessplans. These business plans will include the servicing ofany debt that is transferred to them under the financialsettlements that will end the current subsidy system.

The ability of local authorities to raise their own financefor development, regeneration and modernisation isanticipated to make available £30bn over 30 years. Itrepresents a new market opportunity for calfordseadenand one that we will be looking at very closely for with our partners.

For further information contact:

Chris Moquetat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222E cmoquet@calfordseaden.co.uk

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is the mechanismthrough which rental income from council housing is paidto the Government, and in turn the Government returnsto those local authorities allowances for management,maintenance and investment, and also meets the cost of council housing debt; Chris Moquet explains.

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he changes alter a numberof existing requirementsand introduce a few

new ones. As with the previousstatutory terms, failure toinclude compliant wording in a construction contract will result in their automaticimposition; however, the changeis not retroactive, so only newcontracts are affected.

A defined due date is required.Withholding notices are replaced by Payless notices.Failure to issue a Payment Notice bythe deadline, means that the payeecan issue his own assessment of theamount due which will stand if notchallenged by the payer with a Payless notice.Payee’s applications must include afull calculation of the amount dueincluding any deductions forretention.Conditional payment clauses areoutlawed, meaning that paymentunder one contract cannot be subjectto performance under another.If not paid, the payee may nowsuspend part of the works not just the whole.

Statutory terms now also apply to unwritten agreements.Adjudicators can now allocate costs between parties. Adjudicators can now correct minorfactual mistakes in their decisions.

JCT has issued its 2011 suite ofcontracts to incorporate wordingcompliant with the statutory terms.

For further information contact:

David Caneat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222E dcane@calfordseaden.co.uk

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1 October 2011 saw the introduction of a new set of statutorypayment terms for construction contracts. Part 8 of the LocalDemocracy, Economic Development and Construction Act,2009, which came into effect on that date, modifies andreplaces the statutory terms that have been in operationsince 1996. David Cane writes.

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STATUTORYPAYMENT TERMS

OTHER CHANGES INTRODUCED BY THE ACT

PAYMENT CHANGES

his appointment follows Cathedral being selected by London Borough of Bromley as preferred development

partner following an OJEU competition in 2009.

Since July 2011, we have been working with Cathedral’s design team, planning experts and other advisers to develop a leisure led mixed use scheme providing a new leisure destination, quality public realm and 200 new homes.

The challenge has been to create a mixed use development, family friendly and accessible by both pedestrians and vehicles on a challenging site.

The design team, lead by Guy Hollaway Architects, haveworked tirelessly throughout the summer, autumn andwinter to enable the scheme to be developed in responseto numerous consultations with public and statutoryconsultees, pre-application discussions and responding to the development challenging brief.

In December 2011, a Planning Application wasdeposited with London Borough of Bromley toinclude the following elements:

9 screen multiplex cinema9 restaurants200 apartments, being a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units130 bedroom business hotelLarge public plaza and landscaping400 car parking spaces

calfordseaden are working with Cathedral on an urbanopportunity site to provide project co‑ordination, quantitysurveying and CDMC services in connection with theredevelopment of a site at the southern end of Bromley High Street, principally occupied by the Westmoreland Road car park, Terry Bartholomew writes.

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The scheme has been designed by Guy HollawayArchitects and Studio Agret West, PEP & MTTConsultants to ensure that BREEAM Excellent is thetarget on commercial elements of the scheme andthe homes have been designed to achieve Code forSustainable Homes Level 4.

The aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of thedevelopment wherever possible.

The London Borough of Bromley, in their capacity as Landowner,provided Landowner Consent in October 2011. Plannng consentwas achieved on 6th March 2012,GLA approval on 22nd March and the team are working nowtowards commencement ofconstruction operations by October2012.

It is intended to bring the entire scheme to completion by October 2014.

For further informationcontact:

Terry Bartholomewat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222 E tbartholomew@calfordseaden.co.uk

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he project, designed by calfordseaden,provides for the delivery of affordablehousing, including the phased

demolition and redevelopment of theElizabeth House sheltered housing scheme,which is located in Cheam Village, an areawith special historic and architecturalcharacter and heritage.

The scheme design makes best use of the site to providelevel access, affordable housing and services for olderpeople and vulnerable adults. Much of our design workon this scheme has been produced in Revit, the buildingdesign software, used for Building InformationModelling. Through the use of Revit calfordseaden have produce a rich, graphical portfolio of images to accompany the planning application.

The redevelopment benefits the local and widercommunity of Cheam by offering the following:

Increases the amount of accommodation for elderly,disabled & vulnerable adults.Improves the quality of living for current & futureresidents, replacing the substandard existingaccommodation.Creates a safe & secure development that by designreduces risk of crime both internally and externally.Provides a range of social amenities to serve the needs of the residents and staff, while also promotinglinks with the local community of Cheam. Provides a community facility that meets local needs.

calfordseaden are acting as planning consultant,architect, employer’s agent, structural engineer,mechanical & electrical engineer, Code for SustainableHomes adviser and CDM coordinator on thisredevelopment.

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Viridian Homes For Living, inpartnership with the LondonBorough of Sutton, has receivedplanning permission to redevelopand regenerate a sensitive site in a conservation area to provide

a multi‑million pound retirement village in Cheam, Surrey. John Spence and Ian Walker writes.

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PLANNING

GRANTED FOR NEW

RETIREMENT VILLAGE

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For further information contact:

John Spenceat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222 E jspence@calfordseaden.co.uk

Ian Walkerat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222 E iwalker@calfordseaden.co.uk

Prior to the scheme going in for planning, a Viridian Homes For Livingspokesperson said:

"Absolutely great work by all involved over the past12 months, itsʼ been a collaborative team effort and I believe we have a fabulous scheme that will make a huge difference to the quality of life for the residents of Elizabeth House".

TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS SCHEME: CALFORDSEADEN.CO.UK/NEWS

WHATFORDʼSRETIREMENT

n the 1980s a major housing associationwas expanding their operation inSouthampton where they had already

commissioned the Practice with aconsiderable amount of work. It was clearthat if we didn’t open an office in the areawork would dry up. We opened an office inSouthampton a few months later with PaulFenner to head it up. Sadly Paul is no longerwith the Partnership but he stayed in the areaand to my great satisfaction he and his familyhave prospered enormously.

During the course of my training I made friends withGeoffrey Clark, who I am still fortunate enough tocount amongst my best friends today. Geoffrey had setup his own Practice in 1983 and had a great deal ofvery interesting commissions from the commercialworld which balanced very nicely with my public sectorworkload. Geoffrey was constrained in servicing largerprojects because his own Practice was not large enoughso I suggested he joined my Practice and in 1994 weopened up our first Central London office.

In 2000 I was at the RICS Building Surveyors’ WeekendBriefing honing my professional skills whilst meeting oldfriends and merrily networking. At a formal dinner I metNeil Hebberts; he came from Birmingham and wantedto leave his existing Practice and I wanted to set up anoffice in Birmingham. We met a couple of weeks laterand our Birmingham office was opened in August thatyear, with Neil bringing two other great BuildingSurveyors with him, Ashley Harper and Mike Moran,together with Neil’s secretary, Emma Goss.

When the Practice started it comprised my Partner,my secretary and myself. By 1989 it had expanded to42 Partners and staff. It had always been my intentionsince inception to end up with a multi-disciplinaryPractice. At the beginning of 1989 the Partnershipincluded Building Surveyors, Architectural Techniciansand an Engineer. That year we decided to merge with a partnership called The Seaden Partnership, a firm ofQuantity Surveyors, joining forces with Paul Aitchisonand Doug Roberts, the Equity Partners of that firm.Shortly thereafter we engaged an Architect JohnSpence, who later became an Equity Partner.

After 42 years I retire at the end of March. I qualified as a CharteredBuilding Surveyor in 1976 and decided on the day I received myqualification I would one day start my own Practice. My chance cameduring 1981 when an existing client suggested he would support me. I went away, thought about it, discussed it with my wife enlisting hersupport, and then asked his opinion on starting up with a Partner. He thought it was a good idea so I asked David Metcalf, whom I hadworked with for some years. The John Calford Partnership was born.Davidʼs wife Pat thought up the name, John being both of our middlenames and Calford being an amalgamation of parts of our surnames.

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We later expanded into other areas,including Health and Safety, StructuralEngineering and Mechanical andElectrical Engineering. calfordseadentoday is a diverse Partnership, includingall construction disciplines.

On the way to building this Practicewe have carefully cultivated a successionstrategy to ensure its longevity. We havetoday strength in depth; are active in allsectors of our business, both public andprivate, including housing, commercialand industrial, community, education,health, housing, professional services,regeneration and retail.

History shows I have met my bestfriends and the best people for businessin social settings.

Perhaps there is a lesson there for other young Surveyors wanting to start a business. It is time for me to leave but Ihope I will be invited back in years tocome by my Partners. If they can say“We know what you achieved but justlook at what we have done since” thatwill be my legacy.

No business is built by oneindividual and the core of the mergedcalfordseaden was Paul Aitchison, Doug Roberts and David Metcalf. Paul and I went out and found theopportunities and back at base Doug and David pulled it all together,delivering the projects banking thecheques, paying our suppliers anddealing with a myriad of other problems.

Since 1989 we have appointed a numberof additional Equity Partners as thebusiness has grown each in their ownway contributing considerably to thesuccess of the business and well placedto take it forward. I wish them everysuccess for the future.

I have had a great deal of fun with many of you and with some of you tough words, but we have in our time indeed achieved a lot.

For further information contact:

Michael Whatfordat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222E mwhatford@calfordseaden.co.uk

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he project comprised of 97 newapartments, community space, roof topchildren’s activity area within a 14-storey

tower providing panoramic views from theOlympic Village to the Square Mile.

The scheme included a complete ethos of environmentaldesign including Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3,20% renewables and one of Europe’s highest Green wall installations complete with unique water irrigationharvesting system.

The design and construction period ran from May2009 to September 2011 and calfordseaden M&E andSustainability undertook the following services:

Development of the Energy and Sustainability StrategyM&E design from stages D – LCode for Sustainable HomesSAP assessmentsAir Pressure Testing

The scheme was designed with a communal heating and hot water system to serve the apartments utilising a Biomass boiler fuelled with Biomass pellets from anadjacent fuel store.

calfordseaden worked very closely with our client to develop the understanding of operating and running a biomass system. Visits were organised to several sites to review systems and gain an understanding of the most effective methods to operate the system for the benefit of both the residents and the client.

We are currently working with the Network HousingAssociation to prepare for the Renewable Heat Incentive. This will greatly benefit the client and createfinancial return to help off set biomass maintenance and fuel costs.

For further information contact:

Terry Keechat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222E tkeech@calfordseaden.co.uk

DIGBY ROAD, HACKNEYcalfordseaden M&E and Sustainability teamsworked with Network Housing Association andArcher Hoblin Construction to complete this new build scheme in one of the most deprivedareas of Hackney. Terry Keech explains.

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charge of £124 per hour (which has beendecreased from the

planned £133) will be appliedfor duty-holders who areconsidered in breach of healthand safety law and will becalculated from the sent dateof a letter or email recordingthe duty-holder’s breach.

The HSE agreed the proposal, basedon the findings of almost 300responses to the recent consultationon the Fee-for-Intervention scheme(FFI), as well as discussions with over80 trade associations and companies.None compliant companies whorequire HSE intervention will feel thefinancial impact and many businesses,particularly SMEs, are concernedabout the hourly rate where in asignificant case could total severalthousand pounds.

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Andrew Shearman, Managing Director of calfordseaden Health & Safety, recentlyattended an HSE presentation where it wasrevealed that the proposed charges for HSEintervention would be implemented fromApril 2012.

HSE APPROVE COSTRECOVERY SCHEME FEE FOR INTERVENTION

A Gordon MacDonald, HSE Director of the scheme, stressed that the relationship between the regulator and the regulated will not suffer.

“You will not see a different HSE as a result of this scheme. We will only apply FFI where it is warranted, and not frivolously.”

Andrew considers:

“Due to reduced resources, the HSE will befocussing on poor performing businessesthat are high risk, and providing a morereactive service as opposed pro‑activeengagement demonstrated previously.

In the event of an accident, incident and/or a breach in health and safety law thatinvolves the HSE, the costs incurred by the enforcing authority in helping to putmatters right will be charged to the business rather than from public funds.”

For further information contact:

Andrew Shearmanat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222E ashearman@calfordseaden.co.uk

HOUSINGSTRATEGYUPDATE

ith the aim of breathing new life into the Right to Buy scheme,families with over five years

residence could receive 35% discount with an additional 1% for each year thereafter.Each home sold would be replaced by a home built from the proceeds.

Since 1989 houses prices have increased byaround 2.5 times. It will be interesting to seeif there are 100,000 potential buyers able to take up Right to Buy.

The proposed replacement homes will be "affordable"rent at up to 80% of market level, which will be muchhigher than the rented homes they will replace.

It is a reasonable estimate that sale proceeds will only cover a third of construction cost leaving localauthorities and registered providers to borrow orprovide the balance.

NEW BUILD INDEMNITY SCHEME

This scheme is being introduced to help house buyers.Under the scheme the Government underwrites 95%mortgages, however concerns are starting to surfacethat the scheme is more designed to help lenders andbuilders rather than buyers. There is the potential forthe scheme to catch buyers with modest incomes innegative equity or overstretch buyers’ finances intodefault. The scheme insures the funder but offers no help to the borrower.

The headline to revive the Right to Buywas a cornerstone of the Housing Strategy– offering up to £50,000. However theGovernment recently revealed plans toraise the maximum discount to £75,000!Chris Moquet explains.

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For further information contact:

Chris Moquetat our Orpington officeT 01689 888222E cmoquet@calfordseaden.co.uk

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Under the schemethe Governmentunderwritesmortgages

The proposedreplacement homeswill be "affordable"rent at up toof market level

80%95%

CHARTERED SURVEYING PROJECT MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE & MASTER PLANNING CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY ADVICE HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANCY

calfordseadenSt John’s House1a Knoll RiseOrpingtonKent BR6 0JX

T 01689 888222calfordseaden.co.uk

www.calfordseaden.co.ukcalfordseaden have taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that did you know?is correct at the time of publication. Please contact us for more information about any of the topics and, where our professional code of conduct allows, we will be happy to advise.

calfordseaden LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership Registered in England and Wales number OC315838. Registered Office:Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AD where a list of members is kept.

Calford Seaden (Health and Safety) Limited is Registered in England No. 3028351 Registered Office: Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road London EC1M 7AD