News
10 | AUGUST 2017
News
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
Brexit effect on property sales
Home service marketplace Plentific . com has revealed that a quarter of homeowners ( 24 %) say Brexit and the last general election have affected their decision to sell their property in the next 12 months .
The percentage of London homeowners who say they are now more likely to sell their home within the next three years has risen from 26 % last year ( 2016 ), to 34 % this year .
When it comes to home improvements , the statistics show that there has been a huge increase in demand because of recent political events . 39 % of homeowners in London say they are now more likely to spend money renovating their current property . This is a 77 % increase from last year , when just 22 % of homeowners said that their decision would be affected by Brexit .
Rooftop milestone for university building
The finishing touches have been made to a £ 41 million university building in Birmingham .
Contractor BAM and local stakeholders were joined by staff and students from Birmingham City University at the institution ’ s new Health Sciences and Education building to mark the traditional ‘ topping out ’ ceremony .
The 10,500m ² extension on Westbourne Road in Edgbaston forms part of the University ’ s City South Campus .
The new development , set to open in 2018 , will also enable the relocation of the University ’ s School of Education , consolidating the Faculty of Health , Education and Life Sciences on to one site . Designed by architects Sheppard Robson , the building will
Selling property
The statistics show that out of the 24 % of homeowners whose decision has been affected by Brexit and the general election , 8 % are more likely to move within the next year , while 16 % are less likely . Focussing on homeowners by location , Londoners topped the table , with 32 % saying they are more likely to sell their property in the next year , and 23 % saying the opposite .
20 % of homeowners in Birmingham said they are less likely to sell up , compared to 6 % who are now more likely to sell . 25 % of homeowners in Cardiff and 23 % in Glasgow would also be less likely to sell within the year .
Based on age , young homeowners seemed split in their opinions , with 25 % saying they ’ re more likely to move in the next 12 months , and 19 % more likely to stay put . These figures were the highest based on age , which could suggest that young people consider the effect of current events and the impact they have on housing very seriously .
help reinforce Birmingham City
University ’ s status as the region ’ s largest provider of qualified health and social care professionals to the NHS and producer of more teachers than any other institution in the West Midlands .
Home improvements
Looking at the data for home improvements , 13 % of homeowners say they are more likely to carry out renovation projects on their current property due to Brexit and the recent election , up 30 % from 2016 ( 10 %). This highlights the increasing demand for home improvement and renovation projects , as well as the confidence homeowners are experiencing when it comes to investing in their property .
When it comes to age groups , 18 to 34-year-olds top the table for homeowners who are more likely to make improvements to their current property in the wake of recent political events at 33 %. This is an increase of 50 % on last year ’ s figure of just 22 %.
Locations around the UK who say they are more likely to make home improvements due to the recent election and on-going Brexit negotiations are London ( 39 %), Cardiff ( 20 %), Edinburgh ( 17 %) and Newcastle ( 16 %).
( left to right ) Professor Graham Upton , Vice- Chancellor , Birmingham City University and Rod
Stiles , Midlands Regional Director , BAM , with staff and students from Birmingham City University , BAM employees and local stakeholders in the background .
The space will offer teacher training and specialist facilities for health sciences including provision for research , a new lecture theatre , a multi-purpose hall , speech therapy , physiotherapy and ultrasound suites , art and technology classrooms and IT hubs .
LIGHTHOUSE IS BEACON OF ACTION
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity - also known as the Lighthouse Club - is busy this year . So far , it has launched a helpline for construction workers , run a learner project for young people , and is supporting the London Construction Awards .
This year ’ s awards are at the London Build 2017 Expo from October 25-26 at Olympia , London . The Lighthouse Club is the official partner of the awards . Now in its third year , London Build is the UK ’ s largest construction expo dedicated entirely to opportunities in London and the south of England .
Earlier this year , The Lighthouse Club and the Considerate Constructors Scheme launched an initiative to help support the mental
Budding Builder Programme site visit .
health agenda in the construction industry .
Considerate Constructors Scheme registered sites , companies and suppliers can now provide their workforce with handy wallet-sized Construction Industry Helpline cards , as well as displaying posters to advertise the services .
The Construction Industry Helpline provides a free 24x7 confidential employee assistance programme for all the construction workforce and their families in the UK . The Helpline delivers mental health and wellbeing , financial assistance , legal advice and support on education and training .
The Helpline is operated by the Lighthouse Club and is funded by the charitable generosity of the construction industry . Since the end of June , the helpline had received 661 requests for help . The service gave mental health and wellbeing and / or debt and legal advice to 456 workers , reviewed 205 new cases of construction families in distress , and granted over £ 275,000 to directly support construction families in crisis .
To access the Helpline ’ s team of experts , call the Construction Industry Helpline on 0345 605 1956 or visit www . constructionindustryhelpline . com
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has also joined forces with the Construction Youth Trust to run ‘ The Lighthouse Learner Project ,’ which is offering 20 disadvantaged young people access to training and employment opportunities in the construction industry .
www . constructionyouth . org . uk