Pro Installer November 2018 - Issue 68 | Page 16

16 | NOVEMBER 2018 News Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk WHAT A FELINE! Government announces new generation of council housing The government has announced borrowing restrictions VEKA Group fabricator and installer Everglade will be removed enabling councils to play a key role of Wythenshawe has completed a ‘pet project’ of in delivering the homes their communities need. building and fitting almost 30 PVC-U profile cat The move recognises that councils see pens at the Society for Abandoned Animals (SAA). In the latest measure by the govern- ment to make the housing market work, the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap for council house building will be lifted. This gives councils the tools they need to deliver a new generation of council hous- ing – up to an estimated 10,000 additional homes a year. Councils in areas of high affordability pressure have already been invited to bid for a share of £1 billion extra borrowing to build much needed homes. Sharston-based Ever- glade was asked to work on the project after the charity in Sale received a series of ‘legacy donations’ from supporters who have named SAA in their wills, com- bined with two significant grants from larger charities. the borrowing cap as the greatest barrier to building new homes. The interest in bidding for a share of the £1bn borrowing increase also showed that they are ready and willing to deliver the homes their communities need. Removing the borrowing cap entirely is also likely to diversify the house building market, with councils being better able to take on projects and sites that private devel- opers would consider too small. Everglade ‘ chose Matrix FS to build the completely bespoke set of animal pens ’ Everglade – who became a member of Independent Network this year – chose Matrix FS to build the completely bespoke set of animal pens, which cats can live in at the sanctuary until they are re-homed. Now in its 50th year, the Society for Abandoned Animals or SAA has had charity status since 1967. It cares for and re-homes cats and rabbits through financial support from fundraising and both private and corporate donations. All animals that come through the doors of the SAA receive a full health check and are vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped before being re-homed. Cats and rabbits can stay at the sanctuary for as long as it takes to find a new home and will never be put down through lack of interested adopters. www.vekauk.com DISTINCTION DOORS HEADING FOR 50% GROWTH IN GLASS DEMAND Distinction Doors is getting ready to celebrate a 50% upturn in sales of its glass ranges – driven by demand for its unique in-house glass designs and a powerful new support package of bespoke con- sumer literature. demand has already passed ‘ 45% this year against the same period in 2017 ’ That demand has already passed 45% this year against the same period in 2017 and is still climbing towards the 50% milestone any day now. The second breakthrough was the new consumer literature range, he added, with options for customers to work with Dis- tinction’s design boutique and choose either standard edition, own-branded or fully bespoke brochures. The Distinction Glass range is available in 12 decorative families, with 12 contemporary options – two purpose designed for each door in the brochure. The tested and CE marked triple glazed units are available in 24mm - for Distinction’s nxt-gen and sig- nature door ranges - and also 50mm for all 70mm composite doors, with high-security 6.8mm laminated glass as standard. With over 30,000 glass units in stock, each is available on three days’ turnaround. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk