Block Podcast Episode 11 - Wear sunscreen - the future is brighter!

Podcast No.11 is finally hear folks.  It's been a while since we recorded the last podcast, mostly down to the fact everyone's been very busy lately - is that a good sign?  On the podcast we discuss lots of topics around the construction industry, especially looking at the current state of the property market and discussing how things are improving on a number of fronts.

BLOCK PODCAST No.11
We are joined by the usual team for the latest recording, the participants are as follows:

• Kenneth Martin, Managing Director, Block Architects 
• Evelyn Laurie, Principal, Red Marketing
• John Stobbs, Director of Operations, Sap Service UK
• Gordon White, Managing Director, fatBuzz Ltd

We've been hearing about signs of recovery in the construction industry for some time but is there now real evidence that things are improving and property is starting to move? On this podcast we hear about real construction projects that are up and running and, we chat about various government initiatives now in place to help property buyers.  We even hear that 100% mortgages are back on the scene and discuss whether or not that is a good thing.

The podcasts covers a great deal, here are some of the main things that come up in the discussion:

• The ongoing challenge of keeping up to date with changing technology
• Changes to the Building Regulations being introduced in October 2013
• The increasing need to bring in specialist consultants - even on smaller domestic projects
• The new water usage guidelines about to be introduced as part of the Building Regulation changes
• Good practice around air tightness testing
• The general public's awareness of renewables - is there a need for greater education?
• Are there too many layers of bureaucracy around government initiatives 
• 100% mortgages emerge again - is this a good thing?
• Remote and home working - is this affecting creativity and collaboration?
• Do modern houses need to be more modular and flexible to cope with the need to change as the users needs change?

We chat about all this and more in this really interesting podcast, if you would like to hear the podcast you can listen using the player below or you can subscribe (free) on iTunes.

Play the podcast here:

Download and subscribe to Block Podcast on iTunes HERE

We would also like to get some feedback from you about the podcast and suggestions for topics you would like us to cover; you can either leave them as a comment here on the blog or, on our Facebook Page.

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Scottish Planning Fees Are On The UP

From the 6th April 2013 new planning application fees will be introduced for Scottish planning applications. This marks a staggering 20% increase in fees. Now it is fair to say that many Council's have lost money from processing fees during the recession and it makes sense to try and correct the deficit however a 20% increase does seem a lot. Doesn't it?

New fees can be summarised as,

• Construction of buildings, structures or erections for use as residential accommodation – £382
• The erection of buildings -
• Where no floor space created exceeds 40 metres squared – £192
• Where the floor space created exceeds 40 metres squared but does not exceed 75 metres squared – £382
• Where the floor space created exceeds 75 metres squared – £382 for each 75 metres squared or part thereof.
• The enlargement, improvement or alteration to an existing dwelling -
• Where it relates to a single property – £192
• Where it relates to 2 or more properties – £382
• Erection of a building within the cartilage of an existing dwelling for purposes ancillary to the enjoyment of the dwelling – £192
• Erection of gates, walls or other means of enclosure – £192

If you are currently considering a construction project and would like to find out more about how these price increases might effect you then please do contact us and will endeavour to guide you.

2013 - The Writing Is In The Sand

It is with another deep intake of breath that we start of 2013. Hopefully this year we will get to enjoy some quiet time and actually walk the sandy beach ourselves. That would be nice.

The industry treated us well last year albeit there is a lack of medium to large scale projects to keep the computers hot. We leave 2012 behind with some happy memories of the new clients we have met and maintained and of course knowing that we have continued to culture and grow the relationships that we have with our existing clients. Many new build homes and small commercial projects were completed last year and others are about to start on site in January or February, weather permitting.

Most of our clients become true friends and are in regular contact months, if not years, after their projects have came to an end. We recently undertook an exercise where we considered the investment that we are making on marketing and noted that 80% of our work is from existing clients or referrals from existing clients. Isn't it interesting that in today's digital marketing age most of our clients came from other sources.

2013 sees us off to a great start with the return of Ronnie to the office, following a short departure in the last quarter due to health issues. Our restructuring in 2012, including the closure of the main office in Hamilton, in favour of remote working, has ensured that commercial viability and growth plans for 2013 and beyond are achievable and infact at the end of the last quarter these plans started to show positive business results.

Two of our key 2013 goals will be to develop even further our technical and design capacity and knowledge. We are finding that the 'regulations' are becoming even more demanding and products in the market place are also becoming much more sophisticated such that the demand on our time to produce an exemplary project is becoming ever more increasing.

With that in mind we are also looking at our time/cost ratios for each project. You may find it strange that an Architect is talking so openly about these subjects however it is important for our clients to understand that the production of a building - a finished article - is becoming more complex and in order for us to offer the best possible service, cost effectively, then the team need to have a greater handle on the time/cost issue.

So, there are a few small changes and goals being implemented in 2013 which will see us through another year all in anticipation of the banks lending again which may infact see some of our larger developer clients dusting down their old project files and reigniting the Construction Industry in 2013.

Here's hoping!