UK PPP EXPERTISE DEMAND GROWS IN PERU: MCBAINS COOPER MEETS MINISTER

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

May 2, 2012.

UK PPP EXPERTISE DEMAND GROWS IN PERU: MCBAINS COOPER MEETS MINISTER.

London-based international property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper is making front page news in Peru after being involved in a Ministerial-level meeting over planning of a $10 billion investment in the country’s infrastructure.

McBains Cooper’s growing presence in Latin America as a go-to public sector advisory body saw McBains’ London-based international director Anthony Coumidis – who also leads the consultancy’s engineering and sustainability team - join representatives of Citibank and Credit Suisse in a meeting with Peru’s Finance Minister Luis Miguel Castilla Rubio in London’s Guild Hall; Peru is to invest the $10 billion in PPP projects over the next five years, underlining the Latin American economy’s development potential.

Anthony Coumidis says there’s a growing flow of demand for UK construction consultancy expertise in Latin America for both public- and private-sector related projects, with an especially positive forecast for Public-Private Partnerships.

“Every region of the world has a different way of going about doing business, and Latin America’s way is a complex mix of the pedigree of professional expertise you have, who you know and what languages you speak. Latin America has a deep-seated enthusiasm for UK professionals and our expertise in professional services – so our involvement in such projects becomes compelling because of both our experience and our team’s international makeup,” said Anthony Coumidis.

This expert status has already led to a construction and development programme in Mexico advised upon by McBains Cooper being named amongst the top 100 infrastructure projects in Latin America.

The Mexican Government’s Public-Private Partnership programme of prison developments has been given the ranking by one of the region’s leading business magazines – America Economica.

McBains Cooper‘s Latin American operation, based in Miami and led by Santiago Klein, Managing Director of McBains Cooper International, has now been invited to make a presentation about the programme to the Latin American Infrastructure Forum in Lima, Peru, in May 2012. McBains Cooper was technical advisor to the Mexican Ministry of Security which project-managed the developments.

Santiago Klein said: “We’re a long-established UK company, with on-the-ground presence and local business experience in several Latin American countries – and that makes us of great interest to the decision-makers.

“We have vast experience across Latin America on both inward investment support and PPP bids and contracts; we have a compelling proposition to businesses and organisations across Latin America – and Peru is a strong candidate for development.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com @McBainsCooper

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

USE OLYMPICS TO EXPORT BRITAIN’S ENVIED GOLD MEDAL-PERFORMING CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

January 27, 2012.

USE OLYMPICS TO EXPORT BRITAIN’S ENVIED GOLD MEDAL-PERFORMING CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE.

Stop criticising and talking down our Olympic achievement – some of the strongest economies in the world are watching Britain and considering what we could bring to future games.

That’s the message from international property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper which says it winces every time there’s any domestically-generated criticism of London 2012 – because from a design, construction and delivery perspective it has been a gold medal-winning performance by Britain.

McBains, which works on public and private sector projects in the UK, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, is urging UK government international trade development teams to wave the flag abroad for UK construction and property businesses who have moved heaven, earth and big pieces of east London to deliver one of the most organised games construction plans ever.

“McBains Cooper already has an alliance in Brazil – the venue for the 2016 games - and we’re working in virtually every country or region, bar Japan, which are candidates for the 2020 games. But whether it’s Rio 2016, or candidates in Spain, Italy, Azerbaijan, Turkey or Qatar for 2020, there’s a common murmuring we hear every time the subject comes up,” said Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper.

“And that is that everybody involved in construction, whether in Brazil or the 2020 candidate venues, has commented on the success of the planning and construction of everything London games-related – and more often than not it’s accompanied by some positive reference to the UK construction industry, and its professional advisers and consultancies being the best in the world.

“The fact is that in comparison to any other recent major sporting event – and some recent Olympics - London 2012 construction has run far faster and more efficiently. That has been noted by other countries, and, frankly, because of our reputation, British construction and professional consultancy businesses are amongst the very few who can travel the world to help drive and deliver major projects for other venue cities – the Olympics is a fantastic global shop window for British management expertise, design and construction skills, and that expertise can be exported to make other games equally impressive.

“The Office of Budget Responsibility reckons that a good deal of UK economic growth in 2012 will be down to the Olympics – but we shouldn’t be believing the opportunity ends when the last competitor or spectator leaves through Heathrow’s temporary games terminal: it could be the start.

“Anybody with any ability to export British construction expertise should be hot on the heels of those departing, and selling that expertise to the next successful or candidate Olympic venues.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than �100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

BILLY CONNOLLY: MADE IN SCOTLAND FROM SCULPTED STEEL BARS, AND HUNG FROM A WEE BUILDING IN ANDERSTON

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

December 14, 2011.

BILLY CONNOLLY: MADE IN SCOTLAND FROM SCULPTED STEEL BARS, AND HUNG FROM A WEE BUILDING IN ANDERSTON.

Billy Connolly sculpture video. http://bit.ly/vLq6eV

Anderston residential project: the challenges video: http://bit.ly/ut0NsJ

Anderston – the next stages, video: http://bit.ly/vxHop5

Links to photos http://bit.ly/vkEhZN

Made in Scotland from girders … not quite, but a sculpture of Big Yin Billy Connolly has been created in metalwork to signal the completion of the first phase of a landmark McBains Cooper project-managed residential housing project in his home town of Anderston, Glasgow.

The sculpture, made from steel bars by renowned north-of-the-border artist Andy Scott, is hung high on an elevation of the first phase to be completed.

And while Glasgow’s most famous son couldn’t make it to the unveiling of a ground level commemorative plaque marking the occasion, a big crowd of locals and media did.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper are project managers on the five phase residential rebuild of Anderston, working with client Sanctuary Housing, and the sculpture of Billy Connolly is high up on the elevation overlooking Glasgow.

Such was the attention to detail during the project as a whole that the team even designed one apartment specifically for the needs of one family, and the gratitude and delight of the residents at that sort of effort - plus the overall finished product – has been clearly signalled by how well kept the whole area is.

“We occasionally get celebrities turning up at launches and openings, but it’ll be nice to drive past the sculpture of the Big Yin every day and be reminded that we played a part in putting Anderston back on the map – after Billy Connolly did it first time round,” said Alan Hannah of McBains Cooper.

The project involves the demolition of a number of 1960s housing blocks in the Glasgow suburb, but has proven to be a massive logistical challenge for the McBains Cooper and Sanctuary teams.

“The key issues here are that the work is going on in amongst a number of schools and nurseries, while also being surrounded by occupied homes – so not only have the logistics of getting into the sites been taxing the grey matter, there has also been the issue of moving families out and into nearby accommodation, and then into the completed Phase One apartment complex,” said Alan Hannah.

“But we know we’ve got it right, firstly because the local residents were surveyed and asked what they wanted and needed in the area – a target we delivered against – but secondly because you don’t have to go far through the area to see how well-kept and looked-after the communal areas are.

“This is one of those incredibly complex but equally incredibly satisfying projects that’s clearly making a vast difference to life in Anderston. And with the Big Yin looking down on us, we wouldn’t dare get it wrong.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

“SHOE-BOX HOMES”: RIBA’S GERALD RATNER MOMENT.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

September 20, 2011.

“SHOE-BOX HOMES”: RIBA’S GERALD RATNER MOMENT.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper says RIBA’s Gerald Ratner moment – its “Case for Space” report slating the country’s housebuilders and their “shameful shoebox homes” – could have a devastating impact upon housing development.

“Somebody’s been reading their management books and come up with the light bulb moment that if you want to make something happen, then make somebody uncomfortable – but they’ve lost sight of the fact that the housing construction sector is facing unprecedented challenges right now, and just about everybody involved is doing everything in their power to meet those challenges,” said Mark Leeson, a director of McBains Cooper.

“The question is why are we criticising our own? The report could have taken a much more supportive approach, providing solutions and answers rather than problems and impossible-to-answer questions about future market trends.

“If we’re spending 20% of our time debating the issue, then we’re being 20% less efficient – and we all know that given time is money, we have nothing like the luxury of a 20% margin to play with.

“This could go down as RIBA’s ‘Gerald Ratner moment’ - he called the products in his own jewellery chain ‘crap’. The reality is that house size is the wrong area of focus. If a house is deemed to be too small then we all have a choice not to buy it and to look for a bigger one – it’s called ‘the market’.

“RIBA’s energy, and members’ fee payments, could be better spent re-establishing architects’ reputation in the industry rather than alienating powerful industry people.

“They should be spending their time working with the housebuilders to establish a position for architects to add value, and influence the process with the housebuilders rather than confronting them. The fact is the desperate need for new housing stock in this country can only be delivered by a collaborative approach and by housebuilders.

“The real issue is that homes are not sold on a square footage basis, they are sold according to numbers of bedrooms. A larger three-bed house will sell for no more than a smaller one, so there is no real incentive for developers to build bigger. The bigger one may sell faster, but value and revenue are based on sale price, not necessarily speed of sale.

“The right way to add value and improve our stock in the industry is not to moan about the housebuilders, but to point to and look at ways in which good design can make the best use of space, rather than focus on how much space is created.

“For instance, look at yacht design as an example – we and others are developing incredibly space-efficient home designs based on yacht interior design.

“Well-designed homes have carefully considered integrated storage, efficient plans minimising circulation or corridor space - and maximising useable space for furniture and various room layouts, with well-positioned and proportioned windows orientated well to maximise natural light and views.

“That’s what’s known as a constructive solution, and it’s what we should all be focussing upon.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

CONSTRUCTION MUST LOOK TO CARMAKERS FOR INSPIRATION AS CABINET OFFICE CRITICISES INEFFICIENCIES.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

July, 6, 2011.

CONSTRUCTION MUST LOOK TO CARMAKERS FOR INSPIRATION AS CABINET OFFICE CRITICISES INEFFICIENCIES.

The UK construction sector should be looking to the revitalised domestic car manufacturing industry for inspiration to drive efficiencies and cost savings without compromising quality.

Mark Leeson, a director of property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper, says that criticism in the Cabinet Office’s Government Construction Strategy document of the efficiency, value, fragmentation, poor procurement processes and chaotic supply chain relationships hint at stretched patience with the UK construction industry.

“We saw it before with UK car manufacturing – but look where we stand now: more and more foreign manufacturers are investing in car and parts production in the UK, and, what’s more, if you take the car manufacturing sector globally, then there is no longer any such thing as a ‘bad’ car,” said Mark Leeson.

“Design, procurement, production and delivery of perfectly constructed and massively reliable cars is a seamless process. Construction is in many ways as logistically and technically demanding, so perhaps we as an industry should be looking to the UK-based car manufacturing plants for inspiration.

“We need to act, though. There are big hints of growing government intolerance that the construction sector is underperforming and grossly inefficient, with duplication, poor supplier/resource planning, bad communication, high levels of waste and lost opportunity because of chaotic processes and relationships. The Public Sector is not a cash cow or a golden goose, and the government wants better and better standards of delivery at keener and keener prices.

“Quality of process is plain to see in some projects, but many are disjointed from end-to-end. The government is going to drive costs down come hell or high water, and the construction sector has to realign itself accordingly.

“Every organisation in construction needs to take a deeper and more committed stake in the process from end-to-end – suppliers need to understand the implications of a bad or disorganised start to a project, clients need to appreciate the impact of inefficient design, planning, construction and over-budget finished product. Standardisation is a crucial developmental requirement.

“But, in contradiction, there is a strong case for building up to a standard rather than down to a price; it needs a fundamental change in approach - both driving cost-efficient standardisation, and improving quality - perhaps we need look no further than the car industry to see that mainstream manufacturers are designing and producing cars to a standard in 2011 that even the premium brands could only dream about just ten years ago.

“Perhaps a fact-finding mission into the car manufacturing industry to see how they’ve dealt with the efficiency, standardisation and improved quality issue is long overdue. Perhaps the construction sector should swallow its pride and invite the car industry in to look at inefficiencies we don’t even notice.

“The answer is in technology: a root and branch revision - paid for by tax breaks or grants for innovation - of the technologies used in design and construction, maybe even developing a standardisation in software across the entire industry to ensure collaborative design and planning, plus procurement and duplication avoidance, are of a common standard.

“But, crucially, what the report is saying is that there’s a need for what we would describe as a seamless interdisciplinary approach across the industry.

“But there is also a polarisation occurring where consolidation at the top is creating behemoths that are unfriendly to all but the largest of departments or  clients and are organised on discipline or sector-based structures, and at the bottom, greater and greater numbers of SME’s - 300,000 businesses with 2,000,000 employees, an average of 6 people per business - who lack the critical mass to deliver significant projects but might have the ‘common’ touch crucial to creating the icing on a construction project cake, or a very specialist strand in an important development.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

VALUE STORES AND MOBILE PHONE SHOPS – THE NEW LOOK POST-BUST BRITISH HIGH STREET.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

March 30, 2011.

VALUE STORES AND MOBILE PHONE SHOPS – THE NEW LOOK POST-BUST BRITISH HIGH STREET.

In the boom years it was big brands, restaurants, hairdressers and estate agents - but as Britain battles out of bust, the signs are the country’s high streets will have soon changed beyond all recognition with “value shops” and mobile phone retailers staking claim to prime shopping strips across the country.

That’s not a prediction, it’s a fact - according to McBains Cooper, the international property and construction consultancy.

“Our building surveying function is carrying out a significantly enhanced – and growing – number of building surveys for ‘value shops’ and mobile phone retailers, which indicate that the high street is going to have a very different look about it by the time the retail economy has settled,” said Allan Davies of McBains Cooper, Birmingham.

“These dual trends started in the South East in 2007, but they’ve gathered a real momentum in the regions – particularly northern towns – providing a much needed re-invigoration of high streets, following the void left by the likes of Woolworths, Adams and Ethel Austin.

“The high street multiples of 2012 and beyond are going to be variations upon the ‘pound shops’, and more, bigger and better mobile phone retailers. We know of two mobile phone retailers who plan to open more than 50 new stores in 2011, most of which are occupying sites previously operated by high street icons.

“Our background research says that the value store chain growth is down to high street shoppers easing away from premium and designer brands, but the quality and range of value store products is so good that there’s a question of whether consumers will ever flex back up to those designer brands.

“The value brands grew from the downturn, and are genetically tuned to managing costs, and developing and deigning stores that pack the maximum retail punch per square foot combined with attractive but no-nonsense design.

“That, combined with tumbling property costs and charges, means they’re perfectly placed to re-shape and re-invigorate the high street.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800 im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Lima (Peru), Miami and Mexico, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTED ON ECONOMY-CHANGING SOUTHWARK PROJECT.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

March 10, 2011.

MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTED ON ECONOMY-CHANGING SOUTHWARK PROJECT.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper has been appointed as interdisciplinary consultants on a scheme which will have a massive positive impact on the local economy in Southwark, Greater London.

McBains Cooper will provide project and cost management, architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering and sustainability advice for Delancey and Oakmayne Properties which has bought Oakmayne Plaza in Elephant and Castle.

The one acre site, which is freehold, is in the heart of the Southwark Regeneration Area, and has planning consent for 390,000 sq ft of private residential, student, leisure and ancillary commercial uses and will provide 373 residential apartments and penthouses, all for private sale.

The £200 million scheme will comprise three towers, rising from 16 to 24 storeys, linked by a three-storey podium.  A multi-screen cinema complex, cafes, restaurants and a supermarket will be developed in the commercial space in the podium supporting the residential towers.

“This is a classic illustration of how McBains Cooper’s interdisciplinary approach to driving a project will come into its own – there are many facets to this development, and our team, including project and cost management, architecture, sustainability and building services, will all be based under one roof: McBains Cooper,” said Mark Leeson of McBains Cooper.

“With the new market square to the south - on the scale of Borough Market - eventually connecting into to the wider master plan being worked up by Lend Lease, the scheme will have a huge positive impact on the local economy in what is set to be one of the most important urban regeneration schemes in the country.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Lima (Peru), Mexico and Miami, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

1960S BLOCKS AND YACHT DESIGN - THE LIFELINE FOR IMMINENT BENEFIT-CUT HOMELESS.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

November 11, 2010.

1960S BLOCKS AND YACHT DESIGN - THE LIFELINE FOR IMMINENT BENEFIT-CUT HOMELESS.

Video, click here.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper says the building industry and private sector developers could play a crucial role in throwing a lifeline to people falling off the bottom of the housing ladder, or forced out of work, as CSR measures start to bite.

Mark Leeson, a director of McBains Cooper, says that a combination of yacht interior design technology and 60s and 70s tower blocks could play an unexpected part in keeping a roof over the head of those most likely to be affected by spending and benefit cuts.

He says that pre-assembled pods in the form of complete but compact apartments, similar in concept to bathroom and kitchen pods slotted into hotels and flats, could provide a low cost solution that could be integrated into outdated or unused tower blocks.

The pods cost a fraction of the price of a traditional ‘new build’ apartment, and the specification can be tailored at pre-assembly stage for a vast range of demographics. Shorter development completion times mean additional cost-saving, and decisions on precisely the format of the pods can be delayed by developers until last minute according to the market.

“It’s time now to look at a new model for housing, moving away from traditional one and two bedroomed apartments, and perhaps look at something akin to student accommodation where there are much smaller units in clusters, maybe pre-assembled, modularly constructed, such as the pods we’ve been developing with a number of our partners,” said Mark Leeson.

“They can slide into 60s and 70s buildings, maybe even 80s buildings, bringing them back into use, but providing accommodation tailored for those people who are now going to fall off the bottom of the housing ladder.”

He describes pre-assembled pods which are slid into existing buildings’ frames, good quality and perfectly tuned for the imminent market. As people lose income or benefits, these smaller units mean lower rental costs – but they can also help initiate and drive a sense of community.

He says that as people claw their way back up the ladder, they can rent bigger clusters of pods, or bigger pod units.

“These would be affordable for those on housing benefit as a result of their reduced size; they would benefit from a 'community' shared laundry facilities and the like, and when they start work, the rooms could be purchased on a shared ownership basis or purchased outright as a leasehold progressively allowing people to move up the property ladder,” said Mark Leeson.

“A flexible design would also allow rooms to be joined together allowing people to grow within the building, progressively owning not only a larger percentage of the space, but also a larger space overall.

“I think this is perfectly aligned with the coalition’s aim to get people into work and off benefits, but also solves the affordability issue that many will face when benefits are reduced or cut altogether.

“The challenge for the property industry is to convince the currently very conservative funding sources - institutional investors or funds – that this model will deliver a level of return that makes it worthwhile considering. This will only happen when the industry embraces modern methods of construction, and uses them in new and innovative ways.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper.

McBains Cooper is an international inter-disciplinary property and construction consultancy, one of the most successful in its sector.

Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America.

McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development, and its integrated approach means it can deliver effective, award-winning solutions to its clients.

The business is involved in professional consultancy in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering.

The group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens (Greece,) Lima (Peru), and Monterrey (Mexico), Mexico City and Miami, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

POST-CSR: STOP MUTTERING, START TALKING.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

NEWS FEATURE

November 11, 2010.

POST-CSR: STOP MUTTERING, START TALKING.

Mark Leeson, a director of interdisciplinary property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper, says that the design and construction industry, post-Comprehensive Spending Review, needs to stop muttering and make itself leaner, meaner and more creative. How? By getting all branches and disciplines in the sector to talk more, and talk more often. But there may be an art to it.

“Architecture has long been defined as both the art and the science of designing and constructing buildings, and that definition has now also been widely adopted and embraced by the structural engineering community.

“There is natural symbiosis between architecture and structural engineering, resulting from a desire within both professions to marry form and function together into one harmonious composition. But what of the other disciplines and strands that make up the now well recognised ‘supply chain’?

“If we start with mechanical and electrical engineer (building services), the relationship between form and function has always been a difficult one. There are as always, some exceptions – Pompidou, the Lloyds Building to name two. Here the collaboration between architect, structural and services engineers resulted in some of the most iconic and provocative buildings since the turn of the century. So, given the now critical input of the services engineer, why do we not see more Pompidous?

“What about surveyors? Where is there within their training and professional development the opportunity to hear about, consider and understand design in its widest sense? How can a surveyor advise clients on value, without considering the wider aspects of this most difficult, yet most important aspect of property consultancy? The Value Handbook offer excellent advice for public sector clients, but where is the equivalent advice for the private sector?

“What about contractors? This is less clear. Great strides have been made following Latham and Egan in raising awareness of the importance of collaborative working within the contracting arena; however, there is still mistrust of consultants. There is still a real sense that it might be better to keep everyone at arms length – that true collaboration carries more risk than token efforts.

“My own view is that the education system and relationship between the professions is in such disrepair, that communication, never mind collaboration, seems to be actively discouraged rather than encouraged. Where do architects, engineers and surveyors get the chance to meet, debate, discuss and engage with one another? As an industry we remain fragmented, disjointed and locked in disciplinary cells, with most not seeking a way out.

“We now face cuts in government spending, many initiatives are under threat. There is only one cross-industry body striving to bring the professions together – Constructing Excellence. Is this enough to really change the industry? I would argue not. At risk of sounding like I’m fishing for a commercial plug, I’ll say that at McBains Cooper our aim is to change the industry and the way property consultants approach the design and delivery of buildings and places.

“We offer a place where professionals from across the construction industry spectrum come together because they want to collaborate – not once, on one project, but continuously, relentlessly – blurring the boundaries between disciplines, so the best elements of each profession rubs off on the neighbouring professions not just for the benefit of the individual, but for the wider industry as a whole.

“So, to come back to the title – the art and science of interdisciplinary design – what does this mean and how can we turn this ancient idea into a meaningful guide to the approach we should take to move the industry on? Well, art is often inaccessible to all but the most open minded – yet design has to have art at its core. Without art, there is no meaning, without meaning, projects are hollow, they lack impact. So we need to spend time communicating our art in ways that are understood by all. Science is better understood in the round, but the ‘why’ is often not well communicated by those that do understand it in detail. Communication again…

“So actually bringing art and science together is really about communicating – and any advantage we can gain in the aftermath of the CSR is an advantage worth having. A well-designed and perfectly executed project is always as a result of excellent communication between project team members. The architect is able to explain his ideas in a way that allows the engineering disciplines to complement, support and frame the design, the surveyor understands the inherent value that the design is creating and can explain this (with the architect) to the client, and the contractor knows how to build it, and buys in to the concept and wants to deliver the design to the best of their ability. An industry in harmony. So let’s start talking.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper.

McBains Cooper is an international inter-disciplinary property and construction consultancy, one of the most successful in its sector.

Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America.

McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development, and its integrated approach means it can deliver effective, award-winning solutions to its clients.

The business is involved in professional consultancy in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering.

The group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens (Greece,) Lima (Peru), and Monterrey (Mexico), Mexico City and Miami, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTS NEW SCOTLAND HEAD.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

November 10, 2010.

INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTS NEW SCOTLAND HEAD.

McBains Cooper, the international property and construction consultancy, has appointed David Guy to head up its operations in Scotland.

David, 40, who will be based in McBains Cooper’s Glasgow office, joins after working his way to senior management roles in some of Scotland’s leading building and property consultancy businesses including CB Richard Ells – where he was director – and Savills and GVA Grimley.

“McBains Cooper is an ‘inter-disciplinary’ consultancy, which is deeply distinct from the more common multi-disciplinary operations. The difference is seamless operation between teams working together for one business, as opposed to teams from different organisations brought together by a project manager, and which can often mean a clash of cultures and the consequent inevitable delays – and rising costs,” said David Guy.

“It’s the way forward in terms of both cost and time efficiency, and, I believe, an approach to professional consultancy services – building surveying, architecture, cost management, structural, civil and engineering – that will play a significant part in driving recovery in the building and related industries in Scotland.

“McBains Cooper has a fantastic track record on very some high-profile instructions with some of the very best clients,” said David.

“Our market sector tends to be dominated either by building consultancy teams within the larger transaction-led organisations who do not see building consultancy as their core business, or by smaller niche practices who simply do not have the resources to deliver on larger projects.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper.

McBains Cooper is an international inter-disciplinary property and construction consultancy, one of the most successful in its sector.

Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America.

McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development, and its integrated approach means it can deliver effective, award-winning solutions to its clients.

The business is involved in professional consultancy in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering.

The group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Athens (Greece,) Lima (Peru), and Monterrey (Mexico), Mexico City and Miami, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com