CONSTRUCTION: THE INTER-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH IS THE DISCIPLINE OF THE MOMENT

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

October 14, 2010.

CONSTRUCTION: THE INTER-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH IS THE DISCIPLINE OF THE MOMENT.

Video: Watch interview.

Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper, the international property and construction consultancy, says that now is the time for the property and construction sector to adopt the inter-disciplinary approach to project design and delivery.

Since developing and adopting “inter-d” over the past ten years, McBains Cooper has not only weathered the UK downturn, but has also seen considered growth and expansion abroad, with new operations in Greece and the USA, and expanded teams dealing with growth in Latin America.

“There are true efficiencies in time, cost and quality to be gained by adopting the inter-disciplinary approach, with seamless integrated teams working as one to achieve a collective excellence rather than the nightmare that can be multi-disciplinary in which, at best, projects can be slowed by different teams from different organisations working to different agendas pulling against each other, or, at worst, causing massive delay, design inefficiencies and substantial loss of cost management,” said Michael Thirkettle.

“The current environment is demanding efficiency, to deliver improved quality and cost savings, and that efficiency and quality can be delivered through the inter-disciplinary approach, creating the cost savings clients desire.

“The added value is the behavioural and cultural side, so what you don’t end up with is a very litigious project where people are spending time covering their back as a product of the multi-disciplinary approach, as opposed to focusing time into the project. And at the end of the project you don’t end up with a huge claim against a myriad of parties, because, in the current economic climate, the construction industry is very much going towards that.”

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

A COOL GREEN HOT SOLUTION AND A QUIET SUCCESS FOR ADDENBROOKE’S HOSPITAL

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

September 15, 2010.

A COOL GREEN HOT SOLUTION AND A QUIET SUCCESS FOR ADDENBROOKE’S HOSPITAL.

They may look like regular flats and apartments, but the four buildings at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge conceal structural and design features unique to the demands and lifestyle of the residents – and have the potential to massively influence the local economy.

The Oxford-based team at international property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper was commissioned to manage the £20 million, 292 apartment, Sanctuary Housing Association project – but the team had a particularly challenging brief: a very tight window to complete the work, and unique issues relating to demands on hot water systems and sound insulation.

“First, this was a two year project that had to be delivered in 18 months come-what-may because the hospital needed to bring in healthcare professionals fast – and keep them there; second, we had to design in a number of unusual elements to cater for the work cycle of the residents – who are all doctors or nurses,” said Jo Churchill of McBains Cooper.

“The medical staff work in shifts, and those shifts change at times when normal residential properties would be quiet – so there are huge peaks of demand on the building’s systems at unusual times, for example, the need for large volumes of hot water in the middle of the afternoon or early hours of the morning when dozens or more people run baths or showers at the same time.

“The solution was to ditch the normal central heating boiler-based system, and to heat water through solar panels and feed it into large tanks where it was kept hot – this also helped achieve the 10% renewables requirement.

“The next issue was noise: the last thing an exhausted medical professional needs after a double shift is to suffer broken sleep, so we had to pay particular attention to the acoustic qualities of the building.

“This we achieved by modular manufacturing most of the building off site – which also helped address the time constraints – and by bringing in special twin wall panels from Germany, which were then filled with extremely high density concrete.

“At each stage of the development of these wall panels we consulted acoustic specialists who assessed the likely effectiveness of this sound-deadening to ensure that it was as efficient as possible, and which makes these flats amongst the quietest of their type in the world.

“Finally, in a city like Cambridge, where it is very difficult to find centrally-located accommodation for key workers, the whole project has a potentially much bigger impact – it has brought in hundreds of people, and this will clearly have an effect on the local economy.

“And as such, this type of development clearly has massively positive implications for other towns and cities that need centrally-located accommodation for key workers, and need it fast.”

Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper, said: “What the team has achieved – director Zaki Ghiacy, Kevin Conlon, Peter O’Rourke and Jo Churchaill – should not be underestimated: every possible challenge was thrown at them: design, planning, technical and timescale, and they delivered magnificently.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley / Chris Fowler

07788 978800 / 07719 172225

im@pressrelations.co.uk / cf@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) and Mexico City, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

CRAIN'S REPORTS STOCKPORT COUNTY DEAL DONE BY SAS DANIELS

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/article/20100618/FREE/100619889/1049

CONGLETON: BECKY SIMPSON PROMOTED TO EQUITY MEMBER AT SAS DANIELS LLP.

SAS DANIELS LLP SOLICITORS

PRESS RELEASE

June 3, 2010.

CONGLETON: BECKY SIMPSON PROMOTED TO EQUITY MEMBER AT SAS DANIELS LLP.

Photo available.

Becky Simpson, one of the North West’s most experienced commercial property lawyers, has been promoted to equity member at SAS Daniels LLP - Becky is based at the firm’s Congleton office.

Becky, 37, joined SAS Daniels in 1995 as a trainee solicitor and, having qualified in 1997, left the firm but returned in 2002 with a wealth of experience in commercial property work.  Becky was promoted to partner in 2006 and took up the role of head of commercial property in 2008.

“Becky’s promotion to equity member recognises her experience and knowledge of the region’s commercial property market, including landlord and tenant matters, sales and acquisitions and acting on behalf of lending institutions,” said Nigel Haddon, Managing Partner of SAS Daniels LLP.

“The market place has been tough, but Becky has managed the commercial property team through the economic downturn, and her hard work and experience is paying dividends.

“The team has seen an upturn in the last three months and confidence appears to be growing in the North West commercial property marketplace once again.”

When not at work, Becky enjoys spending her spare time with her family which includes two young children, and keeps fit by swimming and occasional aerobic classes.

SAS Daniels LLP solicitors has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall and employs 140 people.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley or Megan Codling

07788 978800 / 07795 848586

im@pressrelations.co.uk / mc@pressrelations.co.uk / www.sasdaniels.co.uk

FOREIGN “FORCED HEIRSHIP” LAWS PASS HOLIDAY HOME OWNERS BY.

SAS DANIELS LLP SOLICITORS

PRESS RELEASE

March 29, 2010

FOREIGN “FORCED HEIRSHIP” LAWS PASS HOLIDAY HOME OWNERS BY.

Tens of thousands of over-50s who own a holiday home abroad may end up passing it on - against their will and their dying wishes – to the wrong beneficiary.

Probate lawyers at SAS Daniels LLP, Cheshire’s biggest law firm, say that a recent opt-out by the United Kingdom from European Union laws on succession has highlighted previously barely-known problems disposing of foreign assets on death.

Several European countries have “forced heirship” laws, which say that certain types of assets must be passed, for example, to offspring when the owner dies. These laws are already catching people out.

Ten per cent of over-50s own a holiday home abroad, with 12% of them owning property in France, where forced heirship is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for Brits living abroad.

“Buying property abroad has been largely off the radar during the recession and because of the weakness of the pound against the Euro, but buying is now beginning to make a comeback,” said Pauline Platt of SAS Daniels.

“Although the United Kingdom opted out of the EU Succession laws, many European countries do abide by the forced heirship rules which can and do cause a vast array of problems.

“For instance, how many of us travel in France and see gorgeous but abandoned properties that are screaming out to be bought and turned into holiday homes? Well, the reason they’re empty and unused – and falling apart – can be the forced heirship rule, with properties having as many as 30 owners from an extended family; it would be virtually impossible to trace every one of those owners.

“But not only does that mean it can be difficult to buy, it can also make life very complicated if you own a foreign property, because the rules are generally the same for British ex-pats as they are for locals. If the owner dies, then the property may have to go to the children and you may not be able to leave it wholly to your spouse.

“Lifetime ‘gifts’ of ‘non-moveables’ such as property can also be clawed back to meet France’s heirship rules.

“It’s a classic example of a dream potentially turning into a nightmare – buyers really do need to be aware of these complicated European laws, and they really should consult professional advisers – because the powers of a will may be limited as a consequence, and could well cause massive complications when it comes to assigning the estate.”

SAS Daniels LLP has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley or Megan Codling

07788 978800 / 07795 848586

im@pressrelations.co.uk / mc@pressrelations.co.uk / www.sasdaniels.co.uk

FOREIGN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP LAWS PASS NORTH WEST HOLIDAY HOME OWNERS BY.

SAS DANIELS LLP SOLICITORS

PRESS RELEASE

March 29, 2010

FOREIGN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP LAWS PASS NORTH WEST HOLIDAY HOME OWNERS BY.

Tens of thousands of over-50s in the North West who own a holiday home abroad may end up passing it on - against their will and their dying wishes – to the wrong beneficiary.

Probate lawyers at SAS Daniels LLP, Cheshire’s biggest law firm, say that a recent opt-out by the United Kingdom from European Union laws on succession has highlighted previously barely-known problems disposing of foreign assets on death.

Several European countries have “forced heirship” laws, which say that certain types of assets must be passed, for example, to offspring when the owner dies. These laws are already catching people out.

Ten per cent of North West over-50s own a holiday home abroad, with 12% of them owning property in France, where forced heirship is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for Brits living abroad.

“Buying property abroad has been largely off the radar during the recession and because of the weakness of the pound against the Euro, but buying is now beginning to make a comeback,” said Pauline Platt of SAS Daniels.

“Although the United Kingdom opted out of the EU Succession laws, many European countries do abide by the forced heirship rules which can and do cause a vast array of problems.

“For instance, how many of us travel in France and see gorgeous but abandoned properties that are screaming out to be bought and turned into holiday homes? Well, the reason they’re empty and unused – and falling apart – can be the forced heirship rule, with properties having as many as 30 owners from an extended family; it would be virtually impossible to trace every one of those owners.

“But not only does that mean it can be difficult to buy, it can also make life very complicated if you own a foreign property, because the rules are generally the same for British ex-pats as they are for locals. If the owner dies, then the property may have to go to the children and you may not be able to leave it wholly to your spouse.

“Lifetime ‘gifts’ of  ‘non-moveables’ such as property can also be clawed back to meet France’s heirship rules.

“It’s a classic example of a dream potentially turning into a nightmare – buyers really do need to be aware of these complicated European laws, and they really should consult professional advisers – because the powers of a will may be limited as a consequence, and could well cause massive complications when it comes to assigning the estate.”

SAS Daniels LLP has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley or Megan Codling

07788 978800 / 07795 848586

im@pressrelations.co.uk / mc@pressrelations.co.uk / www.sasdaniels.co.uk