“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

CII REPORT: PENSION “TREASURE TROVES” ARE NOWHERE NEAR BIG ENOUGH FOR LATER LIFE CARE, SAYS SAGA.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

September 14, 2011.

CII REPORT: PENSION “TREASURE TROVES” ARE NOWHERE NEAR BIG ENOUGH FOR LATER LIFE CARE, SAYS SAGA.

The glammed-up treasure trove of private pension pots could turn to dust for the majority of the population requiring care in later life.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s group Saga, says that the findings of a report by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), entitled “Who cares?”, highlights that despite the recent Dilnot Commission, the public remains unaware of the real cost of long-term care and the need to make personal provision to meet costs.

“Around 80% of people have no idea of how much they will have to pay for care, and around half think long-term care is free at the point of use - but today’s average pension pot will fall well short of funding long-term care costs for the one in four of us who will need it,” said Dr Altmann, who has written a chapter of the report.

“According to the Dilnot Commission on Funding of Care and Support, the current average long-term care bill is £26,000 a year, the average length of stay in a care home is two years, but the current average pension income is often only £10,000 a year, leaving a huge annual deficit.

“The key is developing an awareness and national culture of saving for later life. While private pensions may have been sold as later-life treasure troves alongside images of Mediterranean villas or sumptuous retirement apartments, the fact is that we’re in the midst of a pensions crisis which will provide many people with a far more down-to-earth later life – but the impending care crisis will dwarf it by comparison.

“There is not enough money being put aside privately or publicly, and the vast majority of the population is hoping they won’t need care, when statistically at least one in four people will need it.

“The Dilnot report highlights how failure to adjust social care policy over time has left care under-funded across the board – at national, local and individual level. The welfare state was designed in the 1940s, when the idea of millions of people living to advanced old age was unheard of. Policy has failed to move with the times and is not fit for the 21st century.

“Past Governments have failed to help people prepare for care, even though at least one in four of us will require expensive care in later life. The current system of long-term care funding is haphazard, inefficient and unsustainable.

“Government spends over £100bn on benefits, over £50bn on the health service and just £8bn on care, leaving millions of vulnerable older people at risk. The issue is that people are now living so much longer than before, which is actually great news, but our support systems are being overwhelmed.

“This means most people’s whole life savings are at risk, but many do not realise this. Of course, unlike pensions, not everyone will need care, so insurance against future care costs is one obvious potential solution. However, potential care costs that need to be insured against are unlimited, so it is impossible to find affordable insurance to give full peace of mind, and it is difficult to devise policies that will provide real peace of mind.

“There are potential solutions that could be introduced, though: For example, Care ISAs, allocating an annual pension-style allowance to provide for care, incentivising employer care plans with proper tax relief, adapting annuity rules to allow pension funds to be used to buy ‘Care Pension Annuities’, with a lower starting income but which would then provide much larger sums in later life if care is needed.

“Equity Release is inevitable, since most people needing care will probably have to access some of the value of their property; Another potential savings product that would be facilitated by a cap on private care costs would be ‘Family Care Plans’. Four family members could club resources together and save in a joint-account to ensure, say, that one of them will have their care needs covered up to the cap.”

Ends
Further information:
Dr. Ros Altmann
Director-General, Saga
ros.altmann@saga.co.uk
www.saga.co.uk
07545 504513
Twitter @SagaRosAltmann
Saga Press Office
01303 771529.

Iain Macauley
im@pressrelations.co.uk
07788 978800

SAVOY VENTURES DRIVES SECTOR-LEADING PATIENT TRANSFER EFFICIENCIES.

SAVOY VENTURES LTD.

NHS PATIENT TRANSPORT

PRESS RELEASE

September 16, 2011.

SAVOY VENTURES DRIVES SECTOR-LEADING PATIENT TRANSFER EFFICIENCIES.

Greenhithe-based Patient Transport Service provider Savoy Ventures Limited has extended its week-day ambulance technician controller resource.

Savoy conducts two levels of transfer – one for patients requiring car or minibus transfer, the other for patients requiring a higher level of care and the support of ambulance technicians which can include emergency “blue light” transfers.

Savoy is handling an increasing number of ambulance technician-conducted patient transfers between South London NHS Healthcare Trust hospitals which has meant it is enhancing controller resource during the busiest periods - 7am and 10pm – as part of its wider 24/7 control and dispatch operation.

But while the efficiencies will be enhanced, they are actually already amongst the highest standard in the region because of the calibre of controllers and dispatchers already in place.

“The key point is that the Savoy staff who dispatch and control ambulance technician crews and vehicles – which can be used for specialist and blue light transfers - are current ambulance technicians,” said Caroline Adams, one of Savoy’s senior controllers.

“This means that we speak the same language as the ambulance crews and hospital staff so can quickly determine the precise type of ambulance and crew required for each patient transport journey, and, traffic- or incident-permitting, get it right first time every time.”

Savoy Ventures Limited is a private company providing patient transport and transfer services to NHS Trusts in the South East of England. Established in 2006, Savoy makes more than 240,000 patient transfer journeys a year. Savoy Ventures Limited is engaged by a number of NHS Trusts to carry out blue-light transfers, specialist wheelchair, incubator, bariatric chair or stretcher transport, notes/X-ray transfer, and movement of tissue between hospitals. Many staff are trained and qualified to Ambulance Technician level.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.savoyventures.com

PLANNING LAWS “ALREADY IN FORCE” – PROPERTY CONSULTANCY MCBAINS COOPER COMMENTS.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

QUOTES

September 13, 2011.

PLANNING LAWS “ALREADY IN FORCE” – PROPERTY CONSULTANCY MCBAINS COOPER COMMENTS.

Commenting on speculation that future planning laws and guidance are already in force, Mark Leeson, a director of property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper said:

“We should welcome any initiative that speeds up the planning process and encourages sustainable development designed to a high standard. The real problem here, and the one that is causing most concern, is the difference in the timing between the finalisation of the ‘local plans’ and the likely push by developers to secure consent before these are adopted.

“While the idea of creating a local plan in a wholly democratic and consultative way is noble aspiration, it is a complex, time-consuming and expensive process. There is no real guidance to local authorities on how to undertake this process.

“The question is who instigates the local plans? Is it the private sector, the local authority – which may no longer have the resources and money to do so - or individuals and groups themselves? In the case of individuals it is difficult to see what would trigger their involvement. Individuals and sometimes groups have historically reacted to proposals and plans rather than created them themselves. If they are to create them themselves, what professional help is available to them to do so, and how would they procure it?

“Of particular concern in relation to achieving sustainable growth is the removal of targets relating to the re-use of brown field sites, and the lack of comment relating to intensification of land usage. The most sustainable developments build on existing infrastructure, reduce the need to travel and encourage internal investment back into existing communities, rather than creating new ones. The lack of focus on this will inevitably mean that some development will be allowed where it should not be, and opportunities to regenerate may be missed.

“In the meantime, the good news for developers is that the ‘presumption’ should mean that providing the criteria are met, and careful consultation at a local level takes place, consent should be easier to secure. In reality, the new policy will inevitably need to be tested through appeal before LAs really start to adopt it, and greater investment will be needed in the LAs planning teams to make this happen.

“I believe an element of ‘privatisation’ of the planning service - as with approved inspectors - should be introduced to allow the private sector to manage the consultation process and prepare and ‘self-validate’ applications to speed up this process, leaving officers to concentrate on the development, in partnership with the private sector, of strategic plans and to carry out the various needs surveys that have been suggested by the draft framework.”

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

MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

MCBAINS COOPER 

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

September 7, 2011.

MCBAINS COOPER APPOINTS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper has appointed Jonathan Mintz as Chief Financial Officer based at the firm’s City of London offices.

Jonathan, 42, a Manchester University graduate, joins from property finance and development specialists Lend Lease Corporation where he was also Chief Financial Officer, working with the business’ Continental Europe, Middle East and Latin America operations.

“What grabbed me was McBains Cooper’s ambitions to drive development in Latin America, the Mediterranean and Middle East – and then when I started to grow my understand of the business I realised that far from being a vision, they were actually delivering against those ambitions,” said Jonathan.

“It is extremely inspiring to come across a business in the property and construction sector which is moving heaven and earth to establish itself in sectors and markets – and then delivering presence, business – and contracts.”

Jonathan has been involved in the finance function of several construction-related businesses since the mid-1990s.

Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper, said: “Anybody coming into the property and construction sector at a senior level, and who has not previously been involved in the sector can sometimes find the environment a little too challenging.

“But Jonathan has the experience and scar tissue to appreciate just how tough the sector is. He obviously has wider management and sector experience – crucially, in international markets – which bring an extra something to the team.”

Away from the office, Jonathan until recently held a licence to freefall parachute anywhere in the world, although is currently keeping his feet well and truly in and on the earth, cycling, gardening and wine tasting.

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

DR ROS ALTMANN, SAGA, CALLS FOR RING-FENCING OF GOVERNMENT £400M FOR RESPITE CARE AND MORE SUPPORT FOR CARERS.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

QUOTES

September 12, 2011.

PRINCESS ROYAL TRUST FOR CARERS STUDY: DR ROS ALTMANN, SAGA, CALLS FOR RING-FENCING OF GOVERNMENT £400M FOR RESPITE CARE AND MORE SUPPORT FOR CARERS.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s organisation Saga, commenting on a study by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which says older carers are themselves suffering failing health because of their efforts.

“Saga frequently sees the impact of the caring burden on family carers.
We appreciate the strain - both physical and mental - that caring can place on families struggling to look after their loved ones. Indeed, we have set up a charity specifically to help provide much-needed respite care for older carers,” said Dr Ros Altmann, Saga Director-General and a trustee of the Saga Respite for Carers Trust.

"We urge the Government to take this issue more seriously and, in particular, we call on Ministers to ensure that the £400 million allocated for respite care a few months ago is properly ring-fenced for that purpose.

"Unpaid carers save billions of pounds for society, but they need more support and some respite can massively improve the quality of life of carers. The Report from the Princess Royal Trust highlights some big problems and, as our population of older people is set to vastly increase in coming years, its findings are quietly alarming.

“That so many older carers - some surveyed were reported to be 94 years of age - are reporting failing physical or mental health because of their commitment to loved ones is of absolutely no surprise to those in the frontline of care and those who are trying to drive care reform. It’s only going to become a bigger issue – the number of carers is expected to rise from 6 million to 9 million in the next 25 years.

“Carers need breaks. Respite care will allow carers to continue their
massively valuable role for as long as possible, and this could be achieved, at least in part, by ring-fencing the £400m Government has allocated for respite breaks - but the sad fact is that as it is not ring-fenced, carers are unlikely to see the whole benefit of this investment. This is something which the Government could and should act upon today.

“It is not in the nature of carers to complain, so it is vital that their friends and supporters persist in driving awareness of the plight of carers – and it is absolutely crucial that GPs are vigilant in overseeing the health of carers, doing everything possible to provide them with both screening and support. We also believe that GPs should be able to prescribe respite or even domiciliary care.

“The benefits associated with a trained and supported workforce to provide respite support and a care team to provide cover when the pressures of caring for a loved one become too great should not be underestimated in either social or financial terms.

“Unpaid carers receive minuscule financial support and benefits - yet they are amongst the hardest working people in society; many do not have the option ever to take a break of two weeks – or sometimes even two minutes.”

Ends

Further information:
Dr. Ros Altmann
Director-General, Saga
ros.altmann@saga.co.uk
www.saga.co.uk
07545 504513
Twitter @SagaRosAltmann

Saga Press Office

01303 771529.

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

FAMILY SOLICITOR: COOL OFF BEFORE LAUNCHING INTO HEATED POST-SUMMER HOLIDAY DIVORCE

GEORGE DAVIES SOLICITORS LLP

PRESS RELEASE

September 5, 2011.

FAMILY SOLICITOR: COOL OFF BEFORE LAUNCHING INTO HEATED POST-SUMMER HOLIDAY DIVORCE.

Video interview.

The number of couples divorcing post-summer holiday – the second highest period after New Year for marriage splits – could this year be higher than ever before.

Family solicitor Robin Charrot of Manchester-based George Davies Solicitors LLP says that his first post-holiday divorce case this year arose before the couple had even stepped off their return holiday flight.

“That could well be a sign of things to come – there is tremendous tension amongst couples under financial pressure, and that means the traditional ‘relaxing’ summer holiday could be anything but that for families battling the stress of economic downturn, job worries – and simply coping with being crammed together 24/7,” said Robin Charrot.

Robin says that no matter how bitter the split, it is rarely a good idea for someone to immediately start court proceedings: they may have made the decision to part, but the full potential for aggression should be allowed to subside.

“Divorce is more often than not a once-in-a lifetime situation which comes about when the couple are feeling angry, hurt, sometimes betrayed, and people tend to think immediately about going to court – but there are other options, not least collaborative law which means proceedings don’t go anywhere near a courtroom, and can therefore stay both amicable and private,” said Robin.

“I’ve seen so many people who, once they’ve reached the decision they want to divorce, go headlong into the legal process without actually weighing up what is going to be best long-term for their entire family.

“You need to get comprehensive advice of what the options are, and you need to get advice on what are the pros and cons of each of those routes – how much each is going to cost, how long they’re going to take to get to the end, is there any level of compulsion, and how much level of contention there’s going to be in each of those options.

“You’ve got mediation, you’ve got collaborative law, and, if necessary, you’ve got the court process too.”

But Robin says a non-adversarial collaborative law approach – with which many couples are not familiar, but which involves discussion between parties in the presence of an impartial and specially-trained solicitor – could cost far less and avoid the ill-feeling a courtroom encounter generates.

Ends

For further information:

Lindsey Farrelly

LindseyFarrelly@georgedavies.co.uk

0161 234 8802

07717 177609

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

Notes to editor:

About George Davies Solicitors LLP: George Davies Solicitors LLP is a 19 partner law firm based in the heart of Manchester city centre. Established over 70 years ago it provides an extensive range of legal services to a national client base. Recent awards and accreditations include; ratings in independent legal directories - Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners UK; Winner of the Medium Law Firm of the Year 2011 in the Manchester Legal Awards; North West Employment Team of the Year in the Corporate INTL Magazine Awards 2010; adviser on the Deal of the Year sub £5million at the 2010 Insider Dealmakers Awards and is one of only five legal firms in the country to hold the Investors in People Silver standard.