We are delighted to have been shortlisted for Developer of the Year at the Property Awards 2020. The finals will take place in London on April 21st. We have our fingers crossed for success.
Hairy goings on in Reading
Things got a little bit hairy in Reading this November as our Thames Quarter staff took part in Movember.
Site staff raised a fantastic £673.93 for Prostate Cancer by growing their moustaches.
Movember is a growing global movement that involves MoBrothers and MoSisters helping to raise both funds and awareness of issues impacting men and their loved ones. In the UK the aim is to cut the number of men dying prematurely by 25% before 2030.
For more information about the charity and the causes it supports please visit https://uk.movember.com/
Career site launch
Looking for a new career? Why not check out our new career site for an insight into what it is like working for Watkin Jones. It can be found at www.careers.watkinjones.com You will also see our latest vacancies and be able to sign up for job alerts.
Shortlist success
We have been shortlisted for Developer of the Year at the Student Accommodation Awards.
Considering that they had record entries this year, it is certainly an achievement to be proud of.
The awards evening will take place on 11th December in London. Our colleagues in the Fresh Property Group are also in the running for a number of categories.
The full list of those shortlisted can be found https://bit.ly/2JaYvfZ
Golden achievement
Huge congratulations to Project Manager, Richard Ingram, who has won Gold at the prestigious CIOB Construction Manager of the Year awards 2019.
Richard fended off strong competition to win the ‘Residential Over Seven Storeys’ category for his work on Cardiff’s Bridge Street Exchange.
Richard said: “I am absolutely thrilled. Thanks to everyone for the support. I really am proud of Bridge Street and so it is fantastic to be recognised for the part I played in its development.”
Richard, who was presented his award by TV presenter Kate Garraway, especially impressed the panel of expert judges with the leadership he showed under pressure to complete the 27-storey building.
Rooms with a view
External works on the beautiful Riverview Court development on Onega Place in Bath has now been completed.
The prestigious scheme, which comprises 44 apartments and a café, has been a joint effort between Homes, Newmark and the South Wales, South West division.
Geraint Morgan, said: “Well done to the whole team on delivering this exceptional development on time and to such a high standard. This really is a development to be proud of.”
Designed by Nash Partnership for Watkin Jones Homes, the new development replaces low rise industrial sheds with four-storey, high density residential apartments. It will significantly improve the site and its context, primarily the setting of the Grade II* listed Victoria Bridge and the River Avon.
Lying within a conservation area and world heritage setting and adjoining Victoria Bridge, the site presented the design team with many tricky challenges to unlocking its potential. However, the final design is sensitive to these constraints and to the local ecology, taking cues from historic industrial mills and malthouses to make sure the development is distinctive. Materials were chosen to reinforce and reference the character of the conservation area.
Architect Richard Mather-Jones from Nash Partnership said: “We’re very excited to see this bold Bath project come across the finishing line. The end result is the culmination of lots of collaborative working with the council to achieve a development that’s fitting for this site.”
The style of this development is set to reflect the design all future schemes in the area.
Berwyn Evans, Managing Director of Watkin Jones Homes said: “We’re passionate about creating wonderful places to live that really enhance and reflect the local surroundings. It has been great to work alongside Nash Partnership and the local authority to deliver this sensitive and high-quality scheme.”
For more information about the apartments visit https://www.watkinjoneshomes.co.uk/development/riverview-court/
Making the finals
Congratulations to our very own Project Manager, Richard Ingram, who has successfully reached the finals of the prestigious CIOB Construction Manager of the Year awards 2019.
Reaching this stage is certainly no easy feat. Richard, whose chosen project was Bridge Street in Cardiff, first had to get his submission past the paper application phase. Following this one of the judging panel carried out a site visit and finally he had to complete a face to face interview in from of a group of industry experts.
Richard said: “I am delighted to have got this far – it has not been easy but definitely worth it. I am really proud of Bridge Street as a project and so it is great to be recognised for the part I played in its development.”
After impressing the judges Richard is in the running for the ‘Residential Over Seven Storeys’ category.
Geraint Morgan, Managing Director of Watkin Jones in South Wales and South West said: “This is a fantastic achievement and one that should not be underestimated. We are all very proud of Richard and wish him all the very best in the final.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 18th.
Half year results deliver a strong performance
The organisation is living up to expectations as a strong set of half-year results herald a successful start to the year.
Earlier today the Group’s interim results were announced to the City and show that we are performing well across all business areas.
Commenting on the interim results, Richard Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Watkin Jones plc, said: “We are pleased to report another strong set of results, in-line with our expectations. The financial performance of the Group continues to be underpinned by robust student accommodation development activity and we are very encouraged by the increased contribution from the Group’s other operating divisions.
“Institutional investor demand for our student accommodation developments is strong and we continue to see quality new investors entering the market, such as DWS at Wembley. Similarly, investor momentum is growing in the Build to Rent (BtR) market, with a significant increase in reported transaction volumes in the first quarter of 2019. The majority of these transactions are forward fund purchases of assets, which plays to Watkin Jones strategy and heritage.
“We are able to leverage our proven expertise in developing and managing multi-occupancy residential rental accommodation and to continue be a partner of choice for institutional clients looking for scale. I continue to be very excited by the opportunities in this business, seeing the market dynamics for both student accommodation and BtR so strongly supportive of the Group’s forward sale model. Together with our pipeline of forward sold and secured development sites, this will continue to provide excellent visibility on future earnings and cash flow. Consequently, the Board remains confident in the prospects for the Group.”
The following link takes you to the full details htl.li/K1JO30oMK3F
Award winning scheme
Watkin Jones’ Bridge Street Exchange development in Cardiff has been heralded as the best residential scheme at the prestigious RICS Wales Awards.
The development, which was up against a tough shortlist, was announced as the winner at a ceremony in Cardiff.
Managing Director, Geraint Morgan, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and one we should all be proud of. We were up against a strong shortlist. It is wonderful to have our passion and ability to create great places to live recognised on such a prestigious stage.”
This is not the first award of the year. Clarendon Quarter development in claimed the best Altered Building category at the Leeds Architecture Awards earlier this year.
Richard Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Watkin Jones, said “We are delighted to have been named winner in the Residential Category at the RICS Awards for our scheme at Bridge Street Exchange in Cardiff. The scheme exemplifies Watkin Jones’ expertise and commitment in delivering high quality projects of this complexity and magnitude. Our track record in the firmly established Residential sector is well proven and to be recognised by the Institute is a great achievement for all those involved in the scheme.”
The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. They celebrate the achievements and successes of RICS professionals and their impact on local communities.
Charity boost in Bournemouth
Local good causes are getting boost to their funds thanks to an innovative fundraising idea at The Helm (Telereal) site in Bournemouth.
Contractors using the site’s car park have been asked to pay a weekly fee to do so. All the funds are then distributed to good causes voted for by local people.
Keiron Davies, Assistant Site Manager, said: “We are always looking for new ways to be an even more considerate constructor. This is a great way to give something back to the local area. I am so pleased that the community is getting involved by voting for the cause they want us to donate to.”
The first two charities to benefit from the scheme are the Dorset Children’s Foundation and Bournemouth branch of the Salvation Army (Bournemouth branch). Each received £500.
Staff at the Landsdowne Plaza site in Bournemouth also recently received a bronze award at the Considerate Constructor Awards for the second year running.
