Boulevard takes shape

Here's a picture of one of the new frontages on the Boulevard. The house is opposite the western Library, which is also due to be improved as part of the project. Finding some of the materials was a struggle at times but I reckon it was worth it!

Reducing CO2 emissions

Andrew McCormick has just sent me a case study that he has put togther to show how employing local subcontractors reduces the carbon footprint of the project and helps the local economy.
In delivering to the Decent Homes objectives, H&P addressed both environmental sustainability as well as strong local economic development through the use of local people and businesses.As part of our training and skills plans, H&P are using the Government-recognised ‘LM3’ methodology to measure our local economic impact. LM3 stands for ‘Local Multiplier 3’ and calculates how H&P’s business activities directly generate income for the local economy, in terms of both salaries to local people as well as payments to local businesses. Use of the LM3 methodology enables H&P to maximise the local economic benefits of every pound the company earns. The LM3 score for this project is 2.00, which means that every pound we budgeted for this project generated an additional pound for the local economy, or double the original value of the project. This high score was achieved due to our active local recruitment strategy for the project as well as our approach to developing a local supply base for our projects. The breakdown of our LM3 score for this project is:

Round 1: £535,000 [H&P budget]
Round 2: £317,177 [Direct spend on local staff and suppliers]
Round 3: £219,187 [Local expenditure by H&P’s staff/suppliers]
Total: £1,071,364 [Total of all Rounds]
LM3: 2.00 [Local multiplier effect]

H&P cut its CO2 emissions by four-fifths in comparison to a similar project carried out in Goole. H&P attained this significant reduction through the company’s extensive localisation of labour and suppliers. H&P can support carbon reduction alongside local economic development in any locality by applying the same approaches to the localisation of labour and suppliers used for Places for People. Furthermore, H&P has the capacity to measure both its economic and environmental impacts, which allows the company to maximise both its local multiplier effect as well as its environmental sustainability over the course of the project.
In defining what constituted a local supplier we analysed the location of each supplier by postcode. The figures were as follows:

Number of suppliers/subcontractors: 1
Within a 0-5 mile radius of the site: 105
Within a 5-10 mile radius of the site: 6
Within a 10-30 mile radius of the site: 123

What is the Townscape Heritage Initiative?

The THI provides grants for the repair and regeneration of historic properties within towns and cities throughout the UK. The £2 million project will allocate funding to conservation projects in the Boulevard and Coltman Street conservation areas. It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Gateway, the Hull and East Riding housing market renewal partnership. The programme is managed by Hull and East Yorkshire Community Foundation on behalf of Hull City Council. The key objective is to encourage and support heritage-led regeneration through the highest standards of conservation and design in the area. By improving the environment, the scheme will support Gateway's aims to create a neighbourhood where people choose to live. THI grants will be available for three main categories of work; building repairs, reinstatement of architectural detail and bringing vacant historic floor space back into use.
Building repairs
• Grants in this category will be put towards the structural and external frontage repair of historic buildings which are already in use. The main emphasis will be on external repairs.
• The objective is to make good the structure and front elevation of buildings and make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of the area.
• Repairs must be made using appropriate techniques and suitable materials that suit the buildings history.
Reinstatement of architectural detail
• Grants in this category contribute towards the reinstatement of external architectural features to the front elevation of buildings, which are otherwise in sound repair.
• The aim is to reinstate parts of the building which are essential to the design and character. This might include ornamental masonry (including sculpture), joinery to historic patterns and ornamental metal work such as balconies.
Bringing vacant historic floor space back into use
• Grants in this category can be used to help fund work to bring vacant historic floor space back into use. Proposals for such work must respect the character of the building both internally and externally.
• Internal and external work can in

Heritage works

Some of the houses have got funding from the Townscape Heritage in Hull. We've been checking out some old street photos to make sure what we're doing looks right. Works we're doing include railings, glazing, tiling, and windows. Thanks to Batty Joinery, Redhall Fencing, and Harrops for their help

Project update

We're working with our team of local subcontractors including Prestige (damp proofing), Ken Macklin (electrics) and John Walker (plumbing) to figure out how much work needs doing to each propert. We are reporting back on a daily basis to the project architect John Hunter of Browne Smith Baker, and our client Rob Brady at Places for People. As you can see some of the houses need a lot doing!- check out the Gallery page for more photos

Personnel

Contract Number: H8415 Contract Name: West Hull Refurbishments Client: Places for People Contract Manager: Dave Blades Email: dave.blades@hobson-porter.co.uk