Case study: Waterton Green
Waterton Green is an innovative, 116-home retirement development for over 55's, just outside Wakefield. Winning Gold at the 2020 What House? Awards for Best Retirement Development, this superb estate applies an ethical approach to age-inclusive living for those on a fixed income.A mix of single-storey, two and three-bedroom bungalows, houses and luxury apartments, the development is part of the LIFEstyle brand from leading energy and services company Engie. Block Management UK were hugely impressed by Engie and its commitment to the wellbeing of its customers and were delighted when given the opportunity to work with them. BMUK manage the maintenance and upkeep of all communal areas on the estate, including the library, café and residents lounge and allotments, as well as supporting LIFEstyle to deliver its services on site. A community feelAmong the community-centred initiatives at Waterton Green is a dementia-friendly community hub,..
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Case Study: BMUK to manage pioneering development combining ethical ambitions and a sense of community
Case Study: Waterton Green
Block Management UK Ltd is pleased to announce that it has taken on the management of a new, innovative over-55's retirement development outside Wakefield.
Waterton Green is a development that is part of the LIFEstyle brand from leading energy and services company Engie. In addition to the production and supply of energy, Engie are also the leading provider of regeneration services in the UK ? covering everything from community regeneration and refurbishment to repairs, maintenance and housing development. Engie are committed to a zero-carbon transition and to deliver clean, affordable and innovative energy solutions, that improve the lives of customers. They are working towards complete sustainability, from innovative heating solutions to electric vehicles, whilst staying ever committed to providing energy from renewable sources contributing to a lower carbon future. Globally,..
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Case Study: working with a property developer
We were approached by a Developer building an estate that mixed houses and flats in an impressive site in west Suffolk, half an hour from Cambridge. The respected East Anglian firm, known for its colonial style houses that mix traditional styles with contemporary design, sought help for what was a large, ambitious development for them. They asked for our input in regard to setting service charges for the estate.
As with any similar enquiries we asked for a listing of all the plots - noting the balance of houses to flats and any details on percentage payable per unit - together with a sample lease. If the percentage payable is not yet set by the developer, we also offer to draft this for their approval.
Service charges can be applied to a ..
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Case Study: managing ground rent services for portfolio clients
Location: Hale Village, East London
Ground rent investment portfolios, whilst providing a low-risk long term investment, can be time-consuming to manage and complex to administer.
Block Management UK Ltd has over 16 years' of experience in managing ground rent collection as well as a raft of other services to support owners of ground rent portfolios. We have a great deal of experience collecting ground rents on all kinds of properties - from two-unit period conversions to multi-block modern residential estates - and across the country.
One of those estates is Hale Village in Tottenham Hale, London. Built on the site of a former furniture factory, this mixed-use site includes a community centre, shops and a nursery. The site has been recognized by the Green Flag Award Scheme and the community life there includes art workshops, a community choir and an annual Balconies in Bloom competition.
We were asked by the freeholders, Hale Village L..
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Case Study: tracking deficit and surplus
The spectacular Grade II listed Royal Naval Hospital in Great Yarmouth was built in 1809 and converted to a mixed-use residential estate in 1993.
Consisting of 22 leasehold flats and 37 freehold houses, including some substantial five-bedroom homes, the properties sit within 15 acres of beautiful lawns and grounds.
The estate compromises of four independent blocks around a lawned courtyard with impressive colonnades facing the Great Court.
A complex charging schedule
Block Management UK was brought in to manage the blocks nine years ago.
The Royal Naval Hospital has five charging schedules, requiring a mix of estate and block management, and has multiple insurance coverage including public liability and buildings insurance.
BMUK was invited to take on the management of the estate and blocks after the prior management company found it difficult to track activity within the separate charge accounts.
Th..
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Case Study: A major cladding issue
Name: St Francis TowerLocation: Ipswich, SuffolkBackground
Following the fire at Grenfell Tower in London in June 2017, Block Management UK Ltd began to investigate the safety of St Francis Tower in Ipswich. The building was not as tall as Grenfell (17 floors compared to 24) however it too had cladding, this cladding was subject to the fire safety procedure recommendations that were implemented after the tragedy of Grenfell Tower.
The Building Research Establishment (BRE), in Hertfordshire, had begun to offer a free testing service to identify hazardous cladding following the disastrous fire. The BRE is a state-of-the-art research facility that has the assurance of impartiality, having started out as a Government-funded laboratory investigating new housing materials and construction methods after the First World War. [1]
Block Management UK Ltd ..
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Case Study: Rejuvenating the hub of a community
Name: Barking Central
Location: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Properties: Lemonade Building, Bath House, 87 Axe Street
Background
In October 2018, Block Management UK Ltd took on the management of three impressive residential buildings that are part of the Barking Central location in Barking, London. Barking is an important Thames Gateway town with a diverse and bustling community. The three buildings - the Lemonade Building, the Bath House and 87 Axe Street - mark an important stage in the continuing regeneration of the Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Another block within this development, the Ropeworks, was already being managed by Block Management UK. The site also includes Barking Police Station (underneath the Ropeworks) and Barking Learning Centre.
The Lemonade Building consists of 17 floors of eight flats totalling 136 units. Two lifts service the blo.. |
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Case Study: raising the roof
Name: Ballingdon GroveLocation: Sudbury, SuffolkProperty: 11 units across a Grade II-listed former country house.Background
Ballingdon Grove is a small country house, listed at Grade II, the earliest phase of which is a double-pile house of the late C17 or early C18 although it has an historic front range pre-dating 1700. The property was owned by the Allen family who operated the nearby Ballingdon Brickworks which, at its height, transported over 3 million bricks a year. The works supplied Suffolk White, red facing and ornamental bricks to projects such as the Royal Albert Hall and the South Kensington Museums in London. Ballingdon Grove itself included a large amount of Suffolk White bricks. The Grove has, at various points been a home for those with learning difficulties, a nursing home for the elderly and a hotel. Block Management UK took on management of Balling..
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Case Study: Cromwell Drive, service charge confusion
Name: Cromwell Drive
Location: Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Property: 97 freehold houses and leasehold flats, two commercial units, children's playground
Background
Located near the Cambridgeshire market town of Huntingdon, the area is popular with families due to the presence of Grafham Water Centre and Houghton Mill, a National Trust property. Nearby Portholme is the largest lowland meadow in England and is a popular place for peaceful walks.
The RMC (residents' management company) directors of Cromwell Drive contacted us through our online Quotation Form as they were unhappy with the estate management that was being carried out by the current managing agents, put in place by the developers.
In May 2015, Block Management UK took on f..
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Case Study: The Ropeworks, turning around an east London icon
Name: The RopeworksLocation: London Borough of Barking and DagenhamProperty: 246 one and two bedroom apartments
Background
Block Management UK Ltd took over the management of The Ropeworks in 2012, becoming involved in the site when it was asked to advise the original steering group on the successful removal of the original management provider.
The east London property was in a terrible state both financially and mechanically. The property was insolvent and action needed to be taken quickly to prevent the company from going into liquidation.
Asset management strategies
After daily visits to the site and an in-depth analysis of the finances, Block Management UK Ltd created a plan to identify and deal with the serious, short-term problems as well as longer-term issues. Within the first week of management many maintenance issues were ..
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