PRS : Our National Perspective · a life cycle costing perspective. The last recession has largely restricted the building of apartments outside of London, and this has presented

Structures • Transport Planning • Environmental • Civils & Infrastructure • Expert Advice • Sustainability • Stakeholder Engagement

Birmingham Bristol Cardiff Douglas Edinburgh Kendal Leeds Liverpool London Manchester Nottingham

PRS : Our National Perspective

February 2016

1. About Us

2. Relevant Experience

Eagle House

Contents

1. About Us

1. About us

55YearsWe are an award-winning consulting engineering practice. In addition to our primary structural engineering services we also work in related areas such as environmental, civils & infrastructure, transport planning, sustainability, stakeholder engagement and expert advice. In other words, at each key stage of the built environment life cycle.

Building on and creating legacy

Our heritage goes back over 50 years. The company was founded in Liverpool in 1960 by Bill Curtin. A number of the present directors and senior members of staff worked with Bill, and they still carry his values today which has enabled the business to grow organically to 11 offices across the UK.

Because of our belief in legacy, our solutions and relationships are enduring, creative and sustainable, time after time.

Because of our independence, we’re accountable to our clients and one another alone. This leads to a happy and accomplished team, and consistent, quality delivery every time.

Bill Curtin founded Curtins in 1960

We are a national

company with a

strong local presence BirminghamBristolCardiffDouglasEdinburghKendalLeedsLiverpoolLondonManchesterNottingham

We are a national player with a strong local presence, working as one business from 11 locations across the UK. Our network of offices allows us to deliver a local service to clients throughout the UK.

We have over 300 staff operating from our strategically located offices. We work as one national business promoting collaboration between offices. The resources from one geographical location are available to increase the capacity of another during staff shortages or work surge situations.

1. About us

StructuresBuildings, bridges, towers and masts; new building and refurbishment; historic structures and conservation; structural surveys, appraisals and investigations; site supervision and monitoring.

Transport PlanningTransport assessments; travel plans; development planning; Section 106 & Section 278 Agreements; land-use planning; transport and regeneration studies; traffic modelling; traffic engineering and sustainable travel.

EnvironmentalDue diligence and environmental risk assessment; desk top and intrusive environmental appraisals; qualitative and quantitative site risk assessments; remediation strategies, their implementation and validation; contract administration of remediation works; emergency response and remediation services.

Civils & InfrastructureUrban and rural highways and bridges; estate roads and drainage; flood risk assessments; water management and flood relief systems; sustainable urban drainage.

Expert AdviceLegislation driven services such as Party Wall Surveys, CDM Co-ordinator services and the Scotland Structural Engineers Registration (SER) scheme. We have Qualified Persons under the CL:AIRE registration scheme to assist with Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Our Accredited Engineers under the CARE registration scheme can provide expert advice on historic building conservation and we have experienced engineers who can assist by providing expert witness services.

SustainabilityFlood Risk Assessments, SuDs Design, CL:AIRE Services, Materials Management Plans, BREEAM Assessors, CEEQUAL Assessors.

Stakeholder Engagement We offer a rare blend of public affairs, media relations and community engagement skills that will ensure your planning application is expertly guided through.

Our broad experience of diverse projects has shaped our people and our solutions. We bring rich learnings and rounded thinking from our seven areas of specialism.

7Specialisms

Structures

Transport Planning

Environmental

Civils & Infrastructure

Expert Advice

Sustainability

Stakeholder Engagement



We have a large amount of experience working on residential projects, including both tall buildings, and in the PRS market. For example, we have worked on two of the first purpose designed and built PRS schemes in the UK, at the Keel on Kings Dock, and the Baltic Triangle new build project. These schemes total over 500 PRS units, with the Keel already successfully completed.

The map to the right demonstrates the spread of our PRS experience across the country.

Commercial Understanding

We understand that the main difference between PRS and traditional residential is the ownership of the building or development by a single party, with the intention of making it a long term investment, as opposed to a ‘quick win’ from selling on. Our appreciation of the client’s objectives, enables us to recognise the pressure on up front build costs, but also the longer term maintenance of the building from a life cycle costing perspective.

The last recession has largely restricted the building of apartments outside of London, and this has presented the opportunity to re-look at how the flats are being offered to the market. Pre-recession, the market was aimed at short-term leasing or sale, with a typical 2 bed flat consisting of a large bedroom with en-suite, and a smaller ‘guest room’ and a communal bathroom. It has now been recognised that much of the take up of the 2 bed flats is for young professionals living together but not as a couple. Therefore, 2 bed flats will have equally sized bedrooms each with an en-suite and no communal bathroom. The other main difference is the removal of the entrance lobby within a flat – the front door will now often open directly onto a shared kitchen/living room area, with the bedrooms feeding off this to either side.

Each PRS development often has a generous communal offering, such as an internet lounge/cafe, roof top garden, gym etc. The intention of this is to generate a stronger community spirit, responding to a study which suggests that if you know 1 other person in the building, you are twice as likely to renew your contract to stay.

GLASGOW:370 Units

MANCHESTER:2440 Units

LIVERPOOL:814 Units

BIRMINGHAM:1255 Units

GLASG

LIVER

BIRM

MMAANC

LONDON:370 UnitsLOND

LEEDS:500 Units

EDLEL

Residential/PRS Projects

Our experience of delivering PRS projects across the UK

Main Design Priorities

Based upon our experience on other projects, we believe the specific design priorities for PRS schemes are the following:• Achieving a net to gross area ratio of 80% or above which influences design

and circulation space etc.• Fire strategy is a key consideration influencing central lift and stair cores which

comply with escape routes.• A flexible structural grid is required to allow for a mix of unit sizes to meet local

market demand.• Most developments are medium or high rise due to the required densities, and

as such fire ratings need to be considered.• We have found that it is important for the structure to lead the design to

maximise the efficiency from the building. We are proactive engineers and can demonstrate the experience to have these discussions at an early stage.

• It is important for space planning and layout to be consistent from floor to floor, otherwise the design of the building will become complex and expensive.

• Our other specialisms are vital to the success of these projects, including Transport Planning justifying peak trip generation, and in some cases reduced car parking provision.

Baltic Triangle, The Strand, LiverpoolValue: £25 millionClient: Promenade Estates / Neptune Investments

This high profile PRS scheme is located on the Baltic Triangle, opposite the Albert Dock.

The scheme will provide over 300 one, two and three bed apartments within a Private Rented Sector funded project.

Comprising a multi-storey precast concrete framed structure, supported on a new reinforced concrete transfer-deck.

We engaged to design the transfer structure, utilising an existing partially constructed concrete basement/sub-structure and foundations.

We also advised with regard to below ground drainage works, highway engineering and transport planning issues.

The Keel, LiverpoolValue: £15 millionClient: Glenbrook Property

This project incorporated the refurbishment of the former HMRC building situated on the Queens Dock waterfront, Liverpool. The scheme provides 240 apartments by way of conversion of the former office building into modern residential living space.

PRS

PRS


Adelphi Wharf, ManchesterValue: £55 millionClient: Beaumont Morgan

A 450,000sqft PRS development on the bank of River Irwell to be completed in three phases. The nine storey development will comprise 580 apartments; a mixture of studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom, and townhouses. It will also include an on-site gymnasium and underground parking for residents.

Working with the surroundings

• Protection against flooding from the River Irwell.

• Re-provision of riverside access for the Canal and Rivers Trust.

• Coordination with historic river culvert and water abstraction point.

Example Case Studies - PRS

PRS

Example Case Studies - PRS


Candleriggs is a 50/50 joint venture between the investment arm of Mace and funds managed by Mercer Real Estate Partners.

The site is located in the centre of Glasgow being redeveloped into a mixed use scheme totalling 680,000 sq ft located in the vibrant Merchant City area.

The project will include:

• Hotel 124 Beds• Private Flats 135 Units• Private Rented 377 Units• Student 597 Beds• Food and Beverage 3167m2• High Street 1152 m2• Convenience 920m2

The site area is 1.5Ha, maximum 16 storeys and will include a basement car park.

Candleriggs, GlasgowValue: £120mClient: Mace Real Estate & Mercer Real Estate

PRS


Example Case Studies - Tall Buildings

City Road, LondonValue: £30 millionClient: Precis

This is a 25 storey hotel project with a two storey basement. The building is a steel framed construction, with high specification cladding. A steel frame was selected because of speed of construction, and ability to achieve complex design at higher levels.

Eagle House, LondonValue: £60 millionClient: McCabe Builders

This is a mixed-use 300,000 sqft development comprising 287 flats. The site will also house retail, leisure and office space on the

ground floor and a basement underground car park. The site is dominated by a 27 storey new build tower over-looking the refurbished 1930’s Eagle House, with a central courtyard and public realm.

Tall Building

Residential

Tall Building

South Quay Plaza, LondonClient: Berkeley Homes

This is the first phase of the White City development, providing 1,465 homes; we were appointed by Berkeley Homes to undertake a Peer Review of the structural design of this 67 storey residential tower.

We reported on the proposed structural design criteria, design calculations, drawings, and specifications, together an assessment of the inherent structural behaviour, global stability, serviceability and dynamic performance.

We provided constructive suggestions for alternative solutions with potential structural efficiencies, also identifying a possible alternative solution to increase the net internal area. Our work on this project has led to our appointment on this client’s next large residential development.

Tall Building


Oxford Road, Manchester - Masterplanning

Client: Select Property Group & BruntwoodWe are currently working with the Joint Venture between Select Property and Bruntwood on the masterplanning of the former BBC site in Central Manchester. The overall site includes over 1m sqft of commercial office space, and six residential blocks, four of which are PRS.

In addition to advising on the individual buildings, our services within this masterplanning have been ‘Technical Masterplanning’ which includes:

• Title Drawings – combining the various title documents across the development, identifying areas of inconsistency, and provision of combined drawings into various legal packages.

• Flood Risk & Management Plan – initial global study of the entire site, identifying specific zones and drainage strategies. Provision of specific Flood Risk Assessment for each individual plot, and establishing a Flood Risk Management plan for potential surface and foul outfalls.

• Drainage Study and Masterplan – mapping of existing network of sewers and primary drain runs, providing a drainage masterplan with discharge locations, sewer capacities, potential for reuse of existing drains, opportunities for beneficial discharge, and cost effective attenuation.

• Topographical Survey – managing the cost of the survey by establishing a site wide grid, revisiting as the site develops over time.

• Geo-environmental Surveys – we carried out an initial desktop survey to inform the masterplan, with limited intrusive surveys in key areas to better understand likely site risks and constraints.

Oxford Road, Manchester - PRS Schemes

Client: Select Property GroupWe are appointed upon four PRS buildings on this site, ranging up to 25 storeys with over 650 units, and totalling circa £130m. The buildings contain a mix of studios and 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments.

Oxford Road, Manchester - Studios

Client: Select Property GroupIn addition, we are also working on two further buildings; one is a ten storey block of around 400 high end studios, and another eleven storey block of 200 units. These have a total construction cost of around £30m, and are aimed primarily at the overseas student market.

Oxford Road, Manchester - Office Buildings

Client: BruntwoodWe have also recently been appointed to work upon the first two commercial office buildings, along with the pavilion building for the overall site.

Oxford Road, ManchesterValue: Over £500mClient: JV between Select Property and Bruntwood

City Centre Projects

Tall Building

Example Case Studies - Tall Buildings

PRS

Residential

curtins.com

Neil ParkinsonExecutive Director

T: 07734 788020E: [email protected]


Rose Wharf78-80 East StreetLeeds LS9 [email protected] 274 8509

curtins.com

Phil OsborneBusiness Development Director

T: 07872 060 805E: [email protected]


40 Compton StreetLondonEC1V [email protected] 7324 2240

Documents

PRS : Our National Perspective · a life cycle costing perspective. The last recession has largely restricted the building of apartments outside of London, and this has presented