Pivotal Construction is the one of the first Northamptonshire businesses to receive funding through the Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet).
Nick Barnett and Neil Cumming – the directors of Pivotal Construction – formed the company in 2009 after they recognised the problem of the on-going need for housing, but a diminishing supply of suitable development land.
Nick said: “The Environmental Agency rejected 6,200 planning applications in 2007/08 on the grounds of risk to the properties through flooding. This, coupled with the costs of prime development land, suggested to us that there was an opportunity to make use of marginal land, if we could design a home which is unaffected by floodwater.
“The most striking feature of our homes is the highly functional ‘pedestal’ design, which incorporates an innovative steel construction and will support the home approximately two metres above ground level. This makes our homes excellent at keeping themselves and their occupants out of harm’s way.
This pedestal structure will give the homes an incredibly strong and enduring platform. The factory-built side panels and roof elements allow an extremely quick and cost-effective build on site, which also keeps on-site environmental disruption to a minimum. The interiors will be finished to a very high level and the homeowner can choose the furnishings and fittings.
Nick said: “The £8,700 Innovation Support Grant will go towards the costs of developing our innovative preliminary design, through the services of BRIK Contracting Ltd. The design incorporates many high environmental rating technologies, which aren’t yet commonplace in the house-building sector. We’re aiming for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) code level 6 ultimately. This should provide residents with an income from surplus power generation sold back to the National Grid.
The foundations of these houses will be significantly smaller than a conventional design; this will reduce the need for complex groundwork in difficult terrain such as flood plains, wooded or rocky areas or on hazardous, sloping sites. This will also minimise ecological disturbance, which should make the planning process easier.
Nick said: “As soon as we heard about the ISG, we arranged a meeting with Charles Meynell, iNet’s Senior Business Adviser. Charles’ encouragement and advice helped us to persevere in putting together a really good case to the iNet, for our project, which has now been accepted. This is really marvellous news as we now have the green light to get things moving at a pace which would not otherwise have been possible.”
Charles Meynell agreed, “The iNet is here to support businesses which have a great idea, but need the funding and advice to develop these ideas into a marketable product, or a practical application. In Pivotal’s case we helped them define and crystallise their proposals, often causing them to pause & re-assess some elements of their initial thinking – hence Nick’s use of the word ‘perseverance’! – but the application process is designed to challenge the premises behind these innovation projects. Once the Devil’s Advocacy stages are passed, and the application approved, the result is a sharper definition of exactly what is required and how it is to be achieved. This is valuable all round for everyone involved and raises the intrinsic value of the support provided.”
To qualify for an Innovation Support Grant, the applicant must be based in the East Midlands and operating commercially in construction or an associated industry sector such as architectural or surveying practice, mining, quarrying, waste management, energy or water supply. They must also require third party technical or consultancy assistance for their idea, product or process and expect to protect or create jobs as a result.
The Sustainable Construction iNet is funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The aim of the iNet is to share expertise and stimulate the research and development of new products, services and processes.
Businesses wanting to find out more about the Sustainable Construction iNet and the grants available should telephone 01604 892836 or visit www.eminnovation.org.uk.
-ENDS-
Issued on behalf of the Sustainable Construction iNet by Lava. For further information contact Matt or Lindsey or Becky at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk / becky@lavapr.co.uk
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Notes to editors
About East Midlands Innovation
· East Midlands Innovation is the Regional Science and Industry Council which was established in 2005 by emda.
· East Midlands Innovation’s principle responsibility is to take the lead for emda in implementing the Innovation Strategy and Action Plan for the East Midlands with the aim to grow a long term, sustainable, innovation-led economy.
About emda
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
- Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
- Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
- Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
- Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
- A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.
About ERDF
The ERDF Programme aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by supporting regional economic development.
The ERDF objectives for England are:
- Promoting innovation and knowledge transfer
- Stimulating enterprise and supporting successful business
- Ensuring sustainable development, production and consumption
- Building sustainable communities
- Improving accessibility and connectivity (for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly only – as part of their Convergence Programme).
A Programme Monitoring Committee consisting of regional stakeholders such as Government Offices, RDAs, Regional Assemblies, Local Authorities, Sub-regional Partnerships, Higher Education Institutions, Trade Unions, and the private and voluntary sectors will monitor and oversee programme implementation in each region.
For more information on ERDF funding generally, please visit www.erdf.communities.gov.uk <http://www.erdf.communities.gov.uk> or http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/feder/index_en.htm
About ERDF in the East Midlands
The East Midlands is eligible for 268.5m Euros between 2007 and 2013, which, when combined with match funding, provides a programme value of approximately £420m – a significant investment in the economic development of the region.
The East Midlands qualifies as a competitiveness and employment region under the EU’s Cohesion Policy, which aims to meet the EU Lisbon objective to become ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social inclusion.’
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is responsible for the programme management and delivery of the region’s 2007-13 ERDF Competitiveness Programme. The responsibility for the ERDF programme management was transferred from the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) to emda following a decision by the UK Government to seek greater alignment between ERDF and regional strategies and funding streams. The 2007-13 ERDF Programme is therefore set firmly within the framework of the Regional Economic Strategy.
A Programme Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Regional Director of Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM), guides the strategic direction of the programme and works closely with emda.
To find out more about ERDF, the region’s strategy for delivering the funds, how to apply for funding and how the programme is managed, please visit www.eastmidlandserdf.org.uk <http://www.eastmidlandserdf.org.uk>
