Metal theft is a very serious problem and is considered the fastest growing crime in the UK.It is estimated to cost the UK economy £770million annually. An almost unbelievable 15,000 tonnes of metal was stolen last year affecting transport, utilities and the general public on an almost daily basis. Property has become a serious target, with this crime affecting all types of property especially empty buildings and in particular those that have been vacant for some time.

The following steps should assist when considering this problem:-
· Undertake a thorough risk assessment of your property – identifying higher risk items that could be targeted by thieves is a good starting point. 
  This process will enable you to determine what metal you have, where it is and how likely it will be a target.

· Remember that metal theft can affect any part of your premises, like roofs, cabling, boilers and plumbing, gates and fencing and manhole covers. 
  Thieves will take virtually anything with scrap value.

The next step is to take action to mitigate the risk and ensure high risk metal on your premises is better protected:-
· Secure the Perimeter – Keep intruders out with steel security screens, doors and fencing

· Install an Alarm – Nothing does more to detect and deter intruders 

· Patrol and Inspect Regularly – Especially at night!
 
· If possible – Maintain Good Lighting Around the Property

· Reduce, remove or replace any metal where possible – Replace with a substitute such as non-lead flashing or plastic pipes.  Consider if the overall level of metal stock can be reduced.

 

Acting on behalf of a private Client, Fifield Glyn have arranged a disposal of the Freehold interest of Morgan House, Winnington Avenue, Winnington to Direct Collections Bailiffs Limited for an undisclosed sum. Morgan House comprises a self-contained ground floor office totalling 6,650 sq.ft. inclusive of 28No. car parking spaces.

J&S Motorcycle Accessories have acquired the former Discover Leisure plc site at Oakmere, Cheshire, previously known as Harringtons Caravans, from the Administrators, KPMG.

The site comprises approximately 5½ acres including showrooms, café, workshops, parking and hardstanding, plus 6 acres of woodland.  J&S Motorcycle Accessories was established nearly 30 years ago starting with one small store in Northwich, which has now grown to twelve stores nationwide including a substantial online business.  They propose to relocate their Town Centre store on London Road and their workshops at Denton Drive, Northwich, to the Oakmere facility.  The sale of both properties is being handled by their retained Agents, Fifield Glyn, who also advised in connection with the purchase of the Chester Road site. 

Richard Smith, Director of Fifield Glyn, who advised J&S Accessories comments: “This acquisition was concluded in quick time following detailed negotiations with the Administrator in the face of fierce competition from, in particular, residential developers.  The site is in an excellent location for J&S Accessories being located in a prominent position on the A556, Chester Road, a main arterial route connecting Manchester with Chester and North Wales, as well as being situated nearby other attractions such as Oulton Park Race Track and, as such, will continue to provide local employment.”  The property was purchased for an undisclosed sum.

Fifield Glyn have been instructed by Stena Line to advise on their port at Stranraer. Stena Line have recently moved their port facility from Stranraer to a new £200m deep water port just north of Cairnryan, which will allow larger vessels and improve the travel time to Belfast. The ferry port move allows the regeneration of the waterfront area of Stranraer to proceed, Stena own 13 acres in the regeneration area which will be redeveloped.

The proposed development will include 100,000 sq.ft. of retail, housing and a new transport hub. Fifield Glyn have been appointed by Stena to advise on the development, find a Joint Venture Partner and liaise with Dumfries and Galloway Council. For further information contact Rod Welfare rod.welfare@fifieldglyn.comor Charles Fifield charles.fifield@fifieldglyn.com

Momentum is building for a town plan that will give the people of Northwich the power to shape their future. The only sticking point is the cost of producing the plan, which could be up to £29,000. Peter Herbert, director of sustainable communities for Ground Work Cheshire, gave a presentation to Northwich Town Council. He explained the town plan would be led by the community with the help of Groundwork and Cheshire Community Action.  

‘The steering group would run events and organise questionnaires in the town to get feedback from local people then come up with an action plan’, he said.  

‘All of this needs facilitation and organisation’.

He outlined three organisational options of steering groups working with a mixture of thematic and area groups to move the plan forward. The cheapest of these was £15,000 and the most expensive at £29,000.

John Fifield, founder and director of Fifield Glyn, attended the latest town council meeting and is keen for the community to be involved in plans for the future of Northwich from very beginning. He said “I have been in touch with the Department of Communities and Local Government who advise that if local people wish to produce a Neighbourhood Plan then this must be led by the town council. If they do, then Government money could be available to fund it. As you know, there are many of us, including the Northwich Independent Retailers Association, who are very opposed to Cheshire West and Chester’s present plans without the endorsement of local people. It is precisely that sort of circumstance that the coalition Government included in the legislation in the Localism Act so that local people can decide themselves what they would like to see in their neighbourhood”.

He said leading firm of Manchester planners could run a survey for half the cost. He added “The Barons Quay scheme will be with us for at least 50 years so it is vital that local people have their say”.

Town mayor Clr Alison Gerard said “It’s great that a business person has come forward to try to have some involvement with the town plan. With interest from traders, this should have a positive impact on the town plan as we start to steer it forward “.

(Taken from The Northwich Guardian 29.02.12 written by Gina Bebbington).

 

  

Fifield Glyn have agreed the letting of this 575 sq ft (953 sq m) property on a 6 year FRI lease at a rent of £16,000 per annum to an independent bakery. The property is located in the popular south Manchester / Stockport commuter suburb of Bramhall, popular with independent retailers and the property was previously a bakers for many years making it an ideal premises. Fifield Glyn acted for the private Landlord.

Further details about the new bakery for Bramhall can be found at the Tenant’s website: www.bramhallbakery.co.uk

Edward Fifield, Director of Chartered Surveyors Fifield Glyn, was elected a Fellow of the RICS on Thursday 2nd February 2012. Edward heads Property Management, Residential Management and Building Consultancy within the firm.
Within the Building Consultancy, he advises both Landlords and Tenants on Dilapidations, project management, Party Wall and Planned Maintenance.  Edward also advises on Service Charge Disputes.
Edward said ‘I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded Fellowship by Achievement. It is fantastic to be recognised by your professional body and to reach a significant career achievement and all before I am 40!’

The Gadbrook Park BID Quiz was held at Nunsmere Hall on Thursday 26th January 2012 and was a great success with 15 teams entered! The evening kicked off with a hotpot supper followed by Quiz and prize giving by the John Fifield, Chairman of the BID group and Mike Kelly Business Park Manager.

The BID Group wish to thank all the companies that entered, Groundwork and all who helped behind the scenes. Arrangement for next year’s quiz is already being looked into!

Weaver Vale Housing Trust won the challenge cup and walked away with a clutch of prizes. Congratulations to Martin and the team at Weaver Vale.

CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS…………………….WEAVER VALE HOUSING TRUST

RUNNERS UP………………………………………TURNKEY

THIRD PLACE…………………………………….. SCI

GALLANT YOUTHS……………………………….NATIONWIDE

SPOT PRIZES, Carers Federation, WVHT, Barclays

 

Jo Hansford Hair Salon has recently taken occupation of retail premises at 48 South Audley Street, at the junction with Grosvenor Square. 

The space was formerly occupied by the Renaissance Corporation, comprising some 4,000 square feet on ground and basement floors.

The former hairdressing salon at 19 Mount Street, adjacent to Scott’s Restaurant, has been assigned to the French Fashion House, Paule Ka, for a substantial premium, who took an immediate surrender and a new Lease from the direct Landlords at a market rental level.

The premises have some 2,000 square feet, arranged on ground and basement floors. The Lease of the basement retail and ancillary office accommodation at 96 Mount Street has been assigned to Rubinacci UK,
it comprises some 1,000 square feet.

Rubinacci UK has traded from the extensive ground floor showrooms above, since 2005 and is a well-known
exclusive international and Neapolitan tailor with four major operations in Naples, Rome, Milan and New York.

Ashley Phillips Lahaise advised the Renaissance Corporation (Kashmir).  Michael Horwitz & Co. advised Paule Ka. 
Rubinacci acted on their own behalf.  Fifield Glyn’s Mayfair Office advised Jo Hansford Hair Salon on all three transactions.

A DESIGN team has been appointed to work on plans to regenerate Baron’s Quay, but a leading chartered surveyor thinks the scheme is ‘barking up the wrong tree’.  Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) and the Weaver Valley Partnership are leading the project to transform the 25-acre site into a retail and leisure quarter. Lead consultants Rider Levett Bucknall, with architecture and planning support from Broadway Malyan, will be responsible for developing a planning application ready for submission in autumn 2012. Working alongside the design team will be letting and investment agents Lambert Smith Hampton and Tushingham Moore, who have been appointed to identify and engage with potential occupiers of the development.

Clr Herbert Manley, executive member for regeneration, said: “The professional teams we have appointed are highly qualified and experienced in delivering projects of this nature. We are delighted to welcome them on board.

“Work will now begin on developing a detailed scheme, taking into account the feedback we received from the Northwich community to the development framework.

“We will share our plans with local residents before a final scheme is developed for the planning application.”

But John Fifield, founder and director of Fifield Glyn, said he did not think the plans, which include a giant supermarket, are what the town needs.

“I do think the council is barking up the wrong tree,” he said.

“Their proposal at the moment, which I really take issue with, is a proposed 120,000 sq ft supermarket – that equates to two-and-a-half football pitches.

“A store of that size, or anything approaching that size will obliterate Northwich”.

“Northwich is extremely well-blessed with a high percentage of independent retailers for a town of its size but they won’t be able to compete”.

“But they’re what sets Northwich apart, they’re its unique selling point and should be encouraged, not obliterated.”

John Fifield’s vision for Northwich: John suggested a smaller food-only store would be more appropriate for Baron’s Quay, along with shops selling comparison goods, a cultural and lifestyle centre and family housing.

“I’m not against development in Baron’s Quay,” he said.

“Certainly Northwich does need something and Baron’s Quay is the right place to put it.

“What I would be doing is proposing a food-only store of 30 or 40,000 sq ft – we need food to attract people into the town centre – then you surround that with smaller stores which are aimed at comparison goods like fashion or shoes.”

John suggested that current supermarkets should be allowed to expand but that none should be allowed to dominate Northwich. He said the current memorial hall and magistrates’ court site is the wrong location for a cultural centre.

“It’s on the wrong side of Chesterway – I’d put it in Baron’s Quay as it’s another draw in the town centre,” he said.

“The other thing I would put into that area is family housing.

“If you walk up Witton Street at 5pm there’s nothing there, it’s absolutely dead, but you bring in some family housing and suddenly there’s a bit of life going on.”

John, who lives in Acton Bridge, said more time needed to be taken over the plans.

“No-one’s going to build anything there any time soon because of the recession so you don’t need to be in a rush, you need to be planning to get it right,” he said.

“When the upturn comes you need to have all your ducks in a row, it’s a great time now to be planning it and getting the right thing ready.”

He added: “Whatever scheme we have we will have for the next 50 years so taking a couple of years to make sure we get it right, in that timescale, matters not.”

(Taken from The Northwich Gaurdian 24.01.12 written by Gina Bebbington).