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A modern new concept in property, inspired by how city dwellers live across the globe, was launched in Northern Ireland today.

Designed by a new property company Never Monday set up by leading developer Alan Fraser, the proposed scheme will bring a funky new style of city centre living to Belfast, where the emphasis is on design and convenience.
The essence of these futuristic new pads referred to as “intelligent living spaces” is in the clever design which utilises every square inch so that there is a generous feeling of space but with low maintenance. Inspired by similar boutique style homes which are popular in large cities across the world, these precision-engineered studio and one bed designer apartments offer a lifestyle choice to prospective buyers with all the facilities for work, rest and play on their doorstep.

The full turnkey homes include everything you need for modern living right down to designer bespoke furniture and flat screen wall mounted TVs and ipod.

Situated in what is being called The M Building in Montgomery Street, right in the heart of the city centre at BT1, work has started on 48 apartments which will be served by a ground floor coffee shop, communal laundry facilities, a fitness room, modern rooftop designer garden and bicycle park offering buyers the option of helping the environment by walking or cycling from their city centre location.

So radical is the concept that the developer has designed and built a full scale “pop-up pod” replica situated at Victoria House in Gloucester Street, adjacent to where the M Building will be located, so that people can fully appreciate the overall feeling of space and modern design.

Alan Fraser, who owns Never Monday, said he would like to add a new dimension to new property design in Northern Ireland with Never Monday’s niche new lifestyle approach.

“As a progressive company with many years of experience in international property development, we have seen how similar apartments work right across the world,” said Mr Fraser.

“We are convinced that Belfast is ready for something which we feel is progressive and part of our future.

“Everything is included so that all the new buyer has to do is move in.”

The new homes have been competitively priced starting at £79,950 and Mr Fraser is confident that Never Monday’s unique selling points will prove popular with first time buyers, business people and retirees.

He said: “Never Monday is unlike anything else available in the city and initial feedback from what we see as a fresh new concept in home design, especially from the business community, has been very positive.

“It offers the opportunity to enjoy all the convenience of city centre living at a price which can’t be beaten. Similar homes in other cities are being snapped up and have been singled out for multi-industry awards for their innovation and design.

“We believe Belfast is ready for the sophistication and progressiveness which Never Monday represents.  We also see it as a positive move which can only benefit the economy and the property market in Northern Ireland. Indeed this development will bring much needed work for over 100 direct and indirect jobs to a beleaguered construction industry.”

The size of the living spaces is not something with which Mr. Fraser believes buyers will have an issue.

He said: “What you are buying here is a lifestyle and the reason we designed the “pop-up pod” is so that people can see first-hand how the special engineering involved at the design stage has created an apartment that is big on space while compact in overall size.

“All of the utilities are hidden to liberate space and physically there is a freedom of movement while visually there are unhindered views in every direction.

“Modern lifestyle demands have changed considerably and people now want comfort and convenience which Never Monday offers them along with a touch of luxury living.”

An initial deposit of £500 secures one of the new apartments.

Simon Brien, Director of BTW Cairns who are selling agents for the properties said: “We have been involved in most of the residential apartment schemes in Belfast over the past seven years and undoubtedly the Never Monday development is launching is radically different to anything we have seen before.

“This is due to the combination of highly competitive and affordable pricing combined with high quality architectural design in what will become one of Belfast’s new contemporary buildings. Internally the apartments have been exceptionally cleverly designed with well planned, high specification turnkey packages and an excellent range of amenities for residents.

“Without doubt, this combination will make Never Monday unique to Belfast and with the most important criteria to home buyers in today’s market being value, we are most excited about the launch and confident of the appeal to buyers and success of the scheme.”

The scheme was welcomed by Mark Finlay, Chairman of Economic Strategy, South Belfast Partnership Board who said: “With investments and initiatives such as Never Monday, Belfast is fast becoming the contemporary European regional capital that Policy has always said we need to create.

“People are putting their money where their mouth is and are increasingly attracted to live right in the heart of the city centre where they enjoy access to great jobs and opportunities and a host of café, restaurants and vibrant music and cultural scene.

“This unique living concept is perfect for the people being attracted to the city from far and wide to work for the many new international technology, professional and financial services companies clustering between City Hall and the Waterfront.

“The business community has been swelled by companies like Allen & Overy, NYSE Euronext and Herbert Smith, joining the likes of AllState, Liberty and Fujitsu. I am aware of at least three major US investors currently considering adding to this roster. Top employers need to attract the best employees, with both a great living environment and working environment. Convenience, amenities and vibrancy are the key. Never Monday adds to an already attractive mix.”

Belfast restaurateur and celebrity chef Michael Deane also welcomed the scheme as something positive for the city. He said: “Belfast always seems to lag behind other international cities so it’s great news to hear of something so forward thinking and positive.

“The city is vibrant and Never Monday can only add to that buzz and the whole lifestyle that comes with city centre living.”

Tom McClelland of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors added: “We welcome the jobs creation in the construction sector and the drive to encourage people to live in the city centre.

“Urban regeneration is about people living, working and relaxing in the city.”

With autumn approaching there’s no better time to create an attractive outdoor area that will brighten up your home through the long winter months .

Now that the kids are back to school, your outside space may well be looking lost and empty. But with the added peace and quiet you’ll be able to concentrate on how to transform an ordinary area into a stunning focal point that you and your family can enjoy to the full.

From patio parties to play areas, a well designed outside space is an instantly powerful addition to any home – and with today’s growing café culture, it’s an ‘extra’ living area that more and more people are making use of all year round.

At Acheson & Glover’s Outside Room Centres (located across Northern Ireland) you’ll find an extensive range of paving and walling products to provide you with everything you need to turn your outside space into something special, whether you’re looking for a new patio or driveway or an entirely new outside space.

And if you’re looking for inspiration, two new products, launched earlier this year, are proving extremely versatile:-

River Stone: River Stone features a unique gentle rippling surface that makes this a paving that really stands out from the competition. Creating a completely new option in paving, it can provide texture and form in a modern setting while just as successfully adding depth and character in a more traditional scheme. Available in three unique colour blends it’s the perfect paving option.

Regal Stone: Modern and contemporary in appearance, Regal Stone is the ideal choice when building bigger walls up to 0.9m (3ft) in height. Completely vertical and with a unique and patented locating system that ensures perfect alignment, Regal Stone walls are built with no mortar or concrete. Suitable for both straight and curved retaining walls around the modern home.

Northern Ireland company Patton Heritage (part of the Patton Group) has won a Green Apple Environment Award for its restoration project at Lowther Castle, Cumbria, in the Lake District.

The Ballymena-based company has been selected from over 500 nominations in the national campaign to find Britain’s greenest companies.

The award-winning contractor was appointed to manage the extensive ongoing restoration project at Lowther which consists of the major refurbishment of the large Grade II* listed castle and its outbuildings.

The scheme is also a CEEQUAL (Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment & Award Scheme) project and is a registered Considerate Site Constructor Scheme Site.

“Using the three pillars of sustainability – social, environmental and economic – the project is already showing real added benefits in all three areas and this will continue to increase as the development progresses,” said Liam McEvoy, Patton Group Environmental and Waste Manager.

“We are committed to building long-term, sustainable client partnerships by going the extra mile to maximise added value and through the Lowther Castle project we aim to deliver high sustainable benefits to the local and wider communities and environment.”

Examples of best practice sustainability on the Lowther Castle project include:

• Completing 11 apprenticeships through local schools and colleges as well as providing opportunities for those out of work long term

• Running training courses for volunteers interested in learning more about the skills being used to restore the castle.

• Greening the supply chain to increase the use of responsibly sourced materials.

• Use of renewable technology within the restoration project, which includes eco site accommodation.

• Ensuring the protection and enhancement of the wildlife and natural environment.

• Achieving a target of 95% waste diverted from landfill.

In addition to the Green Apple Awards, the Lowther Castle project has been highlighted as an outstanding project within the national Considerate Constructors Scheme.

“This is an exceptionally well-run and unique project,” said Tony Lawson of the Considerate Constructors Scheme.

“The contractor’s commitment to maintaining high standards in all parts of the contract is apparent from the moment the site comes in view.”

As a result of its success in the Green Apple Awards, Patton Heritage has been invited to have its winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow the company’s example and learn from its experience.

The Site Manager on an exclusive development by Patton Homes has been awarded a prestigious NHBC ‘Pride in the Job’ Award.

David Watterson, who managed the luxury development of superior homes at McCormick Brae on the Moyarget Road just outside Ballycastle, has been singled out as one of the Top 30 site managers in Northern Ireland.

David was one of over 18,000 site managers working on NHBC registered sites that were automatically entered into the ‘Pride in the Job’ competition.

To win his award, he had to demonstrate consistently good working practices, from management skills, to how he motivates his team to produce the highest quality new homes.

“Everything about Patton Homes, from the design of their developments, the sites they choose, the materials they use, the people they employ and their after sales service is of the very best quality,” said David.

“I am delighted that McCormick Brae has been chosen for the NHBC Pride in the Job award this year. I am only a small part of this team and I would like to give a special mention to the rest of the team who have shown a lot of skill and hard work.”

Patton Homes Director John Montgomery said: “We are once again pleased to have been recognised in the ‘Pride in the Job’ competition which, for us, reinforces the quality for which we continually strive and we are delighted that David has once again been selected for this accolade.”

David was presented with the Pride in the Job Award in 2008 for a development of luxury apartments in Bath Terrace, Portrush.

Ballymena based, Patton Homes has a proud record of achievement in ‘Pride in the Job’, having won at least one award each year in 30 of the 31 annual competition awards.

NHBC’s ‘Pride in the Job’ competition is the most highly esteemed contest of its kind in the house building industry.

Its aim is to recognise and reward the very best site managers in the UK and over the years has become synonymous with quality new homes as well as being a recognised seal of approval for new homebuyers everywhere.

Patton Homes prides itself on providing a quality service and product which the company says is reflected in the large numbers of repeat customers who insist on only buying a ‘Patton’ home.

Full details of the unique McCormick Brae development can be found on www.pattonhomes.co.uk

A Northern Ireland firm has struck gold for the second year in a row at a prestigious national awards ceremony aimed at recognising excellence in the fit-out industry.

The Ballymena-based Patton Group, picked up the Gold Award in the joinery/fit-out category of the National Association of Interior Specialists annual awards held in London’s Dorchester Hotel.

The company was singled out from among fit out firms throughout the UK and Ireland for its work on a flagship store in Gateshead for top jewellery chain Goldsmiths.

It is the second year in a row that the Co. Antrim company has excelled at the high profile event, picking up Gold last year for the fit out of a new library in Shepherds Bush, London.

The Goldsmiths store, one of several fitted out across the country by the Patton team, involved the refurbishment and transformation of an existing store into the largest luxury jewellers in the North East of England.

The 25 year old store boasts the Goldsmiths’ first Shop-in-Shop Boutique, selling a number of exclusive products and now hailed as the company’s flagship store.

Patton carried out the fit-out of the store in two phases allowing it to continue trading during the major works.

The company’s specialist joinery manufacturing facility made all of the panelling and display cabinets for the state-of-the-art jewellers and a glowing tribute was paid at the awards ceremony to the high standard of craftsmanship.

Such is the meticulous attention to detail in the Patton approach that before they went on site, the team carried out a thorough survey and re-created a ‘full size’ footprint of the proposed retail store on Patton’s own workshop floor.

Every component was carefully measured and manufactured to fit perfectly before dismantling, transporting and installing the finished product on site.

Patton Fit-Out Director Brendan Boyd said: “We are delighted to once again be recognised for the quality of our workmanship at national level.

“This is one of the highest accolades in our industry and we are especially delighted that Goldsmiths, with whom we have enjoyed such a long standing relationship, has also been honoured.

“We have assisted them in the roll out of new stores across the UK and Ireland and their vision for style and design will have contributed to this award.”

Allan Perry of Goldsmiths said: “Goldsmiths is honoured to have one of its stores singled out at such a prestigious national event.

“We have enjoyed a long association with Patton Fit-Out who have always delivered a professional service and first class workmanship and it is no surprise to us that the company is being recognised for these high standards at national level.”

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A new unique organic baby food company has just been launched, and is set to revolutionise the baby food market. Heavenly Tasty Organics is the brainchild of busy mum of two, Shauna McCarney, from Fintona, who founded the company to provide pure organic baby food in a convenient format for parents, with none of the normal guilt attached.

Obsessed with pure organic products, and seeing a gap in the organic baby food market, she founded the company in order to provide parents with a convenient offer; fresh frozen, organic fruit and vegetable purees, for use when weaning babies from 4 months onto solid foods. 

All the vegetables and fruit in the range are gently steamed from fresh, then frozen, packaged in a 250g re-sealable pouch, with each pack containing 10 heart-shaped ice cube sized portions. There are currently eight products in the range;  pear, apple, broccoli, sweet potato, butternut squash, carrot, turnip and parsnip. This range and the convenient packaging are the outcome of extensive research.

Shauna says: “The idea for Heavenly Tasty Organics came soon after I started weaning my son almost six years ago. Like all new mums, I wanted to provide the best for my baby, so I made all my own organic baby food from scratch.

“When my second child came along, I found it extremely difficult to find the time to prepare fresh organic baby food. I scoured the shops for pure, fresh, nutritious, and tasty baby food, but anything I found was ‘on-the-shelf’ jars, which were dated for years in some cases, and contained a multitude of un-pronounceable ingredients. To me it just didn’t seem right. All I needed was a little convenience, without the guilt. When I found out that my two children also have multiple food allergies, ranging from severe nut and egg allergies, to dairy intolerance, this spurred me on even more to go ahead and launch Heavenly Tasty Organics to give busy parents a hassle free option with no guilt.”

The company which has received support from INI, DARD and the European Rural Development Fund, is based at Loughry College Food Incubation Centre, Cookstown.  She has also has achieved Soil Association accreditation for her products and processes, and is a member of Good Food NI. 

She is also delighted at an initial order from Musgrave Retail Partners NI, who will be making her products available in SuperValu stores all over Northern Ireland from August.

Conor Guy - Envirogreen

The public are being invited to support the National Trust and a leading local recycling company to clean up some of the province’s top beauty sites and in doing so protect wildlife which is under serious threat from waste this summer.

Tyrone-based, Envirogreen Recycling, will work alongside the Trust on a number of clean-up days aimed at recovering recyclables which are currently littering and posing an increasing threat to the wildlife in the site areas.

The first event will take place at STRANGFORD Lough on Saturday August 13^th from 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm.

Members of the public can register for the clean-up by logging onto www.envirogreenrecycling.com/join-cleanup or alternatively emailing cleanup@envirogreenrecycling.com

With strong ‘green’ credentials, including, the Ulster Bank Best “Green Business of the Year”, Envirogreen is dedicated to helping develop conservation initiatives provincewide.

National’s Trust Fundraising Manager, Wendy Elliott, is delighted with the partnership:

 “There is no doubt that the wildlife at our sites are under increased threat. The problem of waste – particularly from plastic and polystyrene – is getting much worse and we really need to be proactive in tackling this. Envirogreen are at the forefront of pioneering recycling techniques and are very proactive in exploring how we can process some of this waste.

 “It’s a pleasure to work closely with such an innovative company. The clean up initiatives will help to conserve the sites for visitors but more importantly help protect the safety of our wildlife from the hidden danger of discarded waste such as plastic bags.”

Envirogreen Recycling MD, Conor Guy said;

 “The National Trust is an exemplary institution and their outstanding conservation work enables visitors from all around the globe to enjoy the beauty of some of Northern’s Ireland most prestigious sites. However these sites are under threat and we want to do our bit to help protect them.”

Conor urged local people to join in the clean-up events which are taking place over the next number of weeks. 

 “Please join us on the clean-up campaign by registering to volunteer on our website. If you are unable to make the clean-up please show your support for this campaign by texting “GREEN” to 70003 and donate £3 to the National Trust to enable them to continue their excellent work. 100% of the donation goes to National Trust

THE BALLYCLARE BASED LANDSCAPE CENTRE has just finished work on

a unique community woodland garden in what is thought to be a first in the North West.

What was previously a bleak and unused grass area at the edge of Glenview Estate in Gortnaghey has been transformed into a stunning garden carefully designed to meet the needs of the whole community.

The Landscape Centre’s Raymond Ronaghan worked with the Housing Executive’s Sammy McArthur and Martina Forrest along with the Gortnaghey Community Association to create the woodland garden.

The new facility has four different sections; Sow and Grow area, Nature Walk area, Tranquility Garden and the Garden of Love.

Raymond Ronaghan from the Landscape Centre, which is Ireland’s leading commercial and domestic design and build landscapers, was delighted to be given such a unique scheme to work on.

”It was a very pleasant project to work on as the community group gave me such a wide open ended brief which allowed me to apply my own approach.

“In the grand scheme of things you don’t often get the chance to design anything as unique as this which involves catering so specifically for more than one user group.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the garden matures over the next year or two.”

Delighted with the scheme Mr McArthur said: “The Sow and Grow area was inspired by the success of the local schools ‘Sow and Grow’ project.  This section will be used by the whole community to grow produce.

“We also wanted to create an educational wildlife area which would benefit the local schools.  Gortnaghey, along with the Burnfoot, have continued to engage in cross community work and we wanted to continue this success by developing a section of garden that could be used by both local Primary Schools and Playschools.

“Within the Nature Walk we have included a pathway which leads to a wormery, bird boxes and birds houses.  Throughout this area the Landscape Centre has also included educational wildlife signage.”

“The Tranquility Garden was created where families could come and have picnics or people could come and sit and relax and enjoy the surroundings.”

“The reflective Garden of Love was specifically designed for the community. Gortnaghey is a small village and many families within the area have been affected by cancer. The grass area of this section has daffodils which represents Marie Curie Cancer Care. The border of the garden has been designed by the community. They have chosen a flower or plant which has a special meaning to them through the loss of a loved one, or it holds a special memory to them.”

Ethna Burke, co-ordinator of the Gortnaghey Community Association said: “We were delighted when Sammy and Martina from the Housing Executive approached us regarding this project.  It is a great improvement to the area and it is a stepping stone in helping in re-imaging the village.  The garden is an opportunity for creating new classes within the community, for example gardening, recycling and cookery classes.  We have also applied for funding towards village renewal and the garden helped the inspiration of re-imaging the village.  We were extremely pleased with the Landscape Centre planting of the garden.”

The multi award winning Landscape Centre at Ballyclare, formerly part of the business with the same name at Donegore, has built up its experience and expertise over the years to establish itself as Ireland’s leading design and build landscapers in both the domestic and commercial markets.

ENDS

TAKING it’s inspiration from the catwalks and fashion houses – homeware is bright and bold this summer.

At Avoca in Arthur Street, Belfast, the home of all things colourful and creative for the home – prints, patterns, spots and stripes are to the fore of the latest collections with lots of colourful pieces and ranges to choose from.

The company’s own homeware collection ‘Nest’, has lots of brightly patterned ceramics with everything from buttons and trinkets to butterflies on them guaranteed to brighten up any kitchen or dining area.

And with a wide selection of throws and cushions also with buttons and bows and the intricate details which Avoca is famed for on them – the look can easily be completed.

“We have something to suit all tastes for the home here at Avoca this summer,” explains store manager Claire Archibald.

“Our team has won awards for their visual displays, so there is certainly lots of inspiration in store on how to dress both your home this summer.”

With everything from picnic baskets and blankets, to picnicware in store – there’s plenty weather permitting to brighten up the outside of the home too and to enjoy plenty of alfresco dining.

Look out for lots of unusual gift ideas from intricate bird feeders and plant pots to scented candles and old fashioned soaps and perfumeries all guaranteed to make a house a home this summer.

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