Adam Law - Property Developer & Construction Professional

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Adam Law - Property Developer & Construction Professional

Property Developer 🏗️
Helping investors find & deliver projects
Chartered Construction Manager
(2)

09/09/2026

You can learn a lot about an old building by getting up on the roof… 🏗️

Another important part of the early stages of the Westgate project is understanding exactly what condition the existing building is in, and that means inspecting areas that aren't always immediately visible.

The roof is a particularly important one 👀

Before progressing with a major conversion, we need to understand its current condition, identify any defects or areas requiring repair and establish what work may need to be factored into the wider project.

With an older building, you can't simply assume everything is sound because it looks OK from ground level.

And there's one feature up here that's particularly hard to miss: the large original chimney dating back to the 1800s.

Features like this are part of the character and history of the building, but they also need to be properly assessed as part of the overall design and construction process.

These early inspections might not be the most glamorous part of a development, but they're essential.

The more you understand about an existing building before the major works begin, the better prepared you can be for what comes next.

Plenty more to come from Westgate as we continue uncovering what this building needs and developing the plans for its next chapter.

07/09/2026

𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝟔𝟓% 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬.

That statistic should get the attention of anyone involved in property refurbishment or development.

Recent research highlighted by PBC Today found widespread fire door failures across social housing, raising concerns around inspection, installation, maintenance and remediation.

But there's another issue I still see within the property investment world: 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆

The problem is that a fire door isn't simply a door leaf.

It's a complete tested system. Its performance depends on the door, frame, hinges, intumescent and smoke seals, glazing where applicable, ironmongery and installation all complying with the relevant tested specification and manufacturer's requirements.

Once a fire door has been removed, modified or installed using components or details outside that specification, you shouldn't simply assume it will provide the intended level of fire resistance.

And installation matters just as much as the product itself.

If you're appointing a joiner to install fire doors as part of a refurbishment or development, they should be following the manufacturer's installation instructions and the project's fire safety requirements. These aren't just another set of internal doors; they're life-safety products designed to help contain fire and smoke and protect escape routes.

Saving a few pounds on a second-hand fire door simply isn't worth taking an unnecessary risk.

If you're buying products for your investment property, don't try to save a few pounds on fire doors. If the worst were to happen and a fire door failed to perform as expected, the consequences could be devastating.

𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

Read the article by PBCToday here: https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/building-control-news/beyond-the-facade-why-fire-door-failures-expose-broader-crisis-high-rise-safety/161189/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=pbc

04/09/2026

We found a secret storage space 🚪👀

Anyone got any ideas on what we could do with this space? All suggestions welcome 😁

02/09/2026

A great review from a great client!

It’s always rewarding working with clients when you know you’ve added value to the project ⭐

31/08/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞? 🏘️

One of the biggest mistakes new investors make is focusing solely on the property itself.

In reality, location is often one of the biggest factors influencing the success of a property project.

Before committing to any investment, it's worth asking whether the area supports your long-term strategy, not just whether the property looks like a good deal.

Here are five reasons why location matters:

✔️ Strong rental demand helps attract and retain tenants.

✔️ Access to schools, shops, healthcare and other amenities makes properties more desirable.

✔️ Good transport links can increase appeal for commuters and working professionals.

✔️ Areas benefiting from regeneration and investment may offer stronger long-term potential.

✔️ You can renovate a property, improve its layout and modernise its finish, but you can't change where it's located.

A successful property project is rarely about finding the cheapest property; it's about finding the right property in the right location.

28/08/2026

Every successful development starts with understanding what's already beneath the surface 🔍

Today's task at the Westgate project is to complete a CCTV drainage survey. By using specialist cameras to trace the existing drainage network, we're able to identify exactly where the pipework leaves the building and connects to the main sewer 💧

This information is essential for the design team. It helps determine the most practical locations for soil stacks, ensures the correct drainage falls can be achieved, and supports the design of each apartment before construction begins.

The survey also allows us to assess the condition of the existing drainage system. The next step is for a civil engineer to carry out drainage calculations to determine whether the current infrastructure can accommodate the proposed number of apartments or whether upgrades will be required.

It's another example of the detailed planning that happens long before refurbishment starts. Every survey provides valuable information that helps reduce risk, improve design decisions, and keep the project moving in the right direction.

26/08/2026

There’s plenty of work to be done to get this multi-apartment project complete…and I’m ready for the grafting 💪

24/08/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?

It's one of the questions asked most often, and the answer is that no single factor determines whether a property is the right investment.

A property might look like a bargain, but if demand is weak or refurbishment costs are underestimated, it may not perform as expected. Equally, a property that appears ordinary at first glance may offer excellent potential because of its location, layout or scope for improvement.

That's why it's important to assess every opportunity from multiple angles. I’m here to help you consider factors such as location, rental demand, refurbishment potential, project costs, comparable values and the overall strategy before progressing with a project.

Careful due diligence helps remove emotion from the decision-making process and replaces it with structured analysis. It's this approach that gives investors greater confidence in understanding why a project has been selected, rather than relying on assumptions or headline figures alone.

Swipe through to see some of the key considerations we look at when assessing a property ⬅️

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬. 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘕𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯.

21/08/2026

Another important milestone completed at the Westgate project. 👷‍♂️

The Refurbishment and Demolition (R&D) Asbestos Survey is now complete, which will give us a much clearer understanding of the building before refurbishment begins.

The positive news is that the survey hasn't identified significantly more asbestos than we were already aware of. The consultant will now produce a detailed report, which will be incorporated into our scope of works and project planning ✏️

Knowing exactly where asbestos-containing materials are located means we can plan the refurbishment safely, ensure the correct control measures are in place, and protect everyone working on the project, as well as the future occupants of the building.

It's another reminder that successful developments aren't just about what happens on site. They begin with thorough investigations, informed decision-making and a commitment to doing things properly.

19/08/2026

The ugliest properties often have the greatest potential. 🏚️➡️🏡

It might sound strange, but some of the best opportunities are the ones that most people walk straight past.

⚠️Peeling wallpaper.

⚠️Outdated kitchens.

⚠️Worn carpets.

⚠️Overgrown gardens.

⚠️Years of neglect.

To many buyers, that's enough to move on.

But when I walk into a property like this, I'm not focused on what it is today—I'm focused on what it could become.

👍I'm looking at the layout.

👍The structure.

👍The location.

👍The opportunities to improve energy efficiency.

👍The ways we can modernise the space and make it work better for the people who will eventually live there.

Cosmetic issues can usually be addressed with the right planning and refurbishment strategy. What matters more is whether the property's fundamentals make sense.

Not every tired property is a good investment, and it's important to carry out the right due diligence before making any decisions.

But learning to see beyond the mess is one of the biggest mindset shifts you can make in property.

Sometimes the property everyone else overlooks is the one with the most untapped potential.

That's where experience, planning and a clear vision make all the difference.

Address

Derby
DE1, DE3, DE21-24, DE73

Website

https://calendly.com/adam-norseproperties/30min, https://norseproperties.co.uk/

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