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Grampian Foods site, Northbridge Street Robertshridge East Sussex TN32 5NY Planning appeal won on behalf of Rother District Council defending loss of employment land. This was a major commercial site just off the A21 between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells that the developers wished to see redeveloped for residential. David Marriott acted as expert witness at the Public Inquiry providing evidence of the viability and occupier demand for continued commercial use. Click photograph to link to Inspectors decision 2008/09

Energy Performance Certificates ALL Commercial building above 540 sqft (50 sqm) from 1st October 2008 to be sold or let will require an Energy Performance Certificate and it will be the responsibility of the vendor / landlord to obtain. There will be exceptions such as those buildings with a low energy demand such as an unheated warehouse and off plan sales. We would be pleased to provide clients with a list of accredited Energy Assessor which we are currently collating. On a practical note we are not aware that many agents or their clients are indeed providing EPCs on second hand properties yet, despite this legislation. ... More ALL Commercial building above 540 sqft (50 sqm) from 1st October 2008 to be sold or let will require an Energy Performance Certificate and it will be the responsibility of the vendor / landlord to obtain. There will be exceptions such as those buildings with a low energy demand such as an unheated warehouse and off plan sales. We would be pleased to provide clients with a list of accredited Energy Assessor which we are currently collating. On a practical note we are not aware that many agents or their clients are indeed providing EPCs on second hand properties yet, despite this legislation. We are however monitoring the situation. EPCs are not required before the construction of a building is completed. Nor are they required on the sale, rent or construction of: • places of worship; • temporary buildings with a planned time of use less than 2 years; • stand alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2 that are not dwellings; • industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand. If you have a building (with a roof and walls) that uses energy to condition the indoor climate (i.e. has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation) then you will require an EPC when it is sold or let." What happens if I do not have an Energy Performance Certificate? The penalty for failing to make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant when selling or letting non-dwellings is fixed, in most cases, at 12.5% of the rateable value of the building, subject to a minimum penalty of £500 and a maximum of £5,000. There is a default penalty of £750 where the formula cannot be applied. A formula is used as the costs of producing an EPC for nondwellings are expected to vary according to the size, complexity and use of the building. The EPC will still be required. How do I get an Energy Performance Certificate? By law, EPCs can only be produced by an accredited Energy Assessor. The accreditation schemes protect builders, owners, landlords and tenants by making sure Energy Assessors have the appropriate skills to carry out energy assessments, and that EPCs are always of the same high quality. You can find an accredited Energy Assessor at Http://www.ndEPCregister.com, or by contacting an accreditation scheme on the Communities and Local Government website. An agent may also help you locate an assessor. The energy assessor will need to understand the internal layout of the building, how it has been constructed, what it is designed to be used for, the services and lighting and controls used. This is to understand the energy demands of each individual space (zone) in accordance with its designed use. This information is fed into a Government approved software package which will produce your EPC. At the same time recommendations will be produced by the software and reviewed by the assessor with their knowledge of your building to produce a recommendations report to accompany your certificate. All EPCs must be registered and stored in the national register at http://www.ndEPCregister.com. with a unique reference number. This must be done by the Energy Assessor in conjunction with their accreditation scheme. As a seller or landlord you are responsible for ensuring there is an EPC available for the accommodation being sold or let even if an agent or another service organisation is acting on your behalf. You should therefore ensure any agents acting on your behalf are complying with the Regulations. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/748603.pdf Less 2008/09

Cuxton Road, Bircholt Road Maidstone Kent ME15 9XT Unit C1 of 4,355 sqft let to Stapletons Limited for a tyre and exhaust centre 2008/08

Planning Use Classes Order SUMMARY GUIDE TO USE CLASSES ORDER AND PERMITTED CHANGES OF USE Use Classes Order 1987 Including Amendments A1 Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, No permitted change except to mixed use Shops undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post as a shop and single flat and vice versa. offices, pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, funeral directors etc. A2 Banks, building societies, estate and Permitted change to A1 where a ground Financial and Professional employment agencies, professional and floor display window exists. Also as above Services financial services, ... More SUMMARY GUIDE TO USE CLASSES ORDER AND PERMITTED CHANGES OF USE Use Classes Order 1987 Including Amendments A1 Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, No permitted change except to mixed use Shops undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post as a shop and single flat and vice versa. offices, pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, funeral directors etc. A2 Banks, building societies, estate and Permitted change to A1 where a ground Financial and Professional employment agencies, professional and floor display window exists. Also as above Services financial services, betting offices. to a mixed use as a single flat and A2 use and vice versa. A3 Restaurants, snack bars, caf�s. Permitted change to A1 or A2. Restaurants and Caf�s A4 Pubs and Bars. Permitted change to A1, A2, A3. Drinking Establishments A5 Hot food takeaways. Permitted change to A1, A2, A3. Hot Food Takeaways B1 Offices, not within A2. Permitted change to B8 where no more Business (a) than 2,529sqft. (b) Research and development, studios, Permitted change to B8 where no more laboratories, high technology. than 2,529sqft. (c) LLight industry Permitted change to B8 where no more than 2,529sqft. B2 General industry. Permitted change to B1 or B8 (B8 where General Industry no more than 2,529sqft) B8 Wholesale warehouses, repositories. Permitteed change to B1 where no more Storage or Distribution than 2,529sqft. C1 Hotels, boarding and guest houses. No permitted change Hotels C2 Residential schools and colleges, hospitals No permitted change Residential Institutions and convalescent/nursing homes. C2A Use for a provision of secure residential No permitted change Secure Residential Institution accommodation including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or as use as a military barracks. C3 Dwellings, with up to 6 people living as a single No permitted change Dwelling House household. D1 Places of worship, church halls, health centres, No permitted change Non-Residential Institutions cr�ches, day nurseries, consulting rooms, museums, public halls, libraries, art galleries, exhibition halls, law court, Non residential education and training centres. D2 Cinemas, music and concert halls, dance, No permitted change Assembly and Leisure sports halls, baths, skating rinks, gymnasiums. Other indoor and outdoor sports and leisure uses, bingo halls. Sui Generis (Class of it's own), Theatres, houses in multiple paying occupation, hostels providing no significant element of care, scrap yards. Petrol filling stations and shops selling/displaying motor vehicles. Retail warehouse clubs, nightclubs, launderettes, dry cleaners, taxi businesses, amusement centres. Casinos No permitted change Permitted change from Sui Generis to D2 Less 2008/08

Unit 3, Gallants Business Centre, EAST FARLEIGH, Maidstone, Kent 3,000 sqft refurbished industrial unit let to Mid Kent Building Services Limited 2008/08

Unit 1, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood Industrial Estate Ashford Kent TN24 8DH 4,865 sqft fully refurbished Factory, Warehouse & office sold for £475,000 plus vat. (£97.64 per sqft) 2008/07

Units 7, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, off New Hythe Lane, Aylesford Maidstone Kent ME20 6XS Unit 9 of 2,922 sqft sold to Contemporary Trade Flooring Limited 2008/07

Units 2 Omicron House, Fircroft Way Edenbridge Kent TN8 6ET Unit 1 of 2,940 sqft sold for £340,000 (£115.64 per sqft). Unit 3 of 2,040 sqft sold for £240,000 (£117.64 per sqft) 2008/07

Stadium Business Park, Castle Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 3RW Unit 7, 2,549 sqft, let to Luxtech UK Limited and Unit 8, 2,533 sqft, Let to Wood Wide Web Design Limited 2008/07

12 Larkstore Park, Lodge Road Staplehurst Kent TN12 0QX 949 sqft unit with 949 sqft mezzanine sold for £145,000 2008/06

Site, 39-41 Brook Street Snodland Kent ME6 5UD 0.3 acre commercial site sold. 2008/06

Unit 8, Viewpoint, Boxley Road Maidstone Kent ME14 2DZ Modern unit of 4,045 sqft with 1,457 sqft mezzanine. Good car parking sold to Delron Services Limited 2008/06

Nettlestead Estate, Maidstone Road Nettlestead, Near Maidstone Kent ME15 5HP Unit 4, providing 3,260 sqft let to OTR Tyres and unit 3 of 2,500 sqft let to Michael Cass 2008/06

Gallants Business Centre, East Farleigh Maidstone Kent ME15 0JS Units 1 & 1a providing 7,185 sqft Let to MAP Contracts. Unit 2 of 3,085 sqft let to Highway Care Limited. 2008/06

The Oast, Clock House Farm, Heath Road, Coxheath Maidstone Kent ME17 4PG Factory / warehouse of 1,624 sqft on two floors let to Ultra Film Shield Limited 2008/06

White Paper on Business Rate Supplements If empty rates were not enough, the government issued a White Paper in October seeking to allow Local Authorities to charge an additional 2% on properties with a rateable value in excess of £50,000: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/B/9/pbr_csr07_businessrate266.pdf Yet more woe in line for the business community. 2008/06

Unit 4 Stonestile Business Park, Stonestile Road Headcorn Kent TN27 9BG Factory warehouse of 3,935 sqft with 22 car parking spaces sold to Grestec Tiles Limited. 2008/05

Units 1, Railway Street, Railway Street Industrial Park Gillingham Kent ME7 1XJ Units 2, 3, 8 and 16, each 2,380 sqft now let. 2008/05

Warsop Trading Estate, Hever Road Edenbridge Kent TN8 5LD Unit 21 let to Design Fabrications Limited 2008/05

Formery Winery, Caring Lane, Bearsted Maidstone Kent ME14 4NJ Basic Store, Workshop & Office of 1,580 sqft let. 2008/05

Stone Stile Farm, New Forrest Lane Selling, Near Chilham Kent ME13 9SD Former agricultural barn of 5,580 sqft on 0.4 acre with B1 permission sold. Core Commercial have been reinstructed by the purchasers to let or sell the property subdivided or as a whole. 2008/05

31, Chapman Way Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3EF Modern factory / warehouse sold for £325,000 (£148 per sqft) including a reverse premium from the outgoing tenant of £7,000 2008/05

Ashford Industrial Centre, Brunswick Road Ashford Kent TN23 1EL 14,880 sqft Basic factory unit with yard on Cobbs Wood estate sold for £700,000. 2008/04

Empty rates Industrial and Warehouse premises will be given 100% relief for the first six months from when the property becomes empty, whilst Office and Retail premises will be given 100% relief for the first three months. All rate relief for these properties will end after this time and the full Non-Domestic Business Rate will be chargeable. The reform took effect from the 1 April 2008. You can always take the roof off as London Life did in the 1970s but be aware that they may charge you if you adopt tactics just to avoid paying rates. More Industrial and Warehouse premises will be given 100% relief for the first six months from when the property becomes empty, whilst Office and Retail premises will be given 100% relief for the first three months. All rate relief for these properties will end after this time and the full Non-Domestic Business Rate will be chargeable. The reform took effect from the 1 April 2008. You can always take the roof off as London Life did in the 1970s but be aware that they may charge you if you adopt tactics just to avoid paying rates. http://www.voa.gov.uk/business_rates/empty_property_rates_changes.htm Less 2008/04

Clock House Farm, Coxheath, Heath Road Maidstone Kent ME17 4PG Packhouse and store of 14,263 sqft let to Summit Steel. 2008/03

North Frith Farm, Ashes Lane Hadlow, Nr. Tonbridge Kent TN11 9QU Unit 1 of 6500 sqft has been let to Bob Woolmer Sales Limited. 2008/01

Units 2-6, Nimbus Enterprise Park, 20/20 Estate, Liphook Way Maidstone Kent ME16 0LQ Units 1, 7, 8 and 9 all sold freehold to various occupiers including Obart Pumps 2008/01

Deals in 2008 • Maidstone, Lower Road East Farleigh - 3,000 sqft unit let to Highway Care Limited • Maidstone, Clock House Farm, Coxheath - 14,000 sqft store and workshop let to Summit Steel Limited • Tunbridge Wells, Baldwin's Lane - 6,000 sqft factory / warehouse sold to MTB Computer Services Limited • Ashford, Brunswick Road - 14,880 sqft factory sold to Medway Power Transmission Limited • Ashford, Unit 4, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 1,890 sqft factory warehouse unit sold • Ashford, Unit 2 Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 4,794 sqft warehouse unit let to Benfleet Forwarding Company • Sittingbour... More • Maidstone, Lower Road East Farleigh - 3,000 sqft unit let to Highway Care Limited • Maidstone, Clock House Farm, Coxheath - 14,000 sqft store and workshop let to Summit Steel Limited • Tunbridge Wells, Baldwin's Lane - 6,000 sqft factory / warehouse sold to MTB Computer Services Limited • Ashford, Brunswick Road - 14,880 sqft factory sold to Medway Power Transmission Limited • Ashford, Unit 4, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 1,890 sqft factory warehouse unit sold • Ashford, Unit 2 Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 4,794 sqft warehouse unit let to Benfleet Forwarding Company • Sittingbourne, Unit 5 Stadium Business Park, Castle Road - 2,540 sqft workshop unit let to Clyde Collins • Sittingbourne, Unit 4 Stadium Business Park, Castle Road - 1,507 sqft business unit let to GSL Groundworks Limited • Sittingbourne, Unit 13 Stadium Business Park, Castle Road - 1,187 sqft business unit let to Dion • Sittingbourne, Unit 9 Stadium Business Park, Castle Road - 3,703 sqft factory warehouse unit let to Continental Snacks • Gillingham, Unit 8, Railway Street Industrial Estate - 2,380 sqft unit let to Sceats Autos • Headcorn, Unit 1e, Marley Farm, Smarden - 3,150 sqft industrial unit sold to Benchmark Realty Limited • Edenbridge, Unit 18, Warsop Trading Estate, Hever Road - 3,800 sqft unit let to Draggin Jeans Distribution Limited • Staplehurst - Unit 12, Larkstore Park, Lodge Road - 2,000 sqft unit sold • Ashford, Unit 3, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 3,810 sqft unit sold • Ashford, Unit 5, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 2,905 sqft unit sold • Ashford, West Wing, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 826 sqft office unit sold • Gillingham, Unit 2, Railway Street Industrial Estate - 2380 sqft unit let to Pepperpot Couriers • Paddock Wood, Unit D, Lowes Complex, Transfesa Road - 10,200 sqft unit let to WA Turner Limited • Paddock Wood, Wexford Place, Lucks Lane - Industrial warehouse and office investment sold to Portcullis Limited for 646,000 • Paddock Wood, Little Rhoden Farm, Transfesa Road - 7,000 sqft warehouse let to Re-Go Autoparts Limited • Maidstone, Unit 1 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 5,000 sqft factory warehouse unit let to Selecta UK Limited Less 2008

Deals in 2007 • Collier Street, Church Farm - 3,500 sqft storage unit let to Fabbrica Galleries Limited • Ashford, Units A1-5, Isis Business Park, Orbital Park - 12,500 sqft trade units sold to Rhodes Park Estates Property Trading Partnership for £1.234m • Edenbridge, Plot 13, Warsop Trading Estate - 5,800 sqft plot let to Super Scaffolding Limited • Tunbridge Wells, Unit 10 Chapman Way - 1,600 sqft trade outlet unit sold to System Marketing Limited for £195,000 • Maidstone, Unit 1, Nimbus Enterprise Park, Liphook Way, 20/20 Estate -14,940 sqft sold to Obart Pumps limited • Maidstone, Unit 7, Nimbus Enterpr... More • Collier Street, Church Farm - 3,500 sqft storage unit let to Fabbrica Galleries Limited • Ashford, Units A1-5, Isis Business Park, Orbital Park - 12,500 sqft trade units sold to Rhodes Park Estates Property Trading Partnership for £1.234m • Edenbridge, Plot 13, Warsop Trading Estate - 5,800 sqft plot let to Super Scaffolding Limited • Tunbridge Wells, Unit 10 Chapman Way - 1,600 sqft trade outlet unit sold to System Marketing Limited for £195,000 • Maidstone, Unit 1, Nimbus Enterprise Park, Liphook Way, 20/20 Estate -14,940 sqft sold to Obart Pumps limited • Maidstone, Unit 7, Nimbus Enterprise Park, Liphook Way, 20/20 Estate - 3,797 sqft unit sold • Maidstone, Unit 2 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 15,022 sqft let to Storage King Limited • Maidstone, Unit 3 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 9,166 sqft let to Storage King Limited • Battle, Unit B4, Marley Lane Business Park - 3,000 sqft unit let to AJL Road Marking Limited • Teynham, Lynsted Lane - 5,900 sqft on 0.5 acre sold freehold • Maidstone, Unit 8 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,922 sqft sold to Beacon Group • Maidstone, Unit 14 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,922 sqft sold to Balreed Digital • Yalding, Court Lodge Farm, Kenward Road - 9,000 sqft let to TFR Nuts & Dried Fruits Limited • Rainham, Oast Park Trading Estate, Spade Lane - Units 7, 8, 9 & 13 let on new leases to various occupiers • Tunbridge Wells, Unit 3 High Brooms Estate - 10,700 sqft leisure unit let • Paddock Wood, Hancock House, Transfesa Road - 13,000 sqft unit sold to Re-go Autoparts Limited • Laddingford, Woodfalls Industrial Estate, Gravelly Way - 2000 sqft office unit let to First Property Services Limited • Crayford, Unit 7 Optima Park - 2,590 sqft trade unit let to NCCT Limited • Maidstone, Unit 18 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,922 sqft sold to Wentworth UK Limited • Maidstone, Unit 9 & 10, Nimbus Enterprise Park, Liphook Way, 20/20 Estate - 8,513 sqft unit sold to R&B Star • Maidstone, Unit 10, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,922 sqft sold to G Benediktsson • Maidstone, Unit 11, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,922 sqft sold to Sapphire Spas • Maidstone, Unit 12 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,922 sqft sold to Martindales • Paddock Wood, Lowes Complex, Transfesa Road - 10,000 sqft let to Capital Storage • Maidstone, Unit 4, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 13,164 sqft let to Sunwin Cash Processing Services limited • Maidstone, Unit 6, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,926 sqft sold to RF Bright Enterprises • Maidstone, Unit 15, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 2,307 sqft sold to AB Flooring • Tunbridge Wells, 32 Chapman Way, High Brooms - 2190 sqft let to Afia • Crowborough, Unit 2, Farningham Road - 2500 sqft let to Penshurst Fine Foods limited • Crowborough, Unit 2, Farningham Road - 2500 sqft let to CI Products • Ashford, Unit 7 Henwood Industrial Estate - 21,000 sqft unit let to Riverside Garage • Romney Marsh, Cockreed Lane - 10,000 sqft unit let to Ted Peach • Maidstone, Unit 5, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 5,937 sqft let to Munters Limited • Maidstone, Unit 17 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 3,989 sqft sold to Pegasus Luxury Home Improvement Less 2007

Deal in 2006 • Crowborough, Unit 4 Farningham Road - 2500 sqft let to David Fairclough • Maidstone, Unit 13, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 1,957 sqft sold to Survey & Laser • Headcorn, Barradale Farm - 14,000 sqft let to Alan Apps • Sittingbourne, Adelaide Dock, Symmonds Drive - Plots 3 & 4 let to National Car Parks Limited • Maidstone, Unit 16, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 3,997 sqft sold to Gluck Engineering • Tunbridge Wells, Unit 1, Enterprise Centre, High Brooms - 2500 sqft unit let to Kentec Mail & Courier Service Limited • Edenbridge, Little Browns Lane - Letting of units 5 and 6... More • Crowborough, Unit 4 Farningham Road - 2500 sqft let to David Fairclough • Maidstone, Unit 13, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 1,957 sqft sold to Survey & Laser • Headcorn, Barradale Farm - 14,000 sqft let to Alan Apps • Sittingbourne, Adelaide Dock, Symmonds Drive - Plots 3 & 4 let to National Car Parks Limited • Maidstone, Unit 16, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 3,997 sqft sold to Gluck Engineering • Tunbridge Wells, Unit 1, Enterprise Centre, High Brooms - 2500 sqft unit let to Kentec Mail & Courier Service Limited • Edenbridge, Little Browns Lane - Letting of units 5 and 6 • Maidstone, Hall Road, Aylesford - 10,000 sqft let to Howdens Joinery Limited • Battle, Marley Lane - Unit let to County Joinery Limited • Pembury, Hawkwell Business Centre, Colts Hill - 1,000 sqft unit sold to Ian Herring • Gillingham, Unit 10, Railway Street Industrial Park - 2,380 sqft let to Sun Motors limited • Tunbridge Wells, 31 Chapman Way - 2,190 sqft let to Cobalt Glass limited • Crowborough, Unit 4, Farningham Road - 2,500 sqft let to Webster Griffin Limited • Edenbridge, Little Browns Lane - Letting of units to Manic Monsters Limited • Tonbridge, North Frith Farm, Ashes lane - 5,000 sqft unit let to Bob Woolmer Sales Limited • Paddock Wood, Lowes Complex, Transfesa Road - 10,000 sqft let to Mack Multiples Limited • Maidstone, Liphook Way - 1.1 acre site sold to Genzyme • Ashford, Park Barn Farm - 5,000 sqft unit let to Piper Cox Joinery • New Addington, 273 King Henry Drive - 10,000 sqft factory sold to Angell Welding • Marden, Long End lane - Factory sold to Blades Joinery and JW Timber Limited • Edenbridge, Panavista House, Fircroft Way - 20,000 sqft factory sold to Alsamex Directors Retirement Benefit Fund • Tunbridge Wells, 18c Chapman Way - Unit sold to WG Sharp & Sons Limited • Tunbridge Wells, 18h Chapman Way - Unit let to Paterson Printing Limited • Tunbridge Wells, 32 & 32 Chapman Way sold the The Nevill Estate • Ashford, Unit D, Foster Road, Sevington - 20,000 sqft unit assigned to Sauflon Pharmaceuticals Limited • Edenbridge, Omicron House, Fircroft Way - 10,000 sqft factory sold to Briutannia Contracting Services Limited • Snodland, East Street - 28,000 sqft factory sold to Fleet paper Sales Limited • Ashford, Brunswick Road - Factory & office sold to Medway Power Transmission Limited • Staplehurst, Units 3, Honeycrest Industrial Estate - 3000 sqft let • Staplehurst, Units 4, Honeycrest Industrial Estate - 3000 sqft sold • Harrietsham, Roebuck Business Park - Unit let to LDA Interiors • Ashford, 93a Ellingham Way - Unit sold to Salvec Limited • Staplehurst, Unit 13, Larkstore Park - Unit let to R Coales • Dartford, Unit 71, Questor, Powdermill Lane - Unit let to Kudox Distribution Company Limited • Tunbridge Wells, Unit 4, Colebrook - Unit let to Bean Chocolate • Edenbridge, Vehvac House, Fircroft Way - Unit sold to Future Designs • Tunbridge wells, Unit 3, High Brooms - 10,000 sqft unit sold to Wines Limited • Tunbridge wells, 36 Chapman Way - Sold to B&B Finishers Limited Less 2006