UK Construction v17n01 online

PAGE 4-5 V17 N01

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

NEWS, REPORTS, COMMENTS, PROFILES AND SITE PROJECTS NESTLE Investing in Tutbury manufacturing centre p44

STEVENSON FARM Brand new re-homing centre for Dogs Trust p76

WATFORD PARADE Public realm improvements p89

NANDO’S Hungry for the challenge p106

RMD partners with Rittal delivering modular solutions for data centres RMD Power & Cooling is a leading specialist in integrated data centre solutions. With over 20 years experience delivering projects, from large-scale operations to small server rooms, RMD has recently partnered with Rittal to provide a new all-in-one option – the RiMatrix S. The RiMatrix S systems are pre-manufactured, containerised data centres. The systems come equipped with server and network racks, climate control, power distribution and back up, monitoring and DCIM (Data Centre Infrastructure Management).

With an extremely short order to deployment time, the RiMatrix S is an immediate, cost effective solution. Shipping as single units, the stand-alone data centres can be installed with minimum disruption on site.

RMD can supply, install and maintain the systems that are available in Single 6, Double 6, Single 9 or Double 9 configurations, providing up to 18 available server racks. Fully scalable, additional units can be added seamlessly to grow with demand.

The prefabricated data centres are ideal for businesses where there is limited office or floor space. The units can be housed externally, in a car park for example, and are fully portable, removing the issues of rebuilding IT infrastructure when a business changes premises.

RMD Power & Cooling’s managing director, Gavin Maxwell says: “We’re extremely pleased to be able to offer the Rittal systems. We believe that the product is the best containerised offering available for both price and quality.

“The solutions are the perfect answer to limited floor space, a problem faced by many companies, and the cost per rack is far cheaper than that incurred building a regular

data centre. As a result I expect that these solutions will become far more common over the coming years.”

Outstanding customer service and rigorous attention to detail ensure that RMD’s customers return time after time. From initial consultation through to installation, maintenance and aftercare, the team is on hand every step of the way.

To find out more about RMD’s range of products and services, email sales@rmduk.com or call on 01259 219362.

Pipeline Testing & Isolation Equipment With almost 30 years’ experience in the industry, iNPIPE HIRE™ offers a comprehensive and reliable range of tools and equipment for pipeline testing and pipeline isolation. Innovation and specialist engineering skills have been combined to create tools which are effective and easy to use, making them a popular choice around the world.

riser line. The isolation tool would then be energised to provide a complete isolation of the line, allowing for the removal and rectification of the 2”ns wrap around pipework.

The proposed solution, including the fabrication of a specialist isolation launch can, was designed and manufactured at the purpose-built company production facilities in North Yorkshire, UK within 10 weeks. After full ‘Factory Approval Testing’ (FAT), the offshore installation was undertaken by the iNPIPE PRODUCTS™ team.

Rectification work began when the 24”ns class 600# flange was removed from the riser. The fully retracted launch can was lifted into place and fully connected by the specialist torque team already on the platform, who were there to complete the necessary work on all rig rectification pipework.

The range includes Pipeline Plugs and the world renowned Dual Tool for isolation as well as Flange Weld Testers and Internal Weld Testers to test pipeline integrity.

Isolating the pipeline with iNPIPE’s plug iNPIPE PRODUCTS™ was approached by Petrofac with a view to isolating a 24”ns export riser pipeline whilst rectification and replacement work took place on a platform off the coast of Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom. The integrity of the existing valve and the connection of the flange on the weldolet were in question, and it was impossible to insert a plug through the 2”ns valve to facilitate removal or replacement.

After an initial site survey by an IPP technician, a triple-tyred isolation tool was designed to overcome the insertion issue, alongside a one off launch/retrieval test can, designed to insert and retrieve the tool, ensuring containment for nitrogen testing.

The isolation tool was to be inserted vertically down through the first 24”ns valve into the 30”ns riser; then passing through a 30”ns – 24”ns concentric reducer; a second 24”ns valve; then to be finally seated in a pre-determined position approximately 10mtr inside the

Upon completion of this work, the isolation plug was deployed vertically down, through the initial 24”ns valve into the 30”ns riser.

Great care was taken to ensure the valve seats were not damaged, hence the tool was supplied with specialist iNPIPE PRODUCTS™ bumper noses to limit this possibility. The tool was lowered until reaching the 24”ns – 30”ns concentric reducer, where – utilising the crane load sensor – the central positioning was confirmed before passing through the second 24”ns valve and into the final installation position which was confirmed with a specially manufactured cable including a marking system.

Once the isolation tool was correctly positioned, the tyres were independently inflated in a staged sequence to 15 barg, to ensure containment and then monitored for one hour. After the pressure was confirmed to be holding, the cable on the crane was lowered, which again confirmed that the tyres were holding the full weight of the tool.

A secondary contingency cable clamp was installed to ensure the isolation tool was locked mechanically in position. From this point onwards the tyres were monitored hourly and readings taken of each of the tyre pressures. The isolation plug was fully deployed for approximately 96 hours with no loss of pressure in the tyres.

This included a pipeline pressure test using nitrogen as the test medium, with the launch playing a pivotal role in this procedure.

After full retraction of the plug into the launch can, the 24”ns valves were closed, allowing the launch can to be removed. The job was completed on time without any unforeseen complications or deviations from the scope and all parties were completely satisfied.

International Pipeline Products Limited, Gatherley Road, Brompton on Swale, North Yorkshire, DL10 7JH

Non-Intrusive Pig Passage Indication

CD52 Non-Intrusive Pig Signaller

Working with CDI, iNPIPE HIRE™ now offers a full range of Non-Intrusive Pipeline Signalling Equipment. The range allows for full tracking of pigs in pipelines to locate them as well as analysing the pipeline. The non-intrusive nature of these tools means that the tools can be used as a temporary or permanent solution, whilst pipeline integrity is not compromised.

Using the cutting edge technology means that the readings and data are exceptionally reliable.

CD42 Pig Location & Tracking System The CD42 pipeline pig location and tracking system makes the task of detecting and recording pig passages quick and easy. A large backlit graphics display clearly shows the approach and passage of transmitter equipped pigs as a clear rising and falling pulse pattern.

Seeing the pig’s pulsing transmitted so clearly eliminates the stop and go guesswork that one often experiences with less sophisticated needle meter type systems.

The CD52 Non-Intrusive Pig Signaller is designed to be simple, easy and quick to fit or remove from the pipeline and can be fitted to pipelines or launcher and receivers. The patented CD52 technology can detect electro-magnetic transmitters mounted internally or magnets on the pig and relay their passage through the LCD display which clearly identifies date and time of passage. Magnets can be moulded internally into spheres, flexicast pigs or discs as well as magnet bracelets which can be mounted externally on to the pig body.

This means existing pigs can be simply, easily and inexpensively modified.

Traxall System The Traxall LineStat provides a notification service to the end user of events from both fixed position and portable equipment. This information can be sent to email addresses or SMS text so can be used on computers and mobiles.

Some of the information sent for the events includes date, time, GPS position, battery status and vibration. All information is transmitted via satellite which negates the need for a wired infrastructure or a cellular network.

This system can be bought or hired for use with the Non-Intrusive Pig Signaller system. The information will be permanently stored and accessible via a secure log in system. As jobs are performed and information accumulated, a Google Maps flyover is created.

Where email and SMS is used, the information sent can be assigned to a group. Administrators and managers can also be assigned with special privileges and can receive notifications of selected jobs as preferred.

CD42 Transmitter Family

More information can be found at www.inpipehire.com or by emailing hire@inpipeproducts.co.uk

All CD42 pig locations and tracking transmitters operate on the principles of magnetics, emitting electromagnetic fields at a frequency of 22Hz. They are extremely resistant as they are housed in stainless steel and nylon. All CD42-Tx transmitters have pressure housings which allow them to be mounted directly in or on any type of pipeline pig and can withstand pressures of up to 4,000 PSI (275 bar).

Telephone: (+44) 1748 813270

www.inpipehire.com

PROFILE 28 Brick Market Ltd 29 Southern Water & Clancy Docwra Partnership 30 John Sisk & Sons 35 CBRE 37 Nicholls Transport 38 Lomas Office Furniture 41 Richmondshire District Council 48 Hall Construction Group 58 Lancashire County Council 59 Countryside Properties 60 East Sussex County Council 61 Archi-Structure 62 Davies DIY 63 Confederation of Construction Specialists 64 Drilling & Sawing Association 67 Howden Process Compressors 79 M Ward Demolition 84 SAEMA 88 AECB 94 Persimmon Charles Church 98 Prosolia 99 GPS Marine 106 Nando’s

COMMERCIAL 28 44 56 57 70 80 105

One Commercial Street Nestle Project Dove Chapmans Agricultural Unit Trade City Cygnet Way Geopost UK Ltd DPD Hub Sainsbury’s Distribution Centre

LEISURE 40 West Bromwich Leisure Centre 73 Radisson Blu Manchester Airport 92 Canterbury Premier Inn

EDUCATION 36 UCL Cruciform Library 43 University of Essex Business School 74 Science Central

COMMENTS 18 20 21 22 24 26 110

NHBC - Nick Cunningham Sheridan Gold - Jane Ryland Thomas Eggar - Laura Pheonix Boodle Hatfield - David Johnson Winckworth Sherwood - Rebecca Huston Sefton Agricultural Land Study Turley Associates - Colin Morrison

HEALTH 96 Barnsley District Hospital

RETAIL 40 54 66 82 86 109

Bolton Market Wickes Folkstone The Garden Centre Group Anglia Regional Co-op Masseys DIY & Gardening Store Morrisons

CIVIL 34 Gatwick Airport 42 Kings Walden Pumping Station 51 London Underground

COMMUNITY 68 Manchester City Youth Academy 76 Dogs Trust Essex 89 Watford Parade

21 HOUSING 50 Dykes Pit 63 Normanton 104 Feltham Construction

NEWS

10 6

Editors Victoria Lee Gareth Trevor-Jones Staff Writer John Train Editorial Raimy Greenland Robert Atherton Copy Jody Ramsey

35

43

61

73

89

92

96

99

106

Studio Manager SĂŠamus Norton Designer Richard Gill

media limited ISSN 1461-1279

Proof Reader Matthew Brown Approvals Sarah Smith

Validated by

Credit Control Carol Ryan

Circulation of 93,519

Unit N4, Chorley Business and Technology Centre, East Terrace, Euxton Lane, Euxton PR7 6TE Tel: 01257 231900 Fax: 01257 234123 Email: mail@pro-mark.org.uk www.pro-mark.org.uk

Follow us on...

Display Advertising Sales Telephone: 01257 231900 Email: ukconstruction@pro-mark.org.uk www.ukconstructionmagazine.co.uk

Š Copyright Pro-Mark. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of Pro-Mark. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

7

UKC NEWS

Desco delight at flagship Stephenson Quarter progress After almost six months on site, award winning M&E engineering consultancy Desco, is delighted by the progress made on the multi-million pound flagship Stephenson Quarter development in Newcastle City Centre, which it has been involved in for the past nine years.

The Company, based out of its headquarters in Doxford Park, Sunderland, has provided the mechanical and electrical designs for the £200M development which is set to transform ten acres of the city centre with new commercial, hotel, residential and retail facilities. The first phase, currently underway and progressing rapidly, includes the development of a landmark 251bed four-star+ Crowne Plaza Hotel and

conference centre as well as a combined 357 space multi-storey car park and 35,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, complete with an innovative sedum green roof. It is being driven forward by developers Silverlink and constructed by Miller Construction, by way of an innovative funding deal with Newcastle City Council, RBS, Aviva and the NE LEP. As part of the project, Desco has been instrumental in the delivery of detailed infrastructure studies, sustainability advice and concept designs. Particular attention has been paid to areas of green design as Phase One of the project is aspiring to achieve BREEAM Excellent standard, an extremely high benchmark of sustainable design.

Desco is also delivering detailed design

for each element of the development.

Desco Director, George Gifford, who is leading on the Stephenson Quarter project spoke about his delight that the project is progressing successfully. He said: “Phase One of the project is now well underway, it’s great to start to see the progress that has been made and many years of design and consultancy work begin to be realised.”

The first phase of the Stephenson Quarter development is expected to be complete in July 2015 and subsequent phases will include commercial offices, a boutique hotel, apartments, retail premises, exhibition centre and redevelopment of the listed buildings in the area.

Building starts as RNLI lets contract to Leadbitter Work to build an All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) is now underway as Main Contractor Leadbitter secures the contract to construct the facility, which will enable the RNLI to produce its own all-weather lifeboats in-house for the first time.

The All-weather Lifeboat Centre – being built at the charity’s HQ in Poole, Dorset – is due to begin first operations by winter 2014 and, once fully up and running, the facility will save the charity over £3M annually.

RNLI Engineering & Supply Director David Brook says: “Letting the contract to Leadbitter is a significant milestone in this major undertaking for the RNLI. We found that fewer and fewer boat builders have the ability to meet our specialist requirements so in future we would have less control over the quality and cost. Bringing our lifeboat production completely in-house is vital to ensuring the future supply of fit for purpose lifeboats and I’m confident that Leadbitter will deliver what this charity needs to ensure we have the right facility to do this.”

Each year the ALC will produce six

10

new all-weather lifeboats, refit seven to double each vessel’s operational life, and maintain many of the 160 vessels in the current all-weather fleet.

The Shannon class all-weather lifeboats to be built at the new facility currently cost around £2M each and the charity will need to build at least 50. During their operational lives, these 50 vessels are expected to rescue over 56,000 people

and save an estimated 1,500 lives. The building itself along with its fit out will cost the charity an approximate £14.5M. Leadbitter will be on site for around 12 months, and first operations within the new facility are expected to begin towards the end of 2014 when the RNLI lifeboat maintenance team re-joins the HQ site from its temporary work base at Cobbs Quay.

Giant sea shell creates waves in Lancashire The arrival of a giant sea shell at a Lancashire coastal town has sent a wave of excitement throughout the county with visitors flocking to the beach to see it.

At nine metres in length and over five metres in height, the shell is the latest project by Cumbria-based specialist architectural metalworker Chris Brammall Ltd who designed and manufactured the piece for the Wyre Mythic Coast project - a regeneration programme of the Wyre’s waterfronts.

The complex conch shell, created in the Ulverston workshop using specialist techniques, is made from stainless steel with a blast finish to produce a finished texture. It weighs a staggering 15 tonnes.

The shell is just one of a series of pieces created for the development programme with others due to follow early next year.

Chris commented: “We are particularly proud of this latest piece of work. Right from the start when the prototype was created we knew it was going be a stunning piece of architecture but to see the finished shell on the beach really does blow you away” The project wasn’t without its challenges.

The choice of materials had to be carefully considered to ensure they withstand the extreme elements that the shell will be exposed to and the specialist team of fitters worked around tidal restrictions during the installation.

Chris added: “We have some amazing photographs of the shell in situ but would suggest to everyone to enjoy a day out to see it for themselves.

Visitors have been totally stunned by the sheer scale and architectural beauty of the shell. We are overwhelmed by the response to the finished piece.”

Ibstock triumphs at 2013 Brick Awards Ibstock, the UK’s largest brick maker, scooped a host of accolades at this year’s prestigious Brick Development Association (BDA) Brick Awards, which promote excellence in the use and design of brick – the most popular cladding material in the UK. With seven outright award wins and a further three special commendations, the awards showcase Ibstock at its best, building on the Company’s excellent ten year track record in winning these awards and demonstrating how the business is driving the brick industry forward through design, innovation, quality and range.

Over the past decade Ibstock bricks have been used in more than 70 of the awardwinning categories and six of the supreme winners. This year’s winning projects vividly highlighted the aesthetic appeal, versatility and performance characteristics of Ibstock’s extensive product range across a range of applications and markets.

Andrew Halstead-Smith, Group Marketing

Manager at Ibstock, comments: “It is clear to see that Ibstock continues to lead the way in the brick industry, and we’d like to thank the designers and contractors who have championed brick as their material of choice. We are delighted with the range of awards we’ve won this year, demonstrating just how versatile our range is across a variety of high quality projects in different sectors – from housebuilding, through RMI, education and healthcare, to name but a few!

“Competition is strong each year, so special recognition by the judges in this, our 10th consecutive winning year, is testament to the hard work and commitment from the whole team at Ibstock, who strive to provide striking brick-based solutions for architects, merchants and end users. We already have some strong contenders for next year’s awards and hope to maintain our success at the 2014.”

Building firm scoops £133M Scape contract A leading building contractor has been awarded a £133M contract by public sector construction procurement, design and consultation specialists Scape.

Wates Construction has been awarded the contract, which runs for a total of four years from January 2014, following a rigorous OJEU procurement process.

This is a regional framework arrangement for empa (the East Midlands Property Alliance) which is managed by Scape.

The aim of empa is to improve the procurement and delivery of construction projects and property maintenance for local authorities saving time and money for them and their council taxpayers.

Wates has been successful in securing the Provincial framework which covers construction work valued between £500,000 and £7.5M. Phil Harrison, Managing Director, Wates Construction Midlands and North, commented: “I am delighted with the announcement that Wates has been named as the contracting partner for the

empa Provincial framework, a procurement route that has and will continue to provide cost and time efficiencies in the delivery of public sector construction works.

“Since our appointment to the empa Intermediate framework in 2009, we have delivered a range of works across the region and we have worked in partnership with Scape to ensure this work has brought with it a boost to the regional economy through local subcontractor engagement.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with Scape to provide public sector clients with true value for money.”

11

UKC NEWS

HB Reavis debuts on the London development market HB Reavis, the leading commercial property developer in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of 33 King William Street, EC4, a prime development site between Bank and London Bridge in the City of London, for £62.5M. The acquisition is the Company’s first in the UK and marks the beginning of its expansion to the London office market.

The existing building on the site is fully rented until June 2014 to BlackRock, the world’s premier asset manager. Upon expiration of the lease, HB Reavis intends to commence demolition of the current building, with

12

construction beginning immediately thereafter on a speculative basis.

The site has planning consent for a new 229,755sq ft Grade A office building, which will be completed in the second half of 2016. The new ninestorey building has been designed

by John Robertson Architects.

Tomas Jurdak, Director of HB Reavis UK said: “We see this project as a unique opportunity, with an exceptional office building in an excellent location. Our intention is to continue investment in additional high quality development opportunities in London into 2014. We

look forward to establishing our company as an active contributor to London’s world class real estate community.”

Throughout its 20 year history, HB Reavis has become the leading commercial real estate developer in Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Since 1993, HB Reavis delivered more than seven million sq ft of leasable area, including nine significant office projects, four shopping centres and five logistics centres. The Company employs a fully integrated business model, which includes construction management, leasing, asset management, and investment management.

Abu Dhabi’s Al Bahr Towers wins first facades award The inaugural ‘Facade’ International Award for Facade Engineering Excellence has been won by Aedas Architects for the facade engineering work on Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi. RIBA President Stephen Hodder MBE presented the Award to Aedas UK Managing Director Mike Walters.

The Judges, representing the Society of Facade Engineering which organised the competition to celebrate its tenth Anniversary, liked the ‘overall ingenuity, uniqueness and engineering complexity of the facade design’ of the Al Bahr Towers, adding that ‘there wasn’t another project on the planet that appeared to embrace the principals of active shading in such a comprehensive and elegant way’.

Aedas, working with Arup Facade and Yuanda, created a mashrabiya facade for the project featuring more than 1,000 moving elements that expand and contract according to the sun’s position to reduce solar gain by more than 50%, whilst also reducing the offices’ dependence on artificial light.

The winner was chosen by a small margin from a short list of ten finalists by a panel of renowned facade engineers from Hong Kong, Italy and the UK, chaired

by Chris Macey of Wintech Group, which also sponsored the event.

Chris Macey, the SFE Competition Chairman and Managing Director of Wintech Group believes that the competition was an excellent way for the Society to celebrate its anniversary: “The International Award for Facade Engineering Excellence has defined the importance of high performance facades and the inseparability of this aspect of building design from the overall architectural process. The finalists, let alone the outright winner, are all fine examples of modern architecture per se, with exceptional work carried out on the facades of each.”

MOD awards £51M contract for new homes for returning troops A £51M contract to build new homes in Stafford for soldiers and their families returning from Germany has been announced by Defence Minister Andrew Murrison.

The contract will see the construction of 346 homes for soldiers based at Beacon Barracks in Stafford and is a step towards establishing the town as one of the army’s seven major concentrations of manpower.

It follows the announcement in October 2013 of a £100M contract to carry out a major redevelopment of the barracks.

Stafford will be the new home of two Signal regiments returning from Germany, bringing three Signal regiments together on one site.

The homes should be complete by summer 2015 when troops from 16 Signal Regiment and 1 Armoured Division Signal Regiment will move to Beacon Barracks allowing for the closure of Rhine Garrison by the following March.

Defence Minister Andrew Murrison said: “This significant investment in Stafford further demonstrates that we

are determined to provide the best possible accommodation for our soldiers and their families. Bringing troops back from Germany will save more than £350M a year in running costs, make best use of the Defence estate and provide a boost to the UK economy.”

The contract was awarded to Lovell Partnerships Ltd by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, which manages and maintains land and property for the Ministry of Defence.

The investment is in addition to the £1.8Bn announced last March by the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond for the Army Rebasing Plan, which will see 15,000 personnel return to the UK from Germany by 2020, £20M of which will be spent in the West Midlands.

Under the Basing Plan, Stafford will become one of seven major army concentrations along with Salisbury Plain, Edinburgh and Leuchars in Scotland, Catterick in North Yorkshire, Aldershot, Colchester and the East Midlands.

Kier Construction climbs mountains On a weekend when temperatures were so high that two soldiers on SAS training died from heatstroke in the Brecon Beacons, a group of climbers took on an astonishing trek between two Welsh mountains.

Now they have handed over to National Star the £2,242 they raised from two gruelling expeditions.

The Moss Mountaineers from Kier Construction in Gloucestershire took a 40km journey, climbing 3,000m over 24 hours with backpacks laden with camping equipment.

They lost two litres of water in the baking sun for every one they drunk, were bitten by a cloud of midges, and walked through tick-infested undergrowth to show their passion for the National Star.

The 12-strong team trekked to the 1,000m peak of Y Garn in the Welsh Ogwen Valley, descending into Nant Peris, then climbing up Snowdon, down the other side, then up the second Y Garn on top of Nantlle Ridge. The challenge was taken during the hottest weekend in July for years.

This is the second expedition the team has taken for the Ullenwood-based charity and at all times morale was

maintained even when they realised the scale of what they’d taken on.

Cheltenham Operations Director Ben Ramsay said: “The second Y Garn never seemed to get any nearer. The realisation that, on reaching the halfway house on the Snowdon track after hours and hours, we were only half way up came as a blow and was only relieved by cooling down with a blue Slush Puppy iced drink.

“So with blue tongues and renewed legs we heaved our sacks on our backs and continued.

“Why did we do this crazy thing? In order to raise funds for the National Star Foundation so they can carry on with their extraordinary work to help to realise the aspirations of young people with disabilities.”

13

OPTING FOR OFF-SITE An emerging trend over recent years in the UK construction industry has been the growing popularity of off-site manufacturing as a method of delivering building projects at pace. Andy Higson, off-site market development manager at British Gypsum explains how the approach can help construction professionals enhance efficiency and optimise sustainability.

Off-site manufacture is playing an increasingly important role in the UK built environment. Unlike conventional construction, this approach involves the manufacture of individual 3D building modules or 2D panels in the factory, which are then transported to the site to be assembled and fixed to ready-prepared foundations. The off-site method can be used in a variety of sectors, from residential and commercial, to educational and healthcare, and range in size from a few modules, to several hundred. This technique can also be used for both permanent structures and re-locatable buildings.

Benefits readymade There are a host of benefits associated with off-site manufacture, but its principal advantage is its ability to reduce on-site project time, increase quality levels and enhance efficiency, as the building modules are able to be manufactured concurrently with site preparation. It can minimise site disruption, as less work has to be performed on location, allowing a smaller on-site workforce, and is particularly suitable for developments with space constraints as less room is needed to assemble each building component.

Crucially for the modern construction industry, under pressure to meet stringent Government guidance, such as the newly-updated Approved Document Part L of the Building Regulations, the off-site method can allow specifiers to optimise the energy efficiency of the final building. This is thanks to smaller manufacturing tolerances afforded by the factory-based process which can help minimise thermal loss from the finished structure – enhancing its overall energy efficiency – and limit waste generated on-site during assembly.

Extensive choice British Gypsum has long invested in developing high-performance products for off-site manufacture to give customers solutions that truly meet their project’s needs. The company provides a host of off-site compatible solutions, including its Gyproc plasterboard, Glasroc specialist boards and a comprehensive range of acoustic ceilings.

One of the latest products available from the company’s off-site range is its high-performance Rigidur H gypsum fibre board.

Developed for use in British Gypsum’s GypWall EXTREME partition system, the board offers enhanced impact resistance, as well as increased levels of sound insulation and fire

protection, making it ideal for busy, high-traffic environments, such as those in public and commercial buildings. Rigidur H is available in a range of standard and extra-large sizes up to 6 metres by 2.5 metres, providing a whole wall solution for modular, pod, and panellised off-site manufacture systems.

A key advantage of Rigidur H for off-site construction is its compatibility with ACTIVair technology, an innovative solution for optimising indoor air quality. Incorporated into the plasterboard product, ACTIVair absorbs potentially toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from paints, cleaning products or new furnishings into the atmosphere, which in high concentrations can cause health problems for room users. It converts VOCs into inert, non-harmful compounds to prevent their re-emission, reducing levels in interior spaces by as much as 70 per cent compared with conventional solutions.

The use of such a product can allow construction companies to take advantage of the efficiency savings of the off-site method to build healthcare, education and other public developments where indoor air quality is a key concern.

Comprehensive support To help construction professionals deliver off-site projects as efficiently as possible, British Gypsum has also developed comprehensive support services. The company’s Technical Advice Centre for example, provides dedicated technical assistance, from design stage to completion, helping customers to specify the most appropriate approach for their project’s needs. The company’s external technical sales force is always available to offer customers hands-on practical expertise at the manufacturing level or on-location.

Opting for off-site manufacture Off-site manufacture will become more widely-used over the next years, as firms seek to optimise process efficiency, while at the same time meet increasingly rigorous regulatory guidelines for sustainability. As such, it is vital that manufacturers like British Gypsum work to continuously enhance the off-site support they provide to customers to enable them to meet both its environmental and business goals.

For more information about off-site manufacture, email British Gypsum at bgoffsite.enquiries@bpb.com or visit www.british-gypsum.com/about-us/sectors/offsite.

www.british-gypsum.com/sectors/offsite

UKC NEWS

Interserve completes Help for Heroes rehabilitation centre Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has successfully handed over the second of two new facilities in Plymouth that will benefit military personnel and veterans undergoing recovery. Help for Heroes is supporting the initiative with a £21M commitment. The project is part of HMS Drake’s larger Naval Service Recovery Centre.

The ‘Endeavour Centre’ is a recovery complex offering state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment. This complex consists of three buildings incorporating a gym, consultation rooms, a ‘Cafe Hero’ social area and a hydrotherapy area with changing facilities. A 25m sixlane competition pool is also provided,

featuring a floor that can be raised or lowered according to need. The pool’s floor is made of low-density material to enable it to float if required. Outside, a terraced area has been created with seating and a bronze statue focal point depicting the stretcher-bearers’ imagery associated with Help for Heroes.

The facility will provide those who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses with the very best support they need, for life.

Last summer, Interserve also handed over ‘Parker VC’, a specialist adaptive accommodation facility with 60 single ‘cabins’ and six family ‘cabins’. Both the Endeavour Centre and the Parker VC facilities will be run and staffed by the

Navy/MoD with Interserve continuing to provide a full range of 24 hour support services for injured service personnel including catering, cleaning, hotel services and building maintenance.

Endeavour Centre will also house the ‘Support Hub’, which will be operated by Help for Heroes staff.

Bryn Parry, Co-Founder and CEO of Help for Heroes, said of working with Interserve: “We are one of Interserve’s ‘charities of the year’. Right from the beginning they really got what this project is all about. It’s been a fantastic partnership with them, and the wonderful facilities they have developed will make a huge difference to the lives of servicemen and women who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses.”

Edward Davey MP opens new Drax biomass facilities delivered by Shepherd Group Drax, the UK’s largest power station, is set to become the UK’s largest single renewable electricity generator through the operation of new biomass facilities constructed by Shepherd Group.

Shepherd Group, working in partnership with Drax, is helping the Company deliver a UK first on its journey to becoming a predominantly biomass-fuelled generator.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, the Rt Hon Edward Davey MP, joined representatives from Drax and Shepherd Group to open new systems to receive, store and distribute sustainable biomass which fully support Drax Power Station’s first converted biomass unit, as well as further units as they are converted.

The biomass conversion will ultimately see three of the six generating units at the Yorkshire power station converted to burn sustainable biomass in place of coal. The first unit has been running successfully on sustainable biomass since the beginning of April 2013, with the second planned for 2014 and the third in 2016. Each converted unit will provide enough renewable

16

electricity to meet the equivalent needs of over one million homes.

Mark Perkins, Chief Executive of Shepherd Group Built Environment, commented: “This marks a key milestone both for Shepherd and for our client Drax in an extremely complex project.

“It shows what can be achieved by British industry not only in terms of Drax’s visionary strategy, but in the ability of UK expertise in the built environment sector to turn that vision into a world class point of reference for exemplar and ground breaking design and engineering.

“This is the sort of project that in the long term really makes a difference to the lives of people in the UK and indirectly, in years to come, many further afield also.”

Drax Power Station is currently the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide in the UK, but conversion of three of its six generating units to sustainable biomass will see its emissions reduced by around ten million tonnes on today’s levels. This will help to tackle climate change and will form a crucial part of the UK’s power mix.

Construction work starts on world class £4M King Richard III Visitor Centre Work has started on what will be a new world class £4M King Richard III Visitor Centre, thanks to public sector construction procurement specialists Scape and contractor Morgan Sindall.

The project, which is being delivered for Leicester City Council, will be based in the city. It will see the former Alderman Newton’s School on St Martin’s Place transformed into a state-of-the-art visitor centre that will tell the dramatic story of the king’s life, his brutal death at Bosworth Field in 1485, and the fascinating rediscovery of his grave.

The Victorian Gothic school building will be refurbished to create two floors of exhibition space and a new covered area allowing visitors access to the grave in which Richard’s remains were discovered. The project includes the construction of a new courtyard garden, glass entrance hall, viewing balcony, cafe and visitor entry from Peacock Lane.

Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall, said: “King Richard III’s death marked the end of the Middle Ages and this is a tremendous archaeological find, which should provide a great boost to Leicester’s visitor economy. We’re looking forward to working closely with Leicester City Council as we transform this historic building into a state-of-the-art visitor centre capable of welcoming visitors from across the world.”

The centre is due to open in summer 2014.

It is expected to attract 100,000 visitors and bring in over £4.5M to the city’s economy in its first year alone. The Morgan Sindall team has worked closely with the University of Leicester’s archaeological team to enable access to the site as the archaeologists worked to uncover the fascinating mysteries hidden at the ancient burial ground. The yearlong dig is now complete, allowing the construction team to set to work to transform the 150 year old building into the new visitor centre.

London Gatwick welcomes Government funding for Gatwick Rail Station redevelopment London Gatwick has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will contribute £50M of funding to kickstart the redevelopment of Gatwick’s rail station – The Gatwick Gateway.

The announcement, made as part of the revised National Infrastructure Plan, recognises Gatwick’s important role in UK aviation and the need to ensure a world class railway station for both existing and future passengers.

Of the 35 million passengers using Gatwick airport each year, 14 million arrive or depart by rail; making it the busiest airport station in Britain. Not only does the airport provide the fastest routes into the City and West End, it also connects directly to over 120 stations throughout London and the South East.

This connectivity will be further improved upon completion of a £53M project to improve platform capacity in early 2014 and with the introduction of the Thameslink franchise later in the year.

Commenting on the announcement,

London Gatwick’s Chief Executive Stewart Wingate said: “We are pleased that the Airports Commission has taken on board our recommendations on how to ensure growth at our airport in the short and medium term and maintain the UK’s position as one of the best connected countries in the world.

“This new funding is a welcome and positive first step toward delivering the new Gatwick Gateway rail station. We have worked well with Network Rail on our current rail improvement project and are looking forward to working with them, the Treasury and the Department for Transport to leverage this initial investment.

“Gatwick currently has the highest percentage of passengers accessing the airport by rail of any UK airport and as we continue to grow the number of global routes served by legacy, charter and low cost airlines, the package of measures announced today will help us deliver a world class passenger experience for Britons and visitors alike.”

New Defra minister meets with innovative Albion Water Dan Rogerson MP, the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), took time out to meet with innovators in the water industry, Albion Water.

Hosted at a brand new housing development, ‘Victory Fields’ in the Cotswolds, Mr Rogerson learnt about Albion Water’s revised approach to water solutions and how the Company’s innovative methods are being delivered in practice.

Since his appointment in October 2013, Mr Rogerson has been meeting with key figures in the industry and met Albion Water to see firsthand its innovative approach to delivering sustainable and environmentally friendly water services.

During the tour, the team at Albion Water talked Mr Rogerson through the approach that it has adopted at Victory Fields for developers Linden Homes and Bovis and how the plans could also be made available to other housing developments across England and Wales.

As well as higher standards of service, Albion Water estimates residents at Victory Fields will look forward to reduced costs of five - ten per cent compared with other water suppliers. Thanks to its ‘green water’ policy, customers will only use 80 litres of drinking water per head, per day, compared with the national average of 150 litres per head, per day.

This is achieved by capturing rainwater and recycled wastewater to flush toilets and water gardens. The green water will be provided as an extra supply to each home, creating a sustainable method for recycled water while benefiting local residents by helping to reduce household bills.

Water Minister Dan Rogerson said: “I’m always keen to hear about innovative ideas that can help us tackle environmental issues.

“Albion Water has done a fantastic job at finding a way to ensure its water services are sustainable and environmentally friendly while helping to cut costs and build a stronger economy.”

17

UKC COMMENT

NHBC

NHBC Regional Director Nick Cunningham gives an overview of the key themes set to be discussed at the up-coming Building for Tomorrow roadshows and how the new Part L regulations will affect the industry.

Building for Tomorrow, now in its 23rd year, continues to educate the house building industry on relevant topics that directly impact today’s house builders and is the event to attend to learn about our ever-evolving industry.

Numerous themes and subjects have been covered over previous years, from training and customer satisfaction to government legislation and overall standards raising advice.

This year’s theme - Regulations, implementation, results - is especially pertinent coming ahead of the introduction of changes to Part L from April.

Under the new Part L guidelines, new build homes will have to be six per cent more efficient than under current regulations.

In light of such a key regulation change, we are therefore delighted that this year’s roadshows will include a keynote speaker from DCLG, outlining the Government’s stance on Part L. DCLG will provide a high level overview of regulatory changes and share how this fits into the longer term energy strategy of the Building Regulations for our homes of the future.

This year’s comprehensive agenda will also feature: ••Building Regulations: What will this and other recent changes mean for new housing? – How will the changes impact the housing industry now and in the future?

••Delivering the service - With a continued upturn in the market, service delivery efficiency will have an increasingly vital role to play. How will NHBC keep your sites ahead of the curve?

••Designing Part L compliant homes - Translating new regulations into workable commercial designs is the key to achieving compliance. So what will the changes to both carbon and fabric targets mean for houses and apartments?

We’ll look at the new SAP2012 software, what areas to focus on and specifically the impact of additional thermal bridging requirements. What will all this mean for your design and construction teams?

••Components, materials and services - The choice of products plays a critical role in achieving the design.

It’s vital that as research projects start to conclude and results becomes available, they provide effective data to inform future decisions. Substituting products can also have dramatic and unexpected effects, which may result in compliance not being achieved. So what controls can be put in place to manage changing build environments?

••NHBC Foundation: Research in actionThe NHBC Foundation is here to help the house-building industry face its complex and multiple challenges, whilst delivering an increasing number of homes. This session will review recent key research and guidance projects and inform you of work we have in the pipeline.

Building for Tomorrow dates and venues Thursday 27 February - Shendish Manor, Hemel Hempstead Thursday 6 March - Wetherby Racecourse, Wetherby Tuesday 11 March - Thistle Haydock Hotel, Haydock Thursday 13 March - Cambridge Belfry, Cambourne Tuesday 18 March - National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham Thursday 20 March - Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld Tuesday 25 March - The Hilton, Swindon Thursday 27 March - Hilton Templepatrick, Belfast Thursday 3 April - Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher

18

••MVHR and Indoor Air Quality: A new chapter - As we work towards evermore insulated and sealed homes the critical function of ventilation needs to perform adequately - so the introduction of standards relating to mechanical ventilation and heat recovery are timely. This session will explore the new requirements and consider its interrelationship with changes to Part L. ••Health and Safety: How do you measure up?- NHBC’s Health and Safety Awards are now in their fourth consecutive year. As we continue to see sustained increases in house-building volumes there is an increasing pressure to maintain excellent standards of health and safety, so we thought it time to share best practice and some top tips for optimum performance. The CDM Regulations are also up for consultation in 2014/15 with SSiP a potential target for changing as well as the wider CDM Coordination role. What do house builders and their subcontractors need to plan for as these regulations are amended?

NHBC is also running a special ‘3 for 2’ offer on delegate places, please visit www.nhbc.co.uk/bft to book online or call 0844 633 1000 and ask for ‘Events’.

For all further information please visit www.nhbc.co.uk/NewsandComment/ Buildingfortomorrow2014

Recovery and The Overtrading Dilemma There can be no doubt that a recovery in the UK construction sector is now well under way. The reasons for the recovery are varied but are probably down to a combination of current government policies and the previous years of under-investment, due to poor confidence, which are now helping to stimulate growth. So all looks well for the next few years. Confidence generally in UK plc is returning and investment in land and buildings is following close behind.

Nobody can argue that a return to economic growth is anything but a good thing but there are lessons to be learned from the past that Contractors and Sub-Contractors need to be wary of.

Historical data shows that as many firms go bust coming out of recession as those that fail in the depths of a slow-down. The reasons for this are varied but the usual cause is overtrading. Overtrading is, in effect, losing control of your working capital requirements.

Companies need working capital to fund day-to-day trading activities. As workload and turnover increase so too does the need for working capital to pay your trading bills, salaries and other operating expenses.

Insolvency is defined as either having liabilities in excess of assets, that is negative net worth, and/or having no ability to pay creditors as and when payments fall due. It is the latter definition which usually causes failure and is often a symptom of overtrading.

• • • • •

So what are the warning signs of overtrading? The following are typical symptoms: Your overdraft is increasing month by month Operating margins are starting to slide Debtor days are starting to move out Key suppliers are beginning to get nervous and apply pressure by threatening to put you on stop Your accounts team begins to spend more and more time fending off suppliers and sub-contractors chasing payments

We all like to see a healthy order book and growing business and it can be very hard to turn down an offer of what you believe will be profitable work. But sometimes this is exactly what a prudent business owner should do if it is determined in advance that the project cannot be funded.

So how do you avoid overtrading and certain failure? The answer is easier to say than it is to do in practice and can be summed up in six words - "cash flow analysis, projection and control".

It is absolutely essential that you understand the cash inflow and outflow on every project you are working on and the outflow of cash required to fund your operating overheads such as rent, rates, heating, lighting, administrative salaries, insurances, vehicle costs and so on. From this information you should be able to produce a company model which shows on a week-by-week basis what your income and expenditure looks like and, in doing so, project and control what working capital is required by way of bank overdraft, loans or similar.

your working capital requirement, it is essential that you understand what the increased requirement will be long before you become committed and pass the point of no return.

Lack of analysis, projection and cash modelling is likely to cause a disaster.

There is no excuse for failing to understand your business and its cash requirements. If the skill sets are not readily available in your business, you simply cannot afford not to buy in these resources.

Crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, whatever that might be, is not the way to avoid overtrading and inevitable disaster.

Peter Vinden is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership, the UK's leading construction business recovery specialists. He can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk. For similar articles visit www.vinden.co.uk

Each new contract win should be analysed on the same basis and imposed on your operating model and any potential contract should be analysed and fed into the company model before it is accepted.

It might be that you can only accept the latest contract if advantageous payment terms can be negotiated from your client or with key suppliers and sub-contractors. It may be it cannot be funded at all but the point is you need to know!

It should never be assumed that your bank will provide an increase in facilities to overcome shortfall in working capital requirements. It is precisely this sort of assumption that has led to many a company's undoing.

So, in summary, if the decision to take on a new contract is going to increase

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204 362808 tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

UKC COMMENT

The Temporary Disconformity Concept This article considers the remedies available to an employer who is concerned about poor quality and defective work during the construction period, which may or may not be corrected prior to practical completion. The concern is that shoddy or defective work may simply be covered up. At best the employer is paying over the odds for inferior work.

At worst there could be a structural or other material defect lurking. Either way the employer loses trust and confidence in the contractor’s ability to do the work and/or supervise its subcontractors.

The employer will want to know how it can get the contractor to improve its performance, whether it can withhold payment and if so by how much, and if it can terminate the contractor’s employment. The contractor will say it is entirely up to it to decide how and when to rectify defects so long as the work is compliant at the time of practical completion, and tell the employer (politely) to mind his own business!

The law

Leaving aside for one moment the particular powers under various standard form construction contracts, there are two very different schools of thought on the law; One extreme is illustrated by Hudson 11th edition 1995 – a “contractor will be in immediate breach of contract whenever his work fails to comply with the contract descriptions or requirements”.

The problem with this approach is that every minor non-conformity constitutes an immediate breach.

The other extreme stems from a 1972 House of Lords case P and M Kaye Ltd –v- Hosier & Dickinson Ltd where Lord Diplock (dissenting) suggested that “Provided that the contractor puts it right timeously I do not think that the parties intended that any temporary disconformity should of itself amount to a breach of contract by the contractor.”

The practical approach involves a consideration of whether the disconformity was in fact “temporary” and whether the contractor was taking steps within a reasonable time, to correct the defect.

In Nene Housing Society –v- NatWest Bank [1980] it was an express term of the contract that the contractor was to “carry out and complete the work” which is a dual test. Thus it will not always be necessary to wait for completion to ascertain if the work is being properly carried out.

During the first decade of the 21st century the theory of “remediability” appeared.

In essence this is based on ascertaining whether in the normal course of events the defects could or would be remedied

20

by the contractor before completion.

If they would, then they fall within the scope of the “temporary disconformity” principle, and the employer would not be entitled to terminate.

However, if the nature of the defect is so serious that the contractor cannot rectify it in time (or at all) or if there are numerous defects which when all taken together cannot be rectified in time, then the defect is irremediable. An irremediable defect cannot be a temporary disconformity. The breach occurs when this state comes to pass, and the employer does not have to wait until completion to look for a remedy.

Examples

The theory can be illustrated by looking at simple examples: 1 Where screed is laid in too wet conditions and needs four months to dry out before a timber floor can be laid on top, if there are still six months left within the contract period then there would normally be sufficient drying out time left and the defect is remediable. The damp is a temporary disconformity. But if there are only two weeks left until completion, the defect is irremediable.

2 In this scenario the brickwork is poorly aligned, the plastering is rough and the windows are not properly sealed. If the contractor can, and normally would, make good the defects during the remaining contract period then these are no more than a temporary disconformity. But there will be a point in time when it is no longer possible to remedy these defects and they become irremediable.

Where the defect has a material impact on a following trade this point in time may arise sooner rather than later.

3 Here, the width of a corridor is not compliant with Building Regulations.

The contractor continues to construct doorways and window openings in the walls, ignoring the fundamental non-compliance, and proceeds to plaster the walls and fix handrails and fittings. This is not a matter of routine remediation; it is a fundamental error not a temporary disconformity.

It can immediately be seen that each case will be fact specific and care needs to be taken when considering whether to impose an irreversible remedy such as termination.

JCT 2011

Using the Standard JCT 2011 contract by way of example let us look at how an Employer might deal with its concerns about shoddy workmanship: First, it is an express term of the contract that the Contractor shall “carry out” and “complete” the

Works in a proper and workmanlike manner thus the dual test applies.

A failure to comply may result in an instruction that is “reasonably necessary” with no addition to the Contract Sum. If within seven days of a notice from the Contract Administrator requiring compliance with an instruction the Contractor does not comply, the Employer may employ others to execute the work and make an appropriate deduction from the Contract Sum. Further, under the termination provisions the Contract Administrator may give a 14 day warning notice for failure to proceed regularly and diligently and/or the twolimb test of neglecting to comply with an instruction or notice requiring removal of work, materials or goods not in accordance, if by such refusal or neglect the Works are materially affected. If the default continues for 14 days the Employer may then terminate the Contractor’s employment.

Pay Less notices

The other issue that may arise in the circumstances of work falling within the “temporary disconformity” concept is whether the employer can serve a Pay Less notice to cover the risk of the work not being carried out properly or where the contractor is unable to prove eg: by photographic evidence or third party confirmation, that the work was done properly before being covered over. The Contract Administrator may value the work at less than the contractor has applied for however the employer may be justified in wishing to withhold additional sums against the risk that the temporary disconformity will not in fact be rectified before completion, or indeed against the suspicion that shoddy work has been covered up. This is particularly relevant in circumstances where the signs are that the contractor or the key subcontractors are in financial difficulties and this is affecting the quality of the work.

Diligence

In order to avoid inevitable termination and/or deduction of significant sums from payment applications a contractor has to ensure that it is carrying out work diligently at all times and take immediate steps to rectify any non-conformity.

Jane Ryland, Sheridan Gold LLP

COMMENT UKC

Thomas Eggar

Court refuses to enforce award won by contractor subject to CVA The case of Westshield Ltd v Whitehouse and another [2013] 3576 EWHC (TCC) raises a question mark over the viability of a CVA for a cash-strapped contractor planning to collect debts through adjudication.

Adjudication

Adjudication is a “pay first, argue later” statutory mechanism for resolving disputes in the construction industry.

The court’s approach is generally to uphold adjudicators’ decisions robustly unless there has been a serious breach of the rules of natural justice.

CVAs

The company voluntary arrangement (or ‘CVA’) procedure is intended to allow companies to avoid liquidation by coming to an informal, but binding, agreement or compromise with their unsecured creditors.

It is a compromise, or other arrangement, between a company and its creditors under Part I of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986). A CVA is implemented under the supervision of an insolvency practitioner.

Westshield

In this case, the court refused to grant summary judgement in respect of an otherwise enforceable adjudicator’s award.

The court’s reason was that the claimant contractor was subject to a CVA and the defendant client was entitled to exercise a right of set off in respect of a negligence claim under the terms of the CVA.

Background

Mr and Mrs Whitehouse had employed Westshield to carry out substructure work for a house. After finishing the work, Westshield submitted a claim in respect of variations and delay and incorporated it in an application for payment.

Mr and Mrs Whitehouse ignored that application for payment. Westshield

got into financial difficulties and sought a CVA before they referred their claim to contractual adjudication.

The adjudicator decided that a six-figure sum was due to Westshield. As the Whitehouses did not pay, Westshield applied to the court for summary judgment.

When Westshield won the adjudication, Westshield’s lawyers may have thought they could rely on a previous case (Mead General Building Ltd v Dartmoor Properties Ltd [2009] EWHC 200 (TCC)) in which the court enforced an adjudicator’s decision and refused a stay of execution, despite the claimant’s CVA. Mead appeared to have established that a claimant contractor’s CVA could not prevent judgment being entered against a non-paying client, and one message flowing from the Mead judgment seemed to be that the court is keen to prohibit non-paying clients from relying on the cash flow difficulties they have caused to their contractor as a ground for avoiding enforcement.

In the Westshield judgment, the court’s emphasis lay elsewhere; it lay on the fact that the Mr and Mrs Whitehouse had advanced a counterclaim in the claimant’s CVA, albeit late in the day. The judge’s reasons for declining to enforce the award turned on a term of the CVA providing for mutual set-ff of debts.

The ‘mutual set-off’ term is standard and therefore likely to appear in most CVAs. It allows a creditor to set off their own debts to the company which has sought a CVA against sums due to the creditor from that company. Pursuant to the CVA clause, only the balance of the account is claimable by the creditor.

The court held that, under the terms of the CVA, Mr and Mrs Whitehouse’s claim would need to be set off against the amount due to the Westfield pursuant to the adjudicator’s decision. Consequently,

Westshield’s application to enforce the adjudication decision was dismissed.

Any contractor considering a CVA as an option for trading through financial difficulties now has one more question to consider: ‘Can we afford to drop adjudication from our debt collection artillery?’

You are welcome to contact the author Laura Phoenix, an Associate in the construction team at Thomas Eggar LLP, for more information: laura. phoenix@thomaseggar.com

Laura Phoenix

21

UKC COMMENT

DIY construction management: acceptable to funders?

David Johnson, Boodle Hatfield Developers who wish to avoid paying main contractor’s overheads and profit frequently manage their own development projects, employing the various trades contractors direct, without a main contractor. This approach can sometimes be viewed with scepticism by funders and their advisers, particularly when the arrangements between developer and trades contractor are not reflected in a formal contract.

Funders are generally much more cautious and demanding than they were before the 2008 downturn. Funders were then often prepared to lend on projects that were procured on an informal basis, with very scant documentation, provided that the borrower was known and had at least some track record of successful development. As a result of many unfortunate experiences in the downturn, most funders now expect projects to be procured in an appropriate way and to be properly documented, and are very concerned to ensure that they are able to step in and complete the project if the borrower goes into default.

DIY construction management, where the developer acts as its own construction manager, is a perfectly valid approach to procurement, provided that the developer has the necessary skills, experience and resources to properly manage the project.

It is all too easy for an inexperienced developer to underestimate the resources and skills needed to properly manage a construction project, and inadequate management is always a recipe for disaster. Any funder will therefore need to be satisfied that the developer is up to this task. They will expect the developer to demonstrate expertise in managing construction projects, for example by a successful track record of developments carried out on this basis.

If this is not available, they are likely to insist that the developer “buys in� the necessary skills and resources.

One problem for the funder is that under

this method of procurement there is no single main contractor with overall responsibility for the works. The developer may well have worked successfully over the years with its team of small trades contractors, but a history of long established working relationships will mean little to a funder concerned with protecting itself against the risk of the developer going into default, and thus facing the possibility of having to step in to complete the project. They will want to ensure that they have proper step in rights, and that a proper contractual matrix of rights and responsibilities is in place.

The standard JCT trade contract, intended for use in a construction management situation, comprises a printed booklet which is some 124 pages long, and it is quite likely that the average self employed roofer or bricklayer will shy away from such a document. Most funders, and their advisers, will recognise this and will be prepared to be flexible, but it is very likely that they will require a properly executed short form of contract or, at very least,

a properly acknowledged order with an acceptable set of terms and conditions for each trade contractor, however small.

They will probably take the view that a collateral warranty from a tradesman, or a very small contractor, is worthless and will not insist on this in every case, and will not be too concerned as regards step-in rights in respect of the normal building trades.

However, where the trade contractor is responsible for major elements of the works (such as the major structural elements or specialist services) or has taken on any design responsibility, it will almost invariably be the case that the funder will require full step-in rights.

The funder will therefore insist on a more formal trade contract being used and on receiving collateral warranties.

David Johnson is a partner and head of the construction practice at law firm Boodle Hatfield. He can be reached by email: djohnson@boodlehatfield.com.

Visit www.boodlehatfield.com for more information.

David Johnson

22

23

UKC COMMENT

When is a collateral warranty a construction contract?

Rebecca Huston, Winckworth Sherwood Contrary to the view of much of the industry, the Technology and Construction Court has recently held that in certain circumstances a collateral warranty may be a ëconstruction contractí that brings with it the requirements and benefits of the Construction Act. This is an important decision as the as the beneficiaries of collateral warranties may now be able to enforce them more easily, says Winckworth Sherwoodís Rebecca Huston.

A ‘construction contract’ can extend to the carrying out of, or arranging the carrying out of, construction operations and/or providing labour for ‘construction operations’.

Construction operations is widely defined and covers professional services, including architecture and surveying. Some construction operations are excluded from the remit of the Construction Act and these include, amongst others, engineering works and manufacture of goods to be used in construction.

If a contract is properly classified a ëconstruction contractí the Act requires that it must contain an adequate mechanism for payment and statutory adjudication will apply for dispute resolution.

Collateral warranties are commonly used to give interested parties in a development, who are not procuring the works themselves, a direct contractual right against contractors and designers for the construction of a project.

It was a commonly held view in the industry that as a collateral warranty sat alongside the construction contract, it was not a construction contract itself. The obligations to carry out (or arrange the carrying out of) construction operations were contained elsewhere.

In the recent decision of the Technology and Construction Court, Parkwood Leisure Ltd v Laing O’Rourke Wales and West Ltd (2013), the Judge explored this principle and pointed out that where a collateral warranty is given prior to practical completion and contains words such as ‘warrants, acknowledges and

24

undertakes’ to carry out the Works in accordance with the Contract, those words require past and future performance in addition to confirming the current state of affairs. The words are not synonymous and were intended by the draftsman to include future performance. Therefore, this equates to an obligation to carry out the works and the collateral warranty is a construction contract in its own right.

Not every warranty will be a construction contract and this should be reviewed carefully. If only past performance is warranted then it is less likely to be a construction contract and the benefit of the Construction Act will not apply.

One of the benefits of this decision is that statutory adjudication, a 28 day quick fire process, is now available to more purchasers and tenants to resolve disputes where they are party to a collateral warranty. This may be very useful for those needing to enforce claims for defects under a collateral warranty.

Previously only litigation or arbitration were available for dispute resolution and both are significantly more expensive and time consuming than adjudication. For a straightforward case, litigation/arbitration Rebecca Huston

will take around one year. Adjudications are concluded in weeks. The difference in time taken to resolve the dispute can, naturally, result in rough justice and this is acknowledged by the Courts. However, where defects are concerned a client may consider that an imperfect quick decision is preferable to waiting at least a year. The other point to note about adjudication is that the statutory position is for each party to bear its own costs.

Therefore the costs risk being taken can potentially be lower when adjudicating.

If the time and/or cost of enforcing a collateral warranty through the Courts is putting you off taking action to recover damages, it may be time to review whether or not the collateral warranty is a ëconstruction contractí and therefore whether adjudication is available to obtain a swift resolution to the situation.

Rebecca Huston is a solicitor in the Construction team at Winckworth Sherwood. She can be reached by email: rhuston@wslaw.co.uk.

Visit www.wslaw.co.uk for further information.

www.rooflight.co.uk

T: 01670 736124 F: 01670 738080

sales@rooflight.co.uk

Unit 17 South Nelson Rd, South Nelson Industrial Estate, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 1WF

With vast experience in the commercial and domestic markets, Rooflight Architectural manufacture and supply lantern lights, pitched glazing, and walk-on rooflights to any size or specification. With thin site lines and availability in any colour, we offer a one stop solution, including technical advice, CAD drawings and nationwide installation.

We specialise in subcontract machining work, making door & gate hinges, locking spindles, bushes, special bolts and pig nose glass fixings. Anything can be made to your sketches or drawings using 20 CNC machines and 10 manual machines on site. W & K Precision can offer a wide range of finishes to our customers using approved production agencies.

Heat treatment and various other coatings can be done. We do all types of repair work to avoid buying new parts.

Unit 37, Cranswick Industrial Estate, Driffield, East Yorkshire YO25 9QE

Phone : 01377 271041 Fax : 01377 271856 E-Mail : wk@wkprecision.co.uk www.wkprecision.co.uk

The company was established in 1988 to supply high quality flooring and fitting services to the commercial sector in the North East of England.

The company quickly expanded, based on the quality of service and standards of customer care. Sian Flooring has always prided itself on its friendly and professional service and, above all, its commitment to the highest standards of craftsmanship.

Industrial and Commercial Flooring Specialists With over 40 years combined experience in commercial flooring, Sian Flooring offers the very best in professional services and product expertise. Offering the very highest standards in all aspects of flooring at extremely competitive rates.

Unit C20, Tromso Close, Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, North Shields NE29 7XH

Tel: +44 (0)191 2728248 Fax: +44 (0)191 2575697 Email: info@sianflooring.com Web: www.sianflooring.com

The company has recently moved offices and is now based on the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, North Shields. The location is idealy situated to service the Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, Middlesbrough and Teeside regions, however the company also operates on a regular basis across the UK. The company employs staff with experience and expertise in customer service, project management, technical expertise and an experienced fitting team.

Whatever the size or scope of project, Sian Flooring has all the necessary skill and expertise to meet the most demanding requirements.

Media limited

to advertise in this magazine please call

01257 2 3 1 9 0 0

w w w.pro -m a rk .org .uk 25

UKC COMMENT

Sefton Agricultural Land Study A change to UK planning law means that an increasing number of local councils will be required to undertake comprehensive Agricultural Land Studies when their old planning strategy policies mature one by one, to be replaced with new Core Strategies. The aim of this type of analysis is to ensure that housing and employment needs are taken into account within future planning decisions. David Middleditch of national agricultural and environmental consultancy ADAS, outlines an agricultural land study recently undertaken for Sefton Council on Merseyside.

One of the most controversial aspects of our national planning policy is whether or not to grant permission for property development on high quality agricultural land, defined as Green Belt. In this modern age, the question of land development is unavoidably interlinked with the protection of farmland and the question of a nationally sustainable food supply.

With a rising population and a finite supply of land it has been two hundred years since there was self-sufficiency in our food supply but an increased reliance on exports is not considered to be in the national interest. The most recent full investigation into agricultural land and food production was carried out in 2008 by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and this concluded that “self-sufficiency ranges from around 10 per cent for fresh fruit to around 100 per cent for cereals”. For many, this is an area for concern.

In May 2011, MP Laura Sandys spoke in the House of Commons on the Planning (Grade 1 Agricultural Land Protection) Bill 2010-12.

She stated that “the amount of arable land in the United Kingdom has decreased by 30 per cent and food imports have increased to 47 per cent over the past 20 years”.

Under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), however, which all councils adhere to, high quality land and soils are more protected than they have been for many years. Graded from one to five, land is evaluated in terms of

26

its production capacity. Because of soil structure, nutritional levels and a host of other factors, grade three is the minimum land required for arable crop production, while, due to its excellent soil quality, location and workability, grade one land can produce up to three crops every two years and is therefore suitable for vegetable production and is highly valued.

A shortage of suitable brown field sites, coupled with an increased demand for new housing, has led many councils, however, to explore the possibility of building on good quality farm land. In some cases, even grade one land is considered for building development sites. As this becomes an increasingly important issue, ADAS is drawing on its wealth of experience in this sector to provide an expert service to local councils.

Sefton is a coastal borough on the north edge of Merseyside and in July 2012 its council commissioned ADAS to complete a comprehensive Agricultural Land Study. It was particularly interested in investigating the implications of future planning decisions regarding building developments on Green Belt arable land within its borough.

Following a consultation in mid-2011,

Sefton Council commissioned further research into the possible development on the best and most versatile arable land in the borough. Approximately 51 per cent is within the Green Belt including substantial areas of nature conservation value and undeveloped coast as well as areas of the highest quality grade one agricultural land. Food security and the loss of potential to produce food to meet future needs and the local socioeconomic impact of development on agriculture and agricultural employment are common concerns in such cases.

Over a four month period, ADAS carried out a detailed analysis of the borough’s proposed planning strategy, considering three land parcel options, all of which were explored in detail. The resultant report brought together soils data, land use and the wider economic and environmental context to provide a holistic analysis. It has provided decision-makers within Sefton Council valuable insight and other UK councils are consulting ADAS over commissioning Agricultural Land Studies of their own.

The Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group (SLPTG) Apprentice Awards which recognise the achievements of apprentices in the sector were presented at the National Construction College (NCC) - East on 12th December 2013. There were 12 awards chosen by NCC instructors, including Best Academic Achievement, Best Technical Application (Lightning Conductor) and Highest Attention to Safety (Steeplejack), for those apprentices who excelled during their twoyear training. The prestigious Sam Rafferty Award for Best All Rounder went jointly to Kevin Gibson of Northern Steeplejacks and Ryan Ward of K2 Steeplejacks.

Following recent reports of a potential skills shortage in the specialist sector, the annual Apprentice Awards Dinner was a unique opportunity to celebrate apprentices who had successfully completed their NVQ Level 2 in steeplejacking or lightning conductor engineering by presenting them with their NVQ certificates.

Apprentices and their employers who attended the event were addressed by guest speaker Chris Barrett, Head of Vocational Services at NCC, and Master of Ceremonies Mike Fuller, a specialist advisor to the industry. The event also welcomed industry professionals and training providers ahead of the main NCC ceremony in July and the evening was a fantastic demonstration of the sector’s commitment to the training and development of the workforce.

SLPTG Chairman Robert Bird said: “Congratulations to all of the apprentices who completed their training and especially those who won an Award. Due to the high risk involved in working at height, the steeplejack and lightning protection sector fully supports the training and qualification of operatives and apprenticeships will continue to hold the key for the construction industry as it emerges from the recession.”

The Apprentice Awards Dinner was

NEWS UKC

SLPTG Celebrates Apprentices at Annual Awards supported by gold sponsors ATLAS and PTSG - Electrical, silver sponsors A.N Wallis and BEST Services and bronze sponsor Churchill Specialist Contracting with support from CITB. www.slptraininggroup.org.uk

Undertake all types of reinforced concrete works from house foundations to multi storey developments.

Factories to Bridges and Canals and Wind Turbines and Substations.

From Factory Floors to Bespoke Formwork for Sea Walls and Copes to Insitu-stairs where precast is not an option.

Can also help with: Steel Fixing, Shuttering, Concrete Pumping,Concrete Placement, Concrete Finishing, Concrete Repairs and many other aspects of the Construction industry 25 Queensferry Street, Shawfield, Glasgow, G5 0XR. Tel: 0141 418 0000 Fax: 0141 423 2003 E-Mail cfsl@btconnect.com www.ConstructionFormScotland.co.uk

27

UKC COMMERCIAL UKC PROFILE

John Sisk + Son Development on One Commercial Street A vibrant area of London is the home of a prestigious development from John Sisk + Son. One Commercial Street is poised between the City, the financial heart of London and the culturally diverse City Fringe of Aldgate and Spitalfields.

This 22-storey landmark project will firmly establish Redrow’s penetration into the London luxury residential market with high quality tower apartments, offices and retail space.

Constructed directly above Aldgate Underground Station, an unusual aspect of this scheme is that Redrow is developing a distressed asset where construction was suspended in 2008.

Redrow has purchased the site and directly engaged the frame contractor and envelope specialist.

Redrow is one of the UK’s leading residential property developers, established more than 35 years ago and continually driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a ‘can do’ attitude.

The Company has a committed and enthusiastic team, taking pride in the homes built and developments created, delivering distinctive quality homes for all customers.

In addition to 207 homes, 110,000sq ft of office accommodation over six floors

will be provided, as will the ground floor retail space and basement car parking.

This is in a key location and as the City grows, its boundaries are expanding eastwards.

The area around Aldgate is a key regeneration zone and One Commercial of a stylish hotel reception area, where Street takes a prime location within the concierge is on duty 24 hours this new business and residential to attend to residents’ needs. neighbourhood, looking to the Square Work will be complete in April 2014.

Mile, looking to the future.

One Commercial Street is a dramatic landmark tower with an outstanding collection of studios, apartments and penthouses.

The Tower Stott Carpentry is a highly skilled carpentry and joinery contractor Apartments, The with over 25 years experience. Our projects have included many of City Collection and the highest profile, successful and largest construction projects The Penthouses throughout the country. Our track record is proven. range from the 11th to the 21st floors, and the views J. A. Stott Carpentry Ltd are astonishing.

1st Floor, Jubilee House, 7-10 The Oaks, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 7LF The building Tel 01895 435 551 Fax 01895 674 716 has a bespoke www.stottcarpentry.co.uk entrance lobby with the ambience

Brick Market Ltd Large range of bricks from all leading manufacturers Brick Market Ltd is an independent, family-run builders merchant that provides a full range of products to builders, developers, landscapers and home improvers in the south of Manchester area.

Operating from its premises in Woodford, Stockport, the Company started trading in 1999, from beginnings as a road transport company that delivered building materials for customers throughout the country.

The business has grown rapidly in the 14 years since, and can offer customers a free brick matching service and a reliable next day delivery service.

Headed up by Directors Harry Jenkins and Liz Green, services are aimed at small/ medium building contractors, landscapers and gardeners, and home improvers. Brick Market specialise in providing materials for refurbishing older properties.

There are seven employees, one of which is office based, while there are two delivery drivers, two who work on shop and direct sales, and two on yard sales.

The Company provides on site training for materials handling equipment and off site training provided by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) on a wide

28

range of subjects. There have also Brick Market, who is consolidating been two apprentices trained at the after a major expansion, and continues Company with the help of the BMF. to increase the range of materials There have been a number of large projects stocked, which now includes renders. recently undertaken by Brick Market.

These include extensions in Wilmslow, Brick Market Ltd, Moor Lane, apartments in Bramhall, an extension Woodford, Stockport, SK7 1PL in Cheadle Hulme for GB Builders and extension and landscaping work in Woodford on behalf of Buildmarks.

Over the last two years, the Company has invited a plumbers’ merchant to share its new shop and warehouse, and has also opened a café to serve customers, staff Private, Light and Commercial Vehicle and public. The stockyard area has Servicing Repairs and MOT Preps. been resurfaced Dean Farm, King Street, Cheshire SK7 1RL and new storage racking installed.

The future is bright for

S.M.H Commercial ltd.

Tel: 07917 044403

The Clancy Group Plc, through Clancy Docwra Ltd, is well established as one of the leading national construction companies in the UK, operating principally in the utility, transportation, power and infrastructure sectors.

Utilities have been the cornerstone of the business for a number of years. However, roles and arrangements change and develop; integrated teams are the way forward and are delivering the cost savings and efficiency improvements demanded.

Clancy Docwra has built an enviable reputation as market leaders in the water sector through innovation and the provision of leading edge technology.

The Company is the largest water service provider in England, serving approximately 20% of the population.

In September 2009, three groups were confirmed as framework contractors for Southern Water’s multi services framework. Clancy Docwra, Morrison Utility Services and a joint venture of Barhale and Trant Construction (BTU) are to take on the maintenance, repair and renewal worth between £300M and £600M, depending on OFWAT funding.

The six-year deal involves mechanical and electrical improvements at hundreds of Southern Water assets, such as treatment works and pumping stations.

It covers the five-year AMP 5 contract.

There is also an option for a renewal for the subsequent five-year AMP 6 framework.

Southern Water’s Chief Executive, Les Dawson, said: “It is essential that the suppliers we engage to work on our behalf not only deliver a service which is of the highest standard, but also share Southern Water’s ethos of having customers at the heart of its business.”

Southern Water supplies fresh, quality drinking water to more than one million households and treats and recycles wastewater from nearly two million households across Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and the Isle of Wight.

One of the mains replacement schemes that Southern Water is working on is the B3354 at Colden Common.

This is an essential scheme to reduce the risk of bursts, which have caused problems for customers on several occasions in the past due to the loss of water supply and emergency road closures.

Work is being undertaken in three phases: • Phase I started in September at the junctions with the B3354 and at the roundabout junction with Church Lane.

• Phase II started in October, and temporary traffic lights were used at the junction of Portsmouth Road B2177

PROFILE UKC

Southern Water Partnership with Clancy Docwra and Main Road B3354 for six weeks.

Water worked closely with Isle of • Phase III is expected to start Wight Council Highways to ensure next month. This phase should that traffic disruption is minimised. take approximately 12 weeks.

The work was carried out by Clancy Roadworks are being suspended in Docwra and commenced in May 2013. It December to avoid the Christmas period took three months and is now complete. but other than that, Clancy Docwra will Work was completed in March 2013 on be working seven days a week, using essential works on a main sewer in Cowes. extended working hours to complete Southern Water began work in the job as quickly as possible.

November 2012 to replace 550m of Southern Water Project Manager Peter the old sewer running under the River Simmons, said: “This water main has Medina from Medina Road in West burst a number of times in the past, Cowes to the Esplanade in the East causing problems for customers who have with a new 500mm-diameter pipe. lost their water supply, and also causing Clancy Docwra has now successfully traffic disruption. We must replace the completed the installation of the new main with a more durable pipe, which will sewer, 25m under the River Medina. reduce the risks of bursts and leaks.

The new pipeline was drilled and pulled “Although the timing of the scheme into place using highly specialised has been carefully planned, it will equipment and techniques to ensure inevitably cause some disruption. We’ll minimal disruption to the environment. do all we can to minimise this and will It is part of Southern Water’s be updating customers throughout. £10.5M programme of works to “We’ll be in the area for a few months but rehabilitate and replace 30km of the benefits of the work – a more reliable sewers across the South East. supply of water to customers’ taps and fewer emergency road closures – will last long into the future.”

Phase I of the work was completed three weeks ahead of schedule, while Phase II was able to start three weeks earlier than planned.

Clancy Docwra • CCTV PIPELINE INVESTIGATIONS has undertaken • SEWER CLEANING SERVICES a sewerage • SEWER TANKERING SERVICES improvement • MANHOLE REHABILITATION scheme in • CIPP LINING Newport.

Southern Water • QUICK-LOCK PATCH REPAIR replaced 150m of old sewer pipe while increasing 91 Drumalane Road, Newry, Co Down, N.Ireland, BT35 8QJ the diameter of a further 25m of pipe in Field Place, Newport, as part of the Company’s wastewater renovation programme that will ensure the sewer system www.mcallisterbros.com network continues info@mcallisterbros.com to work effectively.

Southern

Number One for Pipeline Maintenance and Rehabilitation

0044 2830263067

29

UKC PROFILE

John Sisk and Son

Ferrybridge Multifuel facility SSE Plc and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc (WTI) have entered into a 50:50 joint venture to develop a new £300M multifuel generation facility at SSE’s Ferrybridge power station in West Yorkshire.

The joint venture – Multifuel Energy Ltd (MEL) – began full construction of a 68MW multifuel facility in late 2012 and will be completed early in 2015.

Hundreds of jobs will be created during the three year construction period and more than 50 new full-time jobs will be required once the plant is fully operational.

SSE – formerly Scottish and Southern Energy – is one of the UK’s leading energy companies and the largest non-nuclear electricity generator, operating a diverse generation portfolio across the UK and Ireland.

WTI is a leading developer, owner and operator of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities and has been established for more than 37 years.

WTI currently owns and/or operates 22 energy facilities in the US, 17 of which are EfW facilities. It has also recently acquired part of a business in China, which has three operational plants and a further five under development.

Every year in the US, WTTI processes more than 6.9 million tonnes of waste (over twice the EfW capacity in the UK), which generates more than 4.5 billion kilowatts of energy.

WTI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management Inc, the largest provider of integrated waste management services in North America, with 22 million customers.

In 2013, Waste Management was recognised by the Ethisphere Institute, the leading business ethics thinktank, as one of the 2013 World’s Most Ethical Companies.

This is the sixth year the Company has been honoured for promoting the highest of ethical standards. Out of a record number of nominations for the award, Waste Management secured a spot on

30

the list by implementing and maintaining business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the Company’s success, benefit the community and raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry.

Consent to develop the facility, which will use a range of waste derived fuels to generate electricity and heat, was received from the Department of Energy and Climate Change in October 2011.

When operational, the electricity generated by the plant will be sold to SSE. MFE has entered into a long-term fuel procurement contract with 3SE – SSE’s joint venture with Shanks Plc – which will provide processed waste derived fuels using waste taken from nearby Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster councils.

To support this contract, 3SE intends to develop a new Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility at Bolton Road, Manvers.

The multifuel power station produces low carbon electricity and heat by burning waste derived fuel from various sources and processed municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste and waste wood.

These are first processed at an off site facility to remove recyclable materials.

The remaining materials are then delivered to the power station by road or rail to be used as low carbon fuel.

Much of the fuel for Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 (FM1) is coming from the local areas and it is hoped that future fuel supplies will come from local, regional and national suppliers. This will be assessed and evolve as the project is developed.

Fuel will come to site in sealed containers, which will be opened in the indoor fuel reception area.

All fuel handling will be in a self contained building. The fuel store is an integral part of the main boiler structure and air is drawn from the fuel reception building into the boilers, thereby maintaining a negative pressure, which will reduce

the possibility of odours and dust escaping from the fuel reception area.

Multifuel power stations generate electricity and heat from a range of low carbon fuel sources including fuels produced from waste known as waste derived fuels.

High levels of interest from potential fuel suppliers has demonstrated that there is demand in the market for further waste derived generating facilities so this year, MFE began looking into the possibility of constructing a second multifuel power station at the site, known as Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 (FM2).

FM2 would have a capacity of up to 90MW. Much like FM1, it will be capable of producing approximately 68MW of low carbon electricity, enough to supply in the region of 160,000 homes.

The electricity will be supplied to the electricity grid and to achieve this, a new connection will need to be made. As was undertaken for FM1, an evaluation of the potential for exporting heat to available off site users is being undertaken.

The energy will be produced by burning waste derived fuels from various sources that will be processed off site to remove recyclable materials and create the fuel, which will then be delivered to FM2.

During the last two months of the year, MEL has consulted the local community, local organisations and statutory bodies on its plans and has encouraged comments and feedback from local people.

There has been significant interest from suppliers in providing fuel to the FM1 power station, providing evidence of sufficient demand and fuel availability for a second facility.

This has led to the decision to pursue the development of a second multifuel facility at the Ferrybridge site.

The UK needs to develop new facilities to generate electricity in order to provide secure, clean, affordable energy and reduce continued page 32 >

• • • • • • • •

carbon emissions from energy generation.

The new multifuel power station will contribute towards preventing a shortfall in electricity in the future as an increasing number of the UK’s aging oil, coal and nuclear power stations close.

As well as generating low carbon energy, the construction of a second multifuel power station at Ferrybridge will also further reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill. This will help the UK meet the landfill diversion targets set out in the European Landfill Directive.

The facility has not been designed to take hazardous waste and would not be permitted to do so. It would only be able to accept the wastes specified under the Environmental Permit granted by the Environment Agency.

Fuel will need to be delivered to the site and ash taken away, so alternative options to road are being examined.

However, as these options are still under consideration, as a precaution, MEL will be assessing the impacts on the local area should all the transport movements be made by road.

It is envisaged that the construction of Dish Hill Roundabout as part of FM1, which will be completed by the end of the year, will take HGV traffic away from the centre of Ferrybridge and Brotherton, removing the traffic from the residential areas and improving road safety.

Emissions are tightly controlled and monitored and the view of the experts responsible for protecting the health

32

of people is clear and unambiguous.

After reviewing the latest literature, the Health Protection Agency’s general position remains unchanged: “Modern, well managed incinerators make only a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants.

“It is possible that such small additions could have an impact on health but such effects, if they exist, are likely to be very small and not detectable.”

The multifuel plant at Ferrybridge is not intended to replace the existing 1,000MW of coal capacity that is closing in 2015 due to the European Large Combustion Plant Directive.

SSE has not yet made a decision on the future main use of Ferrybridge Power Station, which is currently also home to the UK’s largest carbon capture trial, CCPilot100+, in conjunction with Doosan Power Systems and Vattenfall.

Paul Smith, SSE’s Managing Director of Generation, said: “Multifuel technology is a tried and tested way of generating clean, base-load power.

“This new multifuel plant will provide additional diversity to SSE’s generation portfolio and make a useful contribution to ensuring we have reliable energy supplies for the future.

“The transactions that make up this project represent a strong partnership between four major players in the multifuel sector, who are committed to making a serious level of investment in this technology.

“Between them, the companies involved

have extensive experience in sourcing and processing waste, constructing and commissioning multifuel technologies, and operating generation plant.

“This partnership creates a great platform to develop multifuel technology in future.”

Managing Director of WTI in the UK, Gary Aguinaga, spoke of his delight before construction began.

He said: “Wheelabrator is delighted to reach contractual close with SSE to design, build and operate a modern multifuel facility at the Ferrybridge site in West Yorkshire.

“We are committed to forming strong partnerships as we continue to expand our operations across the UK and Europe.

Through the Multifuel Energy joint venture, we are combining our expertise and experience to deliver a stateof-the-art facility which will provide significant amounts of clean energy.”

The combined heat and power-enabled facility of FM1 will take fuels from across Yorkshire and the wider region.

It will work in a similar manner to the existing power station, where fuel is burned under controlled conditions to raise high temperature steam that is then used to generate electricity.

Some of the steam will be used for heating purposes within the multifuel facility itself.

There will be approximately 50 full-time jobs and around 300 temporary roles during the three-year construction phase, and the facility will be fully operational in 2015.

It is expected to create approximately £10M of additional business for local hotels,

restaurants and other service providers.

FM1 alone underlines MEL’s commitment to working in partnership with the local community and follows on from a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event held in Castleford last summer by MEL and the project’s Main Contractor, Hitachi Zosen Inova with its civil engineering supplier John Sisk & Sons.

Some of the regional companies who have been confirmed as subcontractors to the project include Slipform Structures Ltd, based in Leeds, Cidon Construction Ltd of Barnsley, Jakto, based in Barnsley, TW Catering of Pontefract and CBR Engineering Ltd, who is based in Castleford.

In addition, Construction Testing Solutions Ltd in Doncaster, Windgate electrical of Leeds, Tarmac Ltd also of Leeds, Black Diamond Ltd in Doncaster, Structural Soils Ltd and Vanguard Security and Services Ltd – both of Castleford – have also been appointed as subcontractors.

Mark McCarthy, Managing Director of MEL said: “Multifuel Energy Ltd and Hitachi Zosen Inova are committed to sourcing local and regional suppliers at all stages of this multi-million pound project, which will create hundreds of jobs during its construction.

“The ‘Meet the Buyer’ event was a huge success and it’s great to see that some of the local business we met last summer (2012) are now involved in building the facility.”

Slipform Structures Ltd, a Leedsbased specialist in the construction technique used to quickly construct large-scale buildings such as towers and dams from concrete, was awarded a contract to construct a waste bunker for the multifuel plant. The work was completed in early June and involved approximately 150 workers.

Jim Marley, Construction Director at Slipform, said: “We are very excited to be involved in this prestigious West Yorkshire project.

“As a local employer, it’s a welcome boost for the construction industry.

We fully intend to contribute to the benefits being brought to the local area by utilising our local supply chain and our locally based labour force.”

Last month saw more than 100 local residents attend public exhibition events that were held over a couple of weeks to find out more about the proposals for the FM2 power station. It is expected to be similar in scale to FM1.

The seven public exhibitions, which were held in Ferrybridge, Brotherton, Airedale, Pontefract and Monks Fryston, gave the local community the opportunity to see how the plans have progressed over the last few months since the informal consultation in the summer.

Members of the MEL project team were on hand to answer questions from the public.

Ashley Comerford, the FM2 Project Manager, said: “During the development of the first multifuel project at Ferrybridge, the level of interest from potential fuel suppliers demonstrated that there is demand in the market for further waste derived generating facilities.

“We are pleased that the local residents have taken the time to come and speak with us to find out more about how our plans for a second multifuel plant are developing and the results of our preliminary environmental investigations.

“The involvement of the local community is greatly appreciated and we value this input into our plans. A wide range of views have already been expressed through our feedback forms and I would

encourage anyone with an opinion or question on the plans to get in touch before consultation closes.”

Formal public consultation began earlier at the beginning of November 2013 and residents were given the opportunity to provide further feedback on the proposals until 20th December 2013.

MEL will then continue to engage with various stakeholders before expecting to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate in summer 2014.

The Planning Inspectorate will then examine the application and make a recommendation for the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and a decision is expected in the third quarter of 2015.

FM2 is expected to create approximately 350 jobs during the three-year construction period, provide up to 50 full-time jobs once the power station is operational and create secondary jobs associated with fuel deliveries and the wider supply chain.

Many of these are much like the benefits of FM1. In addition, FM2 will provide further financial benefits to the local economy via contract opportunities for local businesses and a positive knock-on effect for local hotels, shops and petrol stations for example.

FM1 has already created hundreds of construction jobs, involved approximately 30 local companies and the local economy will benefit from £10M of additional business for local hotels, restaurants and other service providers.

If plans for it are approved, it is expected that FM2 would create similar benefits.

The next step would see construction begin in 2015 and the power station could then be operational by 2018.

33

UKC CIVIL

Flying high

Gatwick Airport

London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world.

The airport serves around 200 destinations (more than any other UK airport) in 90 countries for 34M passengers a year on short and long haul point-to-point services.

Gatwick has been competing vigorously since the change in ownership in December 2009, winning new routes to the UK’s key trading partners and providing direct connections between London and high growth economies.

December 2013 saw London Gatwick celebrate four years as a stand-alone airport, competing head on with Heathrow, Stansted and other major European airports for airlines and passengers.

Some £1Bn has been invested in the airport in order to maintain and improve its position, from modernising the forecourt, check-in and security areas, to overhauling the departure lounges, upgrading the departure gates, runway and immigration halls – the airport has gone through a monumental transformation.

Stewart Wingate, London Gatwick’s Chief Executive, said: “Turning round the decades of under-investment in Gatwick, transforming it into a friendly and efficient place to visit, as well as ensuring the airport remains a major international gateway for London and the South East has been my priority over these last four years.

“Looking ahead, and as we enter our fifth year as a competing force in the market, my priorities for the airport won’t change.

We will remain focused on delivering high levels of service and affordable prices for our customers, and we will continue to compete for airlines that will help us connect the UK to established and strategic markets. That of course means competing for the UK’s next runway. On that issue, I believe that a second runway at Gatwick is the most deliverable option that will give the UK the economic benefits its needs, at a far lower environmental cost and will ensure affordable fares for the next generation.”

The Capital Investment Programme at Gatwick aims to create a bright, contemporary airport that provides a smooth journey for everyone, and is flexible enough to deal with growing business. Benefits that passengers

34

are already enjoying include: provides some 1,280sq m of floor space ••A quick and convenient connection over a ground and first floors with a on an improved shuttle second floor control room at the eastern ••A quick and easy access into North end of the building providing a high level Terminal through a new interchange viewing platform across the airport. which includes a new forecourt, The building height and dimensions shuttle station, lifts and escalators have been sized to avoid infringing the ••A stunning extension to North Terminal, safeguarded obstacle limitation surfaces including new check-in zones and from the northern emergency runway a new baggage reclaim area and to safeguard lines of sight from the While improvements are also being air traffic control tower to the north. made to help with the daily operations of As a prominent airfield building which will the airport. provide one of the first impressions visitors Further investment is being delivered have of the airport, careful consideration through a new Airfield Operations and has been given to its appearance. The use Safety Unit, which is relocating the therefore of differing materials is proposed existing AOSU to Stand 169, providing for vertical cladding elements on part an improved and more efficient facility. of the building which will step outside Not only will the development enhance the norm for an operational building. the Airfield Operations Building (AOB) Careful consideration has also been given facilities but it will also provide the to the environmental performance of the opportunity to rationalise the facilities and building, with an Air Source Heat Pump operations of other airside operational system being used alongside conventional functions. These include the relocation gas fired hot water circulation, with of the anti-icing facility, safeguarding insulated wall cladding, plus a rainwater for the possible relocation of a future collection system for toilet flushing. Glazing Airfield Ground Lighting department will maximise the use of natural light and and for a possible future extension reduce dependency on artificial lighting, of the Airport Fire Service, which is while internal lighting will comprise energy located adjacent to the new building. efficient high frequency fluorescent or The AOB team provide essential services LED luminaries with automatic sensors. to manage the safe operation of the The Main Contractor for the airfield areas. These functions range from development is Vinci. checking the condition of the runway and pavement and managing snow clearance to dealing with any emergencies. The AOB therefore needs to be located in a central accessible airside area with good visibility of the runway and airfield. It needs to accommodate various facilities including control room, offices, meeting rooms and workshops to lockers, drying rooms and staff Moss Decor are painting and decorating contractors that offer the highest welfare facilities. quality of commercial decorating on the market today.

External facilities need to include parking for airside Moss Décor (Innovations) Ltd. operational Sutherland House, Russell Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1UH vehicles and deTelephone: 01293 531506 E-Mail: info@mossdecor.com icing vehicles.

Web: www.mossdecor.com The new building

PROFILE UKC

CBRE

Advice for successful data centres CBRE advise more clients than any other commercial property adviser, combining the market making of management consultants with the accountability of professional advisors.

The Company works with occupiers, investors and developers of office, industrial and logistic, residential, retail and hotel property.

Services provided include strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing, tenant representation, corporate services, facilities, property and project management, appraisal and valuation, development services, investment management, energy and sustainability services, and research and consulting.

Within the UK, CBRE has 1,600 staff with offices in Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Southampton.

CBRE has long been recognised for success and leadership in the commercial real estate services marketplace.

The Company has led the industry in establishing a global offering and a full spectrum of services, and continues to lead in superior client service, volume of business activity, financial performance and many other measures.

The concept of responsibility is not new at CBRE, and all staff have been working diligently in several of these areas for many years. CBRE’s people are some of the largest supporters of charitable causes in their communities and the Company has led the industry in good governance and ethics practices for some time.

In terms of data centres, the Company provides advice to occupiers and developers about data centres thanks to having a complete understanding of how data centre

mechanical and electrical (M&E) services, IT platform requirements and property interact for data mission critical businesses.

Only CBRE’s data centres can provide full peace of mind that when it comes to property decisions relating to data centres, nothing is left to chance.

Data centre services include acquisition, disposal, project management, merger and acquisition advice, quarterly and bespoke research, and landlordspecific services investment.

Volta, which was opened earlier this year at the Great Sutton Street facility, is one of the data centres that has benefitted by CBRE’s advice. Following a year long project to strip out and re-fit a former BT exchange, Volta’s multi-million pound investment represents a significant commitment to London’s technology infrastructure.

Volta’s Great Sutton Street facility is the first new central London data centre to open in a decade. It provides a resilient, secure and sustainable IT environment for businesses requiring a central London location and facilitates high-speed domestic and international connectivity provided by some of the world’s leading telecommunication carriers.

Located on the edge of the city, Volta is ideally placed to serve companies in the financial services sector, SMEs and technology entrepreneurs in and around Tech City, as well as the media industry in London’s West End. The data centre benefits from a unique and diverse 33kV power supply fed from two separate parts of the National Grid. In effect, the whole of London would have to suffer an outage before Volta’s back-up power systems are required, making it one of the most resilient data centres in the UK. Another London data centre specialist

that CBRE are working with is Virtus, who are challenging the traditional data centre landscape with some fresh thinking.

The Virtus Intelligent Data Centre range offered by Virtus goes beyond just the supply of physical collocation space to include high quality flexible colo and connectivity solutions as well as a wide range of other customer services. Virtus is committed to innovate the way businesses of all types can deploy their IT solutions offering lowest TCOs in London.

Its LONDON1 data centre in Enfield is designed to meet the growing demand for scalable, reliable, on-demand collocation services. Its flexible configuration offers customers a wide range of choice on how their IT solutions are deployed, from a single rack to a bespoke data centre suite.

Opened in 2011, LONDON1 has a growing community of Tier 1 and Tier 2 carriers offering diverse connectivity services, enabling low cost, low latency, high speed and high quality access to different networks, internet exchanges and customer locations globally.

Virtus recently announced that work has commenced on LONDON2 in Hayes. This promises to be London’s most effiecient data centre with design PUE of less than 1.2. The new site will use a range of energysaving technologies including indirect evaporative cooling and highly efficient UPS systems that will allow Virtus to deliver significant TCO reductions to their clients.

When LONDON2 goes live next summer, the high speed, low latency connections between both sites will allow them to operate as one common market place, making it easy and cost efficient for end user customers, MSPs and network service providers to serve each other’s needs while expanding their own businnesses.

35

UKC EDUCATION

UCL Cruciform Library

Part of a wider masterplan The Cruciform Library, Cluster and adjacent seminar rooms in Bloomsbury are undergoing refurbishment to transform them into a welcoming and vibrant space at the heart of Gower Street, fulfilling the aspirations of the UCL masterplan.

The Cruciform Hub will open in spring 2014 with a state-of-the-art library, the computer cluster, and a whole suite of seminar rooms.

Located at the heart of the UCL Medical School, in the lower ground floor of the Cruciform building, the hub will be easily accessible for UCL students and staff, as well as NHS staff working at UCLH. While work has been underway, the library has moved to the second floor, while the science library has remained open and extended its opening hours throughout last July, in order to meet the needs of the medical students who were revising.

To enable the Cruciform Library move to the science library, management books and periodicals are moving to the main library.

This project is for UCL – established in 1826 to open up education in England for the first time to students of any race, class or religion. UCL was also the first university to welcome female students on equal terms with men.

Academic excellence and conducting research that addresses real world problems inform UCL’s ethos to this day.

It was ranked fourth in the world’s

Image courtesy of UCL

top ten universities by the QS World University Rankings in 2012, so is a very prestigious place to study, with more than 4,000 academic and research staff dedicated to research and teaching of the highest standards.

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), UCL was rated the best research university in London, and third in the UK overall, for the number of its submissions which were considered of ‘world leading quality’.

UCL has the highest number of professors of any university in the UK, with 824 established and personal chairs, as well as the joint highest number of female professors with 185, and the university is associated with several major teaching hospitals – such as the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the Royal Free Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital – which provide Londoners with first-rate healthcare and contribute to major advances in medical research.

The academy community includes 53 Fellows of the Royal Society, 51 Fellows of the British Academy, 15 Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering and 117 Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Nobel prizes have been awarded to 21 former academics and graduates. The most recent addition in October 2009 was Professor Charles Kao, who was awarded

a Nobel prize for Physics. Professor Kao undertook his PhD at UCL under the supervision of Professor Harold Barlow.

More than 40% of the almost 27,000-strong student community is engaged in graduate studies, with more than a third of these graduate students pursuing research degrees.

Students from 150 countries study at UCL, making up more than one third of the student body, and an ever-expanding worldwide network of more than 160,000 UCL alumni, helps to maintain the university’s international reputation for access, innovation and excellence.

The Bloomsbury masterplan was approved

by UCL Council in July 2011 to provide the strategic framework for the development and improvement of the UCL Bloomsbury Estate over the next ten to 15 years, to ensure the UCL’s fine buildings in the very heart of this great world city best support the university’s highest academic standards and global ambition.

It represents a coherent vision and a series of strategies, along with an indicative sequence of projects that together provide a long-term strategic framework and from which a programme of capital investment will emerge.

Being built by Cameron Black, the Cruciform Hub will be complete in the next few months.

Essential Building Services was established in 2005. We pride ourselves on the highest quality of workmanship. Whether it is a high spec roofing system or a small maintenance repair, we have a great team of highly trained operatives on our sites and a skilled team of professionals in the office.

At Essential Building Services, we work very closely with our clients ensuring customer satisfaction and peace of mind which is one of the reasons our clients remain with us for many years.

Specialist installers of quality roofing systems.

The Elm House, Whitehouse Farm, Gaddesden Row, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 6HG

Tel: 01582842633 Fax: 01582740049 info@ebsltd.co www.ebsltd.co

36

We provide services in Liquid coatings, Mastic Asphalt, Hot melt, Biodiversity roofs, Roof finishes, Slate/Tiled roofs, Built up felt roofing, Lead, Copper and Zink.

Essential Building Services are committed to Health and Safety and like to work closely with our clients using the latest materials to minimise the impact on the environment.

Working closely with leading manufacturers gives us access to the latest technical information which means we can provide bespoke designs to suit new builds as well as refurbishments.

PROFILE UKC

Nicholls Transport

Developing state-of-the-art transport hub

E H Nicholls Jnr Ltd has been providing efficient transport solutions for businesses across the UK and Northern Europe from their Sittingbourne Depot for over 35 years.

Paul Nicholls has been at the helm for some time now – succeeding the founder of the business and his father, Ernie Nicholls – and is supported by Darren Sherlock, Finance Director and Neil Havill, Transport Director.

Originally operating only from Kent, Nicholls Transport now has hubs all over the UK including Birmingham, Leicester and Buxton. Over the years, as the business has continued to grow the Company has needed to look for a more suitable location.

Managing Director Paul Nicholls explains: “For many years, the growth of our business through our work directly with manufacturers in construction, food & drink and the paper industry, and our broad range of FMCG clients, has meant that we had to look for a more suitable location and it made sense for Nicholls to take advantage of a prime site when it became available. The new site is situated on the outskirts of Sittingbourne in Kent, on the A249, with direct access to the Kent Motorway network and onto key ports, including Dover, Purfleet and Sheerness, across the South East.”

Their new 29 acre site allows for

expansion of the business and will house a new office facility, complete with up-to-date traffic management technology and tracking capabilities for all of the Company’s 165-strong trailer fleet and it will be a fantastic hub for all transport companies with vehicles traveling across the South East.

Whilst Nicholls are in the early stages of development, the opportunities for working partnerships with manufacturers, retailers and other hauliers are endless. As Darren Sherlock explains: “Our new site will offer a range of facilities including, secure overnight parking, a six-bay commercial workshop with MOT bay, a 300,000 litre underground fuel and AdBlue facility, a drive-through vehicle wash and a large warehouse facility with repacking and transhipping/restacking services. We’re already taking calls from businesses looking to be part of our exciting new venture” The Company decided to work with Kent based Provian Construction, who are on target to complete this 42-week project by summer 2014.

With an investment of £9M in this new transport hub, Nicholls has called upon Robert Wynn of URS – global provider of construction, engineering and technical services – to oversee the project which is being developed on the eastern

section of the Thames Gateway.

URS has produced a very comprehensive commissioning specification which includes seasonal commissioning to be carried out during the first year of occupation, post construction. During this time all systems will be tested under full load, carrying out works during periods of high or low occupancy and conducting interviews with building occupants to ensure the wellbeing of all staff is maintained.

Robert is working with Syntegra Consulting to carry out a BREEAM assessment of Nicholls Transport’s new transport hub. BREEAM is the worlds’ leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance. To date the building has achieved a score of 63.07% - a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’.

If you’d like to find out more about Nicholls Transport and the facilities that the new Kent based transport hub can offer you, please contact: Lynda Taylor on 44 (0)1795 421777 lynda@nicholls-uk.co.uk www.nicholls-uk.co.uk

ROOFING & CLADDING SPECIALISTS / STEEL ERECTION

ALL TYPES OF METAL ROOF & WALL CLADDING: SITE ASSEMBLED - ALUMINIUM - STANDING SEAM - SECRET FIX BARREL VAULT - COMPOSITES - RAINSCREEN - ZINC SINGLE PLY MEMBRANE - GUTTERS - PPC BULLNOSE ETC. (ALL TO CURRENT BUILDING REGULATIONS / FULLY GUARANTEED 20 YEARS PLUS)

UNIT 2-9C, THORPE CLOSE, BANBURY, OXON OX16 4SW

Telephone: 01295 266122 Fax: 01295 275773 www.indhitech.com

37

UKC PROFILE

Lomas Office Furniture & Stationery Ltd Expanding the design aspect of the business Lomas Office Furniture & Stationery Ltd is a family owned company, formed in 1985 by Roy and Ann Lomas, initially as a second hand dealer.

The Company has expanded over the years and now boasts one of the finest showrooms in the north of England at its base in Blackburn, Lancashire.

In 2000, the Company acquired J & K Sharples Office Supplies in Brook, near Preston enhancing its buying power and adding to the customer portfolio.

As well as this, a major service now provided includes a full design and fit out service. Previously, basic 2D and 3D drawings have been made for customers but now the Company has the added design aspect because one company that Lomas used to deal with had a partner who wanted to work on his own.

Andy was predominantly a designer and began working upstairs at the office. As part of this deal, he now does the design work for the Company, giving the option to be working with somebody who is an expert in the way of design, and building regulations.

This gives Lomas the ability to do designs properly, put proper working drawings together and have somebody

38

in between Directors and Contractors who know what they’re talking about.

That is how it all started originally and up to now it has worked very well for the Company and all involved.

The result of this has been a couple of extra jobs that have been won as a result of word of mouth with regards to this enhanced service offered by Lomas.

Services are pretty broad in terms of the sectors they target. At the moment, Lomas is working at a school, while partially involved in a project with a logistics company too, and the Company has also undertaken a project for an organisation that makes insulation. This includes a laboratory and an office fit out.

Being able to do drawings for the joiners has given the Company a completely new outlook on what it is capable of doing, and has even managed to secure a number of new contracts without needing publicity to get the Lomas name into the public domain, and without having to go and actually look for the work.

Despite this extra service that Lomas can offer, everybody involved in the Company is determined not to take on an unnecessary workload. Instead, the priority is getting to grips with all the design and drawing

first, to make sure the best possible service is offered to all customers.

The Company Director is Mark Lomas, who is a Senator dealer who is prominently involved in Pledge Seating.

Moving forward, Mark is committed to developing the design of the business after getting a proverbial foot in the door.

In the past, the Company has missed out on furniture jobs because the guys who do this type of work already have a contact.

This new aspect will give Lomas the chance to get and secure those type of projects. With the way the designer – Andy – works, people will often come to him before they even look at the furniture.

If he’s done the design and specified furniture, it gives the Company a better chance of winning that project.

It is hoped that in the future, this will help Lomas win bigger and better projects that previously weren’t attainable, and will further increase the already high reputation of Lomas.

Lomas Office Furniture & Stationery Ltd, Regent House, 107 King Street, Blackburn, BB2 2DT. Tel: 01254 670295.

A range of seating designed to meet every eventuality in today’s demanding workplace.

From reception and waiting area seating though the office and upwards to the boardroom, there's an Aztec chair for every person in the office.

Aztec produce a wide range of seating for a variety of work and leisure activities. However, if you fail to see what you are looking for or have a specific requirement or project, please contact us as we undertake many design and development projects in conjunction with our customers, meeting all their criteria of purpose, quality, price and delivery.

Bee Hive Mill, Moor Lane, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 0EJ Tel: 01254 707 474 info@aztecoffice.co.uk www.aztecoffice.co.uk

39

UKC LEISURE

West Bromwich Leisure Centre Important regeneration for the residents of Sandwell

UKC RETAIL

Work is well on track on the new West Bromwich Leisure Centre on the corner of Barton Street and Moore Street.

After a lengthy tender process, DC Leisure and building partner Pellikaan Construction Ltd were awarded the contract to design, build, operate and maintain the new centre, which is due to open next summer.

Pellikaan has been involved from the tender stage, working closely with DC Leisure and Roberts Limbrick to develop this high quality and feasible design and build sports complex, which will be completed in summer 2014.

Facilities in the new centre will include a 25m pool, learner pool, sauna and steam room, four-court sports hall, 100-station fitness suite, two dance studios/activity rooms, indoor children’s adventure play centre and café.

Local involvement and regeneration are important factors for the project, stimulated by the enthusiasm and support from Sandwell Council.

The centre has benefitted Future Skills Sandwell students by providing training and employment opportunities and at least ten local students are

involved in the construction. reception accessed through Designed by Roberts Limbrick Ltd, automatic bi-parting glazed doors. the building will be two-storeys, Facilities for the disabled will include comprising a steel frame, composite accessible toilets and changing facilities steel structure with a concrete floor. as well as disabled parking and the All parts of the centre are linked by a central centre will be secured through CCTV main street/concourse. The circulation and fire alarms throughout the facility. concourse will be filled with natural light and exposed glulam beams, while main facilities will be accessed with a lift and feature stairs.

The first floor sports hall will be linked to the studio Elite Aluminium Systems Ltd was formed in and the main pool 1993 and has gained a strong reputation will have exposed glulam beams and within the architectural aluminium glazing spectator seating. industry for delivering a high quality A soft play area will service that is cost effective and within be incorporated programme. within a feature drum with coloured Leamore Lane, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 7DQ glazing and glazed Tel: 01922 444443 Fax: 01922 710837 screens to the Email: general@elitesystems.co.uk café area and www.elitesystems.co.uk there will be a central welcoming

Bolton Market Revamped indoor area and car park Work is almost finished at Bolton Market, with the end result being a refurbished area.

Indoor market traders in the non-food section are the ones mainly affected by the refurbishment, and they were relocated temporarily onto the current outdoor market. The market’s fruit and vegetable section and the fish market has been open for business as usual.

Locally based contractor Willmott Dixon is the Main Contractor for this project, which has involved gutting the indoor market hall.

Other improvements that are taking place to the market include introducing additional food stalls and a seating area, refurbishing the roof on the fish market, and repairing the roof over the hall that contains the fresh fruit and vegetable traders.

The car park on Moor Lane will also be open as usual but the car park on New Street has not been operational due to the construction work.

Bolton Market opened in the 1930s and is one of Britain’s oldest food markets.

The market has a growing reputation as the premier food market in the north of England, and it was also showcased

40

on BBC Inside Out for a project that it strength of the food offer at Bolton Market. runs on getting people to eat healthily.

The design team for the project It has won a number of awards has been led by Architects Davis including Best Food Market in the BBC Wetherill Partnerships.

Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards Traders moved back into the market 2011; Best Indoor Market 2010; and before Christmas, and work to Tourism Retailer of the Year 2009. the car park and other servicing The internal work to strip out the stalls area will finish early this year. lasted two weeks, while the roof refurbishment took approximately three months.

After the stalls were removed, preparation took place on replacing the internal rooflights, while externally, Restoration - Renovation - Refurbishment scaffolding was All Projects Undertaken erected around the hall to enable the replacement of roof 114 St Helens Road, Pennington, Leigh, Lancashire WN7 3JE tiles, and waste Mobile: 07834 159013 Office / Fax: 01942 684772 was disposed Email: info@wjstructures.com of in skips. www.wjstructures.com The scheme builds on the quality and

PROFILE UKC

Richmondshire District Council Opens new Head Quarters A £2M state-of-the-art office complex which sees all Richmondshire District Council services housed in one building for the first time in its history opened in November 2013.

Mercury House has been created in the former Lower School site in Richmond.

Plans to create a new base were in the pipeline for many years, and redeveloping the old school has meant the old offices in Swale House, Frenchgate and Friars Wood and the community office in Dundas Street closed and services transferred to the new building.

The name Mercury House was chosen after local people were asked to come up with a new name for the building.

Sixty suggestions were made, including references to the River Swale. But members of the Council agreed that Mercury House should be adopted - with its links to Mercury Bridge, which lies close to the building. That was renamed

in 1975 in honour of the Royal Corps of Signals which adopted mercury as its symbol on its cap bridge.

Deputy Council Leader, Councillor Mark Griffiths, said: “Mercury is also the ancient Roman god for messages and communication so is a very appropriate name for the Council.

“Our new name reflects the business the building will be used for and is a name that will take the District Council, Richmond and Richmondshire into the next phase of their history together.”

The last meeting at Swale House took place in October 2013 before the move to the new offices, which saw its Mercury House sign erected in the middle of November. It opened for business on 26th November 2013.

The Richmondshire district covers 509 square miles and is larger than four English counties. But with just 51,400 residents it is one of the most sparsely

populated district councils in the country.

With boundaries stretching from the River Tees to Cumbria, the area is predominantly rural in character and a large part is situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The largest town in the district is historic Richmond with its Norman Castle, cobbled market place, famous Georgian Theatre Royal and elegant Georgian buildings.

Richmondshire District Council, Mercury House, Station Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4JX. T: 01748 829100

ACRYPOL

An award winning range of cold applied waterproofing and architectural solutions

www.acrypolproducts.co.uk Acrypol +

System 15

Failed metal roofs - massive 60% cost savings Metal-Kote from Acrypol is the ultimate recession busting answer to failing metal roofs.

Just a single coat will bring an entire roof back to life for just 40% of the cost of replacing it, and without the costly downtime.

Tel: 01925 213655 Quartzdek

Metal-Kote

Nu-Life

No negatives here Acrypol + is one of the most successful waterproofing products in the country. The original and best cold applied solution, Acrypol + will instantly seal a roof, with just one coat

Acrypol Products Limited, 4 Asher Court, Lyncastle Way, Barleycastle Lane, Appleton, Warrington WA4 4ST T: + 44 (0) 1925 213 655 F: + 44 (0) 1925 213 656 Website: www.acrypolproducts.co.uk Email: info@acrypolproducts.co.uk

41

UKC CIVIL

Kings Walden Pumping Station

Construction of ion exchange treatment close to completion Next month will see the commissioning of a high recovery ion exchange treatment process at Kings Walden Pumping Station.

The new plant has been designed and built by Interserve Construction Ltd on behalf of Affinity Water, and consists of a new portal frame nitrate plant building and associated structures containing process equipment, as supplied and installed by ACWA Services Ltd. Being completed in conjunction with catchment management activities that will address longer term issues in the catchment, the new plant has been designed to fit within the existing site boundary footprint and be connected to the process streams in the most economical manner, while also maintaining the works process.

Located in a rural valley with arable agriculture predominating around it, the source water at Kings Walden has a residual nitrate that has seen step increases since 1994.

Unlike other sources in the area, the nitrate

does not follow the normal seasonal variations seen at other sites. Affinity Water has been managing nitrate concentration through blending, but the current treatment site restricts the site output.

During the last business plan, Affinity Water identified the risk at Kings Walden associated with the raw nitrate levels and submitted a proposed Water Quality Scheme, which gave Affinity Water a DWI undertaking to provide treatment for nitrate at Kings Walden.

As well as the high recovery ion exchange nitrate removal system, the development has identified and managed the delicate planning requirements. The works also identified electrical plant on site for upgrade where necessary to conform to the latest regulatory standards, which will take into account efficiency and whole life costing.

The new nitrate removal process treats some of the borehole supply to reduce nitrate concentrations by ion exchange and blends back the treated water into the main extraction water to achieve

Established in 2000, our speciality is installation, commissioning and maintenance of a vast range of integrated electronic security systems, additionally electrical systems provided nationally. We have fully qualified Engineers with over 40 years’ experience in the industries who are fully Security Screened.

CAT has been working with Affinity Water since 2008 in designing and installing Intruder Detection Systems across many of their sites.

Project: Kings Walden CAT designed a Siemens SPC System for Kings Walden which is part of a global project across all Affinity Water sites. The Siemens system integrates Intruder Detection and Access Control together to allow it to be controlled remotely from Affinity Waters Operation Centre. This allows Affinity Water to monitor and control who has access to the site, and provides restricted access to parts of the site.

For all enquiries please go to www.cat-efs.com or email enquiry@cat-efs.com

42

the overall acceptable concentration.

The plant will have sufficient hydraulic and treatment capacity to treat a maximum raw water flow equivalent to 122cu m/h.

Under normal operation, the nitrate removal plant will be fully automatic in operation and the process control system controls and monitors the plant, responding automatically to changes in load caused by variation in treatment works flow rate, feed water nitrate concentration and ion exchange product nitrate concentration in order to maintain the required blended product water nitrate concentration, while minimising at all times the consumption of salt and the production of effluent.

Built by Interserve Construction Ltd, three trees had to be removed prior to construction. This was carried out early to avoid bird nesting season.

Work on the single-storey building started in February 2013 and will be commissioned in February 2014, costing just over ÂŁ1.3M.

EDUCATION UKC

University of Essex Business School The first zero-carbon business school in the UK

© University of Essex

Set in 43 acres of mature parkland adjoining the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus, the Knowledge Gateway is set to become one of the prime locations for research and business in Essex.

It will offer occupiers a competitive advantage through an attractive setting and exceptional working environment in new office and R & D space with immediate access to the University’s research and business development activities and use of a unique range of established on-campus leisure, conference, hotel, catering and retail facilities.

Located adjacent to the Knowledge Gateway, the University is currently developing a stunning new zero carbon building to house Essex Business School.

The Business School has a reputation for excellence and was ranked second nationally for its research in the Accounting and Finance subject area. Occupiers of the Knowledge Gateway will be particularly well placed to draw on the resources of the Essex Business School.

The school delivers a rigorous and challenging education, combined with exposure to a range of real-life business situations and bespoke career planning from day one, which will make students

really stand out from the crowd. Excellent teaching, ground-breaking research, and exciting business collaborations will ensure that students understand how global business really operates – and why.

The move to new premises will allow Essex Business School to offer improved facilities for its growing student numbers and also to expand the provision of short courses, CPD and Executive Training.

This development is due to be completed by summer 2014.

The project is progressing well and the Topping Out ceremony was held in October to celebrate the reaching the building’s main frame.

This innovative new University building embodies and reflects the vision of the Business School for growth, excellence and sustainability. Work on the site started in January 2013 and the landmark building will champion sustainable design featuring a range of innovative sustainable elements including a green sedum roof, photovoltaic cells and sustainably sourced materials.

The attractive curved timber frame and timber clad building is shaped so that it benefits from natural day lighting and ventilation. The building will also feature an EDPM panelled roof similar to that

used in the Eden Project, which is made from a fluorine-based plastic, which is resilient, self-cleaning and recyclable.

A winter garden, at the heart of the development, will act as an environmental buffer zone, supporting the passive ventilation and heating strategy of the three-storey building whilst also providing an attractive central gathering space.

These features will all combine to make it the first zero-carbon business school in the UK. Internally, the school includes formal and informal learning and teaching space, a 250-seater lecture theatre, state-of-the-art ICT provision, social spaces and a café.

It will provide high quality and innovative learning and teaching facilities and a conference venue that will be a magnet for organisations in the eastern region.

The new building is being constructed

by Main Contractor Morgan Sindall Group plc to plans provided by Architect, Business Design Partnership.

Holness Construction, which began trading in 2002, offers Carpentry and purpose made Joinery to both the Commercial and Private markets. Based in Manningtree, Essex, we work predominately in the East Anglian and North London vicinities.

New House Farm, Horsley Cross, Manningtree CO11 2NZ Tel: 01255 871903 Email: clairh@holnessconstruction.com www.holnessconstruction.com

43

UKC COMMERCIAL

Nestle

Building, investing and developing at Tutbury site Nestle UK is investing £200M to enhance its soluble coffee manufacturing centre at Tutbury bringing together for the first time, all forms of coffee production on one site, including freeze dried, spray dried and pod technology – an investment that will create around 140 new jobs in the region. This is in addition to recent investments in Dolce Gusto manufacturing which has already created an additional 700 jobs over the last few years.

The new factory development will comprise of a series of interlinked blocks of varying height and scale. These include the reception building for coffee

44

beans, roasting extraction and drier buildings, as well as buildings for packing, storage, utilities and workshops.

Buildings will range in scale from singlestorey engineering workshops to the extraction building, which is a concrete framed tower of over 30m in height.

The appearance of the new factory development will be defined by a carefully selected approach to the cladding finish of the buildings. The profile and colour of the cladding will be selected to add interest and break up the apparent mass of the individual building blocks.

The development will appear as a

substantial group of new buildings in the local landscape. From many viewpoints, the new buildings will be seen against the backdrop of the existing factory.

However, they will have an edge to open countryside and there is a recognition that there needs to be landscape treatment around the development to act as a transition from the new factory to open agricultural land.

After one year of the construction the buildings are substantially in place. Site clearing started in January 2013 and over the summer the building frames were Continued page 46 >

Why were O’Briens chosen by Nestle as a Strategic Partner?

-

Why? Because we offer total design and build services to our clients and work together with our partners to deliver innovative thinking and outstanding results. O’Brien Contractors offer civil engineering and groundwork across an impressive range of sectors from health and education, to leisure and industrial.

With our unique approach to management, we have partnered with the construction industry’s most prestigious organisations to deliver successful projects for almost 60 years.

Outstanding health and safety record • Wide range of sector experience • Cutting-edge technologies Value engineering • Collaborative approach • Turnkey sports pitch solutions • Earthworks Specialist plant hire • Pre-Construction Services O’Brien have established themselves as a key member of the team for what is an exceptionally challenging and changing project and their organisation and experience has seen them successfully overcome all construction, design, Health and Safety and Environmental issues.

Norman Skene, Project Manager, Nestle

If you’re planning a construction project, make O’Brien your first choice.

Contact us on 01926 423 918 or email info@obriencontractors.co.uk Proud winners of:

www.obriencontractors.co.uk.

constructed with cladding commencing in late 2013. Some of the large processing equipment was installed in late 2013 with the majority due for installation in 2014. New electricity, gas and water supplies are being brought to site to support the increased scale of the factory however the new installation is the most energy efficient factory of it’s type to have been built by NestlÊ.

As the factory is seen as a long term

investment in a manufacturing centre, the size and durability of the factory have been designed accordingly. The concrete frames provide significant fire protection compared to steel frames and the cladding is designed to diminish noise emission as well as insulate the building.

Over 300 hundred people are active on the site each day and in 2013 there were no lost time accidents. The project team have strong safety management

procedures in place and contractors are selected with a strong emphasis being given to their safety track record.

The new Nescafe building will be fully operational late 2014 and already the first new starters have joined, spending their first fortnight working through the factory induction process and then moving onto the general overview of coffee manufacture before specialising.

Together ...

Vessel & Process Solutions Specialists

Mechanical & Electrical Building Services

We’re Connected

t: 01283 200400 email: k.booth@musk-eng.co.uk

46

www.wtparkergroup.co.uk

t: 01283 542661 email: contracting@wtparker.co.uk

PROJECT DOVE FOR NESTLE IRL Group has worked internationally for Nestle for over 20 years and we are now pleased to be included with John Sisk & Son Limited on Project Dove at Tutbury.

IRL offer a comprehensive range of services and solutions throughout the Group.

Every project is different but what is the same every time is IRL’s expertise and attention to detail, enabling us to carry out our work to the highest possible standard, with a minimum of upheaval for our clients.

Our workforce is the key to our success, our Management Team are always quick to respond, extremely technically aware, proactive, professional and flexible. We employ and train our own operatives because we believe this is the only way to deliver the quality that our clients expect.

We are proud to say that, within our field, we employ some of the best people in the country.

Our work on Project Dove comprises Sika Hygienic Resin Wall, Column, Beam and Soffit finishes together with a variety of Sika Resin Floor Systems including Sikafloor-20N PurCem heavy duty polyurethane screed and Sikafloor 264 Thixo, an epoxy resin solvent free high build profiled coating.

We carry out all our own surface preparation for flooring, wall coatings, sealant application and concrete repair work.

We use our own equipment and understand that preparation is the key to a successful outcome and is of paramount importance.

For more information on IRL Group Limited Call: 01509 217101 Email: info@irlgroup.co.uk or visit: www.irlgroup.co.uk

UKC PROFILE

Hall Construction Group

Working successfully in the Hull and Yorkshire regions There are many buildings, structures and civil engineering works throughout Hull and Yorkshire that are testimony to the fine work and commitment of Hall Construction Group, as well as its history.

Providing successful buildings for over 125 years, everyday the Company works with local authorities, educational establishments, healthcare providers and internationally recognised brands to deliver excellence.

These include the NHS, HM Prison Service, ASDA, May Gurney, Barratt Homes, Balfour Beatty, the University of Hull, and councils such as Hull City Council, North Lincolnshire Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Leeds City Council – an eclectic mix of organisations.

The experience and expertise of the construction team spans across all sectors so new build, design and build and refurbishment schemes can be undertaken with equal confidence.

The preferred value of schemes to be carried out by this division is between £500,000 up to £10M, depending on the particular contract circumstances.

Valuable experience has come from working with single contract partnered schemes and longer term framework partnerships, and the Company employs the partnering ethos and principles, whatever the chosen delivery route.

48

Hall Construction understands the key drivers of value for money, quality of construction and timely delivery all carried out within a safe working environment and its systems and management structures are geared to successfully ensure these happen.

The Company works with new customers and many existing customers who regularly describe Halls as ‘easy to do business with’. With this being the case, it is no surprise that a considerable volume of business is from repeat clients.

Halls has grown from strength to strength, and has a healthy mixture of contracts across market sectors, and has the ability to carry out works ranging from minor repairs to large refurbishments up to the value of £750,000.

The building services side of the business has an office staff base of five and a site staff base of over 30 that can deliver high quality work to tight deadlines.

At the heart of the business lies a commitment to continually satisfy all customers, being focused on customer objectives and orientating the business in line with this commitment, which is key to all future success.

The result has been an increase in repeat business year after year.

Halls also prides itself on an excellent health and safety record, which is maintained and improved at all times with

constant training and monitoring, and with excellent commitment to staff with a high level of investment in both training and progression within the Company.

Projects previously undertaken include internal alterations to form a sensory care suite within the offices of Reckitt Benckiser in Hull, comprising of high quality joinery and plastering with electrics, heating and tiling work.

The special projects division has, amongst other projects, worked on Bridlington Spa Environs, installing bespoke artistic features such as printed glass screens, LED flags, jet cut granite feature paving and purpose made lighting.

December 2012 saw the start of the next phase of a multi-million pound ‘green’ business park in east Hull.

Steel framework for a new twostorey development at the Marfleet Environmental Technology Park in Hedon Road has been erected and the scheme has been earmarked for start-up units and established young businesses looking to expand.

With a commitment to new methods of construction such as renewable energy and lowering carbon emissions, it is clear that Hall Construction Group will enjoy many more successful years.

Hall Construction Group Ltd, Clay Street, Hull, HU8 8HE. Tel: 01482 329204.

SURVEYS - REPORTS - TESTING PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING ENGINEERS & CERTIFICATION UNIT 12, DRIFFIELD BUSINESS CENTRE, SKERNE ROAD, DRIFFIELD, EAST YORKSHIRE YO25 6EF

TEL/FAX: 01377 232038 E-MAIL: RPO@RPOROOFCLADDING.CO.UK Director: Roman Dznysenko Mobile: 07772 965529 Contracts Manager: Dave Kingston Mobile: 07772 258838

Domestic and Commercial Roofers We pride ourselves on offering the finest quality workmanship and first class service at very competitive prices to meet your requirements.

Ivy House, Long Lane, Beverley, HU17 0RN Tel: (01482) 345346 Fax: (01482) 306555 Mobile: 07970 901101 email: roofing@eyrsl.co.uk www.eastyorkshireroofingservices.co.uk

INSTALLATION & REPAIRS DOMESTIC, INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL

MAIN AGENTS FOR REDRING, HEATING PRODUCTS EMPRINGHAM STREET HEDEN ROAD, HULL

01482 215285

STRUCTURAL & FABRICATED MILD & STAINLESS STEEL ARCHITECTURAL IRONWORK - ACCESS STAIRS & PLATFORMS SITE & WORKS INSTALLATIONS We are pleased to be associated with Hall Construction Group and wish them all the success in the future HERITAGE WORKS ELLIFOOT LANE BURSTWICK HULL EAST YORKS HU12 9EF

Email: enquiries@rileyengineering.co.uk Website: www.rileyengineering.co.uk TELEPHONE: 01964 670993 FACSIMILE: 01964 670532

HUMBERSIDE EXCAVATIONS LTD

Excavations ● Machine Hire Reclaimed Materials ● Demolition Tipper Hire ● Limestone Tipping Facilities ● Topsoil Site Clearance ● Hardcore

North Cave Quarry, Crosslands Lane, North Cave, Brough, East Yorkshire HU15 2PG

Telephone: (01430) 421506 Fax: (01430) 423678 Email: humberside.exc@me.com

D&D Painters and Decorators offer a quality painting and decorating service to the private, commercial and industrial sectors.

D and D Property Management Ltd. Liverpool House, Liverpool Street, Hull HU3 4XT Tel: 01482 566466 Fax: 01482 568094 Email: paint@dandddecorators.co.uk www.dandddecorators.co.uk

49

UKC HOUSING

Dykes Pitt

82 new family homes in Kent An affordable rent and shared ownership scheme comprising homes and apartments is currently underway, situated almost two miles from Gravesend town centre.

Dykes Pitt is a new development containing 46 three- and four-storey apartments, 34 two- and threestorey terraced houses as well as two bungalows with disabled access.

The scheme is being built on a 1.1 hectare piece of disused brownfield land, and the new homes will be made available through Town & Country Housing Group, featuring private outdoor space, and parking in addition to communal public areas.

The site is located in Northfleet, just a mile from Ebbsfleet international train station.

Designed to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, all homes will incorporate solar panels to all roofs within the development. They will be constructed with a traditional brick and tiled roof, designed to blend in with the surrounding Victorian houses and townscape.

Town & Country Housing Group provides almost 9,000 affordable homes in 22 local authority areas in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and South London. There is a strong commitment within the Group to providing good quality housing, excellent customer service, supporting and developing vibrant communities and combating social exclusion.

Town & Country was the first housing association in the country to achieve the Institute of Customer Service’s top accolade – its coveted ServiceMark.

The ICS is the UK’s independent professional body for customer service, helping organisations such as British Airways, BMW and Waitrose to improve their customers’ experience. The Group was acclaimed for its desire to offer customers ‘a world class service’.

In addition to general needs homes, Town & Country offers a wide range of housing, including key worker, shared ownership and specialist accommodation including a women’s refuge, housing

50

for people with learning and physical AmicusHorizon has also chosen disabilities and a hostel for ex-offenders.

Rydon for two projects through the Over the years, the Group has invested South East Consortium Framework, heavily in its homes, and continues to worth a combined £7.8M. do so as part of the Asset Management One scheme will see 51 extra care Strategy, with the result that 100% apartments built in Sittingbourne, compliancy with the Government’s Kent, while the other is for 15 new Decent Homes Standard was achieved. homes near the town centre.

Town & Country is a founder and core Rydon will complete the project at group member of the South East Dykes Pitt by October 2014.

Consortium, a procurement group of 16 housing associations and councils covering more than 15,000 properties.

This boosts the Group’s buyer power and helps to achieve significant reductions by adopting good practice in the procurement of goods and services, and also provides training Off Site Manufactured opportunities Low Carbon Building for staff.

The Main CCG’s iQ System provides a range of off-site manufactured elements that combine to Contractor for create quality, sustainable, energy saving buildings. the Dykes Pitt Encompassing the best in Modern Methods of Construction, the iQ System is a series of development interrelated building components that come together to produce a flexible kit of parts able to create an endless array of building types. is Rydon, who reported a string The very flexible system embodies best practice in product engineering, energy efficient of housing design and environmentally conscious specification – all geared towards future proofing buildings in relation to changing regulations. contract wins last year, including Using a highly efficient well insulated external envelope means that thermal performance is maximised. three other new build projects.

This is complimented by factory manufactured open web floor cassettes, factory installed As well as the windows and external doors and close attention to project specific air-tightness requirements at all interfaces £9.5M Dykes Pitt scheme, Rydon The complete range of components within the system has sound environmental credentials in terms of sustainable materials and whole life considerations. has been selected for a £5M, 44We are delighted to be working with Rydon on the Dykes Pitt project. home project on a derelict site near 2 Drumhead Road, Glasgow East Investment Park, Glasgow G32 8EX Beckenham High T: 0141 641 9430 F: 0141 641 6966 Street, building E: searlie@ccgosm.co.uk W: www.c-c-g.co.uk across three fourstorey blocks.

OSM

CIVIL UKC

London Underground Celebrating 150 years

On 9th January 1863, the world’s first underground train pulled out of Paddington station to make its 3.5 mile maiden journey to Farringdon.

This previous January marked the 150th anniversary since that first Tube journey took place, and a huge range of activities will be held this year to explore London Underground’s fascinating history and the vital role it continues to play – both in the lives of Londoners and to the economic life of London and the UK. The Tube has always played an important role in the success of London – from growth of the early network, which led to the expansion of the suburbs in the last century, to the development of Canary Wharf’s financial powerhouse in the 1980s, and on to today’s system that successfully moved record numbers of people during the Queen’s Jubilee and London 2012 Games.

Over the next 20 years, London’s population is expected to grow by well over a million people, underlining the crucial importance of continuing to improve and upgrade the Tube network.

A massive Tube upgrade programme, one of the largest and most complex engineering projects in the world, is now delivering huge tangible benefits for passengers. Journeys on the Jubilee and Victoria lines have been improved through massively boosted capacity and faster journeys.

Stations like King’s Cross, Green park and Blackfriars have been rebuilt. A fleet of new air-conditioned trains has been introduced on the Metropolitan line, and over the next few years will be introduced to some two fifths of the Tube network.

Reliability on the Tube is now 40% improved on 2007/08 levels and this is the best in the network’s history.

Further improvements to come this year include higher frequency services on the Victoria and Central lines.

By the end of next year, the Northern line will be completed, with higher frequency services and shortly

afterwards key stations in central London such as Victoria and Tottenham Court Road will have been rebuilt.

The number of step-free stations is being expanded, alongside the use of ramps, platform humps and other accessibility improvements, an extension to the Northern line to Battersea is being planned, and Crossrail will be delivered – transforming travel across London.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “The arrival of the Tube was truly revolutionary and today it is still admired around the world. It annihilates distance, liquidates traffic and is the throbbing cardiovascular system of the greatest city on earth.

“Our massive upgrade programme builds on the engineering ingenuity of our Victorian forefathers and through new signalling, trains and track, millions of Londoners and visitors will continue to benefit from what is arguably the best and most iconic, underground transport system in the world.”

Mike Brown, Managing Director of London Underground, said: “As we mark the 150th anniversary of the world’s first underground railway we are also building for the future – transforming stations and replacing trains, signals and track.

“Our passengers are already seeing the benefits, with more frequent and reliable services on the Jubilee and Victoria lines among many other improvements.

“This year will see even more – with a greater frequency of services on the Central and Victoria lines and more of the new air-conditioned trains, which will soon serve 40% of the Tube network.

“It is this sustained investment that will enable us to create a network able to support London’s growing population and maintain our city’s vital role in the UK economy for the next 150 years.”

As part of the events to mark the enduring role of London Underground, the first Tube passenger journey was recreated on Sunday 13th January, with a series

of specially restored trains including the Metropolitan Steam Locomotive No 1 and the Metropolitan Railway Jubilee Carriage No 353 – the oldest operational underground carriage in existence, which was restored with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A series of additional heritage rail trips, including use of steam trains will be available, which will enable many members of the public to experience the Tube’s rich heritage, and a comprehensive new history of the Tube underground, How the Tube shaped London, co-authored

by Sam Mullins, Director of the London Transport System, has been published.

There will be new two pound coins issued by the Royal Mint that will go into circulation this year to celebrate the anniversary, and from February, Poster Art 150: London’s greatest designs, will be unveiled at London Transport Museum.

This exhibition will focus on the iconic poster art that has been a feature of London Underground for much of its history.

One of Britain’s great transport stories is the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which carries more than 80 million passengers a year with consistently high levels of reliability and passenger satisfaction.

Since opening in 1987, it has extended to Bank, Beckton, Lewisham, London City Airport, Woolwich Arsenal, and Stratford International.

DLR Ltd owns the railway’s assets apart from the Lewisham extension.

Part of Transport for London, its role is to oversee the operation of the railway and plan development that meets the needs of east and south east London.

DLR Ltd works with franchise operator Serco Docklands, a concessionaire responsible for building and maintaining the Lewisham extension and contractors for maintaining the Woolwich Arsenal, London City Airport and Stratford International network. Their aim is to deliver a safe, reliable and cost effective Continued page 52 >

51

service for east and south east London residents, commuters and visitors.

During the Olympic Games, the DLR carried over seven million passengers – an increase of over 100% compared to the same period last year – and ran services with an average of 99% of trains running on time.

This was only possible after a programme of investment since 2007 ranging from new line extensions and additional rail cars to crucial projects including lift upgrades and improvements to real-time passenger information.

The DLR’s £850M project – ‘INVESTING IN…a better railway’ – has been the biggest package of work and is now complete. It is thanks to this and other behind the scenes work that the railway now has 45 stations, 40km of track and 149 rail cars and expects to carry an estimated 100M passengers by 2015.

The long-term benefits of investment in the DLR for 2012 will be felt for years to come.

These improvements include 55 new rail cars providing increased capacity, which also provided more comfort during and after the Games, three car trains, extended platforms and upgraded stations that allowed the DLR to handle more passengers than previously, the new station at Woolwich Arsenal that provided access to the Royal Artillery Barracks for London 2012, which created a new river crossing and interchange with the national rail network.

Additional new stations like Langdon Park and Smith Quay help more passengers make the most of the improved DLR, and a new staircase and improved platform and concourse at Shadwell has increased comfort for passengers.

There is also an additional entrance at Bank, speeding up connections and improving platform crowding, two new escalators for Custom House for ExCeL that delivers a better, faster experience and more frequent services, a second entrance at Royal Victoria reduces passenger congestion and shortens the walk from the new Emirates Airline, and increased platform space at Canning Town helped to reduce overcrowding during the Olympics.

New stations and extensions, station enhancements, additional trains and improved passenger information have left a lasting legacy for everyone to enjoy now and into the future.

At the end of January, HRH Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall joined passengers to travel by Tube as part of a visit to mark the 150th anniversary of London Underground and celebrate the important role that engineering and infrastructure plays in the UK.

52

The visit celebrated the importance of engineering and transport infrastructure projects in London.

Their Royal Highnesses visited Farringdon station, which was part of the original underground network built in 1863, and can be seen as the “birthplace of the Tube”, before taking in some of the other important infrastructure projects in the capital.

Farringdon is currently being transformed in preparation for the arrival of Crossrail - the new east-west rail link - in 2018.

New ticket halls, lifts and other facilities have already been added, and now work is underway to prepare for the arrival of the Crossrail tunnels being dug from Royal Oak in the west and Limmo Peninsula near Canning Town in the east, with new shafts sunk to enable two new ticket halls to be constructed for Crossrail at Farringdon and Barbican. Farringdon station will become a major hub - one of the busiest rail stations in Britain.

It will be the only station to be served

by London Underground, Crossrail and Thameslink services and will enable passengers to travel in any direction around London and beyond.

Their Royal highnesses were given a brief overview of the history of London Underground and then visited the Crossrail site.

They met some of the apprentices and other young people engaged in building Crossrail and in upgrading and running the Tube network, before meeting London Underground staff and taking a ride with them between Farringdon and King’s Cross St. Pancras, part of the original 1863 route.

The journey enabled them to try out one of London Underground’s new S-Stock trains, which are being introduced to 40 per cent of the Tube network.

The spacious, walk-through, airconditioned trains are built at the Bombardier facility in Derby, which The Prince of Wales also recently visited.

At Network Rail’s King’s Cross station, The Prince and The Duchess were welcomed onto the construction site of London’s newest open space, King’s Cross Square, due to open in autumn 2013.

They saw the final pieces of the much unloved green canopy being torn down to reveal for the first time in over 150 years the magnificent Grade I listed Victorian station façade - a structure designed by Lewis Cubitt, the brother of Thomas Cubitt who is an ancestor of The Duchess of Cornwall.

After a walk down the newly restored train shed, they visited the spacious new western concourse.

Opened in March 2012, it is the largest single-span structure in Europe and

features iconic design by John McAslan.

They also visited one of the most popular parts of the station made famous by Harry Potter, Platform 9 ¾, and took a look into the Parcel Yard public house, the largest pub on the railway network.

Mike Brown, Managing Director of London Underground & London Rail, said: “It was an honour to have The Prince and The Duchess visit us today and help us mark the 150th anniversary of London Underground and the enduring importance that the network has to London and to the UK economy.

“As we mark the anniversary we are also building for the future - transforming stations and replacing trains, signals and track. Our passengers are already seeing the benefits, with more frequent and reliable services on the Jubilee and Victoria lines among many other improvements.

“This year will see even more - with Their Royal Highnesses today having experienced one of the new air-conditioned trains, which will soon serve 40% of the Tube network.

‘It is this sustained investment that will enable us to create a network able to support London’s growing population and maintain our city’s vital role for the next 150 years.”

Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman said: “150 years on from the birth of the Tube and London is experiencing the biggest transformation to its transport network in 50 years with the construction of Crossrail. Crossrail will increase London’s rail capacity by ten per cent, deliver new journey opportunities and bring an extra 1.5 million people within 45 minutes commute of the capital.

“Thousands of jobs have been created to deliver Crossrail with thousands more employed across the UK in regional based suppliers. Crossrail will move London forward for the next 150 years or more.”

Today’s visit highlighted the importance of apprenticeships and training in engineering for young people.

TfL is an employer committed to developing and maintaining the skills and talents of its workforce and addressing the skills shortage within the transport industry for now and the future.

Within the last two financial years, 135 graduate roles have been created in TfL, with 86 graduates enrolling in September 2012. More than 400 apprenticeships are being created by Crossrail.

Many are being trained at the new Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy in east London where up to 3,500 people will receive training in the skills required to work below ground.

Site Analytical Services Ltd. Units 14 & 15, River Road Business Park, 33 River Road, Barking, Essex IG11 0EA Tel: 0208 594 8134 Fax: 0208 594 8072 Email: services@siteanalytical.co.uk

www.siteanalyticalservices.co.uk SAS is a privately owned, established company formed in 1988. We have a vast client base which includes local authorities, housing developers and construction companies. Our principal activities are in the field of site investigation, environmental and geotechnical consultancy and materials testing. We offer a wide range of services including: -

• Conventional Cable Percussive Drilling • Rotary Percussive Drilling • De-mountable Cable Percussive Drilling • Machine and Hand Excavated Trial Pits • Window Sampling and Dynamic Probing • Continuous Flight Auger Drilling • Field Inspections • Laboratory Testing of Materials including Chemical Analysis • Asbestos Surveys • Contaminated Land Assessments and Site Remediation Consultancy • Waste Classification • Concrete Condition Surveys Notable Projects: 2013 – ongoing. Newham New Build Housing Schemes for London Borough of Newham, Project Value 40k+ June 2010. Cutty Sark Gardens Improvement, Greenwich for London Borough of Greenwich, Project Value 20k 2007 - DLR Extension Package 6 for Skanska Rail, Project Value 100k.

UKC RETAIL

Wickes

New store in Folkstone Wickes is on target to build a new Wickes store in Folkstone, on a site bounded

by Park Farm Road and Linksway.

There have been many busy months for Boss (D+B) Ltd, who is the Main Contractor, since the project started.

In November the building was fully enclosed with the brick and blockwork completed, and all the remaining doors were completed by mid December.

Inside the building, the mechanical and electrical works commenced in October along with the decoration to the main warehouse and amenity block. The concrete floor slab was also poured and finished.

External works have included the completion of the storage compound area and the continuation of the drainage and kerbing in the car park area.

Boss has introduced a new style of system with the installation of envirokerbs, a system that uses a fully recycled kerb drainage solution that is strong, lightweight and durable.

Not only is the envirokerb drainage made entirely from recycled materials that would otherwise be destined for landfill within the UK and overseas, it also spreads up the installation process. The car park surfacing was completed before Christmas.

Designed by MGM Associates, the building has first floor offices and amenity, including a mezzanine level. It will be a secure compound and outside project centre, service yard for loading and unloading and customer parking at the front of the unit.

The building is being built to ensure it has minimal visual impact in wider views in the locality, and cause no harm to the character of the area. The bungalows to the south western boundary will have a very limited view to the top part of the building.

It will be clad in pre-insulated metal wall cladding and will start approximately 2,550mm from finish floor level. There will be brickwork below the pre-insulated metal wall cladding and this will be a red/multi with a natural mortar and blue brick plinth, with a dark mortar. Roof cladding is now completed and shelters the internal works of the building.

A large excavation was made in the car park area to install a large attenuation tank to store surface water. This process controls the flow rate of the water via a hydro brake that restricts the flow into the main drainage system, something that is becoming more common in many developments.

Sheet piling installed 189 piles driven into the ground to create the retaining

wall running alongside Park Farm Road.

This has stabilised the ground around the high voltage cables and has been finished with a concrete capping beam running along the top of the piles.

Meanwhile at the other end of the site, a Redi-Rock retaining wall system has been built to raise the levels of the site.

This involved precast concrete blocks, which were put together like Lego and stacked on top of each other to create the wall where the car park will be situated.

Another of these walls were built along the linksway elevation to protect the trees on the roadside.

A cut and fill operation has taken place raising the levels of the car park area, minimising the removal of spoil from the site. This allowed Boss to commence the foundation works to get ready for the steelwork.

This was installed and allowed the first floor mezzanine to be installed and the roof cladding to commence, which has now been completed.

Established trees will be retained where possible during construction to further enhance the completed site with a landscape scheme fitting the development.

Work on this development will be complete this year.

L & K Height Safety Limited are Approved Installers of Capital Safety (Uniline) and carry out the design, installation and maintenance of cable fall protection systems, eyebolts, access ladders, free standing handrail and guard rails. L & K Height Safety are committed to ensuring our clients can exceed their obligations through design, installation and on-going maintenance of the wide range of permanent access and safety systems.

Commercial and industrial application can be diverse as office blocks, hospital, warehouses, schools, factories and stadia.

Uniline systems can be fitted to a wide range of modern roof systems – including: Standing Seam - Built Up – Composite - Single Ply – Membrane – Modern Bitumen & Green Roofs The Uni-8 horizontal lifeline system sets new standards in wire system performance and material quality. Manufactured from 316 stainless steel and enhanced through electro polishing, our system components are designed for heavy use in demanding environments. Using all the latest Uniline components, L & K Height safety are able to offer solutions to these strict regulations, ensuring that your employees and maintenance staff work in a safe environment.

54

media limited

to advertise in this magazine please call

01257 231900 www.pro-mark.org.uk

We are an Electrical Contracting business based in Sunderland but carry out contracts nationally.

We specialise in Retail, Commercial and Industrial installations either design and build or install only.

We are pleased to work on the Wickes Folkstone development.

Middle Haining, Stoneygate, Houghton le Spring, Tyne & Wear, DH5 8JG

t.0191 5840058 email:enquiries@nalaengineers.co.uk www.nalaengineers.co.uk

Redi-Rock Modular Retaining Wall System .....with the look of natural stone!

Redi-Rock

Build Faster Build Leaner Build Greener Build Quality Build Smarter Build to Last T: 01179 812791 F: 01179 814511 E: redi-rock@cpm-group.com www.cpm-group.com

To find out more see our website or call our sales team.

Dry laid one tonne large interlocking concrete blocks Extremely fast and easy to install Can be built in any weather Standard blocks.... no waste Produced from 40% recycled materials 100 year design life Gravity and reinforced earth walls available Designed in accordance with BS EN 1997-1:2004 Installation support or full installation service available Full design service supported by professional indemnity insurance

55

UKC COMMERCIAL

Chapmans

New agricultural unit in Sheffield A new industrial unit has been built for Chapmans, on the Company’s Club Mill Road site in Sheffield.

It includes full forging facilities for the first time, greatly extending the Chapman range, capabilities and quality control. New carbide tile brazing equipment was commissioned to enhance Chapmans’ Arma portfolio and extend wear life components.

Today, Chapmans is an established manufacturer of wear-resistant components and general-purpose hard facings that is proud to be based in the Steel City of Sheffield. The heritage dates back much further than this.

The Company’s factory building is steeped in history, the foundation stone having been laid in March 1945 by Lady Riverdale of the well-known local family of entrepreneurs.

Chapmans came into being by acquisitions and mergers of several famous agricultural concerns. Its Club Mill Road location is the traditional home of Hattersley and Ridge, but the Company also has integrated the historic names of Tyzack Sons and Turner, Parkins and Spaffords.

In more recent times, Chapmans has acquired Richland Engineering and embarked upon a period

of rapid and sustained growth, particularly in export markets.

Chapmans’ commitment to quality is the cornerstone and driving force behind the business. By sourcing the highest quality steel grades and retaining full control of the heat treatment process, the Company is able to push the boundaries of durability and produce extremely robust components with optimum hardness and extended wear life.

Rigorous finishing processes result in a product that is a benchmark for the industry.

Working in partnership with machinery manufacturers, the Company provide them with a competitive advantage by utilising their agricultural knowledge and Chapmans’ manufacturing ingenuity to provide innovative and bespoke solutions.

New products can be recommended into the Company’s production process with ease while a technical backup of all designs can be retained. By keeping a strict control of costs, the Company provides a consistent and competitive pricing model that offers exceptional value.

Shearstone Mechanical Ltd has been involved and was brought to the project

via Axis Architecture. The Company worked directly for Chapmans, providing performance duties, and worked closely with both Chapmans and the Architect, Axis Architecture, in the early stages of the project to establish the key principles and determine the very specific requirements of the forging operation.

The majority of the service provision was typical of a factory environment and office environment. However, apart from producing the mechanical and electrical tender documents and dealing with the statutory authorities, Shearstone Mechanical had to solve the challenge of getting a factory building to meet the requirement of the planning conditions and building regulations Part L to provide ten per cent of energy use by renewables.

It was determined that renewables had to have practical application and not be capital cost intensive. As a result, the favoured option was photovoltaic, which provided a short payback period, offsetting electrical energy cost and income via a feed in tariff.

Admiral Construction was the Main Contractor for the scheme which was completed in November 2013.

Cuba Consultants Ltd We offer a comprehensive design and project management facility for mechanical and electrical building services in any work sector.

We are able to offer a wide range of professional services, each specifically tailored to the needs and requirements of our clients.

Cuba Consultants

Electrical consultants e: mike@cubaconsultants.co.uk t/f: 0114 288 8772 w: www.cubaconsultants.co.uk

Shearstone Mechanical Ltd

Mechanical consultants e: tim@shearstone-mechanical.com t/f: 01709 542692 w: www.shearstone-mechanical.com

Residential • Commercial • Healthcare

Building Services Consultants

56

Shearstone Mechanical Ltd We are Mechanical and Electrical Building Services Consultants.

We aim to consistently provide a quality service to our clients by using an efficient and cost robust approach to resourcing, and by encouraging technical innovation on projects to deliver a pragmatic and cost effective solution.

COMMERCIAL UKC

Trade City

Sought-after commercial units A large commercial development in Bracknell has been completed and five of its seven units have already been filled.

Trade City features seven single-storey, large industrial units, the majority of which are taken by the Travis Perkins Group. One of the larger units is for Travis Perkins, while the other companies as part of the Group includes Tile Grant, City Plumbing Supplies, Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery, Toolstation, as well as Travis Perkins.

There are currently still two units that are vacant but given reputation of the companies already involved in Trade City, this won’t stay the same for long.

The site used to be laboratory buildings but they were demolished before the Main Contractor, Marbank Construction, came on board the project. The resulting pile of rubble was then removed from the site.

The development was vibro piled and then there were pad foundations. The existing retaining wall had to be extended up and then there was a steel portal frame clad in metal, while there are solar photovoltaic panels on all of the buildings.

It is in a prominent trade counter location, opposite Wickes superstore, has an excellent car parking ratio and electric loading doors. Internally, the height is six metres and there are partially glazed frontages.

It is located on Easthampstead Road, just off the A329 and in the centre of the commercial district. Easthampstead Road is an established trade counter location with other occupiers including Build Centre, Brandon Hire, Howdens as well as Wickes.

The buildings are owned by Kier Property – a company that is in a position to deliver major property solutions through a fully integrated development structure.

As one of the UK’s largest combined property, construction and services companies, with access to a wealth of

resources and expertise, Kier can manage and was completed in November all aspects of projects, ensuring they 2013, costing £4M. are delivered on time and to budget, One of the main factors in making the whilst achieving the highest standards. project run on time and to budget was The property development business the work of Marbank. The Company has delivers a mix of major schemes to a high proportion of repeat clients, and include commercial, retail, mixed use and an excellent track record with more than brownfield regeneration. Other projects 200 projects completed nationally. include the new UK Supreme Court and headquarters buildings for Ordnance Survey and the National Trust.

All of the buildings Elite Aluminium Systems Ltd was formed in 1993 and has gained a strong were constructed reputation within the architectural aluminium glazing industry for delivering a to BREEAM ‘Very high quality service that is cost effective and within programme.

Good’ standard We have a strong management team with a wealth of experience and

by Marbank, who expertise, specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of found making aluminium curtain walling, entrances, doors and windows. up the ground a challenge during Operating from our recently modernised offices, our fully experienced construction. technical staff offer a full in-house Auto-CAD operated design service that is totally committed to giving you the best possible solution to your glazing This was because requirements nationwide. there was a large mountain of We offer dedicated project crushed material, management in order to and there was a maintain continuity of communication with a single former underground point of contact for the car park that had contractor and design team. to be filled. This involved taking We are committed to forming strong relationships through the concrete out, working closely with architects, filling it with rubble main contractors and suppliers and levelling the in order to consistently achieve ground up. It is customer satisfaction. for this reason that the existing Leamore Lane, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 7DQ retaining wall had to be extended.

Tel: 01922 444443 Fax: 01922 710837 Designed by Ian C Email: general@elitesystems.co.uk King Associates, work began www.elitesystems.co.uk in May 2013

57

UKC PROFILE

Lancashire County Council Putting people first Lancashire County Council has continued to undertake works on education, civil and healthcare projects in the region, and last December saw a new daytime support service for people with dementia celebrate its official opening.

The service, called Mere Brook, sits within the Brookside extra care housing scheme in Ormskirk, which opened in 2012.

It supports people aged over 50 who have complex mental health and physical care needs associated with their dementia, together with providing help, information and advice for their families and carers.

Mere Brook is run by a partnership that includes Lancashire County Council, West Lancashire Borough Council, West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group and the Your Housing Group.

Representatives from these organisations joined people who attended the centre, their families and staff at a special event to officially open the service.

County Councillor Nikki Hennessey (Ormskirk West) said: “The wide range of therapeutic and social activities offered at Mere Brook will help people with complex health needs to maintain their skills and interests and continue to get the most out of life.

“This is an immensely important service, not only for those who attend the centre, but for their families and carers too.

“During the opening event, I had the pleasure of hearing from the families of people who use the service and they spoke very emotionally about how the support they receive from Mere Brook has changed their lives.”

Activities on offer include arts and crafts, singing, drama and gentle exercise, together with practical daily living tasks such as making drinks and snacks.

They also include communication and conversation activities aimed at helping people to maintain friendships

and other social contacts.

Lancashire County Council’s input has also resulted in the development for Golden Hill School in Leyland.

The school provides a safe, secure and attractive environment enabling children to enjoy learning and reach their full potential.

Work on this project was undertaken

by J T Holding & Son Ltd, who has worked with the Council on various projects for more than 30 years.

Throughout the project, the Company covered the services of joinery work, plastering, electrical work, heating works, decoration and suspended ceilings.

Work created a new secure entrance area with partitions, new internal doors, external aluminium doors and curtain walls, a bespoke ash reception hatch, new flooring, heating, lights and decoration.

The project was completed in December 2013, giving the school improved facilities.

FAIRMAC Property Maintenance Services We are pleased to be associated with Lancashire County Council 26 Sherrat Street, Skelmersdale WN8 8HE

Tel: 07714 766955 e-mail: fairmac@O2.co.uk

Services provided for both commercial and private clients include: • Landscaping • Grass / verge maintenance • Driveway construction / reinstatement • Walling / stonework • Block paving / flagging / kerbing / tarmac footways / driveways / access roads: both hand and machine lay available • All manner of drainage & excavation • Tree maintenance • Winter maintenance of sites / access roads / driveways / car parks • Rock salt supplied • Logs supplied For more information ring the company on 079738 87134 email info@groundworkdirect.co.uk or visit www.groundworkdirect.co.uk

J T Holding & Son Ltd is a well-established company which has built up a first-class reputation in the building industry by successfully delivering high-quality projects. The company's core values are quality, efficiency and reliability.

For All your General Joinery, Building, Maintenance & Refurbishment works.

5 Edward St,Chorley PR6 0RE

Tel: 01257 263124 E-mail: jtholding@gmx.com

www.jtholdingandsonltd.co.uk 58

We're proud to say that we've maintained a strong belief in good workmanship and a job well done. Whatever the size of the undertaking, our whole team are aware of the responsibility they have for excellence, safety and respect for the environment.

J T Holding & Son Ltd believes that people are our main asset, and we're always trying to create the best possible working environment and foster continuous training and development with a strong emphasis on health and safety.

PROFILE UKC

Countryside Properties Countryside Properties is a responsible developer of new homes and communities, also specialising in regeneration, as well as design and build contracting.

Established in 1958, the Company has a reputation for sound governance and good management practices certified to internationally recognised standards, and also boasting Investors in People accreditation.

With the blend of skills on offer, estate regeneration, private and affordable housing, and the creation of sustainable communities are a significant feature of the Company’s activities.

A proportion of this includes commercial property and mixed-use development.

Countryside Properties has the ability to add value by constructing highly attractive homes, work places and environments, while boasting a great track record for delivery.

This, along with a proven track record of successfully achieving planning consents for development proposals has resulted in the Company being welcomed by local authorities and local communities alike.

At Countryside Properties, the vision is to create outstanding new homes

in excellent locations for people to enjoy now, and in the future.

The Company can boast the exceptional parkland development at Kings Park of award winning luxury four-bedroom villas and three-bedroom houses adjacent to Harold Wood station in Essex.

They are designed for modern living with luxury fitted kitchens, expansive living spaces and spacious master bedrooms with ensuite, dressing areas and a balcony or terrace.

The quality of this development was such that ‘The Villa’ wowed the judges of the 2013 What House? Awards.

The judges commented: “This is a fantastic house. Countryside has a reputation for focusing on design and its architect, Scott Brownrigg, has excelled here.

“This property achieves many things: it has great kerb appeal, it has a sophisticated and adventurous ground floor plan as well as a very impressive master suite, it has a specification that ticks all the boxes for a sustainable house. A great award winner.”

The Villa combines unique contemporary architecture with traditional materials to provide visual interest and textural diversity.

Constructed of yellow brick with white

render and timber style boarding, contrast is added through glass balustrades and roof slates to create an arresting home.

At 2,200sq ft, The Villa provides a fantastic sense of space, as well as a superb environment for both family life and entertaining.

One of the companies who works diligently with Countryside is Milbank, who has a long-standing relationship of over 20 years and was involved in the Kings Park scheme, which saw Milbank supply plan and beam.

Countryside Properties, Countryside House, The Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3AT.

Helping our customers achieve success Milbank is one of the leading manufacturers of high quality precast concrete products in the UK. A family owned and operated business we have a tradition of innovation in our products and our people spanning over 60 years.

Our focus is to provide the most comprehensive service to our customers, helping them to achieve success.

We aim to deliver successful building projects through smart processes, detailed project planning and effective teamwork. This means having the right resources in place at the right place at the right time. It also means achieving 100% completion of projects and we pride ourselves on the fact that we work quickly and efficiently to correct any problems that may arise.

Whatever your precast needs are, we can help you achieve success on your next project contact us on 01787 223 931 or estimating@milbank.co.uk

59

UKC PROFILE

East Sussex County Council Committed to education in the area East Sussex County Council is the local authority for the nonmetropolitan county of East Sussex.

East Sussex is divided into five local government districts. Three are larger, rural, districts (from west to east) are: Lewes; Wealden; and Rother.

Eastbourne and Hastings are mainly urban areas. The rural districts are further subdivided into civil parishes.

East Sussex has a comprehensive education system with 27 state secondary schools (not including sixth form colleges) and 12 independent secondary schools.

Each of the larger towns also has a further education college. There are also a number of independent boarding schools in the county.

The Council is committed to providing first class learning facilities for all children in the area.

A replacement primary school in Etchingham is currently under construction.

The replacement school and preschool, which is being funded

by East Sussex County Council, is part of a wider development that will include new community facilities that replace the existing village hall, and new homes.

The project involves ECE Architecture collaborating with East Sussex County Council, the Diocese of Chichester, Etchingham Parish Council, Etchingham Trust for Sports and Recreation, the existing school, the landowner and their appointed developer to create the mixed development and land known locally as the Lambing Field.

ECE Project Director Stuart Eatock explained the approach taken for this project. He said: “The design has evolved from a simple portal frame with the accommodation provided in three linked ‘barns’

60

arranged down the sloping site.

“The project includes a new village square. We have always felt that the creation of a new community space was as important as the buildings themselves, even more so with the site location at the edge of the village.”

The school, with community facilities, is being constructed by Mansell and will open later this year.

The sponsor for two new primary schools in East Sussex has been announced. Lilac Sky has been selected to manage the academies to be built in Hailsham and Newhaven.

As part of its planning for additional primary school places, East Sussex County Council successfully applied to the Government’s Education Funding Agency for extra funding for two new academies.

Potential sponsors were invited to

enter bids to run the new schools, and the Department of Education confirmed Lilac Sky had been chosen.

Councillor Nick Bennett, the Council’s Lead Member for Schools and Learning Effectiveness, said: “We already commission Lilac Sky to provide support to help improve outcomes at some of our schools and we welcome the news that they will be the sponsor of the two new schools.

“Lilac Sky has a track record of offering outstanding provision, securing good outcomes for students and working closely with local communities. We look forward to working together as the new schools are established.”

The new schools are scheduled to open in September 2015 and each will create 210 primary places.

Offering a range of services to domestic and private clients including refurbishments, extensions, alterations, internal and external decoration and new build.

38-40 Eastbrook Road, Portslade, BN41 1PB Tel: 01273 262720 www.phbeck.co.uk

PROFILE UKC

Archi-Structure Based in Baildon, West Yorkshire, ArchiStructure is an architectural and structural design consultancy that offers a full range of design consultancy services.

These services are in architecture, structure, building, civil engineering, CDM co-ordination, project & contract management.

In addition, the Practice also offers surveys, options appraisal, alterations, extensions, repairs, refurbishment of buildings to provide a comprehensive integrated approach to large and small projects alike.

The Practice is equipped with structural analysis programmes to enable cost effective designs to be prepared rapidly and the effect of changes to be speedily assessed. All drawings are produced using Computer Aided Design and Detailing (CADD) software.

Archi-Structure is fully conversant with planning issues and building regulations

including CDM and health & safety procedures and is justifiably proud of its teamwork approach to projects, which are aimed at providing every client with the optimum and most effective solutions.

The work of the Practice is always practical in ensuring that clients’ aims are met and supported by sound engineering and technical knowledge.

Experience over the years has included industrial and commercial buildings, religious buildings, retail, private schools, housing and offices, along with the alteration and refurbishment of listed buildings, which is an important part of the workload.

Archi-Structure is the UK’s leading designer for mosques and Islamic schools and has designed more than 60 mosques throughout the UK, from London to Glasgow.

Mr Al-Samarraie, the Director of the

Practice, has been commended for his designs, which have been noted in many publications such as the ‘Places of Worship Selection Guide for Listed Buildings,’ published by English Heritage in April 2011.

Archi-Structure’s work on mosques in Leeds was also documented and praised in the English Heritage publication ‘Religion and Place in Leeds’ in 2007, while Mr AlSamarraie is also the author of the chapter on mosque design in the Metric Handbook.

Published by the Architectural Press, this is the leading book on planning and design data for all architects, engineers, planners and designers.

The handbook is an invaluable tool for any project and the fact that ArchiStructure has added to it shows the Practice’s standing within the industry. www.archi-structure.co.uk

QUE Steel Limited is a family run business based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and offers a complete structural steel service to the construction industry. From initial concept designs to erection of the fabricated steelwork, the company prides itself on ensuring projects are completed in a timely manner and on budget.

A key factor to this is our ability to interact with the client and their design team and taking a pro-active approach to problem solving and working as a key member of the design team.

We pride ourselves on forging strong partnering relationships with both our clients and suppliers, ensuring a mutually beneficial working relationship is created.

We are committed to offering a service to carry out all types of steelwork projects from simple portal frames to complex refurbishment projects.

Not only do we offer the service of supply and fit of the main structural steel frame, we are also willing to help the client by providing a service managing smaller aspects of work such as metal stairs, handrailing, pre-cast stairs and planks, together with small miscellaneous steels such as lintels, etc.

Woodfield Business Centre, Carr Hill, Doncaster DN4 8DE Tel: 01302 515090 Email: info@questeel.co.uk www.questeel.co.uk 61

UKC PROFILE

Builder Supplies Port Talbot

Celebrating 30 years

Builder Supplies Port Talbot is a family run business that has been owned by Dilwyn Davies and family since 1984.

Dilwyn purchased the Company just before it was liquidated and has since turned it into a very successful business.

Having provided the local and surrounding area with a first class service over the last 23 years, the Company has been able to extend its reach further across Wales, helping to ensure the public have the best service and prices available.

Unlike many other merchants and national chains, Dilwyn ensures the public get treated with the best possible service, with a hands-on approach seven days a week and he is aided by his sons, Neil and Paul, who are also around for seven days a week.

As well as his sons, Dilwyn employs other members of his family to work in the merchants along with his wife and daughter who help to control the secretarial work.

To help alongside the family, the Company employs a helpful and friendly group of staff headed by the manager Geoff Williams who has over 30 years of experience in the building trade, giving expert advice and service to the public.

Builder Supplies Port Talbot stock a massive range of tools and accessories that are suitable for every job undertaken.

This range varies from everyday basic items such as sand paper and measuring tapes, all the way up to specialist items that include diamond tip circular blades and power tools including well known brands including DeWalt, Black & Decker, Stanley, Faithfull, Silverline and many more.

The Company also stocks a huge range of electrical supplies to rival any electrical wholesales. Whether for fixing a plug socket, installing garden lighting or rewiring a home, the selection of products suits any design or job.

Electrical items include internal lighting in the form of chandeliers, spotlights, and down lights, external lighting and

62

electrics, electrical cable, electrical fires, electrical showers, electrical fittings and other electrical accessories.

External lighting and electrics helps bring the outdoors to life. Whether a customer is creating a lighting feature, background lighting or lighting for security purposes, the range of rust proof, low voltage and water resistant products gives the best value for money.

The Company also supplies bricks, with a massive selection of bricks suitable for all jobs and purposes.

With thousands of different designs available in concrete and clay, the huge selection will suit any design or budget. Bricks are available from leading manufacturers such as Ibstock, LBC, PD Brick, Hanson, Wienerberger/ Terca, and Consolidated Brick.

If a customer is looking for a particular brick to match up to their home or nearby housing development, the Company can help them find the brick desired as its selection includes some that are used by the leading home construction companies such as Persimmon

Homes, Barratt Homes and many others.

The Company has had a new warehouse developed for its ever increasing business purposes, which is a great step forward in the year the Company celebrates its 30th year of business.

HOUSING UKC

Normanton Road Housing 45 new dwellings on former pub site A site that previously housed the former village public house in Normanton is to become the place for a new £4.3M development that will provide brand new much needed housing for local families.

Located on the eastern edge of Normanton, the site is approximately four kilometres west of Castleford, seven kilometres east of Wakefield and 15 kilometres south east of Leeds.

When complete, the development will comprise 22 two-bedroom houses and 23 three-bedroom homes, totalling 45 new homes that will be made available for rent

by Wakefield and District Council (WDH).

Since 2005, WDH has spent £760M to improve its tenants’ homes and their communities, and in future, will provide even more investment to create confident communities.

As well as construction of these new dwellings, work will include infrastructure development such as electric, site drainage and adoption works.

There is total supervision and control of development process, which will meet all health and safety measures.

The Main Contractor for the project

is Partner Construction, who is and I think the resulting scheme is really extremely proud of the extensive range based around the future needs of residents of projects that it has delivered. and the wider local community.”

The Company gives its customers the Designed by NPS NE Ltd, work started complete package from the very beginning, on the project in March 2013 and is supporting meeting local housing needs. due to complete in October 2014.

Leigh Cresswell, New Business Director at Partner Construction, said: “We are pleased to be working alongside Wakefield and District Housing again and now keenly anticipate the creation of sustainable family homes.

“There is a real need for good Altitude Scaffolding operate throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, quality, affordable local housing which and our aim is to provide a professional, safe and timely service of meets the needs exceptional quality and value. of young people Unit 1, Northside, Freightliner Road, Hull HU3 4UR and families in the Tel: 01482 620339 Fax: 01482 620325 Normanton area. e.mail: info@altitude-scaffolding.co.uk “The development www.altitude-scaffolding.co.uk has only been possible by working in partnership

If you are a specialist contractor, manufacturer or supplier, the Confederation of Construction Specialists (CCS) can offer the benefit of 30 years’ experience of supporting specialists companies, providing services that will make your business more effective, secure and successful in its commercial and contractual activities.

CCS member organisations consistently find they have a competitive edge in comparison to their competitors.

Benefiting from specialist training courses, legal and contractual advice and assistance CCS members are consistently able to secure profitable contracts on fair and equitable terms.

The CCS also seeks to drive the agenda of its specialist construction members and achieves this through a highly focused, influential and strong voice with representation at and access to the highest level of Government and industry.

The CCS also is an active participant in positive campaigns for greater fairness in payments and apportionment of financial and contractual risk within the specialist construction sector.

The Confederation also helps its members to save money by delivering free access to a selection of services that include

credit reference-checking services, day rate and other important indices useful to the specialists they support.

With a substantial track record of proven delivery the CCS offer a considerable focus on training and accreditation of individual managers, directors, administrative and supervisory staff. With a portfolio of training solutions covering key contractual elements the CCS offers a professional qualifications in the form of a B-TEC Level 4 course, accredited by Edexcel.

All members are monitored to support them in remaining up-to-date.

To ensure that its members maintain the highest possible standards of delivery all CCS member organisations are required to adhere to its Code of Practice.

Improving knowledge of specialist

PROFILE UKC

Confederation of Construction Specialists contractors through training and advice, lobbying Government and supporting initiatives aimed at improving commercial relations are all cornerstone activities that CCS undertakes. By doing so it ensures that all members can be sure of the very best services from CCS. CCS, Suite 9, 5th Floor, Victoria House, Victoria Road, Aldershot, GU11 1EJ.

63

UKC PROFILE

The Drilling & Sawing Association The Drilling & Sawing Association (DSA) is the only organisation that represents the interests of companies involved in the drilling and sawing industry and is committed to improving standards within the industry by establishing better codes of safe working practice, education and training.

The DSA’s mission is to promote the work of professional drilling and sawing contractors by highlighting the many advantages of cutting concrete with diamond tools that include precision cutting within the shortest timescale, reduced noise, dust and debris and maintenance of structural integrity.

Membership is open to drilling and sawing contractors and suppliers of drilling and sawing equipment.

Quality lies at the heart of the DSA’s philosophy and members exercise the highest standards of business practice and workmanship at all times.

DSA membership is not automatic, and applicants are subject to strict vetting procedures. Not only are members vetted on application, they are continually monitored to meet the highest standards demanded.

Vetting comprises of a detailed documentary and financial review.

On being accepted, members agree to abide by the Code of Practice and conditions of membership.

Sustainability and environmental impact are major considerations when specifying, manufacturing and installing products in the workplace.

DSA requires its members to confirm their

64

commitment to protecting the environment, and is proactive in providing information and guidance on how best to achieve this.

Its supplier members in particular are leading the way in seeking techniques and developing systems that provide high environmental and social value.

DSA members operate with the benefit of vast resources of business and technical information and support from the Association. DSA is keenly involved with industry standards, training and health and safety, to promote a safe working practice and information sheets on topics relevant to the sector.

The National Specialist Contractors Council assists in this support with a variety of advice helplines.

Members benefit from approved operator training courses and the adoption of national safety standards and working codes of practices, as well as affiliation with other recognised construction industry national associations.

The DSA also provides a forum for members to meet within an organised framework to discuss and share their ideas on new technologies and the future development of the industry as a whole.

The objectives of the Association’s training services are to make the following available to drilling and sawing companies: ••The provision of an NVQ Level 2 in Drilling & Sawing.

••The provision of an Assessment Centre for Registration for NVQs. ••The provision of CSCS Cards in Drilling & Sawing through CSCS Management.

••The development of further

qualifications for Drilling & Sawing staff at NVQ Level 3 and above, such as supervisory and management.

There is liaison with construction industry sources of training and accreditation services including Construction Skills (CITB), CSCS Management and the National Specialist Assessment Centre (NSAC).

The provision of a range of training courses covers subjects relevant to the drilling & sawing industry, while provision of management of specialist external training & accreditation providers is available, including the leading partner of the Association, Training & Assessment Consultants Ltd (TAC).

DSA members are committed to customer care, which begins long before work commences on site through the provision of practical and technical advice by experienced personnel at the planning stage.

This commitment continues through the full project to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

DSA requires that the quality of materials and services of workmanship provided by members is of the highest standard.

DSA actively promotes good practice in the sector, so by choosing a DSA member as part of the supply chain, clients and specifiers are assured of the highest standards of professionalism and sound business practice.

The Drilling & Sawing Association, Unit 3, Brand Street, Nottingham, NG2 3GW www.drillandsaw.co.uk

MB Diamond Drilling Ltd are specialists in: Diamond Drilling, Chasing, Wall Sawing, Wire Sawing, Hydraulic Bursting, Hydraulic Crunching, Floor Sawing and Robotic Brokking.

MB Diamond Drilling LTD Unit 7, Cooks Way, Hitchin, Herts SG4 0JE Telephone: 01462 459991 Mobile: 07970 975298 Fax: 01462 450540 mick@mbdiamonddrilling.co.uk www.mbdiamonddrilling.co.uk

LEADING DIAMOND DRILLING, CUTTING & SAWING UK SPECIALIST Since 1981 CA Drillers has been providing drilling services for the construction industry. Experienced professionals who are all fully trained & certified in the diamond drilling, cutting & sawing professions. We pride ourselves on our personal relationships & good rapport with our clients & we are big enough to handle any job you need throughout London, Kent, the South East & Nationwide.

For all diamond drilling and sawing services for your construction projects, call us on 0800 975 0891 E: info@cadrillers.com www.cadrillers.com 65

UKC RETAIL

The Garden Centre Group

Extension to the Northampton centre Northampton Garden Centre is in the process of reorganising its facilities, which includes demolition of an old canopy and erection of a new one, new glazed walls and entrance doors, new external garden centre sales areas, a toilet block, restaurant extension and external seating area.

It will also provide a new warehouse, service yards, external storage and relocation of existing car wash at the centre.

It is for The Garden Centre Group, which operates 149 centres in England and Wales.

The Group is proud of its heritage in the gardening industry and each and every one of the centres has its own place in history.

The Group employs more than 5,000 people, and the longest serving employees have been with the Group for more than 40 years, making a lasting contribution.

Employees who have been with the Group for more than ten years are

presented with a ten year badge which they wear with pride.

Recognition is also made at 20, 30 and 40 years. Currently 563 people have worked for the Company for more than ten years, 115 people for more than 20 years, 20 people for more than 30 years and eight for more than 40 y ears.

Customer service is of prime importance to everyone who works for The Garden Centre Group, who believes that better customer service is achieved by education.

The Group has the best staff training scheme in the industry, which is based on practical training with experienced staff, together with an in-house E-learning system that covers every part of the business.

The storage building on the development will be timber frame, covered by prefinished shiplap construction, with white uPVC window frames and a shingle

effect felt roof, while the restaurant will part replace the canopy, in timber frame, covered by a pre-finished shiplap cladding system with dark grey powder coated glazing frames and curved epdm roofing membrane in grey. The restaurant will also have a timber covered al-fresco dining area.

The previously existing entrance will be closed off under new glazed walls designed to match the existing, with new entrance doors, while the canopy and walkway will be steel frame construction with opal fabric roof covering.

As appropriate to its setting, the design and appearance of the buildings and canopy is modest, finished with unobtrusive materials.

The Architect for the project is Lawrence Beckingham Field LLP Architects, and the whole area now benefits from a new Waitrose store.

Lawrence Beckingham Field Architects specialise in retail property investments and are happy to work with The Garden Centre Group to improve the customer experience at Northampton Garden Centre and across the group.

Lawrence Beckingham Field Architects The Sail loft, 3-11 Dod Street, London E14 7EQ Tel 0207 536 2100 - www.lbfarchitects.co.uk

ARCHITECTS 66

Howden Process Compressors design and supply packaged screw compressors for process gas applications, and high efficiency turbo blowers & compressors for combustion, oxidation, catalytic reaction and process aeration.

Based in Renfrew, this is where the Company’s design, engineering and all screw compressor operations are carried out and where turbo blowers and compressors are manufactured.

Turbo blower and compressor sales and service operations are located in Chesterfield, home of the original Bryan Donkin Company, where Howden Process Compressors also package Robuschi rotary positive displacement blowers, for which the Company is the UK distributor.

The Company designs and supplies all packages, built to order to individual customer specification and they are engineered to provide long and reliable service even in the most demanding conditions.

Howden pioneered the commercialisation of screw compressors and today the Company supplies these skid-mounted and packaged with all necessary control, instrumentation, analysis and diagnostic capabilities.

For over 100 years, the Company has been paper, transport and waste water treatment. supplying turbo blowers and compressors Howden has provided key assistance at for a wide range of aeration applications.

West Burton Power Station after engineers Howden supplies packaged screw identified moving seals at the hot end of the compressors for use in a wide range of rotor, which was the main source of leakage. arduous applications, mainly in the oil It was decided that, over a four-year and gas and petrochemical markets. programme, the heaters would be The turbo blowers and compressors are converted to the Howden VN design. used for process critical applications that The result was a decrease in typical require large quantities of air, such as leakage at the power station. petrochemical, mineral processing, gas desulphurisation and waste water treatment applications.

The Company supplies to a wide range of industries, Manufacturers of grating & stairtreads (steel, stainless including cement, steel, aluminium & GRP) along with profile planks, chemicals, defence, handrailing & staircases. environment industries, iron & 1b POPLAR ROAD steel, metals & BROADMEADOW ESTATE, minerals, mine DUMBARTON, G82 2RD, SCOTLAND ventilation, oil & gas, Telephone:+44 (0) 1389 765000 Facsimile:+44 (0) 1389 761166 petrochemicals, E-mail:sales@meiser.co.uk Web: www.meiser.co.uk power generation equipment, pulp &

Part of scheme to refurbish flats in Bristol

HOUSING UKC

Vining Walk Improvement works are being carried out at properties in Vining Walk as part of a larger development to provide overcladding and thermal insulation of various highrise and low-rise flats in Bristol.

This is a three-phase plan to improve 64 blocks of flats over a nine-year period, and the improvements will keep the flats in good condition and prolong their use for beyond the next 30 years, benefiting the living conditions significantly of over 9,000 residents.

In addition, the improvements will contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide across the city, while also significantly contributing to the ELENA leverage factor.

The tower block at Vining Walk will undergo concrete and structural repairs, roof repairs and renewals, window repairs, improvements to balconies with doors being replaced, and communal areas will be redecorated – with covered pedestrian bridges being refurbished, and landscaping, paving and fencing works will also be undertaken.

The Main Contractor at Vining Walk is Mears Group, who has also provided work

PROFILE UKC

Howden Process Compressors

at Pountney Drive and Easton Road. to be carrying out more improvement Hywel Evans, Major Project Manager works in the Easton area and are from Bristol City Council said: “Bristol City proud to play a key role in ensuring the Council are delighted to be working with expectations of the City council and Mears to provide the tenants of Vining the residents continue to be met.”

Walk and Pountney Drive with a firstPhase I of the project will be completed class refurbishment of their property. in 2016, Phase II in 2019 and the “Similar works have been carried out by final phase will finish in 2021.

Mears to other blocks in the area – these works have been highly successful, which have left the blocks much warmer, more secure and attractive for our tenants to live in.”

Louise Mabrouk, Customer Specialists in Roofing and Re-Roofing Services in Built-Up Felt Development Roofing, Slating, Tiling, Single Ply and Lead Works.

Manager at Mears said: Mears is a great advocate Davis Roofing Limited, of plans to Bridge House, South Liberty Lane, Ashton Vale, Bristol BS3 2AH reduce energy T. 0117 963 8033 F. 0117 953 0473 use in existing Email: enquiries@davisroofing.co.uk Web: www.davisroofing.co.uk properties so we are very pleased

67

UKC COMMUNITY

Manchester City Youth Academy

New sport and community hub Manchester City Football Club is well on the way to achieving its vision as one of the world’s leading football clubs by investing in the development of young talent.

Located in East Manchester and around the club’s Etihad Stadium, work is ongoing to transform Beswick into an unrivalled sport and community hub.

A joint regeneration project between Manchester City Council, urban regeneration company, New East Manchester, and Manchester City will change the face of a 16-acre site in East Manchester that will bring brand new leisure, education and employment opportunities to the area.

In order for City to invest in young talent development, the unique facility is bringing together the best in class Academy with new first-team training facilities and all of the club’s operations, right next to the stadium and in the heart of the community.

As a global centre of excellence, it will be an inspirational facility for young players and a transformative investment in East Manchester, consistent with Manchester City Council’s vision for the area.

City Football Academy will also allow the club to support the expansion of its award-winning City in the Community programme and contribute towards the development of new facilities that the whole community can enjoy.

Three years ago, the club embarked on a comprehensive study of over 30 elite sports development centres around the world.

This research resulted in a blueprint for a new facility that was designed to meet and exceed the requirements for a ‘Category 1 Academy’ set out by the Premier League’s new Elite Player Performance Plan.

The first part of that journey was achieved in August 2012 when City were officially granted the prestigious Category 1 status.

Now more than ever, it is crucial for the club to build on the great work of Platt

68

Lane and turn the ambitions into reality.

Work is necessary because the Academy at Platt Lane has reached the limits of its potential due to the physical constraints of the site. As the club moves forward, a new facility is needed – one that not only meets the standards set by the Premier League’s new strategy for youth development, but exceeds them.

The development includes a new 7,000 capacity mini-stadium, which will host youth football matches to give young players vital experience of playing in a competitive environment in front of a big crowd, as well as serving a facility to house important community matches and live events that would benefit from a stadium environment.

As part of the scheme, Manchester City discussed the concept of creating a pedestrian bridge forming an alternative crossing over Ashton New Road/Alan Turing Way road junction, linking the new site back to the Etihad Stadium area.

The bridge will allow both people walking

through the neighbourhood and users of the Manchester City facilities to cross the busy road junction, and aims to be a positive addition to the public space in the area.

The plans will also include a new leisure centre with a public swimming pool, Connell Sixth Form College – a 600-place sixth form college for 16-21 years meeting growing demand for sixth form places in the area – and a brand new rugby pitch.

In addition, there will be improved local shops and changes to the road layout, public realm and car parking infrastructure to improve road safety and create a pedestrian friendly environment.

Significantly, Manchester City have donated 5.5 acres of the 80 acre site to further community use.

Designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, and being built by Laing O’Rourke, work on the development will be completed in January 2016.

J.Mallinson (Ormskirk) Ltd

NATURAL & SYNTHETIC SPORTS PITCH CONSTRUCTION

Sample of JMO Pitch Projects Year

Club/Client

Project

Over 25 Years

MCFC

Platt Lane

Over 20 Years

MCFC

Maine Road

2001

MCFC

Carrington Training Ground

2003

MCFC

City of Manchester Stadium

2006

Aston Villa FC

Villa Park

2010

Leigh Sports Village

Leigh Stadium

2010

Burnley FC

Turf Moor

2010

The FA

Wembley

2010

MCFC

Etihad Stadium

2011

Widnes Vikings

Stobart Stadium

2011

WBA FC

The Hawthorns

2011

The FA

St Georges Park

2012

Watford FC

Vicarage Road

2012

The RFU

Twickenham Stadium

2013

WBA FC

Training Ground

2013

MUFC

Old Trafford

2013

Everton

Goodison Park

2013

Sport England

Bisham Abbey

2012 — 2014

MCFC

City Football Academy

J.Mallinson (Ormskirk) Ltd | Lathom Vale | Vale Lane | Lathom | Ormskirk | L40 6JH Tel: 01695 723 414 | Fax: 01695 724 514 | Email: sales@j-mallinson.co.uk | www.j-mallinson.co.uk

UKC COMMERCIAL

Cygnet Way

Refurbished office benefiting from Morgan Lovell’s expertise A six-phase development was completed last September to ensure the fit out of Cygnet Way. Due to the phased nature of the development located at Charnham Business Park in Hungerford, Berkshire, the building was able to remain occupied throughout the work, with staff decanted from sections, allowing work to be undertaken within that particular area.

The Main Contractor for this development was Morgan Lovell, who has a 35year reputation for helping many of the world’s largest companies to define, deliver and design workplaces that empower staff and grow businesses.

This three-stage process ensures that every office created fits the clients’ business strategy perfectly. Whether it is a multi-national company needing a full workplace strategy or a smaller company wanting help with design or a fit out, Morgan Lovell can get an office working for any desired reason.

Founded in 1977 by John Morgan and Jack Lovell in Soho London, today the Company is part of the construction

70

and regeneration group Morgan Sindall Group plc, which has a turnover in excess of £2Bn and employs 6,400 people.

Despite the obvious growth and success of the Company, the ethos and goals are the same today as they were back then: to ensure clients have a hassle free project and to employ the most talented people in the industry.

Lovell and Morgan started their interior design and construction business when they were both still 21 with £1,000 from their savings. By 1981, having focused on office interiors, their Company had a turnover of £4M. By 1994, the Company was in the position to acquire William Sindall. This led to a listing on the stock exchange and the formation of the Morgan Sindall Group plc, of which Morgan Lovell is a subsidiary, along with a number of other brands including Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure, Muse Developments, Morgan Sindall Investments, Overbury, Morgan Sindall Professional Services and Lovell.

John Morgan served as CEO of the

Group from 1994 to 2003, then as chairman, before returning to the position of Group Chief Executive in 2012. Jack Lovell retired in 2001.

In recent years, Morgan Lovell has won a clutch of awards due to its green policy; energy efficient and sustainable projects, as well as the outstanding health and safety record.

Financially, Morgan Lovell has a track record of year on year growth, solid performances and stability. And of course, being part of Morgan Sindall Group plc gives the Company further backing and purchasing power, enabling savings to be passed on to clients.

Cygnet Way was undertaken on behalf of ADP Dealer Services, who specialise in providing integrated technology solutions to approximately 25,000 auto, truck, motorcycle, marine, recreational vehicle and heavy equipment dealers throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and South America.

ADP is represented in nearly 100 countries worldwide and make it easy Continued page 72 >

MPM FLOORING LTD Panel-Plan the manufacturers of “Tallwall” Storage Wall System are proud to have supported Morgan Lovell on the Cygnet Way project

MPM Flooring has been trading since 1994 and in that time we have gained an excellent reputation for quality, expertise and our extensive knowledge of the flooring industry.

11 Barton Road • Water Eaton • Bletchley • Milton Keynes • MK2 3JD

e: bob@panelplan.co.uk w: www.panelplan.co.uk T: 01908 270761 F: 01908 270751 M: 07976 266085

Tel: 01628 541117 Fax: 01628 540654 Email: mark@mpmflooring.co.uk www.mpmflooring.co.uk

HALSEY INTERIORS

3 Darell Gardens, Frampton-on-Severn, Glos, GL2 7HZ Tel: 01452 740569, email: halseyinteriors@tesco.net Commercial fit-out and office refurbishment services, with over 25 years’ experience in this field.

Our aim is to give priority to our client with emphasis on good on site communication.

We embrace every aspect required in a fit-out project, from mf/suspended ceilings, all forms of partition erection, bespoke joinery items, glazing, decorating, using only the best and reliable tradesmen.

Contacts and management: Clive Halsey 07725 043570 Steven Halsey 07976 899330 Daniel Halsey 07973 854463

Established in 1985, Thermotel is a family run business based in London, specialising in the provision of industrial and commercial thermal insulation services.

Sourcing the very latest and most advanced products in the fields of thermal insulation, fire safety and acoustics, we can manage all aspects of your company's insulation requirements, maintaining safety levels and improving energy efficiency.

Thermotel Ltd 25 Berther Road, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 3HU

Tel: 01708 620714 – Fax: 01708 620084 Mob: 07973 366871 - Email: mark@thermotel.net

www.thermotelltd.co.uk

71

for dealers to achieve measurable results existing ceilings down, along with walls. and drive additional profit in every area Ceilings were then incorporated and of operation, with innovative solutions Halsey got to work underneath this. to tackle the toughest challenges.

The time and schedule at this twoMore dealers have chosen ADP storey structure was very tight because Dealer Services than any other Dealer ADP remained in the building, which Management System (DMS) partner creates difficulties because only because the Company helps dealers certain areas can be covered. Halsey to achieve results to help drive more erected temporary walls to make sure revenue and profit, the training and that the client suffered minimal noise support services will increase system and disruption from dust and dirt. utilisation to help clients get the most Halsey’s track record of working with out of ADP solutions, and support is ADP has seen the Company previously always available when it is required. help to refurbish a two-storey building, Halsey Interiors also contributed and Halsey has priced up another building greatly to the scheme, and installed in the area to return it to its original walls, doors, glass and toilet doors, state, which will include repainting it. internal walls as well as plastering.

The work at Cygnet Way was The Company has been in operation challenging because many of the fittings for 12 years and works in a variety of weren’t standard and everything had different sectors, with particular focus to be made bespoke. Doors had to be on commercial projects, and more manufactured and all the doors and specifically, office developments.

All frames and door furniture was replaced and Halsey re-plastered the damaged walls. The rest A range of specialist demolition services throughout the UK including of the building demolition, site clearance, waste disposal, soft strip, mechanical and was gutted out by a demolition electrical strip, asbestos removal, boiler house and plant room company. dismantling, concrete cutting, diamond drilling and sawing.

As they Projects undertaken from £10,000 to £1 million. progressed, they demolished everything www.selectdemolition.co.uk within the Email: info@selectdemolition.co.uk Tel: 01883 343223 building, took all

frames were black. These unique door specifications did provide challenges for Halsey, but the Company was able to produce the doors expected and requested.

Having worked with Morgan Lovell for 15 years on many different projects, Halsey has a track record of producing exactly what is specified, leading to lots of repeat business.

Work started in February 2013 and was completed in September 2013.

All work was completed on time and ADP was very satisfied with the work that was undertaken.

Airmaster is proud to provide mechanical services to Morgan Lovell nationwide. We have been

involved in many contracts with a great project

team, this one was no exception! Always looking

to incorporate sustainability into the planning and delivering, working together through the process gives customers a fantastic turnkey solution.

Contact us for help with mechanical solutions.

72

LEISURE UKC

Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport In what is the largest hotel investment programme in the North of England, the stylish three-phase refurbishment of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester Airport is making great progress.

Phase I, which was by far the largest within the development, is now complete.

It resulted in a complete transformation of the hotel’s level three, which saw the opening out of lobby space, and additional check-in desks incorporated. There was also a complete restyle of the bar and a redesign of the restaurant concept, creating a contemporary space that works for a variety of different guests needs.

In addition, 120 Business Class rooms were completely remodelled, and a dedicated Business Class lounge was added which provides stunning runway views and a dedicated check-in for business room guests. The 27-room meeting and events also received a soft refurbishment.

Having opened in 1998, the time was definitely right to give the hotel a new look and feel.

One of the aims is to add value for guests, creating a space that works better for them than ever before. The addition of the Business Class lounge and dedicated Business Class check-in provides Business Class guests with dedicated service and a nice, tranquil place to relax and unwind as part of their upgrade.

The all-day dining restaurant, known as Collage, has doubled in size with three unique zones that create the ideal space for social, private or individual dining, boasting panoramic

airport views that guests can enjoy.

Little M, the bar, is a destination in itself with the ambience changing throughout the day through an eclectic mix of seating, lighting and music, and includes live DJs in the evening.

Comprising of nine-storeys, the hotel boasts a strong design element thanks to the work of Graven Images.

Guest bedrooms have been designed to create an uncluttered and calming mood. The room palette features a rich dark-stained ash timber, greys and silver grey wall coverings and fabrics, with a feature highlight colour of rich violet added to elements including cushions and bed throws.

The design work has been absolutely crucial, and will provide a natural interaction between the interiors of the hotel and the passing volume of people using the short airport walkway.

Sustainability has been a key element throughout the project, which has seen the building management system replaced.

This will result in the equipment running more efficiently at the

upholstery and curtain specialists We are an established specialist in upholstery and curtains. Whether commercial or private, every project we undertake is completed to our uncompromising high standards. We are also known for our expertise in the manufacture of fixed seating, along with refurbishment and restoration of loose furniture and the supply of quality curtains and blinds.

hotel, and only being used when required – making significant energy savings.

Air conditioning is also being replaced with a more efficient, modern day equivalent.

The Main Contractor for the project is Thomas Johnstone Ltd. Work commenced in March 2013 and Phase I is now complete.

Phase II covers a further 120 guest bedrooms in a fresh and exciting new style designed by Trevillion Interiors. The third and final phase will be the refurbishment of the remaining 120-bedrooms which will reach completion next year.

At a total cost of £10M, this stylish development also pays homage to iconic Mancunians, past and present, with many subtle references in and around the hotel.

“We were pleased to be associated with Thomas Johnstone Ltd on the Radisson Blu Manchester Hotel Refurbishment”

Unit 1, Lochlands Business Park, Larbert, Stirlingshire FK5 3NS

Phone: 01324 563903 Fax: 01324 558363 Email: info@lecsupholstery.org.uk Web: www.lecsupholstery.org.uk

73

UKC EDUCATION

Science Central

Creating a ‘living lab’ in the heart of the city Fiona Standfield, Director of Newcastle Science City with Prof. Phil Taylor, Newcastle University.

Fiona Standfield, Director of Newcastle Science City wit partners from Newcastle City Council (l-r – Andrew Lewis, Deputy Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council, Tom Warburton, Director of Investment & Development, Newcastle City Council, Fiona, Prof. Phil Taylor, Prof. Chris Brink VC (both Newcastle University) and Paul Walker, Newcastle Science City Board).

An ambitious plan was announced at the end of last year which confirmed a £50M investment on Science Central

by Newcastle University, combining digital ingenuity and scientific expertise with social innovation to create the smart city of the future.

Working alongside policy makers, businesses and public organisations, Newcastle University’s investment will put ‘the first science on Science Central’ – the North East hub for digitally enabled urban sustainability research.

Science Central, the 24-acre development on the site of the former Scottish and Newcastle brewery in Newcastle, will house the 10,000sq m ‘living lab’, where new technologies and systems can be trialled whilst making a real difference to society.

The ‘living lab’ will put users of the city at the heart of the project, where a leading team of engineers, scientists and digital researchers from Newcastle University will study what the public needs to improve their everyday lives. Their feedback will be used with information from hundreds of high-tech sensors across the city, to help change the face of Newcastle city centre and make it a ‘city of the future’.

A control centre dubbed the Decision Theatre will gather information from things like transport and energy systems to the very fabric of the buildings, to help create solutions to problems and improve people’s everyday lives, whilst reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

The £50M University building will be open in September 2017 and a design team is currently in the process of being appointed.

The vision for Science Central is to create a new urban quarter that will be an exemplar in sustainability,

74

attracting leading edge scientific and community engagement in organisations to a mixed new community science and technology. made up of educational, business, residential and leisure facilities.

You can follow the latest As one of the biggest city-centre urban developments on Science Central at regeneration projects of its kind in the UK, @NCLScience (#sciencecentral) Science Central will become a focus for the city’s expertise in sustainability and digital technologies.

Science Central will have huge potential to attract new businesses to the North East and will help support job creation and longterm investment Our wide range of services include: over the next 15-20 years.

Colour effects ● Spray painting In employment Paper hanging, general and wide width terms, the whole development will Interior and exterior painting ● Multi coat systems look to support existing local Anti graffiti systems ● Close working relationships businesses, the spin out of new with a variety of top designers ● Showhouses companies, and the attraction of international PLCs. We are pleased to be associated with It will also support the aims Science Central of Newcastle Science City, the organisation responsible for delivering 2 Bewick Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 4DP Science Central, to maximise T: (0191) 490 1080 F: (0191) 490 1061 the North E: enquiries@marshalldecs.co.uk East’s scientific www.marshalldecs.co.uk potential and ensure business

Colin Marshall Painting Contractors Ltd

Science Central Landscape Strategy The Science Central development is described as a ‘new urban quarter in the centre of Newcastle, poised to become a flagship location for science and technology, a thriving environment for business and commerce and a beacon of sustainable living and leisure.’

LUC is delighted to be working on such an exciting and challenging project which will form the basis for 10 hectares of urban regeneration on a landmark site.

The on-going Phase 1 works will deliver permanent public realm for a network of streets as well as two new and notable public spaces which will form the focus of future developments. These will contain public art and become activity hubs within the development. In addition, the first phase will develop interim landscapes on future development plots, allowing them to provide amenity and biodiversity in advance of their permanent development. This initial phase of Science Central will set the benchmark in quality and character for future phases and will establish public access through the site for the first time in decades.

The brief defines strong aspirations for a distinctive high quality public realm which promotes environmental sustainability whilst providing a range of dynamic, multi-functional spaces which are fully accessible and will accommodate social

interaction, the exchange of ideas, recreation, events and provide opportunities to showcase science.

The public realm network is designed to integrate with neighbouring parts of Newcastle, increasing accessibility and permeability. It will be an environment in which the pedestrian has priority with shared surfaces facilitating all-abilities access, consequently creating spaces of distinctive character which in many areas will lack the geometries of conventional streets.

With the aim of achieving CEEQUAL rating ‘excellent’ to ensure the sustainable construction and future of the site, sustainable design principles were applied across the Phase 1 design. Site preparation has involved open cast coal extraction as a unique and sustainable means of adjusting levels and reducing grouting, whilst making positive use of site materials.

Hard surfaces will be predominantly in UK sourced stone to achieve sustainable construction. This even includes the use of the local sandstone quarried from the site during preparation works. Materials were also chosen for their longevity and to enable the creation of distinctive pavements, capable of defining activity zones whilst accommodating loading requirements. Low energy LED lighting will be used including distinctive and

sustainable timber lighting columns.

Soft landscape components will also become an important part of the public realm through street trees, planters, grass areas/verges, shrub and herbaceous planting, as well as facade greening and green roofs. These combined, will introduce significant greenery to the new spaces, creating intimacy, improving micro climates, providing biodiversity and townscape interest.

Consideration of sustainable drainage and water conservation has been an important design factor and where possible, planting beds have been designed to accept surface water run-off and will thereby reduce loads on the drainage infrastructure. Tree and plant species have been carefully selected to deal with urban conditions, air pollution, periodic drought and inundation.

The interim landscape treatments to the future development plots will comprise communal parkland in the heart of the site, a new access network and reclamation greening of plots prepared for development. The latter will utilise hydro-seeding to establish a varied tapestry of vegetation which has biodiversity benefits and will be seasonally striking. This treatment precludes the need for topsoiling over large areas. These interim landscapes will provide a green setting for the new buildings and allow positive use of the areas awaiting development.

LUC is delighted to be acting as landscape architects for the first phase of the innovative urban regeneration project at ‘Science Central’.

Since LUC’s establishment in 1966, urban regeneration has been a core area of our work. We endeavour to understand place and how people use urban spaces to provide integrated, beautiful and lasting designs. We strive for solutions that are not only creative but also sustainable and affordable.

We work at a variety of scales delivering: • Development Frameworks & Spatial Plans • Masterplans • Public Realm & Open Space Strategies • Public Realm & Streetscape Design • Urban Parks Design & Conservation

Newcastle Science Central

As a multidisciplinary practice we also provide environmental planning, landscape management, ecology, environmental impact assessments EIA and digital design services. As at Science Central we enjoy working collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver complex projects.

Contact details:

The Eden Project

Inverness City Centre

Martin Tabor e-mail: martin.tabor@landuse.co.uk Tel: 0141 334 9595 web: www.landuse.co.uk

UKC COMMUNITY

Dogs Trust Essex

New kennels at Stevenson Farm A brand new 60-kennel dog re-homing centre for the Dogs Trust Essex is well on the way to being built in Basildon.

Located on Southend Arterial Road, it will be a facility with training kennels too, which actually takes the total to 66 kennels.

Designed by Bennetts Associates, work comprises six single-storey buildings in total that have been designed to look like farm barns with a clay brick and clay roof tiles.

Three buildings make up the main complex.

These comprise: the dog re-homing kennels and reception, the veterinary suite and puppy facility and sponsor dog kennels, and the booked kennels.

The booked kennels are for when dogs have been chosen and are waiting to be re-homed. In addition to that, this building has the back of house facilities such as the offices, bath and groom, kitchen areas, IT rooms, staff rooms and staff kitchen.

Adjacent to these buildings is the fourth one which is similar in style.

This is a 20-kennel block building that is the intake building where the new arrivals at the facility will go to.

There will be a smaller training and

76

behavioural assessment building in a remote location on site that will have four individual kennels. Dogs with additional training requirements will be housed here until they are ready to be re-homed.

Finally, there will be an auxiliary building which has all plant machinery and incoming electrical mains. In the roof space of that building will be a second storey which will have two overnight bedsit accommodations for staff to sleep on site when necessary, such as when there are Mums needing attention throughout the night.

Sustainability will be an important aspect of the development, with all main buildings benefiting from solar photovoltaic panels as well as a commitment to achieving air tightness levels of less than three with mass insulated walls.

The walls have a 200mm partial fill cavity, 100mm block and a 100mm build up on the outside. The Trust currently achieves three exactly but is hoping to achieve less than three.

Recycled rainwater will be used at the facility, and there will be a woodchip biomass boiler that heats the main building complex.

Being built by Abbott Construction, structural features will include timber doors and windows that are all painted, as well as the soffits, and there will be metal rainwater gutters.

The buildings are built with clay brick and a brick finish, while all roofs will be pitched and hipped, using clay roof tiles. Windows will be double glazed and there is a central rooflight that runs down the centre of the main reception building and the entrance will benefit from glazed curtain walling.

The land where the buildings are situated was previously greenbelt and being used as a car boot sale. It is 12 acres in size and is surrounding by adjoining woodland in the ancient Knokes Wood.

A small amount of pre-fabricated plant buildings and a concrete oversight all had to be demolished before work commenced on ground conditions that were tricky and provided everybody involved with a challenge.

Conditions were poor because it is a clay site, which makes it very muddy and there has had to be a lot of water run-off work, so there are many swales and attenuation continued page 78 >

C.P CARPENTRY CONTRACTORS LTD We are pleased to be associated with Dogs Trust and wish them continued success with the future

30 Hurst Place, Rainham, Kent, ME8 9AS

Tel:01634 263772 : 01622 686326 Mob: 07802 360137 : 0771 2068449 Email: garypiper2@aol.com

Buckler Surveys Buckler Surveys and Engineering Limited was established in 1996.

We are a flexible organization and match our service to suit client’s requirements.

We combine traditional site setting out skills with modern surveying techniques.

Telephone: 07971 262 269 Office: 07794 485 473 E-mail: tripod@btinternet.com

Delighted to be associated with such a high calibre company as Abbotts Construction and wish them continued success for the future

With over 40 years experience of delivering high quality commercial landscaping services across the Central Counties and beyond.

Supported by the latest equipment and using the latest techniques our trained and enthusiastic staff are committed to provide top level service, on budget, on time.

Brewood Landscapes Ltd

Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Contractors Brewood Landscapes Ltd, Lower Laches Farm, Laches Lane, Coven, WV10 7PA

Call 01902 703505 Email: info@brewoodlandscapes.co.uk www.brewoodlandscapes.co.uk

77

ponds to deal with the flood problems. buildings that have different surfaces Work started on this fully DDA The land slopes from the far corner to including concrete, sand and Astroturf. compliant building in January 2013 the bottom corner where the buildings In addition, there will be two large and will be completed in April 2014. are going to be situated, which meant grassed exercise areas where the dogs At a cost of ÂŁ7.1M, the kennels will open a lot had to be done in the design of can run and there will be approximately between four and six weeks later, at the project to deal with the water, one kilometre of path walkways. approximately the middle of June so that which has been channeled to run Parking will be available in the form of all staff members can be trained, and then straight out to open countryside.

60 spaces for cars, plus motorcycle the dogs can be brought in and settled.

Kennels will be based on the Dogs parking and three disabled bays.

Trust Specification of kennelling.

Planning restrictions during development So there will bespoke glass and have mainly involved stainless steel fronted kennels where picking the correct the dogs are viewed internally. materials for a Each kennel will have underfloor heating building sat in the along with its own sleep and run area, countryside, as befitting the high class kennels that well as planting to they will be when completed. elongate Knokes Burglar alarm systems will be fit to Wood so that it discourage possible intruders and there looks like it and will be fire alarms and smoke detectors, as becomes part of a well as CCTV cameras on the outside that third of the centre. will all be linked and monitored

by CHUBB. A large amount COLTRONICS SYSTEMS LTD. of landscaping is taking place Proud to be associated with the on the site, including the Dogs Trust Stevenson Farm While mass production and standardisation become increasingly planting of more commonplace, A R Manley and Son continue to offer a unique than 3,000 combination of traditional skills with the latest techniques and trees. The whole equipment to produce bespoke joinery of the highest quality. site has been sculpted, bunded Established in 1945, this family firm is now in its third generation and we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver interior and exterior and landscaped, joinery to the most demanding specifications within realistic to take it from timescales and at a competitive price. what was a flat agricultural field to an area that, A.R.Manley and Son Ltd when matured, Somerwood, Rodington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4RF will be a wooded, walked environment.

Tel: 01952 770278 CONTACT US: CONTACT US: There will also 57 Kepler, Lichfield Road Coltronics Systems Ltd., 57 Kepler, Lichfield RoadIndustrial Estate, sales@armanley.co.uk Industrial Estate, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7XE., UK be 18 exercise Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7XE., UK Tel: 01827-319966 (From Overseas +44 1827-319966) www.armanley.co.uk areas associated 2002/296 Fax: 01827-319977 (From Overseas +44 1827-319977) Tel: 01827-319966 Fax: 01827-319977 with the kennel email: sales@coltronics.demon.co.uk email: sales@coltronics.demon.co.uk

78

PROFILE UKC

M Ward Demolition Ltd

At the forefront of the demolition industry for 25 years Based in Spalding, M Ward Demolition Ltd has a 25-year history of success in the demolition industry, expertly led

by Directors Mick and Marion Ward.

The Lincolnshire Company is a family owned business that became a limited company 15 years ago and between Mick and his son Gary, can boast 58 years of cumulative experience within the demolition industry.

M Ward Demolition has six permanent staff but also hires subcontractors and agency staff when required for any number of the projects undertaken, which usually encompasses the commercial and private work, previous clients include the NHS and military.

The Company, which is CHAS accredited, can undertake a whole host of work, including demolition/plant hire, asbestos removal, strip outs, fire damage, concrete/ steel structures, plant and machinery removal, concrete breaking and crushing, earth moving and site preparation.

M Ward Demolition has recently undertaken work on a Tesco store and petrol station, which was necessary to expand on existing Tesco services.

It has resulted in a new larger store and petrol station, which was built to provide more shop space and car parking.

The Company’s reputation meant it was sounded out for this project two years ago, and M Ward Demolition

takes its recycling responsibility seriously, resulting in the recycling of all metal, brick, rubble and concrete.

All waste went to recycling centres and 60% of the crushed concrete on this £150,000 project was reused on site.

Work started on the five-acre site in November 2013 and will be complete in February 2014.

WHAT GPSS Ltd CAN PROVIDE FOR YOU? Whether it's a full management system, risk assessments or just a policy update, GPSS Ltd can help assist you every step of the way.

Some of the services we can provide: • Health & Safety Audit • Creating action plans to ensure compliance • Health & Safety policies and procedures • Risk Assessments • Safe System of Work / Method Statements • C.O.S.H.H Assessments • PUWER Assessments • DSE Assessments • Accident investigation • Assistance with CHAS, Safecontractor, Constructionline applications • CDM Coordination • Site survey of services

Head Office: 01406 420430 Email: gary@gpssltd.co.uk Web site: www.gpssltd.co.uk

79

UKC COMMERCIAL

Geopost UK Ltd DPD

New parcel hub in Hinckley Work to build a new state-of-the-art parcel hub is well underway in Hinckley.

Based on Hinckley Commercial Park, the development is for Geopost UK Ltd DPD and will be the largest of its kind in Europe.

The project is part of investment plans announced by DPD in November 2012 and follows a period of unprecedented growth for the parcel carrier, thanks to its unique Predict service that provides customers with a one-hour delivery window so they do not have to wait in all day for their parcel.

The Company won a record £70M of new business from online retailers in 2012 off the back of Predict. More than 97% of the millions of parcels delivered each year with Predict are delivered ‘right first time’, meaning fewer wasted trips for drivers redelivering parcels or customers having to go to the depot to pick up a missed delivery.

The new hub will be capable of handling 70,000 parcels an hour and will increase DPD’s overall parcel capacity by 65%.

In total, the site will cover an area the size of 19 football pitches while the hub building itself will be around 470m long.

The Hinckley site was chosen primarily because it provides the optimum location in terms of motorway links for the whole of the UK. However, developing a major hub site in the East Midlands also has other strategically significant long-term benefits.

DPD’s three other hubs are all located in the West Midlands around Smethwick

80

where there is potentially less scope for major increases in capacity on the road network in future and the firm is already one of the largest employers.

Dwain McDonald, DPD CEO, said when plans were announced: “We are investing significantly in the brand and delivering the network capacity we are going to need in the future for our customers.

“By continuing to invest in infrastructure and technology, we will secure not only the 6,700 jobs we already provide in the UK, but also create another 1,500 jobs across the UK in the next two years.

“This is a long-term strategic decision, based on our success in recent years and our projections for the online retail channel.

“Retailers really like Predict because it helps ensure their deliveries get to their customers first time, and in turn that encourages more repeat purchases.

“Our network capacity is fine at the moment but we need to make sure that, as demand increases from our customers, we have the potential for growth and we have more flexibility to handle increased capacity right across our network.”

This project is part of a £175M expansion programme that also included the refurbishment of the two existing hubs and a major expansion of its nationwide network of depots including ten new depots that started development in November 2012 and will be completed this year.

Other investments include the replacement

of all the handheld devices used by drivers for route optimisation and parcel administration, as well as ongoing investment in security and IT upgrades.

The site for the new hub, Hinckley Commercial Park, is one of the Midlands’ premier logistic developments located within the UK’s distribution ‘Golden Triangle’. The park is situated in a highly prominent position immediately adjacent to the A5, and is located one mile from Junction 1 of the M69 motorway, which provides access to the national motorway network.

Work on site began in July. Goodman is the Developer and the Company got groundwork and other preparatory activities completed in July 2013 to get the site ready for building work starting.

Winvic was appointed the Main Contractor for the project and the ground was completely flattened in October 2013 and the concrete base was laid. Later that month, the first bit of steelwork was erected on site and a month later a third of this had been completed on the building, and other work saw the roof put in place.

By December, the progress had resulted in groundworks being 70% complete and the steelwork was 50% complete by early December too.

Designed by Beck Haynes Associates, the development will see the delivery of state-of-the-art parcel sorting equipment this month, and final completion is expected next year.

media limited

Proud to be associated with Winvic Construction Ltd on the DPD Parcel Hub Sapoflow Limited, Fall Bank Industrial Estate, Dodworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 3LS

Tel: (01226) 297200 - Fax: (01226) 204038 email: info@sapoflow.com www.sapoflow.com

to advertise in this magazine please call

0 1 2 57 231900 www.pro-mark.org.uk

Sapoflow Limited is one of the UK’s leading providers of ’Siphonic Rainwater Management Systems’. Established in 1992, Sapoflow has continued success in delivering efficient siphonic rainwater management systems to the commercial and industrial sector of the UK construction industry, including distribution warehousing, supermarkets, office developments, sports stadia, and residential apartments, etc. Centrally located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Sapoflow operate throughout the whole of the UK and Ireland.

Sapoflow provide a complete design, supply and installation package with extensive experience both on and off site. Sapoflow have been delivering successful projects with Winvic Construction for over 10 years.

continually building on success PWP are proud to have been trusted with the full design and build services package at the new DPD state of the art parcel super hub

Building Services Specialising in Design and Build contracts, our services include heating and ventilation, plumbing, electrical systems, fire & security & data systems.

Fire & Security Offer a diverse range of quality products and services that provide a 'one stop shop' for all your security and fire protection needs.

Maintenance Provide mechanical and electrical, planned and reactive integrated building services maintenance for some of the United Kingdom's premier organisations.

Data Services Cabling infrastructure provision (both copper and fibre optic) for IT systems, unified communications, and security and surveillance systems.

PWP Building Services Ltd The Oaks, Moor Road, Bestwood Village, Nottingham NG6 8TU Tel: 0115 964 7780 Fax: 0115 964 7786 Email: services@pwp-ltd.co.uk www.pwp-ltd.co.uk

81

UKC RETAIL

Anglia Regional Co-operative Society

New store in Cambourne A new store was completed last March for Co-operative, as part of the Cambourne masterplan.

The 5,000sq ft convenience store was built on Greenfield land which was originally earmarked to be a pub but when detailed planning application was put in for a shop, it was quite well received with very few objections.

This is because there wasn’t previously a supermarket in Lower Cambourne, so the new store was necessary for the area.

The design by PRP Architecture was done to ensure the building fits into the local context and has facing brickwork that matches the other buildings together with some timber clad elevations too. There is also quite a lot of glass that is used on the corner and the front of the site.

Comprising of a single-storey, the scheme was overseen by The Abbey Group and was built by Lindum Construction, who built the shell and core as well as installing drainage, hard and soft landscaping, and the main building. It is a steel frame building with a timber roof.

After this, Co-op undertook the fit out of all shelving, tills, air conditioning and electrical works.

Every aspect of development was undertaken to the latest building regulations and all the insulation it would require to meet these. The fit out included energy saving in the form of LED lights.

As with every development, there were challenging aspects. A new access road off School Lane had to be implemented,

which is the main road that runs through the centre of Lower Cambourne.

That was put in quite late and all involved had to work with the local Parish Council, who were extremely helpful with the development. They allowed use of their car park and the cricket pavilion just behind as a site office.

Play equipment that was behind the site was removed and is now being re-erected.

The Parish was also very keen that disruption was minimised to the public and with schools in the surrounding area, this provided quite a challenge during construction, but it was done without any complaints throughout the development.

The development started in March 2013 and the shell was finished in September 2013.

Co-op’s refit of the store lasted less than two months and it was opened in November 2013 with the help of children from three local primary schools.

Pupils from the Blue School at Hardwick, the Vine Inter-Church Primary at Upper Cambourne and Monkfield Park Primary at Great Cambourne all had a hand in producing colourful artwork to make up into a giant welcome banner that has been hung from the store.

In return, pupils joined Anglia Cooperative board

chairman Harry Whitelock, store manager Jamie Asque, Cambourne Parish Council clerk John Vickery and representatives of Cambourne Youth Partnership and the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northants in cutting a ribbon to declare the store open.

The Abbey Group has continued its strong record of development at the Caxton Gibbet, which is a food court area comprising a McDonalds Drive Thru, Costa Coffee, Subway and a fourth unit on this large site.

It was previously a Chinese restaurant that was burnt down a few years ago.

When The Abbey Group purchased the site, it was half derelict so a bit of demolition was involved.

Getting through the planning process was a long process but once it did, the development has resulted in a very attractive site, with a 1,250sq ft unit that is still waiting to be occupied – in a prime location for any company.

This project started in February 2013 and was completed just before Christmas.

A leading name in Electrical Design and Installation Brook and Mayo electrical contractors carries out the design, installation and commissioning of industrial,

commercial and residential installations in the Midlands

and throughout the United Kingdom. Having developed a diverse range of capabilities we are able to offer the complete solution for clients requiring electrical

engineering expertise. Our experienced management team, estimating and technical staff are based in our Lincolnshire head office in North Hykeham, Lincoln.

82

01945 464 637 www.glwengineering.co.uk

Metal Fabrication Metal Railings Canopies - Steel Staircases Bicycle Park - Silos and Bins Steel Gates - Grilles, Trolleys Benches - Handrails - Balustrades GLW Engineering & Construction Ltd Three Acres, Railway Junction South, Creek Road, March, Cambs PE15 8SD Fax: 01945 464 647 Email: geoff@glwengineering.co.uk

media limited

to advertise in this magazine please call

01257 2 3 1 9 0 0

w w w.pro -m a rk .org .uk

83

UKC PROFILE

SAEMA

Installed façade access equipment industry The Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association (SAEMA) has over 40 years of experience in representing the UK’s permanent and temporary suspended access industry.

Members are divided up into two categories, representing: ••The permanently installed façade access system industry and they can be involved in the design, manufacture, installation and ongoing maintenance of the façade access system equipment.

••The temporary installed façade access systems where the member installs a system for a specific task to be carried out and then removes the equipment from site once the work is completed.

It was formed in 1973 by the companies who specialised in the provision of suspended access systems and has the ultimate aim of providing safe places of work for operatives carrying out work at height from the equipment of suspended access systems.

SAEMA encourages developers, architects and contractors to engage with member companies in the early stages of building design.

It acts in the clients’ common interests in all matters concerning the business of design, manufacture, installation,

84

maintenance and testing of façade access equipment and systems.

Later engagement with specialist contractors results in the loss of opportunity to employ industry products with many years’ research and development behind them. Major projects continue to demand ever more complex suspended access solutions with unique specifications.

Suspended access systems produced on a project by project basis run a BS8560, the new standard and guidance document for ‘Designing for Working at Height’, which was published in 2013 and provides guidance for designers in one document.

It focuses on the post construction phase and the need to plan early in the design phase for working at height requirements.

Following a two-year discussion with Construction Skills, the National Construction College delivered a SAEMA ‘Testing, Inspection & Thorough Examination’ three-day training course in March 2013. It was also reviewed

by Construction Skills for possible endorsement as an NVQ module.

The development of SAEMA suspended access ‘Duty Holder’ and ‘Operator’ training has continued to progress. The content of both training formats has benefited

from HSE consultation and comment, plus support from the AIF and its membership.

Monthly technical meetings are held at hired rooms and there are 26 members who represent 80% of the Permanently Installed Equipment Market and 60% of the Temporary Installed Equipment Market.

Anybody choosing a SAEMA member can be comfortable in the knowledge that work will be carried out by experienced and trained personnel, adequate insurance will be in place, the service provided will be clean and cost effective and there will be supervision at all times.

Instruction on the correct use of the façade access system will be given, as will advice on the ongoing maintenance and testing of the equipment needed to undertake particular work.

Just as importantly, all members agree to abide by the SAEMA Code of Conduct, which makes safety and quality paramount in the provision of façade access systems.

The Association is also developing the relevant British and European Safety Standard, which govern the niche industry that the membership works within.

This will undoubtedly benefit a whole host of people for years to come. www.SAEMA.org

Innovators and Designers of Access Equipment Accessing Solutions for Safe Working at Height SUSPENDED ACCESS PLATFORM MOUNTED ON EXTERNAL MONO PITCHED ROOF - LEISURE CENTRE - KINGSTON UPON HULL

Craig Engineering Total Access Systems Ltd. Specialists in the supply and installation of Bespoke Access Equipment.

Supplier Installers of Proprietary Fall Protection Systems.

BMU WITH TWIN TELESCOPIC JIBS CHAPELFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE - NORWICH

Our Company offers a comprehensive product service in: Design, Manufacture, Installation, Test, Commission and Maintenance, of high quality, Permanently Installed Access Equipment.

Travelling ladders & gantries, monorail & davits, suspended cradle access systems, facade cleaning access systems (BMUs).

Proprietary Fall Protection Equipment.

A range of access equipment offering clients a complete Building Maintenance Equipment Package, providing a safe environment for people working at height.

Experienced Project Engineering Design Team, providing concept detail designs using State of the art 3D CAD modelling, model simulation, F.E.A., design validation calculations.

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL POWERED 360° ROTATING ACCESS GANTRIES EACH C/W POWERED VERTICAL ACCESS CRADLES IMAX CINEMA - LONDON

With in-house Manufacturing Fabrication facilities and an on-site Installation Team, Craig Engineering can provide clients with a complete turn-key works package.

Quality Products & Practical Solutions in total resolve of the problems and issues associated with safe access and working safely at height.

Go to our web page: www.craigeng.co.uk to view our full range of bespoke access equipment and proprietary fall protection systems.

Building Facade Maintenance Units (BMUs)

GPBMU - BMU WITH LONG REACH JIB AND FACADE ACCESS CRADLE

Sole UK Distributor of GPBMU Building Maintenance Units, Craig Engineering TAS Ltd offer clients a complete comprehensive service in the supply of permanently installed Building Facade Maintenance Units (BMUs).

Go to our web page: www.craigeng.co.uk and click on BMUs All BMUs designed & manufactured to suit client requirement, to the highest quality standards certificated under ISO 9001 Quality Procedures, all in accordance with current Statutory Requirements, BS EN Codes of Practice and compliance with the current EC Machinery Directive.

Craig Engineering Total Access Systems Ltd. is proud to be a member of SAEMA (Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association), and a member of RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), ensuring delivery of quality products for working safely at height.

FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Survey – Design – Fabrication – Installation – Test & Commission Maintenance. Craig Engineering Total Access Systems Ltd, serve the length & breath of the UK. Please address all enquiries to sales@craigeng.co.uk

UKC RETAIL

Masseys DIY & Gardening Store Masseys DIY & Gardening Store was established in 1947 and has more than 18,000 lines in stock.

This family-run business, which prides itself on excellent customer service, was founded in 1947 by Reginald Massey.

He did this by decanting five gallon drums of paint into treacle tins and then selling the treacle tins to the public.

Within five years, Reginald Massey had started the Masseys DIY store, selling tools, ironmongery and paints.

The current Directors, Peter and Robert Massey, are both grandsons of Reginald.

They are both trained accountants and have been directors of the business

86

for 30 and 27 years respectively.

They have grown the business from a small store in Woodville to a 12,000sq ft DIY & Gardening store less than half a mile away from the original shop, as well as a smaller high street Cook Shop in Swadlincote.

Products include lawnmowers, strimmers, chainsaws, plumbing, gardening, garden centre, plant food, weed killer, nuts & bolts, paint, electrical, tools, power tools, ironmongery, timber, tiling, kitchen shop, and ladders.

Masseys cover Burton-on-Trent, Swadlincote, Ashby de la zouch, Coalville, Tamworth, Derby, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Next year will see the Company open its new £2M store in the new year.

Bosses at Woodville business Massey’s spoke as work started to gather pace at its new home in Swadlincote Road onto, a site previously occupied by the Osborne drinks factory.

A spokesman for the store said: “We actually have a building structure in place now and things are really starting to take shape. We are now looking towards opening in January next year.”

Massey’s new 28,000sq ft store, twoand-a-half times larger than its existing premises, will solve both of these problems while keeping the businesses on a key

arterial route but nearer Swadlincote.

Manager Andy Massey said: “It’s great news and means we can keep expanding the business and taking it forward.

“If we stand still we will slip behind our competitors and we’ve got to be looking forward.”

Mr Massey said the new store would merge the existing Swadlincote Road business and the branch in Swadlincote High Street, which would close.

“Swadlincote town centre is not a particularly desirable place to have a retail business,” he said.

“People don’t have a great reason to go.

What we need is a catalyst to spark it off – something like an M&S-style of store.

“There’s a lot of planning going into it and making sure everything is going to be right.

“We’ve got one shot to do it properly.”

He also indicated the expansion was likely to see the firm add to its existing 24 employees.

“We are going to take what we’ve got from the two stores and if we can cop, we can cope,” he said.

“I would have thought there was a very high possibility that more staff will be employed but we’ve got to be in to make that call.”

The Company has won awards for the quality of its work. These include silver at the 2011 DIY Week Awards. This was due to Masseys’ continued high level of customers service and ambitious plans for expansion with the development of the new Swadlincote Road store.

Meanwhile, Masseys were awarded silver at the 2010 Britain’s Best Retailer Awards due to the high quality of service offered by staff as well as the great product range.

Andrew Massey is no stranger to awards and in 2011, he won Britain’s Young Retailer of the Year award.

“All remarkable achievements for one still relatively young. This young man truly is one to watch, he has achieved great things in the short time he has been in the business,” said the judges.

Richard Thomes, President of the IHA, had flown in from the USA especially to see the award handed out. Part of the prize was an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas, as well as a week at the Oxford Retail School, where Andrew rubbed shoulders with some of the high flyers from the world’s largest retailers.

With the imminent arrival of the new store, it is a very exciting time for the Company, who will continue its association with the Swadlincote area.

The new development is designed by SG Design and the Main Contractor is Hardwick Coleman + Whotton.

01283 214758

www.cadsnet.co.uk

87

UKC PROFILE

AECB

Providing sustainable building The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB), is a network of individuals and companies with a common aim of promoting sustainable building.

It brings together builders, architects, designers, manufacturers, housing associations and local authorities to develop, share and promote.

The objective and aims of the AECB is to facilitate environmentally responsible practices within building. Specifically the AECB aims to promote the use of products and materials that are safe, healthy and sustainable encourage members projects that respect, protect and enhance the environment make available comprehensive information and guidance about products, methods and best practice in environmentally sustainable building.

The AECB was established in 1989 with the aim of increasing awareness within the construction industry of the need to respect the environment.

It is run by its members and is an independent, not for profit organisation.

The Association has a continued affiliation partnership that has been agreed with Co-operative Energy for the benefit of AECB members.

Co-operative Energy is part of The Midcounties Co-operative, the third largest co-operative in the UK with sales of £780M and 430,000 members.

Midcounties set up Co-operative Energy in 2010. Although founded by a regional co-operative, Co-operative Energy is very much a national business, covering the whole of England, Wales and Scotland.

88

The consumer body ‘Which?’ awarded Co-operative Energy their prestigious Consumer Action Award 2011 for steps taken to change the energy supply industry for the better.

Co-operative Energy is committed to tackling climate change, pledging to do this in four ways: ••Sourcing more electricity from low carbon generators, including renewable energy generators such as wind and hydro.

••Investing in new renewable generating capacity.

••Adopting energy efficient practices throughout their trading group.

••Helping customers save energy with tips on how to lead a lower carbon life.

The Association has continued to improve as more experience has been gained since it was set up in 1989 by Keith and Sally Hall as the Sustainable Building Association.

Last year’s Annual Members’ Conference was held in June at the new academic building of Goldsmith’s College, London and was branded ‘Never Mind the Greenwash’.

The two-day conference coincided with a first visit to the UK by Wolfgang Feist from the German Passivhaus Institute and a joint event was held on the Saturday with the Passivhaus Trust for members of the public.

The conference also featured an evening debate under the heading ‘Sustainability is more than just Energy’. This packed session began with contributions from a panel, with AECB’s Chief Executive, Andy Simmonds and long-standing AECB members Neil May of Natural

Building Products and Pat Borer from the Centre for Alternative Technology.

Also last year, a Herefordshire based property development company was proud to be awarded the Silver Certification from the AECB, the first development in the UK to receive this.

The building is designed to offer its occupants a 75-80% reduction in heating bills compared to standard homes.

AECB Silver Certification is a selfcertification scheme open to building projects that meet the AECB Silver Standard design and performance criteria.

The AECB self-certification route has been developed whereby the self-certifier – typically the building’s energy consultant – takes responsibility for certification and for underwriting the Silver Standard claim.

During last year, the AECB entered into a new contract with the Passivhaus Institute to sell the 2012 Passive House Planning Package software (PHPP).

PHPP is a design tool for use by building architects and designers. Based on dynamic thermal simulations validated by data gathered from hundreds of lowenergy buildings, PHPP is the software to calculate energy use and CO2 emissions.

PHPP’s level of sophistication enables it to take into account a wide range of variable characteristics that affect heat loss and subsequent energy use, allowing for a superior fit between predicted energy use and real world performance.

Suitable for both residential and many non-residential applications, PHPP is supported by the AECB CLP courses.

COMMUNITY UKC

Watford Parade public realm improvements

A project to upgrade and improve Watford Parade is well underway and will set a benchmark for the quality of public realm in the rest of the town centre.

The development of The Parade responds to feedback from local residents and businesses who want to see the town centre become more attractive, helping to bring shoppers, families and businesses to the area.

Designed by the Landscape Architecture team at BDP, the £4M scheme for Watford Borough Council aims to transform the area into a key civic space with the flexibility and capacity to accommodate a variety of outdoor events, and attract a wide range of visitors throughout the day and evening.

It will provide new street furniture and simplify the surface materials and circulation to create an elegant and comfortable environment for both pedestrians and cyclists.

Work will retain and enhance the setting of the pond which has been there for over 100 years.

Street lighting throughout The Parade will be upgraded and feature lighting introduced to enhance The Parade during the evening A large new flexible event space will be a great addition to Watford’s town centre as it will assist popular events like Imagine Watford and Watford Live, and create a venue to attract and hold other large and small scale events. The event space has been designed to accommodate up to 1,500-2,000 people.

The improvement works are being funded from the Council’s capital budget.

This is money that legally can only be spent on improving assets, but will not result in any council tax increases.

The scheme has been years in the making, and as part of the design process BDP consulted with local residents and business who had the opportunity to input on the proposals and help to shape the design.

Last January saw the appointment of Aggregate Industries as the Main Contractor to carry out the

construction works. The Company has a wealth of experience delivering high quality schemes in busy urban environments including Birmingham City Centre Interchange, Stratford Town Centre, Pac Square Leicester and Retford Market Square Nottinghamshire.

An open event was held in April 2013, giving the general public the opportunity to meet the contractors and ask any questions they had about the works, which was a great gateway for everybody continued page 90 >

BBS Granite Concepts is a market leader in the supply of hard landscaping and regeneration projects, sourcing products from throughout the UK, Europe and the Far East. BBS have been involved with Bardon on a number of projects and are proud to be part of the team upgrading the Parade.

If you have any questions or enquiries regarding natural stone please contact us on 01455 559474 or on our web site www.bbsgraniteconcepts.com

89

to be kept informed of the project.

Work has been carefully phased to minimise disruption to the general public and local businesses and access to shops has been maintained at all times.

Aggregate Industries has continuously met with local businesses in an attempt to keep any disruption to a minimum, and this has been very successful.

Work began in May 2013, which started with improvements to the taxi rank on Albert Road South, changes to the layout of the Gade Car Park exit on Rosslyn Road and lifting and reclaiming existing Yorkshire paving, The reclaimed stone has been used to simplify and repair areas of existing Yorkstone whilst new Granite paving has been introduced to create a simple new pallet of paving materials.

The development phasing initially focused on the area from Clarendon Road up to Bentyne Lane. New paving and street furniture has been installed and new trees will soon be planted.

The careful phasing allowed the annual Imagine Watford festival to take place on The Parade New lighting columns also went up in May and June, along with new signage and street furniture.

Works to the pond began once the fish spawning and bird nesting seasons were over in October. After taking advice from expert ecologists. The birds naturally relocated to nearby water bodies, and the fish were carefully removed and stored off site in holding tanks until the renovated pond is completed this spring, when they will be re-released.

The latest incarnation of the pond will feature a new filtration system, fountains and planting to improve the water quality and wildlife habitat. Both ends of the pond

90

will have stepped seating, with a decked on time and well within budget, and is area at one end and a bridge to create a link scheduled to be completed in April 2014 from one side of The Parade to the other. with a programme of exciting events In terms of parking, there are now disabled already being planned for 2014. parking spaces within Gade car park and the existing disabled parking bays on Gaumont Approach and outside the Gade car park have also now been improved. This means there are 16 parking pays in total which is in addition to the disabled parking bays available in the other seven car parks in the town centre.

From June 2013, The Parade became a car free zone.

This will improve visibility and circulation along the street, and increase space for licensed Fountains & Features are proud to be the water feature outdoor dining.

Creating this contractor chosen to regenerate the pond on the shared use space Watford Parade Scheme. will bring huge benefits to visitors, Contact us for all your fountain and water feature projects pedestrians, Fountains & Features Ltd cyclists, people Unit 3, Meridian Business Centre, King Street, Oldham OL8 1EZ with disabilities Tel: 0161 870 3550 Fax: 0161 626 0682 and all businesses Email: sales@fountainsandfeatures.co.uk within the www.fountainsandfeatures.co.uk town centre.

Work on the project is running

• Pond Cleaning • Pond Maintenance • Pond Construction

Pond, water feature, and lake construction and maintenance specialists We specialize in water gardens, pond cleaning, construction, maintenance and pond design in the London, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire areas. Aquajoy also conduct lake management, lake cleaning, installation of pond lighting, replacement equipment, anything to do with your waterfeature.

31 Lower Morden Lane, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4SE T: 020 8337 7373 F: 020 8337 3589 E: enquiries@aquajoy.org.uk www.aquajoy.org.uk

UKC LEISURE

R G Carter Group

Portfolio including the new Canterbury Premier Inn A new 120-bed Premier Inn Hotel has been built in Canterbury on the site of a former Blockbuster building in New Dover Road.

It has been constructed by the R G Carter Group. Founded in 1921, it is a family owned business with a proud 93 year history, achieving growth and success by combining strong traditional values with an innovative and forward thinking approach.

Servicing its national and regional clients from a network of offices based throughout the Central and Eastern regions of the United Kingdom, R G Carter provides design, sustainable, partnered construction and project management services for private and public sector clients on projects ranging from £50 to over £50M. R G Carter’s strong traditional values are based upon honesty, trust and the development of long-term relationships.

The Company places client values at the heart of its operations, nurturing strategic partnerships with key clients through prudent financial management, open communication and a one-team approach.

Through the continual development of modern techniques and innovative approaches to successful project delivery, the Company provides that exceeds its clients’ expectations.

This approach makes R G Carter an industry-leading contractor with repeat business clients who trust and respect the Group for the values and commitment it brings to their business.

R G Carter always works collaboratively to create success for its clients,

92

staff and suppliers. The Company’s developments, designs and construction are sympathetic to the communities within which it operates and embrace the principles of sustainable construction.

An application was made by Premier Inn for the building in New Dover Road and planning permission was granted in February 2012 after councillors agreed the budget hotel chain would be an asset to the city.

In addition, the new building has two retail units on the ground floor and 24 car parking spaces at the rear.

There had been concerns by both the Canterbury Conservation Advisory Committee and Oaten Hill and District Society about the scale of the five-storey building, the capacity of the sewerage system and potential parking problems.

As a result, the scheme was subsequently modified by architects to include a sloping vertical elevation on the top storey to reduce its impact.

Southern Water said the drainage plans were acceptable and a survey of parking in the area concluded there was enough spare capacity.

A report by planning officers to develop management committee members recommended that councillors approve the application.

They were told that developer contributions would be used to help pay for improved lighting in the St George’s Place underpass.

The building houses a restaurant and a bar, along with the two retail units

and the 120 guest bedrooms.

Designed to create a modern feature building using formal classical balance, sensitive to its historic surroundings whilst through its modern materials asserting its own identity.

The design creates a prominent feature building on the corner of this major road junction. It combines render, rock, slate and powder coated aluminium windows and external doors, and there is car parking behind the building, incorporating a courtyard plaza.

The Architect for the project was BDB Design who worked with R G Carter to provide a high quality Premier Inn on New Dover Road in Canterbury, and work was completed in November 2013.

It is another successful project for the Company, adding to an impressive portfolio of the last two years that has included the construction of a new humanities building, the Alison Richard Building, for the University of Cambridge; and the Hammerton Court dementia unit at Julian Hospital for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Last year saw other prestigious projects undertaken, including a new residential building on the Wellcome Trust’s Genome Campus, the refurbishment and modernisation of County Hall in Norwich, and the refurbishment of the College of West Anglia’s tower block following on from the successful construction of the college’s new technology centre.

LEADERS IN THE REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMEWORK INDUSTRY LONDON / BRIGHTON / CARDIFF / NOTTINGHAM / IRELAND / BRISTOL

Established Since 1977

MIDWEST FORMWORK (UK) LTD 17 Aintree Road, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 7LA Tel: 020 8998 1177 Fax: 020 8998 3977 Email: info@midwestformwork.com www.midwestformwork.com

UKC PROFILE

Charles Church

Unrivalled reputation for design and quality A Typical Persimmon Charles Church Home

A Typical Persimmon Charles Church Home

When Charles and Susanna Church laid the foundations of their first home in 1965, they were doing more than building a desirable residence.

They were turning their vision of the perfect home into a benchmark for quality and a legacy for future generations to appreciate.

In the intervening years, Charles Church has grown to establish itself as one of the country’s foremost housebuilding brands whilst maintaining its unrivalled reputation for the design and quality of the homes it builds.

Over four decades later, their principles remain at the cornerstone of every home built. Charles Church’s philosophy of combining aesthetically pleasing designs with traditional building techniques is as relevant today as it was then, and the Company prides itself on the sympathetic way in which its homes are designed to harmonise with their surroundings.

Wherever possible, many period or regional features are incorporated, including its trademark brick and knapped flint combination, decorative tile hanging and the use of natural stone.

Perhaps best known for its traditional designs, Charles Church has not remained rooted in the past however, and has evolved to ensure that it continues to meet and exceed the demands of a new generation of homeowners.

This has resulted in an impressive array of homes to suit all lifestyles in

94

both rural and city centre locations.

Not only does the scope of its developments now encompass traditional design reflecting the prevailing local architecture, but also embraces contemporary and exciting architectural styles and breathes new life into redundant historic and commercial buildings through their sensitive conversion and restoration.

What remains the same is the Company’s emphasis on exacting standards and attention to detail at every stage of the construction process, enabling it to achieve in its homes to a totally unmistakable quality and sense of style.

The results in this unique combination of principles have been rewarded with numerous prestigious consumer and industry awards over the years.

One of the Company’s recent successful projects saw the development of The Marketplace in Gloucester.

These new one- and two-bedroom apartments in Gloucester are perfectly located for those who enjoy living in a bustling city with an attractive high street and a wide range of independent shops and boutiques.

By night, the city opens up a variety of restaurants and bars, cinema and theatre whilst ‘The Guildhall’ regularly hosts a variety of live music and art exhibitions.

Gloucester is well connected with direct trains to London Paddington and Reading, and excellent road links to the M5

motorway, which is just a short drive away.

These delightful new apartments are suitable for anyone looking for modern, contemporary living including young professionals, couples, families and investors alike.

The popularity and quality of these homes is such that they were all snapped up very quickly.

That isn’t the only project within Gloucestershire that has been so successful of late.

Located in Stroud, the Central Square housing development has 16 different styles to choose from and wonderful local amenities. It truly is a fantastic location, offering a real slice of Cotswolds life with some stunning scenery right on the doorstep.

In addition, Charles Church has developed Orchard Place in Evesham, which offers a thriving local community with a selection of local shops and pubs.

It is a stunning new collection of threeand four-bedroom homes, situated in the beautiful county of Worcestershire, with residents of this exclusive development benefiting from being a stone’s throw away from the town centre.

Complemented by a garden centre, shops, a miniature railway and wildlife centre, there is something to keep all ages and abilities entertained.

Supplying Groundwork, Brickwork and Scaffolding Services to Housing Developers throughout England and Wales “We are proud to be associated with Charles Church and Persimmon Homes on a number of their projects and wish them continued success�

Tel: 01594 824482 Fax: 01594 827042

Email: info@bell-contracting.com Web: www.bell-contracting.com Whimsey Industrial Estate, Steam Mills Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 3JA

Building the future - together Whether you are a Venture Capitalist, Developer, Local Authority, Housing Association or Registered Social Landlord, Bell Partnerships delivers an efficient, end-to-end Design and Build package.

Through collaborative partnerships and integrated thinking we design and contruct superior quality developments at exceptional value for money.

Bell Partnerships is committed to clients who want to build the future together.

Telephone: 01594 824482

E-Mail: info@bellpartnerships.com

Fax: 01594 827042

Web: www.bellpartnerships.com

Whimsey Industrial Estate, Steam Mills Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 3JA

UKC HEALTH

Barnsley Hospital

Providing Clinical Decision Unit and Resuscitation Suite Image by Hufton + Crow Photography

Work at Barnsley Hospital was completed at the end of last year and has resulted in the development of a calming environment that offers vital support for the Emergency Department.

Despite its direct link to the Emergency Department in location and function, it will act as a restful and peaceful place for patients to be under constant observation while also aiding their recovery.

Designed by The Manser Practice Architects and Designers, the refurbishment has provided a new ten-bed Clinical Decision Unit that sits alongside the Emergency Department, providing treatment and overnight care before which patients are either admitted to the hospital or are well enough to be discharged.

The scheme also included refurbishment and an upgrade of the Resuscitation Suite from a three-bed to a five-bed capacity.

Work was required to provide an alternative pathway for low acuity patients while meeting the training requirements of observational medicine.

Barnsley Hospital was built in the 1970s and serves a population of more than a quarter of a million people in the Barnsley area.

Today, it continues to provide a full range of district hospital services to the local community and surrounding area. These include emergency department services, outpatient clinics, inpatient services, and maternity and children’s services.

96

The hospital also provides a number of specialised services, including cancer and surgical services, in conjunction with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

In 2012, the hospital cared for more than 61,000 patients in the hospital, saw 268,000 in clinic appointments and treated 78,000 in the emergency department. It is renowned for its friendly culture and convenient location.

This new development is a welcome boost for the A&E Department at a time of year when it will be under extra pressure.

Local MP Angela Smith visited the department in December to see the work the hospital has been doing to manage this extra pressure.

The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, joined the hospital’s Chairman, Steve Wragg and Chief Executive, Diane Wake on a tour of the department, which was led

by A&E Consultant Dr Julian Humphrey.

Dr Humphrey explained that the numbers of patients visiting the hospital’s A&E has grown from around 50,000 per year ten years ago to over 80,000 now, which is a great pressure on the department’s staff.

Dr Humphrey also demonstrated one of the department’s new automated dispensing cabinets, which allow staff to type in the medication they need before the machine flashes to tell them exactly where it is, helping to speed up access to medication, reduce prescribing errors and efficiently monitoring medication use.

Angela said: “It was pleasing to see at first hand how our local NHS is dealing with the pressures it is facing as we approach the winter months, this is especially the case for the Emergency Department.

“I was pleased to see that Barnsley Hospital has been planning for some time for the winter, it is reassuring to know the hospital is ready as it could be for a bad cold winter.”

Located adjacent to the A&E entrance, the new development has upgraded windows and cladding, and all work was carried out in phases to minimise disruption.

The area of works was originally an old theatre and therefore staff offices had been unused for some time. The most important thing was to maintain the resuscitation suite so the Clinical Decision Unit was completed in Phase I and then used as a temporary resuscitation unit, while the actual one was upgraded in Phase II. Key to the calming environment was the integration of artwork. Undertaken by Art In Site, the idea of light and shade among trees, plants and flowers was used to give the feeling of safety while also utilising large images on walls that patients can orientate themselves with.

Built by Styles & Wood Ltd, work started in January 2013 and was completed in December 2013, with some refurbishment also undertaken on the physiotherapy department and staff offices.

UKC PROFILE

Prosolia Energia

Clean, efficient energy solutions Prosolia’s mission as a Company is to offer energy users, from the small consumers to the largest industries, an answer for their needs based on the utilisation of renewable energy sources instead of pollutant sources. The transition to an energy model that is respectful of our environment is possible. A more efficient use of energy, the incorporation of clean energy alternatives and the best design of energy installations, most suitable for the conditions; these are the requirements that Prosolia fulfils in its installations, with the aim of contributing to make our world a sustainable place.

Prosolia analyses each of its customers’ projects, residential or business, to guarantee the precision of the installation of generators and the best combination (generator mix); obtaining from each installation the most efficient solution for future energy needs.

The organisational structure of Prosolia is based on the necessity for offering

the best energy solution to the customer’s demands; for this reason the Company is focused on two lines of operation: innovation and service.

These areas involve the research and development works for the use of technological improvements directed to the efficiency and sustainability in terms of energy matters. At the same time, the service is directed to offer a specific solution to the circumstances and requirements.

The experience and knowledge of Prosolia is given to each of its energy systems, analysing weather conditions, land, infrastructure and installations to offer the best project according to its energy requirements. The efficient search for renewable energy sources has determined a high level of innovation in its human teams that, with its great technical capacity, enables it to face any installation with the guarantee of offering an efficient result and the peace

of mind of having a constant supply of energy. The direct knowledge of different operators in the supply chain means a degree of advantage that allows the development of personalised projects for Client’s needs and to offer solutions of profitability in the cost/output ratio.

Prosolia’s experience has led to the successful development of a project at Rookery Farm, Stow Longa. The fivemegawatt photovoltaic farm features 23,000 panels on 16 hectares of farmland and is connected to the local 33kv grid through a new substation. The south facing panels, in 578 arrays each containing up to 40 modules, are set out in long rows running east-west across the site rising to two metres. Prosolia says of the development: “The site will function with minimal intervention and maintenance requirements are expected to consist of monthly cleaning and checking of the panels and cutting of the grass between the arrays.”

Successfully Developing British Solar Farms Generating electricity from the sun is clean, quiet and sustainable, and provides power when it is needed the most – during the day.

We develop our projects in a way that is sensitive to the needs of landowners and the interests of local communities. By doing so we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while having the lowest possible impact on the environment.

Wessex Solar Energy Barmoor Farm House, Hepscott, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 6LB Tel: 01670 512040 Fax: 01670 503107

www.wessexsolarenergy.co.uk 98

We are pleased to supply internet connectivity to Prosilia throughout their installations and ongoing remote monitoring

PROFILE UKC

GPS Marine

Key developers of the Connaught Passage project GPS Marine management and operational staff are committed to delivering technically proficient, professionally conceived and executed projects, services and products that conform to the highest industry standards operationally and environmentally, whilst also complying with the highest standards in terms of health and safety of all individuals affected by the operations that GPS Marine undertakes or is involved with.

The Company’s senior management insists that throughout the business, the requirements of clients are placed at the heart of everything

that the business does. GPS Marine management and staff seeks at all times to be flexible, proactive and responsive to the wishes and needs of clients.

Operating in the UK, Ireland and north west Europe, the Company has great experience in marine civil engineering and construction, marine heavy lift with floating sheerlegs, dredging, marine and offshore demolition, salvage and wreck removal, transport of goods by barge, and international, coastal and harbour towage.

The civil engineering and construction division operates throughout Europe and the UK, undertaking tasks such as piling,

jetty construction and jetty repair.

It operates a fleet of floating cranes, crane barges, pontoons, flat top barges and specialist piling equipment. It is surrounded by floating sheerlegs, tugs, cargo barges and dredging equipment provided by other divisions of GPS Marine.

The division has an experienced and dedicated management team and operational workforce comprising specialist engineers, surveyors and on site foremen as well as the contract and commercial experts to support them.

The salvage and heavy lift division of continued page 102 >

99

Connaught Tunnel cofferdams once fully de-watered

Connaught Tunnel Cofferdams CMP partnered with GPS Marine in 2012/13 providing the perfect blend of marine construction expertise to install two large temporary sheet pile double skin marine cofferdams, for the Connaught Tunnel works, forming part of the London Crossrail project. The cofferdams spanned across the existing dock passage between the Victoria and Albert Docks near London’s Excel Centre. The work was carried out for Vinci Construction UK to allow the dock passage to be de-watered and permit access for the construction of the tunnels for the new train route.

The project began in November 2012 with removal of underwater obstructions with

specialist dredging and breaking equipment. Long reach excavators worked from barges to break the concrete where the temporary pile line was required. Piling rigs were then loaded onto the barges to allow sheet piles to be installed. This part of the project required careful planning and execution to enable the piling rigs to work under the flight path of the nearby London City Airport.

Piling operations were carried out during airport closures at night when the piling rigs were permitted to raise the mast of the rig into the air to pitch and vibrate the piles into the ground. The piles were vibrated until they stopped in the London Clay, then were back driven during the

daytime using a crane suspended hydraulic hammer. Special methods were developed by CMP/GPS team to allow the back-driving to continue during the day, by using short telescopic crane jibs that were safely under the flight path.

Following completion of the piling, the project required an intensive programme of underwater diving with over 800 diving hours used to install the cofferdam waling, ties, underwater packing and huge props to span between the dock walls. Finally, before de-watering could commence, both cofferdams had to be filled to top of dock wall level with 14,000 tonnes of granular fill material.

Upon completion by Vinci of the tunnel works required within the dock passage area, the previously installed temporary works were then required to be removed completely within a demanding 6 week working window.

The project was successfully completed during a demanding part of the Crossrail Construction phase, and the programme was met to allow the dock passage to be re-opened in time for an important project milestone to be achieved. This project is a great example of combined marine expertise applied in the demanding London civil engineering market.

Connaught Tunnel Cofferdams , photo showing 0.7m diameter wall props installed underwater, photo taken during de-watering

CMP constructing cofferdams and bored in place piles – Poole Bridge, Hants

Marine Construction & Marine Civil Engineering Working in the field of marine construction and civil engineering for over 20 years, Commercial Marine & Piling have the capability to undertake maritime construction projects in the most hostile of environments. The volatility and unpredictability of conditions caused by storm, waves, currents and tides provide additional challenges to those faced by civil engineers working onshore.

With a highly experienced team, CMP provides an expert service for marine construction

services ranging from Principal Contracting to specialist sub-contract works. We operate with a high regard to Health and Safety, with all our workforce and management trained to high safety standards. In the offshore construction environment, we constantly have to assess risk and ensure we are well placed to manage these risks.

As part of our service we offer clients an Early Contractor Involvement service where risk mitigation and innovation from CMP can

Mooring piles and pontoons supplied and installed by CMP

provide significant project savings. Working in and around water, we are very conscious of our environmental responsibilities. Our sites are often located in Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and we pride ourselves in safeguarding our activities from polluting the environment.

Our works vary through a wide range of marine civil engineering disciplines, from subsea pipeline installation and marine piling, to river and coastal flood protection.

CMP installing an Archimedes screw – Windsor Royal Palace

Photo of the CMP Jack-up barge installing 1m diameter piles – Barrow in Furness

Commercial Marine & Piling Ltd Unit 3, Stag Business Park, 164-166 Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3AS

tel: 01425 489600

fax: 01425 489606

email: info@cmp.uk.com

www.cmp.uk.com

the Company operates two identical 400 tonne lifting capacity, selfpropelled floating sheerlegs.

This division of GPS Marine is the only exponent of heavy lift with floating sheerlegs based in the UK. The use of floating sheerlegs in mainland Europe is commonplace in shipbuilding and repair, civil engineering and a host of other port related activities.

GPS Marine brings this opportunity to readily utilise floating sheerlegs to the UK market.

One of the Company’s most prestigious projects was the Connaught Passage development.

In late 2012, GPS Marine contracted with Vinci Construction to construct two cofferdams across the Connaught Passage that connects the Royal Albert and Royal Victoria Docks in East London.

It was associated with part of the Crossrail project, and specifically it related to the section of the project linking Custom House and Abbey Wood.

The double skin cofferdams were constructed across the Eastern and Western ends of the Connaught Passage in order to allow the area between the cofferdams to be dewatered and so afford access through the dock bottom to the 134-year-old Connaught Tunnel, which was last used by the North London Line in 2006.

102

Following dewatering of the area between the cofferdams, the tunnel was accessed in the dry and enlarged (by others with support from GPS Marine) to facilitate the use of the new Crossrail stock, which is to be larger than North London Line stock, through the old North London Line Tunnel.

As principle subcontractor, GPS Marine engaged closely with commercial marine and piling to deliver this technically challenging project that was subject to some significant operational constraints and which was, also, highly time sensitive.

The piling operations were constrained by limitations on crane use and jib heights dictated by the nearby London City Airport, the operations of which were not permitted to be affected in any respect by the works.

The piles used in the project were 17 metres in length and both pitching and driving them with a 70 tonne AB1 rig had to be completed with a restriction during airport operating hours that prevented any item of construction plant penetrating the airport’s air envelope.

This air envelope was only 24 metres above the dock surface and this posed operational challenges that meant there was no alternative to 24 hour working during much of the project.

As expected, 24 hour working brought with it further challenges principally associated with noise and vibration levels.

Prior to even driving the piles, some

significant reinforced concrete obstructions were discovered on the pile lines. These were so significant that they had to be broken out with a hydraulic breaker mounted on a 42 tonne long reach excavator with a maximum outreach of 22 metres.

As a result of the restricted number of bridge lifts facilitated by the Connaught Road Bridge and the fact that the Royal Victoria Dock was to be made inaccessible from the Thames by the works, almost all work associated with the western cofferdam was carried out from sectional pontoons built from Ravestein units within the dock prior to the works commencing.

The eastern cofferdam, however, could be built using more conventional crane barges and floating plant.

Sheet piles were driven to design levels.

However, variations in the walls of the Connaught Passage as built compared with previously available information, meant that bespoke sealing joints had to be designed and installed.

These seals were installed with assistance from divers utilising profiled steel sections and grout bags. Special closing piles were then fabricated and installed to ensure a tight fit for each sheet pile wall across the passage.

Upon completion of the piling work, the steel beam walings and tie roads were fitted with the lower waling beams

being installed and drilled underwater.

Because only relatively small cranes could be used along each side of the passage, a complex support structure for the Connaught Passage walls within the area to be dewatered was fabricated off site and installed prior to the dewatering operation commencing.

Cofferdam filling was achieved by importing granular fill material from local quarries by truck and stockpiling it on the north and south sides of the new cofferdams.

The fill material was then transported by dumpers to each end of the cofferdam, where because of the physical constraints, material to the west cofferdam was placed by conveyor and backhoes, whilst on the east cofferdam the material could be placed directly from the dumpers.

Upon completion of the work to enlarge the old Connaught Tunnel, it was time to commence the removal of both cofferdams so that the Victoria and Albert Docks could once more be linked and the Victoria Dock could again be accessed from the Thames.

This was a programme milestone and was a contractual requirement to allow frigates to moor up at the Victoria Dock’s Excel Centre in time to take part in the prestigious Defence Show held there very two years.

This required the full width of the passage and the dock bed below to be returned to a condition where it once more afforded the minimum impounded draught through the cutting.

Therefore, the removal of these temporary works remained a time critical operation, but one that was still subject to all the constraints that applied to the installation phase.

Phase I of the removal operation was to remove the fill material from within the cofferdams down to the top tie bar level. This was undertaken using long reach excavators mounted both on floating plant and on the shore at each end of the cofferdam.

Both barges and lorries were used to remove materials in the early stages although subsequently, once the sheet piles had been extracted, this became a marine only operation.

Once the fill had been removed down to the tie bars, these could be released by the use of divers with underwater cutting equipment, and the external waling beams could also be lifted out.

With these removed, the excavators could then remove fill right down to dock bed level so as to release as much pressure on the piles as possible before the extraction of the sheet piles commenced.

In an effort to accelerate the works, when all the tie bars and walings had been removed, an early attempt was made to extract the piles but this was unsuccessful and further fill was required to be removed before piles could be pulled.

The piles were eventually pulled singly

up to approximately six metres when its neighbour pile was also pulled singly to the same height before both piles were then fully extracted as a pair.

On the south side of the western cofferdam was a 25 tonne triangular support frame fitted with steel shear keys.

This frame was attached to the crane on the barge GPS Boxer and, following a divers survey, the shear keys were cut by divers and the support frame was lifted clear.

Although all other piles could be pulled, the southern seal piles could not be pulled due to attempts to do so causing unacceptable readings from the tunnel’s sensors. They had to be cut off underwater before final bed level.

When the pile extraction had been completed, it only remained to remove any spilled fill that was present above the level permitted to allow over eight metres depth of water through the cutting at minimum impounded dock level.

To achieve this, both backhoe dredging and ploughing methods were employed and this final phase was completed in time to meet the critical handover date.

103

UKC HOUSING

Granville Road

New social housing

A scheme to provide 30 new dwellings on Granville Road in Reading is more than half way to completion.

Designed using best practice principles, the development will provide six threebedroom houses, five one-bedroom flats and 19 two-bedroom flats with associated car parking and landscaping.

The largest element of the development is the northern wing of the flat block, which will be two-and-a-half-storeys high, while the southern wing will be two-storeys in order to reduce the impact of overlooking to the houses bounding the southern boundary of the site.

It has been designed to provide good natural surveillance by use of a strong visual connection to all areas of the site.

All parking benefits from a good level of overlooking from more than one unit and no parking will be positioned to the rear of the units.

Storage for waste and recycling and the 100% social rented scheme has been designed in accordance with the requirements of the local authority.

The apartments will have bin storage to the west of the block in a separate structure and double doors to the bin store will have kick locks so that they can be held open to allow easy access.

All homes have space for storage of household bins, all dwellings will have either access directly to their garden from the front of the house or a rear gate providing access to the garden.

Vehicle access will be directly from Granville Road with an entrance at the centre of the site replacing two existing entrances from Granville Road.

The road into the site will serve primarily as access to the parking spaces serving the development.

It will be a great place to live and is easily accessible, providing good

104

opportunities for travel by alternative of the development in order to reduce means to the private car. energy loss, and materials have been The site is within easy access of public responsibly sourced by the Main transport services and also encourages Contractor, Feltham Construction. the use of bicycles and cycle parking will Established in Newbury in 1972, be maximised to policy requirements.

Feltham Construction was founded A path with central feature will link on the key principle of providing firstthe access to the space from the class customer service. It has since north with the access to the south, built itself an impressive reputation and the path will be made up of gravel for delivering high-quality projects with easily maintainable edging. across the southern counties.

Areas to the centre of the development Throughout the years, this privately-owned will be more of a formal nature, construction company has drawn on the consisting mainly of hard landscaped expert knowledge and experience of its elements broken by incidental tree staff to grow and expand into new industry planting at regular intervals. sectors including commercial, education, Beds for planting shrubs and flowers social housing, leisure, healthcare and retail. will break up the hard nature of the This social housing expertise is central area and divide the parking invaluable at Granville Road, which spaces from the pedestrian access to will incorporate slate effect tiles, grey the flatted block and the houses. painted windows, grey painted timber Along the front of the site, a formal doors, stainless steel railings, and a hedge will run the length of the site brick slip construction of chimneys to and will separate the visitor parking match the brickwork with the steel. from the front of the flat block.

Work on the project will be Behind this hedge, in order to further completed in July 2014. separate the block, a bed for shrubs and flowers will be planted.

The scheme at Graville Road has been designed to incorporate as many sustainable features as We pride ourselves on our high standards. Our aim is provide installations possible. that are both visually inspiring and also functional. We feel our project This will include portfolio is a real testament to planning, experience and engineer’s skill. the use of photovoltaic panels, implementation Anders Heating Company Ltd of high efficiency Watcombe Manor, Ingham Lane, Watlington OX49 5EB boilers, Phone: 01491 614694 Fax: 01491 614489 info@andersheating.co.uk www.andersheating.co.uk upgrading of the external fabric

Company Overview

Swindon Engineering Metalworkers Ltd. are a privately owned company that has been trading for over 25 years from its own premises in Swindon.

Skills

We have a multi-skilled workforce that specializes in all aspects of metal working, including sheet metal fabrication, structural engineering, MIG, PULSE MIG, and TIG welding.

Capabilities

Working to your specifications or concepts we provide engineered solutions for the following: • Sheet metalwork components • General fabrication work • Structural Steelwork • Pipe work • Mezzanine floors • Staircases - Handrails - Balustrades - Railings - Gates • Fire escapes • Safety barriers-Height restriction barriers • Platforms - Bollards • Process equipment • Site repairs and Modifications Engineering Partners

We have forged long term relationships with our suppliers for the following : • Galvanising - Zinc Plating - Electro Polishing • Laser Profiling - Water jet cutting - Plasma Cutting • Electro Powder Coating – Wet Paints Stoving Enamels • Machining -Turning - Grinding Swindon Engineering Metalworkers Limited Unit 10 Bramble Close, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 8DN

Tel: 01793 641808 email: sales@swindoneng.com Web: www.swindoneng.com

New facility in Basingstoke A new Sainsbury’s distribution centre is being built in three phases to allow the company to continue operating from the site.

The large, multi-million pound distribution centre is under construction in Basingstoke, Hampshire. Located on a 36-acre site near the town centre, the warehouse complex will include over 51,000sq m of chilled and ambient storage as well as 4,000sq m of office space.

Because the steel portal framed structure is being built in phases, Sainsbury’s can supply to its stores from an existing smaller depot during construction.

In order to expand operations, Sainsbury’s bought the land adjacent to its depot and cleared the site in early 2012 which paved the way for the entire site to be redeveloped.

Phase I started in March 2012 and as well as demolition, a cut and fill operation was required in order to remove some 50,000cu m of overburden.

The overall distribution centre is 392 metres long by 132 metres wide, incorporating four internal spans of 33m each. Perimeter columns are spaced at eight metre centres with 15m clear height at the eaves.

Phase I houses the complex’s chilled goods section, Phase II will comprise the produce section and Phase III will accommodate an ambient section along

with an attached three-storey office block.

Steelwork contractor, Atlas Ward Structures, has completed the erection of Phase I, which required 750 tonnes of steel. This section of the building will eventually house a large chiller unit and for future maintenance of the equipment, a walkway gantry has been installed at roof level.

Installed along with the main frame steelwork, the gantry walkway consists of two support beams which are cantilevered off a central line of valley columns. The beams have handrails attached and also support metal mesh flooring.

An attached energy centre and a goods delivery unit have also been erected as part of Phase I. The energy centre is

slightly smaller than the main building.

One of the main challenges for the project team is a live substation located within the footprint of Phase I. This has meant that there is an off limits corridor within the construction area until the station is decommissioned.

Sainsbury’s moved its chilled goods section into the completed Phase I in June 2013, which allowed the Main Contractor, Bowmer & Kirkland, to demolish part of the existing depot to make room for the erection of Phase II. Atlas Ward erected the 500 tonnes of steelwork needed for Phase II at the end of the year, and the final phase is due to be completed in May 2015.

COMMERCIAL UKC

Sainsbury’s Distribution Centre

105

UKC RETAIL

Nando’s It has been 20 years since the first Nando’s restaurant opened in the UK, and although it wasn’t an initial success, the food store has grown and grown on these shores.

Founded in South Africa in 1987, the first restaurant in the UK opened in 1992 in Ealing but it was more of a take-away and didn’t really work. However, just three years later, a restaurant in Camden opened.

This model worked so much better and in 1996, a restaurant opened in Putney. In 1999, the first restaurant to be designed by Harrison Design opened.

That one in Kilburn was significant because Harrison Design has gone on to design more than 60% of Nando’s restaurants in the UK and Ireland.

The expansion continued a year later with Manchester, Birmingham and Milton Keynes getting a taste of Nando’s and the first restaurant in Scotland opened in 2006.

The Republic of Ireland followed suit with its Dundrum restaurant opening in 2008 and expansion has continued ever since.

Nando’s has done everything from creating an oasis of calm in a hectic shopping mall to transforming a crumbling railway bridge arch into a stunningly atmospheric restaurant.

The Company’s Afro Portuguese heritage is very important, and whether it’s just a hint in the decoration or

106

artwork on display, people can find roots in every Nando’s restaurant.

Not only are top restaurant designers commissioned, Nando’s also supports the contemporary South African art scene. Pieces from the collection are displayed in all restaurants.

A strong design ethos is apparent across all of the restaurants. Any restaurant will feel like a Nando’s but still have something that little bit different.

Nando’s opened up a new restaurant in Falkirk in November at the Central Retail Park.

It includes an outdoor seating area, and is one of five new sites that are opening across Scotland.

The Company will be opening new branches at Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, Braehead Shopping Centre, the OMNi Centre in Edinburgh and the Palace Towers Retail Park in Hamilton as well as the Falkirk restaurant.

The Palace Towers restaurant opened to the public in October, in which Nando’s has taken on a 20-year lease with rent of £95,000 a year, while another had launched in St Andrews back in March.

Having opened in November the lease of the Falkirk restaurant is for 15 years at £53,000 per annum.

The other openings at Braehead, Glasgow and Edinburgh are scheduled for this

month, January and February respectively.

They will also be on leases of £113,500, £63,500 and £120,000.

Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) handled all the acquisitions on behalf of Nando’s.

Isla Monteith, an associate at C&W, said: “Nando’s is continuing its rapid expansion to meet demand from Scottish customers who can’t seem to get enough of its fantastic combination of great tasting food, world-famous spicy sauce and laid-back, family-friendly, dining experience.”

Ms Monteith added that the firm is also looking at a number of other sites in Scotland, giving hope that a wide array of hospitality jobs will be created across the region over the next year or so.

The Company’s flagship restaurant at Junction 27 Leeds was opened four years ago and is still going strong.

This free standing purpose-built restaurant set out to be carbon neutral from the outset, as well as full of low carbon innovative designs.

Caswells was part of a diverse design team, from the initial stages of the project, while also working with other designers – each specialists in t heir fields.

Caswells’ scope of works included the complete HVAC systems. High efficiency heat recover unit was continued page 108 >

Clay Plaster is a high-performance wall finish with breathtaking beauty and extraordinary eco and healthy-building credentials. It is set to revolutionise the world of interior wall finishes, replacing gypsums and paints and exceeding all foreseeable environmental building regulations.

Clay plasters are one of the oldest and most natural building products in the world. Until two years ago Clayworks, one of the world’s leading authorities in clay, took the clay: It was dug up, soaked, sieved and mixed to create a clay plaster.

Made from unfired clays and sands, clay plasters are breathable (with excellent vapour permeability) and hygroscopic. Unfired clay can absorb and desorb indoor humidity faster than any other building material and will regulate relative interior humidity between 40 per cent and 70 per cent, the level at which the likelihood of airborne infectious bacteria and viruses surviving is the lowest. It also prevents building materials from emitting toxins such as formaldehyde, and helps prevent the occurrence of mould. There is also evidence of how clay plaster can treat pollutants and neutralise indoor odours – all pretty useful in restaurants.

COPY COURTESY OF THE FX AWARDS BROCHURE.

We are offering our clients a product and service, clay works clay plasters (products) and bespoke design solution with patterns, textures and colours.

Clayworks x Nandos

Unique sculptural wall finishes in a variety of colours and textures, installation was carried out by Guy Valentine (GLV Enterprises).

All the above projects are at Nandos

Tel: 01326 341339 Email: info@clay-works.com

www.clay-works.com

used to provide tempered air to the toilets and back up areas, utilising the waste heat form the exhaust air.

The Nando’s in Leeds became the first UK restaurant to use its own waste cooking oil to power the restaurant.

Convert2Green re-process the waste oil to bio-fuel, which drives a micro generator at the restaurant, fulfilling all of its power needs. Nando’s export any surplus electricity to the national grid, allowing them to become a supplier of renewable energy.

Convert2Green collects the waste cooking oil from all Nando’s restaurants nationwide and processes it in to a range of quality bio-fuels.

This virtuous cycle of utilising their waste cooking oil for green power has contributed to Nando’s achieving a highly coveted ‘A’ grade in its energy performance certificate, a close to zero carbon emission status and the ability to fix its energy bills for up to five years.

All of Nando’s food deliveries are made by food wholesaler/distributor 3663, which also runs its vehicle delivery fleet on a bio-fuels mix produced by Convert2Green.

Combined with the fact that Convert2Green run an entirely sustainable production and distribution operation, Nando’s have been able to achieve a 90% reduction in carbon emissions compared with the use of mineral fuels.

Working with Convert2Green has enabled Nando’s to reduce its waste disposal costs, fix energy costs for the life of the project and deliver a 90% reduction in carbon emissions.

Convert2Green has also managed to substantially increase the volume of waste cooking oil collected from the Nando’s estate, due to the efficiency and quality of its collection service.

Another of Harrison’s designs, and one of the largest, is Nando’s Westfield Stratford City, which accommodates up to 260 diners in Europe’s largest urban shopping centre.

Everybody involved in producing the restaurant was anxious to see fresh, innovative and dynamic ideas that would complement the scale and grandeur

of the Stratford development, while still embodying the Nando’s brief of feeling African and Portuguese, natural, warm, fun and creative.

Every Nando’s location is unique, which affords a good degree of creativity to the architects and designers and avoids the formulaic interiors often seen in chain restaurants.

Stand-out features in this restaurant include a hand-woven hickory ceiling supported by carved timber columns, vibrant artwork, bespoke wall tiles, a copper bar, cast concrete seating booths and mosaic flooring.

Most of the artwork in the restaurant was produced by African artists at the Spier Arts Academy in Cape Town, South Africa – working in collaboration with Harrison.

This includes the 800 ceramic ‘pages’ tiles, which are installed at the entrance, each of which was individual and handmade. Tile supplier Parkside Tiles made cream tiles in a bespoke size to fit between the pages tiles, and maintain visual consistency, as the full wall had to be covered.

The artwork above the kitchen area mostly comprised canvas pieces using paints and mixed media along with some mosaics and beaded artwork.

Grey glazed wall tiles, used at the front of the kitchen and on the back wall, were made by Solus Ceramics to a size specified by the design team. They were rough glazed to reflect light well and were installed in a vertical brick-bond format consistent with the artwork above them.

The luxuriously patterned black and gold mosaic tiled floor, featuring products supplied by Parkside Tiles, led to Harrison being nominated for the Tile Association Awards 2012 for the best use of tiles in a hospitality project.

Parkside Tiles was approached by Nando’s to supply tiles for the Westfield Retail Park restaurant at Stratford.

The result was a stunning, eyepopping array of colour, shape and texture that truly showcases the tiles through a design that challenges the breadth and depth of use of the humble ceramic, its design and application.

A copper bar was designed by Harrison and this sweeping seven-metre long server has an organic, rolling, golden oak counter top and a snaking frontage clad in glistening polished copper ‘armadillo’ bands.

At the rear of the restaurant, timber shingles were used to clad a large area of wall. They are generally used for external cladding applications, so Harrison asked the contractor apply an aging fluid to weather them artificially to give them a reclaimed feel.

The shingles introduce additional rustic texture into the scheme. The design tiles to the entrance area, the commissioned artwork above the servery area and the timber shingles are all bespoke, and there is a visual consistency flowing through the curved wall, from the entrance to the very rear of the restaurant.

Wide engineered board, burnt oak flooring was supplied in a time-worn effect. It provides natural warmth and harmonises with other rustic elements of the interior while contrasting with the raw concrete circular booths and the soft red leather upholstery.

The large, heavily textured hazel ceiling coffer was formed with ten-metre long panels that were traditionally woven in a Suffolk field using split hazel branches by master hurdle maker David Downie.

They were transported to site by articulated lorry before being very carefully lifted and knitted into place overhead.

Four huge circular columns punctuate the hazel weave with spiralling swirls of colour.

Two of the columns have been created by the artistic arrangement of hundreds of individual recycled bottle tops and the final two are made up of thousands of tightly coiled paper rolls from unwanted magazine publications bonded onto the column face.

Another trusted supplier to Nando’s is Clayworks, its clay plasters have been used in over 75% of Nando’s new build and refurbishments. This excellent product/service is able to create unique internal wall finishes out of their unique clay plaster recipes. www.nandos.co.uk

MANZANA

CONTRACTS

SPECIALISTS IN JOINERY AND METALWORK T: 01484 649 029 01484 646 252 E: gill@manzanacontracts.co.uk www.manzanacontracts.co.uk

Essential Aluminium Ltd Unit 12, Dewley Court, Westway Industrial Park, Throckley NE15 9AW

ISO9001:2008 127

Colneside Business Park, Pollard Street South, Off George Street, Milnsbridge, Huddersfield HD3 4JD

108

Shop Fronts ● Entrances ● Curtain Walling ● Patent Glazing Repairs & Replacement ● Maintenance

M: 07836 326671 T: 0191 267 2839 F: 0191 267 0931

RETAIL UKC

Morrisons

Delivering on its expansion promise Morrisons is continuing to expand across the whole of England, Scotland and Wales with a particular emphasis on London and the south of England where the Company is currently under represented, with an exciting range of new formats and a market leading retail proposition.

It is the UK’s fourth largest supermarket with more than 500 stores and ambitious expansion plans, targeting over two million square feet of new sales space over the next three years.

Every week nine million customers pass through the doors at Morrisons and 132,000 colleagues across the business work hard each day to deliver great service to them. With competitive prices and hundreds of special offers, the Company is proud to save its customers money every day.

When the future outlook is considered and achievable goals are laid out, much attention is focused on those areas of greatest significance to the business. With that in mind any potential sustainability issues are assessed relating to these areas and a direct link is made between the sustainability challenges and the business strategy.

This is the year in which Morrisons is becoming fit for the future. The building blocks are in place so the best can be brought to customers across all channels and formats.

Two Morrisons M locals are being opened

every week and by the end of the year there will be more than 100 convenience stores across the country. The expansion will continue, taking what Morrisons offer to many more communities.

The Company has been ably supported

by NVELOPE, the rainscreen cladding specialist, which has supplied a support system to a new Morrisons store in Abbeydale, Gloucester.

This new 70,000sq ft store features NVELOPE’s NV3 mechanical concealed fix support system to support the external cladding. Gloucester County Roofing Ltd supplied the supermarket with the NVELOPE support system that consists of brackets, L profiles and a horizontal rail and cleat.

Gloucester City Council hopes that the 140,000sq ft of empty space surrounding the new supermarket development will attract other businesses, such as high tech manufacturers and engineering companies.

In addition the site is possibly being subject to a bid by the new Local Enterprise Partnership to become an Enterprise Zone.

In this fast track construction project, which was completed in five weeks, 750sq m of the Morrisons store was fitted with high pressure laminate boards. The NV3 versatile cladding system brackets were ideal for fixing the cladding to the supermarket as they allow the cladding to absorb the dead loads and the wind loads, which allows for adequate expansion and contraction.

Mark Dodd, Managing Director of Gloucester County Roofing Ltd, said: “We chose to use NVELOPE’s NV3 system as not only is it cost effective and suited the project perfectly but the support system is extremely easy to install.

“The NV3 system was such an easy to use support system and the finished project is liked by all.”

The vertical cladding application was secured using hangars which effectively provides a concealed fixing giving the Morrisons store an aesthetically pleasing finish. The NVELOPE materials used were manufactured from extruded aluminium alloys conforming to BS EN 573-3 and production BS EN 755.

Morrisons will open a new distribution centre in Bury, Lancashire, later this year to deliver to its fast expanding convenience store network.

The lease of the site, which has the potential to service over 100 Morrisons M local stores in the North of England, is another significant step in ensuring the retailer has the capacity toe deliver on its stated plans for growth in the convenience sector.

It is the retailer’s second convenience distribution hub, following on from the opening of its site in Feltham, West London, in March and will sup port the opening of the 62 sites acquired from Blockbuster, HMV and Jessops earlier this year.

109

UKC COMMENT

A presumption in favour of sustainable development

Colin Morrison, Turley Associates The Scottish Government has published a new consultation document introducing a Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development. Is it structured in such a way as to create more sustainable places?

On 28 October 2013 the Scottish Government published a new consultation document introducing a Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development. The consultation ended in December, with its findings expected to be announced in June 2014.

As a national practice, Turley Associates has supported many applications in England utilising the Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development within the National Planning Policy Framework. Where plans are out of date, the presumption can be a powerful tool to promote good development.

Interestingly, while the Scottish Government appears to be aiming for a similar policy goal, the method to secure a consent would appear to be different.

The proposed policy is intended to replace the previous Draft SPP principal policies on ‘sustainable economic growth’ and ‘sustainable development’ with a principal policy on ‘sustainability and planning’ and introducing a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

It would appear that this new policy is giving greater weight to the environmental and social aspects of sustainable development, although the need to secure economic growth is still of paramount importance.

The policy introduces a number of principles which decisions on applications should be guided by. In summary these are: ••Due weight to economic benefit of the proposal ••A response to the economic context ••To make efficient use of existing resources ••To support delivery of housing and business ••The integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures

110

••Protect and enhance cultural and natural heritage ••Sustainable waste management ••Promote sustainable land use ••Avoid over-development ••Improve health and well-being In England the Presumption is tested against the policies of the NPPF as a whole; for example, if you can demonstrate you comply with the policies then it is regarded as sustainable development.

Here, the Scottish Government has gone so far as to list key principles within the policy which they believe, collectively represent sustainable development in the built environment.

The Scottish presumption is rebuttable and therefore any application that seeks the presumption must be supported by ‘good quality and timely supporting information which describes the economic, environmental and social implications of the proposal’ which should be proportionate to the scale of the application.

At a recent conference in Glasgow this presumption was discussed at length and a number of interesting questions were raised on the nature of reporting necessary to form the evidence base to support a presumption application. The debate was wide-ranging and informative, but our views are based upon our experience of applying the presumption elsewhere and also on our knowledge and experience of creating sustainable places in Scotland.

In practical terms, and in proportion to the application, the proposed development must demonstrate where it has taken all reasonable measures to promote the principles of the policy and ideally at all stages of development. It must demonstrate where negative impacts have been mitigated and of course where the proposals make a positive contribution to the key principles.

Such an approach is not an alien concept, in fact one could argue that this has been the cornerstone of ‘good development’ for many years. Good planning, design, stakeholder engagement and technical

input are key aspects of creating sustainable development and already form an integral part of most design teams. Capturing this process and clearly demonstrating how it meets the policy is a process we have used many times before.

If adopted, this policy will form a key part of future plan making and decision taking.

For those applications that can clearly and succinctly demonstrate they secure an overall positive benefit when tested against the 12 principles, there is potentially a lot to gain!

Colin Morrison is Director of Sustainability at planning consultancy Turley Associates. He can be reached by email: cmorrison@turleyassociates.co.uk.

Visit www.turleyassociates.co.uk for further information.

Colin Morrison

Oil Fired Site Heaters from

IMA Series

IMA Series • • • • • • • •

High efficiency heat exchanger.

Radial fans for powerful heat distribution.

Protection bars all around.

Lifting hooks & fork truck slots.

Tigerloop standard.

Burner with rain cover and lower tray for oil containment during servicing.

Available with 1 and 3 phase radial fans.

Outputs of 65Kw, 110Kw, 150Kw & 185Kw.

Also available: Direct Fired Propane Gas and Oil Fired Portable & Mobile Heaters, Infra-Red Radiant Oil Fired Heaters , Electric Heaters and Dehumidifiers.

IMAC Series • • • • • •

IMAC Series

High efficiency heat exchangers.

Stainlees steel frame on box girders with fork truck slots & lifting hooks.

Lockable door panels for control box and burner area with feed through glands for cable and fuel hoses.

Return air flanges are optional.

IMAC 2000E model with 185 Kw heat output.

IMAC 4000E model has a 2 stage burner & 2 speed fan with heat outputs of 261Kw or 383Kw and heated air outputs up to 24,000 cubic metres per hour.

Thermobile UK Limited 11 & 12 Buckingham Close, Bermuda Industrial Estate, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 7JT Tel: 02476 357960 Fax: 02476 357969 E-mail: sales@thermobile.co.uk www.thermobile.co..uk