Local Authority Building & Maintenance November 19

LABMONLINE.CO.UK

NOVEMBER 2019

LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

HOUSING & REGENERATION VENTILATION & AIR MANAGEMENT DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE

PROJECT PROFILE As part of the Building a Better Nottingham programme, Winchester and Woodthorpe Courts tower blocks in Sherwood have been completely transformed. LABM revisits the project.

THE LEADING MAGAZINE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY AND HOUSING ASSOCIATION SPECIFIERS, INCORPORATING

CONTENTS

November 2019 Vol.35 No.9

REGULARS 5 COMMENT Safety Focus 6 NEWS Multi-million pound construction partnership agreed — HOMES 2019 10 INDUSTRY COMMENT Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) PROJECT PROFILE 13 Reaching new Heights LABM reports on the refurbishment of two tower blocks in Nottingham where a new extra care facility was also created 16 VIEW FROM THE SUPPLY CHAIN Dave Sheridan, Executive Chairman of ilke Homes SPECIAL REPORT 18 Improving Comfort in Schools Advice on improving ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in education facilities

LABM revisits the project to refurbish Winchester and Woodthorpe Courts tower blocks in Sherwood HOUSING & REGENERATION 20 In the Frame The use of light-gauge steel frames in housing construction

48 PRODUCTS & SERVICES 23 Walk of Life Affordable housing scheme ‘The Walks’ breathes new life into Flint in Wales

49 REFERENCE LIBRARY 51 GUEST COMMENT Jack Dobson-Smith, Public Affairs & Communications Officer at the Solar Trade Association (STA)

26 A Cleaner Future The opportunity low carbon heating presents for local authorities 28 Blueprint for Successful Community Regeneration Lord Andrew Mawson OBE talks about the pioneering Bromley-by-Bow project 31 Making a Connection Advice on preventing digital exclusion

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VENTILATION & AIR MANAGEMENT 34 The Air We Breathe The health and wellbeing impact of air quality in social housing 37 The Drive to Net-Zero Ventilation technologies that can contribute towards Net-Zero objectives 39 Round-up

DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE 40 How can we Specify Sustainability? why councils and HAs should take a holistic approach to the sustainable specification of doors and windows

33 Round-up 43 Fire Door Best Practice LABM reports on a recent CPD Accredited CE Marked GRP fire door seminar held by Nationwide 44 Certified Hardware The importance of certification when it comes to the specification of fire door hardware on projects

‘The Walks’ housing scheme in Flint

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Advice on energyefficient ventilation

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47 Round-up

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Editor Claire Clutten labm@hamerville.co.uk Contributing Editor Bernadette Noble Advertisement Manager Jacob Tatum jtatum@hamerville.co.uk Northern & Midland Area Sales Eddie Wright ewright@hamerville.co.uk Group Advertising Manager Craig Jowsey Digital Group Manager Stuart Duff Digital Assistant David Molloy Design Adeel Qadri Group Production Manager Carol Padgett Circulation Manager Kirstie Day Managing Editor Terry Smith Publisher Bryan Shannon Printed by WALSTEAD ROCHE Published by Hamerville Media Group Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts WD24 4YF 01923 237799 Email: labm@hamerville.co.uk

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Safety focus Plans for a Building Safety Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech.

Ahead of the Queen’s Speech in October, many in the sector speculated whether and to what extent housing would feature and how much of the speech would be dominated by Brexit. It was extremely positive to hear of the plans for a new Building Safety Bill. As Lord Porter, Building Safety Spokesman at the LGA comments: “Reform of our broken building system cannot come soon enough. The tragedy that unfolded at Grenfell Tower must never be allowed to happen again and we must ensure that those who live, work and visit high-rise and high-risk buildings are safe.”

However, beyond the commitments to new building safety standards, “there was little else to suggest that government sees the housing crisis as its problem to solve. Yet it’s vital they should start to think about how we embed the right measures to create viable and liveable communities,” says Peter Hogg, UK Cities Director at Arcadis.

Two days after the Queen’s Speech, London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton delivered a report to the London Assembly on the lessons learnt from Grenfell. Later the same day an interview with the Commissioner appeared on BBC Evening News. When asked how she felt about sending fire fighters into buildings that they don’t know are safe, the Commissioner responded: “It’s one of the things that stops me sleeping at night, the fact that the situation at Grenfell could get replicated. No community should ever face that and no fire service should face that.”

The news report focused on London, however I’m sure the concerns raised are shared across the country too. Uncertainty remains surrounding the safety of numerous existing tower blocks. Some still contain the cladding that helped propagate the fire at Grenfell. Resident safety is paramount and this is an issue that needs to be addressed and swiftly.

The news report focused on “London, however I’m sure the concerns raised are shared across the country too.

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The London Assembly shares the Commissioner’s concerns. Andrew Dismore, Chair of the Fire Committee at the London Assembly, was also interviewed by the BBC and in the programme targeted the construction industry and fragmented regulatory system, saying: “It is absolutely scandalous. It’s a product of the construction industry over a number years and this utterly fragmented system of regulation, which effectively means that building owners, designers and landlords can mark their own homework. That simply cannot be right.”

It’s clear that serious reform is necessary to prevent another such tragedy and it needs to come from all quarters. At Housing 2019 in Manchester I sat in a session where the Hyde Group discussed how it was tackling the fire safety issues in its blocks post Grenfell. It is perhaps not unsurprising to learn that the housing provider faced a huge disparity between the funding allocation they received from government and the level of spend required to rectify the issues they faced. In this I’m sure they are not alone.

Despite the enormous costs, Hyde set about the work, fostering an open and honest dialogue with residents, adopting the mantra: ‘would I be happy if I had a loved one living in this building?’

This commitment to the welfare of their tenants is to be applauded and how it should be.

Plans for a Building Safety Bill are extremely welcome, now it’s a case of waiting for the finer details.

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NOVEMBER 2019

LOCAL AUTHOR ITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

HOUSING & REGENE RATION VENTILATION & AIR MANAGEMENT DOORS, WINDOW S & HARDWARE

COVER STORY: Affordable housing scheme ‘The Walks’ is breathing new life into the town of Flint, in Wales. Turn to page 23 to find out more about the project.

As part of the Building PROJECT PROFILE a Better Nottingham programme, Wincheste r and Woodthorp tower blocks in e Courts Sherwood have transformed. LABM been completely revisits the project.

THE LEADING MAGAZINE FOR LOCAL AUTHORIT AND HOUSING Y ASSOCIATION SPECIFIER S, INCORPORATING

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NEWS Multi-million pound construction partnership agreed

CONTRACT UPDATE

A deal worth £160m has been struck between Bromford and four construction companies to deliver hundreds of homes across Gloucestershire and the West of England.

LAs enforcing higher standards Over half of all local authorities are enforcing higher building standards.

Research by the Solar trade Association (STA) reveals Scottish and English councils are in a race to the top on new homes policy. The STA has published new research on local authority building standards, revealing which have made efforts to go above national standards.

In January this year the STA issued Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to every local authority in the UK. Analysis of the responses reveal over half (51%) of all local authorities have implemented standards that go above national requirements with more than one in every six of these local authorities (17%) setting policies which the STA considers to be ‘Leading’.

STA Chief Executive Chris Hewett says: “Our members are installing more solar roofs in those parts of the country where local authorities are taking climate change more seriously.

“The regulation of building standards is a particularly important area in which local administrations have powers to determine higher, more stringent requirements than those set out at national level. We applaud the local authorities that have established higher standards and the vital contribution they are making in the drive towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”

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Bromford, which owns 44,000 homes in the Midlands and Southwest, has launched a new contractor and development framework agreement called the Bromford Construction Partnership (BCP), which will assist the delivery of up to 400 new homes per year over the next four years. The housing provider, ranked the ninth largest developer of affordable homes in the UK, has signed a partnership with Galliford Try Partnerships, Lovell Partnerships, E G Carter and Speller Metcalfe.

The partnership is divided into small, medium and large developments and will deliver in the region of 1,100 homes across the duration of the contract as well as enabling a larger-scale programme of regeneration. The affordable mixed-tenure homes will be built as far north as Worcestershire and as far south as Bristol,

and predominantly focused on the wider Gloucestershire area.

The Bromford Construction Partnership says the new approach will maximise successful land opportunities, the provision of new energy-efficient homes, drive up productivity, consistency and cost efficiency, as well as creating local jobs, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities.

L&Q completes Trafford Housing Trust acquisition L&Q has completed the From left to right: Aubrey Adams, Chairman of the Group Board at L&Q; Larry Gold, Chief Executive of Trafford Housing Trust; David acquisition of Trafford Montagu, CEO of L&Q Group and Edna Robinson, Group Chair of Housing Trust. The Trafford Housing Trust acquisition will facilitate £4bn investment in creating 20,000 new homes across the North-west. The acquisition of Trafford Housing Trust and its integration with L&Q’s existing operations combines THT’s local knowledge, relationships and reputation In addition to supporting Trafford Housing for quality and innovation with L&Q’s 50 Trust’s new home development plans, the years’ experience in planning and acquisition will enable THT to enhance its infrastructure delivery and as a developer Quality Home Standard for 9,000 social of homes, places and communities. homes across Greater Manchester, giving The deal has grown out of a longcustomers a better standard of living. standing and highly-successful joint venture Operationally, Trafford Housing Trust partnership and will support a long-term will keep its name and corporate structure ambition to build 20,000 much-needed new and will sit as a standalone company within homes in the North-west. It will also double the L&Q Group. The acquisition does not Trafford Housing Trust’s social investment in affect existing staffing numbers and there the region with the establishment of a £4m will be no compulsory redundancies.

North-west Foundation.

LGA responds to Building Safety Bill plans announced in Queen’s Speech Lord Porter, Building Safety Spokesman for the Local Government Association, says: “Reform of our broken building safety system cannot come soon enough so we are pleased that the Queen’s Speech includes a Bill to enshrine a tough new system into law.

DIARY DATES HOMES 2019 Taking place at ExCel on the 27th and 28th November, HOMES UK: The Future of Living conference and exhibition will look at the entire ecosystem of home building and maintenance, covering every accommodation type in the UK — from affordable to market sale and the rapidly growing build to rent, student, coliving and retirement sectors.

The show is the place to hear all the latest thinking around asset management, housing development, placemaking, land and planning, Build to Rent and MMC. Speakers at this year’s event include Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter, Mary Parsons, Group Director of Placemaking and Regeneration at Places for People and Lord Richard Best OBE, Chairman at the Affordable Housing Commission.

For more information on the conference and to register for the event visit: www.homesevent.co.uk.

©Rawpixel/AdobeStock

“Designers, developers, product manufacturers and building owners need to be given clear duties in relation to building safety and clear guidance on those duties. It is important that the new regulatory framework does not create a two-tier safety system. To avoid this we need a partnership between the new building regulator, councils and fire services, with local authorities given effective powers, including meaningful sanctions.

“The new system must also be properly funded and residents have to be able to raise concerns and know they will be listened to. The repair bill to improve the

safety of existing buildings is likely to be significant and leaseholders and council taxpayers will not be able to meet it. There is also a significant shortage of the skills required to deliver effective fire safety regulation and funding training will be an essential early step in these reforms.

“The tragedy that unfolded at Grenfell Tower must never be allowed to happen again and we must ensure that those who live, work and visit high-rise and high-risk buildings are safe. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to deliver the much-needed reform to ensure residents are safe and feel safe.”

North East Conference 2019 This event will be taking place on the 21st and 22nd November at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham. The conference will debate the lack of affordable housing in some of the big cities, as well as issues with the quality and location of housing across the North East. It will also address long-term questions about how new life can be breathed into areas of the region with an attractive housing offer. To find out how the region is meeting these challenges and many others, attend the CIH North East and join in the debate.

For more information visit: www.cih.org/events.

NEWS: CONTRACT UPDATE Swedish offsite housing provider BoKlok outlines plans for 200 homes in Bristol BoKlok UK, the sustainable, quality and low-cost home provider jointly owned by Skanska and IKEA, has announced plans to develop 200 homes in south Bristol with Bristol City Council. Subject to planning permission, construction is expected to start in autumn 2020.

Bristol City Council, who owns the Airport Road site, has committed to pursuing the development of this partnership with BoKlok as part of the five-year Bristol Housing Festival, which is trialling innovative offsite housing solutions across the city.

The proposed development will be the first BoKlok community in Bristol.

About 140 of the homes will be for market sale under the BoKlok brand. The

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remaining homes will be for social rent and shared ownership.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, says: “At the festival’s launch a year ago, we said we would invite ideas from all over the world and be imaginative in solving the city’s housing emergency. This is exactly what BoKlok will bring with these exciting plans.

We are also exploring how Bristol City Council might acquire a number of these new homes as part of our commitment to providing more social housing.”

Jonas Spangenberg, CEO of BoKlok, adds: “When we entered the UK market we pinpointed Bristol as a key city, and now we are excited to move ahead with the plans for Airport Road. We are here to stay for the long-term, making it possible

for more people with average incomes to realise their dream of owning their home.”

Gregor Craig, President and CEO, Skanska UK says: “Skanska’s purpose is to build for a better society and BoKlok will broaden our offer in the UK with sustainable, quality homes at a low cost.

Skanska has been actively involved in Bristol for many years, building or refurbishing over 50 schools in the area.”

Jez Sweetland, Bristol Housing Festival’s Project Director, comments: “The festival is all about re-imagining new and better ways to live in our cities.

BoKlok provide creative solutions with a fantastic track record of creating great homes and strong communities, we are really thrilled to be working with them.”

New £25m constabulary HQ in Lancashire

Green light for Hightown HA’s plans to build affordable homes for rent

Pick Everard, the property, construction and infrastructure consultancy, provided project management, quantity surveying and NEC supervisor services for the new 87,500 sq ft headquarters for Lancashire Constabulary.

Jon Parry, Regional Director at Pick Everard, says: “This significant public sector building now provides a fit-forpurpose new base for local policing and immediate response teams.”

It houses the divisional community policing services, from neighbourhood policing teams to immediate response

officers, and comprises: a public enquiry desk, investigations hub and a 42-cell custody suite.

Pick Everard worked in partnership with contractor Willmott Dixon — which was appointed by Lancashire Constabulary under Scape Group’s national Major Works framework — and the scheme’s architects, McBains.

The three-storey building represents the force’s largest ever investment and replaces the county’s previous police station. It also meets the BREEAM ‘very good’ standard.

Hightown Housing Association has been given the go-ahead by Dacorum Borough Council to build 33 new affordable homes close to Hemel Hempstead town centre. The site is on Midland Road and minutes away from shops, buses and local parks.

The new homes will revitalise two existing office floors, as well as two new additional stories, and provide 33 one-and-two bedroom apartments.

The homes will all go to people in housing need on the council’s waiting list.

The current appearance of the Charter Court building will completely change, with new brick cladding, revised window positions and the top floor and central column of the building utilising a metal cladding system.

Hightown aims to tender the build contract in January 2020, with construction expected to start in summer 2020 and completed by the end of 2021. This development will provide 100% affordable rented homes, supported by grant from Homes England.

Wakefield Council teams up with ENGIE on the road to zero carbon Following its declaration of a climate emergency, Wakefield Council has commissioned leading energy and services Group ENGIE to help achieve its target of becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030. This latest move builds on an existing relationship between the two organisations, which has seen ENGIE delivering a total facilities management service to the council since 2016.

In making its announcement, Wakefield Council recognises the need to go further and faster than the UK’s target of becoming

net-zero for carbon emissions by 2050.

This will involve broadening and accelerating the Council’s existing Energy Plan, which has already provided significant energy and emissions savings.

Using its expertise in delivering zerocarbon transition ‘as a service’, ENGIE will now work with the council in developing a road map of projects that will make carbonneutrality a realistic goal within the stated timescales. The road map will initially take a consultancy-led approach, providing Wakefield Council with a comprehensive

analysis of its current energy and carbon footprint. This data will then be used to identify specific opportunities for decreasing energy use and emissions.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INDUSTRY COMMENT

You win some, you lose some In the same week that the prestigious Stirling Prize for architecture was awarded to a social housing scheme in Norwich, council Treasurers were informed by Treasury that new loans from the Public Works Loans Board would now cost 1% more, on account of local authorities having borrowed more than expected. Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), discusses the impact of this on councils. ast year, Theresa May used the Conservative Party conference in October to announce the abolition of the caps on borrowing on council HRAs, opening the way, as she claimed, for “a new generation of council housing”. At this year’s Party conference, her successor Boris Johnson had nothing to say about council housing, his remarks being largely devoted to Brexit.

In the week following the conference, the media remained almost completely full of Brexit coverage musing the likelihood of a deal before the 31st October deadline, with the result that two housing stories attracted little attention. The first was the announcement that, for the first time in its history, the Stirling Prize for architecture had been awarded to a new council housing scheme in Norwich; the second was the news that, the very same day, the Public Works Loans Board, at the Treasury’s behest, had raised its basic loan rate by a full 1% with immediate effect, blowing a large hole in other councils’ plans to follow Norwich’s example.

The Stirling Prize is an annual award for new architecture launched by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1996. This is the first time the award has been given for a social housing scheme. The winner is Goldsmith Street, made up of almost 100 ultra-low energy homes built in seven terraced blocks, designed by architects

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Mikhail Riches and Cathy Hawley for Norwich City Council. The development is built to full Passivhaus standard, which means homes will use very little additional energy for heating or cooking.

The competition judges, Chaired by Julia Barfield, described Goldsmith Street as “a modest masterpiece. It is highquality architecture in its purest, most environmentally and socially conscious form”. The judges added: “This is proper social housing, over 10 years in the making, delivered by an ambitious and thoughtful council. These desirable, spacious, low-energy properties should be the norm for all council housing.”

Loan cost increase Shortly before this accolade was delivered, council treasurers received a letter from the Treasury to inform them that new loans from the Public Works Loans Board would henceforward cost them a full 1% more because local authorities have been borrowing more than expected.

The letter notes that local authority borrowing from PWLB is subject to a statutory limit, which the Treasury has had to raise from £85 to £95bn; the increase in interest rates, while presented as a return to pre-2013 policy, is a clear and crude attempt to rein in council borrowing — at the same time as the Chancellor is apparently taking a much more relaxed

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This is proper social “housing, over 10 years in the making, delivered by an ambitious and thoughtful council. These desirable, spacious, low-energy properties should be the norm for all council housing.

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view of government borrowing as part of his ‘end of austerity’ plans.

The move may be partly motivated by recent concerns, raised in some quarters, about council investments in shopping centres and other commercial real estate, rather than any worries about investment in new council homes. HRA borrowing is likely to represent only a small fraction of new council borrowing. But the crude imposition of a rate increase on all PWLB loans hits all investment regardless of risk or social purpose. The Treasury has left the door ajar for discussions on the impact of the change on local authorities, and it is just possible that it can be persuaded to exempt or reduce the impact on new housing schemes.

www.arch-housing.org.uk

PROJECT PROFILE: WINWOOD HEIGHTS

©SCOPIC Productions

Reaching new heights LABM revisits the project to rejuvenate two ageing tower blocks in the Sherwood area of Nottinghamshire and build a new much needed extra care facility onsite. Nottingham City Homes and Nottingham City Council’s aim was to create a retirement village.

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n 2017, work began on an ambitious project to completely refurbish two 1960s 15-storey tower blocks on Chestnut Walk in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire. Owned

by Nottingham City Council and managed

by Nottingham City Homes, Winchester and Woodthorpe Courts contain 90 flats each for residents aged 55 and over. The flats back onto picturesque parkland and residents living in the upper floors enjoy expansive views across the city.

The tower blocks had begun to look rundown and were in definite need of some TLC. Nottingham City Homes and the City Council were keen to improve the aesthetics and energy performance of both buildings. Last year LABM visited the site as the blocks were being reclad and Windoor balcony systems installed, to find out more about the scheme. Luke Johnson, Project

Manager for Nottingham City Homes told LABM: “The project was originally to renovate these two towers like we have with some of the other blocks NCH has in Nottingham — new insulation, reclad them and make them more energy-efficient.”

The refurbishment of Winchester and Woodthorpe Courts is part of the City Council’s Building a Better Nottingham programme. Improvement works to the blocks included the installation of external wall rendering and insulation, new windows and the Windoor balcony system, as well as upgrades to the heating systems.

Following the devastating Grenfell tragedy, understandably, concern was rife amongst residents living in high-rise across the UK regarding the safety of their own accommodation blocks. NCH was keen to allay resident’s fears and ensure its blocks

were well protected, and the day after Grenfell were onsite talking to residents.

Sprinkler systems have also been fitted in all the apartments and communal areas.

Community spirit Previously a community centre occupied the space between the two tower blocks, not too dissimilar in appearance to the temporary portable accommodation that was stationed opposite the flats and used as a day centre for residents during the refurbishment process. The community centre brought residents together and acted as the hub of the scheme.

As part of the project the original centre was demolished to make way for a new extra care facility comprising 44 individual units. Luke told LABM: “Originally we were going to build a new community centre.

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PROJECT PROFILE: WINWOOD HEIGHTS

blocks via two weatherproof corridors and features a laundry room, IT room, a kitchen, carers’ room and assisted bathroom. There is also care provider accommodation, as well as a sky lounge and roof.

Minimising disruption

©SCOPIC Productions. The original community centre between the two blocks was demolished to make way for a new extra care facility

However, what NCH decided to do instead was put a new-build extra care facility in the middle, which is something that Nottingham doesn’t have many of.”

Nottingham City Homes’ and the Council’s ambition was to create a new retirement village — Winwood Heights — containing 224 one- and two-bedroom flats, with all the new-build accommodation in the development fully disability accessible.

Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing at Nottingham City Council, says: “We have an ageing ©SCOPIC Productions. The installation of enclosed balcony systems from Windoor helped Nottingham City Homes create additional space and bring more light into the flats

population, and it’s important that when we’re transforming our neighbourhoods, we ensure the homes we are creating meet the needs of local people.”

Many of the existing residents have lived in the tower blocks for 20 years or more, have forged strong bonds and feel a real sense of belonging, community. The new extra care facility will act as a next step accommodation for residents when they require greater assistance in the home, allowing them to continue living onsite surrounded by their friends. The new building connects to the existing tower

Willmott Dixon was the main contractor on the scheme. One of the major challenges for the development partners was the fact that the project necessitated carrying work out in a live environment, with residents remaining in-situ throughout. To minimise disruption, the partners agreed that work would not start onsite until after 8am and always finish by 5pm during the week. No work was carried out at weekends, affording the residents some respite. To achieve success on a project like this, resident engagement is crucial.

Nottingham City Homes actively engaged residents throughout the planning process. The social housing provider held events to outline the proposals and gauge opinion. The events provided an opportunity for residents to raise concerns and ask any questions they might have about the proposed scheme.

Resident engagement Winchester and Woodthorpe Courts benefit from an active and vibrant tenant and residents association (TRA), led by Chair, Jenny Thirtle-Denman. The reaction amongst residents to the proposed plans was overwhelmingly positive. During the consultation phase, Jenny commented: “The great majority of residents here have welcomed the plans for renovation. It is already a great place to live and when the proposed plans are completed our homes will be even more attractive.

“Due to the ageing population, extra care accommodation is urgently needed, so the proposed new scheme will no doubt instil confidence in the future lives of many of the residents here.”

Residents were regularly consulted and involved in the final plans, which, Jenny adds, “has been appreciated by everyone.”

This illustrates the importance of effective and transparent consultation for engendering goodwill amongst residents.

NCH had to work with residents to gain access to the flats to allow the contractors

to carry out the heating and insulation works. Luke comments: “We have a very good tenant liaison team on the job and surprisingly have had no issues with access.

Due to the age of the residents, carers and nurses are frequent visitors to Winchester and Woodthorpe Courts and this had to be factored in. Luke continues: “Willmott Dixon has been very good working around people’s needs and requirements.

It’s been a very positive experience working with the residents, which is one of the biggest risks on a development like this.” ©SCOPIC Productions. Willmott Dixon was the main contractor on the scheme

Enclosed outside space Another aspect of the project where good resident engagement paid dividends was the decision to get rid of the traditional balconies with railings and install enclosed balcony systems instead.

Nottingham City Homes wanted to create additional space and bring more light into the apartments, whilst still enabling residents to enjoy the fabulous views.

There are several advantages to installing enclosed balconies — sometimes referred to as sunspaces or winter gardens — such as the benefits of solar gain, they increase the amount of natural light into a property, boost natural ventilation and can help reduce a building’s energy requirements. They can also be enjoyed all year round and

them to take a look at, the nervousness dissipated. The residents were impressed.

“residents have lived in the Many of the existing

Building transformation

tower blocks for 20 years or more, have forged strong bonds and feel a real sense

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of belonging, community.

crucially provide a private and secure outdoor space for residents. On this project, residents initially expressed trepidation about the enclosed balcony system, however following consultation and after Windoor sent a sample to site for

©SCOPIC Productions

The project is complete and the two tower blocks completely rejuvenated inside and out. Not only do they look more visually appealing, they should perform substantially better too, providing an improved living environment which ultimately should help reduce resident’s energy bills. The creation of a new extra care facility onsite is an excellent addition for the residents and also a great benefit to the wider area, given the need that currently exists. The project highlights a real commitment from Nottingham City Homes and Nottingham City Council to delivering solutions that meet the evolving needs of their communities.

Nick Murphy, Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes sums the project up aptly when he says: “The Building a Better Nottingham programme is transforming people’s lives across the city.

We are improving the look and feel of our estates, as well as building energy-efficient, sustainable homes, which can dramatically reduce fuel bills for our residents.

“The transformation of the tower blocks in Sherwood will offer huge benefits to our existing tenants and to many older residents in the future, thanks to the construction of the extra care apartments and facilities. It will offer flexible care and support to enable older residents to continue to live independently.”

■ For more information on Windoor’s enclosed balcony systems visit: www.windooruk.co.uk

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VIEW FROM THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Investment into MMC Dave Sheridan, Executive Chairman of ilke Homes, discusses how MMC can help ease the pressure on the construction industry and deliver better, more affordable homes.

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n 2017/18, local authorities across the UK constructed just 6,463 homes, despite the last government’s aim for councils to take on a bigger housebuilding role with the removal of the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap. Meanwhile, the total number of new homes built in 2018 reached 159,617, almost half that of the Government’s 300,000 a year target.

As local authorities continue to struggle with underfunding, and the construction industry continues to deal with labour shortages, Brexit uncertainty and several high-profile insolvencies — such as Carillion and Interserve — public-private partnerships (PPPs) will have to play a vital role.

But the tried and tested models of housebuilding have proven to be unable to deliver to the required scale. As such, local authorities and the housebuilding industry must look towards innovative solutions. And it is the modern methods of construction where these solutions lie (MMC).

Over the past six months, investment in housebuilding has coalesced around MMC. Our £100m strategic partnership with Places for People in May was testament to the confidence that modular is a high-growth market and this step-change in strategy from the country’s biggest housing association demonstrates its mass-market appeal.

Partnerships like this can take the strain off local authorities and invigorate housebuilders, whilst encouraging the development of affordable housing.

Wider crisis The affordable housing crisis goes deeper than that of the wider housing crisis, with people living on housing benefit unable to afford any single rooms available for private rent in large parts of London and Greater Manchester. To solve this issue, the private sector must be more willing to

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engage with local authorities. For us, working with local authorities to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes available for social rent is priority number one.

Strategic partnerships between the public sector and modular housing providers are emerging. Homes England supported our deal with Places for People as well as that of the deal between Japan’s largest housebuilder Sekisui House and Urban Splash. A number of local authorities have got in on the act too, with modular homes being developed by councils across the country, from London to Newcastle.

It’s clear why the orders are stacking up. Modular almost sells itself: it’s twice as fast as traditional construction methods, can reduce onsite waste by almost 90%, while also using 67% less energy in the manufacturing and construction process, according to the Government’s recent report into MMC. Thanks to cutting-edge technology, we can generate precise estimations of the material needed. While this helps significantly reduce waste, it also delivers certainty to the supply chain with a steady and consistent stream of material orders.

Building offsite at scale The main issue that the sector currently faces is scale. Offsite manufacturing represented less than 15% of the total homes built in 2016/17. Reaching the Government’s targets of 300,000 new homes a year — of which there is still a shortfall of nearly 100,000 — will require offsite manufacturing’s contribution to rapidly increase.

Not only can offsite manufacturing deliver homes up to 50% faster than traditional construction but it also drastically reduces the pressure the skills shortage is having on the industry by

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Our £100m strategic “partnership with Places for People in May was testament to the confidence that modular is a highgrowth market and this step-change in strategy from the country’s biggest housing association demonstrates its massmarket appeal.

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offering sustainable and adaptable jobs to unskilled workers who can be quickly trained up in MMC. Although the money has been flowing in, to scale up the sector will require further investment. Setting up the factories, the technologies, the prototypes and training of the workforce is a costly business.

If we are to solve the housing crisis and ensure that everyone can genuinely afford their own home, then investment into modular is the place to start. By doing so, we can ease the pressure on the construction industry and deliver better, more affordable homes to the people and places that need them.

■ ilkehomes.co.uk

SPECIAL REPORT: IMPROVING INTERNAL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS

It is simpler and more cost effective to maintain internal temperatures if the building is well insulated

Improving comfort in schools Matthew Evans discusses the importance of good building design and offers advice on how specifiers can improve ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality within schools to create internal environments that are conducive for learning and promote wellbeing. he average student will have spent over 13,000 hours in school buildings by the time they leave high school. It’s unsurprising then that these environments can have a considerable impact on the health and attainment of students. Research compiled by the World Green Building Council has

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linked poor indoor air quality (IAQ) with incidences of Sick Building Syndrome and shown that school spaces considered ‘too hot’ or ‘too cold’ were associated with respiratory complaints1. To support best practice, the Education & Skills Funding Agency has published Building Bulletin 101 (BB101) providing clear guidelines on how

Kingspan Kooltherm K100 range boards have a thermal conductivity of just 0.018W/m·K, allowing desired U-values to be met with slim constructions

to improve ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality within school buildings.

First introduced in 2006, BB101 was extensively revised last year. The 2018 version sets stricter requirements on IAQ, including maximum concentration limits for CO2 which should not be exceeded for more than 20 consecutive minutes per day, and improved guidance on pollutant filtration.

Arguably the most significant changes, however, relate to thermal comfort. BB101 now sets out clear advice on eliminating cold draughts within classrooms and adopts an adaptive approach to thermal comfort. Before looking at these changes, it is useful to understand how thermal comfort is classified.

Thermal comfort At a basic level, thermal comfort is a measure of whether an environment is neither ‘too hot’ nor ‘too cold’ but ‘just right’. This will be particular to each individual within a space and can be influenced by a variety of personal and environmental factors, including air temperature, radiant heat sources (such as

sunlight), the types of clothes worn and what activity is being undertaken.

Their personal nature makes these factors difficult to assess across a whole classroom. To overcome this, BB101 uses BS EN 15251:20072 and BS EN ISO 7730:20053. The later standard uses two indices to assess thermal comfort: predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD).

PMV attempts to predict how, on average, a large group of people experience thermal comfort in a space on a scale from -3 (cold) to +3 (hot). PPD then estimates the number of people dissatisfied based on the PMV value. This increases exponentially as the PMV score moves away from 0. Based on this analysis, BB101 provides a table of recommended operative temperatures during the heating season.

In addition, BB101 also adopts a so called ‘adaptive approach’ to thermal comfort for free running buildings (those not actively cooled) outside heating season. This method sets variable maximum indoor temperatures based on those outside. It has been added in recognition of recent research4 showing that the maximum temperature occupants find comfortable changes based on outdoor conditions.

Dynamic simulation To identify the most appropriate solutions for a particular project, BB101 recommends adopting dynamic simulation tools at the

detail design stage. This can allow project teams to more accurately estimate internal comfort conditions, identifying overheating risk and heating needs and adapting designs accordingly.

The document also identifies several energy-efficient options to meet its requirements. These include the use of night purge strategies, where cooler air is introduced through windows and vents overnight, to prevent overheating during the summer and the use of mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems (MVHR), which use the heat from outgoing stale air to warm incoming fresh air, during the cooler months.

The performance of the building envelope is also fundamental to maintaining relatively constant internal temperatures. To reduce long-term operating costs and carbon emissions, it makes sense to look beyond the basic thermal performance requirements within the Building Regulations/Standards.

A variety of insulation materials and systems are now available, allowing excellent performance to be achieved across different projects. For example, the latest generation of phenolic insulation products have a thermal conductivity of just 0.018W/m·K, allowing desired Uvalues to be met with slimmer wall, roof and floor constructions.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) can provide another highly effective solution for new buildings and extensions. The panels typically comprise an insulated core

Kingspan OPTIM-R Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) systems can also provide a problem-solving solution in refurbishment applications where construction depths must be minimal

sandwiched between two layers of oriented strand board (OSB) which are factory-cut to each project’s design. The panels offer excellent ‘out-of-the-box’ fabric performance with U-values of 0.20 – 0.17W/m2.K, or better. Their jointing system also supports highly airtight constructions which, in combination with an MVHR system, can allow internal temperatures to be maintained with relatively little energy usage.

Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) offer another useful option, particularly for refurbishments. The panels feature a microporous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope. This design allows them to deliver an insulating performance up to five times better than some commonly used insulation materials — making them well suited to applications where space is at an absolute minimum.

Healthy learning The drive towards a built environment which supports wellbeing is gathering pace. The need for change is particularly vital in schools as young people are more susceptible to the impacts of poor building design. BB101 offers clear and comprehensive guidance to help Local Authorities to deliver buildings which safeguard and support students and are future-proofed against the challenges posed by the climate emergency.

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https://www.worldgbc.org/newsmedia/better-places-people-research-healthwellbeing-and-performance-green-schools Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of energy performance of buildings addressing indoor air quality, thermal environment, lighting and acoustics Ergonomics of the thermal environment.

Analytical determination and interpretation of thermal comfort using calculation of the PMV and PPD indices and local thermal comfort criteria Limits of thermal comfort: avoiding overheating in European buildings

Matthew Evans is Head of Technical GB at Kingspan Insulation UK www.kingspan.com

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In the frame The lack of available social housing in the UK is a significant problem. Housing associations and local councils face increasing pressure to address the issue and build more truly affordable homes as quickly as possible to fill the void. Chris Holleron explores the use of light-gauge steel frames and the benefits it could bring. ith cripplingly expensive private rents, frozen housing benefits, lengthy waiting lists for social homes and a shortage of affordable housing, the social housing crisis in the UK is evidently a deep-set problem. According to a landmark report by housing charity, Shelter, an additional three million social homes are needed to solve the current housing crisis1 — a huge figure.

While government targets are for 340,000 new homes to be built each year, a report by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) estimates that around 90,000 of these should be set at social rent.

However, with only 6,434 homes built for social rent2 between 2017 and 2018, and an estimated loss of 165,000 social homes to the Right to Buy scheme since 2012,3 it is clear that the country is a long way off from the required three million homes, placing vulnerable households and families at further risk of homelessness.

Offsite and modular construction has long been viewed as a crucial part of construction’s future, with increased calls for the sector to progress and develop its approach. One of the most recent is the Farmer Review: ‘Modernise or Die’, in

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which Mark Farmer recommended that the Government should promote the use of pre-manufactured solutions for the housing sector. The advantages of offsite and modular construction are perhaps most apparent within the social housing sector, bringing speed, quality and efficiency.

Speed is what offsite construction is predominantly most well-known for; saving valuable time onsite, with large portions of the building structure pre-assembled within a controlled factory environment.

Projects that implement offsite construction can potentially be completed 30 to 50% faster than traditional methods.

What’s more, with the main structural components fabricated away from the main site, a project’s progress and completion time will be less dependent on weather and onsite conditions, leading to fewer delays and reducing ‘down-time’ — a key concern considering the unpredictable British weather.

Steel frame Light-gauge steel frames are a particularly effective building envelope solution, combining a strong and durable building material with offsite construction to provide both speed and quality.

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Houses built using the technology can be very quick to construct, improving efficiency, minimising waste and even leading to early project completions. Lightgauge steel weighs less than alternative building materials, such as timber or concrete frames, meaning it can be transported to site easily. It also helps to reduce the weight of the overall structure, in turn providing relative savings on foundation loads and sizes.

Implementing light-gauge steel building envelope components can also contribute towards improving the standard of the overall build, providing communities with high-quality housing stock built to last for decades to come. Renowned in the industry for being a highly strong and durable building material, the solution could also help local councils save valuable money on maintenance and repairs.

What’s more, being fabricated within a controlled factory environment to specific project requirements, quality checks can be more efficiently carried out, reducing the likelihood of snags or required re-work later onsite. This is a significant benefit, especially considering the amount of publicity recently placed on the poor construction of new-build homes.

Light-gauge steel weighs less than alternative building materials, such as timber or concrete frames

Fabrication service Hadley Steel Framing offers a fabrication service, with its dedicated project design team also able to provide technical support. Hadley supplies structural external and internal wall panels, constructed from lightweight cold-rolled steel sections for high-strength and low weight. These panels are assembled and bolted together offsite, before being delivered to site, lifted and fixed in place. The manufacturer is also able to produce a complete load bearing stand-alone structure, including roofs, walls, floors, door/window openings, bracing and external finishes, making it the ideal solution for low-rise structures and housing schemes with high-volume requirements.

It is difficult to ignore the urgent demand for social housing within the UK, with more than 100,000 households having been stuck on council housing waiting lists for over 10 years and Shelter estimating that almost 280,000 people in England are currently homeless4 — a figure that is set to rise. As a result it is no surprise that councils and housing associations are increasingly turning to offsite construction solutions. Technology such as light-gauge steel frames could help to ensure the efficient delivery of the high-quality, long-lasting homes that the country so desperately needs, and at a far-faster rate than more traditional methods. _____________________ 1 ‘A Vision for Social Housing’, Shelter 2 Chartered Institute of Housing – the Guardian 3 Chartered Institute of Housing – the Guardian 4 ‘A vision for social housing’, Shelter

Chris Holleron is Group Product Manager – Housing at Hadley Group ■ For more information on Hadley Steel Framing’s fabrication service visit www.rdr.link/lj001 For more information on the Hadley Group’s solutions visit www.rdr.link/lj002

HOUSING & REGENERATION

Walk of life Affordable housing scheme ‘The Walks’ breathes new life into Flint and connects the town to its past, present and future, as Halliday Clark Architects tells LABM. n 2011, Flintshire County Council in North Wales commissioned a DTZ-led consortium to develop a regeneration masterplan for the development of Flint town centre, creating a once in a generation opportunity to re-plan this key town centre site. The resulting masterplan proposed a range of detailed action plans to strengthen the identity and image of the town, improve connectivity and bring a better housing offer into the heart of Flint.

In addition, the Flintshire Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP) had identified a rising demand for affordable and social housing and is currently overseeing the delivery of over 500 new homes across the region by 2021. Of the 500 homes, 197 are affordable rent; owned and managed by North East Wales Homes and Property Management (NEW Homes), the first Council-owned housing company in Wales. These homes are targeted towards the ‘squeezed middle’ — those households that cannot afford open market rent level; but earn too much to be considered for social rent properties. The remaining 303 are social housing managed by Flintshire County Council.

Yorkshire-based architects, Halliday Clark, were commissioned for all RIBA Stages 0-7 by the joint venture partner Wates Construction in conjunction with Flintshire County Council to

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The homes have been built to the Council’s Flintshire House Standard

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connection to the town centre. Very few new homes had since been built in Flint, and the maisonettes and tower blocks were tired and no longer fit for purpose.

Our approach was to respect and enhance the existing urban environment and reconnect the site to its surrounding area, re-establishing its original identity as an ancient fortified town.”

Overcoming challenges

The scheme won 2019’s ‘Best Social Housing Development’ at the North Wales LABC Building Excellence Awards

deliver The Walks; the first phase of homes as part of the SHARP programme. The scheme features 92 high quality properties including two and three bed houses and one and two bed apartments. Sixty-two of the homes are for affordable rent and 30 properties are social rent homes.

Purpose and intention Central to the regeneration of the 4.2-acre brownfield site was the demolition of the town’s 200-plus 1960s maisonettes. The brief was to replace the maisonettes with homes and spaces that have a clear feeling of purpose and intention, encouraging a sense of belonging and neighbourhood.

Comments David Halliday, Director at Halliday Clark: “One of the key design

drivers for this scheme was reinforcing the link between the historic Flint Castle and the town centre’s commercial and retail facilities.

The town of Flint started life as a ‘planned town’ in the 13th Century, originally built to serve Flint Castle built by Edward I in 1277 as part of his ‘Ring of Iron’. The town was set out to the south of the castle in a grid, based around a central cruciform of streets linking to the castle gates and the coastal routes from Chester along the North Wales coast. In the 1840s, the development of the railway severed the town from the castle.

“The development of maisonette blocks and towers in the 1960s removed most of the original historic fabric and traditional ‘street’ layout, leading to a series of isolated communities with no sense of

The main challenge this project faced was the build programme. During the largescale excavation of the former maisonettes, a section of a 13th Century ditch and dyke believed to have been created to protect workers who built the castle in Flint, was uncovered. A six-month archaeological dig had to be carried out by Archaeology Wales to recover the remains before construction could begin. Despite causing significant delays to development, this discovery was further proof of the cultural and historical significance of Flint on both a local and national scale.

A second challenge was to ensure the community felt involved and engaged at every stage of planning and construction.

Halliday Clark undertook valuable and extensive community consultation during the pre-planning application as well as through the build programme to allow residents to raise any concerns they had, which allowed for a smooth transition into the town. Throughout the project, the local Church was used every Friday as a ‘drop in’ for residents and it has now become a central point for community activities which has helped to improve community cohesion.

The 92 homes were completed in May 2018 and are now fully occupied. For the first time, the housing site has been integrated into the town centre through a wide boulevard called ‘The Walk’, which has helped overcome the physical and perceived negative barriers that existed previously between the town centre and the site.

Flintshire House Standard Every property has been built to the Council’s Flintshire House Standard. This provides homes of excellent quality with high levels of thermal efficiency and large space standards which offer an attractive,

high quality, sustainable home. A ‘fabric first’ approach was adopted to achieve the required levels of energy efficiency, including a ‘waste water heat recovery unit’ which converts 60% of the potential energy in the waste water back into heat for the incoming water. Whole life costings were reviewed and taken into consideration to reflect criteria within the Flintshire Housing Standard and provide high-quality fixtures and fittings throughout the homes.

The aesthetic of the homes reflects the mid-19th Century Welsh vernacular housing design which featured simple forms with contrasting brick banding, some featuring polychromatic brickwork. The overall brick colour of these houses is a deep orange/red with yellow brick features — irrespective of whether they are affordable or social housing, creating a cohesive mixed-tenure community. The Council was also keen that the new properties were flexible to meet the future needs of ageing residents. Elements of this ‘futureproof’ approach to the design include a 1m wide

staircase with fused spur to accommodate a potential stair lift and first floor bathrooms adapted with a level access shower.

The new road pattern of the scheme echoes English cartographer and historian, John Speed’s original Flint town map and perimeter fortification, creating a more traditional residential site layout.

Regeneration example Adds David Halliday: “The scheme is a fantastic example of how the regeneration of rundown brownfield sites on the edge of urban centres are an economically viable way of constructing high-volume affordable homes close to people’s workplaces and key amenities. Not only does the scheme provide quality, energyefficient, affordable homes, but ample landscaping and the provision of substantial amenity space — including a play area at the south-western corner of the scheme — offer places where residents and their children can meet and spend time, further helping to create a sense of community.”

In 2018, The Walks made the national shortlist as one of eight of the ‘Best housing schemes over 50 units’ at the Awards for Planning Excellence hosted by the Royal Town Planning Institute. The scheme won 2019’s ‘Best Social Housing Development’ at the North Wales LABC Building Excellence Awards and will compete in the UK final in London in November 2019. The scheme was also been highly commended in the CLAW Project of the Year Awards (Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales).

Halliday Clark is continuing to work with Wates Construction and Flintshire County Council on subsequent phases of the SHARP programme. A number of homes have already been completed and occupied by residents and a further 200 properties are currently being worked on at planning, building regulation, tender and construction stage.

With thanks to Halliday Clark Architects for preparing this article ■ www.hallidayclark.co.uk

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The Government’s new Future Homes Standard, set to be introduced by 2025, is designed to encourage the industry to move away from burning fossil fuels to heat our homes. The alternative could lie in electric, says Shaun Hurworth, as he explores the opportunity low carbon heating presents for local authorities.

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t’s not just new buildings that can take advantage of the benefits of electric heating and hot water systems. Around 1.8 million homes in the UK are heated by electricity a significant proportion of which are social housing stock — and this number is set to grow in the coming years.

Even aside from the ongoing decarbonisation benefits of being connected to an increasingly renewabledriven electricity grid, excellent controls and energy efficiencies are helping to boost the appeal of electric heating, which is becoming increasingly associated with modern, well-insulated homes and city centre apartments. This resurgence of electric systems has facilitated the development of new technologies and increasingly more innovative applications of existing technologies too.

Heat pumps are an electric technology which brings further opportunities for low carbon heating and hot water solutions, and also offer a great example of how much

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The design of the Quantum heater from Dimplex means it can cover previous fixing marks of most comparably sized storage heaters

A cleaner future technology has moved on, with capital and running costs coming down as product development and economies of scale start to provide real alternatives to traditional specifications. One example of this is the Dimplex Edel hot water heat pump, which can produce a property’s hot water demand year-round at a fraction of the cost and carbon of a traditional hot water system.

For many local authorities, especially social housing providers, one of the biggest opportunities lies in updating the traditional electric storage heaters in existing properties with high heat retention heaters, like the Dimplex Quantum system.

Intelligent heating solutions Many electrically heated homes, especially in the social housing market, could be paying more than they need to in order to keep warm because of outdated electric storage heaters. Diving further into the figures behind this — of the 1.7million electrically heated homes in the UK with storage heating, 63% have a heating system which is more than 20 years old, and around 70% are of the old, manually-controlled type static storage heaters.

Replacing these manual storage heaters with intelligent, high heat retention heaters such as the Dimplex Quantum (at an approximate cost of £2,100 based on three heaters, including installation) could reduce the

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annual running cost by up to £418. This is a total of £8,360 over the typical 20-year lifespan of the heaters — which for many social housing providers and their tenants would go a long way in addressing fuel poverty, which is becoming more prevalent in UK households.

The Department for Communities and Local Government estimates that around 65% of all storage heated homes could benefit in Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) from an upgrade to a high heat retention heaters1. As we move towards becoming a low-carbon society, local authorities have an important role to play in addressing the energy used in UK homes. The key will be in working closely with manufacturers to understand the low-carbon technologies available and use them to help future proof housing stock with modern, efficient heating and hot water solutions.

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www.gov.uk/government/statistical-datasets/live-tables-on-energy-performance-of-bu ildings-certificates

Shaun Hurworth from Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation ■ For more information on the Dimplex Edel hot water heat pump visit www.rdr.link/lj003 For more information on the Dimplex Quantum system visit www.rdr.link/lj004

HOUSING & REGENERATION The Bromley-by-Bow Centre is used as a national blueprint for how to build a healthy, vibrant local community

Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, speaking at the launch of the Ibstock I-studio

Blueprint for successful community regeneration Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, one of the UK’s leading social entrepreneurs, has been instrumental in the development of community regeneration projects for years, transforming some of the most deprived areas in the UK into thriving communities. Here, he talks about where it all began, the Bromley-by-Bow project in East London and the importance of working with partners, like Ibstock, a company at the heart of the built environment, in creating communities that people can be proud of. hen Andrew Mawson was offered the role as the Baptist Minister for the Bromley-byBow church in the mid 1980s, many would have been deterred. The run down and partly derelict church in the Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London was in one of the most run down areas of the UK, only had 12 elderly members and had virtually no cash flow. But for Andrew, he saw a huge opportunity. Driven by his passion for the built environment and the impact this can have on people’s health and wellbeing, he set about transforming the church and the local community.

“This was all about doing things differently,” says Andrew. “I quickly realised that the quality of the built environment all around us can have a massive impact on people’s lives. This didn’t just mean the visual aesthetics of the area, I wanted to look at the bigger picture and tackle social

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issues like the health and wellbeing of the community, housing needs, unemployment, education and other critical pathways that could make people’s lives better. In a nutshell, it wasn’t about building a community centre, it was about building a centre of the community that was at the very heart of Bromley-by-Bow.”

Joining the dots The early projects of the Bromley-by-Bow Centre were focused around redeveloping the original church and its adjoining hall, creating a space that was open for everyone to use.

“As I got to know the local community,” Andrew continues, “it gave me a better understanding of what people wanted. This was an environment that they could be proud of and that brought the community together. I surrounded myself with doers, not talkers, other entrepreneurial and innovative

individuals and businesses that also wanted to make a difference. It was all about joining the dots and making connections. With limited money, we had to focus on the micro factors that we could influence the most, so that we could rebuild the community one brick at a time.

“A key part of this was helping the community become a healthier place to live, work and thrive. We came to realise that over 50% of patients using the local NHS service in Bromley-by-Bow didn't actually have any medical issues. They were going to the doctors because they were lonely, needed a friend, didn’t have a job or didn’t have anything better to do.

“This needed to be addressed, so we designed, built and launched the first integrated health care centre in the UK that was not only owned by the local community, but also pioneered social prescribing. This wasn’t just about providing

Develop mediocre “buildings and housing and

primary care services, it gave locals access to a range of community-based support that would make them feel connected, more motivated and purposeful.”

Vibrant local communities Fast forward to today and the Bromley-byBow Centre is an innovative charity that is used as a national blueprint for how to build a healthy, vibrant local community. The Centre includes an art gallery, childcare centre, community cafe, park, health centre, a place of learning and an enterprise hub, supporting people with a wide variety of integrated services based on their individual needs. As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sachs said on Radio Four’s ‘Today’ in November 2018, the Centre is somewhere that “enables people to realise their dreams."

Andrew continues: “At the very heart of the Bromley-by-Bow project is the built environment. Ultimately, the design of the buildings around you does have a major impact on the way you feel. Develop mediocre buildings and housing and the affect on people’s lives will be exactly that.

However, design and develop high quality and innovative buildings and they will give people something to be proud of and a sense of belonging.

“It starts with a ‘place’, then we can move onto a ‘street’, and then start looking at a ‘city’. That’s exactly what

we’ve done in East London to shape future regeneration schemes.

“Bromley-by-Bow was the ‘place’ where it all started. Since then, this has rolled out into the ‘streets’ around Poplar, with massive investment continuing in this area. £40m was invested to rebuild St Paul’s Way Trust School, as well as another £40m invested by Poplar HARCA into the regeneration of an estate to replace the old bison housing blocks with 500 new private sale and affordable homes. A new £2.5m community centre has also been created and the landscape has been transformed to provide quality green spaces where residents can relax and enjoy their surroundings.”

Finally comes the ‘city’, with Andrew one of the pioneers behind the regeneration of Water City and the Olympic Park legacy, which continues to transform East London into a vibrant community.

Thinking differently

For Andrew’s visions to become a reality, it is vital he can work with innovative partners and businesses that can challenge traditional ways of thinking, who share his passion for the built environment and have the knowledge and expertise in place-making.

“Joining forces with businesses like Ibstock to explore the innovative possibilities in community and social regeneration is absolutely critical. Ibstock as a company is at the heart of £40m was invested to rebuild St Paul’s Way Trust School building, continuously developing solutions that take the construction industry forward and I’m delighted we are working in partnership with them,” concludes Andrew.

The next chapter for Andrew is using his social entrepreneurship to make a difference to communities across the north of England and beyond. As the

the affect on people’s lives will be exactly that.

However, design and develop high quality and innovative buildings and they will give people something to be proud of and a sense of belonging.

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Executive Chairman of Well North Enterprises, he is spearheading the drive to use enterprise, creativity and innovation to deliver better health and wellbeing in towns and cities including Rotherham, Bradford, Doncaster, Sheffield, Skelmersdale and Halton, plus East Lancashire and the Fylde coast.

Well North Enterprises inspires transformative, sustainable change in local communities through building relationships, promoting aspiration and supporting local entrepreneurs. The team works alongside clients and commercial partners like Ibstock to help improve community wellbeing through regeneration, entrepreneurship, education, employment and culture, something that Andrew is well versed in delivering.

Well North Enterprises is working in partnership with Ibstock plc to explore innovative possibilities in place-making and to make these a reality so that Ibstock’s people and its communities grow and thrive together.

Author biography Lord Andrew Mawson OBE is the best selling author of ‘The Social Entrepreneur: Making Communities Work’ and founder of the internationally renowned Bromley-by-Bow Centre in East London, the charity Community Action Network (CAN) and Poplar HARCA (one of the first housing companies).

wellnorthenterprises.co.uk www.ibstockplc.co.uk

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Making a connection Hyperoptic speaks to LABM about the importance of breaking digital exclusion and why both education and connectivity matters.

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t is a shocking statistic that some 11.3 million adults in the UK are digitally excluded and 37% of these people live in social housing. To be ‘cut off’ from the Internet in 2019 brings with it numerous disadvantages and inevitably means that people miss out on the best energy tariffs, the cheapest shopping prices as well as making it more difficult to find jobs and learn new skills.

We all have a role to play in ending this and it begins with Internet service providers such as Hyperoptic. In June Hyperoptic launched its first Digital Skills Academy for local people in Southwark.

The initiative will enable 50 volunteer champions to be given free training and support to help develop the digital skills of other residents in the borough — many of which are social housing tenants. The volunteers are typically residents looking to upskill, or students who will gain valuable CV enhancing skills. They will attend an introductory session delivered by training specialists We are Digital and be provided with ongoing training and support through Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network.

The Network is an award-winning learning platform that provides accredited online training, hundreds of ready-to use

teaching resources, a peer community and project management tools. Once they have completed their training, the Hyperoptic Digital Skills Champions will then share their skills in workshops they set up in the local community.

Libraries are key Libraries are at the heart of the initiative, which is why we are providing free full fibre broadband connections to six libraries in Southwark where some of the training will take place (Canada Water, Peckham, Dulwich, Camberwell, Grove Vale, Kingswood, New Walworth). The next

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between broadband providers, local authorities and housing associations.

In June Hyperoptic launched its first Digital Skills Academy in Southwark

Lack of finance is not the issue

part of the programme will see us working with these libraries to identify 10 residents who use Southwark Council’s free home library service and provide them with six hours of in-home training from We are Digital. The in-home training will be for residents with disabilities, older people, carers or those who cannot visit a library.

Feedback has been positive with Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Business and Innovation stating that: “We are delighted Hyperoptic is launching this initiative. The role of the champions is set to be incredibly valuable for the community as well as immensely rewarding for those involved. We want to make sure that all residents benefit from opportunities to take advantage of the digital revolution and this initiative helps to provide that opportunity.”

Addressing the connectivity issue We see our work with Southwark as just the beginning of working with local authorities on skills projects to help break the digital divide. Of course, skills are only one part of the equation, the other is connectivity.

Whilst libraries are a great place to learn and network face-to-face with others, people want a decent internet connection at home along with the convenience and lifestyle improvement that brings.

Southwark Council is a template in many ways and on the connectivity side we have entered into an agreement with it to enable 100,000 homes and businesses in the borough to have access to gigabit full fibre

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…we are investing in “connecting the whole of Southwark Council’s housing portfolio, including 53,000 residential homes and nearly 1,000 commercial properties with full fibre to the premises.

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broadband, at no cost to the taxpayer. To do this we are investing in connecting the whole of Southwark Council’s housing portfolio, including 53,000 residential homes and nearly 1,000 commercial properties with full fibre to the premises.

Just two years ago consumer champion Which? Named the London borough of Southwark as one of the 20 worst places in the UK for broadband speeds — averaging 10.4Mbps. Now Southwark is connected to the fastest UK broadband available.

Hyperoptic achieves these speeds through installing fibre all the way to the building rather than relying on old copper wiring which was designed over 140 years ago to carry much smaller volumes of data at a time before connected or streaming devices. The key to this turnaround is recognising the power of partnership — namely those

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There is a widely held myth that the largest barrier to installing lightning-fast new fibre is lack of finance. It is not, rather the biggest challenge is getting the necessary permissions to install fibre services.

Normally this takes the form of a ‘wayleave’ — the right of way granted by the landowner to give access to the property.

Hyperoptic is seeking to streamline this process through new ‘block’ agreements.

These agreements see council-owned properties supplied with full fibre and at the same time privately owned properties are given access to it. Residents are typically offered a range of packages ranging from 30Mbps to 1Gbps, often with a more basic service specifically tailored to social housing tenants.

As well as Southwark, a similar agreement has been reached with Brent Council and together these will see over 200,000 London homes connected under one agreement. Hyperoptic is currently engaged up and down the country on further partnerships that will bring the promise of full fibre to the masses and provide property managers with services that truly delight their tenants.

Housing associations work closely with local authorities and are key to this mix also.

To take another example with Network Homes, an award-winning HA with over 40 years’ experience of providing affordable housing. It has signed its full portfolio of 20,000 units to Hyperoptic which will supply new fibre connections direct to the homes. Customers will have a choice of a range of packages with speeds up to 1Gbps (1,000 megabits per second), which is over 18 times faster than the UK average.

Being a ‘partner’ rather than a supplier is crucial and it is these unique partnerships which are enabling digital inclusion and bringing hyperfast broadband to a broad spectrum of demographics and property types.

With thanks to Hyperoptic for preparing this article ■ hyperoptic.com

HOUSING & REGENERATION ROUND-UP New Specification range offers connected solution to fire and CO safety FireAngel Safety Technology has launched its new Specification range, which features Smart RF technology. It provides greater flexibility to future-proof properties, as the range can be adapted and upgraded at a later date by simply fitting a Smart RF radio module into a smoke, heat or carbon monoxide alarm. The new mains powered range features a 10-year Panasonic lithium battery back-up.

The alarm is said to cost just 60p to run over 10 years, supporting landlords in reducing their carbon footprint, whilst subsequently minimising energy costs.

Cladding specified to upgrade housing stock insulation

Following recent changes to Building Regulations, Ideal Boilers has developed a fully compliant gas boiler flue system. The newmsystem is suitable for use with all Ideal Logic and Vogue boilers. It is particularly suitable for the ©drimafilm/AdobeStock Logic Combi C, ESP1 and Code Combi, which are often used in high-rise buildings. The solution uses an inner aluminium flue duct rather than the previous polypropylene plastic version, which has been already classified as an A1 material and is therefore compliant with the revised legislation covering materials allowed as part of the makeup of external walls.

A major project to refurbish and upgrade housing stock has seen a BBA-certified external wall insulation system from Sto applied to 135 homes in Basildon. The installation of the StxTherm Protect system forms part of a £2.2m project to regenerate the borough’s Craylands and Fryerns housing estates. The EWI system is said to deliver outstanding thermal protection and is designed to meet strict fire protection requirements. It combines non-combustible mineral-fibre insulation board with a mineralic reinforcing coat, glass-fibre reinforcing mesh and high-performance decorative finishes, and it was applied to the properties using a combination of the company’s mechanical fixings and Multibond adhesive. It is compatible with various finish options.

■ For more information on the new gas boiler flue system visit www.rdr.link/lj006

■ For more information on the system visit www.rdr.link/lj007

■ For more information on the Specification range visit www.rdr.link/lj005 Building Regulations compliant flue solution

VENTILATION & AIR MANAGEMENT

arbnco is exploring how sensor technology could be utilised to gather real-time data on indoor environmental parameters, such as humidity, CO2 and VOCs

The air we breathe Jason Thomas considers the health and wellbeing impact of social housing and discusses how arbnco are working with Leeds City Council to explore how sensor technology could be utilised to gather real-time data on humidity, CO2 and VOCs and other parameters.

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mproving the quality of social housing is a big challenge for councils, both economically and in considering tenant needs and preferences. It is made all the more challenging by the fact that a huge factor affecting the quality of housing is the way in which homes are operated — something that local authorities have little insight into.

Understanding the living conditions inside people’s homes is important not just for potential maintenance savings, but also because of the impact on the health and wellbeing of tenants. Air quality is fast becoming one of the biggest societal problems of our time, and research from the US Environmental Protection Agency shows that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor.

How can councils gain insight into the real conditions inside social housing?

Leeds City Council is currently working on a research project to explore exactly that.

The project, funded by Innovate UK, is part of the GovTech Catalyst programme, designed to help public sector bodies take advantage of emerging technology.

Currently in phase one, the Council is working with five organisations to understand how new technology can be used to better understand environmental conditions within its housing stock. Phase two, due to begin early 2020, will see the further development and testing of a solution before piloting it.

Environmental issues Numerous studies have linked poor air quality to an array of damaging health effects. The World Health Organisation estimates that breathing in polluted air results in approximately seven million deaths per year. The risks are greater for

those living in built up, urban areas, where particulates such as brake and tyre dust and diesel emissions can easily drift in through open windows.

Not opening windows, however, can lead to problems in itself. Low ventilation rates can lead to symptoms like headaches and tiredness. It can also result in dampness and mould, particularly if tenants have laundry drying in their living environment. Mould spores can result in irritation of the throat and chest, and potentially longer-term lung problems.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are another big threat; invisible, but sometimes detected by smell. These are emitted as gases from everyday items, such as furniture, fittings, and cleaning products. Consistent exposure to VOCs can cause health effects such as eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, and many are also known carcinogenic chemicals.

Solutions and outcomes How can councils gain insight on the quality of the indoor environment in social housing? arbnco, one of the organisations working with Leeds City Council on this project, is exploring how sensor technology could be utilised to gather real-time data on indoor environmental parameters, such as humidity, CO2 and VOCs. This would be supplemented by qualitative data, where tenants could provide human feedback on the environment. A central platform would then analyse this data, and could alert occupants, building managers and councils when parameters are exceeding safe limits or optimum comfort levels.

For the Council, not only could this lead to healthier, happier tenants; it could also aid property management, enhance accessibility of information on building condition, and allow earlier preventative measures to be taken. This could help reduce periods of inoccupancy in social housing, by ensuring properties are always of a liveable standard.

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If we can work with GovTech Catalyst partners to target our resources better and reduce the need for housing repairs, it could have a massive benefit for the people of Leeds.

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Councillor James Lewis, Leeds City Council Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Resources, said: “It’s great to see Leeds’ growing digital industry working with the Government Digital Service and Innovate UK through GovTech Catalyst to develop innovative, creative solutions to benefit Leeds residents.

“At the moment, we're having to visit all of our council properties to find out what the building condition is, and we then have 200,000 repairs a year. If we can work with GovTech Catalyst partners to target our resources better and reduce the need for housing repairs, it could have a massive benefit for the people of Leeds.”

Technology and research The project could help councils understand whether properties need reconfiguring, such as providing communal drying rooms, and whether certain types of build are more susceptible to particular issues. arbnco’s academic partner on the project, the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit at The Glasgow School of Art, is exploring this. It has already undertaken extensive research into the impact of poor domestic ventilation, and for this project, will study different property archetypes and examine construction methods to develop a risk factor index.

The technology could also enable councils to help tenants with energy management. Sensors could highlight wasteful activity, such as having the heating on whilst windows are open. It could also

detect if temperature is consistently very low, which could be an indication of fuel poverty. The charity, National Energy Action, is working with Leeds City Council on this project, to build up a picture of energy vulnerability status across council properties. It is hoping to use these insights to inform how sensor data can be used to better support tenants, and understand what interventions might be necessary to manage indoor environment and energy use more effectively.

Emerging sensor technology presents councils with an opportunity to improve housing stock and positively impact the health and wellbeing of tenants — hopefully many more will follow in the footsteps of Leeds City Council. If we can understand the link between the indoor environment and tenant health, and take steps to address it and influence behaviours where necessary, then council housing could play a more active role in helping to reduce the burden on our overstretched health and social care services.

Jason Thomas is the Business Development Manager for health and wellbeing products at building performance technology company arbnco ■ For more information on arbnco’s services visit www.rdr.link/lj008 ■ For more information on the Leeds City Council research project visit www.rdr.link/lj009

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THE TRADESHOW FOR PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS

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Top trade products, live demos, show specials – all under one roof!

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VENTILATION & AIR MANAGEMENT

EnviroVent’s ATMOS gently ventilates the home from a central position on a landing or from a loft

Effective ventilation in the home will help reduce condensation

The drive to Net-Zero Rebecca McLean discusses how the latest ventilation technologies can contribute towards a Net-Zero objective. arlier this year, the UK became the first major economy to commit to Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

Industry body BEAMA launched its ‘Net-Zero by Design’ report in September 2019, backed by heating and ventilation manufacturers, which sets out the industry’s commitment to meeting the UK’s 2050 target.

This report sets out how to ensure NetZero can be commercially viable for businesses and consumers. It includes immediate actions to reform Building Regulations, setting ambitions high within this round of the Part L review which would send clear signals to the new-build sector to phase out high-carbon technologies and enable storage capacity, as well as

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setting higher standards for existing homes in the UK. BEAMA also highlights the opportunities for our sector to take the lead on deploying low-carbon technology at scale to enable a Net-Zero future.

As UK buildings become more airtight and better insulated with lower heat requirements, this means that ventilation needs to be taken more seriously in order for homes to deliver good indoor air quality for healthy living. Technologies in the home are required to utilise less energy, generate less carbon and other emissions than ever before and ventilation systems can contribute towards achieving this objective.

At first glance, ‘natural’ or ‘purge’ ventilation, such as opening windows and doors, is less energy than mechanical

systems because it is uncontrolled. In fact, research has shown that opening windows and doors to ventilate a home can account for around one third of space heating energy lost, due to the amount of warm air that flows outside. There is also an issue for homes in areas of high pollution, or where there are high noise levels, such as near rail networks or airports, where it is unrealistic to ventilate a property using natural means.

Older, draughty homes that have excessive air escaping can cause a similar problem. While they may provide a good level of passive ventilation to a home, they are a major source of heat loss and can make rooms feel uncomfortably chilly. Energy loss can be significantly lower with mechanical

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VENTILATION & AIR MANAGEMENT rooms of the home, meaning heat loss from ventilation is largely avoided.

The householder can therefore spend less on heating their property, reducing costs by around 25%1, therefore saving money and ensuring a healthy, well ventilated home.

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery is increasingly used to reduce the heating and cooling demands of buildings.

Heat recovery systems typically recover about 60–95% of the heat in exhaust air and can significantly improve the energy efficiency of buildings, contributing towards the requirements of Net-Zero. However, MVHR is only really suitable when a complete refurbishment of a dwelling is being undertaken or for new-build.

The energiSava 300 provides a constant supply of clean, tempered air and maintains stable humidity levels in homes

ventilation systems, such as MVHR and Positive Input Ventilation (PIV).

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery Modern homes are significantly more airtight than in previous generations, due to the requirements of Approved Document Part L1A: Conservation of Fuel and Power in new dwellings, which means reduced heat loss and improved energy efficiency, however, this can lead to issues with ventilation and poor indoor air quality.

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems also known as ‘whole

house heat recovery ventilation’ are a popular choice for many new homes as they provide a controlled amount of clean, fresh air that is vital for the health and wellbeing of a household.

Whole-house MVHR systems extract warm, damp air from the home and draw in fresh air from the outside. The warm, extracted air is passed over a heat exchanger before being expelled outside.

Simultaneously, the fresh outside air then passes through the heat exchanger, without coming into direct contact with the exhaust air, where it collects this heat energy and delivers it into the habitable

Positive Input Ventilation Meeting Net-Zero also means that existing homes need to have reduced energy demands. Technologies such as PIV (Positive Input Ventilation) operate with extremely low energy and can make a dramatic difference in removing excess moisture. These can be installed relatively quickly and simply into existing homes.

Council maintenance departments come under pressure in the autumn and winter from the burden of dealing with issues of mould eradication in properties, which can be a constantly reoccurring problem when an effective controllable ventilation solution is not implemented.

For many councils, PIV represents an effective way to prevent issues with condensation and mould and delivers good quality indoor air quality to a home.

Research and development into making ventilation systems ever more energyefficient continues. And, as we move towards a lower carbon economy in this country, we are working alongside others in our industry to deliver ventilation solutions with less energy demands that are compatible with achieving Net-Zero.

1. Source: Centre for Sustainable Energy

Rebecca McLean is Marketing & Product Director at EnviroVent ■ For more information on EnviroVent’s ventilation solutions visit www.rdr.link/lj010

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VENTILATION & AIR MANAGEMENT ROUND-UP Lifting the lid on condensation With one in five homes in the UK affected by recurring condensation dampness, it can become a huge problem for local authorities at this time of year. Excess moisture creates serious long-term problems to the fabric of a property by causing a build-up of mould and dampness, resulting in expensive repairs for landlords. Condensation and mould are also harmful to the health and wellbeing of tenants, aggravating symptoms of asthma and other allergies.

The only way to get rid of condensation for good is by adequately ventilating a property.

Nuaire’s family of PIV units, including the Drimaster-Eco range, offer a highly effective, lowcost retrofit solution for solving condensation and mould in properties.

■ For more information on the Drimaster-Eco range visit www.rdr.link/lj011

Advice for landlords following new NICE IAQ guidance The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently issued draft guidelines relating to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), which will be of particular interest to UK social housing landlords. The final NICE document is scheduled for publication in December but the need for improved IAQ in the home is clear. With other 30 years’ experience helping landlords tackle condensation and mould, Airtech can offer solutions to help housing providers improve the indoor air quality of their properties.

The company’s mould surveys and treatment solutions offer three steps that can solve the problem of condensation and mould.

■ For more information Airtech’s solutions visit www.rdr.link/lj012

New single room heat recovery unit available Vortice has launched a new single room heat recovery unit which is said to be quiet, efficient, energy saving and anti-allergic thanks to built-in filters preventing the release of pollutants and allergens into the surrounding air. The Vort HRW Mono is suitable for recessed installation in outside walls of thickness between 285 and 700mm, it has a low voltage EC motor-driven fan and five speeds. There are two versions available, manual or RC (remote control). The device includes LEDs for filter monitoring and diagnostics.

The unit has three operating modes: ventilation with heat recovery, ventilation with air extraction only and ventilation with air intake only.

■ For information on the Vort HRW Mono visit www.rdr.link/lj013

DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE

CMS Window Systems recently completed a large-scale refurbishment project for Ferguslie Park Housing Association

How can we specif y sustainability?

Colin Torley explains why window and door specifications need to take a holistic view on sustainability.

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he benefits of choosing thermally superior windows and doors for upgrading the energy efficiency of social housing, schools and all other public sector buildings have long been understood. But making a choice to help cut energy usage — as critically important as that is — is only part of what makes a window or door specification a ‘sustainable’ one.

The adoption of life cycle thinking in terms of a product’s design, manufacture, service life and post-use fate has enabled specifiers to consider and compare the holistic sustainability of one window and door over another. And continuous innovation by companies right along the supply chain means there is always scope to improve on the sustainability credentials of a specification whenever a new project is planned.

Here are some key specification points to consider: Waste reduction and avoiding landfill What happens to old, post-consumer windows and doors when they are removed during refurbishment projects? There is no need for a single kilogram of waste to go to

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landfill given the high recyclability of timber, PVC-U, metals, glass and all other materials used to manufacture windows and doors. For example, in 2018-19 CMS Window Systems diverted 100% In 2018-19 CMS Window Systems diverted 100% of its waste including all post-consumer waste, from landfill of its waste including all post-consumer waste, from landfill. It sent 97% of its waste for Product manufacturing’s recycling and 3% was converted from environmental impact waste-to-energy — that included production How sustainable are the factories waste such as PVC-U off-cuts and producing your new windows and doors? packaging too.

The industrial and manufacturing sectors are responsible for a large proportion of the UK’s overall CO2 emissions, so it is Increasing the recycled content in important that all supply chain partners are new products playing their part by making progressive Many systems and products used to changes in their operational processes. create new windows and doors are now Heating the offices and factories using manufactured using a degree of recycled biomass boilers, for example, has helped content. As processes evolve, the reduce fossil fuel consumption at CMS. This proportion of previously used materials in achieves a carbon saving of around 95% PVC-U profiles, glazing and metal versus oil. But the impact of a business on hardware is gradually increasing in line its local environment should also be with ‘closed loop’ thinking. New double considered too. Here a biodiversity glazed units are now available which programme can make a big difference, with contain nearly 40% post-use glass, easing active management of local wildlife habitats the pressure for ‘virgin’ raw materials.

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are extremely valuable, which is why CMS has set up its CMS Academy for apprentices, as is being a Living Wage employer and investment in employee wellbeing. The training of mental health first aiders, for example, is just one of the ways that the workplace is improving in this respect.

Economic sustainability CMS upgraded 300 of Ferguslie Park Housing Association’s 803 properties with high-performance PVC-U windows and doors

to manage flora and fauna. Any factory site or location can implement a programme, with even the smallest steps such as installing bird/bee/bug boxes capable of making a positive contribution.

has already added the first electricallypowered van it its fleet and others will follow, and their impact will be closely monitored to establish the CO2 savings in the long-term.

Greener transportation to site

Socially sustainable practices

Consumers are gradually shifting from diesel and petrol vehicles to electric, and businesses are increasingly being able to utilise the technology as it matures and becomes more commercially viable. CMS

The importance of social sustainability and how businesses in the supply chain are making a positive difference to people must not be overlooked. Strategies to ensure young people have credible career options

None of the environmental or social benefits outlined here can be delivered by a supply chain partner if they are not commercially sound, which is why the financial integrity of a supplier cannot be overlooked. Wellmanaged businesses can provide stable employment and re-invest profit back into the business to create more jobs and support the local economy, extending the benefits into the whole community.

Colin Torley is Market Development Director at CMS Window Systems â– For more information on CMS visit: www.cmswindows.com

DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE

Over 200 professionals from local authorities and housing associations recently came together to learn about the latest developments in the fire door sector in the UK’s first CPD Accredited CE Marked GRP fire door seminars. LABM reports.

The presentation team

Fire door best practice he CPD event was held over two days and hosted by fire door specialist manufacturer and installer Nationwide Windows.

Delegates heard from industry leading organisations including the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM), Fire Door Systems (FDS), Warringtonfire and the Nationwide team.

John Whalley, Nationwide MD comments: “There’s no doubt it has been a challenging time for everyone in the fire door supply chain, especially those involved in social housing specification and the commissioning of fire doors. That’s why we wanted to instigate these seminars to offer clarity, share the sheer amount of testing that has been undertaken to ensure that the next generation of GRP fire doors are safe and fit for purpose, and offer practical guidance. The timing of the seminars was also especially important as 1st November sees the new CE Marking legislation coming into effect.

“Delegates were given an overview of the fire door market since Grenfell to today; the current status and minimum requirements to supply. Local authority and housing association attendees also heard about the latest digital solutions available for coding and tracking fire rated door-sets from point of manufacture, to

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install, to inspection and maintenance; as well as insights into the robust testing requirements of the EU fire door testing; and advice on how to specify and access the next generation of CE Marked GRP fire Tested to far in excess of 30 minutes against temperatures of 900°C doors and the Celsius in accordance with EN 1634-1, and smoke tested to EN1634-3 benefits of third party certification and the schemes offered When looking for suppliers for projects involving fire door specification, it is for GRP fire-rated doorsets.”

At the event local authority and housing important specifiers choose partners that are third party, independently accredited association specifiers had the opportunity at every stage of the process — from site to take a look at the latest range of CE survey, to manufacture, to installation. This Marked, GRP fire door solutions from gives social housing providers and their Nationwide. The doors have benefited tenants complete peace of mind that the from over £500,000 of investment in >40 products installed on the project will individual fire tests run in UKAS (or EU perform as intended. Nationwide holds equivalent) test centres in three different the Q Mark by BM TRADA in recognition European countries. of its process control from start to finish.

John continues: “Our door is proven to keep fire at bay for far in excess of 30 minutes against temperatures of 900°C With thanks to Nationwide for Celsius in accordance with EN 1634-1, and preparing this article smoke tested to EN1634-3. It has undergone bi-directional testing and is designed to pass ■ For more information on the CPD the rigours of PAS24 and Secured By Accredited CE Marked GRP fire door Design enhanced security standards.” seminars visit www.nwd.co.uk

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DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE UAP’s TS008 letterplate is Certifire approved for FD30 and FD60 timber doorsets

Certified hardware esponses in the MHCLG Fire Doors FAQs for local authorities and housing associations state ‘When purchasing fire doors, building owners should assure themselves that doors are fit for purpose with the appropriate test evidence for the specific type of door.’

‘The Government is working closely with all the third party certification bodies to identify ways to strengthen the current system and provide greater assurance that all fire doorsets on the market meet and exceed performance and quality standards.

‘The Expert Panel advise that while it should not be solely relied upon third party certification by a UKAS accredited body can provide landlords and building owners greater assurance on the performance of the doors.’

As a trusted hardware provider, we have worked with several door manufacturers over the last 12 months to support them through the testing process. It is therefore vital that our products are reliable and perform, meeting the very latest standards and requirements. Our investment in Certifire certification for our TS008 letterplate, The Soterian is one example of this.

Certifire is an independent third-party certification scheme accepted by regulatory authorities as an international mark of fire safety across a range of products, including hardware.

The scheme ‘…assures performance, quality, reliability and traceability of products and systems…[it] provides assurance that fire protection products and systems correctly installed will perform as

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required. Therefore, avoiding costly mistakes and dramatically reducing risk.’

Approved products Independently tested by Warringtonfire Testing & Certification, UAP’s TS008 letterplate is Certifire approved for FD30 and FD60 timber doorsets. It is certified for use with a variety of door assemblies — timber faced and edged door leaves with a solid cellulosic core in timber, metal or composite frames.

As a complete letterplate system, it can be fitted to endure fire attack from either face. Featuring an integral intumescent liner which can expand to 50 times its volume to seal any gaps in the door hardware, the letterplate is compliant to BS EN1634-3:2004 smoke leakage regulations.

The solution was approved on the basis of initial type testing, a design appraisal against TS32, certification of Quality Management System to ISO 9001:2008 and inspection and surveillance of factory production control; and certified in accordance with TS00 General Requirements for Certification of Fire Protection Products. Building occupants benefit from full unrestricted door opening with a minimum internal flap projection of just 35mm.

With 75% of GRP door manufacturers failing the Government fire safety tests and more recently, the MHCLG reporting a total of 25 timber fire door types all passing the two-sided tests under BS-476:223, it’s certainly a confusing time for those wishing to specify fire-rated products and appoint a fire door provider. This is why it’s

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In the wake of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government investigation, there is an immediate demand for compliant fire door solutions.

Mark Rushton explains why certification continues to be a valuable asset in the specification of fire door hardware. important social housing providers partner with hardware suppliers that are able to respond to market requirements. UAP for example has an in-house testing and product development centre, which allows the company to improve on existing products as well as develop new ranges, quickly and to the standards required.

Procurement and installation Hardware plays an important role in minimising the risks caused by fire yet its specification and procurement goes well beyond selecting the right product for installation. Practical factors, for example stock availability, technical support, access to spare parts and extra keys, and security, must all be considered. This is particularly relevant to those specifying hardware directly or appointing a door provider for supply and replacement framework agreements, where volume and consistency are required. It applies to hardware for all door types, not just fire doors.

The wider building and construction industry will continue to learn, change and improve after the Grenfell Tower fire.

While certificates such as Certifire give the building owner and resident confidence, knowing they have selected a product that carries the mark of a reputable third-party certification body, it’s imperative that these certified products are then installed correctly.

Mark Rushton is Quality and Certification Director at UAP ■ For more information on The Soterian visit www.rdr.link/lj014

DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE ROUND-UP New locking handle enhances dual point lock on folding door hardware Allegion UK has added the 286DL locking handle to its range of Brio dual point locks for exterior folding applications. It is ideal for both residential and commercial facilities. Designed to ‘suite’ with Brio 288 lever furniture, the locking handle has been specifically design engineered to secure timber and aluminium folding panels. The single action handle is a stylish alternative to two flush bolts. The intelligent security-conscious design of the product is discreetly hidden inside the aluminium stile or edge of a timber panel with minimal machining and quick fixing points thanks to the patented hinge blocks. A variety of keepers allow for neat dressing and accurate alignment of the throw and panel, which improves the performance of perimeter weather seals.

■ For more information on the 286DL locking handle visit www.rdr.link/lj015 Two new high performance steel door ranges Door Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, is launching two new high performance steel doorsets within its Powershield Security Doorset range. The new SR3 and SR4 steel door ranges, also known as Torr and Titan, have been developed to offer a product compatible with increased frame and ironmongery options, allowing greater freedom of design for architects and specifiers. The doors are suitable for an extensive range of sectors, including hospitals, safe rooms, MOD buildings, personal security, arenas and stadiums. After listening to customers requirements, the Torr and Titan ranges have been redeveloped to replace the Glen and Strangford security doors and are certified under LPS1175 Issue 7 to withstand against sustained, professional burglar and vandal attacks.

■ For more information on SR3 and SR4 steel door ranges visit www.rdr.link/lj016 High performance window, door and framing system After extensive research and consultation with key supply partners, Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems is making available the Comar 9P.i High Performance Window, Door and Framing System. The system is a thermally efficient future-proof façade system, manufactured offsite and with reduced material content. The framing offers two options of construction: ladder frame or mitre frame. Comar 9P.i windows and 9P.i doors can be hung directly from the frame, reducing the need for additional outer frames, creating an integrated solution.

Building typologies differ from refurbishment to new-build, thus Comar 9P.i has profile widths from 78, 100 and 120mm creating greater design flexibility.

There are three levels of thermal performance: standard, multi-chamber and multi-chamber thermal foam, creating U-values of between 1.6 to 1.0 for a typical grid size with opening vents.

■ For more information on the system visit www.rdr.link/lj017

New ‘whole door system’ now available

GEZE UK introduces a ‘whole door system’, which combines secure locking with failsafe emergency evacuation features to meet the rigorous PAS 24 standard. The Slimdrive SL NT PAS 24 System enables 24-hour access control and has been designed and tested for continuous use. With the company’s robust locking system that is hidden from view, the solution makes it even harder for opportunist burglars to identify points of access.

The system uses GEZE’s proven Slimdrive SL NT automatic sliding operator. At just seven centimetres it is the slimmest on the market enabling it to be almost invisibly integrated into the façade. It can move leaf weights up to 125kg and is virtually silent in operation.

■ To download the new brochure about the system visit www.rdr.link/lj018 Lindner Interiors achieves fire accreditation Lindner Interiors has achieved the FIRAS certification for the design, supply and install of fire-rated glazing and steel doors.

The FIRAS certification is a third party scheme for installers that has been instrumental in improving the installation and maintenance standards of both passive and active fire protection products and systems. Lindner Interiors applied for certification and underwent the stringent three-stage assessment process. This includes assessment of office management systems, as well as workmanship onsite for all trade disciplines for which certification is sought, and a competence assessment of supervisory and installation employees. In addition, FIRAS is awarded to the contracting company, not an individual, which strictly means all operatives are held to the same standards for the discipline being assessed.

■ For more information on FIRAS Accreditation visit www.rdr.link/lj019 For more information on Lindner Interiors visit www.rdr.link/lj020

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Water-based paint range extended Crown Trade has extended its popular water-based Fastflow Quick Dry range of trim products to offer even greater design flexibility and provide specifiers with a classic low-sheen eggshell finish. The new Fastflow Quick Dry Eggshell paint is suitable for both interior and exterior wood and metalwork, and is the ideal companion to heritage style design schemes in both new-build and restoration projects. It benefits from the company’s Breatheasy technology. The new water-based eggshell option’s low-odour formulation lends itself well for work on projects where disruption needs to be kept to a minimum such as education and healthcare facilities. The product’s quick drying properties can also help reduce time and labour on site, allowing rooms to be reoccupied sooner.

■ For more information on the Fastflow Quick Dry Eggshell paint visit www.rdr.link/lj021 High performance acoustics solutions for healthcare The Hygiene range of acoustic solutions from Ecophon is designed to meet all the requirements of demanding healthcare environments and comprises the Clinic, Meditec, Protec, Performance and Advance product groups. The range allows specifiers on to select the products that not only meet the required levels of acoustic performance but also the necessary cleanability, durability, particle repellence and bacterial resistance. It also includes products that meet all levels of cleanability from a dry vacuum and wet cleaning with a microfibre cloth to advanced techniques that include chemical, pressure, steam and hydrogen peroxide vapour cleaning. All products within the range have been tested and certified according to ISO 846 for resistance to both fungal and bacterial growth.

■ To find out more about Ecophon Hygiene and to download the new brochure visit www.rdr.link/lj022 Specialist winter pressures ward delivered Modular experts Portakabin built the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust a bespoke 27-bed surgical ward within four months. Named ‘The Charnley Ward’, the state-ofthe-art building has been suspended 25 feet above a car park and is linked directly to the first floor of the hospital.

With the hospital running at capacity, an urgent need for additional ward space meant any solution had to be built upwards, instead of outwards. The new ward is designed to expand capacity, ease pressure on the Emergency Department and improve patient flow.

Raul Silva, Charnley Ward Manager, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust said: “It provides more spacious, modern facilities, with air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms, which helps patient recovery and enhances their experience.”

■ For more information on Portakabin’s services and solutions visit www.rdr.link/lj023

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Structural silicone is helping London Bridge redevelopment stand the test of time

Iconic London Bridge station, the oldest rail terminus in London and fourth busiest station in the country, reopened last year following a vast £1bn redevelopment, which included multiple façades and glass lift shafts held together by Sikasil structural silicone. Over a period of seven years, the station was refurbished and expanded.

Thanks to Sikasil SG-500 structural silicone adhesive, which was specified by architectural glass specialists OAG, the project’s curved 275m long two-phase façade on Tooley Street and double height façade at the entrance to the station continue to stand the test of time. As well as being able to provide the strength of bond needed, the Sikasil UV and weathering resistance meant it was the ideal product for long-term durability.

■ For more information on the Sikasil SG-500 structural silicone adhesive visit www.rdr.link/lj024 Building façade refurbishment made easy Every building façade, even those created using the highest quality materials, can benefit from an effective cleaning and maintenance routine.

With this in mind, façade specialist Sto has launched Sto Restore — a series of product and system solutions for the cleaning, repair, recoating and protection of building façades with existing external wall insulation or render. The range covers many different aspects of the maintenance and restoration process, ranging from the repair of surface cracks, right through to restoring the appearance and protecting the façade against the effects of heat, cold, wind and wet weather. These specially formulated paints and coatings are designed to create a fresh new appearance for the building, and also inhibit the growth of algae and staining, with their self-cleaning and quick drying product properties.

■ To download a new brochure with details about Sto Restore visit www.rdr.link/lj025

REFERENCE LIBRARY Limescale prevention explained on new-look website The new website for Combimate, Cistermiser’s limescale prevention device, explains the benefits of phosphate dosing in detail, with helpful FAQs and informative User Guides to ensure that housing specifiers get the most out of the device, which is commonly installed to prevent limescale formation in hard water areas but will also reduce the effects of soft water corrosion. The device can be fitted to provide limescale protection for whole house water supplies (which requires an annual top-up of a complete 800g refill bag of Combiphos) or single appliances such as a combi boiler (which requires half a refill bag of Combiphos to top-up the unit each year). Combimate is also WRAS approved.

■ For more information visit combimate.co.uk New brochure showcases planning specialist’s solutions Tailor made solutions designed around imaginative approaches and techniques, is the theme of a new brochure from planning specialist, Hedley Planning Services. Designed for private and public sector planning decision makers, property developers and landowners, the brochure showcases the company's expertise and experience in managing schemes that generate legacy and deliver long-term conservation and regeneration benefits.

Applications, appeals, strategic land promotion, Section 17 and CPO, project management, rural development and planning strategy are detailed among the services highlighted through a series of informative commercial and residential based case studies. Profiles of the Directors are also featured in a comprehensive round-up of the technical skills and experience provided by the North East-based firm.

Promoting the reuse of steel in construction

New guidelines to help promote the re-use of steel in construction have been launched. Published by the Steel Construction Institute (SCI), the 46-page guide — Structural Steel Reuse: Assessment, Testing and Design Principles — aims to help the construction sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from structural steel, while also saving money. It provides guidance on the procedures and processes for reclaiming steel used in existing structures, and for utilising surplus steel, such as from cancelled projects.

Tom Hay, Director of Pluton Engineering and a member of the Institution of Structural Engineers’ Sustainability Panel, says: “These protocols from the SCI should help the industry to be more sustainable and embrace the circular economy in a way it has been unable to do so due to a lack of clarity in the existing regulations.”

■ To download a copy of the guide visit www.rdr.link/lj028 New Internet platform shines light on roof glazing solutions

■ For a copy of the brochure visit www.rdr.link/lj026 New European LVL Handbook published The new European LVL handbook is the first comprehensive summary of the properties and end uses of LVL products. It has been compiled and published by the woodworking industry. The handbook offers a wealth of information for designers, engineers and builders. Laminated Veneer Lumber’s (LVL) glued veneer structure makes it an efficient material for construction. The product is used for beams, plates, studs, panels and elements: from new buildings to renovations and further industrial applications. The Federation of the Finnish Woodworking Industries is responsible for publishing the handbook. Metsä Wood, Stora Enso Wood Products and Raute Oyj have contributed from the industry side.

■ To download the handbook visit www.rdr.link/lj027

The launch of a new website by roof glazing and rooflight manufacturer, Xtralite, will help shine the light on the benefits of such architectural solutions across a wide range of disciplines. The company has created a site that will showcase the solutions it provides and how they integrate into new-builds and refurbishment projects.

Additions to the website include a new comprehensive resources page which links to drawings, DoP’s fixing instructions and NBS pages, as well as literature that will allow online research and understanding. Enhanced images and case studies, across both the domestic and commercial sector, bring the products to life.

■ For more information on the range of rooflights visit www.xtralite.co.uk

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Coming up in the December issue of LABM… KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS ● Specifying solutions for public sector washroom applications, factoring in installation and maintenance requirements, costs, aesthetics and functionality, and the importance of opting for products without niches that can harbour germs and viruses.

ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION

HEATING & PLUMBING ● Advice on how applying Combined Heat and Power in conjunction with boilers can provide economic benefits on sites with high heat demand, such as council-owned leisure centres. At Penrith Leisure Centre (Eden District Council) for example, primary energy usage has fallen by 35% since installing CHP, resulting in a corresponding drop in running costs.

At Macclesfield Leisure Centre, East Cheshire Council is already reaping

significant financial savings only a month since switching to CHP and anticipating a rapid return on investment. The ability to generate onsite electricity at lower gas prices is increasing the appeal of technology to councils. ● A look at the fuel options available for social housing in off-grid locations, considering building design, tenant metering and billing, running costs and environmental credentials.

● Advice on working at height and a building owner’s liability when it comes to commissioning surveyors to go up onto the roof space and conduct condition reports. Does the building owner realise they are liable for that person’s safety, what checks do they make to ensure the surveyor is competent and qualified to be up on the roof? LABM offers guidance on what local authorities need to consider to insulate them from prosecution. ● As Building Regulations demand everhigher thermal efficiency, today’s buildings are becoming increasingly airtight. While this is undoubtedly beneficial for building energy performance, local authorities, architects and contractors must understand the implications for moisture and vapour management when considering roofing membranes, as LABM finds out.

Advertisement index Aico Limited .............................................................................(page 22) Akzo Nobel (ICI Paints) ..........................................................(page 27) Aluk GB Limited .......................................................................(page 42) Carrs Coatings Limited ............................................................(page 9) Fernox Alpha Fry Limited ......................................................(page 12) Horne Engineering Limited ..................................................(page 30) Icynene .......................................................................................(page 21) Intratone UK Limited ...............................................................(page 41) James Jones & Son ..................................................................(page 7) Nationwide Windows .............................................................(page 46) Nuaire Limited .........................................................................(page 39)

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Pro Builder Live .......................................................................(page 36) Samuel Heath & Sons ............................................................(page 45) SE Controls .................................................................................(page 11) Swish Building Products Limited ........................................(page 30) Tarmac Blue Circle ....................................................................(page 4) The Electric Heating Co Limited .........................................(page 33) Velux Co. Limited ...............................................................(back cover) Wavin/Q-bic ...............................................................................(page 17) Wilo (UK) Limited ......................................................................(page 12) Windoor UK Limited ..............................................(inside front cover)

GUEST COMMENT

Recent research by the Solar Trade Association (STA) highlights how local authorities are taking the initiative and implementing higher building standards on developments. Jack DobsonSmith, Public Affairs & Communications Officer at the STA, discusses the research and why government should not stymie council ambitions.

LAs leading on building standards nergy use in Britain’s homes accounts for around 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Keeping our homes warm, well lit and functional while taking steps to decarbonise is a challenge that local authorities across the country are taking steps to tackle.

While there is much to be said about how we achieve this with the existing housing stock, many have made concerted efforts to ensure new dwellings are developed with energy efficiency and renewables in mind.

Research undertaken by the Solar Trade Association reveals that more than half of all local authorities have utilised powers granted under the Planning and Energy Act 2008 to implement higher building standards than those set by national government.

One in six of these local authorities have designed policies which go well beyond national building standards, encouraging the development of properties that have considerably smaller carbon footprints than the average home. These new dwellings will be cheaper to run owing to higher energy efficiency and the deployment of renewable energy technologies such as solar and even battery storage in some circumstances.

Milton Keynes has been singled-out as having one of the most progressive policies among local authorities. Their local plan, which was adopted in March 2019, requires

developers to set out how their proposals will achieve a 19% carbon reduction improvement and provide onsite renewable energy generation, or connection to a renewable or low carbon community energy scheme, that contributes to a further 20% reduction in the residual carbon emissions. They are also one of the only local authorities to include a requirement on developers to consider ‘the opportunities to provide energy storage and demand management so as to tie in with local and national energy security priorities’.

Aiming high Across Scotland, more than 15,000 homes a year are built to higher standards, with STA members estimating that approximately 80% of all new houses have solar PV. The likes of progressive local authorities such as Milton Keynes, Plymouth and Cambridge developing tighter Building Regulations and challenging developers to meet these more stringent requirements surely underlines the case for local authorities to retain powers to set higher standards.

Under the Government’s proposed Future Homes Standard there are plans to enforce tighter controls on carbon emissions and energy efficiency in new dwellings, but to also limit the powers that local authorities possess to set their own, more stringent standards. This risks

Across Scotland, more than “15,000 homes a year are built to higher standards, with STA members estimating that approximately 80% of all new houses have solar PV.

”

stymieing ambitious councils at a time when the urgency to tackle climate change is substantial. Raising the policy floor is certainly welcome, but establishing a ceiling will present an unnecessary hindrance to progress.

Ultimately, many local authorities across the country have taken the initiative and are delivering robust policies, which result in energy-efficient, low-carbon homes. It is important that national government plays its role in raising standards to set the laggards on the path towards net zero, but there is little sense in blocking innovative councils that want to decarbonise faster and drive the housebuilding sector towards the inevitable — a future of energy-efficient, low-carbon homes. www.solar-trade.org.uk

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