Public Sector Building News - End of Year Review 2020

www.psbnews.co.uk End of Year Review 2020

WORK COMPLETES ON PART OF £46.5M UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: FG OFF

BY AISEL ARCHITECTS

PROJECT: BRAYWICK PARK LEISURE CENTRE, MAIDENHEAD

PLANS SUBMITTED FOR LANDMARK REGENERATION PROJECT IN POOLE

EDUCATION

HOUSING

SAFETY

£26m Birmingham student accommodation completed in time for students moving in

Clancy re-secures top spot on affordable homes framework

Advice for building owners and landlords: keeping on top of fire door safety

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Contents

PSBN

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING NEWS

Editor Maria Lapthorn editor@psbnews.co.uk Editorial Assistant Francesca Amato editorial@psbnews.co.uk Production/Design Laura Whitehead design@psbnews.co.uk Sales Manager Chris Lewry chris@psbnews.co.uk Sales Executive Lucy Robinson lucy@psbnews.co.uk

On the cover Wernick delivers second modular building for Swansea University.

Braywick Leisure Centre - Page 22

Read more on page 07.

Accounts Richard Lapthorn accounts@psbnews.co.uk

Features

Circulation Manager Leo Phillips subs@psbnews.co.uk

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Willmott Dixon awarded Oaklands College contract

Perfect Circle delivers more than 1,450 public sector projects

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Building blocks of a brighter future for Scotland’s children

Industry Veteran Bob Bruce Reflects on Six Months with Hyfire

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JPG secures contract for new Keele University Veterinary School

Gallagher wins multi-year appointment as broker for Amey

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Beard wins Signature contract for two care homes worth ÂŁ25million

Clancy re-secures top spot on affordable homes framework

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Advice for owners & landlords: keeping on top of fire door safety

Project - FG OFF by aisel architects in Ukraine

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WILLMOTT DIXON SECURES SECOND PHASE OF OAKLANDS COLLEGE REDEVELOPMENT

Willmott Dixon has been awarded a £13.4m contract for the second phase of the £62m redevelopment at Oaklands College in St Albans.

It comes after the company handed over the first phase in the summer, the Homestead building, which provides residential accommodation for up to 80 students as well as two on-site wardens.

Phase two, again procured through the Pagabo Major Works Framework, will be named The Evolution Centre to represent the importance it will have in the development of the College’s staff and students. The new facility will be the core learning building on campus and contains a mix of classrooms and support spaces for teaching staff, with seven classrooms forming a dedicated wing for Oaklands College’s Pathway 4 special needs provision.

DYER & BUTLER SECURES PLACE ON HIGHWAYS ENGLAND HISTORIC RAILWAYS ESTATE FRAMEWORK Dyer & Butler, a multidisciplined engineering services specialist focused on essential transport infrastructure including airports, railways and highways, and a part of M Group Services, has been appointed as a delivery partner on Highways England’s Historic Railways Estate (HRE) framework.

The HRE framework relates to the civil engineering repair, maintenance and associated services of historical structural and land assets related to former railways which are now closed.

Highways England is responsible for approximately

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4,000 non-operational railway structures including legacy bridges, viaducts, tunnels, retaining walls, culverts and similar properties associated with closed railways throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

The work was tendered in separate Lots, with Dyer & Butler awarded the contract for the Minor Works South Lot (typically Package Orders less than £200,000) which includes the clearance of vegetation, masonry brickwork and stonework repairs and pointing stabilisation of loose masonry, providing safety and/or security fencing and reactive response to unauthorised access.

To support Willmott Dixon’s ambition to be net zero carbon by 2030, the site team have created early electrical connections to the grid so that the tower crane, site and welfare facilities do not need diesel generators. The project is also utilising the local St Albans based community wood recycling to ensure that all timber not required is reused rather than sent away as waste.

Chris Tredget, managing director at Willmott Dixon in London and East, said: “After delivering the Homestead Building, the team is delighted to be back on site with the Evolution Centre and look forward to creating a new teaching space that will benefit the college and students for years to come.”

Zoe Hancock, principal of Oaklands College said: “The Evolution Centre will house 49 classrooms and will be a centre for technical, academic and vocational education. It will transform the learning experience for our students, and we are really looking forward to its completion in Autumn 2021.”

Jonathan Parker, national framework manager at Pagabo, said:

We’re delighted to be continuing our close working relationship with Willmott Dixon, and are really pleased to see the second phase of work in motion at Oaklands College following the handover of the first phase earlier this year. “This next phase of work, which was awarded via a single stage procurement process through a programme of works, made it quicker and simpler to get work underway on delivering teaching facilities and a dedicated wing for special needs provision that are set to have a hugely positive impact on both the college and the wider community.

Project News

PLANS SUBMITTED FOR LANDMARK REGENERATION PROJECT IN POOLE MHA has today announced that a planning application has been submitted for the development of Fisherman’s Dock, located adjacent to the Marina in the heart of Poole. A key vantage point along Poole’s historic Quay, the application looks to further enhance the iconic setting through a comprehensive regeneration project, which will see the construction of 228 apartments, a 118 bed boutique hotel, complete with rooftop restaurant and bar and commercial space.

ST. MODWEN BREAKS GROUND ON SECOND PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT IN NEWPORT

With unprecedented views overlooking the harbour towards Brownsea Island, the new private and affordable apartments will be spread across four separate and distinctive residential buildings designed to reflect Poole’s quayside heritage.

With the help of its dedicated project team, a consultation website and animated sketch video were created, with a specific platform enabling local residents and businesses to comment and interact with the development proposals.

The proposed hotel and 8,600 sq.ft of commercial space available for a range of uses, including leisure and retail, will cater to Poole’s growing tourism business, attracting visitors and creating much-needed employment opportunities in the process, whilst providing an enhanced and active frontage to the Quay.

Hossein Abedinzadeh, Founder of MHA commented: ‘This project is inspired by the rich history of the site and its local surroundings; not only will Fisherman’s Dock regenerate this part of Poole, it will also give back to the local community with the provision of valuable homes and employment opportunities. This fantastic project will embrace the heritage of the site and create a prime cultural, commercial and residential destination in the heart of Poole.”

As a result of Covid-19, MHA was required to conduct a virtual public consultation for this project.

The scheme’s expansion follows the success of the first two phases which provided new buildings for both Amazon and CAF’s new train production facility – a total of 215,000 sq ft of space has been completed and occupied to date.

The second phase of development is underway at St. Modwen’s popular industrial and logistics scheme in Newport.

The two new units, which are being speculatively developed, are designed to cater for modern occupier needs with high bays, top specification offices, generous car parking and ample yard space. It is expected that the units will be ready for occupation by late May 2021.

Two units of 30,000 sq ft and 100,000 sq ft are set to be delivered, providing high-quality industrial and warehouse space. Strategically located at the gateway to South Wales, St. Modwen Park Newport is 12 miles from Cardiff and 20 miles from Bristol with close access to J23a and J24 of the M4.

James Irwin Singer, Development Manager at St. Modwen Industrial & Logistics, said: “The first two phases of the development were a resounding success and are currently occupied by two highly-successful companies.

This reinforces the credentials of St. Modwen Park Newport as a sought-

after industrial and logistics location.

The next phase provides a further opportunity for both manufacturing and distribution businesses to take advantage of this popular, growing scheme where we’re already seeing the benefits of the removal of the Severn Bridge toll.”

Joint agents for the scheme, Neil Francis of Knight Frank, Chris Yates of Cushman and Wakefield, and Heather Lawrence of JLL, added: “St. Modwen Park Newport offers unrivalled transport links thanks to its close proximity to Junction 23a of the M4 Motorway, giving occupiers the ability to easily access the South West and Wales. There is currently a lack of Grade A space within the South Wales market and we’ve already received good levels of enquiries wanting better quality space. We suspect these two new units won’t be on the market for long.”

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Project News

WORK COMPLETES ON PART OF £46.5M UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM DEVELOPMENT

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Open offices, meeting rooms, seminar rooms and event spaces will enable industry partners to come and work directly with University experts and researchers.

The facility also has project labs, light labs and state-of-the-art equipment including cab simulators, signalling control centre, cybersecurity test lab along with electronic fabrication and technology assets to enable high quality, fast-paced research, through to proof-of-concept and testing.

The first phase of construction work for the £46.5m School of Engineering development at the University of Birmingham has been completed this month (November 2020) by contractor Willmott Dixon.

The centre will house specialist research in digital railway engineering, focusing on railway control and simulation, data integration, cybersecurity, condition monitoring and sensing, and improved methods for technology introduction.

The state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Digital Systems showcases successful collaboration between academia and industry, as the university has partnered with the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) to commission the facility, with £16.4m in funding from Research England.

Nick Gibb, deputy managing director for the Midlands at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are delighted to have led the development of such a significant resource, both regionally and within the sector – the facility is set to pioneer advancements within engineering and digital systems research.

The Centre sits within the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) and is set to unite existing academic and industry capabilities to innovate and support transformational change within the rail technology sector, globally.

“Despite completing the final stages of the project during the Covid-19 pandemic, our teams optimised industry-leading safety and social distancing measures, which meant we were able to remain on-site during the pandemic and ultimately deliver this phase of the project on time.

Procured through the Constructing West Midlands framework, the 3,000m2 facility offers a variety of contemporary and flexible design and research spaces that act as an incubator for innovation, strengthening teaching and building research partnerships.

“This development is the third major partnership we have entered into with the University of Birmingham, having recently completed the Teaching and Learning Building, along with the Green Heart campus development.

We look forward to completing the

second and final stage of the School of Engineering project in early 2021.”

Designed by Associated Architects, the striking building has been created to align with the rail industry, featuring Corten cladding to give the same visual impact as railway lines and track signalling.

The investment in the Centre of Excellence forms part of the university’s commitment to providing firstclass engineering education. The development aims to improve student experience, allowing engineering undergraduate and postgraduate students to get involved in cuttingedge research and ensuring students graduate with a strong connection to the industry.

Professor Clive Roberts, head of the school of engineering at the University of Birmingham, says: “The completion of this exceptional facility is a major step forward in our longstanding partnership with UKRRIN. We are really grateful for the support from Research England and the superb contracting work from Willmott Dixon – and we’re looking forward to using the facility to deliver outstanding collaborative research with long-term, real-world impact.”

This project completion follows the announcement of the University of Birmingham’s involvement in a collaborative consortium being led

by Transport for West Midlands to transform the University Station within the city.

Warren Jukes, director at Associated Architects, said: “The completion of the UKRRIN facility is an important milestone within the wider School of Engineering project. We are thrilled with the distinct identity achieved using weathered steel, which epitomises the industrial nature of the railway industry in a contemporary and refined style - juxtaposing yet complimenting the buff brick of the School of Engineering and traditional styles of the iconic red brick buildings on campus.

Research teams will benefit from facilities including large, flexible laboratory and collaborative office spaces that are future-proofed for this fast-moving sector. Direct links to the School of Engineering are intended to facilitate new collaborations between research and industry that will have far-reaching benefits.

WERNICK DELIVERS SECOND MODULAR BUILDING FOR SWANSEA UNIVERSITY The University procured a £4.9m teaching facility from a local provider for their Bay Campus.

Students have moved into the twostorey, 2,600m² building following an end-to-end build programme of just 28 weeks.

Situated on Swansea University’s prestigious Bay Campus, the H-shaped structure offers eight spacious teaching areas for up to 2,000 students, and space for the Student’s Union. The comprehensive interior fitout includes folding partitions to create flexible spaces, lecture suites, PC labs and quiet zones.

The building, officially named ‘Y Twyni’ (meaning The Burrows), was procured through Fusion 21’s Education and Modular Buildings Framework, and was built ‘offsite’, using the latest innovations in modular design and build.

Modules were manufactured in a quality-controlled factory environment in six weeks, with ground works on campus taking place simultaneously.

The modules were then craned into place to form a complete building.

While the principal driver of a modular solution is time, the method presents a range of environmental benefits too. For example, up to 90% fewer vehicles arrive on site and less waste for landfill is produced at each stage of the build. Concrete and plaster use are significantly reduced, as are C02 emissions from on-site generators.

Wernick utilised their latest modular system – Swiftplan®. As well as ensuring building efficiency, the system allows for greater versatility for the addition of

architectural features. In the case of Y Twyni, these include curtain walling, which provides open, sun-drenched areas and rain screen cladding, which gives the exterior a contemporary feel.

Swiftplan’s® industry-leading noncombustible wall-panelling system will ensure an extra level of safety, and a hybrid natural ventilation system will provide a comfortable environment for occupants.

The innovative structure sits alongside a range of pioneering buildings on the campus, including the UK’s first energy positive office – the ‘Active Office’, delivered by Wernick in 2018. Like the Active Office, manufacture of the new teaching facility took place at the Wernick Buildings factory in Port Talbot – 13 miles from the Bay Campus.

Swansea University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor Martin Stringer said: “Y Twyni represents the University’s commitment to developing flexible learning spaces, sustainable building methods, and working with local manufacturers.”

Stuart Wilkie, Managing Director at Wernick Buildings added:

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We are delighted that our local University is embracing modern methods of construction and all that modular buildings have to offer. Higher education institutions such as Swansea University are leading the way by providing innovative and inspiring spaces to enhance the student experience.

Website: www.wernick.co.uk

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FOUR YEARS ON: PERFECT CIRCLE DELIVERS MORE THAN 1,450 PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS PROPERTY, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has celebrated four years delivering Scape Group’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework – having been commissioned on more than 1,450 public sector projects during its term.

Set up in 2016 by sector-leading firms Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, Perfect Circle delivers the broadest range of property, construction and infrastructure consultancy services available to the public sector via Scape’s BECS framework, which was due to come to an end in early October but was extended by three months to support partners and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Victoria Brambini, managing director at Perfect Circle, said: “We are immensely proud of the success we have achieved with Scape over the past four years, and the strong relationships we have forged with clients and our growing network of supply chain partners.

“Our public sector clients have benefitted from vastly reduced procurement time and real savings for the public purse. Together with Scape, we have delivered real value, ensuring social, economic and environmental benefits sit at the heart of every project – enabling clients to unlock true social value and create a lasting legacy for their communities.

As a result, more than £44m in social value has been generated on projects

commissioned via the framework, including the delivery of 900 hours of employability workshops.”

Perfect Circle has assembled a supply chain of more than 680 partners across the UK since the start of the framework, helping micro-businesses and SMEs to work with a diverse range of public sector organisations.

Victoria said: “SMEs are the backbone of our industry and the building blocks of strong local communities; their involvement in public sector schemes is vital. Our regional presence across the UK allows us to engage with local supply chains effectively and provide them with opportunities to work on schemes that directly benefit their communities – supporting their growth and ensuring that public money is reinvested in the area.

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The Scape BECS framework has significantly contributed to the government’s drive for levelling up in the UK and we are delighted to have spent more than £52m through SMEs on public sector projects.

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Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Perfect Circle has continued to respond to the ongoing need for public services to be provided to communities – be it in designing new bridges and adding electricity charging points to car parks, or managing hospital refurbishments and school extensions.

The framework has grown, with the consultancy teams securing 89 new commissions over the past six months and reaching a height of activity that has generated month on month record fee earnings.

During this time, Perfect Circle provided valuable cashflow for its suppliers, ensuring crucial public sector schemes keep moving, generating local spend and adding inclusive social value.

Victoria said: “During 2020 in particular, SMEs have experienced – and are continuing to experience – a range of challenges. As well as continuing to preserve and support growth of opportunities for our suppliers by giving them a route to market, with consistency and collaboration with clients, we have continued to make fair and even faster payments. Over the past quarter, 100% of invoices have been paid in 30 days, with 60% of payments made in five days.”

Sara Boland, managing director of chartered landscape architecture practice Influence, added: “2020 has presented many challenges to the industry, with the impacts of both Brexit and coronavirus to consider.

“During this unprecedented time, working with Perfect Circle’s transparent, reliable payment terms has demonstrated their respect for and commitment to our relationship and the projects that we collaborate on.

The certainty and assurance of trusted partners like Perfect Circle have been critical to supporting the planning of cashflow in businesses at this time.”

Scape’s BECS framework is the most efficient route to market, allowing direct award for commissioning services with full public procurement compliance. It significantly reduces the time needed for brief preparation – accelerating delivery of projects and programmes.

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “The vast array of successful projects the team at Perfect Circle have delivered throughout the lifetime of the BECS framework is testament to the outstanding value this partnership has brought to the public sector.

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“Importantly, this pioneering framework has achieved what we had all hoped. It has systematically introduced real change in the community, through our joint commitment to implement social value wherever possible. The partners that came together to form Perfect Circle know exactly what it takes to

Company News

generate a positive legacy, something that will continue to play an increasingly integral role in shaping the future of the UK. “To build back better means that every element of best practice that has been identified throughout this framework partnership is improved upon in the future. And we’re tremendously excited about seeing what can be achieved through our new consultancy frameworks.

“It’s clear that Perfect Circle has set a high bar and I look forward to seeing how the next generation of TeamScape consultancy partners respond to its unequivocal success.”

The £1bn, next generation Scape’s Consultancy framework will replace the current BECS framework for new commissions in January 2021.

HENRY BOOT CONSTRUCTION COMMENDED FOR ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ COMMUNITY OUTPUT AS PART OF BARNSLEY TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PROJECT Henry Boot Construction Limited – the construction subsidiary of Henry Boot PLC – has been commended for its respect for the wider community, environmental protection and championing the value of its workforce after claiming a major industry accolade for its delivery of Barnsley town centre’s multi-million-pound regeneration project, The Glass Works.

CCS Site Monitor’s Report, which also recognised the company’s creation of an ‘employment and skills legacy in Barnsley’. More than 300 work placements and around 300 educational visits and workshops have been provided by Henry Boot Construction to date as part of The Glass Works project.

economy. At Henry Boot Construction, we continue to strive to offer the very best community, economic and environmental support as part of every project we deliver. We’re delighted that the Library @ the Lightbox project has had such an impact and we are dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy for the people of Barnsley.”

The report also recognised Henry Boot Construction’s pledge to maintaining the health and wellbeing of the project team, with health screening carried out, ‘first-class’ welfare facilities available, and promotion of healthy lifestyles and personal health guidance.

Cllr Tim Cheetham, Council Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council said: “We’re delighted to see Library @ the Lightbox and Henry Boot Construction win yet another award. The Lightbox is a fantastic building that has had a major impact on the Barnsley community – it’s already become a real community hub and has had a positive influence on our town. We’re proud to work with Henry Boot Construction on The Glass Works development and long may these award wins continue.”

Ryan O’Loughlin, Director at Henry Boot Construction, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see Henry Boot Construction’s positive impact on the regional community and environment recognised, as well our commitment to the safety and value of our project team. This indicates the huge impact that the company and the project has had on the local and regional

Professional teams for The Glass Works also include development managers Queensberry and Turner & Townsend.

The firm has received a Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) Gold Award for its work on the Library @ The Lightbox project, which forms part of The Glass Works – a twophase redevelopment of Barnsley town centre which the company is undertaking for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

The accolade recognises Henry Boot Construction’s attention and commitment to maintaining the project’s appearance, respecting the wider community, protecting the environment, securing the safety of staff on site at all times and recognising the value of its workforce.

Henry Boot Construction’s ‘unprecedented’ level of community support was commended in the

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Latest News

BUILDING BLOCKS OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR SCOTLAND’S CHILDREN Scottish architecture and planning practice Halliday Fraser Munro has developed outdoor nurseries that are the first of their kind in the country as part of its desire to help create progressive early learning provisions to meet new demand.

In line with The Scottish Government’s commitment to increase funding for early learning and childcare (ELC) from 600 to 1,140 free hours per year, Halliday Fraser Munro recognises the need to develop new spaces for youngsters across Scotland.

Delivering on the increasingly popular concept of learning through open play, Halliday Fraser Munro has completed a number of innovative new-build nurseries and reconfigurations of existing facilities to reflect the latest educational thinking.

Halliday Fraser Munro is working with Aberdeen City Council which has embraced the opportunities offered by learning through open play.

Halliday Fraser Munro has developed an outdoor nursery in Duthie Park in Aberdeen which it describes as particularly bold in its adoption of progressive principles. Duthie Park and another Halliday Fraser Munro project in Hazlehead Park are the first nurseries of this kind in Scotland. The children attending the nurseries spend all their time outdoors, exploring in nature with landscaped learning areas.

Similar progressive childcare learning environments have been implemented in Japan and Scandinavia where there is a terrific amount of knowledge about how to deliver the most stimulating and involving environments for learning and play.

Scandinavian research has revealed that using natural materials such as exposed wood in internal environments has been shown to reduce stress while outdoor barefoot learning allows children to get direct tactile experience of nature and overcome any fear of the natural world that can arise from being overly “protected” from it.

Removing barriers also plays a key part in the design of ELC spaces, allowing children to move freely between learning spaces and offering a seamless interface between indoor and outdoor spaces. These design attributes offer freedom to explore naturally and assist in light-touch supervision.

Ground-breaking Japanese kindergarten architect, Takaharu Tezuka asserts that a lack of physical boundaries leads

Medical Centre Transformed with Style’s Folding Walls A busy facility, Netherfield medical centre recently contracted Style to design and install moveable wall solutions that would allow both the reception area and staff room to be quickly divided into smaller working spaces, as required. Transforming the use of the facilities, the two Stylefold folding walls allow the rooms to be divided at a moment’s notice, opening-up options as to how the internal space is utilised. With 46dB Rw acoustics, the walls create an effective screen, offering privacy when in situ. Intensely practical, both walls have a clinical white thermopal finish, complementing the modern interior of the medical centre.

“For a very reasonable budget, Stylefold walls can be retrofitted into almost any room, allowing buildings with high levels of pedestrian footfall to more easily comply with social distancing requirements,” said Steve Williams, Style’s sales director for the Midlands.

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Located just outside of Nottingham, Netherfield medical centre is managed under the business name of Trentside Medical Group.

PSBN1120020 Style HP.indd 1

Its dedicated team treats minor ailments as well as providing specialist management of long-term conditions, with clinics covering a wide range of healthcare issues.

Style is the exclusive UK partner to Dorma Hüppe, Skyfold and SWG offering an extensive portfolio of moveable and folding wall solutions for all requirements and budget.

Aiming to better utilise the existing building, Style worked with contractors, Key Construction, to create space that could be adapted to reflect the demands of a busy schedule of clinics, training events and meetings.

Website: www.style-partitions.co.uk Email: sales@style-partitions.co.uk

In the reception area, a key requirement was to divide the main concourse from the health education room. Due the layout, Style used two individual end-fold screens that met at 90 degrees in the middle.

Upstairs, the Stylefold wall allows the staff room to be divided into two, ensuring there is always private space for staff to relax on their break, even if a meeting is taking place on the other side of the wall.

Both areas, upstairs and down, can be left as open-plan spaces when additional rooms are not needed, with the folding walls parked neatly to the side.

24/11/2020 12:05:04

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People On The Move

INDUSTRY VETERAN BOB BRUCE REFLECTS ON SIX MONTHS WITH HYFIRE When he joined the Hyfire team as Regional Sales Manager for Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland in early 2020, Bob Bruce could never have predicted the rollercoaster ride this year would bring. Six months into his role with the global wireless fire detection and alarm devices leader, the industry veteran is optimistic for the future.

Proud Scotsman Bob, 47, joined Hyfire after 12 years running his own fire and security sector recruitment agency, during which he has worked with most serious fire safety businesses across the UK. His field experience started on the tools in fire installation at 16 and grew through many of the major brands and systems. Hyfire fought off competition from a number of major manufacturers for his signature, with Bob choosing the easy to use, future-focused wireless technology of Hyfire as his most exciting option.

He said: “When I joined the Hyfire team at the beginning of the year, I was relishing the challenge, but nobody could have expected what came next. In fact, it’s been one of the most interesting periods in my career and, with new requirements placed on the industry to reduce install times and contact with building users, wireless fire systems are really coming into their own.

“One trend we noticed, which actually makes a lot of sense, is that many hospitality businesses saw lockdown as an opportunity to renew or update their fire systems while there were no guests to work around. We recently supplied devices for a major install at a hotel in the Highlands, owned by one of the world’s leading chains.”

Hyfire, part of the fire business of Halma Plc, offers the widest range of commercial standard wireless fire devices on the market, ranging from optical, multi-criteria and heat detectors to notification, arlarm, interface and control units, all fully

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD APPOINTS AMY COOPER AS HEAD OF LONDON PROJECT MANAGEMENT Cushman & Wakefield has made two new appointments within its UK Project & Development Services (PDS) team with Robert Beaumont due to retire at the end of the year after nearly 35 years with the firm.

Amy Cooper will succeed Beaumont as Head of London Project Management from 1 January 2021.

A Chartered Building Surveyor and a Partner at Cushman & Wakefield, Cooper has been providing strategic advice and delivering major fit-out and relocation projects across the capital on behalf of the firm’s clients for more than 11 years.

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In addition to Cooper’s promotion, Edward Gregg will be taking on leadership of the firm’s Occupier Project Management team, also

effective 1 January 2021, with Sam Orwin continuing as Head of Investor Project Management.

Beaumont will retire at the end of the year having begun his career with the firm in 1986 when he joined Bernard Thorpe, subsequently acquired by Debenham, Tewson & Chinnocks, one of the firms which would combine to form DTZ. Following the global merger between DTZ and Cushman & Wakefield, he led the combined London Project Management team, developing its offer to both occupier and investor clients.

Cushman & Wakefield’s UK PDS business provides services including building consultancy, building engineering, cost consultancy and design + build.

certified to EN54. All products offer the highest performance and quality in the industry, and are also fully compliant with BS5839 Part 1.

Bob added: “Even before COVID-19, our industry was under pressure to work faster and more efficiently, especially in residential blocks and high-rise buildings, where there is an urgent need to upgrade or expand fire systems to meet revised regulations.

With wireless, we are able to remove all of the factors that historically created challenges in this type of project, from running cable loops to ‘making good’ after the installation, and now we have the added advantage of minimising contact with residents and other contractors.”

In a wireless fire system, standard panels are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to build fully wireless systems of virtually any size, or mixed with Hyfire wired products to provide seamless hybrid solutions, offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers. The very limited time-on-site, and the fixed equipment and install costs are making the Hyfire solution a go-to solution for installers and endusers.

In his spare time, Bob is normally found out on the local golf course, where his son and daughter also play. The lifelong Rugby Union fan also oversees the junior section of the local club, where his son is a player.

Having started out almost two decades ago as a niche technology aimed at historical buildings and bigbox manufacturing sites, new developments and enhancements were already driving wireless into the fire industry mainstream. The events of 2020 are only going to accelerate this process and I can see wireless becoming the default choice for most installers in the medium term.

Hyfire was launched as Sterling Safety Systems in 2002, bringing to market some of the first commercial wireless detection and alarm devices fully certified to EN54. Since then, the Hyfire brand has become synonymous with quality, reliability and innovation in the commercial fire sector. Hyfire devices are available for Advanced or Kentec panels and come with a five-year warranty, backed up by a dedicated partner programme, to ensure the best survey, installation, commissioning, after sales service and exceptional technical support.

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Company News

JPG SECURES CONTRACT FOR NEW KEELE UNIVERSITY VETERINARY SCHOOL Structural and civil engineering practice, JPG Group has been appointed by Seddon to provide consultancy services for a new 57,000 sq ft veterinary school at Keele University.

JPG is working alongside Jefferson Sheard Architects and Seddon to deliver the £16 million scheme for public sector specialist developer Noviniti.

The new campus-based Veterinary School will include teaching, lecture and laboratory facilities to support the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree programme.

The building is to be used both by Keele University and Harper Adams University as a shared facility and is to be located on a cleared site within the existing grounds of Keele University Science and Innovation Park JPG is providing full civil and structural engineering expertise on the project which is now on site. This includes site infrastructure works and surrounding landscaping as well as the impressive three storey arrow shaped building formed around a central courtyard space. Exterior copper cladding and full glazing to the entrance atrium will

create an impressive gateway to the new facility which will house modern and flexible space inside.

David Allwood, Director at JPG Group said “We are delighted to be working with the partnership to deliver

NEW EAST MIDS HQ FOR FORWARD THINKING ENGINEERING FIRM Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Dice has unveiled a new Nottingham city centre office to accommodate its growing East Midlands-based team.

Located on the Third Floor at The Courtyard on St Marys Gate, the new 1,696 sq. ft. workspace – which can comfortably accommodate up to 20 people – has been designed to meet the government’s COVID-19 safety measures, including socially distanced workspaces for all staff.

The move follows a busy year for Dice, recently adding four new members

of staff to its team to support with a number of exciting new projects and client wins.

Wayne Oakes, director at Dice, said:

“

We’re delighted to have officially moved into our new HQ as this new working environment is a testament to our ever-evolving and developing team. We are continuing to work within the government guidance and for now, we’re using the office for business-critical project and team meetings, with the majority of the team working from home.

“

“However, we see this office as a long term move so we hope that our new facilities can benefit and help the growth of our staff for years to come.”

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The office’s amenities include an open modern kitchen with accompanying

a highly impressive, flagship higher education building. We are applying value engineering processes with the combined efforts of our Strategic Land team using geospatial analysis to assess development viability and structural requirements.”

breakfast bar, pool table, dartboard, glass meeting room, sofa, coffee table and flat-screen television to create a social area of the office.

Wayne added: “It was important for us that our staff not only had a high-quality space to carry out their work, but also were provided with recreational areas where they can relax and form relationships with their co-workers.

“The new office boasts a lot of plants and greenery, which has really helped to add a great deal of life and light to the surrounding space.

“We’re a really flexible business, largely working online, which stood us in good stead heading into lockdown. We therefore wanted the office to function as a creative and flexible but also safe space for the team as well as great place to host our clients so we’re very happy to be in.”

“Having the ability to entertain our clients was another key deliverable for us. The games console, pool table and comfortable seating area are great additions to this new space, and we look forward to hosting our clients safely for years to come.”

GALLAGHER WINS MULTI-YEAR APPOINTMENT AS BROKER FOR AMEY Gallagher has won a multi-year appointment as the professional indemnity (PI) broker for public services supplier Amey.

Amey is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure support service providers. Every household in Britain benefits from the work Amey does, from maintaining the UK’s road and rail infrastructure, keeping schools safe and clean, managing the UK’s defence estate, safely escorting prisoners and keeping prisons and courts secure, collecting and processing waste, as well as delivering utilities services. It is a subsidiary of global infrastructure and services operator Ferrovial.

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Gallagher won the appointment following a competitive tender. It was chosen as a result of its clear understanding of Amey’s business and its diverse risk exposures, and how it could support the business in negotiating the challenging PI market. The strength of Gallagher’s dedicated PI capability within its construction practice played a deciding factor.

Gallagher is a leading provider of insurance and risk management advice to infrastructure firms, with a client portfolio which includes a broad range of UK and international owners, contractors and support services providers.

Julie Scott, Adviser, Gallagher’s Specialty construction practice, commented: “In recent years, the PI insurance market has seen narrowing coverage and increasing costs for placements in the construction and infrastructure sector. Effectively managing PI insurance in this challenging market requires the appointment of a specialist broker who understands the impact changes have on premium, risk management, policy coverage and claims, and can provide tailored advice and ensure competitive quotations from a range of markets and insurers.

“

Gallagher has had a strong presence in the infrastructure sector for some time, but this significant appointment is a further step in establishing us as the broker of choice in this sector, and we are very much looking forward to working with Amey over the years to come.

“

Lee Worth, Head of Insurance at Amey, said: “We chose Gallagher as the business demonstrated its expertise and robust approach as to how it could support with the challenges that Amey faces in the PI insurance market and it quickly stood out that Gallagher understood the business and the risks we face, and what we wanted to achieve. Their innovative and alternative approach was a clear differentiator.”

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15

Company News

DEMAND RISES FOR ACTIS HYBRID AS COVID SPARKS BOOM IN LOFT CONVERSIONS AND GARDEN PODS With demand for more living space as working from home becomes the norm, insulation specialist Actis is seeing a rise in demand for its products from homeowners extending their properties or building office pods in their gardens.

Many column inches have been devoted to stories of people moving home to accommodate their newly discovered need for a study, but less has been said about those who are staying put and expanding their existing accommodation to tackle lifestyle changes.

Builders’ merchants and builders are reporting sales growth and increasing interest from people wanting to use Actis as part of their home improvement plans.

Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper said: “Loft conversions have always been a popular choice as they represent excellent value for money. Obviously, we have a stamp duty holiday at the moment, but often the cost of the conversion can be less than the stamp duty alone when homeowners are weighing up the overall financial impact of extending versus moving. Another feature which had already been growing in popularity before

the word Covid had even been heard of is the garden pod. With the need to work from home at least part of the time likely to continue for many years, interest in these has become enormous. There’s quite a waiting list in some quarters.

“Actis is fitted as standard by many garden room specialists and is frequently the product of choice for builders carrying out loft conversions and extensions.”

Honeycomb insulation Hybris, coupled with insulating breather membrane and vapour control layer Boost R Hybrid and HControl Hybrid, offer an impressive U-value and can also eliminate thermal bridging.

“Builders choose Actis Hybrid products over more traditional forms of insulation, not just because of their impressive thermal qualities but because they are so quick, clean and easy to install,” explained Mark.

One builder, Chris Brooks from Northamptonshire, who has been using Actis products for the past 16 years or so said: “What I love about Actis is that it’s so easy to use. It’s literally roll out, staple, counter batten, job done.”

WFW EXPANDS AWARDWINNING LONDON CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE WITH NEW PARTNER HIRE Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is delighted to announce that highly regarded construction specialist Ryland Ash has joined the firm as a Partner in London. Prior to joining WFW, Ryland was Managing (and a named) Partner at construction and real estate boutique firm Silver Shemmings Ash LLP in the City of London.

Dual qualified as both a Barrister and SolicitorAdvocate (Higher Rights), Ryland has over fifteen years legal experience in the construction sector, regularly advising on high-profile, international matters and projects, both contentious and noncontentious. A conversational Mandarin speaker, he spent four years in-house at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Taiwan, where he played a key role advising on the country’s high-profile High-Speed Railway Project.

Ryland’s contentious experience spans a wide range of construction, infrastructure, rail and residential projects. He is extremely well versed in all alternative means of dispute resolution including arbitration, mediation, dispute boards and adjudication. In particular, he has extensive experience advising on adjudications and arbitral proceedings on behalf of employers, developers, contractors and sub-contractors.

On the non-contentious side, Ryland advises and guides clients throughout the lifecycle of their project, from pre-contract to post-completion, including vetting, drafting and negotiating a wide range of construction and engineering contracts (JCT, NEC, FIDIC, etc.) and dispute avoidance, as well as drafting and reviewing main contracts, subcontracts, bonds, guarantees, collateral warranties and terms of business.

Rebecca Williams, Partner and London Co-Head of Dispute Resolution, commented: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Ryland to the team. The strength and depth of his construction expertise enhance and expand the range of services we can offer to existing and potential clients.

“

As a dynamic self-starter who built his own independent practice and then developed and managed his own specialist law firm, Ryland is just the Partner we need to help take our ambitious and award-winning construction practice to the next level, both in the UK and internationally.

“

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Ryland added: “With a strong international network of offices and a fast-growing and highly regarded construction practice, especially for contentious matters, WFW is an ideal fit for my practice. I look forward to working with Rebecca and all my new colleagues across the firm”.

Winkhaus Composite Fire Door Solutions The one stamp of quality that leads to many approvals We’ve tested our FD30 fire door set solutions to consistently prove performances way beyond the 30 minute requirement.

Tested from both the inside and outside to ensure compliance with all requirements of MHCLG 2020, BS EN 1634 for fire resistance & smoke control plus PAS 24 enhanced security.

All third party certified and audited for fire and security by Q Mark to ensure consistent safe performance.

If you’re looking to specify or manufacture composite fire doors but need assurance that you’re making the right decision, let us help you make an informed choice. Winkhaus has invested heavily in R&D, product testing and new products; all of which has been created by a dedicated expert in house team which has provided the platform for multiply approved solutions for you to now take advantage of.

For more information please contact Winkhaus UK Ltd on 01536 316091 or marketing@winkhaus.co.uk

www.winkhaus.co.uk

BEARD WINS SIGNATURE CONTRACT FOR TWO CARE HOMES WORTH £25MILLION Beard has increased its presence in the care home construction sector, after being awarded contracts worth a combined £25million with Signature Senior Lifestyle, to build two of its new developments in the south east.

The sites in Caversham Berkshire and Farnham Common Buckinghamshire, are both expected to be completed in 2022, providing luxury care homes and assisted living communities for seniors in need of nursing, respite or dementia care.

Beard was chosen to carry out the work due to its track record for innovation, excellence and quality in all stages of the building process.

Added to that is the commitment to prompt and faultless delivery on all projects, prompt payment of all of its suppliers and creating a safe, Covid-secure working environment on site.

Caversham will comprise 86 apartments, including a number of deluxe units, built over four floors, split across a sloping site with views across to the Caversham lakes.

Communal facilities will include a café, restaurant, cinema, lounge areas, activity room, a pub, spa bathrooms, hair salon and therapy room.

Farnham Common will also offer luxury assisted living and nursing in 74 studio-style bedrooms with private wet rooms, with the same range of facilities on hand to residents.

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Pat Hughes, director of Beard, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with Signature Care Homes on these two developments, and to be able to deliver on their vision for the highest quality living spaces for their residents. The excellence in design of the buildings and their positioning in their surroundings at both sites makes these homes particularly attractive. In terms of the care sector it’s an important market for Beard, as we understand there is increasing demand for the kind of high-quality home and care that Signature provides.

We’re confident we can help to meet that demand, bringing the quality of construction honed over more than 120 years that Beard is renowned for. While we’re all living and working during this Covid-19 period which is likely to be with us some time to come, we will continue to operate to the highest possible standards. We will ensure both sites are run in line with best practice and government guidance on how to keep all who work there safe and well.”

Wayne Pryce, Group Development Director for Signature said: “We are looking forward to working closely with Beard to deliver two exceptional care homes that will serve the people of Caversham and Farnham Common. Beard was selected because we have shared values and they can deliver the high quality environment that Signature residents expect. I look forward to successfully completing the project together and welcoming Signatures’ residents to their new home.”

PERMISSION GRANTED FOR SEVENTEEN SERVICED APARTMENTS IN NOTTINGHAM CITY CENTRE Plans to add a rooftop extension to Whitefriars House in Friar Lane to house seven high-quality serviced apartments have been approved.

Planning permission had previously been agreed to create ten apartments within the unoccupied space on the upper floors, and the entire redevelopment plan for the 17 high quality serviced apartments is now expected to be developed. Each self-contained unit will come complete with a fully equipped kitchen, dining and living area, along with associated bedrooms.

Whitefriars House is a mid-20th century, three-storey brick, mixed-use building arranged over ground and two upper floors. Forbidden Planet currently occupies the retail space on Friar Lane, with the two upper levels – previously office space – being unoccupied. The building line follows the street, running down Spaniel Row, where the Ned Ludd pub occupies the prominent corner location over all three existing floors.

The development, designed by Nottingham-based architects CPMG Architects, will see a lightweight ‘loft’ storey added, with a standing seam mansard roof and elegant dormer windows. High-quality aluminium windows with side ventilation panels will be used, with the colour of the frames selected to create a unified palette of colours to tie the whole building together.

Manjas Lidder, director at PKL Investments, the company behind the development, said: “We’re of course really pleased that planning permission has been granted which will allow us to bring another site, in addition to our Devonshire Court West Bridgford offering, for the Stay Company to Nottingham. We already have a successful apartment offering in Derby with four city centre locations, and this brings us another step closer to becoming the go-to company in the East Midlands for high-quality serviced accommodation.

Project News

“

As we are working within an existing building with multiple tenants, we’ve taken every step to ensure that there will be no disruption to the ground floor commercial tenants or the Ned Ludd pub, which occupies all three floors to the south of the building. We’ve also given careful consideration when developing the design, to ensure that it ties in well with the existing building fabric and surrounding area.

“

“The hope is that these apartments provide accommodation provision for businesspeople coming to Nottingham for a few weeks to a few months at a time. These apartments provide spacious, well thought out comfortable alternatives to a hotel and allow guests to enjoy a home away from home.

We’re very much looking forward to progressing work on site, which we hope will begin in early 2021.”

The existing front entrance onto Friar Lane will also be retained and refurbished to form the new main pedestrian entrance into the apartments.

Ajay Chauhan, associate at CPMG Architects, said: “As we are working within an existing building with multiple tenants, we’ve taken every step to ensure that there will be no disruption to the ground floor commercial tenants or the Ned Ludd pub, which occupies all three floors to the south of the building. We’ve also given careful consideration when developing the design, to ensure that it ties in well with the existing building fabric and surrounding area.

£26M BIRMINGHAM STUDENT ACCOMMODATION COMPLETED IN TIME FOR STUDENTS MOVING IN Leading contractor Clegg Construction has completed a new state-of-the-art £26m student accommodation facility on Upper Dean Street in Birmingham in time for students moving in.

The project, which continued on site throughout lockdown in order to complete for the start of term, comprises of ten floors with a mixture of 398 selfcontained studio bedrooms and cluster room apartments, amenity spaces, ancillary facilities, and approximately 862sqm of commercial space.

Matt Maisey, contract manager at Clegg Construction, said: “Working safely onsite, in line with the UK government’s coronavirus guidelines, we are thrilled to have handed over the keys for this spectacular student accommodation on time for students returning for the start of the new academic year.

“This amazing new development is testament to our hardworking Clegg Construction team and valued partnership with true.

“Prior to regenerating this brownfield site, whilst clearing existing buildings and car park, we also had to carefully consider

retaining the listed building adjacent to the new entrance area. Work then commenced on installing the hot rolled steel frame to provide a transfer deck at first floor upon which the lightweight structure was constructed.”

In addition to the main development work, there are four retail units on the ground floor.

Matt added: “We very much enjoyed working alongside Bricks Capital and true to deliver this project and look forward to working with them in the future.”

Clegg Construction, established in the 1930s, works across a number of sectors including residential, education, and healthcare with a solution focused approach to ensure every project is a success.

“Planning permission had already been agreed to create ten apartments on the upper floor of the building, so we’re really pleased that the rooftop extension and remaining apartments have been given the green light by the council and are very much looking forward to starting work on site next year.”

The project team for Whitefriars House is Couch Perry Wilkes, mechanical and electrical consultants; Hexa Consulting, structural and civil engineers; and Pulse Consult, project managers.

For more information about CPMG Architects, please visit www.cpmg-architects.com.

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TG Escapes Timber framed buildings can be seen in schools up and down the country providing classrooms, office space, training rooms and special needs spaces. Many may be less aware of just how flexible an offsite modular building system can be. TG Escapes have provided buildings for chapels, sports halls, 2 storey classroom blocks and most recently a café for St Bernards Grammar School and twin dance studios at Hendon School.

St Bernard’s needed to upgrade their canteen to accommodate more students and were attracted

by TG Escapes buildings. They looked at various options but for them the style of the building stood out as it was going to be a prominent feature of the school. The modular build process also appealed as it meant less disruption on site whilst the school was still running.

“The facility is a vast improvement on our previous canteen and also the space can be used outside service times.” Matt Devereux, Facilities Manager.

Dance and Drama are key strengths of Hendon School rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, but their existing facilities were outgrown and old.

The project was partly funded by ESFA’s Condition Improvement Fund.

Barker Associates assisted the school with the application process and

were appointed to develop and manage the project. The budget and timing were tight for the facilities required, and so an economical design solution was required.

TG Escapes’ approach reduced the onsite construction period, and within just six months two new 90 sqm dance studios and ancillary spaces, replaced the dilapidated temporary building which was previously used by the Arts and Drama Faculty. The completed building was handed over in August 2019, and operational for the beginning of the school year.

Speaking at the new studio opening Craig Maguire, Acting Head, stated, ‘Dance and drama are a central part of Hendon School’s offering.

Our talented students can now utilise this wonderful building to practice

and further develop their skills and unleash their creativity.’

In summary timber frame offsite construction is suitable for buildings small or large. Not only does it produce a great looking building, but with a smart use of PV can achieve an A+ energy rating. Most importantly the biophilic design principles incorporating natural materials and maximising natural light, helps connect students and staff to nature improving educational outcomes and wellbeing.

For more information call 0800 917 7726 or email info@tgescapes.co.uk.

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BRAYWICK PARK LEISURE CENTRE, MAIDENHEAD Designed by BRL Architects, Braywick Leisure Centre, an exciting ÂŁ34 million leisure facility, is now open to the public and is proving highly popular, with the centre already boasting a high level of membership.

This centre sets a benchmark for local authority leisure facilities and has been triumphed by council leaders.

Replacing the Magnet Centre in Maidenhead, BRL has designed a striking building within the designated greenbelt through close consultation and collaboration with a multitude of stakeholders.

The unique feature of the design forms the main circulation route through the building and to the external courts and parkland beyond. The atmosphere of this space is both fundamentally and aesthetically enhanced by the rhythm of laminated timber arches, the structure of the space. The additional of a central street also divides the building at ground floor level, segregating wet facilities on one side and dry facilities on the other, making it ideal for multipurpose events, such as indoor exhibitions, gallery space and community functions.

Externally, the dramatic curved roof sits over the extensive Fitness Suite, which spans the width of the building and incorporates vertical louvres forming a brise soleil to this high-level glazed frontage. A large hairpin shaped iconic steel arch demarcates the entrance externally and reflects the form of the structure in the internal street.

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The facilities include a 10-lane 25m swimming pool, learner/ fun pool with water features together with high level viewing and ancillary changing / toilet areas. On the dry side of the

Project

building there is an 8-court sports hall and a multipurpose / performance space.

While at first floor level, the galleries down the street lead to exercise studios, squash courts, spinning room and the large fitness suite, the ‘shop window’ for the building.

Either side of the entrance from the exceptionally large car park there is dining facilities with covered sitting-out spaces and on the opposite side a creche facility.

This iconic building is a project that BRL are justifiably proud of and clearly demonstrates the ambitions of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and its commitment to exemplar community sporting facilities.

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Latest News

WALK-IN COVID-19 TEST CENTRE TO OPEN IN NARBOROUGH A temporary Covid-19 walk-in test centre will be set up on the Visitors Car Park at Blaby District Council’s Offices on Desford Road in Narborough.

and offer vital testing capacity locally.

As tests are offered by appointment only, the number of people on the site at any one time is always limited.

The site will be managed by Department of Health and Social Care and their contractors, and will remain in place for six months, although this may be extended depending on local testing need.

Work will begin on site in the next few days and the test centre is expected to be up and running on Friday 20 November.

The walk-in test centre will operate from 8am-8pm seven days a week

Council Leader Councillor Terry Richardson said: “This new walkin centre will make it even easier for anyone who thinks they have

CLANCY RE-SECURES TOP SPOT ON AFFORDABLE HOMES FRAMEWORK Cunninghame Housing Association (CHA), the provider of more than 2,800 homes for rent in south-west Scotland, has re-appointed Clancy Consulting on its latest development framework.

The new consultancy framework has an estimated value of £4.15 million across its four-year lifetime providing new affordable homes throughout Ayrshire. This budget allocation will provide the design and delivery of around 500 new general-needs, amenity and specialist-needs homes, all much in demand across the region.

Successfully appointed to the framework for the second consecutive time, and positioned in the top spot, Clancy will provide civil and structural consultancy services which continues the significant residential sector growth

across the Scottish region offices, located in Prestwick and Glasgow.

Currently at early design stage for CHA, Clancy is working in partnership with MAST Architects to develop the feasibility for Green Street, Saltcoats; a new 24-apartment affordable housing scheme designed for elderly-amenity residents. The scheme, which sits at the very centre of the community, has recently been made publicly available for consultation prior to a formal planning application being submitted.

Neil Orrock, Director at Clancy Consulting commented, “Our relationship with Cunninghame Housing Association stems back to 2010 so we’re thrilled to be reappointed to continue the successful partnership for the next four-year term. The key ambitions of

coronavirus symptoms to get a test done locally, avoiding the need to travel large distances.

We’re pleased an appointment-only, walk-in test centre on the site of Blaby District Council offices is being set up. Testing is a vital part of helping to get this virus under control and making sure we’re protecting the people we know and love.

CHA are to create strong communities and high-quality homes; with these principles sitting at the heart of every development brief. This is perfectly showcased in the latest scheme we are working on in Saltcoats which is an exemplar project and one which we look forward to delivering next year.”

Linda Anderson, Executive Director of Development Services at Cunninghame Housing Association states, “With strong submissions received across all Lots we are confident in selecting the very best consultants for our development programme over the next four years.

“Appointing Clancy, in addition to the other consultants, marks an exciting next chapter for the organisation in terms of our new build ambitions, and we look forward to working in partnership to provide quality homes and create strong neighbourhood communities to improve the wellbeing of our residents.”

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Improving Energy Management on Traveller Sites West Sussex County Council

Case Study

Control, monitor and manage energy better than ever.

West Sussex County Council has 10 traveller sites with 113 pitches across the county, ranging in capacity from three to 23 caravans. Each site provides hard standing areas for caravans next to brick-built utility blocks containing a toilet, shower, electricity points and meters for water and electricity.

The majority of residents stay for years at a time and take great pride in their homes and gardens. Many caravans have little or no insulation, so travellers are often heavy users of electricity as a result of heating their homes, as well as for power washing machines, tumble driers and so on.

West Sussex County Council’s traveller sites have a very low turnover rate of approximately five per cent, so there is often a waiting list for would-be tenants.

A reliable and accurately metered electricity supply is therefore a vital part of the service that the council provides.

❝ Working with Energy Controls, we have introduced a new cashless prepayment system at our traveller sites, which is more convenient for residents and gives them greater privacy than before.

Since the introduction of PayPoint it has made the process even easier.

The service is safe and secure, and income rates have increased to cover actual consumption costs accurately. Residents feel they have more control over their electricity usage and staff time has been freed up, enabling them to work more with the residents.

KEY FACTS System benefits

Products and services

● Accurate meter readings

● Prepayment SMART meter

● Prepayment of energy

● Online payments

● Rapid remote tariff updates ● Remote disconnection

with FREE App

● Full service, from supply and installation to maintenance

● 24/7 access to web portal

❞

Esther Quarm, Gypsy and Traveller Team Manager West Sussex County Council

0345 230 4535 sales@energycontrols.co.uk

www.econtrols.co.uk

ENERGY CONTROLS

Metering, Measuring and Managing Resources

Case Study

Legacy system West Sussex County Council has historically used coin-operated meters to supply electricity to residents at a fixed rate per unit across its 10 sites.

The process involved representatives from the council visiting residents on a weekly basis to read meters, carry out checks and collect money.

RESULTS According to Esther, the new system is making a big difference.

❝ We still visit residents weekly, but the new meters mean that we have more time to spend on health and welfare issues instead of collecting money.

Esther explains,

❝ There were a number of issues with the current system.

Clearly there was a risk that meters may be broken into, but there are also health and safety implications for staff handling the value and weight of cash.

T he age of the meters also meant that some were not calibrated accurately, which can give residents the impression that they are paying more than necessary for their electricity.

T hese disputes can take time to resolve and can undermine trust in the council. In reality, we have negotiated a good deal with the Energy Supplier on their behalf and our charges simply cover our costs. As a council we have to make sure that we recharge accurately as we would have to pay for any shortfall..

❞

Having meters that are accurately calibrated to the latest M.I.D. standards of accuracy has helped rebuild residents’ trust in the system as we can show them exactly how much electricity they are using. Although tampering hasn’t been a serious issue in the past, the new system should eliminate it altogether.

Energy Controls’ new SMART Metering system also includes some really customer-friendly functions, for example, a ‘Disconnection Override Period’which ensures that residents’ electricity isn’t cut off between 5pm and 10am, at the weekend or during bank holidays, even if they run out of credit.

❞

Energy Controls’ solution Energy Controls installed the latest GSM prepayment SMART meters at West Sussex County Council’s first two sites in October 2013.

Following the installation, instead of using pound coins, residents can now either pay the authority directly during one of its twice-weekly visits and have their meters topped up remotely using SMS comms via a web portal that is managed by Energy Controls, or residents can pay via one of thousands of PayPoint terminals found in retail outlets throughout the UK. Esther says,

❝ The installation was really good and the residents were

As well as saving time for the council, completing tariff changes, which used to take several weeks, can now be implemented remotely in minutes, without the need to visit each meter, ensuring that any savings in energy costs are passed on to residents quickly and accurately.

❝ The new system goes a long way towards transferring responsibility and ownership of energy from the council to the resident,just like those living in ‘bricks and mortar’ houses, which we know is important to them.

❞

looking forward to it. We wrote to everyone in advance and Energy Controls’ support has been excellent - nothing was too much trouble..

❞

Energy Controls Group Ltd. PO Box 1141, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 1XN Tel: 0345 230 4535 email: sales@energycontrol.co.uk www.econtrols.co.uk

ENERGY CONTROLS

Metering, Measuring and Managing Resources

ADVICE FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND LANDLORDS: KEEPING ON TOP OF FIRE DOOR SAFETY Written by Hannah Mansell, Group Technical Director of Masonite UK.

Fire safety is about hundreds, if not thousands, of different factors, that need to work together as a complete system when an emergency happens. There is not one product or process that will make a building and its users safe; refusing to take a holistic view of fire safety is shortsighted, and as we know, deadly.

Every single person involved in the chain of managing fire safety products, from the initial product design right through to the facilities manager conducting routine maintenance, needs to understand their legal and moral responsibilities for keeping the building occupants safe.

New legislation and proposals to change existing legislation are currently being reviewed and if passed, will leave no chances for people to sidestep their responsibility or shift accountability up and down the supply chain. It is imperative that building owners and landlords make themselves aware of upcoming changes and adjust their approach to building safety now.

Draft Building Safety Bill The draft Building Safety Bill was presented to parliament in July 2020.

It sets out a new regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings which have been defined as buildings of at least 18 metres above ground level or more than six-storeys above ground level (whichever is reached first) and having two or more rooms used by one or more people to live and sleep.

If the bill is passed, it will make big changes to the way these types of buildings are planned, designed and constructed, and how they are managed going forward. Part four in particular will have an impact on processes at the occupation stage, so building owners and social landlords need to take note.

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The role of an accountable person and a building safety manager The draft Building Safety Bill explains the role of the accountable person (which can be an individual or a

corporate entity) who will be legally responsible for the safety of higher-risk buildings.

If the bill is passed, the accountable person must appoint a building safety manager who is in charge of the day to day management of fire and structural safety in the building, and develop and implement the Resident Engagement Strategy.

At the handover stage, the golden thread information will need to be handed from the dutyholder (an appointed roles within the design, construction and occupation of in-scope buildings that will need to meet specific competency requirements) to the accountable person. It will then be the accountable person’s responsibility to ensure the information is up to date.

Resident Engagement As part of the Resident Engagement Strategy, the building safety manager must keep residents informed about safety measures, allow them to participate in decision-making in relation to the safety of their building and help them to understand their safety responsibilities.

The draft bill sets out a clear complaints procedure so that residents can raise issues about the safety of their home. Where a concern cannot be resolved satisfactorily through this procedure, or where there may be a significant risk to life, the resident will be able to escalate their complaint directly to the Building Safety Regulator.

Fire Safety Bill Earlier this year, the Home Office announced its proposed Fire Safety Bill to amend the Fire Safety Order 2005. One of the suggested revisions will clarify the role of the responsible person or duty holder for multioccupancy residential buildings.

The changes will make it clear that the responsible person or dutyholder for these types of building will manage and reduce risk for the structure and external walls of the building - including cladding, balconies and windows – and entrance doors to individual flats that open into common parts.

This should make it easier for fire and rescue services to take enforcement action against building owners that are not keeping their properties safe.

The Fire Safety Bill completed its first sitting at Committee Stage on 29 October. Committee Stage involves a line by line examination of the separate clauses and schedules of a bill. During this stage, amendments are discussed and once the changes have been agreed and implemented, it moves on to Report Stage for further scrutiny. For the Fire Safety Bill, the Report Stage is currently listed as 17 November.

Taking a proactive approach to fire safety Some parts of the fire door safety landscape have already started to shift for the better but once the draft Building Safety Bill has passed into legislation, I hope things will move more rapidly.

In the meantime, there are steps that building owners and landlords should be taking to reassure tenants that the buildings they live in are going to keep them safe.

Choosing the right products When it comes to choosing fire doors, choosing a fire doorset rather than just a fire door ensures that the door and components, such as glazing and ironmongery, will match the fire testing and certificate. It also makes things easier at installation stage as all the compatible components are already supplied, leaving less room for error.

Make sure that the fire doorset has been third-party tested using an independent certification body such as Certifire. This provides assurances on the doorsets performance and the manufacturers integrity. As part of the Certifire scheme, the factory control process is regularly audited to ensure the door specification, and therefore its performance, is consistent.

A critical aspect of certification is traceability. It allows for an unbroken link between the conception of a product and the life service of a product. The door can be easily linked to the primary test evidence, compliant specification and certification limitations, so that

Feature

anyone can access the information they need at any time.

At Masonite, we have always supported thirdparty certification throughout the manufacturing process as a critical element in ensuring public safety. An independent third-party regularly audits and tests Masonite products and factory production controls to ensure the products sold on the market are using the same specification as stated on the certificate.

However, do not be too complacent; third-party certification alone will not provide the holy grail of fire safety.

We also believe the government and industry should go one-step further and demand competent installation of these products. Even a perfectly produced fire door will not perform to expectations if it installed incorrectly.

Ensure that the installer has a copy of the manufacturer’s installation instructions and are installing the doorset in line with these specific instructions. Even if they have installed fire doorsets previously, they should still refer to the manufacturer’s instructions as not all doorsets are the same.

If it isn’t installed correctly, the certification will be invalid. Worse, the required level of safety and protection will not be provided to the building’s occupants.

Communicating with residents Although this will be put into legislation in the future, why wait?

Residents should know exactly what a good fire door looks like, what to do if they think there are any problems, and, most importantly, what to do in the event of a fire.

It is critical that building owners and landlords engage with residents to understand what their specific needs are, and what their level of fire safety knowledge is. For residents to feel confident and safe, they need to know what to do in a fire and be

armed with the knowledge of how the building is supposed to react in an emergency. If they don’t have that knowledge, and they don’t have that information, they can’t plan.

And if they can’t plan you won’t be prepared for when an emergency happens.

At Masonite we advocate transparency and give building owners all the tools they will need to communicate with residents effectively. Alongside the installation, care and maintenance information, we also provide a Resident’s Guide outlining key information.

We strive to support the fire safety industry by manufacturing and supporting the products and systems that allow hundreds and thousands of people to be safely protected by our fire doors. And we will continue to push the industry to be unrelenting in challenging its culture, sorting competency and implementing new controls now, rather than waiting for legislation to dictate what needs to be done.

Below: Hannah Mansell

Know your responsibility Test regimes and certification are complex. Navigating the golden thread of product performance is difficult without the right level of training and experience.

As a building owner or landlord, it is your responsibility to understand the latest fire safety legislation and standards, how this is being applied in your building, and what makes someone competent to carry out installation or maintenance in your building.

Training needs to be carried out on a regular basis. It is not just a case of being trained once and considering yourself an expert; it’s about making sure that training is repeated and updated so that anyone who is responsible for fire and building safety is completely competent.

Use a professional installer Fire doorsets are a carefully engineered fire safety device so always use a competent installer.

Building owners and landlords, and the contractor - or the employee delivering the task - are responsible for ensuring that these requirements have been met, so make sure the individual installer has adequately proved their competence.

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FIRE SAFETY FOR HIGH-RISE FLATS WITH FLAMMABLE CLADDING: WAKING WATCH VS FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS Residential high-rise buildings containing combustible materials in their external wall system require the installation of common fire alarm system or the introduction of a Waking Watch to support the change of the evacuation strategy and ensure safety of the residents. Apollo Fire Detectors, a leading UK manufacturer of fire detection solutions are offering free ongoing advice to help building managers choose the correct fire detection solutions for their buildings and reduce unnecessary spend on a Waking Watch.

The 2017 Grenfell tragedy brought to light multiple fire safety issues in residential high-rise buildings.

From December 2018, in line with Government advice, all buildings over 18m and from January 2020 some buildings with “specific fire safety concerns” below 18m must be assessed for combustible material in the external walls. This assessment is called External Wall Survey and once complete, the EWS1 form is produced.

EWS1 form confirms or denies the presence of combustible materials in the cladding and helps lenders and surveyors to determine the value of the property once the form is issued, until then the properties are valued at nil value and cannot be sold. If the assessment fails, the building owners are required to remove combustible cladding. Based on Apollo’s research

30

and the Sunday Times, the average time for this remedial work is 3-5 years.

While the cladding is being removed, NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council) recommends changing the evacuation strategy from ‘Stay Put’ to ‘Simultaneous Evacuation’, supported by introduction of temporary protection measures. It means either introduction of a 24/7 fire Marshall patrolling the building (Waking Watch), or the installation of a common area fire detection & alarm system designed to BS5839 Part 1 category L5.

The NFCC strongly recommends that where a change to a simultaneous evacuation is required, that a temporary common fire alarm system is installed over a Waking Watch. This is because a “temporary common alarm when designed, installed and maintained appropriately is a more reliable and cost-effective way to maintain a sufficient level of early detection. An appropriate communal fire alarm and detection system will generally provide more certainty that a fire will be detected and warned at the earliest opportunity rather than rely on using trained staff”.

Apollo have conducted extensive research to investigate the most effective fire safety solution for buildings with flammable cladding as well as comparing the cost with a waking watch. The government (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) published a document on 16th October comparing the cost of a waking watch to a fire alarm system, the findings aligned with Apollo’s own research and concluded “Of the data provided to MHCLG, the cost of employing one person/individual undertaking Waking Watch duties exceeds the average cost of installing an alarm system in three to six months, depending on the hourly rate charged.”

This government data reported the cost of a waking watch ranges between £179-£449 per month per dwelling and in most cases, must be covered by the leaseholder and is leaving many tenants at risk of bankruptcy.

Below is a table from Apollo’s research of a real project in the London area for a building with 110 flats that has installed an Apollo XPander system to replace their waking watch. In this instance, waking watch costs appear to be lower compared to some reported costs in the government data and from a Freedom of Information act request from Inside Housing, but do not include any additional fees that come with having a waking watch in the building.

Apollo’s hybrid wired-wireless solution utilising Apollo XPander® technology fully meets NFCC guidance and offers fast installation with low disruption for residents. A Hybrid solution allows wires to be laid in communal areas and wireless XPander detectors positioned within individual flats without causing any further damage to the compartmentation.

Addressable systems like XPander are extremely flexible in programming and can support any evacuation strategy with advanced cause and effect programming, aiding safe escape from the building. If the strategy needs to be changed, the system can be reprogrammed to support that too.

It is hoped that those accountable take responsibility for these towers and make them safe as quickly as possible.

Advice on fire detection solutions for the buildings that must implement interim safety measures can get free ongoing advice from Apollo Fire Detectors at www.apollo-fire.co.uk/ get-in-touch

SAFETY FIRST. SAFETY ALWAYS. Fire alarm system: a cost-effective alternative to Waking Watch for buildings with flammable cladding.

Are you looking for an effective fire detection solution for your building to maximise the protection of residents and minimise the cost to leaseholders?

For buildings with flammable cladding, the NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council) recommends a change in evacuation strategy, supported by the introduction of temporary protection measures, such as ‘Waking Watch’ or a fire detection system, until the cladding is removed. If the remedial works are expected to take longer than 12 months, the NFCC strongly recommends the installation of fire alarm system as a more reliable, safe and cost-effective solution to a Waking Watch.

Government research into Waking Watch vs Fire System*

> Waking Watch 6 months

Benefits of Apollo’s XPander system Ensures full compliance with NFCC guidance and superior protection for residents.

Reduces spend on Waking Watch and overall fire safety bill.

New fire detection system

Saving after 6 months = £116 to £499 per dwelling per month

Offers quick installation with minimal disruption for residents.

Supports chosen evacuation strategy once the remedial works are complete.

*www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-waking-watchcosts/building-safety-programme-waking-watch-costs

As a leading UK manufacturer of fire detection solutions, we offer free ongoing advice to help you choose the most effective solution for your requirements.

Find out more at www.apollo-fire.co.uk/get-in-touch

PAINTING MADE EASY WITH INNOVATIVE NEW INTERIOR DOOR The practice of painting doors on site has been getting harder over the last few years. A lack of skilled resource to carry out such finishing work is one factor, but also the spiralling labour and materials costs associated with this, not to mention the drain on time involved, all contribute to concerns for Housebuilders and Contractors throughout the industry.

Now a solution has been presented by leading interior timber door manufacturer Vicaima. With the introduction of its innovative Primed 2 Go doors.

Painting doors just got easier with new Primed 2 Go from Vicaima.

With its revolutionary new surface fi¬nish, Primed 2 Go reduces time on site and saves money by removing the need to sand or prime the face of doors before painting. This development has been achieved with the addition of a specially formulated ultra-smooth and opaque polymer face. The new surface means that even for less experienced painters, a professional finish can be achieved more easily.

Developed to accept a wide range of modern paints, and tested to EN ISO 2409/DIN 53151 – grade 0-1, the surface ensures excellent

“

Painting doors just got easier with new Primed 2 Go from Vicaima. With its revolutionary new surface finish, Primed 2 Go reduces time on site and saves money by removing the need to sand or prime the face of doors before painting. paint adhesion with the majority of commercially accepted paint systems, including water based applications. The face surface of Primed 2 Go flush doors only require a wipe clean to remove particles and dust, before painting can commence, thereby saving both time and money on site during the installation process.

As a Vicaima product, Primed 2 Go is manufactured to the same high standard as all of their doors.

Examples of which include: Hollow core doors with lock blocks on both sides making installation fully

“

reversible and for performance applications Primed 2 Go doors are also available in both half-hour FD30 and one-hour FD60 fire rated. Both hollow core and FD30 doors have timber rails and are lipped on two edges, although these edges would of course require recommended treatment after fitting. Primed 2 Go doors are also available in both glazed options and with decorative grooves where desired, for added design flexibility.

Make life easy for yourself with Primed 2 Go: • Reduces site time and cost • Less materials required to complete finishing • No face sanding required • Easier to achieve a professional surface finish • Ultra-smooth and opaque surface • New polymer face will accept wide range of paint types • Tested to EN ISO 2409/DIN 53151 – grade 0-1 • All Primed 2 Go products are FSC® Certified Download a brochure today or visit the Vicaima website www.vicaima.com. For further inspiration and trend-setting ideas from Vicaima.

32

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Project

FG OFF PROJECT BY AISEL ARCHITECTS The FG OFF project, an office for a young agrarian company, started with the customer’s complete trust in the solutions of the aisel architects team. The only obligatory formalities, which the client indicated in the brief, was a neutral universal interior with the integration of the company’s corporate color — orange.

The office is located in a onestory building of the 50s, where an abandoned printing house with specific planning was located before. The challenge was to create a plan for a small space from scratch in order to accommodate multifunctional meeting rooms and leave enough space for spacious executive offices.

It was important for the designers to strike a balance between functionality and the purity of the geometry of the space. In the offices, the four-meter walls were filled with minimalistic cabinets and shelves, and in the meeting rooms, the height was segmented by dividing drywall sheets.

In the process of the project’s completing, it was important to distribute the budget rationally.

Therefore, it was decided to combine expensive high-quality furniture and more budgetary analogs of finishing materials, which, nevertheless, are not inferior in technical and visual properties.

The company’s identity was implemented in the design of the reception area — the corporate orange arch, which became the accent of the overall minimalistic interior. All joinery in the object was created according to an individual project, and several large Ukrainian contractors worked on their assembly.

The aisel architects team also focused on the junctions and small details, since they make the interior geometric, volumetric and clean.

The furniture here is by the Ukrainian minimalist pro pro brand, velvet chairs – by Italians Natuzzi, accent houndstooth chairs – by a Turkish brand and a couple of models – from IKEA. FG OFF by aisel2018-2019 architects is a project Year with attention to details, where Location Ukraine the main goal Kyiv, was to create a comfortable place forma productive Area 100 sq work.

Architects Aisel Kononenko, & Designers Karina Sydorenko Photos

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Viktoriya Gibalenko

STEEL LINTELS

COMPOSITE DOORS

BUILDERS METALWORK & PLASTERERS ACCESSORIES

THREE FAMOUS BRANDS, ONE STANDARD OF QUALITY Birtley Group is home to three of the UK construction industry’s most trusted names: Birtley Lintels, Bowater Doors and Expamet.

Our brands work side-by-side, each continually developing product ranges to meet the changing demands of the industry. models available

T: 0191 410 6631 E: info@birtleygroup.co.uk

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