Creative Build Magazine - February Issue

February Issue Smart city infrastructure in the UK.

The effects that tall buildings have on the urban environment.

Average house price exceeds ÂŁ500,000 in London.

Pages 38-39

Pages 5

Pages 28-29

creativebuildmagazine.com

Contents Publication Manager - Cy D’Anjou cy@creativebuildmagazine.com

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The effects that tall buildings have on the urban environment

the ‘go to’ solution for steel-to-steel detailing

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Double contract win for Winvic at Edgbaston Stadium

Making the most out of the space you have

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Work to start on new Shrewsbury school facilities

Regenerate proposals could favour custom builders

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Five considerations to take in for a happy home

STO brings acoustic balance to a major London landmark

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Smart city infrastructure in the UK

Atlantis wet wall is the ultimate in wall panelling.

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Editorial Requests - Katie Sirdefield katie@creativebuildmagazine.com

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Ryan Leon Media Ltd - Creative Build Magazine - 01227 314 326

City gives green light to flower power tower A new 30-storey office tower with green walls and roof nestling next to London’s walkie talkie building has been approved by the City of London Corporation, CLC. Hong Kong-based developers Tenacity Group are behind the scheme which is the first tall building approved by CLC this year.

The proposed new tower at 55 Gracechurch Street, between Monument tube station and Leadenhall Market, offers 34,000 sq m of office space and 2,500 sq m of retail, cultural and open space.

Fletcher Priest Architects’ design includes a garden terrace and a suspended treetop public walkway with panoramic views across London. The tower’s roof will harvest rain to irrigate the building’s plants and surrounding trees.

Planning and transportation committee chair Cllr Alastair Moss said his organisation was positive about the Square Mile’s future despite the lockdown.

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“It is fantastic, therefore, to see this significant vote of confidence from the developers of 55 Gracechurch Street.

“The building design embraces emerging development trends, such as flexible workspace, greening and access to fresh air - all of which were rising trends that have now been embedded into building design as a result of the pandemic.”

Designed for healthy working

The development’s ventilation draws on outdoor air which is filtered and also used to cool the office floor.

Stones from the existing seven-storey building will be used as well as recycled steel delivering a 98 per cent diversion of construction waste to landfill. UK building research organisation BREEAM has awarded the tower an ‘outstanding’ rating - given to just one per cent of assessed buildings.

Tenacity Group founder and chief executive officer Patrick Wong said: “Despite the events of the last 12 months and the

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changes and challenges we have all witnessed, Tenacity is quite clear that the era of the office is not over. Far from it.

“We believe the future is bright for the right kind of space - space that 55 Gracechurch Street will provide - that embraces sustainability and provides flexibility, puts the needs of the workforce at its core but also engages with the wider community around it.”

The new office areas include social and breakout zones and the building’s floorplan offers space for large businesses as well as SMEs and growthstage companies.

It is car-free offering more than 500 cycle parking spaces with wider pavements and new pedestrian routes at ground floor level.

Bridging brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said property development funding was still there for innovative schemes attractive to employers keen for a presence in the City.

A contractor has not yet been appointed to the scheme. Tenacity also has plans for a 33-storey tower at 70 Gracechurch Street, called The Forum, to offer around 600,000 sq ft of office and retail space.

Surrey awarded £1.8m to lead study on the effects tall buildings have on the urban environment The University of Surrey has been awarded £1.8m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to investigate how increased construction of tall buildings will impact the meteorology, air quality, and climate of towns and cities in the UK. Surrey’s research team will coordinate the project in partnership with the Universities of Reading and Southampton.

It is expected that 70 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050. High-rise buildings that allow for both residential and commercial needs are thought to be a solution to this concentration of urban activities, but at a cost, one being the scale of the “urban island effect” – a phenomenon whereby urban areas are typically some degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas.

Along with developing a comprehensive understanding of how tall buildings disrupt the meteorology of urban areas and contribute to the urban island

effect and other health concerns, the University of Surrey’s FUTURE* project will look to produce fast analytical models that can identify construction characteristics that produce detrimental consequences to the local microclimate. The project will also assess corrective actions.

With the help of Surrey’s worldleading wind tunnel modelling and air pollution expertise at the Centre for Aerodynamics and Environmental Flow, Reading’s meteorological and fullscale experimental background, and Southampton’s leading role in high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics, FUTURE will also look to provide guidance on methods to predict such matters as pathogen dispersion and ventilation provision in tall buildings.

Professor Alan Robins, Professor of Environmental Fluid Mechanics at the University of Surrey and Principal Investigator of FUTURE, said: “The increased concentration of commercial

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and social uses of our urban spaces means that we will continue to see new high-rise building developments in our cities and town centres. Our project is really about understanding the consequences of that development and about the choices for mitigating adverse effects over a range of topics, including air quality, air-borne diseases, and various factors that see tall buildings contribute to climate and health concerns.”

Dr Marco Placidi, Lecturer in Experimental Fluid Mechanics and part of the FUTURE project team at Surrey, added: “Crucially, we want to provide citizens, policymakers, and other decision makers with the tools and knowledge necessary to make wise choices in the design and the placement of new buildings to develop more sustainable and resilient urban environments. In this respect, project FUTURE is a significant step in this direction and contributes and consolidates the EnFlo Lab’s international reputation in environmental flow.”

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Glasgow’s Met Tower £100m refurb gets green light Plans to transform the city’s iconic college tower, dubbed the Met, into a hotel with leisure and grade A office space are set to become a reality.

Glasgow city council has granted developers Osborne & Co detailed planning permission to convert the 11-storey tower into a 260-bed hotel with grade A office for up to 1,200 people.

The redevelopment of the 1960s B-listed building on North Hanover Street will also offer 25-23,000 sq ft of retail leisure, food and drink space.

the Glasgow economy. Glasgow’s tech sector in particular will be significant as the economy works its way back to strength.”

Tower set to be tech magnet

The building lies in the city’s innovation district close to the University of Strathclyde’s technology and innovation centre and the Inovo building which have attracted a host of tech firms.

Osborne & Co development director Will Hean said: “Achieving planning consent comes at a critical time in the real estate market which continues to be challenged because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said development finance lenders regarded the area as a business hot spot and were keen to offer funding for refurbishment and new building schemes. Osborne & Co plans to demolish an existing ‘podium’ building facing Cathedral Street to make way for the hotel, which would connect to the Met Tower via a landscaped plaza.

“Despite this, we are committed to investing significantly in Glasgow as we recognise the strength and diversity of

A flexible double-height auditorium space is to be created below the plaza which could also suit a market hall,

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co-working space or suite meeting rooms and theatre-style conferencing facilities.

This would link to the reception level of the tower and will have its own separate entrance on North Hanover Street.

The project team for the refurbishment of the tower and surrounding developments include architects Cooper Cromar and structural engineering firm Woolgar Hunter.

Environmental design and mechanical & electrical consultants Atelier Ten, planning and property advisors Savills, construction consultants Gardiner & Theobald and quantity surveying consultants Thomas & Adamson are also involved.

Glasgow’s College of Building and Printing was opened in 1964 by Labour prime minister Howard Wilson and was designed by Wylie Shanks Architects.

Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services secure MEP contract Briggs & Forrester Engineering Services are delighted to have secured the MEP contract on the Globe & Simpson innovation building as part of the St. John’s redevelopment in Manchester. St. John’s is a diverse mixed use development that will establish the area as a new neighbourhood and cultural community for Manchester. After an extensive selection process, Briggs & Forrester were selected as one of the successful framework partners on the St. John’s redevelopment of the former Granada studio site in Manchester City Centre.

Elizabeth Peckett, Head of Asset Management at Allied London, commented: “St. John’s is a new city centre neighbourhood in the heart of Manchester. It will be a place for enterprise, culture and living, and is focused upon community, innovation and opportunity. It will be home to The Factory, a world-class cultural space and a yearround home for Manchester International Festival, Enterprise City, a new district filled with exceptional workspaces, and bespoke city centre living, including a new co-living development”.

The Globe & Simpson building will be the gateway building to the development, a state of the art workspace which is purpose built to be the city headquarters. Briggs & Forrester will deliver the shell & core M&E design & build services on the project.

The project aims to achieve BREEAM excellent, with extensive consideration being taken to ensure that sustainable and energy saving services are being utilised on the project.

The innovative design of the Globe & Simpson building combines sophisticated architecture with cutting edge technological systems. The building will be “future proofed to sustain modern businesses and provide a platform for enterprise, innovation and growth.”

Martin Broughton, Regional Director said: “Briggs & Forrester are proud to deliver the MEP services on this ambitious scheme. We are committed to delivering excellence at every level and look forward to working in collaboration with Allied London and Lendlease for the successful completion of this prestigious project.”

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Modular thermal break is the ‘go to’ solution for steel-to-steel detailing Steel has a very high conductivity when compared with other construction materials In structures where steel elements are connected to other steel components, or where they penetrate the insulated envelope, careful design consideration is required if thermal bridging is to be avoided. The acknowledged method of reducing thermal transmittance in these situations is by incorporating a structural thermal break.

A product offering multiple benefits is the versatile Schöck Isokorb T type S. A load-bearing thermal insulation element for connecting cantilevered steel girders to steel structures in new construction or renovation projects.

Penetrating support structures, such as balconies, canopy roofs, or frame system crossbars, can be reliably separated and thermal bridges minimised. It is the only thermal break product for steel construction that satisfies the load-bearing and thermal insulation requirements of steel design.

Being a modular unit, it can be adapted to all profile sizes and load bearing capacity requirements. The T type S has been incorporated into a number of high-profile projects throughout the UK and three of them are highlighted here...

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Oxford Brookes University

The redevelopment of the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall at Oxford Brookes, creates an elegant, multi-use space for teaching, graduations and other key university events. Support for the external cladding was provided by cantilever connections to the universal columns; it was critical to provide a structural thermal break at strategic connectivity points. By thermally separating the exterior steel structure from the interior steel structure, the modular thermal insulation elements with their stainless steel components, reliably mitigate the risk of condensation, mould formation and corrosion.

Greenwich Design District

Greenwich Design District provides 14,000sqm of affordable creative studios and workshops. The sixteen buildings throughout the site incorporate a variety of Schöck solutions, but it is Building C1 that utilises the T type S Isokorb. This three-level workshop and studio has a basketball court on the roof. The external staircase and concrete cantilevered walkway; and also where the walkway encloses the staircase, involve particularly large cantilevers. Here the walkway slabs, supported by a main beam, enclose castin steel beams and three cross-beams, which are bolted back to the structural slabs using the modular Isokorb units.

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Ridgeway Views

The former site of the National Institute for Medical Research on The Ridgeway at Mill Hill, in North London, is being redeveloped as a major new residential development. When complete there will be around 460 residential units, with apartments across nineteen buildings of three to nine-storeys and twelve threestorey houses. Also new offices, leisure facilities and a café. There are a variety of thermal breaks used throughout the scheme but there was a special requirement involving a steel balcony needing to be bolted down to a precast plank. To achieve this an L-shaped bracket was first fixed to the slab, then a stub bracket and balcony attached to the bracket using the modular Isokorb.

For full information on the Isokorb T type S contact Schöck on 01865 290 890 or visit the product section of the website at www.schoeck.com

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Stepnell takes ‘Centre Stage’ following completion of history costume workshop construction and restoration National construction partner Stepnell has recently completed the multi-millionpound redevelopment phase of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) Costume Workshop in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The renovation of the Grade II listed site, which required retention and heritage remedial works and was valued at more than £6 million, included the stockroom and costume cottage buildings that were originally constructed in 1850, and the scene dock building constructed in 1887.

Stepnell also worked to remodel the internal spaces to create a new reception area, costume workrooms, costume stockroom and prop workshop, as well as a costume fitting and exhibition area - which in the future will be open as part of public tours Adrian Barnes, regional director at Stepnell, said: “This was an incredible project to work on and we’re so happy

that we were able to play a part in preserving such an important era of British history. We have a wealth of experience in working on heritage projects, so we’re glad that we are able to add this to our growing portfolio of restoration schemes.”

“Not only did we need to consider the preservation of the surrounding area, we also had to navigate operations with limited access and space as the site was surrounded by the RSC cottages and head office, and a small road leading to a local school.

In 2019, Stepnell also completed the restoration of Stratford-upon-Avon’s 16th century Falcon Hotel, which underwent a comprehensive internal refurbishment while preserving its historic front.

“The issue of space was also heighted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines. The team did a great job of implementing stringent health and safety precautions that allowed work to continue throughout both national lockdowns - something that we think was pivotal in the project’s success.”

Adrian continued: “Although these projects are amazing to work on in terms of legacy and community value, logistically they can be incredibly challenging. While on site at the Costume Workshop, we had to work within the constraints of limited noise and vibration to ensure we didn’t disrupt local residents or damage the structure of neighbouring buildings, which also hold historic significance.

Stephen Rebbeck, technical director and project lead at the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Stepnell on this challenging project to keep our world class Costume Workshop close to our theatres in the heart of historic Stratford- upon-Avon.

The end result gives us a place to create the best facilities for our costume-making, as well as offering new training and apprenticeship opportunities and allowing visitors to experience our Costume Workshop for themselves in the future.

“We are enormously grateful to all our funders and donors for their support including crucial local support from the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund”.

Stepnell worked closely with architects Aedas Arts Team to blend the Workshop’s traditional aesthetic with more contemporary elements to help boost its functionality so that staff can properly utilise the creative space.

The build, which is now fit for purpose, serves both the women’s and men’s costume workrooms, a dye workroom, an armoury, and a millinery and a jewellery workroom.

Julian Middleton, executive director at Aedas Art Team, said: “Rather like a theatrical production, creating buildings to support the performing arts is a genuine team effort. Stepnell understood this from the very start and it was the cornerstone of their approach. The team worked collaboratively and proactively throughout the construction process as we tackled the challenges of working in and around important historic buildings.

For us, they did a great job amidst the most extraordinarily challenging of times – with imagination, pragmatism and good grace.”

The 19th century, two-storey build spans across 1,644sqm and the RSC has now begun work to recommission the Costume Workshop and move the Company’s skilled costume makers into their new home, which will re-open when government restrictions are lifted and the RSC is able to re-open the Company’s theatres.

To find out more visit www.stepnell.co.uk

Double contract win for Winvic at Edgbaston Stadium Patrizia (UK) and Warwickshire County Cricket Club appoint contractor for Infrastructure Works and BTR Scheme Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has been appointed by two new clients for concurrent works at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. The firm will be delivering improvement works for Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC) ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and also constructing a mixed-use scheme for PATRIZIA (UK), which comprises 375 buildto-rent (BTR) apartments. Winvic began the £93 million GDV project this week.

The PATRIZIA privately rented sector (PRS) project – The Residences – will not only provide 189 one-bedroom, 169 twobedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments for the people of Birmingham, but also circa 20,000 sq ft of commercial space across five units on the ground floor. Winvic will be constructing the five concreteframed blocks of five, seven, eight, 13 and 18-storeys in-situ utilising two tower cranes.

A landscaped podium deck with undercroft car parking will be created and also a rooftop amenity space for residents to enjoy, which is almost 3,000 sq ft.

Full fit-out will also be undertaken by Winvic and the project handover will take place over five phases, facilitating the cricket club, car park, conference facilities and practice nets to remain open throughout the works. Other challenges for Winvic include installing various underground services whilst managing the water and sewage mains that run through the site and working considerately adjacent to residential

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housing and the junction of two major routes into Birmingham city centre.

Edgbaston Road will be realigned and a new opening on Pershore Road will be formed by Winvic as part of the programme, plus an access road through the site will also be constructed. The work is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2023.

Initial activity for WCCC on the western side of the stadium will include ground works as well as the demolition a derelict building. This is in preparation for the reconfiguration of the existing car park and creation of new parking areas, resulting in a further 229 spaces than the current provision. A new 56,500 sq ft entrance plaza will also be constructed, which will enhance the main arrival space for visitors as well as help improve accessibility and circulation around the famous cricket stadium. Works will also comprise major drainage attenuation, lighting and landscaping, with circa almost 3,000 trees and shrubs planted.

The whole of this project – as well as the landscaping programme for the BTR scheme – will be fully completed in the run up to summer 2022 when the Commonwealth Games Women’s T20 cricket will be held at Edgbaston.

Mark Jones, Winvic’s Director of Multiroom, commented: “The Residences BTR project and redevelopment works for Warwickshire County Cricket Club are both exciting schemes in different ways, and winning these contracts illustrates Winvic’s breadth of experience across the various areas of construction. Winvic is as comfortable delivering 18-storeys of luxury apartments for PATRIZIA and highways works for WCCC as it is creating over 76,000 sq ft of car parking and a large piazza which will be welcoming people to watch the Commonwealth Games in 18 months. We have already built a great relationship with these two new clients and we’re looking forward to exceeding their expectations.” Daniel

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Williams, Head of Development UK and Ireland at PATRIZIA, said: “With this new development we are building a vibrant community where people will want to live. We are at the same time addressing Birmingham’s acute need for first-rate and affordable rental accommodation aimed at local residents, as well as those visiting Edgbaston Stadium. We have worked closely with both Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Homes England to ensure these plans are right for the local community, as well as for the iconic Edgbaston Stadium, the Club and its visitors. Of course those partnerships now also extend to Winvic, and we are delighted to be working with such a delivery focussed contractor that has a wealth of experience in the build-to-rent sector.”

Craig Flindall, Chief Operating Officer at Warwickshire CCC, said: “Despite the barriers created by the COVID pandemic and national lockdowns, we have been able to navigate a way through and are delighted that we can now get this major redevelopment project underway, which will transform our stadium footprint and the surrounding facilities. It has taken great efforts to keep things moving in the current climate, but today’s start by our construction partner Winvic ensures that key elements of the project will be completed ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and everything will be completed by Autumn 2023.

In the coming weeks we intend to reveal plans for the third phase of the Edgbaston Masterplan, which will include the next phase of the redevelopment of the stadium”.

For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk.

Midlands contractor appointed to major NHS SBS construction framework G F Tomlinson has been successfully selected as an approved partner for the NHS Shared Business Services PS-Works: Public Sector Construction Works Framework, which launched on 17 December 2020.

communities is a key framework driver, which includes the use of local supply chains to focus on SME impacts and sustainable local outputs, whilst being actively managed to ensure efficiencies and innovation are being delivered.

The framework will provide a compliant procurement route to market for all NHS and wider public sector construction works requirements across the UK, and G F Tomlinson has been appointed to deliver projects up to the value of £5million across the East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire regions.

G F Tomlinson has a strong focus on social value, and its policy and processes focus on four key investment areas including: 1. Employment, training and skills 2. Sustainable procurement 3. Environmental protection and enhancement and 4. Community support.

Bidding for the framework, which lines up trusted construction partners for the next seven years, started in February 2020, with 82 UK contractors vying for limited places of up to 10 for each regional lot.

41 contractors in total have been selected to work on projects up to the value of £5million across the UK including G F Tomlinson, and projects to be delivered will include healthcare, education, housing, social care, leisure, libraries, blue light, transport, recycling and waste, industrial and commercial facilities, as well as mixed use regeneration projects.

As part of the complex bidding process, G F Tomlinson was required to prove innovation and sustainability in its delivery, as well as consistency of engagement with stakeholders. Following its successful appointment to the framework, the contractor must embrace and commit to eight core framework objectives when delivering projects, which include: value for money, collaboration, approved organisation satisfaction, quality, sustainable procurement, social value, modern methods of construction and an integrated supply chain.

Additionally, contractors must provide the NHS and wider public sector authorities with pre-approved supply chains with suitable levels of training, experience and compliance for master planning, integrated design and construction works.

Providing social value to local

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In the last three years, the contractor has generated £22.5million of social value, investing £1million in terms of corporate time, expertise and funding to local community projects and charities. 59% of local labour is sourced within a 20-mile radius of recent projects and 89% within 40 miles of sites. The contractor also diverts 97% of all waste from its projects away from landfill.

Chris Flint, director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We are very pleased to have been appointed to this major NHS Public Sector Construction Works Framework, which is streamlining the procurement route to market of all NHS and wider public sector construction work requirements across the country. We look forward to delivering significant healthcare and public sector projects for the next seven years.

“G F Tomlinson has already delivered in excess of £640million projects through public sector frameworks to date and as a hardworking and tenacious team, we fully embrace the opportunities this provides in extending our reach across the UK, leaving a positive legacy in the regions in which we operate. “With our experienced management team, commitment to high-quality project delivery, collaborative working, together with the provision of social, economic, environmental and sustainable benefits for local communities, we are ideally positioned to deliver projects up to the value of £5million, as part of this NHS Framework.”

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Making the most out of the space you have In these uncertain times the thought of moving or spending an extortionate amount of money is probably out of the question – so why not look into another solution‌ optimising and utilising the space you currently have.

You may think looking at your warehouse storage that nothing can be done, but there is always something that can be moved, optimised or used differently to help achieve extra storage space. Below are a few options that you may want to think about: Appropriate use of racking

Ensure that you are utilising all of your pallet space within your pallet racking. To maximise your storage capacity you will need to run a series of checks on your current space: - Are the existing beam levels at the correct pitch?

- Can the existing racking be extended higher to achieve more beam levels?

-Are the right sized pallets being used in the suitable bay of racking?

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Rethink your warehouse layout

When your existing warehouse was originally designed there may not have been much time spent on thinking through future expansion options - which may be why many are struggling with storage issues at present. If you feel as though your warehouse storage space is dwindling or at full capacity already then you may want to consider a new layout.

This will take a fair amount of time to plan so it is best to consider doing so when you are expecting a quiet period. If you do not have the luxury of time however Pegasus Storage can do this for you.

Mezzanine Floor

Utilising your vertical space is a viable option that is frequently overlooked.

Installing a Mezzanine Floor has many benefits from storing smaller products you may have to creating additional office space for your employees.

Contact Pegasus Storage

For further advice or support give Pegasus Storage a call today (01843 835999) or email us at info@pegasusstorage.co.uk

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Article written by Kieran Cooper, Project Manager at Pegasus Storage.

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Isuzu sparks into action with new Swindon truck dealer Continuing with its comprehensive UK dealer expansion programme, leading commercial vehicle manufacturer Isuzu Truck UK has announced the appointment of Sparks Commercial Services as its full dealer based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Sparks Commercials Services will be handling the full franchise for Isuzu Truck, covering new truck sales, service and parts, from its modern 2.5-acre site located close to the M4 motorway network.

“The appointment of Sparks Commercial Services in Swindon is a really exciting move for us in this area, as it will give us the opportunity to capitalise on the undoubted growth potential for our brand in the Wiltshire county. The long-standing reputation and proven dealer expertise of the team at Sparks Commercial Services will ensure that the company becomes a significant positive addition to our comprehensive UK dealer network in support of our customers,” said Richard Waterworth, head of sales, Isuzu Truck UK.

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The new Isuzu Truck full dealer in Swindon is: Sparks Commercials Swindon Ltd, 15 Hunts Rise, South Marston industrial Estate, Swindon, Wiltshire, SM3 4TE Tel: (01793) 828777 - Email: infosparkscs.co.uk Dealer principle: Michael Spark As a group, Sparks Commercial Services operates through five sites in the south and south west and their Swindon depot has been established in that area since 2015.

The Swindon location provides extensive drive-through workshop facilities, including a tachograph lane, and full 24-hour a day opening, all supported by mobile service and parts vans.

With 100 employees across the group, Sparks Commercial Services operates an experienced three-strong Isuzu truck sales team, backed by a range of demonstration Isuzus across various GVW options.

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According to Wayne Petherick, commercial director at Sparks Commercial Services, “Since we took over this site 5 years ago, we have developed it into a well-established and modern truck dealership.

The opportunity for us to work with the Isuzu brand going forward is an excellent proposition for us, as their vehicle range complements our current business operations. Naturally, we are really looking forward to further developing the existing Isuzu truck parc in Wiltshire, following our appointment.”

Further information about the full range of Isuzu Truck dealers in the UK can be viewed at www.isuzutruck.co.uk/dealers

Work to start on new Shrewsbury school facilities Work will start on an £8.44m programme to build new carbon neutral school facilities in Shrewsbury next week after planners gave the green light to the development.

Pave Aways will break ground on the scheme at Harlescott Junior School in Featherbed Lane that is expected to take around 12 months to complete on February 1st. The development will allow Sundorne Infant School and Nursery to move from its existing home at Corndon Crescent and relocate to the junior school site, enabling the Haughmond Federation to consolidate its infant and junior provision on a single site.

The build, being delivered on behalf of Shropshire Council, includes a nursery setting, two nursery classrooms, four reception classrooms, eight classrooms for Key Stage 1, four classrooms for Key Stage 2, a pupil support hub, hall, kitchen, offices and meeting rooms.

Specialist educational architect MHA Architects devised the overall plan that will use innovative building methods to create a carbon neutral building in support of the council’s aim to reduce its emissions to zero by 2030.

Pave Aways’ Managing Director Steven Owen said: “We are very pleased to be be starting work on this important investment in primary school provision in the town.

“We’ll be drawing on our extensive experience in the education sector and working closely with the school to ensure that day to day life continues as normal while we deliver this exciting new phase for the Haughmond Federation.

said: “This project has an important part to play in the securing of additional primary phase school places in the north of Shrewsbury. We are delighted that the project is getting underway and look forward to the day when the new education provision opens and the pupils are able to access their new facilities.”

Steph Peters, Executive Head of the Haughmond Federation, added: “We are delighted to see the start of this exciting project and are looking forward to being a part of the build as it progresses over the coming months.”

“A Meet the Buyer event will take place in February for local sub contractors and suppliers who want to work with us on the project.” Ed Potter, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services,

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Hundreds of houses installed with solar panels in ground-breaking project A pivotal residential development featuring 250 properties with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, has completed in Nelson and Colne, Lancashire.

The solar panels were delivered by Avonside Renewables, a division of national building envelope contractor Avonside Group.

Delivered by social housing provider Together Housing Association, with supply chain partners Avonside Group and structural engineers Howard Ward Associates (HWA), the scheme is the result of a pioneering three-year project, partly funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to help revolutionise the sector’s usage of renewable energy.

Avonside Group appointed Nottinghambased HWA in 2019, to provide structural surveys and assess the different types of properties; determining which were suitable and had the capacity for solar panels and battery systems. As well as work on-site, HWA produced desktop studies which provided the groundwork for moving the project on to completion.

The £2million project sees 170 of Together Housing’s homes in Colne and 80 properties in Nelson fitted with solar panels, as well as on-site battery storage units which fill with solar energy during the day, storing power for use whenever it is needed. There is also scope for any excess energy generated by the systems to be sold back to energy suppliers, effectively creating a small-scale energy provider.

The project marks a significant step towards converting England’s homes to renewable energy sources, and to the UK’s target of becoming a net zero country by 2050. At the time that the works were carried, it was the largest deployment of solar and battery storage in the UK, for any social housing provider.

Residents of the properties have reported substantial cost savings during the first

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Housing

few months since the solar panels and battery storage units were installed, and can expect to save as much as £300 per year on their energy bills. Once the success of this landmark project has been assessed, there is the potential to roll it out to 20,000 of Together Housing’s 37,000+ homes across the country, providing a huge reduction in its carbon footprint.

Giles Ward, director at HWA, said: “This was an important, energy-efficient project which the team and I are really pleased to have been a part of. We have worked on numerous PV schemes since the sector was in its infancy and it is one of our specialisms as a firm. “As one of the largest projects of its kind in social housing, we were proud to impart our expertise to help determine the feasibility of the properties.

“It was a pleasure to work with Avonside Group, which has worked with many businesses and organisations in multi sectors, to reduce carbon emissions.”

Plans move forward for £26M 140-home development in Doncaster greating 120 jobs Avant Homes Yorkshire has been given the go-head for a new £25.7m, 140home development in Doncaster, after planning permission was granted by Doncaster Council.

homes across a combination of semidetached and detached properties. The development will feature nine of Avant’s signature housetypes all benefitting from the housebuilder’s latest enhanced specification.

The 9-acre site is located just off Hayfield Lane in Auckley and will transform an area previously used as a sports and recreational facility at the former RAF Finningley airbase.

More than 120 jobs are expected to be created by the development, set to be named Torneley Quarter.

Of the 140 homes at Torneley Quarter, 36 have been designated as affordable housing. Alongside providing high quality homes for the area, Avant Homes will also commit to a community contribution of more than £400,000 to local education and transport.

It is anticipated that the first homes will to be ready for occupation by summer 2021, with the overall build expected to take around three years to complete. Initial works are due to commence in January, with the showhomes to follow in June.

Avant Homes plans to deliver a comprehensive mix of highly desirable two, three and four-bedroom design-led

Avant Homes Yorkshire Managing Director, Chris Coley, said: “We are very pleased to have secured planning permission for Torneley Quarter, following completion of the land purchase earlier this year. “The development is in a great location, close to Auckley, and just 15 minutes from the centre of Doncaster. With plenty of amenities nearby, it’s a highly attractive location for homebuyers to live.

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We’ve experienced first-hand from our nearby Furlong Park development that there is a real demand for quality, designled homes in and around Doncaster and we are looking forward to getting initial groundworks at Torneley Quarter underway before the end of the year.

Based in Wakefield, Avant Homes Yorkshire is part of the Avant Homes group, one of the leading private developers of residential property in the UK. The group currently has 56 developments across its five operating regions.

Avant Homes Yorkshire’s development operations cover North, West and South Yorkshire. It currently has 10 developments under construction stretching from Knaresborough to Sheffield.

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Hayfield launches its most luxurious scheme to date, in Woburn Sands The highly anticipated launch of Hayfield Oaks is taking place on Saturday 9th January. The prestigious development is in the historic small town of Woburn Sands in Buckinghamshire and will set a new benchmark in luxury for the multi award-winning housebuilder.

Located off Newport Road, the development – influenced by the Arts and Crafts era – comprises 37 executive four and five-bedroom houses, set amongst mature trees. The eight-acre scheme will be the most spacious in the area, as the development density is half the recommended level sought by Government. The family homes have been designed around a central play area with enhanced hard landscaping, conservation style block paving and an impressive feature entrance.

The off-plan launch will take place from a dedicated Sales Lounge that has been created at Hayfield Place in Silsoe,

Bedfordshire, which is 12 miles away. A large to scale model of the new scheme will enable interested parties to take a closer look at the site layout and various house designs. Prices for the first release will range from £610,000 to £885,000.

Kelly Sharman, Sales and Marketing Director of Hayfield said: “The pre-launch interest for Hayfield Oaks has broken all our previous records, which speaks volumes for the quality of homes that we are delivering at this special development.

Woburn Sands is an exceptionally popular place to live, due to its quaint high street, quality amenities, excellent schooling, enviable transport links, and access to outstanding countryside.

“Our exclusive development is located on a very prominent site, which is half a mile away from Woburn Sands train station.

There are regular services to London Euston, which only take an hour, and road connectivity via the nearby M1 provides

easy access across the region and beyond. We will start taking reservations for Hayfield Oaks from this Saturday 9th January on a strict first come, first served basis, enabling proceedable buyers to choose their preferred home and plot, while benefitting from off-plan prices.

The first homes will then be available to move into in the spring.”

Hayfield Oaks’ seven large house designs will be constructed in red brick, with render features and parttiled hanging elevations. The collection of executive homes will feature an enhanced standard specification from the high level of luxury Hayfield has already become known for. Each bespoke kitchen will feature a vast range of built-in Neff appliances, as well as an instant hot tap and impressive bi-fold doors leading out to the private garden. All homes will have underfloor heating throughout the ground floor, with the largest homes also benefitting from electric underfloor heating to the upstairs Laufen bathrooms and ensuites. Each dedicated study or smallest bedroom will feature improved sound performance construction to create the ideal work from home environment.

Fitted wardrobes will be installed into the principal and second bedrooms. Other features include Minoli ceramic tiles, heritage bronze ironmongery, Farrow & Ball paint and Ring doorbells.

Hayfield’s popular Part-Exchange scheme will be available at Hayfield Oaks, which gives purchasers ultimate peace of mind and takes the financial risk away from selling their current home. It also enables purchasers to enjoy living in their current home until their new Hayfield house is ready, at which point they have the luxury of a week-long window to move. Hayfield currently has 554 new homes under construction on eight prime development sites in Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire.

To stay informed about the first homes due to be released at Hayfield Oaks, please call 0800 161 5424 or register your interest on www.hayfieldhomes.co.uk.

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Right to regenerate proposals could favour custom builders Empty garages, council houses and land could be a thing of the past under new proposals launched by the government this week. The proposals would allow individuals or communities to challenge councils to release land and empty buildings for development.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said new ‘right to regenerate’ proposals would make it easier for councils, or any public body, to call for the release of land for redevelopment. “We are cutting through red tape so that communities can make better use of available land and derelict buildings, which means more new homes, businesses and community assets.

“Millions of people will now be able to buy that empty property, unused garage or parcel of land and turn it into something good for them and their community.”

Under the proposals, public bodies would need to have clear plans for land in the near term. If the land is kept for too

long without being used, they would be required to sell it. The National Federation of Builders said the proposals were positive but stressed strong primary legislation would be needed to ensure councils adhered to any new rules.

Mr Jenrick said the new process would be fast and simple and that he would act as an arbiter to ensure fairness and speedy outcomes in all cases.

Getting the price right

NFB housing and planning head Rico Wojtulewicz added: “The government needs to find a mechanism for setting the price for public land to give local communities the chance to bid and one which would give weight to the social value of a project.”

National Community Land Trust Network chief executive Tom Chance described the new proposals as a “gamechanger”. But agreed with Mr Wojtulewicz that getting

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hold of land at an affordable price had been a huge barrier for community groups wanting to build affordable housing.

The National Custom and Self Build Association said the new proposals should increase housing diversity. NCSBA spokesperson Duncan Hayes said: “This represents the opportunity of developing small sites for housing and boosting the local economy through using local SME housebuilders who tend to have the highest level of apprenticeships.”

He called for joined-up thinking where last month’s brownfield development fund initiative could be harnessed by community groups and custom builders to support their regeneration plans.

Fast bridging loan brokers Hank Zarihs Associates, said property development lenders would back any measure which made it easier for independent builders to construct projects on small sites. The consultation opened on 16th January and closes on 13th March.

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Casa/Studio Passive House sustainable and energy-efficient The Casa/Studio Passive House by Margherita Potente und Stefano Piraccini in the Italian city of Cesena is regarded as the first of its kind anywhere in the world. An international jury has awarded PIRACCINI+POTENTE SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE for this project with a The Plan Award 2020 in the category “Home Efficiency & Technology”.

“Passive House” is the name given to buildings that significantly reduce ventilation-induced heat losses and do not require a conventional heating system. Energy-efficient buildings of this type are certified by the Passivhaus Institute Darmstadt – an internationally renowned institute for the research and development of building concepts, building components and planning tools.

Certification is awarded when specific requirements regarding architecture, technology and ecology are satisfied.

The project demonstrates that the energy performance of a Passive House can be achieved not only in new, insulated buildings, but also in conversions and renovation projects. Using the Passive House guidelines, buildings in need of renovation are upgraded and made more energy-efficient and earthquake-proof.

is not connected to the gas network and simply has a mechanically controlled ventilation system, which enables clean and filtered air fed in from outside to be enriched with heat from the extracted used air. By foregoing any combustible energy sources, the building does not contribute any emissions to the atmosphere.

The building features a mix of building elements – wood (laminated and XLAM), steel, reinforced concrete masonry, and armed concrete. Attention was paid to the natural properties of each material to ensure optimum interaction between them.

This enabled the building’s construction costs to be kept at a market-compatible level without neglecting qualitative aspects.

This extraordinary building includes, amongst other things, the Duravit lines ME by Starck, Starck 1, L- Cube, Happy D.2, Luv, and Sensowash® Slim. A highlight is the DuraSquare washbasin with metal console in Black Matt, which stands out with its clear, pared-down design. For Stefano Piraccini it is not just an architects’ studio, but also his home. The architect had the washbasin installed on the bedroom terrace so he can enjoy the view of the Savio river during his morning routine.

Most of the heating needs are drawn from passive sources such as solar radiation and the heat given off by people and technical devices. The Casa/Studio Passive House

Duravit AG

Founded in 1817 in Hornberg in the Black Forest, Duravit AG is today a leading international manufacturer of designer bathrooms. The company is active in more than 130 countries worldwide and stands for innovation in the fields of signature design, comfort-enhancing technology and premium quality. In cooperation with high-profile international designers, such as Philippe Starck, sieger design, Kurt Merki Jr., Christian Werner, Matteo Thun and Cecilie Manz, the company develops unique bathrooms that enhance quality of life for users on a sustained basis. Duravit’s product portfolio comprises sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, bathtubs and shower trays, wellness systems, shower-toilets, tap fittings and accessories as well as installation systems.

For further information please contact: UK: Karen Brooks Phone: +44 1428 788098 Mail: karen@espritmedia.co.uk Website: www.duravit.co.uk

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Five considerations for a happy home Homeowners and those searching for their next property can look to these five simple considerations for finding and achieving a happy home to ensure a richer quality of living. As many of us are spending more time at home than ever, it’s important that your home works to enhance and complement your living habits and routines, rather than leaving you feeling restricted by a lack of space or inadequate, uncomfortable places to work, study or relax.

From interior décor and quality of fixtures to scope for improvement, the property experts at North Sands Developments have shared their top ingredients for creating a happy home that suits all of your needs.

Director at North Sands Developments, James Hartley, said: “Whether you’re a homeowner, or you are new to the property market searching for the right house, creating a home that works for you, your family and your living habits is an important step in ensuring it’s a place you feel at your most content and comfortable. “In these uncertain times, many of us have found ourselves spending more and more time indoors – so it almost goes without saying that your home should enrich your daily routine, and these considerations touch upon the importance of ensuring a happy home includes spaces to accommodate remote working and offer supreme comfort.

“At North Sands Developments, we design homes with futures and families in mind, and it’s crucial to consider your own needs, as well as that of any family members, when searching for a home or choosing to update an existing property.”

Here are five considerations for a happy home: 1. Natural light

One of the easiest ways you can enhance your surroundings is to ensure plenty of natural daylight enters the rooms in your house. If you’re spending time working from home this year, setting up a comfortable, bright and airy office will give you a dedicated space to concentrate throughout the day – and opening any blinds and curtains to let the light in can aid in helping you stay focused. Consider installing a sky light window into the ceiling of an upstairs home office, as this is a great way to let light flood in – it can make a huge difference to a room and is a desirable feature that will likely add value to your home. Downstairs, sliding or patio doors can transform a kitchen, dining room or living room, allowing natural light to stream into the home, often making rooms appear larger and more spacious, as well as providing you with views of the garden or patio beyond, connecting you closer to nature.

2. Open plan living

There are many benefits to open plan living – not least the multi-functional space it gives you. Whether you have a family, live with a partner or by yourself, an open plan dining, living and kitchen space provides versatility and flexibility in spades, improving the overall flow of your home and allowing you to make the best use of space. A luxurious L-shaped sofa, a small breakfast bar, a reading corner by a window or a cosy armchair in front of the fireplace – there are so

many ideas you can introduce into your home to give it that added charm and cosiness that makes the space truly your own. It may seem like a daunting task, but creating open plan space is not too difficult and may simply involve knocking down an existing wall between a living room and kitchen or dining room. Do your research and hire a professional to assess the work required – providing that a wall can be knocked down, it is a relatively straight forward job for an experienced tradesperson that could cost less than you might expect.

3. High spec tech

To keep your home running smoothly, it’s important to choose quality appliances and electronics to improve your quality of living. Spending a little extra money on a quality appliance will ensure it lasts longer and performs better in the long run – it’s a small difference, but the ease and convenience of it will help to boost your overall enjoyment of being at home. Smart technology - such as lighting, heating, speakers, even a coffee machine - are also a good way to give your home added sense of efficiency and style that is designed to work around your living patterns.

4. Add your own personality

One of the simplest ways to create a happy home is to stamp your mark on it – choose striking artwork and accessories that you love to add your personality to each room, particularly those where you spend most of your time. From sentimental trinkets and photographs to bold, colourful art prints – the introduction of these accessories will brighten up any room, making it feel extra homely with plenty of character.

5. Extension space

Whether you own a home already or are searching for a new one, considering the potential for an extension could be an excellent way to get any extra space you need, making your home work better for you and ultimately transforming your house into a happier home that works for everyone. Increasing the space in your home with an extension can be a great investment for your family, and is another option to consider rather than moving to a larger house and paying stamp duty.

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New homes planned on the right side of West London tracks Plans for 852 new homes to be built next to the Grade II listed Acton Town tube station in West London have moved a step closer.

to pedestrian and cycling facilities and new commercial opportunities for local businesses.”

Ealing councillors approved Transport for London’s, TfL, hybrid application to develop the long strip of 3.64 hectares of land hugging Piccadilly and District Line tracks along Bollo Lane. TfL said it would now be going to the market looking for a partner to deliver the homes of which 50 per cent are affordable.

Architects HOK, landscape designers East and engineers Mott MacDonald collaborated to produce the master plan for the site stretches from Acton Town station in the north to the level crossing in the south towards Chiswick.

Property development head Jonathan Cornelius said: “The proposals have been designed to reflect the area’s heritage and context, such as the grade II-listed station next to it and will bring hundreds of muchneeded homes to this part of London.

“The scheme has also been designed to benefit the local community with welcoming green spaces, improvements

HOK design principal David Weatherhead said: “It’s an exciting new way of thinking about transforming the underutilized parcels of land that are so common around London’s transport infrastructure into wonderful spaces that enrich people’s lives.”

Detailed planning was granted for a 25-storey tower of 195 flats to the north of the site with outline permission given for a further eight more

residential towers of lower height. The development proposals also include new train crew accommodation for Piccadilly line drivers.

Project’s transport links are attractive

Established boutique fast bridging loan brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said it the scheme was in a good spot for quick connections to the city centre and would be one property development finance lenders would be keen to back.

The designs include a continuous widened footpath plus cycle zone along the west side of Bollo Lane with ten new community spaces and five courtyards.

Two new crossing points with tactile paving and dropped kerbs for people with accessibility needs will be built. HOK said they want to create a green corridor between Acton Town and Chiswick Park tube stations with a colonnade of groundlevel offices, shops and cafés.

The site offers more than 2,300 sqm of commercial space for local businesses.

The proposals form part of TfL’s wider housing and commercial programme to offer more than 10,000 homes across the capital on average across all sites brought to the market since May 2016.

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Average house price exceeds £500,000 in London after biggest price jump for five years It has been painfully apparent for aspiring London property owners that house prices have been climbing drastically over the last decade. With the average house price nationwide also exceeding £250,000 now, buying a property is becoming more and more difficult as each year passes.

House sales soured in December 2020 across the UK with over 125,000 sales being recorded. An increase of over 30% from December 2019 and it has now been recorded as the strongest December in the last decade.

The stamp duty holiday has been noted as one of the key factors in fueling the demand for homes, an increase in desire to buy when thousands of pounds worth of savings can be made. There have been calls for the stamp duty holiday to be extended due to fears of mass offer withdrawals from buyers across the country loom. If sales do not complete before the stamp duty tax is reinstated, buyers may cut their losses of initial solicitors fees and withdraw their interest completely. The Office for National Statistics has stated that the interest from overseas buyers has also increased as people from all over the world are taking the opportunity to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday savings.

The pandemic has had drastic effects on people’s livelihoods and mental health which has only pushed people to ‘Escape to the country’. In some cases there has been a mass exodus from London as major companies are enforcing staff work from home indefinitely, closing centralised office space, not renewing rental leases and even beginning to market buildings for sale. Londoners have started to ask the question as to ‘Should we cash in whilst we can?’.

Many Londoners who live in central locations with minimal/no outdoor space would have felt the full effects of lockdown. Many will be selling a small central London home to buy a larger home with additional garden space out

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of the city… or even multiple homes as an investment due to the appeal from the historically increase in prices. With the the luxury of cars being introduced with autopilot, general transport getting quicker along with being general more efficient - is the desire to live within London still as strong as it once was?

Human nature shows how we are social beings and for some the infectious buzz of the city cannot be matched when moving out into more rural areas. Some may return to the city but some may welcome the calmer approach to life that a rural environment can offer. The pandemic may have emphasised the benefits of the later. COVID-19 will have long lasting effects on our behaviour as people’s priorities and preferences may have changed. Individuals may find that they now prefer to work from home and love the absence of not having a busy commute each day which allows them to spend more quality time with family. With these key things in mind, people may be looking to upgrade their space - whether that be to increase their private space to work, amount of bedrooms or to increase the amount of living space. However you look at these facts, the trend seems to be during these times that ‘The bigger the home is - the better’.

The worry is as to what is going to happen when the furlough scheme ends.

Are we heading for mass unemployment nationwide - which will likely send property prices crashing down? Will the end of the stamp duty holiday have irreversible effects on the interest from potential overseas buyers?

Despite rising prices making it difficult for first time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, the housing market - the backbone of the UK economy, holding steady during such uncertain times is extremely positive and we hope the chancellor continues to aid sales with additional stamp duty holidays.

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University of Nottingham student wins the Home of 2030 Young Persons’ Challenge Rachael Milliner, a student at the University of Nottingham, is the overall winner of the Home of 2030 Young Persons’ Challenge.

Students from across the country were invited by Home of 2030 to let their imaginations run free by designing an innovative and inspirational green home that meets the changing needs of future generations, including promoting wellbeing, quality of life and healthy ageing.

Announcing the winner at HOMES UK, TV personality and architect George Clarke, founder of educational charity MOBIE who managed the competition, said “We launched this Young Persons’ challenge at the beginning of this year and following an incredible response from schools, colleges and universities across the country we have had a heart searching process of longlisting, two rounds of shortlisting and a final selection of finalists. Many congratulations to Rachael who is a worthy overall winner and congratulations to all the students who have taken part”.

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Minister of State for Housing Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said: “The Home

of 2030 Young Persons’ competition showcases the tremendous skills, talent and vision of the younger generation when asked to grapple with some of the biggest questions about our future, including tackling climate change as part of our ambitious plans to make new homes ready for zero carbon emissions. I’d like to congratulate Rachael on her innovative winning design and thank all the young people who entered for their great contributions to one of the key issues of our time, and the future.”

Rachael’s idea aims to reinvigorate sustainable urban living, bringing animals, urban farming and nature back into the built environment in a mutually beneficial way. Her submission entitled ‘Urban CoExisting’ was inspired by the centenary of

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the Addison Act that introduced council housing into the UK and was produced in collaboration with Nottingham City Homes.

The design focuses on the Meadows Estate in Nottingham, reinvigorating the area with urban farming spaces giving residents access to fresh, healthy food.

Rachael said: “This project explores a creative, but by no means new, way of rethinking the current way we live out our lives. Only by decentralising our resources and living with an intent of sustainability can we bring a new typology into the urban environment to help tackle the housing crisis but also live kinder to our planet”.

The Young Persons’ Challenge was divided into four categories: 11-14 Years Age Category

- Winner: Tilly Hilton, King Ecgbert School, Sheffield

- Runners-up: A team from Darwen Aldridge Community Academy comprising Ailsa Fox, Eva Robinson, Bethany White, Ava Schiel 14-16 Years Age Category

- Winner: A team from Nottingham Girls Academy comprising Kyra-Marie Winfield, Harmanjeet Kaur, Amelia-Harris Woodward - Runner-up: Zoe Porter, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy 16-18 Years Age Category

- Winner: A team from Oxted School comprising Freddie Chalmers, Olly Good, Yasmine Hayes, Annabelle Smith & Martha Smith - Runner-up: Jessica Rayif-Pearson, Harlow College 18-25 Years Age Category

- Winner: Rachael Milliner, University of Nottingham - Runner-up: Ella Rogers, University of Nottingham You can view the full list of all the shortlisted students and teams here.

The Young Persons’ Challenge was part of a wider Home of 2030 programme which includes a professional design competition, an innovation challenge, and public and industry engagement.

The students who have participated in the Challenge will now be invited to meet and communicate with teams from the professional design competition to help create a lasting legacy for Home of 2030.

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A beautiful black Tudor residence Sussex-based Nuglaze Home Services recently completed a replacement window and door project with Residence 9, in a period home with true Tudor detailing, including leaded top lights, structural corner posts and two oriel bay windows, all in the No.10 Black finish.

In years gone by such installations were the domain of timber only and it is only with the introduction of R9, part of The Residence Collection, that this traditional material has been challenged. R9 remains the only true timber casement alternative window as this project shows and all the windows, doors and ancillaries were supplied by locally based manufacturer, Tradesmith.

The unique corner property featured two oriel bay windows, an upstairs balcony and door and other unique glazing features, which had to be completely sympathetic to the fabric of the building. Authentic butt joints, the use of black monkey tail handles and peg stays, also added to the period nature of this unique property. Sarah Hitchings, sales and marketing director of

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The Residence Collection commented: ‘This unique Tudor type property is the perfect showcase for R9, with the dual colour option of No.10 Black and Grained White featured throughout. It also proves that we are more than a credible alternative to timber, yet with the longevity, green credentials, and energy efficiency properties of PVCu. She continued: ‘With consumers looking to enrich their homes with a better living space, there’s never been a better time in which to look at our valued added systems and outstanding marketing assets to help close more sales with better margins.’

For further information please visit www.residencecollection.co.uk and www.residencecollectiontrade.co.uk.

You can request a free brochure pack including the stylish and inspirational My Residence Magazine via e-mail at journey@residencecollection.co.uk or by calling 01452 348650.

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20% drop in the roof covering market due to Covid 19 The effect of COVID-19 on the roofing market has been significant, with an estimated 20% decline in market value in 2020. Since 2015, demand for roof coverings has been supported by strong growth in housebuilding and domestic RMI, along with increased output in a number of commercial and industrial new build & refurbishment markets. Growth in the overall market for roof covering reached c. £1.1bn in 2019. Key areas for this growth came from housing, office, schools and leisure. However, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the industry. In the public sector, capital budgets remain tight, but spending on construction in sectors such as health and education had been increasing before the pandemic, and which are forecast to pick up again post-COVID, thus offering opportunities to suppliers and contractors, particularly in the flat roofing sector.

The chronic undersupply of new homes that we have seen in recent years will ensure that the demand for new housing will continue to be high. This will inevitably drive up demand for both tiles and flat roof membranes. However, the chronic shortage of roofers, and other ‘wet’ trades, could get worse following the UK’s exit from the EU. The ongoing shortage of skilled roofers in the industry has resulted in product developments that enable easier installation while requiring less skilled labour. The extent of the roofing skills shortage suggests that easier to install products, such as interlocking concrete roof tiles, will continue to grow in popularity.

Accelerating growth in online shopping continues to drive up demand for online distribution centres. These are typically very large structures with expansive roof areas,

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typically finished with single ply membranes or profiled metal sheets. Another growth application is that of waste treatment & recycling and energy recovery facilities.

There are a large number of these in the 2021 development pipeline.

The start of 2021 still sees the UK in the holds of the Covid-19 pandemic with Lockdown 3 currently upon us.

With the construction sector as a whole remaining open and many of the previous implementations still in place means that many distributors and retailers are still open, we are forecasting a slight recovery in demand for roofing products, with moderate annual increases of 4-6% thereafter.

Reflecting some improvement in confidence and the economy, with market value forecast to be return to c.£1bn by 2024.

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Works start on £3.4m Staffordshire healthcare facility Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has commenced works on the new Greenwood House Medical Centre in Burntwood, Staffordshire.

Due for completion in September, the new £3.4million medical facility, located on Lichfield Road, will bring first class healthcare facilities to the community, relieving the pressure of local hospitals.

The new single storey centre will consist of 12 consulting rooms, five treatment rooms, a healthcare and phlebotomy room, and a health education space with an adjoining pharmacy unit, and will be built on a site previously occupied by a residential care home, which has been vacant since 2008.

Providing a much-needed upgrade to the current healthcare facilities, the centre will be replacing services provided by the Darwin Medical Practice - located on Hudson Drive approximately 300 metres away from Greenwood House, ensuring improved and accessible facilities for the area.

There will also be 61 onsite parking spaces created and surroundings will be landscaped, with the centre using the existing road entrance for the former care home.

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The scheme has been funded by NHS England’s Estates and Technology Transformation Fund, which aims to improve healthcare services for patients across the country with modernised facilities and technology.

Procured through the Staffordshire County Council framework, G F Tomlinson has been selected to provide construction works for the site, and this is the fifth project the contractor has procured through the framework since 2016. Recent projects for the framework have included the £3.7m renovation of King Edward VI Primary School in Lichfield, and the £5m build of Anker Valley Primary School in Tamworth.

Chris Flint, director of G F Tomlinson said: “The importance of good quality healthcare is important, now more than ever, and the new medical centre will provide optimised and accessible facilities for the local community which are currently inadequate, meeting the demands of the ageing population in Burntwood.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with Staffordshire County Council once again to provide vital public service buildings for the wider community, instilling confidence that they have access to good healthcare whenever they need it.” Alan White, leader of Staffordshire County Council and former

Building & Architecture

cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing, said: “Part of the strategy for reducing demand on our hospitals from ageing communities is to provide more facilities and services close to residents.

“This development, reusing a dormant plot of land that has long been earmarked for the purpose, will provide additional capacity for the local GP practice and means people in Burntwood can look forward to a new, state-of-the-art facility that meets the community’s needs.” Dr Gerbo Huisman, GP partner at Darwin Medical Practice, said: “I am delighted that years of collaborative working and planning between skilled and dedicated professionals from local health authorities, the county council and The Darwin Medical Practice are now coming to fruition.

“Our patients, as well as the wider community, are now getting what they have asked for so long; a modern, spacious and comfortable health centre from which we, their GP practice, will be delivering high quality, responsive and patient centred primary care services.”

Staffordshire County Council is leading this project, with project management from ENTRUST, G F Tomlinson acting as main contractor, CPMG as architect and Jackson Purdue as structural engineer.

STO brings acoustic balance to a major London landmark A major new landmark on the London skyline now benefits from a balanced acoustic environment thanks to the use of the StoSilent Distance system from Sto. The main lobby and Mezzanine Club area of The Stratford (formerly Manhattan Loft Gardens) have been fitted with StoSilent Distance, to create interiors which combine comfortable acoustic surroundings with a clean and contemporary appearance.

Situated in the heart of London’s East End, The Stratford is a prestigious project which features a double-cantilevered 42-storey tower design, and houses 248 residential loft apartments, two restaurants, sky gardens and a 146room hotel. The high-profile nature of this project dictated that the architects, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, combined outstanding design with high-quality materials wherever possible. “In designing The Stratford, we considered the reasons that Londoners were more interested in living in historic buildings, in Georgian and Victorian architecture”, said Kent Jackson, Design Partner at SOM.

“Why couldn’t new buildings be as interesting, spatially and architecturally, and give you that same type of character?”

Sto’s Acoustic Technical Consultant, James Gosling also explains: “There are acoustically challenging areas in most buildings as they usually involve a considerable volume of noise being generated, in large open spaces, by foot traffic and speech. Attenuating that noise to a level where conversations are possible at normal volumes is an essential requirement if those spaces are to operate smoothly and efficiently.”

The StoSilent Distance system allows architects and interior designers to create efficient, sound-absorbent walls and ceilings in situations where they must be suspended to reduce room height, accommodate services or to achieve a certain visual appearance. It can be used to create seamless surfaces of upto 200m², including inclined planes or curved vaults, along with sharp joints and creases wherever they are required.

The system has a very high degree of resistance to cracking, and includes

Building & Architecture

options which allow it to accommodate both air movement requirements, plus humid and damp conditions. “This was an involved project as the StoSilent Distance system had to cover quite a large area and allow bespoke artwork and light pendants to suspend from the ceiling,” adds Robert Austin of Alpine Finishing, who installed the acoustic treatment. “Although this required the use of a small number of expansions joints, we were still able to create large expanses of clear, seamless surfaces which contribute to the contemporary appearance of the building’s interior.”

For this project, the StoSilent Distance system was finished with a grey-tinted StoSilent Decor M sound-permeable coating, which complements the overall appearance of the treated areas. This solvent and plasticizer-free finish is spray-applied to create an attractive fine-stipple surface, and can be tinted to match a wide range of shades from the StoColor system. It is easy to refurbish, environmentally friendly, inert and natureplus® approved.

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Bespoke curtain walling by Kawneer helps ground a landmark office building Bespoke curtain walling by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer was preferred for an 11-storey office building at the heart of London’s architectural sector.

The Atlas’ commercial element is occupied by WeWork and features a strong emphasis on nature, with three roof terraces and external green walls.

Kawneer’s AA®265 unitised system was adapted by the company for the commercial element of the £200 million Atlas building - at 40 storeys the tallest tower in London’s Tech City area - at 145 City Road, Clerkenwell. Concept-designed

by Make architects and delivered by the Design Delivery Unit of Scott Brownrigg, the commercial building actually featured a total of three types of Kawneer’s curtain walling – the traditional stick system AA®110 (zone drained) on the ground floor, the adapted AA®265 on the floors above, and standard unitised AA®201 on the tenth floor return elevation to the existing building.

WeWorks’ coworking space allows members to enjoy 11 floors of collaborative work spaces, stunning private offices, welcoming event spaces, and modern conference rooms for hosting key client meetings. In addition to being dog-friendly, this superaccommodating office space features bike storage and on-site showers.

The adapted AA®265 modular system incorporated GRC and aluminium rainscreen cladding and glazed vision areas in each panel. Some 3m wide, 3.85m high and one tonne in weight, each unit was delivered to site and hoisted into position by a tower crane, complete with the cladding and glazing in place.

Kawneer’s Technical Proposals Engineer Dave Fletcher said: “The basic AA®265 design was revised to accommodate the building movement that had been identified by the structural engineers as it could accommodate the size of units and the GRC rainscreen units being pre-fixed to the panels.

“The system developments, including new profile and accessory design such as 19 project-specific dies, were all carried out by our Technical Department at our Head Office.” Installed by specialist sub-contractor Mace Facades for main contractor Mace, the Kawneer systems also included thermally superior AA®720 entrance doors on all floors.

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Building & Architecture

Along with the Atlas tower, the WeWork building sits above the London Underground and Thameslink lines. This discovery at planning stage changed the concept for the structural strategy, resulting in the creation of a new superstructure design to prevent the buildings from twisting and leaning.

Loads imposed by the buildings are kept clear of the tube tunnels by cantilevering the structures over the subterranean Victorian engineering. The mass provided by the frame, and by increasing the thickness of the ground-floor and mezzanine first-floor slabs, helped give the structure sufficient inertia to dampen the ground-borne vibration from the underground trains. The original planning concept was for a series of white and off-white shades of terracotta cladding.

However, with the stability issues raised at post-planning, the weight of the terracotta posed a challenge with the cantilevered building.

Design Delivery Unit at Scott Brownrigg demonstrated options that could be achieved using anodised aluminium, and following modelling and testing of the material, proved that given the scale, repetition and shape of the facade, a unitised system would work and still achieve the original vision.

Building & Architecture

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Smart city infrastructure in the UK The percentage of the UK population living in cities is expected to reach 92.2 per cent by 2030. While urbanisation brings many benefits, it can also mean more congestion and pollution. Smart city initiatives offer a way to use superior interconnectivity and modern materials to help large populations live together.

Here Nick Cowley, managing director of window and door manufacturer, Euramax explores smart city technologies.

Global urbanisation has led to the development of smart cities such as Stockholm, which was named the Smart City of 2019 at the Smart City Expo World Congress. The UK is home to its own smart city projects, including the city of Hull, which became the first city in the country with full-fibre connectivity.

Smart cities across the globe adopt innovative methods for sustainable urban development, often using digital connectivity and energy efficiency technologies to improve resident quality of life and lower environmental impact.

With so many people living in a concentrated area, urbanisation can put a strain on resources and make cities run less smoothly, with crowding and congestion interfering with daily tasks and overall city health. For example, traffic congestion may cause a commuting worker to be late, therefore lowering the economic output of that company. Traffic can also increase pollution, which negatively impacts air quality and affects resident health.

UK initiatives

Regions all over the globe are implementing smart city initiatives and the UK is among them. Manchester’s Triangulum project involves a cloudbased energy management platform, which displays data such as energy use and cost, percentage of energy from renewables, air quality, new jobs and gross value added (GVA).

The system can be likened to a virtual power plant for a number of sites across the city. The scheme has already reduced the area’s dependence on the grid and, if rolled out citywide, could save around 57,000 tonnes of carbon a year.

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Manchester isn’t the only city implementing smart city initiatives, other UK cities such as Glasgow, Hull and Bristol are also following suit. London has its Smarter London Together roadmap that aims to make London the smartest city in the world.

Its mission involves a series of projects that use ideas from collaboration with the local community, other cities, technology companies, universities and public services. Goal outcomes include smart streets, more user-designed services and an improved city data ecosystem.

Transport emissions

With air pollution and climate change being named by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top ten threats to global health, an important goal for smart cities is to lower emissions. One way that smart cities can target energy usage is in the transport sector.

Reducing road traffic emissions has proven a challenge in the UK, with road traffic increasing from 225 billion miles in 1990 to 328 billion miles in 2018, making up around a third of overall carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Traffic congestion causes more emissions as it increases the time a vehicle is in use, as well as altering driving patterns, such as increasing the number of speed ups, slow downs and stops and starts. All of these actions contribute to increased fuel use, and more carbon emissions.

Implementing smart mobility management systems allows real-time monitoring of urban mobility. The data allows city operators to take action to improve traffic flows in the present and future,

Building & Architecture

such as by sharing the data with drivers and redirecting traffic to improve flow.

Traffic can also be reduced by adopting intelligent public transport systems, which use smart technology to make the service more usable and appealing.

Building energy efficiency

Another way to make cities smarter is to make buildings more efficient. Around 19 per cent of total UK emissions comes from heating buildings, and this is can be highly affected by weather fluctuations.

For example, the 2018 ‘Beast from the East’ cold period required an extra 120 gigawatts (GW) of energy over a three hour period — the equivalent of 15 million UK households simultaneously increasing their heating from zero to maximum over three hours.

To decrease emissions from buildings, we must increase their efficiency. Loft and cavity wall insulation can reduce home energy bills by up to £480 a year. Upgrading boilers can also be worthwhile, as modern A-rated boilers are more than 25 per cent more efficient than G-rated boilers.

However, up to 40 per cent of a home’s heat is lost through its windows and doors. Therefore it’s important to ensure all buildings are fitted with energy efficient double glazed windows and doors.

Smart technology

Smart cities will rely on smart technology to connect all systems together and report real time data. The Mckinsey Global Institute Smart cities: digital solutions for a more livable future report outlines how digital solutions are an important and cost-effective asset to

smart city development. The report’s predictions on the technology that will be relevant for cities from now through to 2025 include telemedicine, predictive policing, smart streetlights and much more.

Also included in the report are applications of digital technology in city buildings. These include building automation systems (BAS), home energy automation systems and home energy consumption tracking. BAS involve intelligent, data-enabled automatic and controlled changes to the building.

Building automation could for example control the colour and intensity of building lighting, depending on time of day. This, along with other variables such as heating, ventilation and security can all be controlled from an app.

Automated security systems involve cameras, motion sensors and smart locks that can be remotely managed.

It’s important to build using materials that can incorporate SMART technology seamlessly. Euramax can collaborate with building project managers to integrate digital technology into windows and doors from the start. This saves time and money, as there is no need to later remove the windows and doors to retrofit technology changes. In addition, Euramax’s windows and doors are all rated A for efficiency, and we offer a bespoke service to ensure we find the perfect fit for your unique project.

Global urbanisation is driving the smart city movement, which is establishing seamlessly connected cities with lower environmental impact and greater quality of life. With the number of people living in UK cities expected to continue to rise, smart initiatives are being rolled out across the region. By installing smart technology and optimising energy usage, cities can progress towards a more sustainable future for all.

Building & Architecture

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Sweet Construct wins city centre residential project Bristol-based construction firm Sweet Construct have been appointed by developer Acorn Property Group to deliver the regeneration of Alliance House, an exciting residential development in Bristol’s city centre.

Alliance House will comprise a modern collection of high-quality starter homes, with forty-four studio and 1-bedroom apartments along with commercial space to the ground and basement floors.

The project is the latest regeneration site for Acorn’s Bristol region and follows on from several other schemes including Brandon Yard opposite Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Loft House in Bishopston and Brooks Dye Works in St Werburghs. Every home at Alliance House will feature a highquality specification with design tailored for a vibrant city centre lifestyle,

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with attention to detail meaning every home will have bright, open-plan living spaces and lots of natural light. The development will also offer secure bike storage for residents, and a secure video-entry system.

Sweet Construct work across the region to deliver civils, construction and fitout services for projects in multiple sectors. The latest appointment further strengthens the company’s growing foothold in the residential sector and adds to a run of successes in project wins and completions during 2020. working with them to deliver this scheme, breathing new life into the historic building, creating apartments with a highquality specification and modern design, well suited for First Time Buyers looking to get their foot on the property ladder, and for investors.

Building & Architecture

Martyn Osborne, Joint Managing Director of Sweet Construct added: “We are delighted to have been appointed to this scheme, especially in such a prominent city-centre location. Our experience in the sector means we are extremely well-placed to deliver and we hope it will be the start of an ongoing and mutually successful relationship with Acorn Property Group.”

Construction for the project has already commenced and will be completed at the end of 2021.

Major step forward for rail between Greater Manchester and Yorkshire Key rail infrastructure in the North of England will be upgraded this summer to support the delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) programme.

The work forms part of TRU’s wider goal to deliver sought-after improvements along the full 76-mile Transpennine route - stretching from York to Manchester, via Leeds and Huddersfield.

It will take place east of Manchester Victoria station, closing the lines towards Stalybridge and Rochdale, with a 16-day railway closure between these destinations from the 31 July to 16 August 2021.

During the 16-day closure hundreds of railway workers will be working day and night to renew key sections of track, including around Miles Platting, and upgrading railway bridges to improve reliability. This important work is the first step to enable wider improvements that are expected to bring much needed benefits to passengers.

The planned closure means that from 31 July there will be no trains between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria and Rochdale until these lines reopen on 16 August.

However, travel between these destinations will still be possible, either by train diversion or alternative transport such as buses to keep passengers moving.

For instance, passengers travelling between Bradford and Manchester on the Calder Valley line will need to transfer onto a bus for the portion of the journey between Rochdale and Manchester Victoria.

Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “The Transpennine Route Upgrade is a transformative, long-term project supporting economic growth in the North at a vital time and delivering real benefits for passengers and communities. “A project of this size and scale means there will be times when we have to close the railway - and the

6-day closure this summer in Greater Manchester signifies one of these moments. However, working alongside train operators, we are committed to keeping passengers on a train as often as we possibly can, moving on time and in comfort. We are confident that the longterm legacy of the project will be worth the shorter-term inconvenience of the disruption.”

Despite the 16-day closure, direct train travel between Manchester and Leeds will still be possible but with trains departing/arriving via Manchester Piccadilly instead of Manchester Victoria station. Passengers wishing to travel between Yorkshire to Manchester Airport/ Liverpool will be able to do so but with a change of trains at Manchester Piccadilly.

Rob Warnes, strategic development director at Northern, said: “This is important work that absolutely needs to be done.

Improving the track and infrastructure will mean more reliable journeys and in time more capacity and faster travel.

“We do recognise, however, that the closure of the line will mean customers will have a different travel experience and we want to provide as much notice of the changes as possible. During the 16-day closure journey times will be increased and buses will replace trains between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale affecting wider journeys between Bradford and Manchester. “We are working up the full details of what these changes will mean and will provide more information to customers in the coming months.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “This rail route forms a vital link across the North, connecting cities and ports and supporting the regional and national economy. Leaders from across the North have been calling for improved connectivity for many years through High Speed Rail, Northern Powerhouse Rail and improved Transpennine connections.

We welcome this work which should be seen as just the start of a transformational investment in rail across the North, supporting the Government’s levelling up agenda and ensuring we build back better from the pandemic. We will be working closely with both Network Rail and the train and freight operators to ensure, as this vital work progresses, passengers, business and communities are properly provided for and disruption is minimised wherever possible.”

Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience director for TransPennine Express, said: “These works will affect some of our customers travelling through Manchester and we’d like to assure them that we have plans that will keep their disruption down to an absolute minimum.”

Additional railway upgrade work between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge is being planned for several weekends and bank holidays from late August through to early 2022.

Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson MP, said: “The Transpennine Upgrade is at the heart of our commitment to improve rail journeys for passengers across the North, focused on significantly improving reliability and punctuality. As we build back better from Covid-19, boosting capacity and journey times, we will work with local partners to keep disruption throughout these vital upgrades to a minimum.”

Building & Architecture

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Atlantis wet wall collection via Deralam Laminates Ltd Deralam Laminates Ltd has evolved into a major player in the furniture industry supplying a range of shower panels, laminates, doors, worktops, and panel products into the kitchen bedroom and bathroom markets.

panel producers still use MDF or plywood cores which can swell and take on water over time, but with the 100% waterproof core the Atlantis wet wall product excels in the unforgiving bathroom environment out lasting the wood-based products.

the use of appropriate adhesives and waterproofing sealants. Alternatively, panels may be mounted on wall battens.

The product is guaranteed to be free from defects for 20 years subject to the correct fitting application.

Deralam Laminates Ltd, unlike many of its competitors still remains a family-owned business. Operating from multiple sites across the UK, with a fleet of Deralam owned vehicles, means that customers can benefit from a flexible and unrivalled nationwide delivery service.

All Atlantis wet wall is produced from high pressure laminates and the proven waterproof core. The uniform structure of the core, the smooth surfaces and the new gluing system is what makes Atlantis the ultimate panelling system for showers, bathrooms and wet room applications.

Atlantis wet wall panelling is quickly becoming a significant part of the Deralam product portfolio.

Atlantis bonds High Pressure Laminate to the waterproof core using a PUR adhesive, ensuring a completely waterproof surface which meets the strict EN438 requirements. All Atlantis wet wall panels will remain structurally stable, watertight and waterproof.

The Atlantis Wet Wall Collection is made up of 14 different dÊcor finishes which are available in a wide variety of effects such as marble, stone and sparkles. If you’re looking for a premium bathroom wall panelling with a specification above the standard shower panels then Atlantis wet wall could be for you.

Atlantis wet wall is the ultimate in bathroom wall panelling.

The unique Atlantis 100% waterproof core provides a remarkable competitive advantage over rival shower panel brands. Many wet wall or shower wall

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Atlantis wet wall panels may be fitted directly to a plastered wall, plasterboard, concrete, chipboard or a tiled wall by

Kitchens & Bathrooms

All panels are manufactured and stocked at Deralam Laminates and available for delivery throughout the United Kingdom.

Industry News

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Unidrain – Reframe mood boards Planning a new bathroom or re-vamping – be inspired by the Reframe collection!

As one of the foremost drains manufactures in the world; Unidrain know a thing or two about designing a chic bathroom. The current pandemic has meant people have spent more time in their homes and have taken a critical look at their bathrooms, the outcome; a revamp or the addition of a completely new bathroom. Stylish bathroom accessories are an intelligent addition to any bathroom, Unidrain worked with designer Kenneth Waaben to create their Reframe Collection.

This exclusive and unique collection of bathroom accessories is grounded in Scandinavian design and quality with addition of intelligent features these products have improved functionality within an elegant linear design.

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The Reframe collection comprises of: Soap Shelf & Shower Wiper – hidden

magnets in the wall mounting ensure the safe and discrete storage of the silicone blade wiper, while the shelf above provides a platform for your showering essentials.

Towel Bar – place alongside your bath,

shower or washbasin, with its unique mounting design this bar keeps towels stylishly in situ.

Hook – Discrete and effective, these

perfectly shaped hooks will prevent towels and garments from slipping.

Toilet Paper Holder – this reversible

holder means it can be positioned for your convenience.

Kitchens & Bathrooms

Toilet Brush – Sleek design with hygienic

functionality. The toilet brush holder has an anti-drip function and for additional cleanliness an easily exchangeable brush head.

Corner Shelf - The shelf is created from

a reinforced steel plate and adapts to fit the ‘corner’.

Available in five different colour options; copper, brass, brushed stainless steel, polished stainless steel and black. The Reframe collection is designed to work and colour co-ordinate with Unidrain’s award winning linear drains.

For more information visit: unidrain.com

Kitchens & Bathrooms

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2021 Heating Trends with Vogue (UK) The UK’s largest British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and towel warmers, Vogue (UK), reveal the latest heating and bathroom trends to elevate your home décor in 2021 Eco-luxe design: It’s now possible to

“We have seen an extremely positive response to aluminium heating designs and we predict this will only grow as we head into 2021. These types of products will allow you to harness the possibilities of using a lightweight material, which has excellent heat retention qualities as well as impressive longevity and water efficiency” says Steve Birch, Sales Director, Vogue (UK).

2021, and heating will remain a crucial part of the design process. “Whether you want to create a classic look in your bathroom or prefer a more contemporary vibe with graphic shapes, there’s a huge variety of design-oriented heating solutions set to inspire you in 2021” says Steve. We have seen the importance of global fusion like Scandinavian design and more recently Japandi décors, where east meets west. This idea of ‘the world being your sourcebook’ will intensify in the home this year, as a bold mix of styles, finishes and designs continue to strike big in the modern bathroom. Steve says “There’s a wealth of added-extra designelements like fold-out shelves and dual-access bars, so you can put the ‘fun’ into functional with eye-catching and practical heating solutions, which will enrich any type of bathroom space.”

Cosmopolitan utility: Creating and

Personal choice: Enhancing the home

enjoy the best of both worlds as heating solutions can be both beautifully designed and kind to the planet!

Sustainable interior design and home products are leading to new kinds of innovations in heating and are enhancing different types of property in an ecofriendly way: a huge trend in 2021.

celebrating your own unique style throughout your home will be a big story in

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experience with custom interior design will be a major lifestyle trend in 2021,

Kitchens & Bathrooms

as bespoke designs and colour-match finishes are set to dominate the home.

“The advantage of working with a premium manufacturer is that various levels of bespoke service are available from tweaking an existing design to creating a one-off piece just for you. Always ask to see the range of colours, textures and finishes available so you can make the best choice,” says Steve. “The latest innovations in the bathroom are placing huge emphasis on sculptural designs and striking finishes.”

The luxury interior market is evolving in 2021 with fresh impetus for user-friendly design and subtle refinement in terms of fixtures and fittings. Pure and simple lines will outweigh more intricate models and playing with shape and colourcontrast will be used to give a modern edge to tranquil bathroom environments. Discover the latest 2021 radiator and towel warmer designs by visiting Vogue (UK) www.vogueuk.co.uk

Industry News

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Roman launch more fluted glass options to Liberty Range The UK and Europe’s leading shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has unveiled more stunning fluted glass options on its Liberty Wetroom Panels, Liberty Sliding Door and Liberty Hinged Door with In-Line Panel.

The Liberty Sliding Door and Hinged Door with In-Line Panel are now available in five colour finishes - Silver Chrome, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel, Polished Nickel, and Brushed Brass - these ontrend products coordinate with brassware across bathroom spaces.

These new styles offer several design options to suit every style and shape bathroom including a choice of left or right handing. The Liberty Fluted Glass Sliding Door and Hinged Door with InLine Panel can be installed on Roman’s Anti-Slip Trays, Infinity Trays, and also the Low Level Trays to eliminate the step into the shower. They are all manufactured in 8mm toughened safety glass.

All of Roman’s Liberty Wetroom Panels are now available in six colour finishes - Matt White is the latest extension to our colour collection alongside Silver Chrome, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel, Polished Nickel, and Brushed Brass.

“The glass texture distorts light and offers a degree of obscurity without reducing the light in the showering area, but it is the panels’ finished look that demands attention and adds value. Fluted glass has been really popular in the international hotel sector for the last few years, but there has been a growing clamour from Designers to bring more options into the retail sector - and now we can,” says Managing Director David Osborne.

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Kitchens & Bathrooms

Crosswater’s Crossbox Push revolutionises the shower!

Turning on the shower has been revolutionised with Crosswater’s innovative Crossbox Push.

While certain pieces of brassware in the bathroom are ever evolving, others have remained fundamentally unchanged over the decades. While brassware as a whole has taken on the different colour finishes in vogue at various times – from gleaming gold brass to the matt black and white finishes trending today – some bathroom brassware seems to get more aesthetic attention than others. Notably, taps have undergone the most dramatic of developments, with handle shapes and spouts in a constant state of flux both design-wise – varying considerably from pieces based on historic precedent to those more akin to modern sculpture – to their positioning by the basin or bath, from classic mixer taps to wall mounted or freestanding.

Within the shower, shower heads have undergone bold changes over recent years, with forward thinking designs not only looking the part, offer

different styles of water flow, or being integrated with lighting or elements of technology. More practical shower controls have been largely overlooked aesthetically, water and temperature typically regulated with the twisting of a valve and left at that. Until now. Enter the Crossbox Push by Crosswater, a module which radically modernises the design of shower controls and adds a revolutionary new functionality to the shower experience. ‘ The Crossbox Push introduces a push control to the shower in a groundbreaking, design-focused way’ explains Graeme Borchard, Managing Director at ukBathrooms.com. ‘The instant water flow Crossbox Push offers at the touch of a button merges efficiency and precision control with an utterly sleek contemporary aesthetic, forever altering the look of within the shower.’

Streamlined functionality The push button operation of Crossbox Push brings a fresh perspective to shower control design. Why twist and adjust when you can simply press? Rotary heat control means that the desired temperature can be pre-set and conjured in a tap of the Neoperl ABS push button.

Water can be summoned from up to three different water outlets – be it a rainfall, wall mounted or hand-held shower head – in one easy touch.

Looking good

The two key elements of the Crossbox Push are the bold circular button, which is also integrated with a textured dial to alter water flow, and the smaller temperature control knob. Combined, the pair make a modern design statement, boldly protruding from the all metal backplate in a minimal, clean style, while the lines splitting the button into two or three add easy usability with low visual impact The finishing touch

Available in an array of on-trend and timeless finishes, the Crossbox Push can be specified to suit any colour scheme, style or existing brassware – all bases are covered with the Crosswater MPRO palette.

Got a Scandi-style pale space? Blend in with Matt White, or contrast with Matt Black.

Feeling glamourous? Brushed Brass is your friend. Need some texture? Try the Brushed Stainless Steel Effect. Something classic?

Chrome is here for you.

Style and substance in the touch of a button, the Crossbox Push is ushering in a new era to water control, and a total refresh of design within the shower space.

Kitchens & Bathrooms

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‘Hang tough’ with new ceiling frames by Rotpunkt Rotpunkt, leading carbon-neutral manufacturer of quality German Kitchen furniture elevate your design ideas in 2021 with a range of new ergonomic living solutions, which embody the latest trend for hybrid kitchen design where strong architectural detail and an urban colour palette set the tone.

The pictured kitchen reveals the new Clay Dark door colour by Rotpunkt, available in the company’s Xtreme laminate finish, which adds a contemporary warmth to this new and intensely deep shade of grey, as well as echo the new canopy-style ceiling frames.

Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt says “As the line between work and play continues to merge at home, hybrid furniture is answering the need to optimize every inch of kitchen living space without compromising on quality, design and artistic value.”

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In fact, this kitchen concept welcomes a series of new design elements by Rotpunkt and they include: NEW Ceiling Frames: canopy-style storage

system which helps to make use of the floors, walls and ceiling in your kitchen.

Ideal for keeping herbs and spices in easy reach of the chef, this innovative hanging storage is designed to suspend from the ceiling to create extra shelving space and new planning options for the central island unit and built-in extractor.

This speciality ceiling system can be made full size or custom, featuring a black metal frame, shelving and electrical containment in order to make use of the 390mm apertures specially designed for extractors.

NEW Clay Dark door: extreme matt, high

pressure laminate door colour in new dark grey colour. Its hard-wearing finish promises a resilient, anti-fingerprint

Kitchens & Bathrooms

surface that is silky smooth, easy to clean and able to naturally extend the life of your kitchen furniture. To complete the look, you can even match your furniture with Clay Dark end panels and even flush-fitting plinths as pictured, for a truly flawless look and finish.

NEW bicolour unit: this two-tone modular

design solution is available in all Rotpunkt colours and finishes and shown here in City Nature Oak finish upon the central island unit. Able to be used across all furniture options by Rotpunkt and extremely easyto personalise, choose two opposing colours and either a H130mm or H260mm notch, and you’ll be one step closer to creating a high contrast kitchen that is characteristically yours.

NEW Black Glass Cabinet: glass display

cabinet with 60mm wide black glass doors with metal frame and matching shelves.

Designed with aluminium frames and floating glass shelves with integrated

Manila LED lighting as standard, this new vitrine canbe designed independently or built-in as part of your kitchen furniture.

As pictured, the new black glass shelving options sit proud amid a run of extra-tall Clay Dark units, which provide generous storage space and make way for two sidemounted integrated ovens for a seamless finish and uninterrupted, full height onepiece doors for maximum impact.

NEW smart ready integrated lighting: all

units are now smart ready so you can automate your kitchen lighting by using the latest virtual digital assistants like Alexa or Siri. “The graphic shapes, clean lines and strong design of this Clay Dark contemporary kitchen is strengthened further by the all-newblack fixtures and fittings, which have replaced the carbon alternatives from last year and are now a standard feature in 2021. Able to bring a sense of cohesion to both inside and out, we believe this level of attention to detail is what sets our kitchens apart from more mainstream ideas� says Matt.

For further information on Rotpunkt UK visit: www.rotpunktuk.com

Kitchens & Bathrooms

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Technology

KEUCO introduces additional colours and branding options for sanitiser dispenser Cleanliness continues to be of high importance and hand sanitisers are a key priority KEUCO’s sanitiser dispensers go above expectations, bold and bright or subtle chic, suitable for an extensive variety of areas, locations and situations: homes, hotels, supermarkets, shopping malls, offices and airports. These new dispensers meet the highest hygiene requirements, whilst combining functionality with a distinguished design.

Since the middle of 2020 hand sanitiser have become a must for every property.

KEUCO’S dispenser has an elegant yet straightforward, linear design, along with superior technical features that have been invisibly integrated in the design.

The KEUCO dispensers make a stylish addition in any location where hand sanitisers are required.

Simple to operate: just press the big buzzer to dispense the sanitiser. The storage container is discreetly hidden inside the column and can be easily refilled with a liquid or gel sanitiser of your choice. KEUCO offer an extensive variety of colours and colour-combinations including plain coloured, multi-coloured, black and white or elegant metallic; for multi-site requirements there are bespoke options with specific branding.

There are size options too: the freestanding sanitiser dispenser variant is slim and stable the round head provides an elegant finishing touch whilst ensuring ease of use. The top is simple to remove, just pull upwards and the supply bottle is revealed ready to be refilled. The large base plate ensures stability and catches stray drops of sanitiser during use. A smaller variant is available for table, desk and counter tops or for use in cars, boats or bicycles. A third option that can be attached to wall is also available. www.keuco.co.uk

Kitchens & Bathrooms

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Gira System 3000 with new ‘Touch & Slide’ top unit Gira, one of the world’s leading full-range suppliers for intelligent building design and management, expand the capabilities of the Gira System 3000 which controls lighting, blinds and heat with the launch of a new touch top unit: Bring together key smart functions in your 2021 projects with the new Gira System 3000 top unit with touch and slide functions: ideal for retro-fitting and new builds.

Giving end users the ability to control their lights, blinds and heating in one handy location, the new top unit can be operated via the Gira System 3000 app, Bluetooth or manually with its intuitive tactile‚ touch and slide controls.

With future-proof design a huge trend this year, the top unit gives home owners more control without the need to install a complete bus system and it be fitted quickly and simply by installers over existing inserts.

Mark Booth, Managing Director at Gira UK says “With increasing demand for integrated controls and systems in today’s smart home, we are delighted to introduce the new top unit to the trade. Inspired by the swipe-ability and convenience of the smartphone interface, this new control unit optimizes comfort for end users with its three touch-sensitive surfaces and innovative slider control.

Electricians will benefit from its ease of installation with the ability to integrate three systems smoothly in a highconcept, aesthetically pleasing top unit to complement contemporary decors.”

Ensuring a greater level of triple-function

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control and flexibility to the smart home, the new Gira top unit offers the following highlights: Adaptable and future-proof: made to

exacting Gira standards for residential and commercial use, settings can be easily altered should user needs change and if more automation is required throughout the connected home. The Gira 3000 system is available in a range of options to suit your system.

Clever functions: check on the status of

heating, blinds and lights with a quick glance at the light bars on the control panel. It’s easy to adjust them with a gentle touch of the sliding switch and you can also save up to three of your favourite settings from the memory function. You can call them up whenever you wish, ideal for a gentle night-light or for brighter task lighting.

Modern, minimal style: available in a choice

of contemporary colours and finishes to complement your room scheme, the elegant design is ergonomic with flat and even surfaces. Mechanical wear and tear is reduced as there are no moving parts.

Compatible design: compatible with the

Gira System 55, the new touch top unit you can expand and adapt each Gira switch-system as required, and now have the option to interchange between Design Lines and choice of flat or surface-mounted installation. This means, the new system can be combined with the Gira frame variants of your choice and easily adapted to your existing design line at home. Go for a timeless design with the Gira E2, for example, or give the touch top unit even more elegance with the design line, Gira Esprit.

Colour expressions: helping you define

your own personal style and interior décor, Gira offers a range of colour variants to ensure the right look and feel for each project. Options include Pure white glossy, Pure white matt, Stainless Steel, Aluminium, Anthracite and Black.

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Helicopter survey keeps Wolverhampton station’s big freeze at bay Thermal imaging cameras mounted to a Network Rail helicopter are keeping passengers and freight moving after heavy snowfall across the West Midlands.

Although sub-zero temperatures caused heavy snow to fall and ice to form on tracks this weekend, much of the railway has been operating as normal.

This is helped by the Network Rail Air Operations team, which is today (Monday 25 January) carrying out sky-high inspections of the West Coast main line and key rail routes in the West Midlands.

The impressive aerial photos taken on the flight over Wolverhampton station, and also Lichfield Trent Valley station in Staffordshire, are to check that points the equipment which allows trains to move tracks – do not become frozen and stop working. In each set of points the steel rails are heated to stop this from happening. If the heaters are working properly the points should glow bright white in the thermal

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pictures – if they appear dark the helicopter team raises the alarm to engineers on the ground for them to fix.

Dave Penney, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “With the West Midlands under a blanket of snow the Network Rail Air Operations team has been inspecting the railway from the sky today to help keep passengers and freight moving.

“Key sections of track are fitted with heaters and insulation to help stop them freezing. Thermal imaging cameras attached to a helicopter have been checking the heaters are working.

“Anything reported to us from the skies can then be looked at straight away by the extra teams of people on the ground and fixed as quickly as possible.”

With the cold weather continuing, passengers who still need to travel by train during this period of national lockdown are being advised to check www.nationalrail. co.uk for the latest updates.

Leeds improving the safety and wellbeing of residents with leading IoT provider HomeLINK The £500k investment from GovTech Catalyst for the district will see the deployment of up to 1,000 environment sensors such as temperature, humidity and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in up to 1,000 of its homes. Approximately 50 of these properties will also include further smart technology, like the Aico SmartLINK Gateway, for the remote monitoring and management of fire and Carbon Monoxide alarm systems. Aico’s SmartLINK Gateway utilises Aico’s next generation of wireless technology to report events including Fire/CO activations and alarm head removals as they happen to the SmartLINK cloud portal, for full visibility and remote monitoring to improve efficiency, reduce costs, aid with forecasting and compliance and enable smart asset management.

Luke Loveridge, CEO of HomeLINK, comments “We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with Leeds City Council, the University of York and the University of Leeds on the next phase of this £500k GovTech challenge. Leeds is ambitious, forward thinking and at the cutting edge of the smart city agenda. Providing enough homes that are efficient, safe and supports people’s health and wellbeing is of critical importance; especially as people have been spending significantly more time indoors recently. With a deployment of up to 1,000 smart homes, we will test and develop new maintenance and wellbeing

services for social housing residents. I’m glad that we are part of a partnership that has the experience and technology to support Leeds in this journey.” This project, in partnership with the University of Leeds and the University of York, follows as Phase Two from an earlier deployment in six properties.

The initial phase included interviews, feedback and collaboration with over 100 residents, resulting in clear objectives for the second phase: integration of property management systems, mapping processes and the development of a resident app. The resident app is a vital component of the project as Phase One identified that by providing residents with their own data and suggested actions they could take reduced the risk of condensation, damp and mould.

This project also had significant positive impact on relationships and engagement with residents, with all residents keen to participate in Phase Two. “Housing is a recognised public health issue with research evidence showing that poor housing presents a risk to both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

This is why this project is really important and we’re keen to work with innovative partners like Leeds City Council and

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HomeLINK.” comments Dr Maria Horne, Associate Professor in Community and Public Health at the University of Leeds.

Stephen Blackburn, Data and Innovation Manager for Leeds City Council states “It’s great to be able to continue working with HomeLINK on Phase Two of this government-funded GovTech Catalyst project. We’re keen to promote Leeds as an innovative city where new technology can be tested and trialled.

This project offers us a great opportunity to better understand how new technology and data insight can help us further improve the service we deliver our tenants.”

The Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York is one of Europe’s leading centres for interdisciplinary housing and social policy research, with interests on housing and social justice, housing and later life and the operation of housing markets. Dr Alison Wallace, Research Fellow at the University of York comments of the project “Housing is a key determinant of people’s health, so to work with HomeLINK, housing staff and tenants to explore the potential of IoT technologies to improve landlords and tenants responses to indicators of poor internal housing conditions is an exciting opportunity.”

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