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PROFILE London Underground Hitachi Zosen Inova Northumberland Estates TG Escapes BAFE GMI Construction Rykneld Homes Transform Architects ATLAS GPS Marine Willmott Dixon Core Architects Mass Concrete Yorkshire Groundworks Solutions Ltd

HOUSING 60 88 100 104 105

Blackwall Lane and Commerell Street Appleton Point Cawston Grange Harbury Fields Harborough Avenue Housing

COMMERCIAL

NEWS - 10

94 GeoPost UK Ltd DPD 96 Warth Park

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63 Piran Meadows 66 World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre 70 Accor Hotels 82 Harlech Castle Visitor Centre 90 Lakeside @ Ferry Meadows 102 Blackburn Central Library

COMMENTS 22 24 25 26 86 106

NHBC Sheridan Gold – Peter Sheridan Thomas Eggar – Kasia Dickson 2014 Budget Report Air1 Siemens Financial Services – Brian Foster

HEALTH 68 92 95 102

Lion Medical Centre Southmead Hospital Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital Rugby Health & Wellbeing Centre

RETAIL 99 wagamama

EDUCATION 97 Paulton Infants School

CIVIL 91 Lamby Way Capping Works

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28 42 48 54 57 72 74 79 84 93 98 101 103 103

LEISURE

Editors Victoria Lee Gareth Trevor-Jones

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Staff Writer John Train Editorial Raimy Greenland Robert Atherton Copy Jody Ramsey Studio Manager SĂŠamus Norton Designer Richard Gill Proof Reader Matthew Brown Approvals Sarah Smith

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Credit Control Carol Ryan

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ISSN 1461-1279 UK Construction Media Lowry House 17 Marble Street Manchester M2 3AW T: 0161 638 8775 E: sales@ukconstructionmedia.co.uk www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk

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BRITISH GYPSUM OFF-SITE SOLUTIONS With off-site manufacturing set to continue to grow within the UK, British Gypsum continues to develop its off-site solutions range to meet the exacting manufacturing and assembly requirements. Andy Higson, Off-Site Market Development Manager at British Gypsum highlights the benefits of this modern method of construction and the solutions available.

Off-site manufacture or design for manufacture and assembly, is a method of delivering a project through fast-track solutions to deliver efficiencies in waste, labour, CO2, time and ultimately cost. With such benefits it is no surprise that within the construction industry many companies are making the transition from traditional methods to off-site.

As with any shift there are new challenges and new performance requirements for products and systems alike. British Gypsum offers a range of innovative solutions and services to meet these needs.

Andy Higson, Off-Site Market Development Manager at British Gypsum said: “Alongside our off-site solutions range sits a suite of associated services to provide a comprehensive package to our growing customer base.

From technical and specification assistance with bespoke detailing, through to joint product development, system mock-ups, testing at our UKAS accredited Building Test Centre and our plasterboard recycling service – we look to work with our customers from the very start right through every stage of the project delivery.”

Rigidur H Rigidur H is a gypsum fibre-board designed to meet the rigours of pre-manufactured off-site systems. It is

available in bespoke sizing, (including sheet formats of up to 6000mm x 2500mm, allowing whole wall panel assembly) and offers enhanced fixing capability and increased mechanical strength, removing the need for any pattressing behind in many cases.

Rigidur H meets and can often exceed regulatory performance requirements for fire, acoustics, duty rating and moisture resistance and is also available with ACTIVair technology. ACTIVair technology absorbs volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, before converting them into inert compounds to prevent their re-emission at a later date. VOCs are chemicals emitted as gases into the atmosphere from sources, such as new furnishings and cleaning products, and can, in high doses, contribute to health issues in both children and adults.

Glasroc H TILEBACKER Glasroc H TILEBACKER is another specialist solution available for off-site applications, suitable for use as a tile backing board in areas subject to high levels of moisture such as kitchen and bathroom pod or modular shower cubicles and wet rooms. The yellow pre-primed acrylic surface resists water, protecting the background and system, whilst providing an optimum surface key for direct tiling or decoration or bonding of decorative surfaces.

For more information about British Gypsum Off-Site solutions, visit www.british-gypsum.com/about-us/sectors/offsite

UKC NEWS

Accoya wood bridges the gap in Europe Accoya, the world leading modified wood product manufactured by Accsys Technologies, has been used in the construction of a number of bridges throughout Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. A number of different types of bridges have been constructed, including truss bridges, cable stayed bridges, an arch bridge, timber concrete composite bridges, a block glulam bridge, and a heavy load bridge. Accoya was used for various structural and aesthetic components of the bridges, including glulam beam, handrails and entrance cladding.

Manufactured using Accsys Technologies’

proprietary process, Accoya is one of the most advanced modified wood products on the market delivering outstanding levels of performance, stability and durability.

Exceeding the high quality and aesthetic attributes of tropical hardwoods, it also boasts excellent environmental credentials by using wood sourced from FSC certified and sustainable forests as well as being Cradle to Cradle Gold certified.

With such strong credentials, Accoya is bridging the gap to provide the architectural and construction industries with a truly durable, stable and sustainable timber alternative for external structural applications.

Dominik Niewerth, Project Engineer at Schaffitzel + Miebach which made the bridges in Germany and the Netherlands, said: “When designing each of these bridges, we carefully factored in the external environment where each bridge would be located and Accoya was selected as the most reliable and durable material. Furthermore, our architects were drawn to the aesthetic and ecofriendly nature of the wood which fits well with each of the bridges’ surroundings, and appreciated the low maintenance that goes hand in hand with Accoya’s 50 year above ground guarantee.”

Portakabin launches new planning and building control service Portakabin Hire has launched a new planning and building control service to manage the building regulations and planning process for the supply of interim modular buildings.

The new service offers a complete time saving solution to help customers in both the public and private sectors obtain planning permission and building control approval for accommodation supplied by Portakabin. This is in response to the growing demand from customers following the introduction of increasingly complex regulations.

Planning permission and building control approval, which specifies the minimum building requirements for a new structure, is required for any development on site for more than 28 days.

As part of the launch of the new service, Portakabin has appointed two specialist managers, for the north and south of the country, and will assign an agent from its dedicated team to guide each project through the process.

Robert Snook, Director and General Manager of Portakabin Hire, said: “The process of achieving planning permission and building control approval has become increasingly complex and time consuming

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for our customers in recent years, with local authorities now taking a variety of wider issues, such as the potential for flooding, into consideration.

“Whilst we can never guarantee any approval, our team is experienced and informed and works hard to minimise the risk of planning applications being

declined. We are also proud that in an impressive 98% of cases where we have acted as agent for our customers, we have succeeded in achieving both planning and building control approval, which means our customers benefit from their accommodation being in place much sooner.”

IBI Nightingale’s Community Hospital rises from floods Cockermouth’s local residents have started to benefit from their brand new Community Hospital and Health Centre in the heart of Cumbria, signalling new beginnings for a recovering community.

On the afternoon of Thursday 19th November 2009, the rivers Derwent and Cocker burst their banks and flooded the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, damaging homes, businesses and the local GP surgeries.

Following the flood, the GP surgeries were decanted into temporary buildings on the local cottage hospital site to ensure continuity of care within the neighbourhood.

Justin Harris, Architect and Studio Director at IBI Nightingale said: “As the extent of the damage was assessed, NHS Cumbria took the opportunity to review its health provision, deciding to create a new ‘joinedup’ service. This strategy inspired the new build Cockermouth Community Hospital and Health Centre, to be delivered utilising the Express LIFT framework by NHS Cumbria’s development partner eLIFT Cumbria Limited and designed to provide a 21st century environment for patients, families and staff.”

Designed and delivered in collaboration with eLIFT Cumbria Limited and Head Tenant Community Health Partnerships, the new building houses GP and dental practices, together with imaging and in-patient facilities. The layout of the new building promotes collaborative working between the different departments, through the use of flexible, multi-functional, spaces.

This reflects an aspiration to promote an integrated healthcare model. The building achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Gary Naylor, eLIFT Cumbria General Manager said: “After so many years working towards delivering this new development after the floods, we are delighted it is now open and to see the many benefits it is now bringing for the residents of Cockermouth and the staff who provide such excellent services from it. Everyone involved should be proud of their achievements in working together in partnership to deliver such a fantastic facility.”

Planning consent received for latest Ocean Estate development East Thames is set to continue its contribution to the regeneration of the Stepney area with a new residential development on the Ocean Estate. At a planning committee meeting on 25 February 2014, the London borough of Tower Hamlets approved plans for the new homes. The development, which will be the final phase of the wider Ocean Estate regeneration, will see 120 run down homes replaced with 225 new sustainable apartments and maisonettes.

The proposals, brought forward by housing association, East Thames and designed by architects, Levitt Bernstein include homes ranging from one- to five-bedrooms and will be available for affordable rent, shared ownership and outright sale. Overlooking a park, the homes will be constructed to East Thames’ high specification standards with modern energy saving features.

The £220M regeneration of the Ocean Estate, part funded by The Mayor of London, has created more than 800 new homes and refurbished more than 1,000 council homes to date. Delivered in partnership with East Thames, the London

Borough of Tower Hamlets and Bellway Homes, the project has seen the complete transformation of the Stepney area.

East Thames’ Head of Regeneration, Neil Baron said: “We are delighted that work on this latest development on the Ocean Estate was well received by the planning committee. The development will not only provide new homes but will enhance the already thriving community on the regenerated estate. It will have a positive and lasting impact on the Stepney area.”

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “I’m delighted that the latest development in the Ocean Estate is taking shape. Creating new and improved housing for our borough’s residents is a key priority for me. The £220M Ocean Estate regeneration scheme has already seen hundreds of residents benefiting from the newly transformed area and this next development will further add to the transformation that has already taken place in Stepney.”

The construction of the development is anticipated to commence in early 2015.

Raft of new contracts worth in excess of £3M for Howard Civil Engineering Groundworks specialist Howard Civil Engineering (HCE) has clinched four key contracts worth in excess of £3M with some of the UK’s leading construction companies.

The Leeds based business has begun work for ISG on building the new headquarters for NHS IT specialist TPP in Horsforth, Leeds which will accommodate 200 people.

The second commission involves a joint venture between Hochtief and Buckingham Group – bringing major improvements to the A57 north of Manchester, where a new port and distribution centre called Port Salford will be built.

Howard Civil Engineering will build the concrete abutment for a new bridge to connect the new development to the Manchester-Liverpool railway line.

The A57 scheme is aligned with HCE’s objective to secure more contracts in the reinforced concrete market. It follows the completion of multi-million pound projects including a new John Lewis store at the £90M Monks Cross shopping complex in York and Arla’s new Distribution Diary in Aylesbury - its largest contract to date.

Howard’s specialist workforce will also undertake complex groundworks for a new Accident and Emergency department at Airedale Hospital, Keighley overseen by Willmott Dixon and conduct preparatory work for BAM for a new viewing gallery at Manchester Airport.

Michael Howard, MD of Howard Civil Engineering which posted a 70% growth in the last 12 months and employs a 120 strong team, said: “These new commissions are integral to our strategy to further expand our expertise in the highways and concrete structure sectors.”

Chris De Whytell, Senior Contracts Manager at Caddick Construction, who commissioned the Company for their flagship project at Monks Cross, commented: “Having the support of Howard Civil Engineering on a prestige scheme like this one at Monks Cross has been invaluable. They have been extremely proactive in identifying value engineering opportunities which have provided efficiencies in costs and programme, allowing us to handover the John Lewis building on time.”

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for excellence in sports turf

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UKC NEWS

Design trio scoop awards The best in new building design was celebrated at the fifth annual Rochdale Borough Design Awards.

After a hotly contested online public vote, Rochdale Pioneers Museum won the ‘People’s Design Award.’ Judges were impressed and said the museum’s new curved form provided a considered addition to an iconic landmark.

The Sustainable Design Award was won

by ASDA Distribution Centre, Kingsway.

The new building on a 43.5 acre site that contains a host of innovations, including solar panels, has produced 26% less carbon emissions, uses 28% less energy and 30% less water than would have been the case previously. Judges said the building was a showcase for good practice.

Brownhill Learning Community, Heights Lane Site collected the ‘Rochdale Borough Design Award’. The school has been designed to inspire, motivate, raise

aspirations and meet the educational needs of pupils. Judges were very impressed and said the innovative design made good use of indoor and outdoor space.

Council Leader Colin Lambert said it was great to see such a fantastic showcase: “We have seen some brilliant buildings that have not only been well designed aesthetically and environmentally, but also with careful thought on how they could positively impact their local community.”

John Jones, Design Director of Countryside Properties, sponsor of the awards, said they were proud to support them: “It has been inspiring to get the chance to see so many fantastic new buildings.

These innovations in schools, heritage and housing have given me some ideas that we can develop at Countryside Properties. We are committed to ensuring good building designs for the future and know that it is important to recognise

the effort, creativity and consideration that goes into creating our building.”

The annual awards, sponsored by new home developer Countryside Properties, focus on the relationship between good design of new developments and building successful communities.

Second contract for Interserve this year with University of Birmingham Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has won another design and build contract with the University of Birmingham worth just over £8M. This latest contract, won in competition, will see Interserve take back to its shell part of a Grade II listed building – Aston Webb C Block – before work begins.

In January the Company announced that it is also set to begin work in April on the University’s new £55M sports centre, and both projects are part of a wider campus development scheme.

The latest project will provide a new student hub for the university and will involve removal and demolition of the majority of the non-original partitions, mezzanine floors, external plant rooms

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and part-original first floor. Significant structural works will be required to ensure the integrity of the existing structure.

The original building envelope is to be restored with masonry walls and roof being insulated internally, while the original single glazed metal window system is to be refurbished and a secondary glazing system inserted behind to provide a robust thermal and airtight line.1,900 metal window systems are to be refurbished with new secondary glazing systems.

Once completed, the renovated and refurbished building will offer approximately 3,500sq m of internal floor space, including 1,400sq m of new mezzanine areas.

New facilities will then include a 250 seat lecture theatre with break-out support

spaces, a 170sq m student services hub, seminar rooms, plus new internal and external mechanical plant areas.

Commenting on the project, Interserve’s Regional Director, Simon Butler, says: “We are very pleased that the University of Birmingham has awarded us this second contract. Working on a project of this nature undertaking the refurbishment of one of the University’s historic buildings is a great opportunity and allows us to build on our relationship with the University of Birmingham”.

Work is set to start on site in March this year with completion scheduled for June 2015. Interserve’s design partner on the project is Associated Architects of Birmingham.

Graduates build a career with Aedis group North East based building control company Aedis Group is helping graduates climb the career ladder in a bid to address skill shortages in the construction industry.

The Company, with head offices in Darlington and Newcastle, is celebrating a year since the launch of its graduate training programme.

A national shortage of building surveyors led Aedis to start its own trial training programme in January 2013 with just one graduate; since then four more have joined the Company at its offices in the North East and London and are working towards professional industry qualifications.

Company Directors Alan Barraclough from Guisborough; Joe Ayre from Richmond, North Yorkshire and Steven Spence from Newcastle now plan to widen the programme further. It is set to gain accreditation from industry bodies the Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors; the Chartered Association of Building Engineers and the Association of Consult Approved Inspectors.

Aedis is also drawing up plans to go in to universities to speak to student surveyors as they learn with the aim of offering work experience.

Alan says: “There is a shortage of surveyors nationally, but particularly in and around London.

“Looking forward, we realised that if we train our own staff we can help ourselves.

We started the programme with just one graduate in January 2013 and there are now three in the North East – two in Darlington and one in Newcastle – and two in London with many more to come.

“Most have done full time surveying degrees and were looking for a career post but were in a job away from surveying to earn a living. Aedis is looking to get them fully professionally qualified and experienced with clear targets and goals for their long term career.”

Details of the full training programme will also be published on Aedis’ website – www.aedisgroup.co.uk

India choose Gleeds for national centre for sustainable coastal management scheme International management and construction consultancy, Gleeds, has recently begun work as project and cost managers for the £3.5M development of the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management’s (NCSCM) new research institute taking place within the prestigious Anna University Campus in Chennai, India.

Following appointment by the NCSCM, Gleeds, will be working alongside local architects Flying Elephant Studios, to complete work at the 3.1 acre site that will provide laboratories, office space, a library, auditorium and various other amenities for the world-class institution of coastal and marine area management. The building will be 150,000sq ft, making the structure one of the largest at the Campus.

Once completed, the building will hold the highest rating of “Platinum” in the Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design system (LEED).

This compliments the NCSCM’s vision of producing an environmentally sustainable structure and so forth complimenting what they describe as, “the beautiful green surroundings” of the site.

Speaking on the exciting new project, Stuart Senior, Main Board Director at Gleeds Nottingham, who is responsible for Gleeds’ operations in India, said: “Developing our commercial footprint is something we take very seriously at Gleeds so we are delighted to be working with the NCSCM on a platinum rated LEED project. We are pleased that our consistent good work delivering on time and on budget across the Indian region is being recognised and our aim is to continue this going forward.”

Work at the site commenced at the start of 2014 with a projected completion date of February 2015.

Leazes Homes to restore 19th century properties to former glory Affordable housing provider, Leazes Homes, is teaming up with Esh Property Services for the first time in order to bring two significant buildings back into use in the Summerhill conservation area of Newcastle.

The properties, situated on the extremely well located Westgate Road, date from the early-mid 19th century and have been derelict for years. They are currently owned

by Newcastle City Council, however Leazes Homes are now set to acquire the buildings. Esh Property Services has been appointed to provide internal refurbishment that will restore them to their former glory.

One of the buildings is Grade II Listed and dates from around 1820, with both appearing on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1879. Both properties contain numerous original features, including stained glass windows, coving, ceiling roses, fire places, decorative pillars, doors and door frames – all of which will be thoroughly respected in the renovations.

The properties will be developed to provide one- and two-bedroom flats, with some communal areas and landscaped gardens

included. A public consultation event was recently held and local residents were thrilled to learn that the buildings, which are currently a rather unattractive part of the picturesque conservation area, are to be brought back into use and restored.

Chair of Leazes Homes, Bill Midgley said: “For us to be able to bring any empty properties back into use as desirable homes, which we do regularly, is very positive news indeed – but these two buildings are particularly special. It’s fantastic for us to be converting properties in such a popular, central location and to bring grand, Georgian and Victorian buildings back into use is a real honour.”

Graham Morgan, Operations Director, Esh Property Services, said: “At present we are awaiting formal feedback from Newcastle City Council’s planning team on the refurbishment proposals, which we very much hope will be well received.”

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Preparing for Mediation Part 2 - The Power of The Opening Statement Eight years ago I penned an article entitled “Preparing for Mediation”. What I said then still holds true but I am not going to waste column inches on this article by repeating what I said in 2006. If you want to read the original article then simply visit vinden.co.uk and look down the titles listed in my blog for the article in question. It is an easy read and, if I say so myself, a useful overview and summary of how to prepare successfully for mediation.

They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but recently I have witnessed, first hand, how a well researched, well planned and delivered opening statement can set the tone of the mediation and have a surprising and even damaging impact on an opponent at the very start of the mediation.

The vast majority of mediations start with the mediator sitting with the parties in a joint session, explaining his or her role, what mediation is all about, the ground rules and so on. Invariably, the mediator will then invite the parties to make an opening statement. Many parties pay little attention to the importance of the opening address, wrongly believing that the mediator will be doing all the hard work later on in the mediation and nothing of importance can come out of the opening statements. How wrong can they be?

It is your job to convince your opponent of the strength of your case, not the Mediator’s. What better opportunity can there be to do this than in the opening statement?

So who should deliver the opening statement?

Yes, I know that you may have one or more expensive solicitors with you and/or counsel present. Even so, it should not automatically fall to the lawyers to deliver the opening statement. Remember it is your dispute, not your lawyers’. What will your opponent expect? What will have the greatest impact on your opponent? The answers to these questions will dictate who should deliver the opening statement.

It goes without saying that the selected person must be willing and able to make the opening. The default position should not be a lawyer. It's your dispute so keep this firmly in your mind. What is best for you and what will be most effective?

How should you deliver your opening?

Resist the urge to "go through the motions" and get your opening out of the way. This is your opportunity to make an impact on your opponents at a key point - at the outset. It never ceases to amaze me how many parties are willing to discard the chance to make that all-important first impression.

Now for some body language tips. Maintaining eye contact with your opponent will convey determination and sincerity. Avoid the temptation to read from a pre-prepared text. Be passionate without resorting to shouting. Your whole body language should convey "we are here to do business but we are no push-overs".

Now it is time to think about content. What should you say in your opening address?

Clearly every mediation is different and careful thought needs to be given to what you are going to say, depending on the individual facts of each case. But here are a few simple guidelines on content to follow.

Simply reading the position statement provided previously is not a good idea. It needs to be original, at least in part.

Refer to key points in your opponent’s position statement to show that you have considered and understand your opponent's case.

Avoid making personal attacks and insulting your opponent. Although you might feel better afterwards, is this really going to help you get a deal done?

Are you at the mediation because you recognise that both parties will incur unavoidable costs if settlement is not achieved? If you believe this, saying so will do you no harm.

Preparing thoroughly for a mediation will improve your chances of getting a settlement immeasurably. Delivering a good opening statement on the day of the mediation is a key part of the preparation process. I might be an old dog, but I am willing to learn new tricks.

Are you?

Peter Vinden is a commercial, work place and employment mediator, an arbitrator, adjudicator, expert and conciliator. He is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership and can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk

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

Building communities, building careers A large and successful business, we’re committed to quality – not just in our homes, but also in the way we support each other. Join us, and you’ll enjoy both a professionally challenging mix of work, together with on-going training and excellent benefits and rewards.

£Competitive plus benefits including Car/Car Allowance and bonus Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire Senior Site Manager/Site Manager Leading a large site construction team from set-up to customer handover, you’ll set meaningful goals and motivate your team and sub-contractors to deliver under pressure. Ideally professionally qualified, you’ll know the construction trade inside out, and have site management experience within the homebuilding sector. Just as important is your ability to focus on both customer expectation and commercial needs – because both lie at the heart of this role.

Assistant Site Manager Passionate about quality and with plenty of experience of driving complex build programs in the housing sector, you’ll understand the importance of the customer, and the importance of keeping your team focused on it too. Most of all, you’ll have a positive attitude and the flexibility needed to adapt to changing situations.

Find out how we can build a future together For more information and to find out what we have to offer, visit www.buildingcareerstogether.co.uk

www.buildingcareerstogether.co.uk An equal opportunities employer

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UKC NEWS

Greater Birmingham unveils huge HS2 redevelopment plan Greater Birmingham has unveiled the Birmingham Curzon HS2 Masterplan to global investors and developers at MIPIM, the world’s biggest real estate show.

The ambitious plan will see 141 hectares of the city centre transformed as part of what is one of the biggest urban regeneration schemes in Britain.

It is by far the biggest redevelopment so far announced on the back of HS2.

The new developments will be focused around the brand new city centre station – Birmingham Curzon – where HS2 terminates on its 49 minute journey from London. The station will place the city at the heart of the new national high speed network.

Plans include the creation of over 14,000 jobs, 600,000sq m of new employment floorspace and 2,000 new homes. The regeneration will boost the city’s economy by £1.3Bn each year.

The Curzon HS2 Masterplan is the latest in a series of major projects that are remaking Birmingham’s city centre. The £600M transformation of New Street Station will be completed next year and ambitious plans for Paradise Circus at the heart of the city will be realised in 2015.

HS2 Ltd Chairman David Higgins said: “We welcome the launch of the Curzon Street Masterplan which shows an exciting vision of how the area around the Curzon Street station can be developed and transformed.

This is exactly the kind of ambitious plan that will stimulate the public - private sector partnerships needed to unlock investment.

HS2 offers a great opportunity for investment and jobs around the station, and for the wider region. We are committed to working closely with Greater Birmingham partners and the local Eastside and Digbeth communities to bring this scheme to life and to help ensure that the most is made of the opportunities that HS2 brings.”

An eight week consultation on the Curzon HS2 Masterplan is currently underway. Construction is set to start on the HS2 line and stations in 2017 with the first passenger services arriving in Birmingham in 2026.

China makes landmark investment in Birmingham A consortium of Chinese investors has made what is believed to be the first investment into the redevelopment of a commercial property outside London, purchasing a Grade II listed building from Birmingham City Council.

The group of investors, comprised of high net worth businessmen from Hangzhou and Guangzhou, has purchased 130 Colmore Row, Birmingham, as a multimillion pound development opportunity.

The building, built in 1903, was once the office of Alliance Assurance. It stands alongside Birmingham City Council House and Birmingham Town Hall, both prominent civic buildings.

The consortium plans to redevelop the 5,500sq ft Edwardian property into multiuse commercial space. The purchase has already generated interest, with an offer made for half the space in the building.

Advising the investors are Anthony McCourt and James Ng, both former property lawyers with Wragge & Co. To McCourt and Ng’s knowledge, this is the first time investors from China have bought a commercial property outside the capital which requires redevelopment; previous Chinese investment in Birmingham has been in completed residential schemes.

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Mr Ng said: “I have felt for a long time that one of the unique selling points for this project is to have a Grade A office location for mainland Chinese people to do work in Birmingham. One of my main desires is to see whether Birmingham could attract a Chinese consulate. Manchester has one, I don’t see why we shouldn’t.

This building would be ideal for that.”

Developer Anthony McCourt, who

runs property consultancy Court Collaboration, said: “What I really like about the Chinese group we are working with is that they are in it for the long term. This is a 150 year investment, because this is how long the lease is.

“They are now a stakeholder in Birmingham. They have a listed asset in the civic part of the city and now their focus is on creating jobs.”

MOD invests millions as runway upgrade takes off The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is investing up to £35.4M to totally rebuild the runway and improve certain airfield facilities at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire which will extend the runway’s operational life by a further 25 years.

Rebuilding and extending the runway at RAF Waddington is the first major upgrade work carried out since the 1960s. The work will help the base, which is the home of the ‘eyes and ears’ of the UK’s Armed Forces, to continue to provide vital surveillance and reconnaissance in support of military operations.

Delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO), the MOD’s property and service provider, this is first major runway project in Europe to incorporate a major recycling strategy.

The runway upgrade is also the first project to be tendered through DIO’s Next Generation Estates Contracts (NGEC) National Capital Works Framework.

The waste materials will be recycled as hardcore and reused on site to extend the existing perimeter track which will further enhance airfield safety. This solution will significantly cut the emission of planet warming greenhouse gases during the work.

RAF Waddington station commander: Group Captain Rich Barrow OBE RAF said: “The existing 9,000ft long runway has reached the end of its lifespan.

For RAF Waddington to continue to deliver on its mission to generate world class expeditionary surveillance and intelligence capabilities, the runway infrastructure must be modified to support our world class aircraft, and our highly qualified pilots and ground staff.”

Work on upgrading the runway starts in July and is expected to be completed by late summer 2015. During the rebuild period the stations aircraft will temporarily relocate to alternative operating bases across the County.

Jobseekers benefit as Crossrail sets standard for apprenticeships Almost one in two Crossrail apprenticeships has been filled by people that were identified as being not in work, a success rate that is almost double the UK wide average.

The new figures have been released as Crossrail Minister Stephen Hammond visited Crossrail’s Whitechapel station construction sites to meet some of the 283 apprentices working on the project, including Crossrail’s Apprentice of the Year, Rudy Nieddu.

Crossrail’s highly effective recruitment approach is helping provide a new direction for the construction and tunnelling sector and could be replicated across other sectors of the economy to help address the large number of young people not in employment.

Crossrail Minister Stephen Hammond said: “Crossrail continues to set the benchmark for apprenticeships and is a shining example of our determination to invest in young people. Not only are we transforming the transport network through record levels of investment, we are creating a legacy of skilled workers

who will keep Britain at the forefront of the global race for years to come. This is further proof that our long term economic strategy is on track, creating jobs and making a real difference to people’s lives.”

Beyond apprenticeships, more than 800 unemployed jobseekers have secured jobs on Crossrail.

EngineeringUK estimates that 1.8 million additional engineering jobs will be created by 2020. In order to meet the demand for skills, the sector needs to triple the number of apprenticeships on offer per-year to 69,000.

Crossrail is on track to deliver its target of at least 400 apprenticeships during the construction of the new railway.

When Crossrail opens it will increase London’s rail based transport network capacity by 10%, supporting regeneration and cutting journey times across the city. Crossrail services are due to commence through central London in 2018. It will serve 38 stations, connecting Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east via central London.

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ACRYPOL

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UKC COMMENT

Construction Workplace Health Risks: Construction workers account for the highest rate of contracting occupational cancers than workers in any other sector, over 40% of all occupational cancers are caused by working in the construction industry – further to this 54% of male workers are not still employed by the construction sector at the working age of 60. Although the fatality rate through safety related accidents were at an all-time low last year – 39, the annual death rate from diseases contracted whilst working in the construction industry remains at 5,500 each year. And a staggering estimated total of 74,000 cases of ill health are reported by construction workers, having risen by 31,000 in twelve months.

The nature of the industry means that much of the workforce is transient, moving around different sites country-wide and less likely to have access to regular medical or GP health checks. Often, if

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symptoms of ill-health present themselves, many of those affected tend to ignore them. This combined with a high level of exposure to hazardous risks on the job – dust, vibration, and muscular injury – is a dangerous mix. It leads to worsening health, eventual loss of income, distressed families, and economic loss to employers suffering a skills drain. In the worst case scenario, serious work-related ill health when left un-detected can be fatal.

Construction employers are now beginning to listen to and seek workplace health risk management support from Constructing Better Health (CBH), an industry owned non-profit organisation serving the construction industry’s management of work-related health risks. By creating an infrastructure of standards, information, and most importantly advice and support for sound workplace health risk management particularly amongst SME’s and Micro organisations. CBH is committed to improving management of worker health issues across the construction industry.

The CBH scheme enables individual workers to carry an electronic ‘workplace health fitness for task’ card, demonstrating that workers are fit for the task they have been assigned, on whichever site they work. The medical data is held securely in the first ever national database, it is only accessible by the qualified medical professionals employed by the CBH accredited occupational health service providers. CBH fully audits and accredits occupational health service providers, of all sizes, ranging from an individual OH advisor through to the largest companies currently operating across the UK. CBH will work with employers to ensure they contract for the ‘right’ OH services, those which will add value – not add unnecessary cost. CBH do not provide commercial services for OH, as the industry scheme, they are there to ensure that construction employers can cost

effectively get the support they require to help them to improve the workforce health.

CBH also satisfies the challenge presented to principal contractors needing to demonstrate to Clients and other key stakeholders their supply-chain complies with legislative workplace health requirements. In addition, CBH actively support through advice and guidance SME’s and micro’s who do not always have the financial resources to employ specialist health and safety advisors.

Whilst the safety element of Health and Safety has received much deserved attention in the past decade, health remains the poor relation. As an industry we need to keep key skills in the construction sector and reduce the cost of health liabilities and risk of future litigation. We know that ‘healthy’ companies perform much better, and their corporate profiles and reputations also improve. As our awareness increases on work-related health issues so will economic prosperity.

Enter the NHBC Health and Safety Awards 2014!

Entry is open until 1 May for the Special Awards categories of the annual industry awards scheme run by NHBC. You can enter in one or more of three categories, free of charge: • Occupational Health Award • Health and Safety Strategic Leadership Award • Health and Safety Specialist Leadership Award Find out more at www.nhbc.co.uk/hsawards

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UKC COMMENT

Adjudication and Limitation: Recent Court of Appeal Decisions

By Peter Sheridan A limitation issue may arise where parties treat adjudication as a means of resolving a dispute long after the construction work is completed, as they are entitled to do.

The position of a claimant in adjudication is straightforward. If the claim is for breach of contract, the limitation period is six years from the date of accrual of the cause of action, ie: from the date of breach, or 12 years where the contract is by deed. The limitation position is the same in principle where the claim is for a contractual entitlement but breach is not alleged.

If the claimant refers a dispute to adjudication, there will be no limitation defence if the claimant refers within the six- or 12-year limit. If the claimant loses or is otherwise not satisfied with the decision of the adjudicator, it may bring proceedings in court or start arbitration for a final determination. The limitation period normally remains six or 12 years from the accrual of the original cause of action. It should be noted, however, that it is also quite usual for there to be a stricter contractual time limit. For example, the NEC 3 contracts contain a short time limit (of four weeks) for notifying dissatisfaction with an adjudicator’s decision, in the absence of which the adjudicator’s decision becomes final instead of being merely temporarily binding, pending final determination by the court or arbitral tribunal.

A claimant who has won an adjudication may (subject to any contractual provision to the contrary) bring enforcement proceedings in court at any time within six or 12 years of the decision of the adjudicator (12 years if the parties’ contract is by deed). The cause of action in the enforcement proceedings is the express or implied contractual obligation to comply with the adjudicator’s decision.

The position of a responding party is potentially less straightforward. Suppose that a claimant refers a dispute to adjudication before the expiry of the limitation period, but only just, claiming that the responding party is in breach of contract and that the claimant succeeds.

By the time the adjudicator makes

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his decision, the limitation period has expired. The responding party wishes to take the matter to court or arbitration for a final determination. Does the responding party’s time run from the date of the breach, in which case its claim is statute barred? Or does the adjudicator’s decision itself provide a new cause of action in some way?

Michael Draper’s recent article considered the two recent cases on this issue, Jim Ennis and Aspect Contracts. Since that article, the Aspect Contracts decision has been reversed in the Court of Appeal (late in 2013) and so the position has changed and has been settled for the time being by the Court of Appeal. The position as it currently stands is that there is an implied term whereby the adjudicator’s decision does give rise to a new cause of action, so the responding party in the situation described above is unlikely to have any limitation problems. There is an implied term that the unsuccessful party in the adjudication is entitled to seek a final determination by litigation (or arbitration, if applicable) and, if successful, recover payment made. The limitation period runs from payment.

The implied term analysis is incorrect in the writer’s view for a number of reasons, of which the primary one is that entitlement to seek a final determination is not bestowed as a contractual term by the Construction Act, but is a right that always existed prior to the Construction Act and is unaffected by it.

Shortly after the Aspect Contracts case in the Court of Appeal, a differently constituted Court of Appeal reached a different conclusion in the Walker Construction case (2014), which was that the first instance judge, Akenhead J had been right in Aspect Contracts in saying that there was no implied term! The Court of Appeal in Walker Construction was seemingly unaware of its own earlier decision. As the Court of Appeal is bound by its own decisions, the Aspects Contracts case stands and the comments in Walker Construction (which were probably also obiter, ie: not part of the

court’s essential reasoning) are not to be followed in other cases, albeit that in the writer’s view the Court of Appeal in Walker Construction was correct on this point.

The different views expressed by three first instance judges and by the Court of Appeal on two recent occasions indicate that the issue is a difficult one, which would benefit from a decision by the Supreme Court. This is particularly so as in the writer’s view none of the courts has as yet arrived at the correct analysis, which is that there is no implied term, but that the responding party in the situation described has or should have a remedy in the law of restitution, thereby avoiding the limitation problem described.

For more information, contact Peter Sheridan Partner at Sheridan Gold LLP T: 01737 735088 E: psheridan@sheridangold.co.uk www.sheridangold.co.uk

Peter Sheridan

COMMENT UKC

Limitations of time, collateral warranties and limits on assignment The TCC in the recent case of Co-Operative Group Ltd v Birse Developments Ltd and others [2014] EWHC 530 (TCC) considered two significant issues. The first concerned limitation in circumstances where a contractor wishes to pass on its liabilities to its professional team and subcontractors and the second whether a prohibited assignment clause may give rise to a trust.

Background

Birse Developments Ltd (“Birse”) were the design and build contractor constructing a large warehouse which was then leased. They engaged numerous professionals, including Jubb & Partners (“Jubb”). As expected, collateral warranties were provided.

The warehouse was completed in September 1998. Defects came to light in 2004 and proceedings were issued against Birse in June 2010 by the leaseholder, Co-Operative Group Ltd (“Co-Op”).

Birse issued separate proceedings in 2013 against its subcontractors.

Limitation

Birse were out of time to bring claims for breach of contract. However, Birse argued that they were still in time to bring a claim for negligence (where a claim must be brought within 6 years from the date the damage is suffered) because time did not start running until liability had been established against them or, alternatively, from when Co-Op commenced its claim against Birse. The subcontractors argued that time started to run from practical completion of the warehouse, if not before, and therefore Birse were out of time.

The court’s reasoning is complex but ultimately the court held that it was not bound by an earlier case which suggested that time did not start to run until a claim was brought against the contractor.

Birse’s claims were time-barred because

the date of practical completion was the date from which time started to run.

Assignment

Usually collateral warranties contain provisions allowing their benefit to be assigned to another. Jupp’s warranty provided that it could be assigned without Jupp’s consent twice and thereafter with Jupp’s consent.

The original leaseholder assigned Jubb’s collateral warranty to Co-Op who in turn made a further assignment to Woolworths. The warranty was assigned for a third time back to CoOp in 2010 following Woolworth’s administration – but the parties failed to obtain Jubb’s consent, thus making the third assignment a failed assignment.

A failed assignment may still be effective as a declaration of trust between the assignor and assignee. The effect of this in the present case would have meant that Woolworths (acting by its administrators) would hold the benefit of the warranty on trust for Co-Op and Co-Op could, as beneficiary, require Woolworths to enforce the warranty on its behalf or, if Woolworths refused, sue in its own name as long as it made Woolworths a defendant.

In considering whether there was a declaration of trust the court looked at the intention of the parties. Had the assignment not failed it would not have been suggested that there was meant to be a declaration of trust. The court saw that by finding a declaration of trust there was a real risk that it may imply that every failed assignment creates a trust.

It declined to imply a declaration of trust merely because the parties failed to obtain consent as stipulated by the warranty.

contractor’s cause of action against its subcontractors in the tort of negligence will accrue on or before practical completion, therefore allowing the subcontractor to manage risk. There may be exceptions, however, where particular circumstances apply.

This is also a good news for those who are required to provide collateral warranties.

Each case will be judged on its own facts but it appears that as long as the limitations on assignment are clear in the warranty it is unlikely that any further assignments will amount to a declaration of trust.

Kasia Dickson, Legal Assistant, Thomas Eggar LLP Kasia Dickson

Conclusion

The case is a good news for subcontractors. In most situations the

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UKC COMMENT

2014 Budget Report Tony Jamieson, Senior Partner for Clarke Gammon Wellers “News that the Government’s Help to Buy scheme is to be extended to 2020 is to be welcomed; it’s proved to be a successful driver in helping purchasers buy a home of their own, especially in Surrey where prices are significantly above the national average.

“At the beginning of last year, house building was at the lowest it has ever been since just after the First World War, so any scheme that aids the ability of buyers to get on the property ladder and in turn encourage more house building, will be beneficial to the market.

“Now that the national average house price has tipped £250,000, (according to the Office of National Statistics) if we were to return to the pre Help to Buy days of a minimum 10% deposit, it would have a truly detrimental effect on the market, as some prospective purchasers simply would not have been able to afford to buy. That coupled with the 3% Stamp Duty currently levied on properties over £250,000 and buyers really will struggle.

“However we need to make sure that the Help to Buy scheme continues to be available to a wide range of buyers, not just First Time Buyers, otherwise there is the danger of the middle market becoming stagnant. Divorcees/second time families are a particular example, when the original family home has been split and two new households are formed, often there is not enough capital to provide two deposits and only a single income to fund the mortgage.”

Tony Dowse, Chairman of Environ Communities “I know the Ebbsfleet project well having formerly worked on the project for Land Securities, who own a large part of the site.

“The location of Ebbsfleet is a highly sensible choice with its transportation advantages rather than the other locations recently mentioned in the press. There are other brownfield sites in the UK where Garden Cities could go without dropping new cities in the middle of country areas.

“A word of caution would be that the quality of new Garden Cities has to be assured by having a talented team preparing a master plan and design guide.

Developers have to build strictly to that guidance as the general quality of mass market housing in the UK at present is quite simply depressing. Estates are being produced with no sense of place and community with housing that is quite simply boring in the extreme compared to other European examples such as the Vauban District of Freiburg, or Hammarby in Sweden. The new garden city should include business parks to reduce the distance people travel to and from work. They should include eco housing with district heating schemes,

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a range of house types and size that maximise house orientation and views and integrate inside and outside spaces.

We need to learn from the past and we also need a new generation of architect/ planners, or urbanists as the French call them. Zoning does not create beautiful places – we need visionaries to do this.”

NHBC’s Chief Executive Mike Quinton “We welcome today’s announcement which places the house building industry at the heart of the Budget.

“Although our statistics show that new home registration numbers went up by 28% in 2013 compared to the previous year, it is vital to recognise that the recovery is from a low base and numbers remain well below pre-recession levels.

“The Chancellor’s announcement to extend the Help to Buy scheme, which has already given the sector a welcome boost, until the end of the decade will give tens of thousands of people the opportunity to own their brand new home.

“Help to Buy has given the UK house building industry a shot in the arm.

The extension now provides muchneeded certainty and confidence for it to plan for the future.”

Jennet Siebrits, Head of Residential Research, CBRE UK “CBRE welcomes any initiative implemented to support the national housing market, however in this Budget we believe more could have been done.

“During 2013, we recognised a significant improvement in the market on the back of funding for lending, Help to Buy and an improving economy. But, while house sales have reached the highest level since 2007, they still only totalled 1.1M, well below the long term average of 1.5M. This reflects continued constraints for many buyers, and a continued lack of housing supply (both in new build and second hand stock) which is putting pressure on prices.”

CHPA Director Tim Rotheray “It is through energy efficiency investments like combined heat and power that we can secure thousands of manufacturing jobs and keep UK industry competitive over the long term.

Industrial energy efficiency makes savings of £165M every year which is the equivalent of nearly 6,000 manufacturing jobs. This announcement will help some of the UK’s most energy efficient industrial sites continue to grow, invest, and protect jobs in key manufacturing sectors.

Most importantly, today’s Budget will help drive investment in industrial energy efficiency, delivering the rare combination of increased industrial competiveness and lower carbon emissions. Industry will continue to face challenges from rising

energy and tax costs, but commitment to supporting industrial energy efficiency is an important step in the right direction.”

JLL Adam Challis, Head of Residential Research at JLL said: “We welcome the announcement of a new Development Investment Bank for small house builders and self-builders. The barriers to entry are too high for this group, which has weakened competition, innovation and importantly the ability to deliver higher volumes of new supply across the UK. “This investment bank is exactly the sort of strategic intervention needed to expand housing supply and this Government deserves credit for acting so decisively to drive a step-change in housebuilding.”

Alex Ash, Director in Business and Location Consulting at JLL commented: “For companies looking to re-shore the Government could do more to ease regulations and offer greater incentives such as job creation grants, to entice companies back to the UK. The extra funding that the Chancellor has announced for the UK Trade &Investment Department is a positive move but it needs to be deployed in a sensible and more direct way to be of benefit to businesses. This could be achieved through incentivising companies to reshore and through better promotion of the UK as a good place to do business.”

Tim Beattie, Lead Director in Rating at JLL said: “The Chancellor’s announcement to extend the deadline by which businesses will need to have located in an Enterprise Zone in order to claim business rate discounts to 31 March 2018 is warmly welcomed. However this is a missed opportunity to announce a fundamental reform of the business rate system and align it with other tax policies announced today, such as using the same principle as the personal tax allowance and remove the smallest assessments from liability altogether. Annual revaluations based on self-assessment should also have been considered following the next revaluation” Tim Vallance, Lead Director in Retail at JLL, added: “In last year’s Autumn Statement the Chancellor threw the retail industry a bone by announcing a two per cent cap and rate relief, but what struggling retailers would benefit from is an announcement about bringing forward valuations and a guarantee about future valuations being undertaken on a more frequent basis.

Our recent research highlighted that 40 per cent of UK locations are losing out as a result of the deferral and further damage to the UK high street is inevitable if revaluations are delayed in the future.”

Jeff Field, Director of Planning at JLL, said: “Further relaxations in the planning system are helpful. Whilst they may not generate significant wins they at least

provide localised stimulus whilst also freeing up local authorities to focus on the real target of delivering housing and jobs.

“Plans for a new generation of garden cities across the country is a bold move but it will take some considerable time to deliver and not everyone will want to live in such communities. With house price inflation and rising rents in London, the government needs to provide other pressure valves. It should send out a clear policy message in the south east that it is serious about delivering on new housing. It should also immediately announce extensions, beyond three years, for the new permitted development rights to convert offices to housing.”

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist “A tight budget with little room for manoeuvre. Yet again, the Chancellor has failed to overhaul the stamp duty system, with wages well below inflation and rents rising rapidly for years, many have been struggling to save for a deposit, let alone meet a huge tax bill. Helping more buyers to enter at the lower end of the market would have resulted in more movement and transactions, freeing up stagnant property chains and bringing badly-needed housing onto the market.

“While plans for regeneration and new homes in Barking, Brent Cross and the new garden ‘city’ at Ebbsfleet - which is really just a garden village - will contribute a little housing in the South East. These numbers are a drop in the ocean and do nothing to help others in the UK. More importantly, they don’t deliver the mix of homes we need across society, from the private rented sector to affordable and social housing.

“RICS has long called for an investors’ prospectus for garden cities, which we welcome today. But we need a more ambitious approach than 15,000 homes at a time. To provide investors communities and developers with greater confidence, what we need is a proper political vision for garden cities and the wider economy.

“Meanwhile, the much trailed extension of Help to Buy to 2020 is not a game changer.

While it provides certainty and clarity to the market, creating another 120,000 new build properties is still a modest target. We need over 230,000 just to meet current demand. Much more needs to be done.”

Dave Sheridan, CEO of national house builder, Keepmoat “Help to Buy has created a welcome stimulus to housing and made a positive economic impact on communities around the country by encouraging home ownership. As a specialist in highquality entry-level housing, Keepmoat’s buyer profile fits perfectly with the purpose of Help to Buy, so we very much welcome the extension to 2020.

“The extension of Help to Buy will give the house building industry more confidence to plan ahead for the next six years so we can now begin to think about hiring more

staff to build more homes and investing in apprentices. As a result, we are looking to increase our number of apprentices by 50%, by employing at least another 100 apprentices over the next 12 months.”

Liz Peace, Chief Executive, British Property Federation.

Increase in HMRC budget “We are pleased to see an increase in HMRC’s strained budget, an issue we highlighted in our Budget submission.

Increasing the resources to the government department best placed to deliver additional revenue should also enhance policy making and allow the successful ‘CRM’ model (which currently only benefits large businesses) to be implemented more widely.”

Flood Defence Funding “We are pleased to see that the Government is committed to spending on flood defences and helping those that have been hardest hit by the recent storms, but today’s announcement of £140M funding to repair flood defences do not assuage our fears about the government’s new flood insurance scheme, Flood Re, which currently stands to expose thousands of homeowners to rocketing insurance premiums. As things stand, the scheme will prevent one-third of homes from accessing affordable buildings insurance, and we would like to see an extension of the scheme cover larger leasehold blocks of over three properties, the private rented sector and small businesses to ensure that where defences do fail, they still have the security blanket of flood insurance to help them on the road to recovery.”

Urban Development “We welcome this announcement and have always supported the principle of New Towns and Garden Cities, and believe that they have the potential - in the longer term - to contribute significantly to the desired housing figures. We support the introduction of an Urban Development Corporation. This would be a good opportunity to reconsider the exclusion of residential sites– and therefore Garden Cities or urban extensions - from the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Regime. We would like to see the NSIP regime extended to include residential, as currently large schemes with any element of housing (or retail) that have the greatest potential to stimulate growth lose out on the benefits of the regime. This ultimately leads to stalled development and is contradictory to the advocation of mixeduse schemes that is set out in the NPPF.” Enterprise Zone business rates “Many in the development industry felt that the long term aim of Enterprise Zones to attract investment and jobs was being hindered by short-term nature of the financial incentives on offer and that the Government simply had an unrealistic view of the time it takes to get regeneration projects underway. The Chancellor’s decision to extend business rate discounts and enhanced capital allowances in

Enterprise Zones for a further three years is, therefore, very welcome. It will mean that any company setting up in an EZ before 2018 will now benefit from the rating discount. However, the BPF believes that Government is likely to have to come up with more substantial incentives if growth is to take off in the more challenging EZs where demand remains very subdued.”

Chris Temple, PwC UK engineering & construction UK lead “House building needs a significant push, so it is good to see the £500M investment into small house building firms, which has obvious employment connotations too. However, space is at a premium, especially in London and the southeast, where the Chancellor identified a specific need for new housing. To really kick-start the industry, I would like to see greater incentives for public and private landowners to sell sites to developers.

“There was a definite focus on first-time buyers in this Budget announcement, with plans for 200,000 new homes to be built nationally meaning good news for those interested in the Help To Buy scheme, both developers and purchasers. The confirmed new garden city in Ebbsfleet will be of great appeal to young professionals looking for a property in the commuter belt. The £150M investment for people to build their own homes works well in parallel to the Help to Buy scheme – perhaps now people looking to get onto the property ladder will consider buying a plot at auction and starting from scratch?”

27

UKC PROFILE

London Underground After celebrating its 150th anniversary last year, there is no chance of anybody involved with the London Underground resting on their laurels, as they continue at pace to improve the services on offer for commuters.

The growth of London and its economy means the Tube carries ever more passengers and must seek continual improvements in reliability and volume of service to support them.

This in turn means that ongoing investment

28

in London’s transport infrastructure is vital for the capital and the wider UK economy.

Much of the network is being transformed in preparation for the arrival of Crossrail – the new east-west rail link – in 2018, which will deliver 250 million additional visitors into Central London by 2026.

Transport for London (TfL), has implemented a business plan, which originated back in 2010 due to there being more than one billion journeys on the Underground – and this number

has increased every year since.

To support this growth, it is critical that life-expired systems are renewed. As a result, investment is coming in the form of upgrades to trains and stations to replace life-expired assets and increase capacity, and the improvement of condition of poor assets such as track, civil infrastructure, lifts, escalators and stations to increase reliability and allow the benefits from the upgrades to be realised.

In order to allow for this investment in

the face of what was reduced funding, substantial new programmes of operational cost savings were developed.

As the world’s oldest metro system, the Tube has had infrastructure that dates back to the 1860s and some signalling equipment that is approximately 90 years old.

Line upgrades are at the heart of the transformation. Already, the Jubilee Line and Victoria Line have been upgraded, and others will follow,

including the Northern and sub-surface lines (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines).

Across the network, new trains and signalling systems will allow more frequent services and quicker, more comfortable journeys.

The next generation of low-energy, high capacity Tube trains for the Piccadilly, Bakerloo and Central lines, together with line upgrades, will provide the transformation of the Underground,

increasing capacity by 30%.

Completed in 2012, the Victoria line received its first major investment in 40 years, with original train and signalling equipment replaced by modern, reliable technology.

These trains are faster and have greater capacity, better ventilation and CCTV in every carriage.

By the end of 2011, all new trains were delivered and journey times continued page 32 >

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The Virtual Assistant providing advice in King’s Cross

TEW Plus celebrates centenary with the Virtual Assistant To celebrate 100 years of innovation at TEW Engineering, TEW Plus has launched the Virtual Assistant to help to improve traveller safety at King’s Cross Station. The fully customisable ‘Louise’ uses cutting-edge technology to project an image and create the illusion of a real person to advise travellers with heavy, awkward to handle baggage to use the lift rather than risk the escalator.

With 6th sense technology, the Virtual Assistant can be used in many different scenarios, including site safety alerts and public service announcements.

In celebrating 150 years of London Underground, we acknowledge that Transport plays an important part of the nation's economy. The transformation of the ‘Underground’ has progressed at a rapid pace and remains one of the most heavily used Metro’s in the world.

TEW has a long association with London Underground, and in the very year Frank Pick (Commercial Director) started work at London Underground, we wonder if an Electrical Drawing from TEW prompted this visionary leader, to commission the world famous map of the Tube!

The business was founded in Nottingham on January 1st 1914 by William Harold TEW. In the beginning, the company was predominantly engaged in technical and electrical engineering works, involving Power Lifts and Lighting.

The business flourished against a backdrop of two World Wars and changing economies. On January 1st 1949, the company ownership passed to the TEW brothers, George & Harold. It was George TEW who later became Chairman of the local Electrical Contractors Association.

In 1973, Derek Spencer, who had joined TEW as a junior Estimator on April 5th 1956, acquired the business; and led the transformation into a modern manufacturer of Control Panels and Installation Contracting.

From providing electrical motor rewinds, to the present day's mix of major projects, the TEW Group currently turns over £16 million p.a and has a workforce of over 100 skilled and intuitive people.

During the past 100 years, TEW has played a pivotal role in the development and understanding of electrical engineering, and promoting innovative technology. TEW Plus is built on solid foundations, with a deep understanding of modern Telecommunications and Security Solutions currently utilised in the Rail, Metro and wider Transport Sectors.

Key to its success over the past 100 years, has been its people, their skills and ability to deliver value to its customers. In-house design and installation teams support TEW Plus products, such as the Level Crossing Obstacle Detector (LIDAR) and rapid deployment CCTV. Neil Sheffield, director at TEW Plus said: “TEW Plus works hard to identify quality consumer products and partners that can help our rail customers improve safety and reduce costs.”

Central to the company’s identity is a genuine commitment to corporate responsibility - a fundamental component of how the business is run, and directly linked to current business strategies. As a relationship-based business, TEW Plus has adopted a fresh approach to business through the implementation of BS11000 (Collaborative Business Relationships) which it firmly believes will deliver added value services that are needed and sustainable over the next decade.

The company is planning a series of activities to celebrate its centenary, and will reach out to its engineering roots and embrace the current happy resurgence in Engineering as an attractive career for young people. Working with the local community TEW, has decided to link its celebrations with College students and will be running a Centenary Sculpture Competition, with the winner being presented with £250 of iTunes Vouchers or Vouchers of their choice.

www.tewplus.com

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall travelled together on the tube to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

started to reduce, with enhancements to service introduced in stages.

The Victoria line has more trains running during peak hours, improved ventilation throughout the line and better accessibility with dedicated wheelchair spaces and level access at most stations.

As a result of this, journey times have been reduced by 16% and capacity increased by 21%.

The Northern line is the busiest and most complex on the network, carrying more than 800,000 passengers a day.

When TfL acquired Tube Lines, it decided to delay the Northern line upgrade. This partly reflected the delayed programme London Underground inherited from Tube Lines on the Jubilee line, but it also enabled TfL to build on experience gained from the Jubilee programme, and will result in substantially fewer closures and less disruption for passengers.

As part of the upgrade, a new control centre, computerised signalling and automatic train control system is being installed, using technology

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similar to that on the Jubilee line.

These improvements will enable trains to run closer together at higher speeds, reducing journey times by 18% and increasing capacity by 20%.

A further scheme is under development to increase service frequency and line capacity through a simplified service pattern and use of additional trains.

This would provide greater congestion relief to the most crowded sections of the line.

Preparatory works to enable this improvement are due to begin in 2016.

The sub-surface upgrade is the largest part of the investment of the Underground.

It consists of 191 new trains, a new computer-controlled signalling system, a single-service control centre to replace the current multiple locations, power upgrades and extensive train depot improvements.

Serving all four lines, the trains have walkthrough carriages and, for the first time in the Tube, air conditioning in all carriages.

The new trains are initially being operated on the Metropolitan line, which had its existing fleet replaced at the end of 2012.

The Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines will be completed by 2016.

One these lines, trains will be longer than they have previously been, increasing capacity by 17%. In addition, they will have CCTV and better customer information systems.

New signalling will allow trains to run more frequently and with reduced journey times, as well as enabling a more reliable service.

When upgrading the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines, a common design will be used for trains, reducing their cost and lessening passenger disruption.

Passengers will travel in more capacious trains that use less energy and emit less heat using technological developments now becoming standard in the industry.

Being more energy efficient, the trains will reduce the investment required in power upgrades and lower the quantity of CO2 emitted.

They will also be more accessible and, as with the new sub-surface line trains, passengers will be able to walk through them, extending capacity.

A prototype for the new train will be delivered next year and the first full fleet replaced by the end of the decade.

To ensure both lines continue to operate reliably until the introduction of new trains and signalling under the Deep Tube programme, small-scale life extension works are planned for the Bakerloo and Piccadilly line rolling stock fleets.

The Piccadilly line signalling control system, based at Earl’s Court, dates from the 1960s and it is increasingly expensive to maintain.

The system is gradually being replaced by a new control centre at Hammersmith – which will be completed this year – reducing the risk of disruption to services.

A new ticket hall is being built at Victoria Station beneath Bressenden Place and the existing ticket hall will also be rebuilt to provide greater capacity.

It will improve the interchange between the Victoria, District and Circle lines and allow step-free access from the street to

all Tube platforms. Nine new escalators to the Victoria line will be installed.

The station will remain open throughout the works. Although some disruption is inevitable, TfL will provide information to ensure customers are updated about the works and can make alternative plans when this is necessary.

The new ticket hall will open in 2016, with the full scheme following suit two years later.

At Paddington (Hammersmith & City), there will be a new ticket hall, extra staircase and lifts for step-free access from street to both platforms.

This trebling of capacity is due this year and will meet the increased demand for the Hammersmith & City line now that the service frequency has doubled between Paddington and Hammersmith.

This will also support the enhancements from the Network Rail station redevelopment, Crossrail and wider

Paddington-region development.

Work to rebuild Tottenham Court Road station is well under way. Surrounding properties have been demolished and excavation and piling has been undertaken.

This is already an important interchange station and will become even busier once the Northern line upgrade is finished and Crossrail services commence.

Once completed, passengers per day using the station will increase from 150,000 to 200,000.

To supplement these developments, significant improvements are needed, such as a ticket hall six times larger than the present one, with separate escalators to the Northern line, more space in congested areas and step-free access from street to all platforms.

The work also involves other escalator improvements and the public piazza at St Giles Circus. continued page 36 >

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Willsons are delighted to share their 150th Birthday Celebrations with London Underground.

Willsons has shown vision and drive since its very earliest beginnings way back in the 1860’s. It began as a furniture maker, but soon developed a new niche for its skills - making wooden blocks to print elaborate posters for music hall and cinema.

This side of the business developed rapidly and Willsons became the premier poster printer in pre-war England, as well as running a successful billboard posting business.

firms and creating two new locations: Willsons Printers (Newark) and Willsons Printers (Grimsby).

In the early 1980’s production at Nottingham was consolidated into Newark.

Changes in the law in the 1950’s saw many billboards outlawed and cinema started to decline with the advent of television. It was time for Willsons to restructure and move on.

Willsons is still a family business today, and we like to think this shows in the success of our friendly, down to earth approach and the longevity of our relationships with our customers.

In the early 1960s, the business was split into Willsons Printers Leicester (which stayed with poster printing) and Willsons Printers Nottingham, which moved into the commercial market. The Nottingham business expanded, aquiring several other print

Print is the lifeblood of our business. We offer end-to-end solutions with a promise of personal service and the same great quality whether you need a single business card or a complex, full colour brochure. Regardless of the size or scale of your job, we will help nurture your ideas and provide cost effective, high quality solutions.

Our winning formula reduces the supply chain to give all our customers cost effective pricing plus the benefit of the services of a dedicated account handler, to monitor and control your job from start to finish.

YOU NEED

• High quality print solutions

• Competitive pricing and great value • One point of contact

• Delivery on time • Efficient stock control

• Proven experience and expert advice

WE OFFER

• A personal, friendly service • Dedicated account personnel

• Years of experience, plus bang up to date technology • Centralised access to multiple print solutions • Warehousing and distribution

• Reliable, efficient and costeffective service

Our experienced and helpful team offers a vast range of products and services, including: • Business cards • Stationery Sets • Folders

• Brochures and company reports

• Promotional materials and leaflets • NCR

NEWARK: 01636 702334 GRIMSBY: 01472 351277 WWW.WILLSONS.COM For further information please contact Andy Storey at our Newark office or email andy_storey@willsons.com

The new ticket hall will be operational from 2016 and the full scheme will be completed by 2017.

A growth in traffic to the City as the economy recovers has resulted in Bank station becoming increasingly crowded, particularly at the Northern line platforms.

With space constrained, it is a challenge to provide new capacity while maintaining service.

A plan is in place to widen the platforms and concourse to provide extra capacity for the Northern line and relieve some severely congested areas. Additional step-free access and improvements to signage and customer information will also be completed by 2021.

Work is also under way at Bond Street to relieve congestion caused by increasing demand for the Jubilee and Central lines.

This project also prepares the station for Crossrail, which, once opened, will further increase the demand for Tube services.

The scheme will provide capacity for an expected increase in passenger numbers,

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from 155,000 to 225,000 passengers a day, once Crossrail is running.

As with many of the improvements on the London Underground, the scheme includes new escalators, a new interchange passageway, new entrance and ticket hall, and step-free access to all platforms.

TfL has purchased the property that stands on the site for these works and demolition has taken place.

Throughout the works, there will be the minimal possible disruption to passengers and access to Oxford Road.

Work will be completed within three years.

January saw the start of work to transform Vauxhall Tube station with a ÂŁ36M upgrade as part of a major investment designed to support the growth and regeneration of the surrounding area.

TfL is working to support a huge increase in jobs, businesses and homes in Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea, which is one of the Mayor’s key Opportunity Areas.

Key projects include extending the Northern line, transforming the

gyratory system, making major improvements for walking and cycling, and enhancing bus services. The upgrade at Vauxhall Tube station is an essential first phase of this strategy.

The number of passengers using Vauxhall Underground station is set to increase by 40% over the next few years and in order to create extra space, the ticket hall will be reconfigured to allow an improvement and expansion of the ticket gates, reducing congestion within the station.

The station, its subways and stairways will be completely refurbished and a lift will be installed between the ticket hall and platforms.

Combined with the existing lift from the bus station to the Tube ticket hall, this will deliver step-free access to the Victoria line trains.

Network Rail is now also completing the National Rail station’s upgrade, which includes more lifts to improve accessibility, thus creating a fully accessible interchange between rail bus and Tube.

David Waboso, Capital Programmes Director, London Underground, said: “Vauxhall is a very busy Tube station, with about 21 million people using it annually, and it’s set to get busier.

“The station will be kept open for passengers during the work and we will keep any disturbance to the minimum, but this upgrade work is absolutely vital.

“It will make the station step-free, will give passengers more space and will make journeys through the station quicker and more pleasant.

“These works, along with other TfL investment in improving the local transport network, will play a key role in helping to support the regeneration of the area.”

The total cost of the Vauxhall Tube station improvements has been reduced by more than £9M from £45M through working closely with the contractor, Bechtel.

Bechtel’s Project Manager, Hani Rizkallah, added: “Using Six Sigma, best practices in supply chain management and sustainability, we have developed together with London Underground a more cost effective construction method, which also reduces the environmental impact.

“We aim to be good neighbours and are committed to delivering these improvements safely and to the highest quality.”

This upgrade will be completed by the end of next year.

With Crossrail arriving in 2018, and the investment in modernising key London Underground stations in the

West End, the area will become an even more desirable destination, boosting the retail offering, employment opportunities and visitors to the area.

Construction of Crossrail has now reached the half way point and in preparation for the higher visitor numbers it will bring, Westminster City Council, TfL and the New West End Company have commissioned consultants Arup and Publica to look at both the short and long-term improvements needed to enhance the West End’s public realm.

The West End is a vital piece of the London and UK economy, a world-class shopping destination that attracts flagship brands and visitors from around the globe.

The work sees all partners building on the recommendations of the Mayor’s Roads Task Force to create unrivalled public spaces that will improve how people move around and live, work and play in this iconic London destination.

The new study, set to be published in spring 2014, will focus on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, and the environs.

It will respond to the revised pedestrian figures announced in Arup’s ‘Impact of Crossrail on Visitor Numbers in Central London’ report.

These show Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Farringdon stations could be serving as many as 250 million visitors into and out of Central London by 2026, 65 million more passengers than previous projections ten years ago suggested.

On an annual basis, this is equivalent to around 166 million additional passengers.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “As a result of the billions of pounds we are investing in Crossrail and the Tube improvements, thousands more people will come to the area, making it busier and even more vibrant than ever.

“To make the most of this immense opportunity, we will also need to invest in the environment above ground as well as below it.

“This study sees all key partners working together to agree on what the West End of the future will look like, and the practical solutions needed to achieve this, particularly for how people move around the area.

“It means that when the hugely modernised new Tube stations and Crossrail open, we will be prepared to give workers and visitors the world class welcome they’d expect from London’s West End.” Councillor Philippa Roe, Leader of Westminster City Council, said: “The West End makes an enormous contribution to the economic health of London and the City Council has already started work to ensure people coming here – whether by Crossrail, Tube, bus, car, taxi or bike – can complete their journeys easily and efficiently.

“This includes widening of some pavements and generally improving the public realm, but this study fits in with continued page 40 >

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Tearne Transfer & Digital Print Ltd. Delighted to be associated with London Underground

41-45 Hanley Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B19 3SP

Call us on: 0121 3591 717 or Email: csh@tearnes.co.uk

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Waterseal Waterseal, in conjunction with WOLFIN, have specialised in waterproofing Rail Network bridges for the last 25 years.

Installations are carried out by our PTS and LUCAS skilled workforce and with the WOLFIN IB solution, the installation is non-weather dependent.

For more information please contact: Grant Weston, Rail Director

Waterseal

1 Weston Court, Ellerbeck Way, Stokesley Business Park, Stokesley, TS9 5GA T: +44(0)1642 717717

F: +44(0)1642 717718

E: info@watersealltd.co.uk

W: www.watersealltd.com

Wolfin Loose Lay Membrane System PAD’s Registration Number 028/970001

Managing Directors of London Underground and London Rail, Mike Brown

what we are working to achieve through our West End Partnership, to ensure the West End remains the vibrant and economically strong place it is now.”

Sir Peter Rogers, Chairman of the New West End Company, said: “It’s important the West End is prepared for Crossrail and the expected

numbers of people who will use it.

“We are already working in Bond Street to deliver a multi-million pound plan to ensure the area continues to be among the top retail destinations in the world.

“We see the increased number of people who will use the stations as a massive opportunity - especially in

the East End of Oxford Street where there is huge interest from overseas retailers looking for a new market.

“Bringing the three organisations together means we can continue to build on the practical solutions already planned and go further in order to meet this challenge.”

TRACKLUBE Rail and wheel flange lubrication

Tracklube has been providing a full management and maintenance service in all aspects of rail lubrication throughout the London Underground network since 1995.

Euston House, 21 Soulbury Road, Linslade, Bedfordshire, LU7 2RL

TEL: 01525 850001 e-mail: info@tracklube.co.uk www.tracklube.co.uk

PRECISION AND GENERAL ENGINEERS

14 Redhills Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex CM3 5UP

Tel: 01245 327515 Fax: 01245 327518 E-mail: valcoukeng@btconnect.com

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Queen Annes Business Centre, Minster House, 272-274 Vauxhall Bridge Road Victoria, London SW1V 1BB

Tel No: 020 7931 9898 info@stocktonlondon.com www.stocktonlondon.com

41

UKC PROFILE

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Hitachi Zosen Inova Formerly known as Von Roll Inova, Hitachi Zosen Inova has been expired for more than 80 years by a global vision to treat waste thermally and to utilise the energy it contains.

The competence, broad know-how and international experience has enabled the Company to become the leading supplier in the field of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities.

It is among the trendsetters of this cutting edge technology, and the important innovations of Hitachi Zosen Inova has significantly contributed to the development of the original thermal waste treatment process into the advanced technology of today.

With some 350 employees in Switzerland and more than 490 installed plants worldwide, Hitachi is a leading global technology provider and contractor in the EfW facilities field.

It offers customized plant sections and turnkey plants, covering planning, design and engineering, construction and operation, as well as maintenance and overhaul of EfW plants.

With crucial innovations to its credit, Hitachi is among the pioneers that have defined the state-of-the-art in waste management, furthering progress with advanced technologies.

Founded in 1933, the Company was initially a department of ‘Gesellschaft der kommunale Anlagen,’ a steel mill and foundry that dates back to 1823. The purpose of the new department was to focus on thermal waste treatment.

Four years later, it built the first turnkey plant for the Dutch city of Dordrecht.

In its first few years, the Company relied on several licenses such as with Hitachi Zosen Corporation, to construct plants with technologies that were then state-of-the-art.

But from the very beginning, it also developed proprietary and improved technologies. Subsequently, it

repeatedly established milestones with its own designs, in the domain of thermal waste treatment, including the reciprocating grate, advanced methods for flue gas purification and processes for the treatment of residues.

In 1960, Von Roll opened its first offices in Germany and Japan, core markets at the time.

Six years later, subsidiaries were founded in France and Sweden, and in 1975, the Company established a presence in the USA where it built some of the world’s largest plants.

This Group, consisting of Von Roll Environmental Ltd in Zurich and its affiliated companies, was always at the forefront of the industry known as the Von Roll Inova Group.

In 2003, the Von Roll Inova Group was acquired by the AE&E Group, a member of the A-Tec Industries AG. AE&E was an industrial group with a global reach in thermal energy generation and environmental technologies.

By the end of 2010, AE&E Inova AG together with its subsidiary AE&E KRB AG, were sold to Hitachi Zosen Corporation, which brought the Company a new name and new partnerships.

Hitachi Zosen Corporation has been a licensing associate of Hitachi Zosen Inova AG for more than 50 years and using the former Von Roll Technology.

During this time, Hitachi Zosen Corp has implemented its partner’s core technology in more than 200 EfW plants in Japan, China and other countries throughout East Asia.

Hitachi Zosen Inova AG and Hitachi Zosen Corporation combine the competencies of two strong partners in the EfW sector.

The Company began construction at the end of 2013 on a new 34MW energy recovery facility in South Gloucestershire, as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract between the West London Waste Authority and a consortium led by SITA UK.

Severnside Energy Recovery Centre (SERC), at Severnside, will be the Company’s seventh turnkey plant contract in the UK over the last seven years.

A consortium of SITA UK, Scottish Widows Investment Partners (SWIP) and Itochu Capital signed the corresponding 25-year contract with the West London Waste Authority on 27th November 2013 to convert up to 300,000 tonnes of municipal waste material to energy each year.

Under the contract, waste material that all those living in the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames have not been able to separate for recycling will be transported by rail to the Severnside Energy Recovery Centre.

The facility will produce 34MW of electricity, which is enough to power the equivalent of 50,000 homes and could also provide heat to local businesses – further increasing its environmental performance.

This solution will enable the West London Waste Authority to divert 96% of its waste from landfill and is expected to save two million tonnes of CO2 equivalents over the duration of the contract.

SERC, which will also include an on-site facility for the recycling of bottom ash, is expected to be completed and under the operation of SITA UK by mid-2016.

Chief Executive Officer of SITA UK, David Palmer-Jones, said: “We chose Hitachi Zosen Inova to deliver the EfW technology at the Severnside Energy Recovery Centre because of their long-standing track record and proven technology, but also because of their ability to innovate and ensure that the facility is at the forefront of efficiency and environmental performance.”

The plant will feature cutting-edge thermal waste treatment technologies in DyNOR and LEAP, the new Low Excess Air Process, two of the latest in a series of further developments from Hitachi Zosen Inova.

As the answer to tightened emission

requirements, the DyNOR system is able to reduce the nitrogen dioxide emissions to 150 mg/cuNM at minimal ammonia slip and well below current EU limits.

With LEAP the high efficiency of combustion is further increased while the CO and NOx emissions are still reduced.

Chief Executive Officer of Hitachi Zosen Inova, Franz-Josef Mengede, said: “We are glad that our steady efforts to advance our technologies contribute to our customer’s success and the increased sustainability of energy from waste.”

Hitachi Zosen Inova has also been given the EPC contractor role in the construction of the Greatmoor EfW facility in the UK. The CHF 210 million project will see the Company provide support to the Buckinghamshire area both in terms of sustainable thermal waste treatment and the creation of a large number of jobs.

The signing of the contract at the end of April was the result of the successful and exclusive cooperation between Hitachi Zosen Inova and

FCC Environment for the project, which was put out to public tender by Buckinghamshire County Council in 2009.

This turnkey order is the Company’s third contract for leading waste and resource management company FCC Environment.

It marks a further chapter in Hitchen Zosen Inova’s success story in the UK, which began in the UK with the construction of an extension line in Cleveland.

Paul Taylor, Chief Executive of FCC Environment, said: “We are very pleased to be working exclusively with Hitachi Zosen Inova on the Greatmoor EfW project. This facility is of immense importance to our customer, Buckinghamshire County Council and represents huge sustainability benefits for the country over the next 30 years.

“It is important therefore that our technology partner shares our commitment to extracting maximum energy value from the thermal treatment of residual waste.”

The single-line EfW facility with a thermal capacity of 102MW will play a leading role in sustainable waste

management in Buckinghamshire.

Construction began last year, with the handover to operators FCC Environment and Buckinghamshire County Council planned for 2016.

As well as massively reducing the volume of landfill waste, the state-ofthe-art thermal waste plant will also meet the UK government’s climate protection requirements in full.

The facility will have the capacity to treat 300,000 tonnes of waste per year, generating 22 MW of electricity for some 36,000 homes.

As well as being sustainable from the environmental perspective, the Greatmoor EfW plant will also contribute to the long-term economic development of Buckinghamshire.

Some 300 temporary jobs will be created in the construction phase of the project.

After commissioning, there will be 64 new jobs at the plant and a further 31 in the supply chain. The facility will continued page 46 >

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NATUS our products and services range: ◆ integrated electrotechnical solutions / turnkey projects ◆ state-of-the-art medium and low voltage switchgears ◆ plant and process automation ◆ project engineering ◆ industrial installation ◆ services

NATUS GmbH & Co. KG Loebstr. 12 | 54292 Trier | Germany www.natus.de | office@natus.de

Kranwerke AG Mannheim KW-Kranwerke AG Mannheim

Crane Experts for Waste-to-Energy-Plant • Independent innovative medium-size crane manufacturer

Claus-von-Stauffenberg-Str. 11-15 D-68163 Mannheim tel.: +49 621 8337010 fax: +49 621 83370155 www.kranwerke.de

• Certifications - DIN ISO 90001:2008 - DIN EN ISO 3834-2-2006 - SCC • comprehensive customer consulting - layout and optimization of new plant - modernization of existing plant • customer-specific special purpose solutions •

KW-own in-house competence: - Construction - Manufacturing - Software development - Custom-built automation solutions

• Maintenance through crane experts • Service • Crane experts and welding engineers • Short realization periods

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Delivery of customer-specific crane solutions, from construction to final commissioning. Dependent upon the customers‘ requirements the cranes can be manual, half automated or fully automated either with simple automation or fully comprehensive automation including material traceability. All cranes have a very high availability and reliability in the most rugged conditions.

Development results and expertise from gantry cranes for containers, bulk cargo handling, double jib level luffing cranes, fully automatic overhead travelling cranes are brought in to the further development of our cranes.

KW cranes are installed for instance in England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria.

Your expert in waste-to-energy automation

With decades of experience in process automation and expertise in the waste-toenergy applications, Metso supplies a solution that extends beyond traditional process automation. Our advanced applications include powerful fuzzy logic and model predictive controls as well as tools for plant operation and performance monitoring. In other words, Metso does the basics well, but also delivers you results that no other industrial automation supplier can match.

Discover more about Metso at www.metso.com/automation

also generate around GBP 2.3 million per year for the local economy.

Buckinghamshire currently has a recycling rate of nearly 48% - a rate which is well above the national average. However, the County still paid around £11M in 2012 to dispose of waste to landfill.

The Council, working with the four district councils, aims to increate its recycling rate to 60%, a rate which could be achieved by around 2015/16 with the roll out of new district council recycling services.

However, the increase in landfill tax means that even after this increase and corresponding reduction in waste sent to landfill, if alternative ways to manage the waste were not found, the Council would still be paying around the same amount to dispose of its residual waste at landfill.

This is a significant amount of money that could be better used to protect some of the services provided to the community and therefore, the new facility is absolutely crucial to Buckinghamshire.

The Company is also the Main Contractor for the new Ferrybridge Multifuel power station – Multifuel Energy Ltd (MEL) - a joint venture project company between SSE (owners of the Ferrybridge C Power Station) and Wheelabrator Technologies.

Hitachi Zosen Inova originally awarded the electrical contract to Natus, a long-established mediumsized German company that specialises in providing integrated electro-technical solutions.

Among worldwide reference projects of the Company, there are also many projects for waste-to-energy power plants, where NATUS took over the role of general contractor for the complete electro-technical part.

During construction of the Ferrybridge Multifuel power station,

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Hitachi Zosen Inova aims to subcontract work to local and UK companies wherever possible, integrating local services and suppliers into the project’s construction.

The Ferrybridge project in Yorkshire will generate electricity by thermal waste treatment and is worth a total of CHF 330 million.

This new plant, which received Section 36 consent by the Department of Energy & Climate Change following intensive environmental impact assessments, is being built on the site of the existing coal-fired power station in Ferrybridge.

It will be primarily supplied with fuel from the Yorkshire region, and in particular from the local councils in Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster.

Due to pioneering technology, socalled multifuel firing combustion plants can process various types of

fuel simultaneously and in Ferrybridge the design allows for up to 42 tonnes per hour to be processed in each of the two process lines.

Energy generated by the 68MW plant will be fed into the grid in the form of electricity, with an option to export the heat if there is a local demand.

The contract to build the modern multifuel plant marks Hitachi Zosen Inova’s fifth project in the UK. Plans in Cleveland, Newhaven and Riverside are already in operation and the extension of the Cleveland facility was completed last year.

The Swiss leader in EfW technology has therefore displayed impressive continuity in its ability to deliver innovation and successfully tap into markets.

No. 1 in chimneys

will find a solution to your chimney Steel chimneys for the industry, power plants etc.

Engineering | Ductings | Silencers Vibration dampers | Maintenance In the last three years, Steelcon has had 4 projects together with HZI in the UK (Ferrybridge, Cleveland, Buckinghamshire and Newhaven).

The last project, Ferrybridge, for their waste incineration plant (which can be seen on the photo) is a project which includes the delivery of two no. of 100 m steel chimneys ø2900/2200 mm with an oval visual enclosure “looking like one chimney” including a big measurement house in 2 floors with two gangways.

STEELCON CHIMNEY ESBJERG A/S

Lillebæltsvej 62, DK-6715 Esbjerg N Tel. +45 7514 2022 · Fax +45 7514 0122 steelcon@steelcon.com · www.steelcon.com

DELIVERING TOTAL SOLUTIONS THROUGH TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL INNOVATION Rainham Industrial Services is the largest privately owned Industrial Access and Insulation provider in the UK, with an enviable reputation for delivering contracts to budget on time and to specification, without compromise to safety or quality. The company provides industrial services to the power generation, construction, petrochemical, energy from waste, automotive, manufacturing and decomissioning sectors of the UK.

ACCESS > THERMAL INSULATION > ASBESTOS REMOVAL > INDUSTRIAL CLEANING > INDUSTRIAL PAINTING > MECHANICAL SERVICES > REFRACTORY SERVICES Rainham’s SHEQ Management Systems and independently accredited by BSI to ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001.

In 2013, following two previous silver awards Rainham achieved a RoSPA Gold Award recognising our development and achievements in the fields of Health and Safety.

www.rainhamis.co.uk 47

UKC PROFILE

Northumberland Estates The Northumberland Estates represents the business interests of the Duke of Northumberland.

It is a family business with a long-term investment policy. Steeped in history and tradition, the business strategy evolves from the Estate’s past and the heritage this brings with it.

Preservation of the Estate and its continued enrichment is the main goal, therefore the business strategy is to achieve structured growth while maintaining tradition, through a modern, efficient and targeted business model.

In recent years this has led to the growth and restructuring of property assets, commercial property development and the diversification of the investment portfolio.

The Percy family has owned Alnwick Castle and surrounding lands since 1309.

In order to ensure the continued upkeep of this heritage, the business has undergone significant change in recent years.

Today, the core of the business focuses on property development, management and investment. The Estate owns an industrial property portfolio, although this centres on the north east of England, where Northumberland Estates is based.

The assets of the Northumberland Estates are privately owned, with the majority held in Trust, and the rest under a corporate company structure.

As an organisation, the Estate has changed from a traditional management system to a corporate business model, reflecting the diverse nature of the many business holdings within the Estate.

The structure starts with family and trustees, followed by the executive board, and then there are Trust enterprises, corporate enterprises

48

and trading enterprises.

Northumberland Estates has a record of property development dating back hundreds of years building houses, schools, churches and more.

The Estate has a commercial portfolio today that spreads from Dover in the south to Glasgow and Dundee in the north.

Properties included vary from city centre shops to offices, golf course, holiday lets, quarries and telecom installations.

Several prestigious projects have been planned and undertaken in recent years, using a variety of Main Contractors.

One scheme that was completed last year was the development of the Hogs Head Inn pub, where the official opening was marked with the first pint being poured by the Duke.

Hospitality operator Greensfield Moor Developments Ltd is managing the 53-bedroom venture and has designed and provided the interior fit out for the inn, having worked alongside infrastructure, support services and construction group, Robertson, who was the Main Contractor.

Greensfield Moor Developments Director Keith Liddell said: “To have a unit with the calibre of finish and facilities as The Hog’s Head Inn is a real coup for Alnwick and the surrounding areas.

“Together with Northumberland Estates, we have created a truly unique and atmospheric family-friendly place for people to enjoy good, sensibly priced food and drink, and excellent value accommodation.

“As well as welcoming local customers and visitors holidaying in the area or here on business, our facilities – combined with Alnwick’s wonderful attractions – are paving the way for us to attract group travel businesses who will visit us and bring

much-needed spend into the town, which will be beneficial to local traders too.”

Andy McLeod, Regional Managing Director for Robertson, said: “This has been an extremely rewarding project and we are delighted to have been involved in Hog’s Head Inn, and its future as a valued tourism and leisure attraction in Alnwick.

“Robertson has an excellent track record of successfully delivering a variety of projects throughout the north east of England and this iconic project further demonstrates the diversity of work we do.”

The new food-driven pub, named after the Inn of Harry Potter fame, is situated on Hawfinch Drive, next to Cawledge Business Park.

Catering for up to 150 diners within its doors and with a further 70 covers on the pub’s outside terraces, The Hog’s Head Inn will also be able to provide accommodation for more than100 guests across their ensuite rooms.

The much anticipated retail parade on Quorum Business Park opened in October 2012, with Tesco Express and Greggs amongst the retailers signed up to the new scheme.

Greggs were first out of the blocks, with the first unit opened earliest.

Tesco Express and Eat @ Quorum, an independent deli sandwich and coffee shop, fit out their units shortly afterwards.

Development work began on the 10,000sq ft retail scheme in February and was carried out by Northumberland Estates. The units were constructed by the Main Contractor, Esh Group.

Situated at the entrance of the business park, the new retail scheme complements the existing mix of facilities on Quorum, providing a unique retail outlet and

central hub for its growing community.

It sits alongside the Kids First Nursery that was awarded the ‘Excellent’ assessment

by Ofsted. The scheme has been named Dukes Walk, to celebrate the involvement of Northumberland Estates in the project.

Northumberland Estates Commercial Property Manager, Colin Davidson, said: “From the outset, the Northumberland Estates were particularly enthusiastic about this project at Quorum. With the growing on site population and calibre of tenants on the park, it has been a good quality investment for us to leverage and expand our interests within the region.

“Getting the units built and up and running has been hugely satisfying and we’re confident that the new retail amenities will attract further employment on what is a burgeoning employment hub for the local area.”

Employment numbers are also growing steadily on Quorum, with over 4,000 people now working on site, a number boosted by the arrival of several high profile firms including Balfour Beatty, Tesco Bank and motor insurer business insurethebox.

With tenants continuing to move on to the site, it is expected to employ 9,000 people once fully occupied.

Work has also completed on a new rural development that provided six new affordable homes in the village of Chatton in north Northumberland, alongside nine self build plots.

The scheme involves four older people’s bungalows and two family homes, all of which are being made available for social rent, to provide homes for those most in need in the local area.

All the new properties in Chatton were built using stone, to blend with the

existing village and the wider local environment. They are built to meet the standards in the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 and all are fitted with multi-fuel solid fuel stoves.

The National Housing Federation has found that there are currently almost 9,000 households in need of a new affordable rented home in Northumberland. Many families will never be able to afford to buy, because the average house price is more than nine times the average wage in the county, well above the region-wide figure of mover seven times the average wage.

Jackie Axelby, Chair of Isos, said: “Providing affordable homes, particularly in rural areas, is vitally important to help keep communities together.

“Without quality developments like this, local people can be forced to move away to find homes they can afford, and the local economy can suffer as a result.”

The development site in Chatton was brought forward by Northumberland Estates, which is providing nine self-build plots alongside the six Isos homes.

Isos has previously worked with Northumberland Estates on its popular development in Lesbury, near Alnwick, which was shortlisted for a national HCA award in the rural housing category.

The Chatton scheme followed closely after 14 new Isos homes were completed in nearby Beadnell, which was also in partnership with Northumberland Estates.

David Halfacre, Chairman of Esh Property Services, said: “The provision of muchneeded affordable housing in the rural areas of Northumberland is very important to us at Esh Property Services.

“This is the third project we have been involved with recently in

rural Northumberland and we have more in the pipeline.

“At Chatton we are working closely as a team to ensure this scheme blends in with local community.”

Keys were handed over in October 2012.

Northumberland Estates has also benefited from a project at Northfield Farm in Warkworth. Constructed by DP Builders Ltd, it consisted of the conversion of farm buildings into holiday accommodation together with the refurbishment of the existing farmhouse.

Several other prestigious projects have been planned and undertaken in recent years through Hotspur Land Ltd. These include The Willowburn Retail Park in Alnwick, the Northumberland Park retail centre and metro station on North Tyneside, the Hotspur Court Business Park in Alnwick, the Cawledge Park office development in Alnwick, and Rake House Business Park on Tyneside.

The Estates also has planning permission for a number of other major developments to be progressed in the future, including a new supermarket development and housing scheme at Amble in Northumberland, and a new town centre shopping complex at Prudhoe near Hexham.

A project that has just got under way is at Scaffold Hill Farm on Whitley Road to provide a brand new residential estate.

The development will include 450 houses at the site in Benton, as well as a doctor’s surgery, allotments, new shops and leisure facilities.

Homes will also be eco-friendly. In addition, the project will have a 100-acre extension to the existing Rising Sun Country Park.

There are also plans to preserve continued page 52 >

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HUTCHINSON ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS Sewage, Waste Water and Environmental Systems

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Our teams of qualified engineers carry out installation work, their decades of experience and expertise are demonstrated in the quality of our work.

Our accredited service engineers are continually working to protect the environment in partnership with commercial and domestic clients in the UK.

We specialise in the very latest designs and systems, including the latest energy-efficient treatment plant for self-powered, off-mains usage. All types of Sewage Treatment Plants, Pump Stations & Grease Management Systems available.

www.hutchinson.co.uk Hutchinson Environmental Solutions Ltd White Wall Nook, Wark, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 3PX Tel: 01434 220508 enquiries@hutchinson.co.uk

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We love the small jobs and REALLY love the big jobs. All work undertaken

4 Augur Terrace, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1RR

Tel: 01665 510295

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existing trees, create new tree belts and coppices, hedging, wildlife corridors, walking tracks and cycleways.

Around 100 acres of farm land will be added to the country park including a site for a multi-use games area for children, an adventure playground with a zip wire, picnic space with facilities for the disabled, a formal play site with slides, seesaws and space for archery, as well as a water feature.

A network of ponds and refuges will be provided to support species including great crested newts.

New green corridors will provide habitats for birds and foraging opportunities for bats will be created to encourage them to roost in the area.

Colin Barnes, Northumberland Estates’ Director of Planning, said: “We are delighted to share our plans for the development of Scaffold Hill.

“We have built a proposal for the whole community that will deliver a sustainable, eco-friendly housing development and improved facilities for the whole family at the Rising Sun Country Park.”

February saw the approval by the Duke of Northumberland’s plans to convert a former garage into a food and wine store.

The majority of projects Historic Property Restoration Ltd has been involved with are on properties of significant historic and architectural importance. We consider ourselves very fortunate to be involved with many important and interesting projects and this is reflected in the enthusiasm throughout the company and is clearly the foundation of the future of Historic Property Restoration Ltd.

Tel: 0191 257 0808 Email: mail@hprltd.co.uk Web Site: www.hprltd.co.uk

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The Duke’s Northumberland Estates sought opportunities to attract new investment planning permission to convert the old into the north Northumberland area are Willis Garage at Alnwick into outlets to encouraged and that Alnwick continues be occupied by Aldi and Majestic Wine. to grow its economic base to retain a The South Road site had been bought by healthy and active working population. the estates from Tesco in 2012, following “A strong retail offer forms an important an unsuccessful bid by that company part of that and, after positive discussions to develop the site as a supermarket. with Northumberland County Council, Despite some objections, planning officers we look forward to welcoming Aldi recommended approval and the North and Majestic Wine to Alnwick.” area committee also voted in favour with that advice.

Colin Barnes said: “It was acknowledged that our proposal had many attractive benefits to the town and wider community.

“This will deliver a sustainable form of development, create local Oswald Hughes Electricals has been established for over 70 years and employment been family run for over 40 years. opportunities and enhance retail We pride ourselves on our professionalism and our qualified team to choice and range complete each project with high class workmanship. within the town.

We can provide: “It is important that • • • • • • • • • • • •

Estate Management Electrical Works for New Builds and Renovations Photovoltaic Cells The Carbon Trust Loan Periodic Fixed Wiring Testing PAT Testing Fire Alarm Design, Installation and Certification General Maintenance Energy Efficient Lighting LED Lighting Lighting Designs Emergency Lighting Installation and Testing

No job is too big or small.

Unit 2A, Broad Road Industrial Estate, Seahouses, Northumberland NE68 7UP

T. 01665 720 344 F. 01665 721 532 info@oswaldhughes.com

KW PURVIS LTD

Plant Hire and Civil Engineering Contractors KW Purvis Ltd. operates as a civil engineering contractor, plant hire company, and a hard rock quarry operator.

We are based in the historic town of Alnwick and operate across mid and north Northumberland and including the Scottish Borders.

We work both as a principal contractor and as a sub contractor to larger construction companies.

We are a vertically integrated company, producing aggregates in our own quarry, to supply our own projects and other people’s needs; this is hauled by our in house tipper fleet and placed by our own plant and skilled operatives.

Road Construction Scottish Borders

We have an extensive in house plant fleet with excavators from 1 tonne to 38 tonne, dozer, tracked and wheeled loading shovels, paver and a mixture of other equipment.

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KW Purvis, The Courtyard, 2 Peth Stables, Walkergate, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1NB

Tel: 01665 510068

Fax: 01665 510066

www.kw-purvis.co.uk

UKC PROFILE

TG Escapes

Spaces that inspire

Dulwich Hamlett Junior School

TG Escapes has extensive experience in designing and building modular eco-buildings for schools, commercial enterprises and private individuals.

Along with its architects, Metropolis Architecture, the Company designs bespoke classrooms, studios, staff rooms, libraries, offices, gyms, recreation rooms and more.

Privately owned, TG Escapes started out in 2003 with the launch of The Garden Escape. The business was founded by the husband and wife team Richard and Kath Harvey in partnership with Metropolis Architecture.

The team saw an opportunity to design contemporary garden offices built from sustainable materials to encourage people to work from home.

This idea came from the belief that if more people worked from home, they would spend less time travelling to work, use less energy and would have a better quality of life.

The environment, and how to look after it, is one of the Company’s top priorities.

As such, their mission is to dramatically improve the normal construction method by creating ecologically sound, healthy and sustainable buildings.

TG Escapes prides itself in using the latest developments in technology to help reduce the impact on the planet.

Each building is eco-friendly from bottom to top - from the minimal use of concrete in its foundations to living roofs; from sustainably sourced cedar walls to insulation made from 80% recycled glass.

The same approach was well received by businesses and schools, therefore The Learning Escape and The Commercial Escape were born.

A combination of the latest technology and most sustainable materials are used to create a stylish, beautiful and environmentally efficient building whatever its purpose.

At The Commercial Escape, work is undertaken with the belief that all great businesses need an innovative, inspirational space where people can work, meet, talk, think and relax.

The interior space is designed to fit each

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customer’s unique requirements, whilst ensuring that the building conforms to all appropriate regulations and is sympathetic to its surrounding environment.

Flexible, modular buildings designed for a client’s needs can grow as its company does without impacting upon the environment, with features such as sun pipes, living sedum roofs, solar water systems as well as AA rated cooling and heating.

The Commercial Escape will assign each customer a personal project manager, who will handle the planning application and manage the entire project.

The end result is a practical, healthy and sustainable work-space that will invigorate and inspire a business’ employees and its clients.

The Learning Escape aims to inspire young minds with innovative modular eco-classrooms.

Its buildings encourage environmental citizenship, outdoor learning and educational play, while also helping to re-connect students with nature.

Classrooms on offer include an 85sq m eco-classroom that can accommodate a single standalone school classroom with a lobby, two toilets, ample storage and large covered decks to promote free flow play.

There are other options available between 30-65sq m. Simple and flexible, these can be used for nurseries, school halls, libraries, music rooms, special educational needs space or staff rooms.

These are a great way to use outdoor areas while also freeing up space inside a school.

Outdoor classrooms between 5-30sq m can also be constructed. These provide schools with a simple solution for additional space, meeting room, breakout area or outdoor learning.

This size of room has been used as a nature study space for a wildlife club and for the local community after school hours.

Shelters offer an alternative way to create informal outdoor learning space.

Demonstrating the link between classroom time, curriculum and the outdoors encourages a deeper understanding of nature and an awareness of the environment.

The architects for TG Escapes also work hard to ensure that natural light is available throughout its buildings using a lot of glass and through the introduction of sun pipes.

A Learning Escape can provide an alternative to a traditional building or extension, with single or doublestorey blocks available that can include classrooms, a canteen or common room and are designed to allow for natural cross-ventilation.

The classroom blocks are a quick and cost effective way to accommodate additional children in an inspiring learning space.

Energy efficient with natural light, these multi-classroom buildings can add a dimension that temporary buildings can lack.

The expertise of TG Escapes means that proposals are handled from start to finish, including full, bespoke design and project management.

Everything is included from detailed planning permission applications, conformity with building regulations, demolition if required, foundation preparation and service connections.

In the biggest Learning Escape project to date, Woolwich Polytechnic has developed a two-storey eco-building to accommodate their growing intake of students.

It has created more space for new post-16 provision and helped the school develop more learning space in a short space of time to accommodate the art department, which has achieved “Outstanding” status.

As well as exuding qualities such as sustainability, flexibility and style, the eco-building has allowed Woolwich Polytechnic to save money on its budget.

The building contains eight classrooms - enough space for an extra 210 pupils and eight staff.

It has helped pupils form a new connection with their natural surroundings and provided a solid link between the school and the environment.

John Abrahams, Assistant Head of the school, had nothing but praise for TG Escapes.

“The team at The Learning Escape showed us that a tight budget continued page 56 >

MetropolisArchitecture w w w. m e t r o p o l i s - a r c h i t e c t u r e . c o m

Architects for Dulwich Hamlett Junior School with TG Escapes

Metropolis Architecture are proud to be providing innovative eco education facilities for TG Escapes and their clients. The A rated, eco classrooms provide the children with a connection to their surroundings, with buildings full of natural light, naturally ventilated, which maximise views through large areas of glazing. This unique collaboration is over 10 years old, with over 500 buildings designed and installed throughout the UK.

MetropolisArchitecture

Garden Gym by The Garden Escape

doesn’t mean that you can’t create a fantastic building,” he said.

“It’s clear that they have years of experience delivering a full service, we didn’t even need to worry about the paperwork.”

Danesfield Manor School has also benefited from the eco-classrooms delivered by TG Escapes.

Located in a quiet residential road between Hersham and Walton-onThames, it combines small class sizes and individual attention with a teaching approach that motivates children to be excited about learning.

The large development has seen environmentally friendly classrooms built in the school grounds, providing an inspiring environment for learning, while allowing free flow play for the younger children from indoors to outside.

Classrooms were designed to blend in with the natural surroundings and be a sustainable investment for the school’s future.

TG Escapes, as with every project, showed great enthusiasm in introducing the eco-friendly features such as solar panels to the school. Health and safety issues were considered at every stage.

School Principal, Mrs Chalmers, was delighted with the end product.

She said: “Giving the children a new setting to learn in has had a big impact on their motivation.

“Working amongst natural surroundings has enhanced their imagination and creativity we pride ourselves on applying to teaching and learning.

“We know that pupils at the school for years to come will be able to enjoy this development.”

All commercial buildings that use energy to condition the indoor climate

56

require an Energy Performance Company’s success story will continue.

Certificate (EPC) when they are sold She said: “We loved the way that the and two of TG Escapes’ latest Learning whole building was managed for us and Escapes have achieved an A rating. the flexibility afforded to us regarding The scheme is carefully monitored by the design, construction and pricing.”

Government and EPCs can only be issued by qualified, accredited energy assessors.

The rating indicates the energy efficiency of the fabric of the building itself as well as heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems.

An A rating is the best that can be awarded and The Learning Escape has achieved this for eco-classrooms at Penponds School in Cambourne and geoLOGIC Foundations Limited design, supply and through our approved contractors install screw piles. geoLOGIC has been trading since 2008 and offer the best value screw Dulwich Hamlets piles currently available in to the UK, Europe and New Zealand.

School in South The geoLOGIC screw pile is a prefabricated segmented steel piling system with lead West London. sections and bolt-on extensions. We can cater for loads ranging from 50 to 500kN SWL Both schools depending on diameter of the shaft, number/size of helices and the ground conditions. urgently needed a • Exceptionally fast installation up to 25 piles per day • Galvanised as standard to help provide for a 120 years or more design life new classroom due • Minimal noise and vibration, no spoil or muck-away created to their popularity • Ideal for sites affected by tree roots, as resistant to desiccation and heave • Can be more cost effective than strip footing, especially when used with modular construction and TG Escapes delivered these, while keeping ongoing running costs within a tight budget.

Nikki Smith, head teacher geoLOGIC Foundations Limited at Penponds, Walnut Tree Farm, Botesdale, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 1DL paid tribute to Tel: +44 (0)1379 890467 the work of TG Email: info@geologicfoundations.co.uk Escapes, which Web: www.geologicfoundations.co.uk explains why the

PROFILE UKC

BAFE

Promoting quality in fire safety Established by the fire protection industry in 1984, BAFE is the independent not-forprofit body that registers companies which have achieved third party certification in various areas of the fire protection industry.

The Company develops schemes in conjunction with the certification bodies, trade associations, end user customers, Chief Fire Officers Association, occasionally with central government and a whole range of stakeholders including public bodies.

These are always based around British and European standards with additional, specific competence requirements.

An example is a scheme for companies who maintain portable fire extinguishers

(SP101/ST104). The Company will require ISO9001 certification and BAFE ensures that the extinguishers technicians will have initial training and refresher training every three years afterwards, which will be monitored as part of the service.

These types of schemes are developed

by BAFE who work with third party certification bodies that are UKAS accredited and deliver these schemes in the field on behalf of BAFE. In just five years, the membership numbers have swelled from 350 to 1,120. This has been helped in no small part by the introduction of a new management team, following a move

to the site of the Fire Service College.

This involved updating all schemes, relationships with certification bodies and sorting the administration system which is now a cloud-based system.

The moment BAFE receives information about a newly registered organisation from one of its certification bodies, the details are entered and instantly shared on the website.

This is a key component for end users who can search the website by company, geographic location and find registered companies in their area.

It will tell them exactly what scheme the company is registered to, for example it

57

could be a fire alarm scheme or emergency lighting scheme, portable fire extinguisher scheme, or a mixture of them.

BAFE is also responsible for ensuring the logo is used correctly so that companies do not claim to be BAFE registered if they are not. Similarly they cannot claim to be registered to a scheme if they are only registered to another one, and BAFE makes sure companies can do what they say they can.

BAFE has been involved in a number of major developments over the years since the Rosepark Care Home fire which resulted in much concern in regards to the quality of fire risk assessment.

The Regulatory Reform Act (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the other national equivalents start from the basis that the property owned will have a full and competent fire risk assessment.

Small premises could be capable of doing this for themselves but if they look for an outside competence there was an absence of third party certificated schemes.

A body was set up called the Competency Council, which was headed up by a Chief Fire Officer.

This involves the whole of the industry, the insurers and external stakeholders who came up with a series of competencies that a fire risk assessor should be able to have, as well as providing guidance for companies looking for a fire risk assessment provider.

These guidelines can be found on the BAFE website.

A scheme has been set up by BAFE (SP205) for companies who provide fire risk assessments and that is UKAS accredited.

This is being delivered by three certification bodies and currently has 25 registered companies, with many more in the pipeline.

BAFE is constantly striving to keep the industry informed about the relevance of this scheme so that those who need a fire risk assessment will find this is a great place to start.

It is accompanied by the fact that the Fire and Rescue Services are now beginning to take serious action against those companies who have a fire incident and are without any fire risk assessment or any evidence of adequate fire protection.

Stephen Adams, Chief Executive of BAFE, told UK Construction he hopes the convictions will act as a deterrent and make companies take their responsibilities seriously.

“People are being fined, serious action is being taken now and that’s getting up to the Crown Court and the High Court,” he said.

“Hopefully customers are beginning to realise that they do have obligations.”

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Another issue within the industry which BAFE is trying to highlight is the need to reduce the number of false alarms.

Trying to find a strategy to stop this is tricky because of the simple fact that unlike something like false alarms within security, fire is different because as well as being about property risk, it poses a serious risk to life.

Many fire and rescue services are contemplating charging businesses or organisations that have a large number of false alarms, in order to act as a deterrent.

Work is being done to demonstrate that if a competent provider is used that meets the third party certification criteria, the result will be a better alarm system that will in turn cause fewer false alarms.

All of these issues, which encourage

using a competent installer for a wide range of fire equipment, serve to encourage the market place that using BAFE registered companies will result in many advantages for the businesses and companies that do so.

With ever expanding registered company numbers, BAFE continues to make a surplus, which is reused to promote the value to end users who use third party certificated companies.

BAFE, Bridges 2, The Fire Service College, London Road, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0RH Tel: 0844 335 0897 E: info@bafe.org.uk www.bafe.org.uk

Bryland Fire Protection Ltd is one of the leading independent providers of Fire Alarm and Fire Suppression Systems to the UK data industry.

Bryland are a very well established firm who have been providing fire systems and services to Industry and Commerce for over 40 years.

We are a BAFE SP203 approved company for the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and verification of fire alarms and gaseous fire suppression systems.

professionals are on hand to manage projects from concept to handover and then provide ongoing maintenance thereafter.

The full range of fire protection gases and agents are available including Argonite, FM200 and Novec amongst others.

We also specialise in the design and installation of VESDA and other high sensitivity smoke detection systems.

In recent years, we have specialised in the design, installation and maintenance of fire systems for the data centre industry and have established ourselves as one of the leading providers of systems in the UK. We offer a full design and installation service and provide work to very high standards. Our team of highly trained

Unit 3, Pear Tree Lane, Dudley, West Midlands DY20QU Telephone: 01384 573350/573301 SalesFax: 01384 480944 Accounts:Fax: 01384 573876 Email: sales@brylandfire.co.uk

www:brylandfire.co.uk

UKC HOUSING

Blackwall Lane and Commerell Street

Housing and commercial facilities A major development in the heart of East Greenwich is set to bring a social hub to the area.

The development of Blackwall Lane will bring new homes, offices, restaurants and other retail to the unused land.

It consists of three separate sites, all situated in close proximity to each other.

The main development will run along Blackwall Lane, between Pelton Lane and Commerell Street. Its ground floor will mainly comprise the retail elements, restaurants, shops and also a bicycle store for residents.

The first, second, third and fourth floors will house the apartments with the corner overlooking the junction where Vanburgh Hill, Woolwich Road and Blackwall Lane meet extended to five floors.

At the side of this development on Pelton Lane, next to the corner elevation, will be four two-bedroom townhouses.

Further along the development, the end sitting along Commerell Street will extend to a third floor.

The second largest site sits across Commerell Street, still along Blackwall Lane, and will consist of residential dwellings only.

A number of three-bedroom townhouses and a four-bedroom townhouse will feature there as well as a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Coming off the road onto Commerell Street will see the third site developed, which will all be townhouses.

The project is being undertaken on behalf of Kitewood Estates – a privately held property development and investment group engaged in speculative and affordable residential development, commercial development, investment, strategic land and house building through its subsidiaries; Kitewood Urban Development, Kitewood Commercial, Octave Homes, Cascade, Kitewood Strategic Land, Kitewood Resolution, Kitewood Halls and Kitewood Investments.

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Founded in 1993, Kitewood Group has its Head Quarters in Wrotham, Kent; an office in Central London and Downton, Wiltshire.

The Group undertakes residential, commercial and mixed use developments in rural and urban locations primarily in the south east, but increasingly in the south west, midlands and north of England.

Kitewood buys land and delivers added value by flexible, creative and careful design development and proactive management throughout the planning consent process.

Great value is placed on integrity, professionalism, hard work and the many valuable relationships Kitewood has developed.

The Company is committed to deliverability and making a long-term contribution to the communities it is active in.

Galliford Try is the Main Contractor for this development, which has more than 400 offices and sites across the UK that undertakes regular energy assessments.

As one of the top ten leading contractors in the UK, it is crucial for Galliford Try that its image reflects the expertise and experience in the industry.

Therefore, its sites reflect professionalism and due care and attention is given to implement standards that enhance every aspect of Galliford Try’s appearance within the places in which the Company works.

Every consideration is given to the residents, local and wider community in the places worked in. Galliford Try’s policy is to minimise the impact on its neighbours while works are being carried out.

Best practices are established on every scheme and the Company aims to engage, include and communicate activities to those affected by works. Each site has an ‘open door’ policy for anyone wishing to discuss works with the management teams.

The majority of the Company’s new build schemes are constructed on brownfield sites, therefore structures are being effectively recycled that are no longer useful to the community – a key

part of the Blackwall Lane scheme.

Galliford Try understands the importance of protecting the environment and environmental factors feature heavily from concept, through the design and build phase and post occupancy, as well as how the Company can enhance the local ecology after completion of the project.

In-house environmental specialist teams assist with all aspects from recycling and waste management to material sourcing, tree protection and providing natural habitats for local wildlife.

The site will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, three-, four-bedroom townhouses, and some commercial buildings will be available.

The disused cinema on the junction of Trafalgar Road and Blackwall Lane and the new Heart of East Greenwich development will establish a six-storey scale to the south east of the site.

Blackwall Lane is a major transport route and this has created a particular challenge.

Noise and pollution suggest a closed façade but the larger scale of the road demands an active response.

This has been achieved on the ground floor by introducing commercial and community facilities.

The west elevation of the site has been modelled to ensure the privacy of St Joseph’s playground are not affected; balconies are all inset and screens have been introduced in sensitive areas.

The wall to the playground itself is modulated by a series of recesses that will allow planting to run up the walls as well as providing articulation to the façade.

Family units at the development are arranged with gardens and there will be communal gardens to two of the sites.

High quality landscaping and building materials have been fundamental to all proposals suggested.

There is a careful modulation of scale across the site, as the housing steps down continued page 62 >

RMA ARCHITECTS RMA Architects are an award winning design led practice based in Hampstead, North London.

Now in our 35th year, the practice has significant experience and expertise delivering high quality buildings, masterplans and regeneration projects. Many of our buildings are in Greater London but we have also completed projects in Cardiff, Ipswich and Birmingham.

We work directly for private clients, housing associations, developers and contractors. We understand what information is required at each stage of the project to ensure efficient and accurate planning, tendering, procurement and construction.

Our aim is to design schemes with an exemplary local environment, promoting quality of life, a strong sense of place and enlivened communities.

Please visit our website or contact us directly for further information about the practice or how we can benefit your company.

RMA Architects 3 Ella Mews London NW3 2NH A R C H I

T E C

T S

0207 284 1414 www.rmaarchitects.co.uk

from the corner accent on the junction of Blackwall Lane and Trafalgar Road. The base material for the elevations is a London stock brick, which reflects the local context.

Houses on Commerell Street have slate roofs, which again are consistent with local precedent.

The roof elements to the more rugged environment of Blackwall Lane are set back and clad in timber and bronze

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to create a distinctive accent.

Generous landscaping on all levels provides a counterpoint to this background palette.

Each flat has its own dedicated amenity space. Family units generally have gardens while the one- and two-bedroom apartments have either terraces or balconies – most of which are inset for privacy.

London housing must now comply with

the regulations set out in the London Housing Design Guide, which integrates and replaces the previous guidance on Lifetime Homes, Parker Morris standards, and the HCA’s Housing Quality Indicators.

Galliford Try’s work and Kitewood’s direction will ensure this happens.

Designed by Dunnettcraven Ltd, the scheme will be complete at the beginning of next year.

LEISURE UKC

Piran Meadows

Holiday homes coming soon to Newquay An exciting new holiday home park is coming to North Cornwall in autumn.

Set in the picturesque countryside, Piran Meadows is just a short drive from the golden beaches of Newquay.

Famous for 11 beaches ranging from secluded coves to the thrill of rolling surf, Newquay offers an adventure playground to all ages.

A zoo, fun and theme parks, animal sanctuaries, mystical castles, magical gardens and a host of contemporary and culinary treats are among numerous family attractions.

It’s a luxury base from which to explore all Cornwall has to offer, including its picturesque villages, historic castles and culinary delights.

The whole park is being redesigned and re-landscaped to offer a stunning holiday destination where people can relax and experience unforgettable family members with friends and family.

Piran Meadows is the newest park to be launched by Darwin Holiday & Leisure

Parks, who are transforming a former caravanning, tenting and touring park to provide a top of the range holiday location, which will be open all year round for luxury lodge and caravan holidays.

The Darwin team have worked in close partnership with some of the finest lodge and caravan manufacturers in the UK, which have been carefully selected for their expertise in building holiday homes of distinction.

Each plot offers private parking, beautifully paved entrances and generous landscaped gardens, which are being sympathetically laid amongst established groups of trees.

The state-of-the-art park will boast an indoor heated pool, bistro-style restaurant, contemporary bar, spa facilities and a fun GO ACTIVE programme.

Cornwall is best known for its 300 plus golden sandy beaches and outdoor lifestyle, there are so many things to do in Cornwall that people are spoilt for choice.

From sandcastles and surfing, swimming and seaside fun to top attractions such

as the Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Crealy Adventure Park, there’s so much to do on the doorstep of Piran along the coastal pathways, or visitors can make their way along the coast by car or bike and marvel at the wealth of dramatic views.

Cornwall is an adventure playground for visitors of any age and no matter whether individual interest is in maritime history, activity parks, water parks, educational outings, the culinary delights of the region, discovering quaint villages, a round of golf in one of the hundreds of pristinely managed courses, the majesty of Mother Nature, or simply somewhere to relax and get away from it all, Cornwall has everything to ensure that every family has the holiday of a lifetime.

The name of the holiday home park has come from Cornwall’s Patron Saint – Saint Piran, who is represented in the development.

October saw the removal of the old buildings to give a blank canvas

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ready for brand new facilities, and plans for the luxury interior were put in place at the end of last year.

Construction of the main complex hasn’t been slowed up by the poor weather at the beginning of the year and a beautiful park reception will greet holidaymakers at the site when it is complete.

Piran Meadows will be one of five locations in the country to be part of Hoseasons’ GO ACTIVE Breaks + Collection, offering a huge range of indoor and outdoor activities for holidaymakers and holiday home owners alike.

Ownership at Piran Meadows enables family and friends to free access to the whole GO ACTIVE + programme.

There are plenty of accommodation types such as Wadebridge 3 – a luxurious and spacious 13ft-wide caravan with one double and ensuite shower, as well as two twin room and shower.

This has a stylishly and well-equipped open plan kitchen/living area, with patio doors leading onto stylish decking.

Piran Meadows will be able to boast seven other different types of accommodation, including Truro Premier Lodge which will be a state-of-the-art contemporary and spacious lodge with one master double room with ensuite shower and two twin rooms. These will have a family bathroom too.

Austell 3 is a quality 12ft-wide caravan with one double and two twin bedrooms, along with a shower. It will boast a shabby chic styled open plan kitchen/living area with patio doors leading to decking.

These holiday homes are available to book for holiday breaks and also to buy.

Purchasing a caravan or lodge at Piran Meadows gives people the chance to choose the holiday home of their dreams, from a wide range of luxurious, prestigious designs; plus owners benefit from use of all facilities 12 months a year.

The Main Contractor for the development is Phelan Construction, who occupies a unique market niche undertaking construction, refurbishment and fit out projects.

Phelan employs friendly, highly skilled and competent personnel whose aim is to ensure its customers are completely satisfied with the service provided.

The extensive project portfolio covers hotels, offices, retail, as well as leisure in the form of restaurants, casinos, nightclubs for example.

With more than 20 years of operations within this sector, Phelan has gained an enviable reputation for its consistent

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delivery and high levels of quality in all construction, refurbishment and fit out projects against challenging deadlines.

The Company prides itself on the calibre of staff, its knowledge and delivery expertise.

This will certainly be key at Piran Meadows as the scheduled completion date draws closer, but along with the expertise of NBDA Architects – who focus on achieving design quality that provides benefits from project inception to completion and beyond – the team is well on track to complete work at Piran Meadows this autumn.

Commercial Kitchen Design & Installation Eric Neville Equipment & Services specialises in the design and installation of commercial kitchen and servery counters.

The company also has a division that provides Catering Supplies from a 7500 sq ft warehouse in Mid-Wales. Together, these two divisions provide the catering sector with a comprehensive range of catering solutions and consumables. The company was founded in 1975 and remains in family ownership. As all design and installation work is tailored to each particular project and premises, our designers and engineers are available to discuss requirements at the earliest stages of planning. This ensures that, should you decide to commission us, our proposals will offer a realistic and cost-effective solution in every case.

Eric Neville Catering Supplies Ltd Unit 4A, Severn Farm Enterprise Park, Welshpool, Powys SY21 7DF

Email: enquiries@ericneville.co.uk Tel: 01938 553 980 Fax: 01938 553 868 www.ericneville.co.uk

Cresta Leisure in association with Proteus UK Swimming Pools UK agents for the world renowned Proteus / Myrtha swimming pools and working across the UK and Eire, The Proteus UK dealer network offer a complete and professional service in all aspects of water leisure including: • Full design and construction service for all types of outdoor and indoor swimming pools and enclosures.

• Specialists in commercial pools, heating, filtration and associated mechanical services and environmental control.

• Using the Myrtha renovation system provides the ideal solution to existing swimming pool extensions, and renovations including unique technology to upgrade from freeboard to deck level.

• Hydrotherapy pool design and build.

• Spa pools and associated wellness products.

• Underwater and overflow channel lighting for pool and spas.

• Awarded SPATA Swimming Pool Contractor of the Year 2012.

• Awarded Heat Pump Association Commercial Heat Pump Contractor of the Year 2012 • Multiple SPATA swimming pool awards for commercial and residential pools and pool refurbishment projects over the past 29 years.

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DSW CCTV (Digital Surveillance Wrexham Ltd) Unit 4, Five Crosses Industrial Estate, Minera, Wrexham, LL113RD

01978 806111 info@dswcctv.co.uk www.dswcctv.co.uk

Our offices are based on the border between North Wales and the North West of England making us ideally situated to provide specialist CCTV products and services throughout the UK. With over 10 years experience we are proud to have earned a reputation for providing and supporting a diverse range of innovative products and services that surpass expectations for quality and reliability.

Services: • High definition network CCTV systems • Intelligent CCTV video analysis • Integrated and standalone ANPR systems • Bespoke CCTV applications • Thermal imaging and night vision • Time-lapse video for construction projects • Automation and process monitoring • Rapid deployment and temporary CCTV systems • Copper, Fibre and wireless CCTV infrastructure • CCTV project consultancy design and planning • Wildlife and environmental video monitoring systems Sectors we work for: • Retail • Education • Construction • Holiday Parks and Leisure • Public sector • Police forces and public protection services • Transportation

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UKC LEISURE

World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre

New at the British Museum The first step in a 20-year masterplan intended to safeguard and enhance the British Museum’s collections while providing special temporary exhibition galleries has been completed.

Officially known as the World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre (WCEC), the scheme in the north west corner of the Grade I Listed London landmark provides a dedicated gallery for special exhibitions, a state-of-the-art conservation and science centre, world-class stores for the study collection, and a collections’ management hub to support the museum’s extensive UK and international loan programme.

For the British Museum to maintain its international reputation for excellence, a major upgrade of facilities was necessary. This project has created a more efficient and more environmentally sustainable museum for the future.

The purpose-built exhibition space will ensure the museum is able to continue to host more major international exhibitions in the future.

At approximately 1,150sq m, the new gallery will allow more people to see once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions.

The international science and conservation centre will provide state-of-the-art facilities such as laboratories, studios and libraries.

It will ensure the museum can continue to care for and research its collection for the benefit of present and future generations across the world.

The central logistics hub will make it easier for the museum to loan more of

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its collection to museums around the UK and the world. It will also enable the museum to receive more loaned objects for display at the Bloomsbury site, such as the Terracotta Warriors.

The on-site study collection stores will provide improved access to objects, as well as modern environmentally controlled systems able to maintain the stable conditions necessary for the preservation of objects.

Progression of this project has been helped in no small part by a £10M grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

For the first time, a programme of ‘behind the scenes tours’ will enable visitors to the museum to view up-close the specialist conservation work undertaken by the museum’s conservators.

An impressive range of educational activities have been delivered over the course of the project with a highlight being ‘Object Journeys’, a series of community activities centred around the museum’s internationally renowned collections from the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

The space will also provide volunteers with the chance to get involved with the ethnographic collection, helping to unpack it in its new home; they will also assist with ‘Hands On’ object handling activities around special exhibitions.

This month saw the museum open the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery with a major exhibition on the Vikings – the first major exhibition on Vikings at the museum for over 30 years – supported by BP.

It has been developed with the National Museum of Denmark and the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (National Museums in Berlin) and focuses on the core period of the Viking Age from the late eighth century to the early 11th century.

The extraordinary Viking expansion from the Scandinavian homelands during this era created a cultural network with contacts from the Caspian Sea to the North Atlantic.

The Vikings will be viewed in a global context that will highlight the multi-faceted influences arising from extensive cultural contacts.

It will capitalise on new research and thousands of recent discoveries by both archaeologists and metaldetectorists to set the developments of the Viking Age in context.

These new finds have changed the understanding of the nature of Viking identity, trade, magic and belief and the role of the warrior in Viking society.

At the centre of the exhibition is the surviving timbers of a 37-metre-long Viking warship, the longest ever found and never seen before in the UK. Due to its scale and fragility, it would not have been possible to display this ship at the British Museum without the new facilities of the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery.

This gallery is open until 22nd June.

The Main Contractor for the project was Mace Ltd, and the Architect was Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

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UKC HEALTH

Lion Medical Centre

Historic building transformed Stourbridge GPs are benefiting from an £8.5M project that turned an historic town foundry into a stateof-the-art medical centre.

The previously derelict Foster and Rastrick building has been transformed into a one-stop surgery that brings the town’s healthcare into the 21st century.

The ultra-modern facility, off Lowndes Road, provides GP services for 26,000 patients and includes an enhanced nursing suite, minor operations theatre, physio gym and rehabilitation area, small lecture theatre, on site pharmacy and a car park.

Famous for being the birthplace of the famous Stourbridge Lion steam engine, which became the first train to run in the USA in 1829 – the Grade II listed Georgian foundry has been regenerated and extended to include a modern glass frontage.

Known as the Lion Medical Centre, the extension can be used by up to 25 doctors and support staff including nurses and other medical staff.

The project included the installation of comfort cooling, ventilation, domestic water, LTHW heating and natural gas, lighting, small power, BMS, IT infrastructure, fire alarm and security systems and LV distribution.

It replaces the Worcester Street Medical Practice and Dr Carol Griffiths, from that Practice, spoke about the development as it started.

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“It’s part of the start of really exciting plans for Stourbridge and it’s going to enable us to expand our services enormously so people can have care closer to home,” she said.

The site of Lion Medical Centre had stood empty for almost a decade and it had been hoped that the architecturally important foundry building could be brought back to use as it boasts a wrought and cast iron unsupported single span roof which, when built in the 1820s, was the largest in the world.

Primary Health Properties funded the project and has leased the 30,000sq ft building to the GP practice on a 24-year lease.

Granted planning permission in 2010, the building was designed by Birmingham based Abacus Architects – and Bea Landscape design, who was responsible for landscaping the grounds, which leads onto a new area of public space.

Landscaping also included the car parks, external planting and small internal gardens for the medical centre near to the Stourbridge Canal and River Stour.

Because of its listed nature, the development had several constraints throughout construction.

The successful integration of the new structures for the development had to be undertaken with a minimum of compromise to the integrity of the building in terms of its fabric, features

and significance in its setting.

Duties to the site and building have had to be maintained while developing the solution to allow the successful development of such a primary care facility.

Approach to work, design and detail has been to develop a philosophy, which appropriately repaired and conserved the fabric of the building, rendered it secure, while also conserving and retaining special features.

The materials and repair techniques used in this process were chosen carefully and implemented to an approved specification, in consultation with English Heritage and Dudley MBC. The roof structure of the foundry building has particular historic significance and therefore care was taken in the repair conservation of the structure. Structural fittings were suitably tested and the areas requiring repair were identified and carried out to the approved specification.

External features such as the listed wall and the bridge over the Stour have also been retained. The new bridge works were required and installation of this was approved by the appropriate authorities.

To minimise the impact of the new interior, the structural frame for the internal spaces is set within the skin of the existing shell as a structurally independent steel frame.

Work on the project started in October 2012 and was recently completed.

UKC LEISURE

Accor Hotels

Enjoying a period of expansion 2013 was a successful year for Accor Hotels, with 170 new hotels opened with 22,600 new rooms.

Its total network now spans 3,56 hotels and 461,719 rooms.

The all-inclusive, design-led brand of Accor has now opened its latest hotel, Ibis Styles Liverpool Dale Street.

Following a period of soft opening, the 123-bedroom hotel has now officially opened to guests.

It is located in the city centre, just a few minutes walk from the major sights such as The Albert Dock and Royal Liver Building.

Formerly all seasons, the ibis Styles brand forms part of a reinvention involving ibis and ibis budget, previously Etap Hotel.

According to Accor, a deep shift in consumer expectations has resulted in this revolution of their economy hotel segment.

Ibis Styles offer flexibility to create individual, unique hotels, each with their own personality and distinct design.

The result is a feeling of a boutique budget hotel, full of personality and well located at an affordable price.

The ibis Styles Liverpool Dale Street hotel enjoys the benefits of the brand, including the new Sweet Bed by ibis Styles, allyou-can-eat breakfast, free WiFi, flat screen TV and multi-purpose space.

A kids’ corner is also available, allowing parents to relax while children can be entertained indoors. Essential equipment is also available for children, from high chairs

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to bottle warmers and folding baby cots.

Thomas Dubaere, Managing Director at Accor UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to bring the new ibis Styles to Liverpool as we know we are offering something truly unique to the budget hotel sector in the city. “ibis Styles hotels have their own personality, they are cheerful and upbeat with a little touch of humour.”

It is the hotel’s location, coupled with the city’s history and musical culture, which have influenced the design and created a story throughout the hotel.

The reception area and each of the hotel’s seven floors and 123 guestrooms pay homage to a particular era in the city’s musical history.

Dubaere added: “Within one year we have added new destinations to the network with openings in Birmingham, Blackpool, London and now Liverpool. We have ambitious plans to grow the ibis Styles hotel network in the UK with the next hotel due to open in Edinburgh later this year.”

In 2013, Accor opened ibis Styles at London Excel, Mercure at Milton Keynes, ibis Styles in Blackpool, Adagio at Liverpool Central Village, ibis in Brighton and Birmingham’s ibis Styles.

In September 2013, Accor announced the signing of the Novotel London Brentford.

The hotel will be operated under an agreement with Brentford Hotels Ltd, a subsidiary of the Pedersen Group and is

due to open in 2015, the same year as the new build Novotel in Canary Wharf.

The Group continues to have a healthy UK development pipeline, and there are a number of new hotel openings on the horizon.

Accor is dedicated to operating a responsible and environmentally conscious business, and was named Eco Hotel Group of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards 2013.

This accolade reflects the success of Planet 21, Accor’s sustainable development strategy that defines 21 commitments and ambitious goals, including a program to inform guests and employees and encourage them to contribute to reinventing hotels sustainably.

In May 2013, Accor launched its agroforestry partnership with Pur Project to mark the first anniversary of Planet 21. This Plant for the Planet programme will fund 200,000 trees in the United Kingdom in a pioneering project designed to promote sustainable food production and nurture links between hotels, guests and farms.

Of last year’s openings, 52% of new hotels are franchises and 34% are under management agreements, 37% of new rooms are in the Asia-Pacific region, 54% of the hotels are in the budget range and 46% offer mid- to upscale accommodation.

This year, Accor aims to maintain this pace while reinforcing its asset-light strategy.

UKC PROFILE

GMI Construction

Leading the way with smart building technology GMI Construction was formed in 1986 and has grown to become a well-established, successful building and construction services company that has a proven track record for delivering award-winning projects for an international portfolio of developers, public sectors and blue chip companies.

Its operations span multiple sectors and regions, specialising in the delivery and high quality, energy efficient and often highly complex construction projects from inception to completion.

All meet tight deadlines and rigorous specifications with confidence.

GMI is at the forefront of sustainable development in the UK, leading the way with smart building technology and environmental intelligence, with a dedicated energy business as part of the GMI family of companies.

The Company is financially robust, responsible, innovative and is based on traditional family values.

Its Directors have always believed taking direct responsibility and take a handson interest in all stages of a project.

One such development is the development at Merrion Centre, which was undertaken on behalf of Town Centre Securities Plc (TCS).

TCS is a leading UK property investment and development company with property assets in excess of £300M. With more than 50 years of experience, a commitment to sustainable development

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and a reputation for quality and innovation, TCS create outstanding mixed use developments close to transport hubs in major cities across the UK. Committed to tenants and shareholders, TCS provides world-class residential, office and commercial accommodation and robust investment opportunities through a high quality portfolio that delivers an annual income of more than £22M. TCS appointed GMI as the Main Contractor in March 2013 for the 80,000sq ft New Front leisure scheme at the Merrion Centre in Leeds City Centre.

The development has provided a leisure destination with bars, cafes, restaurants and a gym along Merrion Way and Wade Lane.

It also includes public realm works that allow for an outdoor area designed for continental-style street café seating.

The project also incorporates a 1,000 space multi-storey car park, which has undergone a complete refurbishment and upgrade, creating convenient state-of-the-art parking for shoppers, visitors and arena users.

Many of the units at Merrion Way have now been let out, with Coral Racing Ltd, KFC and KRCS, the Apple Franchise all taking units.

Coral Racing has taken a store totalling 1,103sq ft on a ten-year lease while Chicken Cabins, the KFC Franchise, has agreed a 20-year lease on a unit totalling 2,258sq ft.

KRCS has taken a new five-year

lease on a store totalling 990sq ft.

When awarded the Merrion Way contract, Jarrod Best, Group Managing Director for GMI, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this exciting project.

“The refurbishment of the Merrion Centre will provide a further retail getaway to the City of Leeds.

“The professional and construction team have worked closely with the client in order to recognise the need to deliver this project without compromise to the shoppers that continue to use the centre during the construction works.”

GMI is also working on the new selfcatered student accommodation for Langwith College at Heslington East.

Costing £30M, this new facility is located on the eastern side of the central vista, facing Goodricke College, and will provide accommodation for 645 students.

It consists of a number of large blocks forming the perimeter and smaller blocks of town houses in the middle, with a social centre building, the Glass House, at its heart.

Langwith accommodation is designed to provide a variety of living experiences to suit all students from new first-year undergraduates, returning students in their second, third or fourth years, through to postgraduate students studying on masters courses of PhDs. GMI will finish work on this project in time for the new intake of September 2014.

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www.coninst.co.uk 73

UKC PROFILE

Rykneld Homes

Building better communities Rykneld Homes is responsible for the management, maintenance and improvement of over 8,100 properties and the neighbourhoods in which it is located on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council. Managing the Capital Programme on behalf of the Council, the focus is delivering Decent Homes, in the short term, which is aligned to the 30 year Business Planning process; ensuring the optimum use of all resources.

The properties are mostly made up of bungalows and houses, with some small blocks of flats. A sheltered housing scheme is also managed by the Company.

Some 33% of the property mix is of non-traditional construction (typically concrete panels) involving 15 different basic types from the immediate portwar period and up to the 1960s.

Homes are spread right across the District and can be found ranging from large estates of mostly social housing, to very small settlements, form ex-coalfield towns to attractive rural villages.

Set up in April 2007 as a non-profit making company, it is managed by a Board of Directors, made up of a Chair, three tenants, three Councillors and three independent members. All Board Directors bring a wide range of skills and experience to the organisation. The Board is supported by the Senior Management Team who are paid professionals. They develop and implement policies and procedures, manage staff and deliver the services promised.

Rykneld Homes is committed to providing first class housing services to all its customers.

For the first time in many years, new Council homes are being built in North East Derbyshire with Rykneld Homes being chosen as North East Derbyshire District Council’s strategic partner to deliver its long term regeneration and new build programmes.

The projects involve replacing 99 defective ‘Tarran’ bungalows in Eckington and Killamarsh with 129 new homes.

The £11M new build scheme will be completed in 2015 and include a mixture of bungalows and family homes. Tarran bungalows were built following the Second World War to ease the national housing shortage. They were built with an anticipated life span of 25 years.

Tarran bungalows are classified as a defective construction type, and because they have no wall cavity are very difficult to heat and keep warm.

In 2012 North East Derbyshire District Council took the decision to replace the existing 49 Tarran bungalows at the Eckington estate, which were in need of a major repair and refurbishment programme.

A decision was taken to replace the bungalows with a new build scheme, made up of 65 new bungalows and 12 family homes bungalows and a bungalow to accommodate a disabled family.

Rykneld Homes is working in partnership with Main Contractor Galliford Try who started work on site in July 2013. The first tenants are scheduled to move into The demolition of the Tarran bungalows

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The first tenant moving into a new bungalow - left to right: Niall Clartk, Director of Property Services and Development at Rykneld Homes, tenant Susan state and Lorraine Shaw, Managing Director of Rykneld Homes.

their homes in April 2014. The new build is scheduled for completion in 2015.

At the end of March 2014, some 20 new homes were completed on each site and progress is looking good for the rest of the year.

This is a real milestone in the regeneration of non-traditional housing stock and more of the new bungalows and houses are eagerly anticipated throughout 2014.

Further Tarran bungalows are being replaced at the estate in Killamarsh.

In 2012 North East Derbyshire District Council took the decision to replace the existing 49 Tarran bungalows which were in need of a major repair and refurbishment programme and replace them with a new build scheme, made up of bungalows, family-sized homes and a bungalow to accommodate a disabled family.

Contractor, Galliford Try, began working on site in July 2013. The first tenants are scheduled to move into their homes in March 2014 with the new build scheduled for completion in 2015.

March 2014 also saw work starting on a new build scheme to replace nine pre-fabricated bungalows in Grassmoor with 25 new, energy efficient properties – made up of bungalows and family homes. Keats Way Regeneration Project Located on land off Keats Way, Scott Close and Westhill Lane in Grassmoor, the one hectare site will comprise 15 two-bedroom bungalows and ten semi detached two-storey houses (four

two-bedroom and six three-bedroom dwellings) and an additional access roadway off Westhill Lane into the site.

In addition, the scheme has been designed to a high standard to provide an excellent environment for the new residents currently scoring an impressive 11 (out of 12) based on the Building for Life Assessment.

Rykneld Homes is also currently carrying out a number of regeneration projects across the district to improve the quality of life for tenants. Regeneration work is being carried out alongside work to improve the thermal efficiency of many of the homes which are difficult to heat and keep warm because of their non-traditional construction type.

By ensuring these homes are more thermally efficient – by fitting external insulation and energy efficient gas heating - Rykneld Homes is helping to address issues of fuel poverty for some of its most vulnerable tenants.

Regeneration projects to date have included: ••Carrying out a major refurbishment on five blocks of flats at Stonelow Green in Dronfield. Internal work to install new, energy efficient heating systems in the 70 flats is now complete. Work is now underway to fit external insulation and render, fit new windows and doors and replace flat roofs with pitched roofs ••Partnership working with the government’s Affordable Warmth Scheme to bring a gas supply to

pockets of housing in rural areas and fit energy efficient gas heating systems in the homes ••Work is underway to fit an energy efficient heating system in a block of 30 sheltered flats in Clay Cross.

Stonelow Green Refurbishment Project

Work started in 2012 on the regeneration of 70 flats at Stonelow Green in Dronfield. The flats are contained in five separate blocks that are undergoing internal and external refurbishment.

The work will improve the energy efficiency of the buildings, making the flats easier to heat and keep.

Internal works have now been completed.

The work included the replacement of inefficient hot air heating with energy efficient gas central heating and upgraded fire protection works.

Once the internal works were completed in 2013, the external refurbishment programme commenced.

This includes: ••The fitting of external cladding and render works to improve the thermal efficiency of the flats ••The fitting of double glazed windows and external doors ••Replacing flat roofs with pitched roofs.

Regeneration work is now completed on the first block of flats with work on the remaining blocks due to be completed in Spring 2015. continued page 78 >

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AKW have been supplying Rykneld Homes and their partnering contractors with specialist showering equipment since they were established in 2007.

Over the years, AKW have supplied a variety of products for major bathroom adaptations in various properties across North East Derbyshire - which have enabled local residents to remain independent in their own homes.

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Our solutions are specified by the majority of local authorities and housing associations and our reputation for excellence is growing in the retirement and care home sector. Our national sales team are highly experienced and their expertise is valued by all our customers.

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The apprentices employed through the contractors working on our new build programmes.

Gas Heating Replacement Programme

The Regeneration Team have been working with tenants on a gas heating replacement programme affecting 160 homes in: ••Clay Cross ••Shirland ••Mickley ••Pilsley ••Stonebroom ••Holymoorside

Affordable Warmth Scheme This project has been carried out in partnership with the governmentfunded Affordable Warmth Scheme to secure the funding for the project. The aim of the project was to bring a gas supply to the homes.

Marx Court Regeneration Project Rykneld Homes is working in partnership with Affordable Warmth Solutions to install new gas central heating systems in a block of 30 sheltered flats in Clay Cross which houses elderly and vulnerable tenants.

Each flat currently has a gas fired back boiler unit originally fitted in the 1960s. The units are financially

and environmentally inefficient.

Affordable Warmth Solutions have been able to provide financial support to replace the existing boilers and install a new, innovative heat network, eliminating the need for individual meters and bills.

In place of separate boilers there will be three central boiler systems – reducing maintenance costs and disruption to tenants.

energy technologies to supply affordable, environmentally friendly energy.

They are fitting two BlueGen micro generation units at Marx Court which will generate electricity and provide hot water as well as feeding into the government’s feed-in tariff programme.

Work at Marx Court is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2014.

Decent Homes works During the heating replacement upgrade Rykneld Homes will also be carrying out Decent Homes works to the flats, such as fitting pipework whilst fitting a kitchen or bathroom – to minimise disruption to tenants.

Affordable Warmth has also researched and trialled alternative

Vinshire Plumbing and Heating Limited Vinshire have been providing excellent value and

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Value Performance Honesty

PROFILE UKC

Transform Architects Celebrating ten years of success Established in the heart of West Yorkshire in 2004, Transform Architects is a dynamic, fresh-thinking RIBA Chartered Practice.

Specialising in defining architectural problems with beautiful solutions and transforming lives through the architecture they create, the Practice offers its Clients services by a qualified and experienced Architect who can run a project from inception to completion.

As Chartered Architects the Practice provides a quality service in design, professional expertise and overall value to all its residential / domestic and commercial design projects.

With a dedicated experienced project architect as a focal point, Transform Architects can enable Clients to recognise what they want, visualise what that looks like, find the right people to make the changes and oversee the contractual work until the project is completed.

No matter what the project is, the Practice’s values remain the same.

Transform Architects is passionate about delivering the best projects, achieving quality in architecture, service excellence and innovation to provide new ideas that have the potential to change the world of a Client.

The Practice empowers its Clients

with the tools to understand the full potential of a project, allowing them to make key decisions in relation to design and budget. Transform Architects believes that consistency, flair and a pragmatic approach to design are key to the success of a project.

A broad range of skills are apparent within the Practice, with other services connected to a project such as measured surveys, interior design and landscaping all available through Transform Architects.

Transform Architects design from the inside out; they assess each space requirement and its function, for example what furniture they wish to have in the space, what type of lighting, what type of mood, are you having a television in the space and if so what size. They design in 3d with accurate integrated sustainable assessment tools to maximize the potential of the project irrespective of size and scale.

All the rooms will have the wow factor rather than just the main spaces, the process is quick and easy, they integrate items such as storage solutions and the look and feel of the spaces is established early in the process.

Based in Ossett, this year marks the tenth anniversary since the Practice was established and under the

Director, Martin Bell, there have been many recent projects of note.

One such development is located in Ben Rhydding, West Yorkshire.

Known as From the inside out, Transform Architects provided a contemporary makeover and refurbishment with extensions and internal alterations to create new and improved spaces.

At a cost of circa ÂŁ300,000, the brief was to remodel and refurbish an existing house built in the 1960s to create a contemporary five-bedroom dwelling that takes advantage of the beautiful hillside views.

Ben Rhydding is a Wharfedale village in the Metropolitan Borough of Bradford, West Yorkshire. It is part of the Ilkley urban area and civil parish and it is situated on a north-facing valley beneath the well-known Cow and Calf Rocks.

The design maximises the site, while considering the impact of the development on the neighbouring dwellings.

Transform Architects used a mixed palette of materials to give visual interest to the building facades, as well as layering of materials to give depth and contrast to the front facades The Practice used the existing stone for the ground floor with new lighter materials continued page 80 >

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above including, through colour render in different colours to complement the palette of colours found in the area.

The new/altered elements of the project comprised of 300mm block work cavity wall / timber frame constructions with an insulated concrete slab, a new bespoke staircase and a fully integrated lighting / sound management system that is server-based so that music and movies can be streamed to any room.

As with many of the Practice’s developments, sustainability is key and the project consists of large windows to maximise natural light distribution, new triple A rated appliances and a fully energy efficient central heating system.

The north facing windows face over the valley and have the best scenic views, the windows on the eastern façade are set back within the site and are within the two living rooms and bedrooms two and three, the windows on the western facade are only within the bedroom and ensuite in the roof space and they are at high level to aid in the transfer of light into some of the deeper plan spaces and the windows on the southern façade are designed to take advantage of the solar heat gains. The main living spaces all have south facing windows.

The result is a contemporary makeover that delivers more space whilst demonstrating that there is no building no matter how unattractive that cannot be transformed into a modern, contemporary, energy efficient dwelling that maximises its surroundings.

Transform Architects has also worked on the California Dreamin’ project in Mexborough, South Yorkshire.

The brief was to create a new build contemporary four-bedroom dwelling that takes advantage of the hillside views, is environmentally friendly, sustainable, cost effective and maximises the site.

Although it maximises site views, the development also considered the impact of the development on the neighbouring dwellings.

Sensitivity was given to the treatment of the façade on the neighbouring elevation, and architectural stonework was added as this was seen as the

best option to make the east and north undertaken projects ranging from small elevation walls less dense in scale. scaled detailed extensions through to an As a long established local businessman, eco earth-sheltered home music studio the Client had looked for potential and they undertake projects nationally. development land in the area for many years before he found the T: 01924 265080 ideal site for his dream home. www.transformarchitects.com As this site was very private it gave the Practice the opportunity to do something different that would help promote the Client, his business, the local area and demonstrate that fantastic architecture can be delivered on a limited budget.

With a build cost of £300,000 Transform Architects delivered accommodation including an entrance hall, kitchen / living / dining space, toilet / cloaks, cinema room, home office, utility room, double garage, four double bedrooms (three ensuite) and a house bathroom.

The project features a glass tread stainless steel staircase, zinc roof, cedar garage door, velfac aluminium timber window system, double height space in the dining room and two external balconies on the first floor.

This development has eco-features such as high thermal mass construction, underfloor heating, rainwater harvesting, south glazing windows, minimal north facing windows, and natural light is maximised at every possible location.

The quality of the high end residential projects such as these is adding to Transform Architects’ superb reputation in providing the very best innovative contemporary designs.

This has been Geotechnical and Environmental Site Investigations recognised GeoCon Site Investigations Ltd are specialist site investigation consultants and contractors through awards and our services include Environmental Consultancy (GeoEnvironmental), Geotechnical for domestic Consultancy and Geothermal consultancy. projects, housing We specialise in Ground Engineering and Engineering Geology within the construction developments, and industry and focus on site investigation of Brownfield (potentially contaminated land) and Greenfield land, for all Environmental and Geotechnical projects. commendations for residential designs Our primary sectors include: in recent years.

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Solutions for the Building Sector

AEDIS GROUP

Call: 0800 622 6903

The Aedis Group is an independent, built environment & compliance specialist. We deliver professional and pragmatic, compliance and safety solutions across the vast range of UK construction sectors from small domestic extensions to multi-national building projects.

Building Control is ‘core’ to our business, but as a progressive, forward thinking company and responding to the needs of our clients we also deliver other complementary ‘Solutions for the Building Sector’. These wholly independent services link many aspects of a construction project together: Building Control & Specialist Services Energy, Environmental & Sustainability Party Wall Surveyors CDM & Site Safety Fire Engineering Structural Warranties Training.

Whatever the job our ‘one stop approach’ ensures we can add value, reduce risk and minimise project costs at all stages. Clients benefitting from this approach include: General public - domestic & residential Building contractors - commercial & industrial Architects Planners / developers Public and private sector bodies.

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A Superior, Speedy and Simple service Superior – fully qualified, experienced Building, Compliance and Safety personnel Superior – national coverage with local surveyor expertise Superior – comprehensive range of building services – a real One Stop Shop Superior – pre-tender / project advice reducing risk of expensive, avoidable mistakes Speedy – Building Control plan appraisals undertaken within 5-10 days of submission Speedy – Building Control site inspections carried out within 24 hours notice Simple – a single point of client contact for consistent interpretation of regulations Simple – competitive fee structure (test this out – simply e-mail your plans or visit www.aedisgroup.co.uk)

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UKC LEISURE

Builders of Harlech march to glory Harlech Castle Visitor Centre From summer 2014 visitors to Harlech Castle will start their experience in a new visitor centre. Upon arrival they will be greeted with state-of-the-art interpretation that will enhance their visits and help them to follow the story of the castle and its inhabitants through more then 800 years of history.

The project has taken some 14 months to come to completion and the castle has remained open throughout the works, with just some car parking areas limited.

The project is funded by the Welsh Government with support from European Union Convergence Funds.

The development is one of 24 schemes to benefit from Cadw’s £19M Heritage Tourism Project, funded by the ERDF through Welsh Government.

The EU funding will be used specifically to secure the ground floor section of the building as the new visitor centre and Cadw’s ownership of the car park.

The project includes a new state-of-theart visitor centre, café and interpretation and presentation areas, as well as luxury apartments in the upper floors of the Harlech Castle Hotel and a landmark pedestrian bridge link to the castle.

The Grade I Listed Harlech Castle is a scheduled ancient monument that forms part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site. The castle is recognised by the United Nations educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as one of the finest examples of late 13th to early 14th century military architecture in Europe.

The Castle is the site of the longest siege in British History (1461-1468) which took place here during the War of the Roses.

In December last year archaeologists uncovered some evidence of previous occupation on the site including building foundations, a large cess pit that may have served a building located at the rear of the site and two human burials, possibly dating from the medieval period.

Dr Kate Roberts, Cadw’s Senior Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Archaeology said: “It is exciting to get an opportunity to investigate an area within this historic town. We believe that a chapel used to be located near the castle in the middle ages, and finding these two burials appears to

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support that. We will use the information be properly welcomed to the Castle. the archaeologists collect to support our “The Heritage Tourism Project at Harlech new interpretation and presentation of will vastly improve the ways we can Harlech Castle. There is still more work to introduce visitors to the key stories about be done here, and we will be analysing and the history of Harlech and its environs. dating the finds for some time to come.”

It also provides an integrated package The move was made in 2010 to maintain on which to develop Harlech as a very access to the Castle and to provide the special heritage destination. This is the Castle with the much needed new visitor first phase of a larger project that will centre and improved visitor facilities. It see improvements being made to the will deliver a vastly improved sense of facilities within the Castle itself.” arrival befitting a World Heritage Site.

Construction works are being Both the hotel and car park are adjacent undertaken by RL Davies & Son Ltd to the entrance of Harlech Castle.

(RLD Construction), with designs The ground floor of the former hotel will provided by EPT Partnership. become a visitor centre while the first and second floors of the building will continue to provide accommodation for visitors and provide a regular income stream towards the future upkeep of the facilities.

The HTP seeks to maximise the economic value of heritage through increasing the ProGlaze Architectural Ltd. specialise in the volume, length and fabrication, supply and installation of the highest quality Aluminium windows, doors, value of visits to patios, bi-fold doors and curtain walling. Our Welsh landmarks. clients include many Local Authorities, The project at Construction Companies, Businesses and Harlech will also domestic clients. provide funding for presentation We have over 25 years experience and can improvements usually come up with a solution to whatever within the World is required, to the highest standard at Heritage Site itself. competitive prices.

Marilyn Lewis, Director of Cadw, We are also approved suppliers and said: “Harlech installers of the Door Stop range of Secured Castle welcomes

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UKC PROFILE

ATLAS

Raising standards through the Inspect and Protect Campaign The Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists (ATLAS) has been representing the leading companies in the lightning protection and steeplejack industry since 1946.

ATLAS is committed to improving and has recently launched the Inspect and Protect Campaign to raise standards across the testing and inspection of lightning protection systems, for the benefit of clients.

There are more than 300,000 lightning strikes in the UK every year, so organisations should have a protection system installed to protect a building, its occupants and contents from potential damage in the event of a strike.

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Most buildings will be termed as a critical structure as defined in BS EN 62305:2011, and will require an annual test and inspection programme from a specialist contractor to ensure their continued safety to protect the building.

As many companies who tender for the annual testing of their lightning protection system are unaware of the qualifications that a specialist contractor should have, ATLAS launched the campaign to raise quality standards for the testing and inspection of lightning protection systems.

By their very nature, most buildings will contain sensitive internal systems and these include offices where there is a risk that the business would not be able

to function if the IT systems and servers failed because of a lightning strike.

The British Standard also states that a build with a high number of people present, including schools, hospitals and places of worship should have a lightning protection system.

These buildings should have their system visually inspected every six months with full, electrical testing performed once a year.

Launched in January 2014, the campaign has two key objectives, which are establishing clear standards of competency for testing and inspection work, and encouraging clients to specify ATLAS members for testing and inspection work.

Establishing standards of competency more than 1,000 steeplejacks and for testing includes the promotion of lightning conductor engineers. formal qualifications in order to ensure Members are provided with a range of clients use reputable companies with benefits, including access to the latest a track record of lightning protection guidance and technical information, such work while also receiving a formal as training to BS EN 62305 and BS EN outline of the work to be undertaken.

62651 –the British In an attempt to make businesses Standard for the aware of the importance of installing installation and and maintaining a lightning protection testing of lightning system, ATLAS has produced fact protection and the sheets for clients which demonstrate the satellite standard importance of these systems, along with for the testing the type of information that a specialist of component Specialists in Earthing and contractor should provide them with when materials.

Lightning Protection Installations inspecting and testing a client’s system.

ATLAS is also It is hoped the campaign will raise liaising with the awareness of these important issues with HSE to produce both clients and unqualified contractors a guide for the ● Protection from lightning and encourage training and development. sectors on the ● Full design and consultation Unqualified companies are a growing issue use of ladders. ● Lightning conductor risk assessment for ATLAS, with electrical contractors A range of offering lightning protection inspection business support ● Site surveys and testing. This problem is exacerbated is also offered to ● Testing, inspection and certification by the need of some clients to reduce members including costs, according to Sarah Garry, Trade ATLAS Secure, an ● Installation Association Manager at ATLAS, who said: Insurance Affinity ● Advice on all aspects of lightning protection “There is also often a need by clients to Scheme, access ● Supply of materials (for your own project) reduce their budget and save money on to a number of their facilities management and many free telephone ● Installation and supply of surge protection clients choose to work with their current helplines for electrical contractor to provide this legal matters and service, often at a reduced cost. There discounts on books Lavender House, Church Lane, is an element of testing the electrical and publications.

Arborfield, Berkshire RG2 9JA part of the lightning protection system, however these contractors are unlikely Telephone: 0118 976 0239 to be qualified to the minimum standard ATLAS, expected in the lightning protection sector.” 6-8 Bonhill Street, Fax: 0118 976 0076 To guarantee that a lightning protection London, EC2A 4BX system is installed by a reputable business, T: 0844 249 0026 clients are advised by ATLAS to look for www.atlas.org.uk E-mail: sales@earthingequip.com qualifications, a full design, installation www.earthingequip.com and maintenance package, check the company’s reputation stands up, and finally see if they are members of ATLAS, as to be a member they will have demonstrated that industry standards have been met.

ATLAS is committed to improving workplace practices, technical “Central High Rise believe that all our clients should feel that they have invested in a working partnership excellence and the skills of that offers the highest standard of quality, safety and service delivery” the workforce to provide the Steeplejacks & Working at Height Safety at Height highest quality service to Lightning Protection Specialists ‘The Shared Mental Model’ the industry’s clients.

Members of ATLAS are subject to strict membership criteria which have to be met each year and cover points such as the financial stability of the Company, ensuring it has a competent and qualified workforce, and are committed to health and safety.

Heritage Buildings Industrial Chimneys Each member is also required to Lattice Masts and Towers adhere to the Code of Conduct, Tall Buildings & Structures which provides clients with Ecclesiastical Buildings clear standards which they can expect from their contractor.

Central House, Thoresby Avenue, Nottingham, NG2 3GA With 45 major companies Telephone: 0115 958 7637 in the sector in membership email: info@centralhighrise.co.uk web: www.centralhighrise.co.uk of ATLAS, they employ

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UKC COMMENT

Emissions

Fleet maintenance is a key consideration for the Euro 6 Emissions legislation The new Euro 6 Emissions Legislation will make it more important than ever for businesses within the construction industry to consider the environmental impact of their fleet. Northgate Vehicle Hire’s UK Technical Support Manager, Gary Dean, offers insight into the wider impact of this new legislation.

“The European Union (EU) aims to introduce stricter limits on pollutant emissions from light road vehicles, particularly for emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates. This is having a direct impact on how vehicles are being manufactured, which in turn will effect the way a vehicle is maintained.

“The biggest challenge construction businesses will need to overcome as part of these changes is how this will affect their fleet functionality. In order to become more fuel efficient,

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manufacturers are adapting vehicles.

These adaptations will result in additional maintenance considerations for businesses operating a fleet – presenting both practical and logistical challenges.”

“Most Manufacturers of vehicles at 3,500kgs gross vehicle weight (GVW) have confirmed that they will be using Adblue - a clear, non-toxic, aqueous urea solution used to treat exhausts on modern clean diesel engines - to meet the new regulations. Used in conjunction with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) converter, AdBlue has a profound effect on otherwise difficult to control oxides of nitrogen (NOx) diesel emissions by turning the pollutant gasses into water (H2O) and nitrogen (N2), which are both harmless; and these are then released through the exhaust to the atmosphere.

“This innovative solution helps to reduce

harmful emissions, however there are clear operational challenges involved in relation to the vehicle’s maintenance. On the standard tipper, the adapted vehicle is dependant on the manufacturer between 3,000 to 6,000 miles before it requires topping up with Adblue. If the driver fails to top the vehicle up when required, following warnings from the dash board, it would go into ‘Limp Mode’ or fail to start – resulting in a breakdown and possibly vehicle recovery being required.

“As with Adblue, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) will also be introduced to some light commercial vehicles to meet legislation. Similar logistical and operational problems can be associated with this solution. In short, the way vehicles work is changing fast and construction businesses need to start considering their fleet maintenance to ensure

Do you need AdBlue® in your construction vehicles?

In order to reduce emissions in construction vehicles, stage IV engines can now use a product called AdBlue. AdBlue is a 32.5% urea solution that is injected into the SCR system that reducesNOx (nitrogen oxides) in the exhaust gas system of yourconstruction or non-road mobile machinery.

Air1 is a premium supplier of AdBlue solutions that is produced by Yara and distributed in the UK by Brenntag. The Air1 brand offers not only the AdBlue product in itself, but also a full range of related storage and handling equipment to meet all operators specific requirements. minimised downtime from breakdown.

“Breakdown is a huge inconvenience – wasting both time and money – however, it can be avoided. We’ve been working extremely closely with our vehicle manufacturers to ensure we have the expertise and services in place to limit such problems for our customers as and when these vehicles are introduced to the market on a mass scale. We have 56 workshops located throughout the UK, which are already introducing diagnostic equipment to ensure vehicles featuring this new technology are maintained to the highest standards. This will help to resolve the 3,000 to 6,000 mile top up requirements

associated with Adblue vehicles, as our customers are never far from a Northgate branch featuring a workshop. In addition, we are working with our breakdown and recovery partners, the AA, to introduce tailored roadside assistance and breakdown solutions as part of our flexible vehicle hire offering ahead of the game.

“In short, businesses looking to be on the front foot with their fleet need to consider three key points; the maintenance support of these new vehicles, the acquisition methods and resulting costs involved in incorporating Euro 6 Emissions vehicles into their fleet, and finally the expertise required to service these vehicles.”

Making the choice of Air1 means a guaranteed AdBlue UK supply, as we are the world’s largest AdBlue prime producer.

This secures you long term supply for AdBlue through its chosen network of preferred distributors across the world.

With Air1 you have no fear of a break in supply as Air1 continues to offer added value services that are miles ahead of the alternatives.

To discuss your AdBlue requirements, please call our dedicated customer service team on 01270 758333 or email team@air1.co.uk. www.air1.info/uk

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UKC HOUSING

Appleton Point

New student accommodation in Bradford A seven-storey student block is under construction in West Yorkshire to support two of the county’s key educational institutions.

Appleton Point, which will be a 160-bed building, will be located within a mile of the University of Bradford and Bradford College.

It is named after the Nobel prize winning physicist Edward Appleton, who was born in Bradford.

The development is ideally placed to cater for the demands of the 37,000 student population in Bradford and has many exciting features and facilities to entice students looking for accommodation.

Designed by KDP Architects, Appleton Point is being constructed on what used to be the car park for the Midland Hotel in Bradford, and will have a contemporary look and feel to it.

The accommodation will consist of good sized self-contained studio apartments

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complete with ensuite shower room and kitchenette. All rooms will be furnished.

Additional facilities include an on-site gym, cinema room, games and television room, excellent study areas including two study rooms, an IT suite and a laundry room.

Appleton Point has been expertly designed to appeal to the student population of Bradford, with many features making the development stand out from local competition.

The University of Bradford is home to approximately 13,880 students, 22% of which are from overseas, and is ranked in the Sunday Times top 20 for graduate level employment in the UK. The university has also invested £84M in its facilities, including a major refurbishment of the laboratories in the school of life sciences, improvements to sports facilities, a new MBA suite, and a library based at the school of management.

The student union has also been

refurbished and facilities for disabled students have been improved.

Bradford College, which has more than 23,000 students, is one of the top four largest colleges in the UK and is the largest provider of higher education outside of the university sector in England. The college is currently building a new £50M scheme as part of its five-year renewal plan.

Being built by Elements Construction Ltd, Appleton Point is a steel frame building of approximately 53,000sq ft. There are insitu concrete floors, aluminium cladding, natural stone panels and aluminium curtain walling.

All rooms will have a queen sized bed, a bed side unit, storage under the bed, shelves, a notice board, wardrobe with a fitted mirror and a large desk.

Work on the £4.5M scheme started in July 2013 and will be complete in August 2014 ahead of intake for the new academic year.

Tel. 01405 813 515 Email. sales.thorne@howarth-timber.co.uk Come and see us: South Parade, Thorne DN8 5DY Visit our comprehensive website. www.howarth-timber.co.uk Howarth Timber & Building Supplies is proud to support Elements Construction Ltd

UKC LEISURE

Lakeside @ Ferry Meadows Established in 1988, Nene Park Trust is the independent charity that manages over 1,700 acres of land to the west of Peterborough, including the 500 acre Ferry Meadows Country Park. Ferry Meadows’ lakes, meadows, woodlands and riverside make it a favourite destination for many visitors throughout the year, offering a wide range of activities from watersports to camping & caravanning, and children’s play areas.

Main Contractor, Lindum Sturgeon, started work on the £2.5M refurbishment of the watersports centre at Ferry Meadows in April last year which is, at time of writing, on track to open mid-April 2014.

The work will result in the major transformation of this important Park facility.

Having looked at other successful centres in the UK and working with Architect, Maber, Nene Park Trust has aimed to provide visitors with a lakeside café and

watersports/outdoor activity centre that is amongst the best in the country.

The space in the very popular café will be almost doubled and a brand new extension will increase the space for watersports activities by nearly 50%, and will give cycle hire an exciting boost.

The build project itself has involved extensive refurbishment and construction works to the building, boat yard and waterfront and will result in an exciting and high quality destination for watersports, outdoor activities and lakeside dining for many years to come.

The original centre was built in the 1980s and had become very tired and outdated, which sparked the need for the refurbishment project With a commitment to the environment, some 98% of materials from the old building have been recycled. Further environmental initiatives in the new building include: sun tubes to the watersports

centre corridor, solar thermal panels to heat the water for the underfloor heating, rainwater harvesting which will be used to flush the toilets, LED lighting and reactive lighting which will switch off when the sun shines. Externally, the decking around the building is made from composite recycled material.

Accessibility was also a key consideration of the project, with the local Sailability club using the centre, as well as providing access for parents with buggies and less mobile visitors.

Lakeside now provides a hub for activity and relaxation within Ferry Meadows as the home for Nene Outdoors, a new watersports and outdoor activity venture and Lakeside Kitchen & Bar, a contemporary dining and function venue at the Park.

Joinery Specialists within the Hotel and Leisure Industry Hillside Farm, Wern, Bersham, Wrexham LL14 4LU

Call us on: 07743 516927 or email: drpjoineryltd@hotmail.co.uk

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CIVIL UKC

Lamby Way Capping Works Clearing site for possible solar park The former site of Cardiff’s biggest rubbish tip is set to be transformed into a solar panel park following its closure.

The 120-acre Lamby Park Capping Works started approximately ten years ago at the landfill site.

It had a lifespan and because of the household waste disposed of over the last 20+ years, the height of the landfill has a planning condition on it that was reached so capping works were required on the site.

The site has the potential to be a 25MW solar farm, according to a feasibility study commissioned by Cardiff City Council and it is more than likely that is what it will become.

It is one of a number of renewable energy schemes being looked at by the Council to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and slash energy bills.

The Council’s environment boss wants to cover the eyesore with tens of photovoltaic panels to turn it into a huge electricity generating solar farm.

Construction work on the site involves scarifying the existing layer of rubbish, which has some existing earth on the top of it, then installing 600mm of regulating layer, which is soil of a certain grade and specification.

A liner was then used over the top of the regulating layer, and on top of that there was a drainage layer which allowed any excess water in the soil to drain away accordingly.

There was an 800mm layer of restoration soil that went over the top and is compacted.

Contamination of soil was a major factor so the development team had to make sure where the soil was coming from, the source of where it was imported from was of an appropriate condition and specification because any contaminates would go against planning restrictions.

Weather has been a major factor too because the recent bad weather has resulted in a delay on moving the soil in because it was churning, so stopping was absolutely imperative to avoid having to bring in replacement soil.

It’s also a live site so everybody working on it has had to make sure that the live work taking place with

the refuge is safely carried out and controller measures were put in place to help with this.

The Main Contractor for the project is Alun Griffiths Contractors Ltd. Because the soil specification was so important, a Construction Quality Assurance Officer was appointed, who checked the control and testing of material as it went in. This was undertaken by Mott MacDonald and the Council designed the scheme.

Work started in September 2013 but because of the weather, has pushed completion back to June 2014.

Large soil and aggregate supplier in the South Wales area.

Currently moving 140,000 tons of restoration and regulatory soil into Lamby Way tip in 6 months.

Also supplying aggregates for groundwork at the tip in the form of 6f2, type 1 and single sized pipe bedding.

Ty-To-Maen Farm, Newton Road, Rumney, Cardiff CF3 2EJ

T. 029 2079 7835 F. 029 2036 0043 E. info@neal-soils.co.uk

www.neal-soils.co.uk

07795 422916

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UKC HEALTH

Southmead Hospital

New Learning and Research building Construction work on Phase II of the Learning and Research building at Southmead hospital has now been completed and handed over to the North Bristol Trust.

The new extension, half the size of the existing building, has continued its architectural themes such as the coloured glazing.

It was taken forward by the Trust in partnership with the University of Bristol and the building will provide accommodation for the remaining university laboratory-based research teams on both the Southmead and Frenchay Hospital sites.

Located at Westbury-on-Trym, the project involved the design and construction of a new four-storey extension to the existing Learning and Research building at the hospital.

As well as providing accommodation for Trust offices and research laboratories, the project also includes expansion of the hospital library and reconfiguration of various areas of the existing building.

Additional learning and development facilities are provided which have allowed for the transfer of the Trust’s facilities from the Academic Centre and

Postgraduate Centre at Frenchay Hospital.

This included an additional clinical skills laboratory. The building also provides accommodation for the Regional Quality Control Laboratory, which is upstairs on the top floor.

Rosemary Grant, North Bristol Trust’s Deputy Director of Projects, was excited when the development was taking shape and spoke of her high hopes for the project upon completion.

She said: “When the second phase is completed, the Learning and Research Building will be a great asset and further enhance North Bristol Trust’s reputation of excellence for learning and research.”

The site has already seen construction in the form of colourful pathology learning and research buildings that can buildings that can be seen from Monks Park Avenue. These were completed as part of a £45M project at the end of 2009.

All work is on behalf of North Bristol NHS Trust which has over 9,000 staff delivering healthcare across Frenchay, Southmead and Crossham Hospitals and within the local community of Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

The Trust is the largest in the south west of England, and is also a specialist regional

centre for a number of services including neurosurgery, renal medicine, plastics, burns, orthopaedics and major trauma.

It provides award-winning services and receives a significant number of referrals from the other hospital trusts.

Approximately 300,000 patients a year are treated, which includes 6,300 births.

The main aim is to provide exceptional healthcare personally delivered by providing services of exemplary quality, ensuring no unnecessary waits or delays, providing care in high quality care facilities and having well trained and caring staff.

As a large teaching hospital Trust, North Bristol NHS has internationally renowned medical teams focused on delivering excellent results for its patients, through the hard work and dedication of its 10,000 doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and support staff.

Making patients and families feel welcome is an absolute necessity for the Trust and the new developments at Southmead Hospital will help with this.

Designed by Avanti Architects Ltd and built

by Balfour Beatty, work on the Learning and Research building is complete and was handed over at the end of March 2014.

Signature Recruitment is a privately owned, independent consultancy, dedicated to the recruitment of temporary, contract and permanent Business Support staff across London and Bristol.

Our core recruitment abilities include: Finance and Accounting - Projects - Executive Support - Human Resources/Recruitment Administration - Marketing/Sales - Customer Services - IT Support

With over ten years’ experience of working with some of our clients, we believe we have a clear understanding of the skills and personal qualities required for our candidates to succeed in the unique environment of Construction, Engineering, Property and Consultancy. Our service is time efficient, competitively priced with thorough customer care during and after each placement.

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Typical skill sets include: Project Administrators/Assistants/Coordinators, Document Controllers, Bid/Tender Coordinators/Managers, Property Secretaries, Site Secretaries/Administrators, Facilities Helpdesk, PA, Office Management, Transactional Finance and Reception staff We pride ourselves on establishing excellent working relationships, serving only the best interests of our clients and candidates. Our consultants are committed to excellence and are able to respond to a client’s individual need. Signature Recruitment has extensive experience of working with a range of clients from Blue Chips to Small/Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

PROFILE UKC

GPS Marine

Key developers of the Connaught Passage project GPS Marine management and operational staff are committed to delivering technically proficient, professionally conceived and executed projects, services and products that conform to the highest industry standards operationally and environmentally, whilst also complying with the highest standards in terms of health and safety of all individuals affected by the operations that GPS Marine undertakes or is involved with.

Operating in the UK, Ireland and north west Europe, the Company has great experience in marine civil engineering and construction, marine heavy lift with floating sheerlegs, dredging, marine and offshore demolition, salvage and wreck removal, transport of goods by barge, and international, coastal and harbour towage.

One of the Company’s most prestigious projects was the Connaught Passage development.

In late 2012, GPS Marine contracted with Vinci Construction to construct two cofferdams across the Connaught Passage that connects the Royal Albert and Royal Victoria Docks in East London.

It was associated with part of the Crossrail project, and specifically it related to the section of the project linking Custom House and Abbey Wood.

The double skin cofferdams were constructed across the Eastern and Western ends of the Connaught Passage in order to allow the area between the cofferdams to be dewatered and so afford access through the dock bottom to the 134-year-old Connaught Tunnel, which was last used by the North London Line in 2006.

Following dewatering of the area between the cofferdams, the tunnel was accessed in the dry and enlarged (by others with support from GPS Marine) to facilitate the use of the new Crossrail stock.

As principle subcontractor, GPS Marine engaged closely with commercial marine and piling to deliver this technically

challenging project that was subject to some significant operational constraints and which was, also, highly time sensitive.

The piling operations were constrained by limitations on crane use and jib heights dictated by the nearby London City Airport, the operations of which were not permitted to be affected in any respect by the works.

Prior to even driving the piles, some significant reinforced concrete obstructions were discovered on the pile lines. These were so significant that they had to be broken out with a hydraulic breaker.

As a result of the restricted number of bridge lifts facilitated by the Connaught Road Bridge and the fact that the Royal Victoria Dock was to be made inaccessible from the Thames by the works, almost all work associated with the western cofferdam was carried out from sectional pontoons built from Ravestein units within the dock prior to the works commencing.

The eastern cofferdam, however, could be built using more conventional crane barges and floating plant.

Sheet piles were driven to design levels.

However, variations in the walls of the Connaught Passage as built compared with previously available information, meant that bespoke sealing joints had to be designed and installed.

Upon completion of the piling work, the steel beam walings and tie roads were fitted with the lower waling beams being installed and drilled underwater.

Because only relatively small cranes could be used along each side of the passage, a complex support structure for the Connaught Passage walls within the area to be dewatered was fabricated off site and installed prior to the dewatering operation commencing.

Cofferdam filling was achieved by importing granular fill material from local quarries by truck and stockpiling it on the north and south sides of the new cofferdams.

The fill material was then transported by dumpers to each end of the cofferdam.

Upon completion of the work to enlarge the old Connaught Tunnel, it was time to commence the removal of both cofferdams so that the Victoria and Albert Docks could once more be linked and the Victoria Dock could again be accessed from the Thames.

This was a programme milestone and was a contractual requirement to allow frigates to moor up at the Victoria Dock’s Excel Centre in time to take part in the prestigious Defence Show held there very two years.

This required the full width of the passage and the dock bed below to be returned to a condition where it once more afforded the minimum impounded draught through the cutting.

Therefore, the removal of these temporary works remained a time critical operation, but one that was still subject to all the constraints that applied to the installation phase.

Phase I of the removal operation was to remove the fill material from within the cofferdams down to the top tie bar level.

Once the fill had been removed down to the tie bars, these could be released by the use of divers with underwater cutting equipment, and the external waling beams could also be lifted out.

On the south side of the western cofferdam was a 25 tonne triangular support frame fitted with steel shear keys.

This frame was attached to the crane on the barge GPS Boxer and, following a divers survey, the shear keys were cut by divers and the support frame was lifted clear.

Although all other piles could be pulled, the southern seal piles could not be pulled due to attempts to do so causing unacceptable readings from the tunnel’s sensors. They had to be cut off underwater before final bed level.

When the pile extraction had been completed, it only remained to remove any spilled fill that was present above the level permitted to allow over eight metres depth of water through the cutting at minimum impounded dock level.

Services Unit 19 Capstan Centre, Thurrock Park Way, Tilbury, Essex, RM18 7HH Tel: 01375 856 856 Fax: 01375 856 596 Email: info@lift-easy.co.uk / enquiries@lift-easy.co.uk www.lift-easy.co.uk

• Lifting Gear Sales • Material Handling Equipment • Height Safety Equipment • Repairs & Servicing of all Lifting & Safety Equipment • Loler Examinations • Site Inspections / Colour Code Systems • Design and Manufacture to Customer Requirements • Service Centre to most of the leading Manufacturers

Servicing all industries Construction Marine Civil Engineering Rail Energy Wind Water

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Geopost UK Ltd DPD

New parcel hub in Hinckley Work to build a new state-of-the-art parcel hub is well underway in Hinckley.

Based on Hinckley Commercial Park, the development is for Geopost UK Ltd DPD and will be the largest of its kind in Europe.

The project is part of investment plans announced by DPD in November 2012 and follows a period of unprecedented growth for the parcel carrier, thanks to its unique Predict service that provides customers with a one-hour delivery window so they do not have to wait in all day for their parcel.

The Company won a record £70M of new business from online retailers in 2012 off the back of Predict. More than 97% of the millions of parcels delivered each year with Predict are delivered ‘right first time’, meaning fewer wasted trips for drivers redelivering parcels or customers having to go to the depot to pick up a missed delivery.

The new hub will be capable of handling 70,000 parcels an hour and will increase DPD’s overall parcel capacity by 65%.

In total, the site will cover an area the size of 19 football pitches while the hub building itself will be around 470m long.

The Hinckley site was chosen primarily because it provides the optimum location in terms of motorway links for the whole of the UK. However, developing a major hub site in the East Midlands also has other strategically significant long-term benefits.

DPD’s three other hubs are all located in the West Midlands around Smethwick

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where there is potentially less scope for major increases in capacity on the road network in future and the firm is already one of the largest employers.

Dwain McDonald, DPD CEO, said when plans were announced: “We are investing significantly in the brand and delivering the network capacity we are going to need in the future for our customers.

“By continuing to invest in infrastructure and technology, we will secure not only the 6,700 jobs we already provide in the UK, but also create another 1,500 jobs across the UK in the next two years.

“This is a long-term strategic decision, based on our success in recent years and our projections for the online retail channel.

“Retailers really like Predict because it helps ensure their deliveries get to their customers first time, and in turn that encourages more repeat purchases.

“Our network capacity is fine at the moment but we need to make sure that, as demand increases from our customers, we have the potential for growth and we have more flexibility to handle increased capacity right across our network.”

This project is part of a £175M expansion programme that also included the refurbishment of the two existing hubs and a major expansion of its nationwide network of depots including ten new depots that started development in November 2012 and will be completed this year.

Other investments include the replacement

of all the handheld devices used by drivers for route optimisation and parcel administration, as well as ongoing investment in security and IT upgrades.

The site for the new hub, Hinckley Commercial Park, is one of the Midlands’ premier logistic developments located within the UK’s distribution ‘Golden Triangle’. The park is situated in a highly prominent position immediately adjacent to the A5, and is located one mile from Junction 1 of the M69 motorway, which provides access to the national motorway network.

Work on site began in July. Goodman is the Developer and the Company got groundwork and other preparatory activities completed in July 2013 to get the site ready for building work starting.

Winvic was appointed the Main Contractor for the project and the ground was completely flattened in October 2013 and the concrete base was laid. Later that month, the first bit of steelwork was erected on site and a month later a third of this had been completed on the building, and other work saw the roof put in place.

By December, the progress had resulted in groundworks being 70% complete and the steelwork was 50% complete by early December too.

Designed by Beck Haynes Associates, the development will see the delivery of state-of-the-art parcel sorting equipment this month, and final completion is expected next year.

HEALTH UKC

Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital New facilities for experts in private healthcare An extensive refurbishment and new build project that will see state-of-theart facilities installed at Spire Tunbridge Wells is edging to completion.

Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital is getting an internal refurbishment and a new building will provide an MRI and CT scanning suite and first floor offices.

A brand new outpatient facility is being incorporated too, boasting various clinical facilities including: dedicated plaster rooms, a specialised consulting room and enlarged construction room for gait analysis.

Built in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the original hospital was built many years ago and is mainly singlestorey, but will now have a two-storey element that the Architect, Beaumont & Cowling was able to link with the MRI CT Lifescan building as part of the proposal.

The Practice has a long-standing working relationship with Spire and, through detailed discussions and proactive reports, were able to come up with a solution that allowed redevelopment on a site with various courtyards where only limited development is permitted.

Beaumont & Cowling’s influence on the project is wide reaching. Another example of this is the hospital requested that extensive landscape proposals were added, which the Practice undertook with the help of Landscape Architect David Huskisson Associates.

Externally, the new build comprises brickwork, timber windows, and tiled pitch roofs to match the existing hospital but because the courtyard is quadrangle, there is a raised monopitch roof and flat roof with large glazed rooflights to facilitate maximum delivery of natural light.

The scheme has seen the replacement of doors, new decoration, hard finishes, walls, floors, carpets and lighting.

The reception area is being brought in line with the Spire

Healthcare’s corporate identity. on the site will be complete in April.

New wall and floor finishes, hard and soft Adrian Connolly, Hospital Director at Spire floor finishes, new furniture, reception Tunbridge Wells Hospital said: “We’re desk, tables and chairs will be added to lift pleased how this development has the ambience of the main waiting area. progressed and look forward to completing In order to comply with the latest building the work in April. We are always keen to regulations, sustainable features have expand and increase the range of services been incorporated to the development. we can offer and are looking forward to Voltage optimisation units are included to welcoming patients into our new facilities.” assist on electricity and there is a high thermal content to the walls, windows, while there are also low energy LED lights.

System controls will monitor electrical usage and where possible, the development Leonard Engineering Design Associates team have made are proud to continue their long standing the most out of working relationship with Spire Healthcare natural light. at Spire Tunbridge Wells.

With any live site, this one has not been without Leonard Engineering Design Associates challenges. The has extensive experience providing hospital has remained open mechanical, electrical, public health throughout design & project management services to development so the healthcare, defence, commercial, work has been phased, while poor industrial, retail, leisure and residential weather has also sectors. been overcome.

Noise pollution has been kept to an absolute minimum to ensure patients are not disturbed.

Thanks to the work of the Main Contractor, DD Porter Construction, work

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Warth Park

Next phase of industrial units development in Northamptonshire An 80-acre Greenfield site is being transformed as part of Phase II at Warth Park.

Warth Park is an established industrial and warehouse location with existing occupiers including Avery Dennison, Indesit, Robert Wiseman Dairies, Gem Distribution Ltd and Geopost.

It is located on the A45 main arterial route on the northern edge of Raunds and within a short drive of Rushden, Wellingborough and Thrapston.

The A14 is 3.3 miles to the north and provides access to the East Coast Ports and the A1(M) at Huntingdon, some 18 miles from the site.

The scheme includes 70 acres for distribution and industrial units up to 900,000sq ft and ten acres for uses including hotel, health and fitness, family pub/restaurant, crèche, and smaller scale industrial/commercial units.

Phase II has enabled development for units that are taken by Geopost and Airwair International.

Popularly known as Dr Martens – the hugely beloved British shoe and clothing brand – Airwair will use this new office and warehouse distribution centre to support their recent resurgence in popular culture.

And with Northampton being the county where Dr Martens first produced in the UK back in the 1960s, they’re returning to their roots with this new Raunds-based development.

Within the project, a full internal fit out will be undertaken to office areas, including joinery, partitions, drylining, screeding and the installation of Armstrong suspended ceilings.

The Geopost facility is 41,971sq ft of fully fitted office accommodation with rooflights, comfort cooling, rainwater harvesting, solar thermal heating, and low energy high frequency lighting to offices.

With intelligent lighting controls to the offices, Geopost’s facility has been constructed to a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

The project is being undertaken on

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behalf of Roxhill, a privately funded infrastructure, as well as being at the specialist industrial and distribution forefront of technical excellence in complex developer with a first class and proven project solutions, full scale fit outs and track record in taking forward large refurbishments are frequently delivered. projects through to completion.

Winvic’s comprehensive project delivery, It has a very well known and highly including complex building services, has respected team that has worked allowed its clients to meet tight deadlines together for many years. and rigorous specifications with confidence.

Roxhill’s large in-house team covers It is something that Roxhill can look all aspects of property development, forward to on Phase II at Warth Park, enabling it to manage customers’ which is designed by UMC Architects, requirements professionally. and will be completed in June 2014.

Committed to sustainable development, its focus is on developing premium products throughout the UK. Roxhill’s strong equity base allows the Company to use its capital to acquire land, fund infrastructure and the development of buildings. Roxhill controls more than 1,000 acres Health & Safety Consultants of land in the UK and has a strong Businesses are increasingly burdened by customer base. new regulations in areas such as The Main Health and Safety and Employment Law. Contractor for the Phase II project at Warth Park is Winvic Construction – an industry leader in the construction If you are one of the many business owners or managers who of distribution, struggle to cope with these demands, then maybe we can help. industrial, office Curran Webb Ltd provide practical, proven safety solutions, so and commercial you can be compliant. buildings.

The construction business also Tel/Fax: 01386 765189 excels in the Enterprise Way, Vale Park, Evesham WR11 1GS delivery of civil Email info@curranwebb.co.uk engineering, major www.curranandwebb.co.uk earthworks and

CURRAN WEBB LTD HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICE

“We have no option, we have to comply.”

EDUCATION UKC

Paulton Infants School

The pupils of Paulton Infants School will soon benefit from a new three classroom extension, to accommodate the growing local community, a rising birth rate and new local housing developments in the village.

Works are being undertaken in three phases to include an area of new building and remodeling some internal areas. Phase I was removal of an obsolete kitchen to provide a classroom for this academic year.

Phase II is the main build where three new classrooms are being constructed on an old access road to the north side of the site. This will allow the three Year 2 classes to be local to each other. Phase III will be final completion of existing areas.

The new building is traditional construction, brick and block walls with mono pitch ‘Kingspan’ roof and a canopy over the external learning space. Joining the new building to the existing system built steel frame has required some careful detailing, to allow the existing hall space to be enlarged. This will provide a larger flexible space for all school group activities and performances The new build area of classrooms, cloak room and toilets is 171sq m. Incorporated within the scheme of works will be a new modern kitchen server ready for the new free school meals initiative.

A small amount of demolition has been carried out to an external service yard and a bin store has been relocated to assist the layout of external landscaping.

The buildings fabric has been designed to achieve exceeding u-values those required in the Building regulations.

Bath and North East Somerset Council designed the new scheme and are now acting as Project Managers for the project.

External consultants were appointed to undertake the structural Engineering

role, and the procurement route for the project delivery is Design and Build.

The Main Contractor is H Mealing & Sons Ltd who has worked on many school sites for the Council. The Company is used to working on live education sites and are helping facilitate to keep the school working and the children learning through the building work.

The project is Kingscourt Cladding Services Ltd supply and fit roof and currently on wall cladding systems to the commercial sector. We have programme, access to a vast range of products available on the market to despite the wet date. weather this year making local We specialise in refurbishment of existing structures, from conditions rather challenging. The repairs to removal or overclad. Our operatives are UKATA current Phase II trained to remove asbestos cement coverings. scheme of works started on site in November 2013 and will be partially occupied in early June 2014 to allow for Phase III to commence.

The whole project will be completed We are pleased to have been given the opportunity for the new to work with H Mealing & Sons Ltd academic year in on Paulton Infants School.

September 2014.

Kingscourt Cladding Services Ltd The overall project Unit 3A Bakers Park, Cater Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol BS13 7TT cost is aimed at £850,000 with TEL/FAX: 0117 978 2022 the Phase II and EMAIL: enquiries@kingscourtcladding.co.uk III elements currently on site www.kingscourtcladding.co.uk at £569,000.

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UKC PROFILE

Willmott Dixon

Benefiting from innovations like Sunesis Marie-Clare Bretherton, Executive Head Teacher at Lincoln Carlton Academy

Willmott Dixon is one of the UK’s largest privately owned capital works, regeneration and support service companies.

Founded in 1852, the Company works with government, local authority and private sector clients, delivering capital projects in education, justice, commercial offices, retail, health and housing.

Willmott Dixon also delivers interior fit-outs, which can encompass oneoff projects, rolling programmes of refurbishment or brand renewal for big names like Barclays, Travelodge and the London School of Economics.

Energy efficiency expertise and Green Deal services are provided through the Energy Services brand, and the Company is especially active on ECO with a number of partners.

The transition to a low carbon economy is seen as the defining issue of the time by Willmott Dixon, who became a carbon neutral business in 2012, while also diverting 95% of site waste away from landfill.

In terms of recent projects, Willmott Dixon has just finished work at Lincoln Carlton Academy, with its pupils settling into a brand new state-of-the-art school in Carlton Boulevard in the city.

This is thanks to Scape – design and consultation specialists, who along with Willmott Dixon is behind Sunesis, which offers visually appealing designs offering time efficient, safe and cost effective delivery of new facilities in the education, leisure and care sectors.

This is the first Sunesis building in Lincoln.

Sunesis schools are high quality buildings that are developed on average 12 months faster and 30%

cheaper than traditional approaches.

The Grade II listed building Work was necessary because of a has been transformed into a shortage of primary school places in cultural and heritage hub.

Lincoln that saw the reception year It houses Harborough District Council’s children being taught from a classroom offices, an integrated library and museum two miles away from the news school. as well as shops and local businesses.

The new class started school at the With Group Chief Executive Rick Willmott new building in January 2014 and will – the fifth generation of the Willmott be followed by a set of new pupils each family to lead the business, the Company September until the school is home to is going from strength to strength and a full intake of four to 11-year-olds. with some of the industry’s most astute Marie-Clare Bretherton, Executive Head people, will continue its success story.

Teacher at the school, said: “The children were absolutely delighted to finally move into their new classrooms and their new school.

“The spacious ‘learning street’ and colourful classrooms definitely have the wow factor. Parents 50 YEARS OF INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE and children are delighted with the new building.

“We now have an incredible learning environment that we are so proud of.”

Meanwhile, in Leicester, the historic Symington Building in Market Harborough has undergone a £5.75M MJ Robinson Structures Ltd refurbishment Unit 14 Empire Business Park thanks to Sunesis.

property design and management services Tel: 01942 869 502 www.nps.co.uk 98

Industrial Steel Building Specialists Design Fabrication Erection Profiling Parcel Terrace, Derby DE1 1LY tel: 01332 384472 email: sales@mjrobinson.com

www.mjrobinson.com

RETAIL UKC

wagamama get ‘intu Uxbridge’ Ellmer Construction specialise in high quality fit out, refurbishment and new developments across London and the Home Counties.

This innovative and proactive Company is flexible enough to undertake all types of projects, from main contracting through to multi trade/package contracting. The Company’s desire is to not just meet Clients’ expectations, but to exceed them.

Ellmer Construction has attained an enviable reputation in the marketplace by adhering to the principle of delivering the highest standards ‘on budget, on time’. The Company is currently working on a number of prestigious projects, with one project commissioned by intu at its Uxbridge retail centre, previously known as ‘The Chimes Shopping Centre’, which is due for completion in July. intu Properties plc own some of the very best shopping centres in the strongest locations in the UK and is passionate about providing people with their perfect shopping experience, helping retailers flourish online and offline.

Its centres are continually evolving through refreshment, refurbishment, retail mix evolution and extensions, with the Company investing £1Bn over the next ten years in active management projects and major extensions, with something happening in each of its centres to improve the retail, catering and leisure mix and overall experience. intu Uxbridge has revitalised the town, since opening in 2001, intu Uxbridge

has doubled the town’s retail offer and established it as a major retail destination.

Providing modern shopping, a state-ofthe-art cinema (the only IMAX screen in West London) and stylish restaurants, intu Uxbridge is popular with customers throughout the day and into the evening.

Ellmer Construction has been contracted to develop a wagamama restaurant next to the Odeon IMAX at intu Uxbridge in July 2014.

Intu received planning permission for a purpose built 3,444 sq ft unit and is creating the new restaurant to satisfy customer demand and bring the ever popular noodle chain to intu Uxbridge. wagamama has taken a 20 year lease on the new restaurant which will provide a catering link between the cinema and the Piazza restaurant area.

Jonathan Ainsley, asset management director at intu comments: “wagamama is a hugely popular family restaurant and has topped the polls as one of the most requested brands amongst our shoppers and leisure visitors for some time. wagamama has wanted to join Uxbridge for quite a while but there wasn’t the right available space for them so we worked closely with them to create this space. “wagamama complements the food offer at intu Uxbridge which includes Nandos, Pizza Express, Zizzi and Bella Italia. We’re confident that it will prove incredibly popular, particulary with families, cinema goers and the large number of students and

office workers within our catchment.”

Sharon Cawthorne, Director of Property at wagamama said: “We are excited about the creative design and layout of this new restaurant and of course offering our loyal customers and new customers somewhere to get their noodle fix in this part of West London. We look forward to opening the restaurant next year.”

MSS (Steel Services) Ltd provides full structural steel and architectural steel services, including site surveys, design, fabrication and installation.

We specialise in refurbishments & structural alterations and also carry out structural & architectural metalworks with a quick turnaround – all undertaken to the very highest possible standards at competitive prices.

Browse our website to find out all you need to know about us, view the galleries for examples of our work and feel free to contact us to discuss your future projects..

www.msssteel.com

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UKC HOUSING

Cawston Grange

New offering from Redrow Homes

The new Heritage Collection at Cawston Grange offers a fabulous selection of three-, four- and five-bedroom detached homes, positioned two miles to the south west of Rugby on the edge of the open countryside.

Rugby is a busy town, which is well positioned for major road networks. There are large business parks surrounding the area that provide good employment opportunities, while the likes of Coventry, Leamington Spa, Northampton, Leicester and Birmingham can be reached in the space of 45 minutes.

Cawston Grange is the epitome of the new collection of homes, delivering a traditional quality of home building, designed for modern life.

This location for such executive homes has been carefully chosen to ensure that everyone’s needs are catered for close by, including the open spaces and parkland that all can enjoy.

The homes at Cawston Grange are carefully considered to care for the whole family, from lively open plan living areas to a separate lounge to escape to for a little peace and quiet, from generous bedrooms for everyone at the end of the day to luxurious finishing touches like

ensuite bedrooms and walk-in wardrobes.

Cawston Grange is well serviced in terms of amenities with a co-op convenience store and chemist within one mile and a Sainsbury’s supermarket just over one and a half miles away.

Rugby Town Centre has a wide variety of shops and stores including many well known High Street names and a range of smaller, independent stores.

Excellent schools are on the doorstep of this development, making it an even more attractive proposition with Cawston Grange school only 0.3 miles away, achieving well in excess of the national average results.

In addition, Bilton and Rugby High School also perform well and are both within one mile.

The Redrow development is ideal for those who want to climb the property ladder.

Pauline Turnbull, Sales Director for Redrow Homes (Midlands), said: “We know from our continued success at Cawston Grange that people really want to live in our homes.

“They really are much soughtafter and we’re selling on average six properties a month.

“It means that those who want to move here may fear they will miss out on their preferred property, particularly if

they’re yet to sell their current home.

“What they may not realise is that we’re offering part exchange to help speed up the process. Effectively we’ll buy the customer’s old home so they’re free to purchase one of ours.”

Homes include the five-bedroom Hampstead, set over three floors and designed with modern living in mind.

At the heart of the home is the expansive open plan kitchen, dining area and family room. It’s an inviting space offering a place for families to eat, meet, relax or generally socialise, while the separate lounge is ideal for more formal entertaining.

The handy utility keeps the washer and dryer out of the kitchen and provides additional storage space for household items such as the vacuum cleaner.

On the first floor there’s the family bathroom plus three of the five bedrooms, including master bedroom complete with the modern day essential ensuite and the added glamour of a dressing room.

Up on the top floor there are two more bedrooms with a shared shower room.

Designed by Neil Boddison Associates Ltd, this is a long-term project that will be complete in May 2015.

ABR Scaffolding Ltd. A SMAS registered Worksafe Contractor for: New Build developments Commercial developments Maintenance and Contract work We are proud to work with Redrow Homes across the Midlands.

Fairview, 3 School Lane, Scaldwell, Northampton NN6 9LE

Tel: 01604 881424 Mobile: 07702 205166 info@abrscaffolding.co.uk

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We offer a high quality, affordable tiling service for commercial and domestic customers in Northamptonshire and surrounding areas.

We offer a full range of floor and wall tiling services for kitchens, bathrooms, reception areas, shop interiors, patios and conservatories. We work with ceramic, porcelain, natural stone and mosaics

IMAGE CERAMICS LTD 3B NORTHAMPTON ROAD, RUSHDEN, NORTHANTS, NN10 6YA

Tel: 01933 353630 Fax: 01933 318589 www.imageceramics.co.uk

PROFILE UKC

Core Architects Strong design principles

University of Lincoln, Main Administration Building New entrance lobbies completed in 2013

With over 50 years experience in architectural design and construction, Sam Culling and Lee Hepworth established Core Architects in 2009 to allow them to build upon and expand an already successful and rewarding working relationship.

The practice has evolved and expanded to a top floor office at The Terrace in the centre of Lincoln and a technical staff of six. Design expression, technical skill and experiences of individual team members are drawn upon to ensure that ideas remain creative, original and dynamic.

Core Architects are a chartered RIBA practice and offer a full range of architectural services from initial concept feasibility studies through to Planning and Building Control approvals to construction work on site. Support for clients with procurement and contract administration is given as part of a reliable, committed service. “At Core Architects we firmly believe in strong design principles and an underlining commitment to our clients. We recognise that no two sites or design briefs will be the same and the understanding of the site and social context of a project is vital as is the responsibility to create a building for

the future as well as for today� states Lee The portfolio of projects ranges from bespoke small scale homes through to large scale residential schemes and public buildings which include healthcare and education facilities.

Current design projects include the development of a new medical centre that will replace an outgrown and outdated surgery in North Hykeham, Lincoln.

The scheme provides new purpose built consulting and treatment rooms with administration, training and meeting spaces, generous circulation, lifts and open plan waiting areas. The design will introduce a contemporary built solution to corner site at a busy road. The project is expected to be on site during summer 2014 - North Hykeham visual A further project currently at planning stage is a mixed development at Legbourne Village Lincolnshire. This is the development of an existing nursery school and communal facilities together with new assisted living cottages and market housing. The scheme will provide a unique opportunity for retirement living in a rural setting by integrating the units with the lively use of the nursery school.

The landscape and ecology form an integral part of the scheme - Legbourne visual Core Architects has also completed several projects with the University of Lincoln including major refurbishment to the Main Academic Building atrium space, forming new main entrance lobbies and new catering facilities. - university photo A collaborative working approach is important to Core Architects, who work closely with many other consultants to produce the best possible developments.

Specialist consultants such as Welch Landscape Design and Globe Planning Consultants, both of who are currently working on a number of developments including the above projects allow Core Architects to deliver a complete project strategy on major schemes.

Core Architects enjoy what they do and believe that the values and spirit fostered in the practice are what many other companies can only aspire to.

Core Architects, The Terrace, Grantham Street, Lincoln, LN2 1BD. Tel: 01522 525901 E: info@core-architects.co.uk www.core-architects.co.uk

Core Architects are a chartered RIBA practice that offer a full range of architectural services from initial concept feasibility studies through to Planning and Building Control approvals to construction work on site.

The portfolio of projects ranges from bespoke small scale homes through to large scale residential schemes and public buildings which include healthcare and education facilities.

Core Architects, The Terrace, Grantham Street, Lincoln, LN2 1BD

t: 01522 525901 e: info@core-architects.co.uk www.core-architects.co.uk

www.globelimited.co.uk

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UKC LEISURE

Blackburn Central Library Restored to former glory

UKC HEALTH

Work on a £2M facelift for Blackburn Central Library is progressing well.

The pedestrian bridge between the library and King George’s Hall has been demolished and the library’s exterior cladding will be removed, which will result in the building being restored to its former 1920s glory.

Work has been going on inside the library, which is now the home for Advice For All; a new service from Blackburn Citizens Advice Bureau and Age UK Blackburn with Darwen, which also incorporates the previous advice provision from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

February saw the start of work on the Town Hall Street elevation of the library.

Restoration of the Northgate side of the building is now well underway and the cladding will soon be taken off Town Hall Street.

This will unveil the original façade, which is to be restored.

As part of the project, any damage to the stone features will be repaired and at the end of the project, the library should once again have a fantastic frontage.

The development was required for health and safety reasons.

Staff are working hard to minimise any disruption to the public and the construction team are keeping local businesses informed.

Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Young People said: “The library is a landmark building in this conservation area and it’s tremendous to have the opportunity to bring it back to its original glory.

“I look forward to seeing the complete transformation.”

As well as addressing the safety issues linked to the crumbling frontage, which will be safe to the public once it is completed, the development will greatly enhance the town.

Parking bays immediately outside the library were suspended during the

removal of cladding, with alternatives given.

Designed by Capita Symonds, the Main Contractor is Paragon Construction.

The project will be finished this month.

Rugby Health & Wellbeing Centre Two practices under one roof A new primary care centre has been built, serving patients in central Rugby.

Incorporating Beech Tree Medical Practice and 95 Clifton Road Surgery, this much needed project will enable increased services to be delivered to more than 9,000 patients.

The Practice formerly at 95 Clifton Road offers a high level of care to its patients and is proud to offer patient-centred care.

The main aim is to provide excellent, proactive care with a particular focus on improving the health of children and young people, and the new centre will only enhance the care provided.

Work was approved by the former NHS Warwickshire PCT and enables both practices to increase service provision in response to local need.

Specifically, as a result of the £2.5M development, Clifton Road has become a GP training practice, while both are benefiting from an integrated minor surgery suite and purpose built clinical areas.

In addition, patients will benefit from an on-site pharmacy and ample free parking has also been provided.

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The centre has been developed by GPI, a leading specialist developer and investor of purpose built primary care premises.

Designed by Bournville Architects, the scheme comprises of nine consulting Construction, who is recognised as a rooms, three multi-purpose clinical rooms, market leader in the field of construction. two treatment rooms, a minor operations Work on the project was suite plus associated support areas and completed in March 2014. pharmacy.

As part of the development, GPI has provided a community hall for local groups to use under the guidance of the Council.

It is located on Specialist & Registered Installer of the former Cattle Single Ply Membrane, Flat Roof Surfaces Market site on Railway Terrace and forms part of the regeneration 32 Stamford Road, Bowdon, Cheshire WA14 2JX of the area.

The Main Call us on: 0161 929 1054 Contractor of www.olympiccladding.co.uk the project was Wildgoose

PROFILE UKC

Mass Concrete Leading manufacturer of concrete surfaces in the UK Established in 2000, Mass Concrete is the leading manufacturer of bespoke glassreinforced concrete (GRC) products.

Manufacturing concrete surfaces all over the UK, the Company is recognised by leading architects and designers, and has been involved in many prestigious projects overseas as well as at home.

In 2007, it was purchased by PD Edenhall Ltd, with Chris Smith-Wright appointed as Commercial Director, later bringing in Quentin Perry to lead the sales teams with a target for client and contractor relations.

The result of this purchase is that the Company has the backing and stability to continue evolving through research and development into all aspects of the manufacturing process and product portfolio.

From its large Dorset manufacturing facility, Mass can offer the complete package, including a nationwide template, delivery and installation service, as well as tailored specialist sample requests and a colour matching service.

Good partnerships with professional mould makers, steel and joinery fabricators ensure a complete turnkey package.

Mass has a vast colour range offering complete customer flexibility. Products are manufactured in a controlled environment using various specialist techniques to suit the complexity of client requirements.

Mass also has a sister company in Hampshire and a head office in South Glamorgan, and its workforce of more than 25 people receive training for the host of projects undertaken.

Encompassing both product and sector areas of business, Mass works on many of these projects through close relationships with specifiers, architects and clients alike, in a variety of sectors from commercial, retail, restaurant, hotels, to hospitals, leisure and residential.

Projects range

from feature wall cladding to bar tops, reception desks, servery counters, floor panels, cash desks and wash-hand basins.

All products enable a high degree of flexibility to suit the needs of the end users, and the Company takes its environmental responsibilities seriously, recycling approximately 90% of waste products from the manufacturing process.

PROFILE UKC

Yorkshire Groundworks Solutions Ltd Proven track record of success throughout Yorkshire Yorkshire Groundworks Solutions Ltd (YGS) is a Hull-based subcontractor with a fantastic reputation for being hardworking and dedicated.

Its expertise extends to all aspects of groundworks, drainage, foundation work, paving, small roads, deep drainage and sewer connections.

YGS is proud of to work with many clients, delivering complicated projects under difficult conditions within tight programme periods.

As a result of great attention to detail and proven track record, the Company enjoys lots of repeat business.

Services provided by the Company are wide ranging, with work on a labour & plant or labour, plant & materials basis for major contractors or private clients all offered.

YGS provide groundworks, civil engineering drainage, kerbing, external works, paving and block paving, sewer connections, formwork, concreting, foundations, reinforced concrete floor slabs, and work to provide car parks.

Conveniently based in North West Hull and close enough to serve North, East,

and West Yorkshire, YGS has proven Site Management Safety Training. experience in both the public and private As a Company, YGS constantly looks sectors with strong experience in the to train and improve its workforce and schools and education sector - and is is committed to creating exciting new on the approved contractor list for work opportunities to individuals in the local area. on schools in East Yorkshire - while This dedication to constantly striving to be the Company can also point to proven better is why YGS has been so successful delivery of commercial projects. and will continue to be in the future.

The Company’s Operational Director is Darren Sullivan and he can boast more than 20 years of experience in the industry, many of which have been hands on in all aspects of work.

All operatives at We are pleased to be associated with Yorkshire Groundwork Solutions and wish them continued success for the future YGS are CSCS carded, many of whom also hold No.10 Quay, Queen Elizabeth Dock, Hull HU9 5PB NVQ qualifications.

The Company Tel: 01482 712684 Fax: 01482 715802 also holds Street Works registration and CITB

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UKC HOUSING

Harbury Fields Situated in the charming and vibrant village of Harbury, on Bush Heath Lane, Harbury Fields is a thoughtfully designed development of traditionally built stone and brick homes by local award-winning developer Linfoot Country Homes.

Linfoot Homes is an award winning, family owned, upmarket house building company which has been specialising in select high quality new and converted homes in the South Midlands for over 20 years.

Each Linfoot Homes development is unique and designed specifically for the setting in which it is built. There are no ‘standard’ designs and each home is built with great attention to detail and finished to the highest specification using quality materials.

Developments include contemporary apartments and town houses, delightful country cottages and substantial family homes. These are marketed under two banners – Linfoot Country Homes in rural areas and Linfoot City Homes in urban environments.

Linfoot Homes also works with housing associations and local communities to provide attractive affordable housing in rural areas.

Promoted and supported by the local community, Harbury Fields Phase II comprises a mix of 27 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, of which 17

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are local market homes for sale and public houses, Harbury provides a variety ten two- and three-bedroom homes, of social opportunities. The village hall which will be available for rent through hosts several active community groups Warwickshire Rural Housing Association. and has sports fields, tennis courts and The homes seamlessly combine children’s play areas. The Village has pretraditional detailing materials with school facilities and a primary school, a contemporary fittings and energy saving number of independent and state senior techniques, complementing the natural schools can be found in nearby towns. beauty of the surrounding area whilst The homes themselves are of high meeting the needs of the modern day, specification, with oak veneered internal environmentally conscious householder. doors, brick built inglenook fireplace with Highly insulated, all properties are built multi fuel burning stove and high quality to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable contemporary kitchens and bathrooms.

Homes, with sustainable storm water drainage systems and central heating provided by air source heat pumps.

Harbury Fields nestles on the edge of open countryside close to the centre Plumbing ● Central Heating ● Servicing ● Repairs of Harbury, a thriving village SW Plumbing and Heating was started in November 1987 with just one plumber, with an active one apprentice and one van. In the last 20 years, we have grown gradually and consistently and our reputation for reliability, quality and service has grown community. Well throughout the residential, construction & commercial industry served with local amenities, including 19 Saint Marks Close, Great Wyrley, Walsall WS6 6PZ two general Telephone: 01922 415817 stores, a chemist, Email: swplumbingoffice@aol.co.uk www.swplumbing.org a post office, doctors surgery, library and five

PROFILE UKC

Harborough Avenue Housing Lifetime homes for Pennine Housing 2000/ Synergy Housing Solutions Completion is drawing ever closer in Sheffield on a new housing development for Pennine Housing 2000/Synergy Housing Solutions.

Located on Harborough Avenue in the Manor Park area of the city, the development will provide 21 new homes, comprising of two wheelchair accessible bungalows, five mobility houses, and 14 general needs and Lifetime homes.

All dwellings will achieve a 15% improvement over Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3.

Occupying a prominent corner site, the layout establishes defined frontages onto Harborough Avenue and Raynald Road.

These frontages are further consolidated through tree planting to aid in sheltering the streetscape and to formalise the relationship between buildings and the streets they occupy.

The regimented frontage onto Harborough Avenue is a counterpoint to the planning of its immediate surroundings,

offering an identity that corresponds with the amenities opposite.

This pattern fragments as it turns the corner onto Raynald Road. As houses ‘march’ up the hill, their forms become more regular in response to the neighbouring parties.

Accessible bungalows and a short terrace of LTH-compliant houses occupy a shared surface court in the middle of the site which is accessed off Harborough Avenue and will be landscaped to soften its edges.

As well as the bungalows, the development comprises two- and threebedroom homes that will all be built to the Secured by Design Standard.

Being built by Termrim Construction, the external walls are of red brick, with detail panels in render and tilebrick to describe entrances and break up the elevations.

Materials have been chosen to compliment the surrounding area whilst offering a contemporary variation on the twostorey house. Fenestration is designed

to provide optimum daylighting internally within a traditionally built farm.

In order to ensure the development meets full SBD certification, it is vital to appropriately enclose the dwellings and their gardens. Front gardens onto main roads are delineated by metal railings on brick walls of varying heights whilst rear gardens are enclosed by 1.8m high close-boarded timber fencing.

Units are designed to be long life, durable, low maintenance and energy efficient.

The site is well served by public transport and enjoys good access to local amenities.

Harborough Avenue is a major bus route into Sheffield and the wider region.

Bin stores are located in the rear gardens where possible, with provision made for two refuse bins and a recycle container.

Designed by Brewster Bye Architects, the development is scheduled for completion in June 2014.

we offer the complete service of manufacture and installation of Secured by Design external doors, windows and in-line sliding patios.

Jedson Composite Doors Ltd Unit 31 Grange Lane Industrial Est. Stairfoot Barnsley South Yorkshire S71 5AS Phone: (01226) 321111 Fax: (01226) 321100 Email: sales@jedson.co.uk www.jedson.co.uk

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UKC COMMENT

Upgrading equipment fleet with flexible financing Brian Foster, Head of Industry Finance, Siemens Financial Services As one of the sectors most affected by the financial crisis, the UK’s construction industry has at last had a strong showing in 2013. The sector remained in expansion mode at the end of last year, with the Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index reaching 62.1 in December, well above the 50.0 value that separates expansion from contraction. The latest expansion was one of the highest seen since late 2007 and marked eight months of continuous output growth in the construction sector. With commercial building work rising at the steepest rate in the last six years, the construction recovery is now seemingly broadening out from housing demand and infrastructure projects.

The long-awaited growth heralds new opportunities for construction plant hire companies in general and crane hire firms in particular. According to the latest Deloitte Real Estate UK Cities Crane Survey, regional construction activity with office, residential and student housing are all on the rise across five major UK city centres. However, as the construction industry has only managed to show consistent growth in recent times following a drastic slump in 2008/2009, many rental companies have put back plans to update or expand their fleet in previous years.

At the same time, banks and financial institutions are adopting a much more risk-averse lending policy as they work to meet stricter capital requirements. Data from the Bank of England clearly shows that business lending volumes have steadily decreased since 2009. Yet, with the construction industry about to turn a new page, hire companies need to be able to rapidly scale up to meet growing demand and increase service capacity, and that means access to capital to acquire extra equipment. Especially for large-

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scale projects that can provide long-term revenue streams, hire businesses need high performance equipment that can meet the diverse needs of customers in relation to flexibility, safety, comfort and energy efficiency, to name but a few. We know demand is rising, to the extent that dealers appear to be placing equipment orders in anticipation of that demand.

The acquisition of construction equipment requires high capital investment. At a time when general financiers have been restraining lending, specialist asset financiers, especially those with an industrial background, are increasingly servicing this demand for financing.

Thanks to their industrial expertise and extensive knowledge of what the equipment can really achieve, these finance specialists understand the business models, benefits and the risks involved. They therefore often exhibit greater willingness to take on financing requirements that traditional banks might simply not have the knowledge and expertise to accommodate. Specialist financiers can expertly evaluate the quality of the financed asset, particularly in large transactions, thereby crafting favourable financing arrangements that fit the customer’s particular circumstances and cash flow needs. They can flex the finance period itself, finance set-up periods, bundle equipment with maintenance and service, and more. Regular lease payments can be spread over the financing period and aligned with the revenues generated by the asset, making equipment upgrades and acquisition affordable.

With the UK economic prospect gradually brightening up and business confidence rising again, improved sentiment for the construction industry is likely to stay.

Businesses active in the sector are once

again contemplating new investments.

Equipment rental companies that are able to leverage flexible financing to upgrade their fleet will not only do well in expanding their business, but also help supporting the upswing in the sector.

Brian Foster joined Siemens Financial Services in 2011 with over 20 years’ experience in the asset management industry. Currently as Head of Industry Finance, Brian plays a strategic role in driving the equipment finance market in the areas of transportation, construction and industry. Brian’s previous experience included 17 years at GE Capital as a Division Director he also spent time as Operations Director at Arriva Vehicle Rental. Prior to this he was Country Director for Qualcomm Wireless Business Solutions and a period running a Heavy Crane business operating in the Middle and Far East.

Brian Foster

Stairways join the BWF The Stairways Group is proud to have been a member of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Stair Scheme since September 2013.

In September 2013, the British Woodworking Federation introduced the Stair Scheme, the only accreditation and certification of its kind in the UK.

The British Woodworking Federation is a business support organisation offering advice, support and information regarding the wood industry to their members, as well as guidance for customers who expect the finest in products and services.

Members of the BWF Stair Scheme have committed themselves to a comprehensive certification programme in order to prove they can meet the highest standards necessary. Stairways joined in 2013 and see the scheme as a positive introduction to their company.

‘The Stair Scheme provides our customers with that extra peace of mind’

Karen Wood, joint Managing Director of the Stairways Group, said about the membership: “We’re proud to become a member of the BWF Stair Scheme for a number of reasons. BWF continues to give excellent support to both manufacturers and customers, and their scheme recognises that our group produces timber stairs in compliance with British Standard and Building Regulations and within a controlled environment. The Stair Scheme also provides our customers with that extra peace of mind when investing in our stairs.”

Whether domestic, common or fire protected stairs, the standard expected from manufacturers of stairs is extremely high, to ensure quality and safety. The BWF saw a need for a regulatory body for the stair market, bringing together manufacturers who are aiming to increase standards in timber stairs and also to create competition and market share within the industry.

Everything but…

Stairways’ impressive portfolio of products encompasses door kits, doorsets, staircases and bespoke joinery for both residential and commercial projects.

Call 01926 818770 for assistance with specifications and technical advice.

www.stairways.co.uk Doorsets | Door Kits | Staircases | Bespoke Joinery

Tel: 01487 841400

www.safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk