Flagship Walney offshore wind farm one step closer to expansion Walney Extension Offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea has been given consent from the Government to go ahead, which if built could triple the size of Walney Offshore wind farm, already one of the biggest wind farms in the world. The wind farm is expected to create 230 new jobs over the four-year construction period and around 185 jobs annually during the expected 25 year lifespan. Once built, the wind farm would generate enough electricity to power over half a million homes. The decision underlines how the Government’s policies have made the UK the best place in the world to invest in offshore wind. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said: “Another large wind farm is now closer to being built – and each one gives us more home-grown, clean and secure energy supplies. “This Government has worked tirelessly to rebalance the economy and create more green jobs. This project alone is expected to create 230 new jobs during the construction phase and many more opportunities throughout the UK economy. “Driving investment in energy has made us the top country in the world for investing in offshore wind.” The Walney Extension project is one of five offshore wind projects that signed an early Contract for Difference under the new system for low-carbon electricity generation. As well as being the first contracts awarded under the system, they mark a new stage in the growth of the sector, bringing green jobs and growth across the UK and supporting cleaner and more secure energy.
Irwin Mitchell Goes For Gold National law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Construction Department is advising a joint venture between Delancey and Infinity SDC – ‘Here East’. The 1,200,000sq ft project will transform the former Press and Broadcast Centres on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park into a unique cluster, providing a range of versatile spaces for the UK’s flourishing creative and digital industries. Here East will be a dedicated place for start-ups and established companies to co-exist and collaborate. It will feature a new campus for Loughborough University, alongside Hackney Community College and one of Europe’s largest and most efficient data centres. The development will include shared workspaces, a public
square, a landscaped canal side and artisanal cafes, shops and restaurants. Here East is already home to BT Sport, who launched its new sports channels in 2013. The joint venture has recently entered into a significant construction contract with Laing O’Rourke to deliver the revamped buildings. David Parton, Partner and Head of Construction in London at Irwin Mitchell, is leading the team, assisted by Associate Vanessa Greaves. David Parton commented: “This is an extremely exciting development which will take forward the spirit of the Olympics into the 21st century: innovation, enterprise and flair. We are delighted to be involved in such a forward looking scheme and to make sure the legacy of the Olympics continues.”
WRBC Development’s 52 Lime Street development achieves a BREEAM first A new City of London office tower, 52 Lime Street, has been awarded the first ever BREEAM UK New Construction 2014 certificate for building design. It has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), and engineered by Arup for WRBC Development, the Lime Street tower will be approximately 190m tall, with 35-floors of offices above ground and mezzanine levels, with an additional two basement and two roof plant levels. The tower will provide approximately 400,000sq ft of office accommodation. Floor plates will range in size from 6,500sq ft to 16,000sq ft and are arranged around a side core located to the south of the building, which maximises available floor area, limits solar gain and offers views of London to the north, east, west and south-west. Public space created by the development will include a ‘square’ of approximately 11,000sq ft which will complement the existing precinct between the Willis Building and Lloyd’s of London. The tower, which is due for completion in 2017, will be the new European headquarters for global insurance company, WR Berkley Corporation, who will occupy one-fifth of the building, bringing all of its London employees together. The remaining office space will be available for lease. Andrew Reynolds, Managing Director, WRBC Development Ltd, comments: “We are delighted that 52 Lime Street has
received the first BREEAM UK 2014 New Construction certificate, which demonstrates our commitment to creating one of the finest buildings in London. Our team is determined to deliver a high performance building that is not only architecturally superb but creates a pleasant and productive environment for those who will be working there.” Gavin Dunn, Director of BREEAM, said: “The BREEAM UK New Construction 2014 scheme represents the latest and highest standard of sustainability. This achievement demonstrates a genuine commitment by the project team to deliver a high quality development that will benefit the building owners and occupiers into the future.” High design stage scores were achieved for BREEAM’s transport, land use and ecology, water, waste and management categories.
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