INDUSTRY UPDATES

Each month, PSBJ rounds up the latest public sector construction updates, from new contracts to industry awards.

Alliance Leisure begins work on new pavilion at community sports hub

As part of a £13m investment to create a community sports hub in Barking, Alliance Leisure has been appointed, through the UK Leisure Framework, to design and build the new pavilion. Replacing an old building deemed no longer fit for purpose, the new pavilion will support 16 new, natural grass pitches and three full-size 3G artificial grass pitches already in place. Housing a gym, a studio, changing and shower facilities, a food and beverage provision plus several multi-purpose meeting and education rooms, the new pavilion will become the heartbeat of the sports hub, creating a much-needed community facility in the east London borough. The project is being funded by a £6.2m grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation, supported by a £6.1m investment from Barking and Dagenham Council. Further contributions have also been donated by London Marathon Charitable Trust and Greater London Authority. Once operational, the sports hub will be operated by the charity, Leisure United. All surplus income will be re-invested back into grassroots football in the borough, creating a sustainable future for the sport.

Breyer to help Lambeth decarbonise homes

Breyer Group’s Renew team is preparing to deliver £3.6m worth of decarbonisation improvements for Lambeth Council. With the cost of living going up, it couldn’t be a better time for the residents benefitting from the associated increase in energy efficiency. The Lambeth properties are currently undergoing RdSAP and Retrofit Assessment surveys to determine the specific requirements of each home. Those selected for the works will be subject to energy-efficient measures that will lead to a reduction in energy consumption, as well as an improvement in the thermal performance and air quality within their home. The programme, which will be delivered in line with the requirements of PAS2030 and PAS2035, will ensure all homes being improved achieve a ‘C’ rating on the EPC. Improvements will include a range of decarbonisation works, including underfloor, loft, cavity, external and internal wall insulation, solar PV installation, low-energy lighting, air-source heat pumps and kitchen, bathroom, windows and doors replacements. Breyer will be working alongside retrofit assessors and retrofit co-ordinators to deliver the design and improvements for the project.

Carter Jonas helps secure Cambridge regeneration framework approval

National property consultancy Carter Jonas, on behalf of Cambridge City Council, has helped secure approval of a blueprint for the regeneration of East Barnwell in Cambridge. The decision to endorse East Barnwell Masterplan – A Framework for Change was taken by Cambridge City Council’s Housing Scrutiny Committee. East Barnwell is a large neighbourhood to the north east of the city, which is recognised as being in need of regeneration. The strategies within the Framework for Change will help support its renewal in relation to connectivity, new homes, community facilities and the public realm. The project was funded through the Government’s One Public Estate programme and was the result of Carter Jonas working closely with council officers, ward members, local residents and local stakeholders. It involved two substantial consultation exercises, as well as ongoing engagement with local people and businesses. The delivery of housing and infrastructure projects, including recreation, public realm improvements and community uses, is ongoing and the intention is to deliver the regeneration objectives by 2030. Having competed the masterplan, Carter Jonas continues to support Cambridge City Council through its work with the Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) in planning for the new homes on key sites identified both in the framework and elsewhere in the city.

Masterplan submitted for HMP Glasgow

A masterplan application has been submitted for the Scottish Prison Service’s new HMP Glasgow prison facility, the modern, fit-for-purpose replacement for HMP Barlinnie, which is due to open in 2026. The masterplan for the 54-acre site, at the former Provan Gas Works, was designed by architect firm Holmes Miller, with Pick Everard responsible for the residential blocks and landscaping. The project is also supported by Arup and Curtins, along with the Alliance Partners FES, Careys and PCE. The plans for the facility, which will accommodate 1200 people, will deliver safety, security and opportunities by using technology. As a replacement for HMP Barlinnie, it is important to all those who live and work within the prison that HMP Glasgow will have strong links to the local community. The updated plans have included several developments from initial designs, including a reduction in the sizes of the houseblock communities from 30 to 20 cells, which will see the previous three large houseblocks replaced by five smaller houseblocks, which aims to create a household model rather than a ‘super wing’ approach. This capitalises on lessons learnt during the pandemic and from broader justice best practice. The plans also contain a continued commitment to delivering a net-zero carbon facility, which meets the Scottish Government’s Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard. This will include the use of modern methods of construction, heat pumps for primary heating and cooling provision, passive ventilation and other smart technologies such as automated prisoner movement.

Scotland’s first Passivhaus-certified social housing development completes in Stirlingshire

Cruden Building Scotland, part of the wider construction developer Cruden Group, has officially completed Stirlingshire’s all-new Passivhaus development. Based in the village of Drymen, the development is the first of its kind in Scotland comprising 15 modern and affordable new homes. The project was delivered on behalf of Hanover Scotland. Achieving Passivhaus certification and significantly improving energy efficiency across the development, each new home has been fitted with mechanical heat recovery ventilation and solar photovoltaics. Triple-glazed windows have also been installed to reduce the need for additional heating and provide a more sustainable way of living for tenants. By using these more sustainable building methods, each home will use up to 90% less energy for heating and 70% less energy in comparison to conventional building equivalents. Following the Scottish Government’s recent announcement that it wishes to provide all dwellings to be constructed to the Passivhaus standard, this development represents an exemplar for Passivhaus and net-zero carbon and sets the blueprint for future developments. Cruden Building Scotland was the leading contractor for the innovative project, which was designed by Glasgow-based architecture firm, ECD Architects.

Shotley Bridge Community Hospital submitted for planning

A planning application has been submitted for a new community hospital in Consett, designed by Medical Architecture for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. The project is in Cohort 2 of the New Hospitals Programme, the plan by NHS England and NHS Improvement to see 40 new healthcare facilities built by 2030. Employing a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, Shotley Bridge Community Hospital is designed to provide opportunities for patients and staff to connect with the outdoors and benefit from the therapeutic qualities of nature. Arranged around two large, landscaped courtyards, the new hospital will offer a range of facilities including outpatient services and diagnostics, an urgent care centre, a medical investigations unit for cancer services alongside a chemotherapy day unit, family health services and a 16-bed rehabilitation inpatient ward. Sited on the edge of Consett at a gateway to the County Durham countryside, the hospital will be ideally located to deliver modern healthcare services to the growing local community. Encouraging sustainable means of transport, the site masterplan and hospital building have been designed to create a new pedestrian and cycle link, which connects with the Coastto-Coast cycle route that runs adjacent to the site, and a new footpath leading from the town centre.

Jewson Partnership Solutions teams up with Wakefield and District Housing Keepmoat donation to NHS charity’s playground project

Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has secured an eight-year contract with Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) to support the organisation in providing social housing to thousands of people across the north of England. As part of the £7.5m contract, which started in July 2022, JPS is working with WDH, one of the largest social housing providers in the UK, to manage its Normanton store. This includes ordering and supplying materials and providing IT support to help streamline administration and increase efficiency for WDH. JPS is also managing van stock through the roll out of its AVAIL app, which helps to ensure that teams can consistently complete repairs on their first visit to a site. This will drive a significant improvement to the service offered across the Wakefield district, with the ultimate aim of creating more confident communities. To ensure consistency during the transition from the previous repair and maintenance partner, the new model is being delivered in a phased approach, with JPS initially bolstering its team of 11 with additional staff to further smooth the handover process. Scott Cooper, Business Director at JPS, said: “The partnership offers a perfect synergy because JPS and WDH have shared ambitions to develop a creative and inclusive work environment where integrity is valued. It’s really exciting to be working with an organisation whose values are so closely aligned with our own.”

The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity is one step closer to fulfilling the dreams of children cared for at Rotherham Hospital thanks to a £5000 donation from Keepmoat. The generous donation is a major boost for the charity’s Christmas fundraising appeal, which aimed to fund the redevelopment of the Children’s Ward outdoor play area. The donation was celebrated at the launch of Keepmoat’s latest housing development at Moorgate Boulevard, off Moorgate Road, Rotherham, where representatives from Keepmoat were joined by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan and Dr Ted to explore its new showhomes, which are now open to the public. Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising, said: “We are so grateful and proud to receive such a significant donation from the team at Keepmoat. Their new showhomes at Moorgate Boulevard are a short walk from Rotherham Hospital so it showcases their commitment to enhancing the environment around them. We have ambitious plans to revamp the rooftop space and hope to make it a special place for children and young people for generations to come. We’re one step closer to making that happen thanks to Keepmoat. I hope they have inspired other businesses, community groups and individuals to support us too.”