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NEWS INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

Godwin Developments submits revised proposals for major regeneration scheme

UK residential and commercial property developer Godwin Developments, working in partnership with Lowesmoor Regeneration, has submitted updated plans for its waterside mixed-used scheme Lowesmoor Wharf in Worcester, as a direct response to feedback received from local stakeholders and residents. The development is an ambitious regeneration scheme of eight buildings and public spaces, designed by award-winning architecture firm Apt. When built, it will completely transform the currently industrialised canalside location in central Worcester into a vibrant, well-considered destination of exceptional quality. Created to meet the city’s aspirations to bring more residents into the city centre, Lowesmoor Wharf will provide 238 modern spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with balconies. Occupants will have access to private indoor and outdoor spaces – such as rooftop terraces and community areas – across the six residential buildings. The scheme will also help bring more businesses and jobs into Worcester through the provision of office, retail and food and beverage spaces, all set within generouslysized, fully-landscaped public areas.

AEW UK Core Property Fund (AEW) has announced that its outline application for the proposed redevelopment of Hengrove Leisure Park has been approved by Bristol City Council. AEW’s outline application includes the development of up to 350 new homes, including one- and two-bedroom apartments and a combination of two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses. 30% of the proposed development will be allocated to affordable housing for rent or sale, ensuring that members of the local community can remain living in the area and the much-needed housing can be used for people on the council’s housing register. AEW’s proposals offer an opportunity for a modern, sustainable urban lifestyle, with the plans being formed around a central pedestrian and cycle link, a green spine. This will connect the new neighbourhood at Hengrove Leisure Park with Hengrove Way, the local bus network, surrounding play, retail and leisure facilities, and adjacent green space. In addition to the development offering car-free zones, green connections and trees, the proposed new homes will use air source heat pumps and other sustainable energy solutions. AHTO Group Ltd (AHTO) ‘Affordable Homes to Own’ has announced plans to help those finding it difficult to buy their own home, by investing £1bn over the next five years in Intermediate Rent-to-Buy homes. These will be acquired from shared ownership or privatesale housebuilders in cities and towns across the UK. AHTO will then lease acquired properties to a partner, with customers able to buy their home at a discount to open market value at the end of their tenure. AHTO is a privately-owned business with a social purpose driven by outcomes that benefit local communities. Fully funded and supported by a network of investors, AHTO was established in 2020, with a head office in London. AHTO provides an affordable Intermediate Rent-to-Buy (IRTB) product that supports Government and local councils’ efforts to help thousands more people onto the housing ladder. AHTO’s IRTB product allows customers to transition to full homeownership at a demonstrably lower cost than shared ownership, and is a product that is compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework.

Sustainable single-family homes, designed by the award-winning Jo Cowen Architects (JCA), have been submitted for planning approval as part of the University of Cambridge’s development at Eddington. JCA has designed cutting-edge rental homes as part of a new £160m GDV neighbourhood that will promote healthy and sustainable living within the University of Cambridge’s 150-hectare Eddington masterplan. As well as designing the housing at Present Made at Eddington, which will be developed, owned and operated for the long term by Apache Capital’s Present Made single-family housing platform, JCA designed the wider masterplan for the Present Made neighbourhood. The masterplan seeks to create a cohesive neighbourhood proposal that integrates into its surroundings, whilst creating a new context for future phases of the development. Present Made, which is wholly owned and fully funded by Apache Capital, is targeting a net-zero carbon operational model, with JCA’s designs for both the homes and wider neighbourhood having sustainability at their very core. The homes at Eddington will be highly energy efficient thanks to a combination of smart technology and modern methods of construction, with the houses precision-engineered in a factory environment in a process that is less wasteful, disruptive and time consuming compared to traditional construction techniques.

AEW’s outline application for redevelopment of Hengrove Leisure Park approved AHTO to invest £1bn in new affordable housing in England and Wales

JCA-designed smart single-family rental homes submitted for planning

Contractors appointed to £1.6bn public buildings, construction and infrastructure framework

47 contractors have won places on a new £1.6bn framework to deliver new-build, infrastructure and refurbishment works for the public sector. The Public Buildings Construction and Infrastructure (PB3) framework from LHC allows local authorities, social landlords and other public sector bodies to source contractors for works relating to the construction and refurbishment of educational, healthcare, emergency service and community buildings. It can also be used for residential properties within mixed-use developments, student accommodation, conversion of commercial building for residential use, and can include associated infrastructure works. The framework is worth up to £750m in England, £750m in Scotland and £100m in Wales. Dean Fazackerley, Head of Technical Procurement at LHC, said: “Building on the success of our previous Schools and Community Buildings framework, we’ve broadened the scope of PB3 to allow local authorities to easily source quality contractors that will also help them to achieve low-energy and zero-carbon buildings and infrastructure projects. We’re pleased to have a range of regional and national contractors appointed to the framework, and with over 40% of the appointed companies being classed as an SME.” The framework has four workstreams covering: new build only; refurbishment only; new build and refurbishment; and new-build, refurbishment and infrastructure for projects at three different value bands.

New school retrofit model will revolutionise the path to net zero

EQUANS, the new name for ENGIE’s services-led activities, has launched a school retrofit model that promises to support the Government’s 2050 net-zero-carbon ambitions through a two-pronged approach: decarbonsing the buildings and encouraging the teachers and children who use them to get involved in the net-zero agenda. There are 32,000 schools across the UK and just a small number can boast net-zero-carbon credentials. EQUANS believes that schools sit at the very heart of communities, presenting a valuable opportunity to influence positive behaviours and strengthen support for the net-zero transition. School Zero is an innovative, holistic and flexible model, in which EQUANS collects and analyses energy and carbon data, surveys buildings, benchmarks current emissions and then plans impactful decarbonisation measures to achieve net-zero carbon in operation. This can be achieved quickly through a comprehensive range of measures, such as improving heating system controls, swapping gas boilers, installing thermal-efficient windows and doors, providing EV charge points, installing smart building sensors and also enhancing school grounds with tree planting.

Pagabo launches bidding for £1.6bn civils framework

National framework provider Pagabo has launched bidding for suppliers to join its brand-new, £1.6bn civils and infrastructure framework, which is set to go live at the start of 2022. The framework will run for four years and will allow local authorities and public sector bodies to procure a range of projects such as rail, nuclear, bridges, roads, maritime, water and power projects. The Civils and Infrastructure Framework will feature four lots, covering value bands of up to £30m and above. Each lot will feature six regional and national organisations, along with three reserve organisations. Jason Stapley, Managing Director at Pagabo, said: “We’re really pleased to be welcoming bids for our latest framework, which is designed specifically for civils and infrastructure projects within the built environment. The framework will cover a range of areas, ensuring that the projects procured through it over the coming years are working towards tackling the climate crisis. The framework has been designed with the Construction Playbook in mind, which will help our clients to meet its principles in the most effective manner. This is the first framework that Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, will be acting as the contracting authority for, and we’re very much looking forward to receiving bids, appointing suppliers, bringing this new offering to the market, and, most of all, getting projects procured through it.”

Construction has now completed on Polden Bower SEN (special educational needs) School in Bridgwater, Somerset – creating additional much-needed school places for SEN students across the region. The £18m project, which started in June 2018, comprised the design and build of a brand-new, purpose-built school for students aged 4 to 16 who require custom support and facilities. The scheme features fully-accessible classrooms equipped with the latest teaching technology, a warm-water pool for physiotherapy, a sports hall and external spaces – as well as a cafeto help students develop vocational skills and encourage engagement. Property, construction and infrastructure consultancyPerfect Circle–a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM–was appointed by Somerset County Council to complete the project as part of the local authority’s wider initiative to increase SEN school provisions throughout the district. VictoriaBrambini, Managing Director of Perfect Circle, said: “We’re very proud to be part of Somerset County Council’s plan to create additional SEN school places throughout the region, improving educational infrastructure for young people across the county and allowing students to have access to high-quality academic and vocational opportunities. Leaving a lasting legacy in the communities we work within is at the core of Perfect Circle’s ethos, and this project will enable us to do just that by enhancing the lives of present and future generations.”