Premier Construction 15-4

Roma Publications

Volume 15 - Issue 4

The most luxurious hotel in the UK Coworth Park completed

Pushing eco-friendliness to the extreme Accrington Eco Station show how it’s done

How to guarantee conservation in Wales Turn historic buildings into private retreats

Shattering the skyline

London’s Shard of Glass climbs heavenward

Regenerating Tyneside Industry The Shepherd Offshore Renewable Energy Park

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Contents PREMIER CONSTRUCTION

Volume 15 • Issue 4

Dear readers, Another issue of Premier Construction; another roundup of what’s hot in the construction industry. We begin as usual in our native North West, with a look at the exciting new ultra-green development at Accrington’s ‘Eco Station’, as well as a sneak preview of the new Greater Manchester Police HQ. The North East follows, where Freddy Eastwood is talking a new direction after some disastrous football club chairmanship in recent times, and is funding an altogether more successful investment at the Shepherd Offshore Renewable Energy Park.

As Tyneside’s river-based industries boom, North East Lincolnshire’s LEGI programme in turn brings good news for small and start-up businesses.

Up next: the Midlands, where a new diocesan centre for Leicester puts a former school building to continued community use, while we also bring you a warm invitation to Care Show 2010, which will be held in Birmingham in October.

In the South West, FH Cummings show you how to make a business park look like it belongs in a sleepy rural setting, while a set of Gloucester sixth formers begin the new academic year in a new academic building.

London, as ever, is home to more news than you can shake a stick at, as landmark developments The Shard and Heron Tower edge closer to completion. In the wider South East area, a new addition to the Premier League of hotels is looking ready for its first guests.

Welsh heritage is protected by private investment this month, as a wealthy businessman converts historic buildings into luxury retreats, and the ongoing efforts of Historic Scotland continue to ensure quality restorative workmanship as well as respect for the past.

There’s plenty afoot in Ireland in this issue, as the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools invests in its facilities. Elsewhere, a £3 million project in Downpatrick is re-homing seniors in one of the most modern facilities ever so designated.

We end with the latest from the Channel Islands’ major contractors, before our customary roundup of the associations, which bring you pest control, traditional materials, qualifications, exhibitions and a whole lot more.

As always, your comments and submissions are welcome at editorial@romauk.net. Until next time, enjoy what’s in store!

Graham Schulz, Editor

North West Accrington Eco Station ……………………...........................................………….4 Greater Manchester Police HQ …………………....................................………..8

North East & Yorkshire e-Factor Enterprise Village ……………………..............................................….12 Shepherd Offshore Renewable Energy Park ……………............……………..15

Midlands Care Show 2010 ………………………….........................................................…21 St. Martin’s House ……………………….....................................................……27

South West Beaufort Community School ………………………………................................28 Freeland Park ……………………............................................................……….28

London & South East Coworth Park ……………………...................................................................….30 The Shard …………………….................................................................………..34

Wales Retreats Group ……………………..........................................................………66 Ystrad Mynach College …………...........................................................……….69

Scotland Glasgow Housing Association …………….......................................…………..72 Historic Scotland ……………......................................................................……83

Ireland Castor Bay ……………...........................................................................………..92 Council for Catholic Maintained Schools ……………........................……….107

Channel Islands Style Group ……………….............................................................................…110 Charles Le Quesne ……………...............................................…………………112

Associations ConstructionSkills ............................................................................................115 BPCA .................................................................................................................117

Managing Director: Marcus Howarth Editor:

Graham Schulz

Contributors:

Lesley Coward

Production Manager: Danielle Burgoyne Advert Co-ordinator: Kelsie Howarth

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Roma Publications Ltd.

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Graphic Design by:

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© Roma Publications Ltd. All contents are copyright. All rights are reserved. No part may be stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. the editorial policy and general layout of this publication are at the discretion of the publisher and no debate will be entered into. No responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, artwork or photographs whilst in transmission with the publishers or their agents unless a commitment is made in writing prior to the receipt of such terms.

N o r th We s t

Eco Station practically completed A Lancashire railway station is witnessing the final stages of a construction project designed by Manchester based SBS Architects. Aimed at improving not only the ease of use of its buildings, but also its contribution to the local environment, ‘Accrington Eco Station’ is being built as part of the SusStations Interreg IVB Project and will be the first Eco Station on the Northern Rail network.

The Sustainable Stations (SusStations) project is about encouraging a new generation of sustainable, low carbon railway stations. Local authorities, the rail industry and other interested groups are working together across North West Europe to demonstrate and encourage sustainable station schemes.

The project has five partners comprising Lancashire County

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Council (Lead Partner), ProRail (the infrastructure operator for Dutch railways), Deutsche Bahn, Boulogne Developments, France and Translink (the rail and bus operator in Northern Ireland).

SusStations has secured a substantial ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) grant from the European Union Interreg IVB programme.

SBS architects have addressed the requirements of the project with innovative use of existing and emerging knowledge, products and services that are sustainable and reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. It is, where possible, using locally sourced materials, including reclaimed materials in the construction of the building such as stone, and materials that can

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N o r th We s t also be recycled if the building is dismantled in the future. The project includes the provision of solar panels, plans for a wind turbine and grey (rain) water harvesting for use in the public and staff toilets. As part of the Accrington Station Travel Plan, the facility will be linked into other transport networks including pedestrian and cycle routes (such as the Hyndburn Greenway), the proposed new bus interchange and the local road network.

Materials used for all major building elements have been selected for being BRE Green Guide ‘A’ rated materials, including large quantities of reclaimed sandstone paving and walling, sourced from a local supplier. Additionally, a high performance curtain walling system was specified to maximize solar gains while minimizing heat loss from glazed areas, and triple-glazed units have been used for north-facing windows in the staff areas.

Concrete has been specified to use 25% or more recycled aggregate, and fly ash based cement. All timber used has been selected to be from FSC rated sources. The systems involved in the building include rainwater harvesting for flushing of WCs, solar water heating and photovoltaic modules, and the building’s CO2 Emissions are significantly better than the benchmark figure for a new build. Additionally, energy and water saving systems such as proximity detection devices to taps and lights have been installed in all WCs. The new station is phase two of a £1.8m programme of works put together by SBS. Phase One, funded through the DfT backed National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP) has seen new shelters, new fencing, improved lighting and new signage on the platforms at Accrington. The third phase, which will begin at the end of September 2010, will involve demolishing the old ticket facilities to round off the station upgrade neatly.

Premier Construction spoke to Rosie Craggs of SBS Architects, who shared her insights into the Accrington project: “The client required a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for the building, and prior to final assessment, the project is on target to achieve this. During the course of the project PV panels were selected

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ahead of a proposed wind turbine as a preferred strategy for renewable energy generation on site. SBS are awaiting an industry wide review of wind turbines in the hope of incorporating one into the development at a later stage”.

The inclusion of the photovoltaic panels to the roof and car park lighting columns has been calculated to provide approx 17.4% of the total energy consumption of the scheme annually.

Rosie added, “Elsewhere, a learning resource centre has been designed to take advantage of the high thermal mass offered by the basement construction. The LRC is to be run by Lancashire County Council (LCC) and the East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership (ELCRP) for exhibitions and education related to green issues. LCC have been a particularly good client to work

for, as they have a keen interest in green issues and a progressive way of thinking. The building is expected to be a flagship, so there has been lots of support and publicity about the scheme”.

Gary Seed, Rail Director at SBS Architects added It is unusual to be given free reign in the design of a rail station with such an emphasis on sustainability - this has been the advantage of Lancashire County Council purchasing the land to build the station with the ability to exceed the requirements of Network Rail’s procedures and design guidance. The result is a station design based upon sustainable first principles which, as a flagship project, is already informing the rail industry.

Involving the community During the works, Yorkshire-based main contractor Strategic Team Group displayed the design work of local school pupils in a bid to highlight the dangers associated with railways and building sites. Over 40 posters, designed by pupils from Hyndburn Park Primary School, were displayed on the 200m hoarding around the site.

As part of an initiative with East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership, pupils from Hyndburn Park Primary School aged between seven and eight years visited the railway station during the early stages of the construction process and were introduced to the importance of building site and rail safety. After a guided tour led by Brian Haworth, community rail development officer, and Strategic Team Group site manager Neil Waterhouse, the pupils were tasked with creating posters to highlight safe working procedures and illustrate the danger of trespassing on the tracks. The youngsters learnt that the railway is not a playground.

Commenting on the poster displays, Strategic Team Group’s business development director, Charles Tweed, said, “Safety on our sites is a huge issue for us, so we are delighted that local school children have put their creative caps on to design thought provoking posters which will drive the safety message home to all involved in the construction Accrington’s new eco station”.

Strategic Team Group registered the project as part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, and as such local’s residents were able to watch the scheme developing through viewing points in the hoarding. Later, due to nature of the scheme the public route was managed through the site, allowing station users a ‘close up’ viewpoint on the final scheme stages.

According to Strategic Team Group’s Lee Robinson, “The project team and contractor feel they have delivered a scheme to satisfy all interested parties while at the same time preserving the core ideal of creating a building with minimum environmental impact. Whilst this may not be the green architecture of hay bale

walls or composting toilets, due consideration has been given to all elements of the design to take into account the lifecycle impact of materials and processes. This ranges from overall design and material choices to implementation of renewable energy and water harvesting systems rarely used in this type of building. Costs too have been carefully monitored to ensure that the building will be truly sustainable, meeting financial as well as physical and social sustainability criteria.

“The design and procurement have been challenging for all involved but have provided a valuable insight into the formulation of environmental policies in the construction and design of this scale and nature of building. It is hoped that Accrington Eco Station will now act as a benchmark for further projects of this type under the authority’s jurisdiction and help push forward the approach towards sustainable design and delivery of such projects in the future”.

Strategic Team Group Strategic Team Group put a wealth of experience into the Accrington eco station project, having worked with the same client as main contractor on the rebuilding of the grade II listed Ormskirk station – the first NSIP scheme project in the UK, which was completed last year at a value of £1.5 million. The firm is currently carrying out £1.7 million worth of refurbishment work to Chester station on behalf of Arriva Trains Wales and recently completed the UK’s first Cyclepoint at Leeds station. Other successes in the rail sector have included projects for clients ranging from Northern Rail, Merseyrail and Mersey Travel to the British Transport Police.

From a start-up business in 2000, Strategic Team Group, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in April, has developed organically into one of the UK’s fastest growing suppliers of building property services, with a current workforce of over 200 and an annual turnover of circa £40 million. The group’s business activity is the provision of an integrated and co-ordinated approach to construction, property and maintenance in both the public and private sectors.

The company operates from three main hubs in Castleford in Yorkshire, Stockport in Cheshire and Cumbernauld in Scotland and offers a full range of services to support every stage of the property building cycle, including design and build, refurbishment, conversions, fit-outs and maintenance.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the firm has made the bold step of committing to raise £100,000 over the next two years for The Prince of Wales Hospice in Castleford, through a series of events ranging from a mammoth 10 City Cycle Challenge to a charity masquerade ball at Harewood House, Leeds.

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Police HQ construction defies budget cuts Carillion’s work continues on the £45m contract to build the new Greater Manchester Police headquarters in east Manchester, despite fears over government spending cuts.

Work on the 245,000 sq ft building, at Ask Goodman’s Central Park in Newton Heath, is due for completion in early 2011. The new HQ will accommodate around 1,500 staff and will replace the existing force headquarters building in Old Trafford and incorporate the Counter Terrorism Unit.

The six-storey building is being made from pre-cast concrete and glass with a central atrium surrounded by open plan offices, which will be designed to encourage interaction between departments and strengthen communication, according to the force.

The environmentally friendly design will also reduce running costs, according to police predictions. Carillion chief executive John McDonough said: “As a leader in sustainable solutions, we look forward to working to deliver first-class buildings, designed to high standards of sustainability”.

GMP agreed a deal to move to the business park earlier in 2010 and the project is being funded by GMP and a government grant.

The new development will offer excellent public transport links. A new £36.5m transport gateway is already in place, and there will be a dedicated tram stop - just five minutes away from Manchester City Centre, which is expected to be completed by spring 2011.

Paul Lakin, director of land and property at the North West Development Agency (NWDA), said,

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“Central Park is a priority site for the NWDA and it is excellent that such a high-profile occupier will be relocating there. The quality of Central Park and the transport links have made it attractive to the market place and the move by GMP will raise the profile of Central Park even further. This supports our aim to attract high level private sector investment which will make a real difference to the regeneration of east Manchester”.

Eddie Smith, chief executive of urban regeneration company New East Manchester, said, “This is another major milestone for Central Park and east Manchester. Not only does it strengthen Central Park as an office destination but it will bring more jobs, investment and significant regeneration benefits for local people. Central Park is located just a mile and a half from the city centre, and with its dedicated Metrolink station, is proving a very attractive location”.

Deborah McLaughlin, Regional Director North West at the Homes and Communities Agency, said, “The HCA is a long term partner in helping to bring about the comprehensive regeneration of east Manchester. It is great to see that our original investment in acquiring this site is now leading to the development of such a key facility for the area”.

Secure Communications Rainford EMC Systems designed, manufactured and installed a shielded enclosure for secure communications in the headquarters. The Rainford ‘Smartshield’ is a modular construction that incorporates a steel and wood composite panel structure clamped together to provide a secure RF enclosure.

Rainford EMC Systems is a market leader in shielded chamber design and screen-rooms and a world-leading provider of EMC, antenna measurement facilities and specialist RF-protected environments such as EMPP and TEMPEST – ensuring compliance with the highest quality international requirements.

Find out what Rainford’s experience, expertise and adaptability can bring to your project by visiting www.rainfordemc.com

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Walney wind workers forge ahead Progress is being made on Dong Energy’s Walney Offshore Wind Farm in Cumbria. During the years 2010 to 2011 the Walney (UK) Offshore Wind Farms Ltd. plans to construct phase I and II of the Walney Offshore Wind Farm, located approximately 15km off Walney Island, Cumbria, in the Irish Sea.

The project will be constructed in two phases. Each phase consists of 51 turbines with a total capacity of 367.2MW. The development includes foundations, turbines, export and array cables, offshore substations and onshore connection to grid.

Walney Offshore Wind farm is located far from the coast, which results in relatively low visual impacts. The Walney Offshore Wind Farm will be located approximately 15km from the coastline of Walney Island in a north west to south-easterly direction covering an area of approximately 73km2.

In the first phase, the wind farm will consist of 51 turbines supplied by Siemens Wind Power – each with a capacity of 3.6MW and in total the annual net energy for Walney I is to be approximately 663GWh – which will make the wind farm one of the biggest of its kind in the world.

The Irish Sea is characterised by high tides, waves and windy weather. The difference between high tide and low tide is approximately 8 metres. The wind speed is estimated to an average of 9.3 m/s at 80m.

The construction of the foundations and installation of the wind turbines involves a number of work boats, crane barges and support vessels.

The wind farm will be connected to shore by two export cables buried in the seabed. Conventional techniques will be used to install the cables and will cause only temporary disturbance to the seabed.

The wind farm turbine array consists of a number of rows of wind turbines connected by cables to one substation, where the voltage is stepped up from 34 kV to 132 kV, before the export cables on the seabed carries the power to shore.

The offshore substation in Walney 1 is placed inside the area of the wind farm, and was placed on Tuesday 15 June 2010, as one gigantic 1,100-tonne lifting operation concluded the installation of the offshore substation.

Impact UK is in front when it comes to implementing wind power. In fact,

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the scale of offshore wind power currently envisaged in the UK energy system is far larger than in any other country in the world.

The wind farm will contribute to handling the issue of climate change. With a power capacity of 370MW (phase 1 + 2), possibly increasing to 600MW, Walney Offshore Wind Farm will make a substantial contribution to British renewable energy production.

Because of its size, Walney Offshore Wind Farm will make a noticeable positive contribution to a problem of global importance.

The scale of the offshore wind farms currently envisaged in the UK is far larger than in any other country in the world.

A development of this size will contribute significantly to a low carbon future, job creation, and an update of the energy infrastructure.

History In December 2003, DONG (since 2006 DONG Energy) was offered the Walney Offshore Wind Farm site as part of Round 2 Tender awards. In November 2004, the plans for Walney Offshore Wind Farm were presented at public exhibitions in Millom, Barrow, Morecambe and Blackpool.

These exhibitions provided general information about wind energy together with more detailed information about the project. At the end of March 2006, Walney Offshore Wind Farm again held a series of public exhibitions in the towns of Walney, Morecambe and Fleetwood. Many councillors and citizens visited the exhibitions.

Also, it has been a part of the process at an early stage to ask approximately 150 stakeholders which environmental investigations they would deem necessary to assess the impact of the wind farm. In addition to the requirements of the authorities, the stakeholders’ suggestions were included in the planning of the two year-long pre-construction investigation programme.

The final investment decision regarding Walney I was made by the DONG Energy Supervisory Board on May 2009. The project is planned to be constructed during 2010-2012 with the first year of commercial operation in 2011 (phase 1+2).

Walney Offshore Wind Farm will assist Britain in fulfilling their target of 10% of electricity being generated by renewable sources by 2011.

Watch out for updates on the construction process in Premier Construction

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re Construction News

Call our news team on 01706 719972

The spice of Leeds life The famous Leeds City Varieties, a rare surviving example of an 1850s music hall, is undergoing a significant refurbishment project.

Cllr Adam Ogilvie, Chair of the Board, told Premier Construction, “The idea of the works is to bring the hall back to life. It’s unique in the North of England and it fully deserves to be restored to all its glory”.

Work will include the restoration of the historic ceiling and plasterwork, re-introduction of glazing, replacement of wall and floor finishes as well as house lighting, sound and ventilation systems, new seats and other soft furnishings.

Historic parts of the front of house areas such as the main staircase will be restored whilst other spaces, for example existing offices and WCs, will be altered more radically to help overcome current operational issues.

As part of the remodelling the WC facilities for the public will be greatly improved including the provision of disabled persons’ toilets. Circulation in the front of house areas will be significantly improved by creating an enlarged foyer space, new box office, and a landmark glazed public lift which will provide a striking, new design feature to Swan Street.

The dressing room block will be completely re-built internally to provide new facilities for performers, staff and as a resource for learning.

David Evans, Leeds City Council’s Project Manager for the scheme said, “We’re on course for completion in summer 2011. Currently, BAM have completed their stripping out and things are being remodelled – for example, the

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basement has been stripped for waterproofing and rendering and the foundations and steelwork are in place for the scenic lift”.

The £9.2m refurbishment has been funded by £5.2m from Leeds City Council and an award of £2.74m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Of the outstanding £1.26m, over £700,000 has already been raised through the endeavours of the Friends of City Varieties and other generous supporters. The regeneration campaign is now seeking to raise the remaining £550,000 with a programme of fundraising, about which you can find out more at www.cityvarieties.co.uk

North East Lincs enterprise village welcomes first tenant e-Factor’s Enterprise Village at Prince Albert Gardens in Grimsby has recently welcomed its first tenant in Hybrid Group, a start-up firm of electrical contractors.

The location is designed to provide incubation office and industrial space for start up and fledgling businesses, and work on units there has been the responsibility of main contractor Clark Construction.

The Grimsby site makes use of previously derelict land and is the biggest commercial development in the town for 20 years.

In all, the site can accommodate up to 32 businesses, many of which will be wowed above all by e-Factor’s focus on ‘easy in, easy out’ letting terms – a stance designed to attract new and fledgling firms whose directors might otherwise be discouraged by prohibitive terms. e-Factor’s performance and estates manager, Tony Parkinson, said, “People are happier to attempt to start a business if there’s no huge financial risk. Unlike with most commercial properties, someone can come here and, if things don’t work out, leave without having committed to three or five years’ rent.

“The idea is for them to come in here build up their business and their experience with the help of our qualified business advisors, then when they are ready they can be helped to move into permanent premises freeing up a space for another new business”.

The units have been built in seven different sizes, ranging from 75m2 to 280m2. Constructed from composite cladding, they are designed for thermal efficiency and also boast “super efficient” boilers and lighting. The site also boasts two 35,000 litre rainwater harvesting tanks, extensive security, and free telephone and internet connections. An innovative communications system features a shared on-site reception, allowing companies to divert their phones and receive calls whilst out on business.

Speaking about the construction process, Tony Parkinson

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added, “There have been up to 90 people on site during construction using materials sourced locally, so right from the start it’s been good for the area economically as well as in terms of regeneration.

“When looking for a contractor, we talked about a 28week build. Clark Construction told us they could do it while others weren’t so sure, and so here we are. They’ve done a fantastic job”.

The new tenants Start-up firm Hybrid Group are a small firm of electrical engineers operating across the UK who have found a perfect set-up at the new village. Office manager Jason Bingham spoke to Premier Construction: “It all happened very quickly for us, and that’s how the system is designed. e-Factor call it ‘easy in, easy out’, and that’s what it has been. We’d been looking around the area, but nowhere we found offered the same package of quality premises with good rates and overheads.

“Because we’re not sure how the company will develop, we

had to be wary of the possibility that we’ll need to expand to larger premises in the future or perhaps not end up needing some of the space we now have, so in terms of flexibility it’s perfect. We have eight employees so far and we’re currently looking to take on more apprentices and engineers. As most of our work is offsite, these premises suit our plans well.

“We also thought about having something to show to customers or potential customers, and we needed something that looks brand new and professional, so there’s another reason why we came in”.

e-Factor e-Factor is the result of an £18.7 million government funded initiative awarded to North East Lincolnshire Council through the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) that aims to inspire and encourage enterprise across Grimsby, Immingham and Cleethorpes.

Rents at the Grimsby and other sites are designed as affordable, all-inclusive packages and most cover business rates, heat, light, water, gas, electricity, internet, phone line rental, repairs and maintenance, insurance, common areas and access to meeting rooms, photocopying and printing and the managed reception.

Find out more at www.e-factor.co.uk or call 0800 952 0181

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Manywells team wins award The team behind the successful project to clean up and restore an abandoned rubbish dump in Cullingworth, near Keighley, has been making good progress.

‘Manywells’ was excavated from 1852 until the 1970s. It was used as a landfill site throughout the 1990s until the owner and operator went into receivership in 2001 before the site had been properly capped and landscaped.

Bradford Council then took over the contaminated land at Manywells Quarry and launched a project to clean it up.

Planning consent was given for the remediation and restoration of the site including infilling hollows and building a new access road. The work will prevent hazardous landfill material seeping into watercourses and sewers and include collecting gas and disposing of it safely.

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As part of the management regime to prevent weather damage, the temporary clay cap used at the site has been ‘hydroseeded’.

This is a process whereby grass and wildflower seeds, mixed with a water slurry containing fertiliser, soil binder and mulch, are sprayed on the site to encourage plant growth and coverage.

The site is now green again, providing a much more attractive environment and view for local residents.

The project has received a £2 million grant from government countryside department Defra to restore the area and make it safe. Construction of the new access road has begun and the main remediation began in late 2009. The 12-month contract, carried out by principal contractor CR Reynolds, is now nearing its end.

Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, the council’s executive member for the environment, said, “This project supports our priorities of improving the environment and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of residents through protecting public health”.

Award The project has been recognised in the annual Remediation Innovation Awards organised by specialist publication Brownfield Briefing. The awards are to recognise best practice rejuvenating contaminated ‘brown field’ sites throughout the UK. The Manywells Project Team won the award for Best Communications/Stakeholder Engagement with a project.

The winners were announced and awards presented at a gala dinner held at the Grange City Hotel, London, and hosted by TV presenter Naomi Cleaver.

John Major, Bradford Council’s assistant director of environment health, said, “We are thrilled that the hard work to turn this site around has been recognised.

“Responding to local concerns and keeping people informed of progress has been crucial to the project. The efforts and methods used to engage the local community have been a huge success and have been crucial in turning around the perception of the site and gaining the trust of the public”.

Winds of change bring latest addition to Tyneside industry Work is progressing towards an October completion date at the Clipper Windpower Neptune Blade facility, at former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd’s Shepherd Offshore Renewable Energy Park.

The 43,000sq ft factory, constructed by main contractor Whelan Construction, will create 500 jobs on Tyneside and potentially thousands more in the supply chain.

The factory will build huge 30-tonne wind turbine blades – at 236ft the biggest in the world – for the Britannia Project, a ten megawatt offshore wind turbine prototype scheduled for deployment in 2012.

Premier Construction spoke to project architect Steve Kendall of Ian Belsham Associates, who said, “It’s very much a bespoke building as it’s designed specifically for the one product.

Workers will be able to construct two of the turbines at once and use overhead cranes to manoeuvre them, and there are very large fabric doors at each end of the building that stand at 9.5m high and 8m wide”.

The blades are to be made of resin and fibre and require careful handling during their construction, administered from the open

plan office worked into the facility’s design as part of a twostorey staff area that includes changing and shower areas.

The riverside site, necessary for safe transfer of the finished blades directly to special transport barges, has required extensive piling and remediation to stabilise it. The site is bordered by a retaining wall as high as 8m in places. A sewage pumping station had to be relocated before work on the facility could commence. The facility itself is a steel portal frame, monopitch construction clad in profiled steel panels.

Steve added, “The project is now around 95% complete, and as I speak the concrete floor has been finished and the mechanical and electrical fit-out is ongoing”.

Regional development agency One North East has ploughed £2.1m into the project, with the government contributing a further £4.5m.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North East, said, “This is the first stage in the creation of what we believe will be thousands of new manufacturing jobs in the offshore wind sector, founded on the North-East’s skills and ready-made sites”.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the site earlier in the year and said, “This is an area which had a shipbuilding industry that was renowned throughout the world, respected for the standard of craftsmanship and the skill of the work done here that was sold to the rest of the world. Now again we have the opportunity to lead the world from the North-East. It’s a huge opportunity for us to move from the shipbuilding industry to the offshore wind industry and I think the North-East can lead the way”.

Director of Shepherd Offshore, Charles Shepherd, had previously said “This deal is all about creating world-class clusters in both the renewable energy and sub-sea sectors. It is part of Shepherd Offshore’s strategic plan and we are hoping to attract contracts to the site and create as many jobs as possible.

“We are very keen on renewable energy and we want the NorthEast to be the central hub for this industry. If we work hard we can make the Tyne the centre for that”.

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Leeds ballet hub to open doors Work on the new Northern Ballet Theatre in Leeds is set to be completed. Designed by award-winning architects Jacobs, work started on site in Spring 2009 and the new building will open at the end of September 2010.

The new six-storey building at Quarry Hill in central Leeds is purpose built to meet the demands of two touring dance companies. It has seven dance studios, including a 200-seat studio theatre, health suite, wardrobe facilities, office space, restaurant facilities and public exhibition space.

It is highly visibly located on York Road and forming part of the ‘cultural quarter’ with its neighbours the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Yorkshire Dance, BBC Leeds and the Leeds College of Music. The building will help to establish Leeds as a powerhouse for dance in the UK, complementing its already impressive dance and arts portfolio.

Architectural assistant Phil Evans of Jacobs, who has been working alongside main contractor Wates during the project, spoke to Premier Construction during the final fit-out: “The carpets are being laid as I speak, and we’re very close to completion. It’s been a very challenging project, especially with the zinc cladding that has been installed. As it’s still a relatively new material, and one which can be vulnerable if not handled properly, it took a lot

Barnsley school swells with modern expansion Ward Green Primary school in Barnsley is being extensively remodelled in a project which has taken just over a year and is set to be completed in November 2010 by main contractor Britcon. The school previously split over two sites is being brought together onto the main site, where the existing 1930s building is being extended and refurbished to provide a modern accessible school building.

Ward Green is one of several schools in the area to benefit financially from the government’s ‘Primary Capital Programme’ funding. Although delayed during the winter of 2009-10, once

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of care to make sure it looked its best”.

Asked why the design team stuck with the zinc cladding, despite the potential of the material to cause headaches, Phil said, “It’s more than worth it for the look of the finished building. The zinc doesn’t have a uniform appearance like powder-coated aluminium would, for example, and this isn’t designed to be a boring building!”

completed the school will provide facilities for 360 pupils.

Project architect Lloyd Kellock of, Barnsley MBC, told Premier Construction, “In particular the phasing has been quite complicated and had to be carefully planned to limit disruption to

the operation of the school. The first phase involved completing the new build Key Stage 1 block consisting of four classrooms.

The children then transferred from the existing building into this section to allow phases 2 and 3 to progress. These phases incorporated the demolition of parts of the existing building and the construction of the remaining six classrooms and new main entrance. We also remodelled the existing building to provide ancillary spaces such as the IT suite, library, staff rooms and offices and a flexible space to suit a mixture of uses including dance”.

“The fourth phase, which included a ‘face lift’ for the foundation stage classes and the extensive upgrading of the school kitchen to cater for the increase in pupil numbers, had to be completed during Phase 3 and in time for the start of 2010/ 11 school year.

It’s been a race against time but the team has worked hard to meet the needs of the school”.

The building has been designed with a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating in mind, and includes sustainable elements such as rainwater harvesting, a biomass boiler, solar PVs and solar thermal panels. According to Lloyd, “The building has been designed and constructed to provide bright exciting spaces suitable for modern teaching techniques and incorporating the newest technology. Hopefully we have delivered an inspiring place to learn”.

Lovell to build 122 new Six Streets homes

Lovell regional director Noel Adams says: “We are delighted to have been chosen as preferred developer for this scheme which is set to transform the Six Streets neighbourhood, creating highquality homes for people already living in the area, as well as attracting new residents.

A major milestone in the ongoing Six Streets project has been reached as Mayor Peter Davies and his cabinet have approved affordable housing developer and regeneration specialist Lovell as the preferred developer for the proposed 122 new-build properties at Six Streets Hyde Park.

Lovell plans to submit a full planning application with the council by the end of October 2010. The company is aiming to have full approval for the development in place by January 2011.

As part of this process, Doncaster Council is proposing to change the use of certain roads and remove some gating orders.

This relates to the cleared site area only, and should not affect any of the remaining properties. It is part of the legal process to allow the new road and housing layouts to be approved as soon as possible, as part of the planning process.

Councillor Patrick Wilson, cabinet member for housing, said, “I can assure you both Lovell and the council are working to a strict timetable and are extremely hopeful that work on site will commence by March 2011.

“We will continue to keep residents informed as we move into the next stages of redeveloping the Six Streets area for both existing and new residents alike”.

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re “As a company, we have extensive experience of carrying out this type of major new-build regeneration project and are committed to working closely with the council and the community”.

Refurbishment Programme Six Streets resident Mary Kottig says she’s delighted with her new front door and windows, replaced under the ongoing refurbishment arm of the project. Mary was the first person to benefit from the latest phase and the improvements were done in time for her 80th birthday.

Mary, who has lived in the area for 43 years, used to work at the nearby Parkinson’s Butterscotch factory packing sweets. She said: “I’m really pleased with the door and windows.

“My new door is black and shiny - my family say it looks just like

the Prime Minister’s!

“I think the Six Streets Project has improved the neighbourhood, it looks more like it used to when I moved here in the 1960s”.

Councillor Patrick Wilson said, “It is a happy coincidence that Mary was first on our list for the improvements and that it was done in time for her big celebration. ”We are working closely with residents like Mary, driving forward these important improvements which will make a real difference to people’s lives”.

The Six Streets external refurbishment project started in early June 2010 under main contractor Hobson & Porter. The scheme covers Cooper, Palmer, Childers, South and North Streets as well as St Andrews Terrace.

Tesco overcomes opposition to move ahead with Queensbury store Tesco is adding to its retail empire with a huge supermarket in Queensbury, Yorkshire, which it says will employ 200 people.

The project is being carried out by main contractor Longcross Group, and was designed by Smith Smalley Architects.

Longcross Group’s project manager, James Watson, spoke to Premier Construction about the project: “We have been on site since May and are now in the closing stages of the project. We have installed pre-fabricated pods to the interior, which will go on to serve as office and training rooms for staff members, as well as toilets for staff and customers”. The pods were made off-site by Britspace.

“There have been glitches with the project, but we’re on track, having overcome them well. One of the challenges we had to face was to deal with a 200-year-old retaining wall. We’ve had to retain the stone from that as part of the remit of the local planner.

“We also had an issue with approval for diverting a live sewer on the site, which threatened to disrupt things, and there was also a minor dispute over the boundary with a neighbouring site, but in the end we have got past that and we can now look forward to what should be a well-made building that will add a lot to the area.

“We have gained a score of 36 under the Considerate Constructors Scheme and there are plenty of eco-friendly aspects to the building, including rain water harvesting, ground source heating, roof panels for solar heated water, an efficient power unit, and natural roof lighting.

“The supermarket should look good, too – it won’t be a boring white block. There will be a nice canopy to the front, for example, which will be part clad with locally sourced natural stone.

Tesco will have to pay £65,250 towards off-site tree planting and landscaping, and to upgrade a footpath connecting Sandbeds to the new store at Brighouse Road, near the village centre, as part of an agreement with planning officers.

Tesco corporate affairs manager Deborah Hayeems said, “We would like to express our thanks to the many residents who actively supported the proposal.

“We are looking forward to providing the residents of

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Queensbury with the shopping experience they have waited so long for” As often is the case with supermarket construction projects, there have been objections to the plans for the development opposite Black Dyke Mills and concerns about the impact on local shops. Tesco, however, claims that it will be in direct competition with only seven of the 59 shops in Queensbury. There will also be 165 much needed car parking spaces next to Queensbury village centre one the work is complete; the benefit to the village in terms of congestion is though to have been an important factor in persuading planners to allow work on the store to go ahead. Tesco also says it is the first major investment in Queensbury in 30 years and more than 90 per cent of those at a public meeting in 2008 wanted a new supermarket in the village.

Despite the objections of some, letters of support were sent to the council by many locals. An earlier application, which was backed by council officers, was turned down. However, planning officers later told the approving committee that a duplicate application had been made to negotiate significant improvements to the earlier application, which include the re-use of natural stone from the site’s old retaining wall.

Longcross Group The Queensbury store’s main contractor has worked with the majority of the UK’s major retail and supermarket chains, carrying out contracts up to £20m whilst continuing to be active at the smaller-scale end of the industry, carrying out refurbishment contracts of as little as £10k in value.

The company has recently picked up Considerate Constructors awards for work on a Tesco store in Littlehampton, a Sainsbury’s in Clacton on Sea, and a Marks and Spencer in Stratford upon Avon. What’s more, Longcross have a policy of signing up for all projects eligible for the scheme, as well as maintaining affiliations with the industry’s major associations and quality regulators.

The group subjects sub-contractors to a rigorous prequalification vetting system, which reviews performance criteria such as financial standing; health, safety and environmental performance; and quality of service.

Find out more about the group at www.longcross.co.uk

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Care Show 2010 Care Show Birmingham 2010 is focused on helping care home owners and operators run their business more efficiently and profitably while delivering the best possible care for residents. In addition, there is a free programme, advertised through Daltons Weekly, for those people considering getting into the care home business through acquiring or investing in a care business.

Staff training is at the core of providing high quality care to residents, so the Care Show Birmingham has lined up two days packed full of free training for visitors. In January 2011, the current National Qualifications Framework (NCF) will be replaced by the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The QCF will form the structure behind the new HSC Diplomas that will replace the old NVQ Levels 2 & 3 next January.

The Care Show Birmingham will incorporate a training pavilion, which will introduce care home managers and training supervisors to the new qualifications. This pavilion will cover the reasons for the changes being made and how it will affect care workers. There will also be a series of taster sessions on eight topics that feature in both the Common Induction Standards (recently revised) and the mandatory units that form the basis of the new diplomas.

Skills for Care, who themselves will be running sessions on both days commented, “…these changes take the opportunity of the QCF to offer more flexibility to the adult social care sector in qualifications and reflect the need for more specialist training opportunities. They are the result of extensive employer consultation”.

The MyBusiness Seminar Theatre is new for the 2010 show and offers an array of speakers that will help visitors to identify profitable opportunities for their business. Again, sessions are

free to attend and the stellar line up includes: Phil Hall, director of healthcare for Jones Lang LaSalle, looking at the best places in the UK to build a care home; Justin Crowther of Catalyst Corporate Finance on merger and acquisition prospects in the care sector; and Nigel Newton-Taylor, director of Healthcare Property Consultants, analysing local authority fees – the trends and the impacts.

Returning to Care Birmingham are the ever popular Keynote Seminars. This year’s speakers are industry leaders and include: Heather Denby of The Sammons Group advising care homes on best practice in recruitment and staff retention; Dawn Oliver, Head of Probate at Harrison Clarke, looking at the Mental Capacity Act and how to ensure you comply; and Frank Ursell of the Royal Nursing Home Association, who addresses the issue of infection control in the care environment.

For care home owners and operators looking to save money or improve their facilities, a visit to the show is a must as there will be well over 150 exhibitors that can offer you a competitive quote or a new product or service. New exhibitors at Care Show Birmingham include Staysure, The Jackloc Company, C-Tec, The Talley Group and Hill & Hill Design. You will also see industry leaders such as Boots Care Services, YTM Furniture, Bemycarebroker.com, Electrolux and DDC Dolphin.

The Care Show Birmingham runs on the 10th and 11th November and if you pre-register at www.careshow.co.uk/birmingham it is free and will save you an on the door fee of £30.

Plus don’t forget that it is not long now until Care Show London returns to Olympia on the 6th and 7th October featuring new seminars, innovative showcase areas and more exhibitors.

The main focus of this year’s event is the latest regulation issued by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The programme, called the ‘CQC CheckUp’ will comprise of four parts: seminars, ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Midlands suppliers, library and a clinic.

Visitors will be able to attend a series of dedicated seminars, each covering one of the CQC’s essential standards of quality and safety, and take home information and leaflets from the library as well as sourcing new products from exhibitors grouped and identified according to which essential standard that they can help visitors to address.

There are also new features such as a live vehicle showroom and an interactive sensory garden, plus a large number of first time exhibitors including Cityworx, The Co-Operative Financial Services, Playfit, Bluefin Insurance and General Environmental Services amongst others.

Entry is free if you register in advance so visit www.careshow. co.uk/birmingham to register for fee entry and plan your day.

Largest Birmingham council building in 100 years takes shape The new £36.5 million office development at Woodcock Street being constructed by Thomas Vale is the largest new Birmingham City Council development for over 100 years. Boasting a host of energy saving features, it comprises 20,000 square metres of floor space spread over five floors.

The building is arranged in three main blocks around two central full height atria. The main services ‘core’ runs the full length of the building, with a double height ‘street’ at ground and first floor level to the front with two secondary full height atria to the front elevation.

The 16m span accommodation stairs, which traverse through the building and are highly visible both from inside and outside of the building and which are part of the ‘street’ feature, are

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designed with no additional support.

The building is designed to be rated as ‘excellent’ BREEAM 2006 standards and to have a level B Energy Performance Rating.

Featuring seven sustainability features ranging from combined heating and power (CHP) through to rainwater harvesting, the Woodcock Street development is claimed to be “the most environmentally friendly Council building ever commissioned”.

The steel structure and floor beams are visible throughout the building, giving a lofty, open and airy feel to the building. The intention is to fully naturally vent the building for the maximum time possible of the occupied year. When the natural ventilation system is unable to maintain the required environmental

conditions or temperature, mechanical assistance will be required via supporting air conditioning plant, which will initiate supply air into the building via the raised access floors.

In terms of energy consumption, the building will be connected to the Aston (University) CHP network with energy use further reduced through solar water heating and areas of insulation provided by a brown roof. These roofs are made up of soil and similar species of plants to the ones that were originally on the site to help to preserve the local wildlife. Air conditioning costs are also reduced through mixed mode ventilation, free night time cooling and the brown roof areas. Water consumption will also be significantly reduced through the re-use of grey water already used in hand washing and rainwater harvesting.

There will be 2,200 fixed desk workstations with a range of complementary facilities on all floors including multi-function (meeting rooms), touchdown, break-out, office service and selfservice oasis (kitchen) areas. In order to meet staff’s religious needs there will also be two multi-faith rooms and a baby changing room will also be included to make the building more family friendly.

To help promote staff cycling and walking to work there will also be showers and changing rooms on the lower ground floor.

Main access to the building will be through the main reception on Woodcock Street. It will feature a terrazzo floor, coloured glass panels, a special stretch fabric ceiling with signage TV screens to inform staff and guests of special events and campaigns. This interactive, hi-tech theme will be extended through to a state-ofthe-art auditorium that will have the capacity for up to 60 people.

The desk space will feature a TFT screen on a flexible arm, a keyboard, mouse and two surface mounted power sockets for laptops and mobile chargers. There will also be a surface mounted data/phone socket that will enable access to printer/ multifunctional devices that will be strategically situated throughout the building. This type of network provides both telephone (VOIP) and PC (voice and data) connectivity though one connection.

On the lower ground floor, there will be 71 standard and 8 parking spaces for disabled people with 14 spaces for motorcycles.

There will be over double the number of standard parking spaces

NHBC award for Bellway’s Dunston site Bellway’s Bryan Smith has scooped an NHBC Pride in the Job 2010 Quality Award for his well-marshalled site at Trinity Green in Duston, Northamptonshire. The successful site manager is delighted with the award.

Offering stylish living in a choice of 3 and 4 bedroom

for cycles with 144 secure and covered cycle racks. To ensure that the building is designed to meet Birmingham City Council’s move towards the use of electric vehicles, there will also be charging points available.

The development will be completed in autumn 2011 with staff moving in from November 2011 onwards. Client project manager David Fletcher told Premier Construction, “The planned completion date is 16th September, but the contractor has indicated that this could be brought forward. There’s a sense of anticipation at the council, and this building fits perfectly with the intention to introduce ‘agile working’. Effectively, if the council is able to employ 10 people using only 8 desks, we call that ‘20% agility’. I and many other colleagues have already made changes towards agile working, and I feel it works well. The overall plan is to reduce the council’s estate from 55 properties to just 8, so the savings will be significant”.

homes, Trinity Green combines a setting with its village heritage and excellent modern amenities - a location offering superb proximity to town life.

Homebuyers will find everything from bakeries and pharmacies, florists and travel agents, hairdressers and hardware stores nearby. There are ‘shopping hubs’ at Limehurst Square and Tollgate Way, while Sainsburys, Tesco, Co-Op and Iceland are all less than or around a mile away. That’s a whole bunch of shopping.

Duston also has its own library and medical centre and a good range of schools, including Millway and St Luke’s primary level and the Duston School at senior level. There are a good range of restaurants and pubs in Northampton just two miles down the road. Northampton also offers culture and entertainment at hot destinations such as the Derngate and Royal Theatres and ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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classic Deco venue.

The town has several cinemas including a multi-screen Vue, Cineworld at Sixfields Leisure Park which also includes a tenpin bowling alley and American style fast food outlets such as McDonald’s, which now serves salad.

Fast means of travel can be found with rail services from Northampton Station, two miles from Duston, from where there are services to the North and Midlands, while there are also services to London Euston - with Eurostar and St Pancras a stroll away – taking around an hour. Road links are excellent, with the A45 and M1 close by, and Luton Airport, which now of course calls itself ‘London Luton Airport’ and which offers flights to a multitude of destinations including the Scottish resort Inverness, is just 40 miles away.

Despite prices between £184,995 and £350,000, the earningimpaired need not despair. Bellway, the ‘Major Housebuilder of the Year’, offers a plan to lend first time buyers the difference between the required deposit and what funds they can muster, as well as the option for homeowners to part exchange without

Construction News

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Flavour of the future at Derbyshire Eco Centre Work has been completed on Derbyshire County Council s new £1.4 million centre, which is being built alongside the National Stone Centre in Wirksworth. The centre expands the number of courses the county council offers to help maintain the area’s rural built heritage.

Courses will be run in partnership with the National Stone Centre including dry stone walling, stone masonry and roofing skills. There will also be courses to promote rural crafts, the arts and environment, energy saving and renewable energy technologies.

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paying agents’ fees. Bellway also offers discounts for members of the armed forces, and publishes a list of options for bespoke installations that buyers can specify during the build stage.

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The Eco Centre and its surrounding landscape have been designed to become the county council’s first ‘excellent’ rated building under the benchmark Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Measure (BREEAM).

Sustainable methods were used in the centre’s construction including a grassed roof for insulation, rainwater collection for use in toilets, an air source heat pump to heat the building, and solar panels to heat water.

Councillor Mike Longden, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The courses we provide already have a strong reputation nationally and the new centre will offer further opportunities for people of all ages, with adult learning courses, school links, events for all the family, support for voluntary groups and activities to help local businesses.

“We’re committed to preserving Derbyshire’s

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proud history of rural building skills and will be running adult education courses, building school links, running events for all the family, and supporting voluntary groups and local businesses”.

Funding for the new Eco Centre has come from Derbyshire County Council, the Learning and Skills Council, and Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership. Ashover-based firm Wildgoose Construction was the project’s main contractor.

Leicester diocesan centre set for December completion Work on the £3 million refurbishment of St. Martin’s House in Leicester is advancing towards a December completion date. Part of the wider Cathedral Square project, the building is to be used for conferences and events, community involvement and as a new diocese headquarters office.

The Reverend Peter Hobson, who is overseeing the project on behalf of the diocese, spoke to Premier Construction. He said, “There are three key values behind the overall project: generous hospitality, transforming relationships and attentiveness to God. As one way of addressing these there will be a purpose-built outreach centre, supporting work with asylum seekers and with young people.

“Eventually, the building will house around 50 members of staff who work for the diocese and, as well as housing our own community activities, St. Martin’s House will contain space for other community groups to lease and work from. In addition, there will be plenty of space for conferences and meetings”.

The original building, which has existed since 1877, was used

by Leicester Grammar School until 2008, and was known as the St. Nicholas building. The new name comes from the associated St. Martin’s Cathedral. Much of the construction work involves stripping out and refurbishment, and Mr Hobson says, “A lot of the building is already well proportioned for our needs, especially the science labs. As such, there is very little major structural work to do”.

Architectural practice Pick Everard has carefully designed St Martin’s House to blend existing buildings with a modern extension, providing a welcoming glass entrance as its focal point. Partner Duncan Green comments, “Much of the development is refurbishment and the diocese was committed from the start to a highly sustainable design approach. This will be an example of refurbishment in the historic heart of the city centre and, as far as is possible, will result in an efficient building with many sustainable features.

He added “As well as refurbishment of the old buildings, the new, contemporary face of St Martin’s House is designed to reflect its outward mission and as it takes shape this autumn, the success of the architectural design will be more evident”.

A range of eco-friendly features, including a heat recovery system, has been accompanied by a keen recycling effort during the works. Stone, wood and furniture have been recycled elsewhere in the parish and within the building itself, notably the stone window frames.

Main contractor JH Hallam continued a long history of involvement with the building, as the reverend explained: “Many

of my colleagues in the diocese had had previous involvement with the contractor. It’s a family-run firm, and some of the team remembered being involved the last major work that was done on the building in the 1980s”.

Managing director John Hallam commented, “We are very pleased to be part of the team involved in remodelling this very prominent building at the heart of Leicester’s heritage. As a local company, we are extremely pleased to have been awarded the contract which in the current financial climate will help to safeguard the employment of our local workforce”.

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S o u th We s t Construction News

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Back to school at Beaufort Work has been completed on a new 6th form block for a Gloucester comprehensive in time for the new academic year.

Beaufort Community School in Tuffley had never had a dedicated 6th form area, but with pupil numbers in years 12 and 13 growing, there was pressure on the existing space.

That’s why work started on a £2.4 million extension at the front of the school to create a new 6th form block and refurbish some existing teaching spaces.

Malcolm Bride, Headteacher of Beaufort Community School, said, “We are delighted

with the financial support from both the LSC and Gloucestershire County Council to be able to build a state of the art Sixth Form Centre for young people in the south of Gloucester. The new facility provides teaching areas for both academic and vocational courses, social and recreational space and a large ICT study area. The size of our Sixth Form has doubled to over 200 students and this is an important step in the overall redevelopment of our school for the 21st century”.

Cllr Jackie Hall, Cabinet member for schools, said: “It is excellent to see the new 6th form block. This facility is vital to help the school deliver the curriculum”.

Cllr Vic Rice, county councilor for Quedgeley (which includes Tuffley), said: “It’s good to see the school is moving forward in what it is able to offer students. These changes should mean

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the school can keep abreast of changes to the curriculum in the future”.

The extension was funded through £1.16 million of funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), funding from Gloucestershire County Council through developer contributions and the school’s own fund. Main contractor Speller Metcalfe completed work during summer 2010.

Dorset business park confines arduous planning process to memory The development of Freeland Park on Wareham Road, Lytchett Matravers, Poole, is progressing well as the project nears completion. Poole-based developers FH Cummings can finally breathe a sigh of relief now that their plans have come to fruition despite a frustrating planning period.

Freeland Park is an innovative development of 19 small timber frame office and steel frame industrial units ranging from 624 sq ft to around 2,000 sq ft, which are being constructed in a traditional, rural style within a courtyard setting. Finishing touches are now being put to the interior of some of the units, while the surfacing of the car park is almost complete.

The development will be completed by October 2010 and the developers have already agreed sales of a number of the buildings – predominately to smaller local firms.

One of the first businesses to secure a purchase of two units

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at Freeland Park is Park Life Leisure Ltd, a firm which currently has its base in nearby Upton. Park Life Leisure offers full interior refurbishment services to park home owners.

Director of Park Life Leisure Karen Burton said, “We are delighted to have been one of the first to purchase units on this lovely, semi rural development. They are in a perfect location for an ever-expanding business. FH Cummings has been fantastic to deal with, keeping us well informed of progress from the first initial drawings right through to construction. Park Life Leisure has been established for 20 years and, due to the continued success of our business, this is the perfect time for us to buy”.

FH Cummings has appointed commercial property agents Sibbett Gregory to market the development on their behalf. Jayne Sharman from Sibbett Gregory comments, “Freeland Park offers an opportunity to purchase or lease a small office or industrial unit in a unique location. The buildings have been designed to be sustainable whilst keeping the distinctive character of traditional

rural units. There continues to be a good demand for small commercial units and we are now reserving units at Freeland Park to avoid disappointment”.

The development has attracted interest from a wide range of local businesses seeking attractive accommodation within a location of high amenity.

FH Cummings’ Mark Clapcott, the project QS, spoke to Premier Construction about the project, saying, “There were plans right at the beginning to go for industrial sheds, which would have fallen into a different planning category. The problem we faced

is that a plot of adjacent land has been developed with housing, and residents there were understandably concerned about noise and danger from heavy vehicles.

“The short version of the story is that we adapted the application to office and light industrial use, and the units we’ve put in and the businesses that will operate there are not the kind that will attract HGVs. Locals’ concerns have been met now and, to be fair to them, the planners have always been fair and positive with us.

“Another way we’ve sought to avoid objections is by making the buildings look like they belong in the area. We haven’t just thrown in a row of ugly units that look like an eyesore in what is a nice, green area. The units are a mixture of brick and weatherboard with a textured cedar finish to the exterior, which fits into the surroundings”.

The buildings have pitched roofs with replica slate tiles, complimented with natural stained timber windows. Some of the industrial units have mezzanine floors, whilst others have ground floor offices with storage space above.

Mark added, “The offices are mainly open plan, and they’re designed to be adaptable so that companies coming in can adjust the layout if needed”.

Asked what had attracted his firm to the site, Mark said, “We had actually considered the possibility of a residential development on this site in the beginning, but it had always been designated as industrial and that didn’t look likely to change. The only sticking point was what kind of industry, of course. The area actually lacks this kind of development and the rate at which the units are selling shows that there is a demand”.

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Coworth Park reaches completion Dorchester Collection is renowned for opulent, luxurious and high standard hotels located in the bright lights of bustling city centre’s across the world, such as The Dorchester in London’s Mayfair, Le Meurice and Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris and Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan.

However, in a break from the collection’s usual presence in the heart of beautiful cities across Europe and the USA, a new luxury resort hotel has been completed entitled Coworth Park, close to Ascot and bordering on Windsor Great Park.

The hotel not only provides luxurious accommodation but also a luxurious lifestyle break as it stands in 240 acres of Berkshire countryside with an equestrian centre, stabling for up to forty horses, two polo fields and a practice area.

The construction of Coworth Park, which has been undertaken by project management group Buro Four, main contractor Galliford Try and architect EPR Architects Ltd, forms the rebuilding of an 18th Century manor house and the conversion of stables and cottages in the house grounds to provide additional accommodation.

“Effectively the manor house has been knocked down and has been rebuilt,” Hugh Davies, from Buro Four, commented.

“However, we have retained the façade of the building to ensure the original essence of the property is kept”.

Hugh added, “We’re very happy with the work done by Galliford Try on this project, and with everyone else on the team for that matter. They’ve been very proactive in keeping things moving forward. It’s important to have a team that works well on a project like this – a considerably large one. To give an idea of the

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size of the task, we’ve produced 10,000 drawings to cover the seventeen buildings on the site.

“Buro Four’s experience has been one of a few factors in the success we’ve witnessed on the project. We’ve completed a series of challenging projects and we learn from every one – this one is no exception”.

Located only 40 minutes from Central London, Coworth Park is a valuable addition to the Dorchester Collection’s consistently expanding portfolio. The hotel has a total of 70 rooms, of which 30 lie in the main house while the remaining 40 are located in the converted stable block and adjacent cottages. The space also includes an eco-luxury Spa, a bar, a fine dining restaurant and a casual restaurant with an open air terrace located in the separate converted barn.

In line with Dorchester Collection’s five-star hotel reputation, Coworth Park has been developed to five-star environmental specifications. To reduce energy consumption, the project includes a biomass boiler within an underground Energy Centre, which is fuelled by burning willow grown on the estate and on nearby land. A pioneering initiative for a UK hotel, the grounds of Coworth Park have acres of willow and, with a three-year growth cycle, this will help to ensure that the hotel is able to produce its own carbon neutral fuel supply. Additionally, cooling for the hotel is provided through a ground source water circulation system of underground pipes buried under four acres of meadowland within the estate.

Known as ‘slinkys’, these underground pipes are buried in approximately 100x150 metres of meadowland. Water is first passed through a chiller (fitted with turbocol compressors)

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and then constantly circulated via the slinkys and then via energy efficient water chillers to provide chilled water for the air-conditioning process. This process is significantly more efficient than conventional air-cooled or water-cooled chilled water. The stables and spa utilize heat pump technology for both heating and cooling. Using ground source water (via the slinkys), heat pumps improve the system performance as the temperature of the under soil is relatively constant all year round compared to the air temperature.

The eco-luxury spa is also at the forefront of the project and has been constructed two thirds underground to limit its footprint.

It also includes various sustainable materials such as glulam beams which are an environmentally friendly alternative to concrete and steel members with comparatively lower embodied energy.

SV Joinery Ltd designed and produced more than 150 doors and windows for Coworth Park, a number of them 3.3 metres high. The company’s window design was preferred by EPR Architects for its ability to replicate the aesthetics of a Georgian sash window, whilst also achieving the energy efficiency requirements of part L1B 2006. In doing so, the windows achieve the aesthetic requirements so often required by conservation officers, whilst also meeting technical requirements – an impressive combination, and an innovation in the sector.

The windows are constructed exactly as the original Georgian manufacturers made them, but with the benefits of modern technology to ensure minimal air leakage. A technological innovation in double-glazed unit construction has allowed individual panes of glass to be held by a 20mm wide glazing bar.

The windows have been tested by TRADA, and its performance data awarded them a U value of between 2.2 and 2.0 (depending on the double-glazed unit used). With continued development, the windows will soon be available with U values potentially as low as 1.6. SV Joinery is now marketing the windows under the brand name Eco-Classic Heritage Windows. For more details, visit www.ecoclassic.co.uk.

Ray Pask, chief engineer in charge of the project, said, “This hotel is a sympathetic redevelopment of a country house using leading-edge technology and traditional methods.

We’re delivering in excess of 40% sustainable technology, which far exceeds the 20% target now set by most councils. Of course, an added bonus is that not only is it greener, it is also far more cost effective in the longer term. At The Dorchester we installed the same chiller that we are using at Coworth Park and this led to a significant reduction in annual energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions and consequently a major reduction in annual fuel costs”.

Coworth Park is the eighth in The Dorchester Collection, and further cements the prestigious reputation of some of the world’s finest hotels.

Cemplas With over 40 years of expertise as a specialist structural waterproofing company, Cemplas Waterproofing and Concrete Repairs Ltd provided their technical knowledge and expertise to assist Galliford Try and the project architects with cost effective design and installation solutions to many areas of this complex and demanding project.

Work undertaken by Cemplas included tanking to the stables and barns which were undertaken with RIW. Cemplas waterproofed the Bio Energy Centre roof by applying Remmers Profitight membrane, and installing Delta’s Geo Drainage system to the walls and floors.

The basement of the main house was also waterproofed using the Delta System to walls and floors. The terrace, 2nd floor balcony, portico roof, and the canopy over the extension were waterproofed using Remmers Profitight and Sulfatex system, and the external façade was tanked with Sika1, Profitight and Geo Drain.

Cemplas have both the capacity and resources to undertake projects in excess of £1m, and have a management structure capable of running multi-disciplined projects incorporating a wide variety of trade activities as well as the ones they undertake themselves.

Service, knowledge and experience form the basis of the company’s success. This translates into highly informed surveys, designs, and successful projects undertaken by directlyemployed, skilled and fully trained qualified operatives. Find out more at www.cemplas.co.uk

PAN Architectural Mouldings PAN Architectural Mouldings LLP carried out all the works associated with the suspended ceilings, partitioning and dry lining package at the hotel. The firm also manufactured and installed specialist GRG decorative triangular wall cladding and elliptical or curved suspended ceilings to both events rooms.

Operatives used proprietary metal and mineral fibre ceilings to back of house areas with plasterboard and GRG ceilings to front of house areas. A number of partition types were required to meet the various acoustic and performance specifications. The GRG triangular wall panelling and shaped ceilings in the events rooms required CAD drawings to ensure accurate setting out.

PAN companies have carried out a number of projects for Galliford Try including Chandos House in London and Percival House in Ealing.

PAN is actively involved in shopping centres (for example, installing GRG linings to covered shopping malls), commercial offices (applying GRG to reception ceilings), atrium cladding and feature staircase cladding. Airports and rail stations have benefited from GRG light rafts and ceiling features thanks to PAN, while the company has installed decorative fibrous plasterwork to hotels, private residencies and historic buildings.

See more details of the company’s projects by visiting www. panmouldings.co.uk

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Shard and fast: EU’s tallest building continues to rise The Shard of Glass at London Bridge has been continuing its heavenward climb throughout summer 2010. The tower, which will be the largest in the EU upon its completion in 2012, is now roughly the same height as neighbouring Guy’s Hospital. Its recent spurt in growth will now slow while the steel work catches up with the thrusting concrete core.

Lofty though the tower already appears, it’s not yet even half way to its eventual 310 metres. The mid-level public viewing galleries are approximately the same height as the London Eye and the top levels will provide views from a height previously unattainable both in the UK and Europe.

The development is run by Sellar Property Group with the backing of the State of Qatar, which is the majority shareholder in the development that forms part of the £2bn London Bridge Quarter regeneration scheme. Mace Group has been leading the construction effort.

The tower is part of the London Bridge Quarter, which will comprise two buildings: the Shard and London Bridge Place, covering a total of about 1.4m sq ft. This in turn forms an integral part of the redevelopment of the area including Thameslink 2000 upgrades and Network Rail’s project master plan. The Shard will have 586,509 sq ft of offices along with a five-star hotel, restaurants, viewing platforms and residential apartments.

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The Shard is one of the most enigmatic buildings to adorn the London skyline in recent years. The vision of its creator, the much lauded Italian architect Renzo Piano, was for a vertical ‘City in the Sky’, or an urban village concept.

The Shard replaces the Southwark Tower, a 1970’s building located on London Bridge Street. The new tower offers high density vertical development at a transport hub and will, it is claimed, be the UK’s first truly mixed use tower.

“This is all about the regeneration for the area,” commented public relations consultant Baron Phillips. “This will be a part of everything already on the South Bank from Borough Market to Bankside. We want to make it an exciting place to live, work and play”.

Aside from The Shard, the Quarter development project will see the construction of London Bridge Place - another office building, but one that will be considerably shorter than The Shard. London Bridge Station will also get its share of refurbishment as part of the scheme.

Baron recently said, “The idea came about because there were calls from government for new skyscrapers focused around transport hubs. Figures show that around 350,000 people a day travel through the area, so the new development means that commuters and visitors will soon be able to come straight out of the station and up the lifts to their office”.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t the thousands of commuters coming into London Bridge station every day, there is also a bus station on the doorstep which has to remain running. On top of this, Guy’s Hospital is across the road from the site’s main access gate. Together with pedestrians and narrow access roads, moving materials to and from the site is a major challenge.

At the peak of the recent concrete pour, trucks were arriving on site at two-minute intervals. Three concrete pumps were installed that were capable of pumping up to 150m3 an hour to enable the turnaround time needed to keep the trucks running.

These were coming from four batching plants from as far as Greenwich in the east and Battersea in the south. According to Don Houston, senior project manager with concrete contractor Jump Lift Byrne Bros, this was to spread the risk. “We could probably have The UK’s first ‘Jump Lift’ has now been successfully installed got away with using two plants, but if one goes down you lose in The Shard. Developed by KONE, the self-climbing elevator 50% of the capacity. This way there is less risk”. system provides an alternative to exterior hoists to improve the Tim Goldby, director of Mace, says a lot of experience on efficiency and safety of the building’s construction. lorry movements was gained when they were carrying out the The lift functions by using the building’s permanent shaft during bulk excavation, when trucks were leaving the site every three the construction phase and moves higher or “jumps” in the minutes. “We worked out primary and secondary routes for the shaft as the building gets taller. It allows shaft construction and trucks and planned it all in consultation with Southwark council lift installations to continue at the higher levels while the lift is and all the major stakeholders”. operating in the same shaft at the lower levels below a protection When concrete cures it generates heat and the sheer volume deck. This innovative approach enables the lift shafts to be used of the pour, which measures about 50m by 60m and is up to to aid construction at the same time as they are fitted out with 3m deep in places, means that the high levels of heat produced permanent cars and put into service as construction progresses. could result in shrinkage and cracking.

Tony Palgrave, construction director for Mace on the Shard, The mix used ground granulated blast furnace slag to replace said, “This solution is fundamental to our strategy of transporting 75% of the cement, which helps to limit the amount of heat people and materials quickly and efficiently to the top of the generated. building and down again in the safest possible way. It represents The downside of using a cement replacement is low early our ongoing commitment to finding ever better ways to deliver strength gain – 56 days compared with 14 for a mix using this landmark project”. ordinary Portland cement – so the mix was developed to make Michael Williams, managing director of KONE UK, added, “We sure it would achieve sufficient strength gain over the first 14 work hard to deliver pioneering solutions for clients and it has days to meet the structural requirements, with the full strength been a privilege to be involved with Mace on such a significant coming later. project as the Shard. KONE Jump Lifts are an innovative The concrete also needed to flow easily around the densely solution that improves people and goods flow and speeds up construction. Our team has worked closely with Mace to ensure packed reinforcement bars at the base of the slab. Additives – the installation of the Jump Lifts runs smoothly and enhances plasticisers, retarders and others – were included to give good flow characteristics, delay setting times and prevent “bleed”, the construction process”. which is a common result of using high levels of cement As principal contractor on the Shard, Mace has ensured the replacement. delivery programme accommodates the requirements of the The concrete was poured in layers 750mm deep. This helped KONE jump lifts. The first lift has capacity for 21 people and 1,600kg in weight and will mainly be used at the Shard for site limit heat build-up and also regulated the placement so that workers to get up and down the structure. It will initially serve up succeeding layers could be poured before early layers had set.

A computer programme was created to predict the temperature to level 12 but will eventually extend to level 26.

In total there will be five Jump Lifts, the largest of which will of the core, and thermocouples were fixed to the reinforcement be equipped to transport 45 people, with a capacity of 3,500kg cage in the raft to enable the temperature to be monitored. The in weight of people and materials, serving up to level 34. The mix recipe could then be altered at the batching plant if needed.

To limit heat build-up in the confined space while the pour was lifts will follow the rise of the structure into the London skyline.

The highest of the Jump Lifts will go up to level 66. KONE is under way, fans were used to draw air through the basement supplying and installing a total of 10 escalators and 36 lifts at the and ventilate it out through the mole hole where the excavation Shard, 13 of these double deck lifts including the five Jump Lifts. occurred.

Lorry deliveries to the site are strictly controlled with a buffer zone a few miles away where vehicles are held and dispatched Mace to site at regular intervals.

Mace carried out early project management services which evolved into construction management before a final evolution to a fixed price solution. The early demolition and enabling works were carried out under a construction management contract and the main permanent works delivered under a fixed price contract.

700 truckloads of concrete were poured to create the building’s foundations. The 5,500m3 single concrete pour is one of the largest ever undertaken on a building in the capital. This culmination of the building’s ground works package has created the raft foundation that will support the tower.

A ventilated double skin façade will considerably reduce heat gain to increase comfort levels and allow the maximum level of natural daylight to entre. Excess heat generated by the offices will be used to heat the hotels and apartments. Any additional excess will be dissipated naturally through a radiator at the top of the tower.

The Shard’s construction team has had to contend with the logistical nightmare presented by a constrained site. As well as Transport for London (TfL) initially signed up for 200,000 sq ft of office space in The Shard in 2006, but recently had their contract bought out by the very developers that are building the new skyscraper.

“It suited us and them for us to buy them out. It’s a tremendous reflection on the outlining strength of the market,” commented Baron.

He continued: “We don’t expect to let all the space to one tenant. We expect it to be lawyers and City type businesses. The market currently is so strong - there will be over the next four years a lot of leases for renewal or break”.

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The enabling works were extensive. The structure of Southwark Towers helped laterally restrain a number of the old brick arches on which London Bridge station is constructed, and these first had to be tied back to prevent them moving.

On top of this, part of the supporting structure for the bus station concourse protruded into the basement of the existing building and had to be demolished to make way for the second floor level of the new building. To allow the bus station to remain operational, mini piles were installed in a confined area with concrete foundations and steel columns used to prop up the concourse.

A corner column of the train shed roof at London Bridge station also lies within the site and the slab around this column had to be broken out to make way for the setting out of the building.

This column is listed and steel supports have been positioned beneath it to allow the slab to be demolished around it.

With both of these new supports, hydraulic jacks have been incorporated into the bases. “We are constantly monitoring the position of these structures and if there is any movement, we get an alert and we can compensate for it by jacking up the support”, says Roma Agrawal, structural engineer with WSP Cantor Seinuk.

The first batch of 11,000 glass panels that will form the façade of the 310m Shard of Glass have been put in place. Mace has set a target of putting the glass in place on the skyscraper at a rate of one floor a week.

The panels, which in total will cover an area of more than 56,000 sq metres, are made of a low iron glass with internal blinds. The glass is manufactured in Germany with the panels assembled in Holland.

On arrival, the panels are erected from the internal floors, eliminating any hazards that could come from an external erection method. Three crews are working flat out slotting the panels into place.

The Shard is scheduled to be completed by May 2012, in time for the London Olympics where the building will form a stunning backdrop to the Games.

The Shard forms part of the £2 billion Renzo Piano-designed London Bridge Quarter regeneration project around London Bridge Station which is being developed by Sellar Property Group in conjunction with the State of Qatar. The programme commenced on 14th January 2008 with the start of hard demolition to Southwark Towers and completion of shell and core is scheduled for May 2012.

SolData A comprehensive ‘real time’ regime of remote monitoring has been successfully designed, installed, commissioned and operated by SolData. The purpose of the monitoring is to determine the seasonal characteristics and long term structural performance of the neighbouring structures during the demolition of Southwark Tower and the subsequent construction of the Shard. London Bridge Station including facades, escalators, viaduct arches, running tunnels, station platforms,

pedestrian walkways and the brick vaults that support the main concourse area of this Victorian structure and Guy’s Hospital are being observed throughout the lifetime of the construction project. The monitoring system is being achieved using 20 high precision robotic theodolites working in tight networks (Cyclops) which observe absolute movements to sub millimetre accuracies and over 250 classical remote instruments including a system of inclinometers embedded in the Shard basement walls allow local, relative displacements to be determined.

The control and operation of the Cyclops systems are enabled

by SolData’s own in-house software and the automatic, wireless acquisition, data management and visualisation of the entire remote system is provided by SolData’s presentational software, Geoscope. Geoscope also allows preset triggers to be included and will automatically generate alarms if these triggers are breached. In this instance, the alarms are on the screen and via text messaging which is directed to selected interested parties. To supplement the remote monitoring and provide a degree of redundancy, a precise survey network has also been implemented through the project with the data exported into the Geoscope software so that direct comparisons can be made between the manual monitoring and the remote systems.

4D BIM Synchronises the Shard At the Shard, Mace wanted 4D BIM software for “visualised planning”. Synchro Professional integrated and flexibly displayed design with site infrastructure.

The concept of 4D modeling is not new. The industry has been producing computer generated animations representing the construction process for high profile projects for more than 20 years. However, these animations were scripted movies, not live connections between the 3D model and the construction schedule. They could only be edited through the computer animation package and were rarely detailed enough to facilitate construction planning in the field.

The recent industry push toward BIM and associated software advances are now making 4D modeling accessible and affordable for the average construction project. Software packages such as Synchro allow the 3D model to be linked to the CPM construction schedule with relative ease.

Synchro improved communication with stakeholders. It linked the dynamic scene with different timelines and displayed the ongoing consequences of building strategies.

The logistical implications of Synchro’s programme has helped Mace to position cranes, roads, parking and earth stores in the busy city centre site.

Synchro visually compared strategies shared with different trade specialists and enabled Mace to orchestrate project logistics in real time and spot potential problems in the deployment of tower cranes. Issues in the MEP scheduling were highlighted before they became a problem.

To find out more, visit www.synchroltd.com

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Heron Tower works on schedule Heron International, the leading pan-European property group, and Skanska, one of the world’s leading construction firms, recently held a topping out ceremony to mark the structural completion of Heron Tower, the landmark development at 110 Bishopsgate, London.

Heron Tower is the tallest building in the City of London, stretching 202 metres into the skyline. The building will be finished with a 28-metre mast giving an overall height of 230 metres.

The 46-storey development, which is being constructed by Skanska and is on schedule to be completed in February 2011, will provide 40,836 sq m of commercial office space with a public restaurant and skybar on floors 38-40. Situated just 200 metres from Liverpool Street station, Heron Tower will be a world-class office building at the heart of London’s financial district. The development will set the standard for offices of the future, incorporating a number of unique features, including a triple-height entrance hall with the biggest aquarium in any commercial building, ten high-speed double-decker lifts and a full-time five star concierge service.

Heron Tower also incorporates a number of environmental features and has achieved an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating. The building’s entire south elevation will be veiled with photovoltaic cells to generate renewable energy and help create a solar shield. In addition, triple skin glazed facades will reduce heat gain and loss by 45% over standard glazing.

Speaking at the topping out ceremony, Gerald Ronson, Chief Executive of Heron International, said: “Today we begin the countdown to completion that is less than 50 weeks away. Whether this is by luck or judgment, I believe that Heron Tower has come to market at the right time.

“As we top out today, Heron Tower is the tallest building in the City of London – I am sure that others will grow up around it that are taller. However I am confident that this will remain the finest office development of its kind in the City of London for many years to come.

“Heron Tower is positioned at the heart of the capital city and will undoubtedly become one of the world’s finest workspaces”.

Inside the building Internally, 42,873sqm will be made available over 46 storeys. This

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comprises three basement levels for retail, parking, storage and management services; 36 storeys of offices; a public restaurant and sky bar on levels 38-40; and six levels of plant. There will be a new pedestrian piazza in Houndsditch Street and two high speed double-decker glass lifts will give dedicated access from Bishopsgate to the restaurant on the 39th floor.

The tower has recently become home to a vast aquarium, which will hold approximately 70,000 litres of water and will be home to more than 1,200 tropical marine fish imported from Heron Island, which is located off the Great Barrier Reef.

Measuring 12m long, 2m wide and 4m high with 230mm thick acrylic walls, the aquarium is the largest complete unit to be manufactured by specialist Reynolds in Grand Junction, Colorado and will be the largest privately owned aquarium in Europe.

Bridge height restrictions in London required the aquarium to be transported on its side. The unit was held within a steel protective frame, and turned in Bishopsgate into its correct position. The frame was removed and the aquarium was lifted onto air skates to install it in the entrance lobby. It was then lifted onto a temporary plinth where the rockwork, artificial coral and the fish life safety systems will be installed.

Skanska is providing a ‘total construction and building services solution’, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and I.T services in addition to piling, steel decking, and suspended ceilings and engineering.

Solar Expertise Dutch company Scheuten Solar provided 3,050 m2 of photovoltaic modules on Heron tower, working with cladding contractor Scheldebouw. A relatively brief installation period followed over a year of planning, consultation and bespoke design. The power generated by Scheuten’s BIPV installations will be enough to meet 2.5% of Heron Tower’s electricity demand, reducing the building’s carbon emissions by 850,000kg a year. Scheuten’s installations will both reduce solar gain to the interiors of the building and generate an estimated 92,000kWh of electricity a year.

Scheuten offers worldwide experience in glass and solar technology, and the company’s involvement in Heron Tower has

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continued a history of working on prestigious projects around the world, a few of which are Berlin central station, Sant Celoni Shopping Center in Barcelona, Lycée Agricole du Subdray in France and a huge range of solar power parks and large PV-roof systems across Europe.

The product portfolio of Scheuten Solar includes the Multisol® modules, which are high performance, lightweight standard PV modules with a sturdy design, and the Optisol® BIPV solar modules, which combine high tech solar power with an aesthetically attractive appearance. Scheuten Solar is active in all stages of the added-value chain for PV module manufacture to guarantee end-to-end manufacturing quality.

The company is based in Venlo in the Netherlands and has outposts across the globe. In a burgeoning solar market, Scheuten is set to go from strength to strength. Premier Construction spoke to Scheuten’s Jan Willem Tolkamp, who specializes in BIPV technology and sees a bright future for the field: “BIPV is still a relatively small market. To illustrate, even as recognised specialists in BIPV, Scheuten only dedicates 40 company members to the field out of a total of 450 employees (1800 are working for the wider Scheuten Group). I predict that

that number will increase as we continue to develop our expertise and as the demand for BIPV technology increases too.

“Heron Tower illustrates the aesthetic side of BIPV very well, but the capabilities of the technology in terms of energy generation can be much greater than we see on this project. You can cover up to 85% of the surface with energy-generating cells on any given project, and yet we only covered 30% with cells on the Heron Tower modules. This was intentional, as the designers wanted to retain great views of London. It’s very important that PV is designed into the building from the start, therefore we try to be in contact with both Architect and end customer in the earliest possible stage. It happens too often that the only suitable surface on the building is facing north or receives only shade.

“We’re supplying the Carrara Stadium in Queensland, Australia, where an area of around 2,000m2 will be covered, but there will be almost 3x more BIPV cells per square metre. On that project, the extra shading is an advantage for the stadium, and of course the energy generated is even greater with 260,000 kWh a year”.

Asked how he expected PV markets to develop over the next ten years, Jan-Willem replied, “Markets such as rooftop coverage and solar fields, in which we’ve been heavily involved, are already relatively well developed. According to our predictions, growth will begin to slow down in these markets and investors will no longer see them as a way to get rich quick, because of the decreasing subsidies. The other thing is that cheap ground and roof space will also become scarce, so facades and other parts of buildings will be more and more the playground for PV. “We’re looking to make the most of the services we can offer in the BIPV sector to make BIPV an option that designers would automatically consider. For example, designers who look to make a statement out of a building project might be inclined to use cladding materials such as stainless steel, which are expensive but can offer a modern, stylish appearance. Our products are less expensive than a lot of luxury materials commonly used on new buildings, and of course BIPV technology has the advantage of being good for the environment and reducing energy bills.

“Right now we’re able to offer bespoke products in all shapes, colours and sizes. As the market grows, you can expect to see our products used in preference to alternative materials. Our goal is that, soon enough, BIPV will be a direct alternative to traditional glazing – the energy savings outweighing the extra cost”.

The future is something to look forward to for Scheuten, then, but what of the present? Jan-Willem says, “BIPV technology requires a lot of research, design and development, as I’ll be explaining as part of my talk at the BRE conference this October.

It isn’t a get rich quick scheme, but there is huge potential for the industry as a whole. With our experience, knowledge of glass and solar products and ability to carry out turnkey projects, I expect Scheuten to be at the forefront of the expanding market for the foreseeable future”.

Fairview Lifting Gear Fairview Lifting Gear Services Ltd are a London-based company who had a permanent team on site undertaking the supply, installation, testing and daily management of all monorail systems, load/launch platforms and bespoke lifting rigs. The

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building’s nature meant that modular runways were required, something Fairview Lifting Gear Services are widely known to specialize in. The whole monorail track layout needed to be re-designed as lifting operations moved up the levels as the building does not feature a uniform structure from floor to floor.

The runway systems were an important tool to assist in the cladding installations, as were the company’s numerous detailed drawings and calculations, which were always provided for the client as part of the conscientious planning and operational process and Fairview Lifting Gear Services were also proud to earn Skanska’s health and safety award twice in recognition of its excellent working practices on the Heron Tower site.

As Fairview’s Keith Livermore explains, “Part of our success

is the fact that in addition to our extensive hire fleet of lifting and safety equipment, a large part of our business is unique in that we are able to design and install a wide range of bespoke systems using the latest computer design tools; this gives us an advantage over our competitors and technical peace of mind to our clients.

“This is one of the many reasons why we have been successful in securing tall build contracts such as Heron Tower”.

“Around 30% of our systems are custom-built and usually the simplest designs are the best, but anything is possible, as you see in our work at Heron Tower”.

For more information on Fairview’s award-winning services, visit www.fairviewliftinggear.com

£3.5M scheme for Harlow Station reaches completion Harlow Town station celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special event on Friday 30 July to mark the completion of a major upgrade of the station. The station has been transformed through a partnership between National Express East Anglia (NXEA), Harlow Renaissance and Essex County Council, as part of a £390k investment project to renew and improve the station buildings and environment and provide easier access for customers.

Every effort has been made to retain the unique features of this iconic Grade II Listed Building whilst renewing customer facilities to modern-day standards.

Work has taken place to open up and refurbish the station over-bridge which previously housed a small waiting area and the former parcel depot. The area has been renewed with new floor tiles, panelled and re-decorated walls and ceiling, and new lighting, with the colour scheme being chosen to reflect the station’s original paintwork. There are two new waiting areas, timetable boards and a display of station memorabilia. The original mosaic tiles have been retained and their appearance refreshed. In keeping with its history, display boards will be kept to a minimum to reflect the clean sharp lines of the refurbishment.

The new works will provide improved access to the station platforms and passenger lifts for disabled customers and for those with pushchairs and heavy luggage. The external canopies and fascia boards at the front of the station have been replaced and renewed, and new parking bays for disabled passengers have been provided adjacent to the station forecourt.

To complete the transformation of Harlow Town station, NXEA has completed a separate £3m investment - as part of the company’s Service Improvement Plan - in a new multi-storey car park constructed by Bourne Parking, increasing car park capacity at Harlow by 300 spaces to 700.

Andrew Bramidge, chief executive of Harlow Renaissance, said: “As a gateway into Harlow, the station presents the first image many visitors will have of the town therefore its appearance is of the upmost importance to help deliver a positive and welcoming ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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impression. Over the past 50 years, hundreds of thousands of people have come through the station doors and we are incredibly pleased that the partnership has been able to retain the character and essence of this listed building, whilst at the same time improving the travel experience for everyone who passes through”.

County councillor Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation at Essex County Council, added: “I am delighted with the refurbishment of Harlow Town station – it is a testament to the successful working partnership between Essex County Council, National Express East Anglia and Harlow Renaissance. This project demonstrates our commitment to improving Harlow’s transport networks: providing residents, commuters and visitors with an enhanced travel experience whether by rail or road”.

A statement issued by main contractor Bourne Parking read, “We’re delighted that we’ve successfully completed Harlow Town Station Car Park for National Express East Anglia - two months ahead of programme and below budget. We have now successfully completed three projects for National Express East Anglia”.

Mark Phillips, Deputy Managing Director of NXEA said: “We have been delighted to work in partnership with Harlow Renaissance and Essex County Council on the improvement scheme at Harlow Town and with Bourne Parking to construct the new car park which together has totally transformed the station. I am very grateful for the support of our partners, which has enabled this project to proceed”.

He added, “I am pleased that the new and improved car park at

Harlow Town which will provide a better facility for our customers and an extra 300 car parking spaces, making it easier to park at this busy station. The work at Harlow Town is another project in the National Express East Anglia Service Improvement Plan, with more improvements taking place over the coming months.

Andrew Chivers, managing director of National Express, called the plans “a major programme to further improve services across our network”. He said, “The centre piece of this strategy is a series of initiatives agreed as part of a major deal with the Department for Transport in April 2009. The most significant benefit is the introduction of 30 new trains and 17 refurbished trains enabling us to carry over 11,000 extra passengers into London at peak times every weekday.

Other benefits include additional train services, extended car parks, better train cleaning facilities and some station improvements. The first milestone, providing extra carriages on a number of key services from North Essex and Suffolk into London, will provide over 28,000 extra seats a week on that route.

In addition, we will continue to play a leading role in developing a positive future strategy for rail services in the East of England”.

Robert Halfon MP The station and car park was officially re-opened by Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, and entertainment at the station to celebrate the upgrade and its 50th anniversary featured the Harlow Steel Band.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” the MP said. “For so many years now the station has looked tired and in dire need of attention, but now it looks fantastic.

“First impressions are very important and the first impression people getting off the train will now have is that Harlow really is the place to be.

“A lot of thought has been put into the project and the standard of the work really does look first-rate. I was blown away when I first saw it”.

The MP later wrote on his blog, “When I spoke [at the opening ceremony], I made the point that in Harlow, we always use the term ‘Gateway’ to describe various regeneration proposals. Yet, there could never be more obvious a ‘Gateway’ than our main railway station. For years, this has been an iconic building, yet quite grim inside.

“No longer. It now has a beautiful wooden ceiling, two new excellent lifts and state of the art floors and benches. At last people arriving in Harlow will feel that the town really is the place to be”.

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constituency, and has only recently been campaigning for the government to set up a new volunteer force of Special Rail Guards to improve rail safety following nine deaths on the railway lines in Harlow in two years.

Mr Halfon believes the guards could operate in the same way as police Special Constables. Speaking in the House of Commons, he said, “For a long time Harlow has had a major problem with rail fatalities with eight in 2008”.

In the latest incident, a 78-year-old man, from Old Harlow, was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by a train near Harlow Mill Station.

Mr Halfon has called on the Leader of the House, Sir George Young, to have an urgent debate on rail safety and to discuss the possibility of establishing Special Rail Guards.

Sir George said, “One fatality is one too many and I will certainly raise with the Secretary of State for Transport the proposition he (Mr Halfon) has just put to the House”.

Mr Halfon has tabled an Early Day Motion which states that the new rail guards could target various “accident blackspots” such as those around Harlow.

The motion states, “A new force of volunteer Special Rail Guards should be established to improve platform safety, similar to Special Constables”.

Mr Halfon says that this would “fit perfectly with the government’s planned reforms to civil society, such as the Big Society Bank and a new generation of community organisers”, and should be especially targeted at “accident blackspots” such as around Harlow.

Mr Halfon added, “There have been many tragic fatalities on the railways near Harlow and more must be done to combat the loss of life.

“I believe a new volunteer force of Special Rail Guards could be similar to the Special Constables in the police force: genuinely local people who help their community by volunteering a few hours a month”.

Colchester business park reaches half way point

Premier Construction, “It’s a great location – the existing retail park which adjoins it generates a lot of traffic, there’s a train station only five minutes away and it’s literally seconds from the main trunk road [A12]. In the early stages of the development, we’ve been encouraged by the number of local business owners who have expressed an interest in the site and come down to view it.

“There are no better buildings of this type in this part of town, so I’m confident that people will see the benefits one of these units can bring to their businesses”, he added.

Colchester’s Tollgate Business Park is soon to reach the end of the first phase of a £3 million extension project, which will add 12 industrial units to the site which is already well developed for retail and which is soon to welcome a new, upgraded Sainsbury’s supermarket.

According to Daniel Watts of the Tollgate Partnership, “This is part of a 30 year master plan for the area. It started when we first brought Sainsbury’s onto the site, which had previously been used as a quarry. Since the store opened, it has never been outside the top three Sainsbury’s stores in the UK in terms of sales, so it’s safe to say it’s been a success. Now other business has grown up around the supermarket and now that the supermarket is being replaced with a bigger, better and more modern store, we feel it’s a good time to invest further in the area”.

October will mark the initial structural and exterior completion of the units. Phasing has been designed so as not to allow planning permission to lapse and to allow potential tenants to view and reserve the units before the second phase (fit-out) begins.

The units represent a total of 35,000 sq ft of industrial, office and warehouse space. The first seven are flat roofed block and render affairs, while the remainder are curved roof block and brick units with extensive glazing. All the units offer an option of a first floor and have been granted B1, B2 and B8 business status by planners.

“We’re not ones to build conservative, boring units”, said Daniel, “and so a lot of thought has been put into designing something above what you’d usually expect of an industrial park. It has been important to us to build something that suits its prominent location with an attractive look”.

Daniel is positive about the future of the development, telling ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Oxford Academy awaits Christmas gift Willmott Dixon continues to make progress on a £33 million project to build Oxford Academy’s new home on Sandy Lane West, in Oxford. A significant part of the project is to be completed in time for the Christmas holidays and should be occupied in time for the new term. Willmott Dixon has teamed up with architectural designers White Design, with whom it has won national awards for producing exemplary education facilities.

The academy will be delivered by a team from the company’s Midlands region, who will be using their refurbishment skills as part of the existing school is being retained and blended with the new building. As a result, the academy’s structure is a mix of concrete, steel and timber frame and the existing school is being refurbished to blend with the new buildings.

The new building will provide facilities for up to 1,050 secondary school students and up to 400 sixth form pupils, including a 150-place specialist sports academy. It will be built on the grounds of the former Peers School, which was replaced by Oxford Academy in September 2008. There will also be a special educational needs school on the campus.

The new academy is primarily for pupils aged 11-18, with facilities for community use during and after school hours. The 12,400m² facility includes a 210m² adult education centre and a small public library, while Mabel Prichard Special School caters for 45 pupils in a 1,330m² area.

Funding for the project has come primarily from central government, with further contributions from Oxfordshire County Council in recognition of the benefit to the wider community and the relocation of the special school, as well as the dual-use library, which will benefit both students and the local authority.

While work is progressing, some pupils are located in temporary facilities on the former tennis courts, before moving into their new accommodation in January 2011. Willmott Dixon will complete the entire project in autumn 2011, having demolished the old buildings and carried out landscaping work.

Peter Owen, manager director for Willmott Dixon in the Midlands, says, “We are delighted to be on site at Oxford. One of the most interesting aspects to this project is that some of the existing structure is being retained in the middle of the new construction. However, old will link seamlessly with new when it’s complete to create a superb learning environment”.

“We are also working in a fully operational school, so liaising closely with pupils, staff and the local community to create as little disruption as possible”.

Project Architect Karl Huchison of White Design spoke to Premier Construction, explaining the thinking behind this highly sustainable building: “The Academy design attempts to create a clear and cohesive site layout, integrating the various site access points through landscape and building design and working with the existing site confines and buildings to be retained. Our aim is to create a welcoming and accessible public face (including Sports Centre, central LRC/Library and Adult Education Centre), while at the same time creating a more secluded private space for general and specialist teaching areas. Good daylight penetration throughout is a strong feature. The teaching space layouts balance the requirements for flexible spaces and break-outs with more traditional cellular spaces and good access to the exterior.

The academy energy target is BREEAM ‘Very Good’. The project features a biomass energy centre and passive stack ventilation to the majority of teaching spaces. Other environmental features include rainwater harvesting, a sedum planted roof, SUDs and balancing pond for excess water, native planting scheme, cedar cladding and timber framed construction/wall panels. All the materials have been carefully chosen to balance the robustness

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Courtesy of White Design required in a modern academy building with low ecological impact and passive ventilation requirements”.

About the Academy The Oxford Academy specialises in Mathematics, ICT and Sport and opened its doors in September 2008, following the closure of Peers School. It is sponsored by the Church of England through the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education together with Oxford Brookes University and the Beecroft Trust. It also works with a number of partners including Oxfordshire County Council, the Oxford and Cherwell FE College and local businesses.

The plan for the academy is to re-build a poorly performing school where attendance had dropped significantly and rebuild

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t That can cause problems since, as is well known, construction projects aren’t always straightforward. It’s been different with Willmott Dixon, however.

“Our weekly meetings have been very productive and they have allowed both sides to be flexible and accommodate each other’s needs. The contractors have been adaptable to our needs and they’ve been very accommodating in altering designs slightly to better suit our teaching requirements, especially when it comes to installing visual panels, for example”.

Government cuts

Courtesy of White Design it as a centre of excellence that focuses on sport, encouraging children to re-engage with their education. It will serve the whole community with vocational courses and placements running alongside GCSE and A-level subjects. The academy will also reach out to the wider community by enrolling adults who wish to further their learning in the adult education centre.

Principal Mike Reading spoke to Premier Construction about the project, saying, “Excitement is building as we approach the end of the year, and right now we’re watching the cladding being installed, which is mainly cedar cladding and will help make the building really stand out.

“The project has as its main goal to improve the outlook for the students who come here – we’ve already had significant improvements in behaviour since 2008 and recent exam results broke records. Alongside that, however, there is widespread recognition of the importance of the academy’s role within the community. Not only does the project represent physical urban regeneration for what is one of the most deprived areas in the country, but it also makes a statement about the potential of the area and goes towards raising community morale.

“In September 2008, we inherited a year group of 91 students that by now has increased to 185. That shows that, with the new facilities and our academic success, parents are finding a new confidence in us. They’re seeing a phoenix rising. I’m happy with progress in that respect so far, but this is just the beginning”.

Asked what the new build would add to the academy itself, Mr. Reading first pointed to the layout, saying, “There is a lot more open space now than before. Gone are the rabbit run corridors and dark corners. Different areas of the academy will also be less fragmented, and movement around the buildings will be more intuitive.

“Another important aspect of the layout is that there are large ‘breakout’ spaces for students, many of whom need the socialisation that brings as part of their development”.

“Also related to space is our new ability to be flexible with classrooms. We have the typical spaces that can suit 30 or so students, but we can now open them up and combine them with neighbouring classroom and corridor space to make room for around 100 students in more of a lecture setup”.

Students will be able to make the most of new outdoor areas created for them one work is complete, notably in an allotment area to be used in lessons and as a tool for students to develop responsibility and understanding of their environment – respect for which is mirrored in the new buildings’ rainwater harvesting, biomass boiler, natural ventilation and carbon-neutral construction process.

Discussing the client-contractor relationship during the project, Mr. Reading said, “My previous experience of contractors has been that they will stick rigidly to what is laid out in the contract.

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Recently, it was announced that half of the 152 schools placed under review when the government BSF programme came under review will now go-ahead.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said 33 schools which had reached close of dialogue stage will now be allowed to proceed; he also gave the green light to 44 academy projects including The Oxford Academy, which were far advanced in a national rebuilding programme, but a further 75 academy projects will be scaled back after their funding has been reviewed.

He described the announcement as “good news” for schools in the 14 council regions where the building projects will take place.

However, the Building Schools for the Future scheme was cut, effectively scrapping more than 730 school rebuilds.

The decision brings relief to many contractors counting the cost of bidding projects and probably goes far enough to avert costly claims against the government.

But many local authorities have spent millions of pounds on planning schemes, which will not now go ahead.

Construction News

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New leisure centre nears first phase completion following lengthy planning permission battle

From the end of September 2010, people in Aylesham will be able to use the sporting and leisure facilities of the new Aylesham Welfare Leisure Centre. The new centre is currently nearing the end of its first construction phase under local contractor WW Martin, who have also recently been involved in works at nearby Broadmeadow Care Home. Once complete, the leisure centre will be run by Kent and

Sussex leisure provider Freedom Leisure.

Facilities at the centre will include 10 grass pitches, a café, a multi use games area, a 3G artificial turf pitch and much improved changing facilities.

Further plans, for which funding is still being sought, include the building of a state-ofthe-art fitness facility, a meeting room and a bar.

The new facilities have been funded by a range of partners including the Football Foundation, Dover District Council, the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, Rugby Football Union, the Big Lottery Fund and the Aylesham & Snowdown Social Welfare Scheme.

The welfare club, which has risen out of the ashes of the local coal industry, had been trying for planning permission and funding for a centre of its kind for 15 years, according to Steve Hollands of Hartwell Architects, whose team was able to put together a plan that satisfied local authorities.

RCA basks in generous patronage

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Steve told Premier Construction, “Part of the reason why the application was accepted is the openness of the facility to the public – it can be hired out for a range of functions and it is designed to play an important role in the community.

“Funding is an issue, but the impressive fundraising efforts so far suggest that the whole project will be completed by the end of 2011”, he added. Keep an eye out for updates in Premier Construction as we follow the project to completion.

under the guidance and support of the Royal College of Art. The Sackler Building formed Phase One of the new campus, which is to eventually occupy almost 4,500m2 on Howie Street,

The Royal College of Art is proudly overseeing a wave of investment, which is in turn funding a wave of construction at its Battersea site.

Phase Two of the works is now under way and will see a new building (to open in 2012) dedicated to young design and engineering potential. Along with the usual lecture halls and studios, the proposed structure has 40 incubator units – students will set up design businesses, experiment and develop ideas, all

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t Battersea. This first phase saw the redevelopment of a former warehouse to provide accommodation for the RCA painting department and its sixty students. Designed by architects Haworth Tompkins, it opened in November 2009 to critical acclaim and won a RIBA Award in May 2010.

Construction of Phase Two, the Dyson Building, is taking place between 2010 and 2012. This will house the fine art departments of printmaking and photography as well as a large column-free gallery, a state-of-the-art lecture theatre, conference facilities and incubator units for start-up designers.

The third phase, with an overall completion date of 2014, will house the applied art departments of ceramics and glass, goldsmithing, silversmithing, metalwork and jewellery.

In February 2009, the James Dyson Foundation contributed £5 million, the largest donation ever made to the Royal College of Art, which will name the latest building after the successful inventor and entrepreneur who fondly remembers his time at the college.

Dyson said, “It’s vital that we give young people the confidence to be inventive and the support to take risks. It’s through

experimentation and failure that new ideas are born. As a nation we’ve become scared of taking risks, but I see risk and problem solving going hand in hand”.

Wayne Farnfield, project manager for main contractor Wates, told Premier Construction, “The RCA is a great client to work with; everyone involved is enthusiastic, professional and passionate about the project”.

“We’ve worked well with the college and I feel we’ve done a particularly good job of looking after the neighbours who are affected by the works – sending out newsletters and making sure everyone knows what’s happening on the site and why. The feeling I’ve picked up from people is that the works are welcome in that we’re demolishing buildings considered to be unattractive and replacing them, which is good for the area”.

With the demolition completed and extensive archaeological and ecological surveys concluded, Wayne’s team has moved past piling work and is now at the stage of ground floor slab installation. A topping out ceremony is under consideration for February 2011, while final handover is expected for the final quarter the same year.

Middlesex school in expansion project Longmead Primary School in West Drayton is being extended and refurbished in a project led by main contractor Priory Gate. The build is an expansion by one form of entry.

Extended across two storeys, the new look school makes use of traditional brick walls and concrete pre-cast floor slabs with a wooden flat roof. The exterior is given a modern look with coloured brick facades and solar-reflective PVC windows, with both PV and solar panels gracing the roof. Plans for a wind turbine exist, despite reservations among some locals.

The project architects are Purcell Miller Tritton, who came on board after a provisional design had been put together by another firm. PMT recognised design flaws such as extra classrooms going unaccompanied by extra toilets and, once the design had been rectified, the project got into full swing.

Six new classrooms are now being added to the school with an associated nursery, known as an ‘Early Years Unit’. Work also extends to a library expansion.

A significant challenge of the new build has been to integrate it into the existing site. Steel work has been used to solidify the point at which the new build joins the old.

The plan is for the school to remain operational throughout the £2 million build, a target which has so far been met as the work nears completion in advance of the 2020-11 academic year.

The school is remaining operational throughout the contract.

The project is required to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, and early indications are that the bid for certification will be successful.

About the main contractor Priory Gate are Dunstable based building contractors with an enviable reputation in new build, refurbishment and fitting out contracts. Longmead is one of a recent spate of schools to benefit from Priory Gate’s expertise; the firm also operates in the residential, commercial, industrial, health, leisure and defence sectors – carrying out new build, refurbishment and fit out projects on a traditional, design and build and GMP basis.

The company was formed in October 1998 as C J Smith (Southern) Ltd, operating as a small building company in the south east. It was part of the Midlands based C J Smith, which had traded for over 75 years.

After a successful first year of trading, the company caught the interest of the Withey group, which purchased the company in summer 1999 and appointed David Curran as MD in January 2000.

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The company doubled turnover in the following year whilst maintaining profitability. In early 2001, David Curran entered into negotiations with Stuart Withey, chairman of the Withey Group, to purchase the company.

The purchase was completed in March 2001, with the company changing its name to Priory Gate Ltd and relocating to the current address in Dunstable.

To find out more, visit www.priorygate.co.uk

Construction News

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Top notch lab under construction in Kent Work is well under way to build a new multi-million pound state-of-the-art lab at Maidstone Hospital in Kent.

Cardy Construction are working with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) and WSP Integrated Building Services to extend the hospital’s existing microbiology department to make way for a £7.8 million cellular pathology laboratory, which has been designed by Devereux Architects.

Cellular pathology is an important diagnostic discipline using high-powered microscopes and

other techniques to identify diseases at an early stage by looking at changes in cells.

The new lab will replace old ones at Preston Hall Hospital in Aylesford, Pembury Hospital and Kent and Sussex Hospital, and will also allow the trust to continue to provide a histology service to Medway Hospital Trusts and Medway PCT. MTW trust chief executive Glenn Douglas said: “This is very good news. It means that in just over a year we will have some of the most modern and well equipped cellular pathology facilities in the country.

“This is part of a £64 million programme of developments over the next five years to create a centre of excellence at Maidstone Hospital which will bring big benefits to our patients and to the local community”.

The building, which stands three storeys high

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including the top-level plant room, is to house 80 full time hospital staff.

Head of Projects Kevin Vaughan told Premier Construction, “So far, the foundations, structural steel frame, drainage and floor slabs are all complete. The project is going well, and we’re in line for a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating”.

The project has been on site since February 2010, and work is on schedule for handover in March 2011.

Oakwood Group hard at work on Carshalton development The Oakwood Group is developing a plot at Butter Hill in Carshalton with a mixture of flats and houses. The 5 fourbed, three-storey terraced houses and a block containing a range of one, two and three bed flats are currently on site following a February 2010 commencement.

The story of the site is not straightforward, and a marathon planning battle has preceded recent developments. Oakwood Group was introduced to the site following failure by one of the group’s competitors to secure planning consent. The site had been dismissed at a Public Local Inquiry, prior to Oakwood’s involvement, and presented a series of very complicated challenges related to privacy and overlooking of neighbouring residential properties.

Oakwood worked very closely in conjunction with the planners and design officers, at the Local Planning Authority [LPA], to overcome the inspector’s concerns in dismissing the previous appeal. After several months of negotiation and following two separate detailed planning applications, the LPA finally recommended the scheme for approval. However, it was refused at committee level by members on grounds of insufficient parking, which had never previously been cited as a reason for refusal.

An appeal was subsequently lodged against the decision of the planning committee, and the planning inspectorate granted permission for the scheme. Full costs were awarded, by the inspector, on the grounds that the council had been unreasonable in its decision to refuse the application.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t Sutton’s partnering registered social landlords, The Orbit Group, who will eventually manage the completed development.

Enabling activities comprised the demolition of a three storey reinforced concrete framed commercial building and two houses.

The site lies within an area of archaeological interest and Oakwood operatives were required to carry out a field investigation to assess and record the nature and importance of any archaeology on the site. These works were carried out in conjunction with the local authority and English Heritage.

The buildings have been designed using Modern Methods of Construction and are being manufactured ‘off-site’ using timber frame technology. The homes will meet the Building Research Establishment’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 Rating and twenty per-cent of the predicted annual energy consumption of the dwellings will be generated from on-site renewable energy sources, principally photovoltaic panels. Water saving devices have been incorporated into the design, such as low flush cisterns in toilets, spray taps and low volume baths to reduce water wastage in the buildings.

The Orbit Group’s James Nicholson spoke to Premier Construction, giving an update on site developments: “The site is relatively tight, but the contractors have been able to use parking areas for storage, so there has been no disruption to the schedule. Currently, all the buildings are watertight and the first fixings are under way.

“The contractors are delivering the whole package for us, and it looks like the end result will be attractive as well as affordable, with nice brick and cedar facades and plenty of neat landscaping.

“I’ve only been involved with the project for a short time, but I’ve already noticed that there is a determination to get the best out of the project and finish with something to be proud of. As contracts manager, I’ll be looking to do my bit to make sure that continues”.

The £3.8 million project is due to be completed in May 2011.

Orbit Group Orbit was established over 40 years ago, employs over 1,800 people, manages 33,600 homes (as at April 2008) and is one of largest housing groups in the UK. The group offers services including rented housing, affordable home ownership to buy or rent, new homes, supported housing, and services for older people such as care and repair services and sheltered accommodation.

The group has a strong track record in delivering sustainable

Construction News

The Oakwood Group The Oakwood Group is a major player in the affordable housing arena where it provides a ‘turnkey’ service for registered social landlords, offering purpose designed, affordable schemes in London and the home counties.

The group specialises in: public sector affordable housing schemes; direct development residential schemes for private sale; private developer residential and mixed use schemes; and site acquisition and planning.

The company was established in 1992, with a focus on house building. Oakwood’s business has diversified over the last five years and the lion’s share of the income stream now comes through direct development and partnering based activity. The company’s forecast turnover for the forthcoming year is £20m.

Find out more about the group at www.theoakwoodgroup.co.uk

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Environment Agency plans for a wet Christmas The Environment Agency has teamed up with Jackson Civil Engineering to upgrade flood defences at Welches Dam, near March in Cambridgeshire. The £3.4m contract involves refurbishing a pumping station, upgrading piping and replacing plant that dates back as far as 1948.

Sadia Moeed, project manager for the Environment Agency, spoke to Premier Construction: “The machinery that has been running on-site to date has been effective but labour intensive.

Towards the end of its life, it would fail to start up correctly around 20% of the time, so it was labour intensive in that operatives would have to pay frequent visits to the site. When you bear in mind that the pumps have to operate as often as twice a day in winter, you see how

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communities for the future by investing in a range of quality services and homes and creating places where people want to live. Orbit Group Limited is an exempt charity and is a registered social landlord. Find out more at www.orbitfirststep.org.uk

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important it is to have a fully automated system that requires only sporadic site visits.

“A lot of thought and preparation has gone into the project, as the new station is expected to be operational for 25 years and fits into our drive to be prepared for the next 100 years, taking climate change into account. We know that pumping isn’t the most sustainable solution for the long term, so there are plans to switch, eventually, to flood storage in spaces freed up by mineral extraction”.

The pumping station drains almost 9,000 hectares of agricultural land and protects 1,500 homes from flooding, or from being isolated by flood waters, in an area which sits

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below sea level and would be rendered virtually useless without man-made defences.

Work is expected to be complete by November, in time for the wettest period of the year.

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£12.6 million well spent in Leatherhead The new build stage of the £12.6million redevelopment of Leatherhead Leisure Centre is now complete. The final phase of refurbishment is now underway thanks to main contractor VolkerFitzpatrick.

Residents can now enjoy many new facilities and activities.

These include a state of the art gym, aerobics studio, sauna and steam rooms and three therapy rooms offering a diverse range of treatments. There is also a new large purpose-built soft play area, a new crèche, a café serving fresh Starbucks coffee, a ground floor open-plan reception, a four-court floodlit Multi use Games Area for football, tennis and netball and refurbished function suites and meeting rooms. New features also include two glass back squash courts with a viewing area that has been in use since October 2009.

Customer feedback has been very positive. Many think that the facility is now on par or above the standard of anything in the private sector.

The final facilities to be updated are the pool area, the changing rooms, the clubroom and the sports hall. They will be launched in early January 2011. The project is currently on schedule and on budget.

Councillor Vivienne Michael, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing and Customer Service, said, “Our customers are obviously delighted with the new facilities and we have been receiving great feedback. Further improvements will be finished by the end of the year, when the transformation of the centre will be complete”.

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Previously, a June cake-cutting ceremony took place at the centre to celebrate the official opening of Phase 2. The cake was cut in the new bright and airy café and bar area. Attendees included: Councillor John Northcott, Chairman of the Council; Mrs Northcott; Councillor James Friend, Leader of the Council; Councillor Clare Curran, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing; staff from Mole Valley District Council and Fusion Lifestyle.

Leatherhead Leisure Centre is managed for Mole Valley District Council by Fusion Lifestyle. The cake-cutting ceremony allowed them to celebrate the refurbishment and their partnership. They are both extremely pleased with the progress of the project so far.

Councillor Northcott, who cut the cake, said: “It gives me great pleasure to officially open Phase 2 of the £12.6 million refurbishment of Leatherhead Leisure Centre. This phase of the refurbishment will improve dramatically customers’ experience of the centre, starting with the stunning new frontage and bright ground-floor reception area with café bar”.

Also new are the gym changing rooms, sauna, steam and therapy rooms on the first floor. These new facilities complement the already completed state of the art gym and studio and new soft play area, crèche and squash courts.

The next and final phase of the refurbishment, Phase 3, is already underway, and should be completed by Christmas. It includes the total refurbishment of the swimming pools, all wet and dry changing rooms, the sports hall and clubrooms.

Rydon takes on Wandsworth window challenge Rydon has been awarded a 52 week, £1.25m refurbishment contract by the London Borough of Wandsworth for major refurbishment works including window replacement with residents in their homes at Badric Court in Clapham, for both the council tenants and leaseholders.

The project will involve removing existing wooden framed and asbestos panelled windows and replacing them with new PVC tilt and turn windows. The contract also includes door replacements, electrical upgrades to communal areas and minor structural repairs to the building. There are 171 units at Badric Court requiring new windows and the work is expected to be complete by the end of March 2011. All of the units are labelled ‘maisonettes’ and are intended for general use.

The pilot flat was completed first, with works on the remaining units starting in early April 2010. Andrew Sharp, Pre Construction Manager at Rydon, comments, “Rydon is currently undertaking a number of refurbishment and maintenance contracts across London and the South East. Winning this contract with this new client further strengthens our position as one of the leading specialists in refurbishment works on properties with residents in their homes”.

Adrian Spink is the project manager for the London borough of Wandsworth. He took time out of his busy schedule to speak to Premier Construction, saying, “This was originally intended to be a contract running from March to March, but it is possible that the work will be done ahead of schedule”.

Recently, Wandsworth Council organised an event in collaboration with the police, London Fire Brigade and energy efficiency grant supplier Warm Front, which aimed to help improve the housing conditions for people living in poor quality privately rented accommodation. The plan was to offer advice and support to people on issues ranging from overcrowding, repairs and unsuitable conditions to dangerous gas and electrical services, dampness and inadequate fire precautions.

Warm Front discussed energy efficiency at home and offered information to both landlords and tenants on a number of government grant schemes worth up to £3,500 for improving insulation and central heating systems.

“All clients receive the same high quality standard of work they expect, whether it be a small or large contract. This is due to our very high standard of tradesmen we employ and all training is of the highest standard.

“Asmatt has gone from strength to strength, adding additional services to our scopes of works which enable the customer to have a more complete job without having to employ other trades.

A newly opened building division has been opened this summer which enables us to offer a complete package of refurbishment works to our clients as well as our established Asbestos Removal and Surveying arm of the company”.

Asmatt Premier Construction spoke to Kim Francis of the project s asbestos specialist, Asmatt. Kim said, Trading since 2004, Asmatt Limited has always ‘put the customer first’.

“Having established firm working relationships with many long existing customers, it has proved its ability to sustain the same working ethics and standards for over six years.

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New children’s home replaces outdated predecessor An existing 1960s children’s home in Bury St. Edmunds known as Alexandra House is being redeveloped to provide accommodation for up to eight children. Work has been under way at the site, which sits on Hospital Road, since February 2010. Main contractor Wates is marshalling the site.

The traditional masonry construction will take up 80% of the original home’s footprint, and will eventually offer six bedrooms plus two in an adjoining flat. The flat is to be used for older children as a first step towards living independently.

The decision was taken to demolish the existing children’s home, which was deemed unfit for purpose and was difficult to manage. St Edmundsbury Borough Council originally objected to the proposals with concerns relating to highway safety and manoeuvring of delivery vehicles and the potential for overlooking the adjacent neighbours’ garden. Obscure glazing to the windows on the west elevation was incorporated into the plans to appease planners.

The property is located in a predominantly residential area of south Bury St Edmunds. The site forms part of a larger Suffolk County Council land holding. The site slopes away from the Hospital Road boundary and benefits from a number of mature trees and soft landscaping which provide screening from surrounding properties.

The new building has been designed to complement the local domestic style, whilst providing the children with an environment that is welcoming, inviting, safe and secure and responsive to their needs.

A continuous cantilever at first floor level, coupled with contrasting brickwork and modern interpretations of traditional domestic elements (i.e. windows and chimneys), offers a contemporary clean look. Whilst reading as one structure, it conveys the appearance of three individual properties helping to reduce the scale in line with neighbouring properties.

The dominant mass of the structure is a result of the client brief which prohibits the use of single-storey roofs on site.

The building is positioned in line with the adjacent residential properties maintaining the building line within the streetscape. It also provides a sheltered play area.

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Multi stock bricks have been used for the walls with white render to depict the main entrance gable and subdivide the mass of the building. Eternit slates are used on the roof to better reflect neighbouring properties. Timber windows faced with powder coated aluminium have been used, the proportions of which match those of the original building. However, they feature a modern transom/mullion arrangement and coloured glass to enhance the contemporary style of the building.

Previously, access to the car park from Hospital Road was via a 2m wide track down a steep gradient to the rear of the property.

This arrangement was difficult for disabled users and presented security problems as the rear of the property was open.

The new scheme has relocated the car park to the front of the site and provided level access to the new building. Fencing has been provided to securely enclose the private areas of the site.

The new car park provides parking for seven vehicles and one minibus and an additional disabled parking space.

Pedestrian access onto the site has been ‘rationalised’ from the previous two access routes to one, which passes the entrance office, affording better monitoring of visitors to the building.

A number of alternative sites were considered during the early stages of the project but these were found to be unsuitable for a number of reasons (both geographical and economical). It was also felt that the disruption that would be caused to the children as a result of relocating to a new site (loss of friends, unfamiliar surroundings, relocating to new schools) could not be ignored.

As a result, it was agreed that the best solution would be to demolish the existing property and rebuild.

Suffolk County Council’s Charles Coulson told Premier Construction, “This is essentially a large house, with added benefits such as the IT room, a large art room or workshop and a kitchen big enough to suit the use of the property”.

Unlike most houses, however, Alexandra House may well be granted an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating, according to Charles: “The building has excellent thermal ratings and a biomass boiler, as well as two solar water heaters. Our ambition is definitely to go for the ‘excellent’ rating”. Meanwhile, the project continues to head for a completion date in late November or early December 2010.

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Tesco extension completed by November A major extension at Tesco in Skimpot Road, Dunstable, will give customers more space and more choice, once work is completed by main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland.

The expansion, which will see the supermarket extended by a quarter, will include a new pharmacy, opticians and a Costa Coffee franchise. There will also be an improved range of clothing, fresh produce, groceries and frozen food, along with an upgraded deli counter.

Work is expected to be completed by November. According to a Tesco spokesman, the shop will only have to close for a few days towards the end of November.

To allow the supermarket to carry out the extension, the nearby pavilion owned by Dunstable Town Council, in the Peter Newton Recreation Ground, had to be demolished with the understanding that Tesco would foot the bill for a new building. The supermarket giant thrashed out a deal some time ago with Dunstable Town Council to pay for a replacement for the pavilion. The idea is that the new facility is a replacement for the council’s 1950s pavilion in the Newton Recreation Ground.

The new space, which carries a price tag of £1.5 million, has now been completed, and Bedfordshire Football Association, which formerly occupied the old building, has moved into the new site. The new pavilion includes a community hall, a bar and changing facilities.

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The local reaction One local lady told Premier Construction, “I’m delighted that the supermarket is going to be extended, but I hope the work is done quickly. I like coffee, so I’ll make sure I stop for a cuppa once I’ve done my shopping. My husband always complains about going to the supermarket, but now he can sit and read the paper in the cafe while I take my time, so it’s a win-win situation”.

Asked for his thoughts on the new pavilion arrangement, one local football fanatic enthused, “Credit to Tesco. If they really have spent £1.5 million on the building, it shows that at the end of the day, they’re not here to damage the community like some people have said, but they’re looking after local people and local culture”. Asked if he had noticed the construction work going on, he replied, “Yes, slightly, but it hasn’t got in the way of my shopping or anything like that. Again, credit to Tesco. They’ve done a really good job of it”.

Bowmer & Kirkland There are 25 companies in the Bowmer & Kirkland Group, one of which is B&K Construction. Founded in the 1920s, the group now consists of 32 subsidiary companies or divisions, offering a wide range of specialist construction services.

B&K now has in excess of 1700 staff operating from a head office in Derbyshire and regionally throughout the UK; luckily, all B&K staff are supported by the group’s career development plans and encouraged to be all they can be.

Slough school up to speed with new arts & media centre

constructed in similar facing block to the existing school with the windows at first floor in the east and west facing elevations with vertical coloured glass for solar shading.

Galebaker Galebaker Architectural was responsible for the external envelope works on the project, supplying, designing and

At long last, a bold and vibrant extension at the front of Baylis Court School for girls in Slough is now a reality and ensures that the school is to be a centre of excellence for the arts well into the 21st century.

The award-winning Integrated Design Consultants were appointed as project architects and worked closely with main contractor Geoffrey Osborne, as welll as the staff and pupils, in order to design an arts centre that meets the needs and aspirations of the school. The centre has been designed around a dynamic school hub where pupils can gather, circulate and socialise.

Large expanses of walls have created a blank, flexible canvas for hanging artwork and projecting performances. The centre also houses ‘state of the art’ performing art spaces with an external amphitheatre, a dance studio, art rooms and media rooms. Ground works started in October 2009 at the specialist arts school, and the work was completed in summer 2010.

Work on the centre has brought in specialist lighting and sound installations to the drama, dance and media suite, and the centre includes exhibition space, five classrooms, a reception, a cyber cafe and changing rooms. The new building replaces a series of modular classrooms.

The building is two storey and has a dramatic design with a combination of sloping and flat roofs. The entrance to the building has a slightly curved canopy and a full height glazed curtain walling.

The school’s exhibition work will be located within this front section of the building so that visitors will be able to see exhibits from outside the building as they approach.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t installing all curtain wall, screens and entrances; all windows and doors; polycarbonate façade screening; copings, parapets, and flashings; brise-soleils; and louvres. The company had a team of 10 working on the contract.

The company has experienced all aspects of its sector over the last 25 years from canopies in Basingstoke to the new British Embassy in Moscow.

The team was led by Craig Baker (Technical/Commercial Director), Frank Gale (Managing Director), Barry Riches (Senior Designer) and Lisa Price (Project Co-ordinator).

Formed in 2007 by Frank Gale and Craig Baker, the firm has risen quickly to achieve a status of envelope contractor and a strong working relationship with Geoffrey Osborne.

Find out more about the firm at www.galebaker.com

3,000 staff moved into new Nomura base “Sun-dappled façades, a sheltered public realm formed by timber structures on an impressive maritime scale, the ever-present riverscape: this is the biggest open area on the City waterfront and a substantial addition to the collateral of the City”.

The developers had it right with their description of Watermark Place, the new waterfront building now occupied by Nomura and renamed ‘One Angel Lane’ by the global investment bank , which has been rapidly growing its business since it bought part of the Lehman Brothers European and Asian business in 2008. The building is now occupied by 3,000 Nomura staff and is in the final stages of the fit-out contract, led by Como, a fit-out specialist and subsidiary of Mace. The whole scheme is part of Nomura’s ‘Project Shinkyo’ – its overall infrastructure plan.

The fit-out contract follows the initial construction carried out

by Sir Robert McAlpine, and Nomura has taken sole occupancy of the building, whose potential tenants at one stage included the likes of Rupert Murdoch’s News International.

To reduce the risk of flooding of the site, the entire building has been constructed on a raised plinth 5.2 metres above sea-level.

The pixelated facade has been created by taking a photograph of rippling water and running it through several Photoshop filters to create what the architect calls “a dot matrix interlayer” that will vary the appearance of the building as well as providing solar shading for the insides. The structure also incorporates innovative features such as triple-skinned façades, motorised sun-tracking louvres and brise-soleil to minimise solar gain.

The building’s trading floor benefits from further innovation, with 1,900 water-cooled trading desks, designed to localise the cooling around the technology heat generating elements allowing ceiling mounted chilled beams to provide improved comfort levels for workers. At the same time, a massive 1.4km of LED lighting runs with a reduced operating cost of 15% and with a life span of 10 years.

Watermark Place was the replacement for Mondial House, a former British Telecom Headquarters. The new building actually reuses 31% of the basement of Mondial House. In its new guise, the building is 525,000 sq ft of highly specified, flexible and efficient commercial office space in an architecturally distinguished new development in the largest area of open riverside space in the City.

The building was honoured with the Institution of Civil Engineers London Merit Award 2009, the city’s highest honour for civil engineering achievement. It was hailed as ‘an exemplar of sustainable urban design’.

Tony Bartle, whose role at Nomura as head of real estate and services puts him in the position of project director for the new building, spoke to Premier Construction: “We see the remaining work in two phases – the first being the fit out and staff relocation we have just completed in only nine months, which I was particularly proud of. Now that people in the building and able to work, we’re concentrating on the following phase, which entails finishing off areas like the auditorium, the restaurant floor, and what we call the wellbeing centre, which includes a gym and a medical centre with an in-house dentist, a G.P service and so on. Once the work is complete, the building will have capacity for up to 4,700 people.

“We went directly to Como for the fit-out as we had contacts

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there and we knew they would be able to deliver a full package with a ready-made team. It’s important to remember that the business is operating as usual during the project, so it has been important to avoid uncertainty and delays. The same goes for disruption from noise, dust and so on, and we’ve been able to reach agreements with the contractor that allow both parties to work virtually unhindered”.

Asked about the origins of the project, Tony said “Back in September 2008 following the acquisition, our immediate priority was to secure office accommodation for our staff, so we entered into a short term deal to stay in parts of Lehman’s’ offices in Canary Wharf. This allowed us time to evaluate our options, and using criteria of office size and quality, trading floor capacity and most importantly economics, moving to Angel Lane was the best decision. The move also provided a unique opportunity to completely refresh our infrastructure for the region”.

Tony says his team will be able to gauge the success of the move as of the end of 2010, shortly after the fit-out contract is completed, when the firm carries out both a business survey and a staff survey on what he calls “a transformational step for the company” into “a very prestigious new location”.

BFAP moves forward in latest stage of works The Broadland Flood Alleviation Project is a long-term project to provide a range of flood defence improvements, maintenance and emergency response services within the tidal areas of the Rivers Yare, Bure, Waveney and their tributaries.

Broadland Environmental Services Ltd, a joint venture company between BAM Nuttall Ltd. and Halcrow Group Ltd., has been appointed by the Environment Agency to deliver these services and, in partnership with the agency, it is now implementing the 20-year programme of works.

This contract was awarded in May 2001 as a Public Private Partnership Programme, and is the first of its kind to provide flood defences on this scale.

Compartment 3 of the scheme comprises approximately 7400m of continuous flood bank along the right bank of the River Ant and covers an area of 319 hectares. A large proportion of this compartment falls under ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) agreement and is comprised of Tier 1 (permanent grassland), Tier 2 (extensive grassland), Tier 4A (Arable reversion to permanent grassland) and fen, with the remainder not in the ESA scheme.

A small area in the north of the compartment, Alderfen Broad, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is designated a Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) and a Ramsar site under European and International legislation. There are a small number of properties in this compartment including Horning Hall and Neatishead Hall.

The A1062 runs from east to west through the compartment, crossing the river Ant at Ludham Bridge, where there is also a

boatyard. The remains of St James Hospital can be found in the south of the compartment.

Paul Mitchelmore of the Environment Agency spoke to Premier Construction: “This is a PFI initiative, so it carries more risk than our usual contracts, and it demands trust in the contractor. So far, the trust has been justified and things have progressed well. Once the improvement works to the flood defences have been completed in each compartment, the contractor is responsible for maintaining those defences until the end of the contract period in 2021. At this point the defences, with a guaranteed residual life, are handed back to the client who can expect only to have to carry out light maintenance for several years...

“With a project of this kind, there can be a lot of concern amongst the public in the initial stages. That’s because we’re talking about sensitive areas – national parks, which are areas of natural beauty – that have quite fragile eco-systems and very little human infringement, other than for leisure. There’s a large boating industry in the area, for example, as well as a lot of fishing. Those interests, added to the local residents, make up a diverse group of stakeholders keen to protect the area.

“However, we alleviate concerns by showing that our presence is far from destructive. In fact, it’s the opposite – we’re investing a lot of money to protect the area and leave it better off than it was before. Once people see that, there’s a strong tendency for them to get right behind us, even if our work causes temporary disruption from time to time”.

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Former print works is transformed into an award winning site Site manager, Colin Smith from Lovells has just won his first NHBC Pride in the Job Award for his work at Mildmay Avenue, Islington, North London. This mixedtenure housing development is located on the former site of Pims House, print works and once complete will comprise of over 130 flats. Some of these flats will be for open market sale, some for affordable rent and others for NewBuild HomeBuy shared ownership with Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA).

Demolition of the old print works commenced in January 2009 and phase one of the development was handed over by Colin Smith in July 2010. The first Phase of the development involved the erection of 45 flats. As the funding for the development has been for the most part from Homes for Islington they have taken over nearly all of the first phase properties as shared ownership or rented accommodation.

The blocked flat development once complete will boast dwellings ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom, constructed with a timber frame. The external façade is brick with metal cladding to roof areas and double glazing throughout.

The site will incorporate environmentally-friendly features including a biomass-fuelled boiler which will deliver 10 per cent of its energy requirements. A number of the properties will also have green or brown roofs.

Due to the nature of the property, which is encircled by private housing there was a planning requirement that none of the properties had windows to the rear to ensure that the residents in the private housing where not overlooked. Curtain walling has been used to areas that overlook communal areas to permit as much light as possible into the properties. Due also to this close proximity of residents to the construction Colin Smith said that they often had to liaise with local residents and as part of the Considerate Constructor Scheme were restricted to set working hours. However with clear communication Phase one was completed on schedule Within the blocks of flats there is a requirement that 6 of the

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ground floor flats offer disabled facilities. All of the properties adhere to the Safe by Design criteria. Flats will have a key fob door entry system, video access if the property is shared accommodation or a telephone link to the property itself if it is a rental property.

The first phase of the development has not included any landscaping work because of its close proximity to the main access road, however eventually once all phases are complete there are plans to incorporate garden areas to the front of the development for communal use. Due also to the nature of the area there is very little car parking facilities on site as Mildmay Avenue is only a single carriageway. There are 8-10 spaces at present in a basement area and once the site is complete plans are in place to increase the parking facilities.

This is the first NHBC Award for Colin Smith. He was involved previously with civil engineering and construction work and has only recently got into house building. Colin said “It’s a fantastic feeling to know that your efforts have been recognised by such a highly respected external source such as the NHBC. My entire team takes enormous pride in every aspect of what they do onsite and this accolade is a credit to everyone involved on phase one at Mildmay Avenue, Islington.”

So what makes a Quality award winner? “From a personal point of view I have been on a learning curve and when you are on this curve you tend to attend to things that come up on site with a little bit more urgency, ensuring that every detail is correct and also ensuring good communication. We had a good comradery with all the contractors on site which also helps and keeping a safe clean site is paramount” says Colin.

He added that the award he feels was mostly down to a “good all round team performance right through from the design by PRP Architects, to the structural engineers and all the subcontractors involved on the site.”

Since the completion of phase one Colin has moved on from this site but wishes the project manager continued success with the next phases of the development.

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Corporate leisure group saves historic buildings A £13.5 million scheme to renovate historical properties around the St. Davids peninsula of North Pembrokeshire is well under way, involving the Retreats Group and contractors Carreg Construction and Welsh Heritage Construction, as well as architects Acanthus Holden.

The scheme takes in Roch Castle, Penrhiw Priory and Twr-Y-Felin Hotel.

The Retreats Group Ltd operates and manages the properties held by The Retreats Group Trust. The trust fund was pledged to the trustees in order to purchase and restore significant historic buildings and heritage properties to their original intended glory.

The idea is the brainchild of Keith Griffiths, chairman of Aedas, the world’s largest architectural practice.

The trust acquires and restores these historical buildings as exclusive luxury hotels and retreats, thereby ensuring a new life for them. Once work is complete, the properties will provide the highest quality of luxury accommodation within historic buildings and settings of spell binding beauty.

Roch Castle, the project led by Welsh Heritage Construction, stands proudly on a rock outcrop commanding panoramic views over Pembrokeshire and the sea. The 13th century Norman castle’s 6 en suite bedrooms, dining and conference facilities are designed for enchanting, intimate retreats.

Major restoration work was undertaken on the castle a century ago using reinforced concrete and cement render, both of which were new to the industry at the time. During recent works, it has been discovered that the salty sand from local beaches that was used in the render has led to water being trapped and reinforcing bars rusting away. This led to a tricky situation – the floors in the grade I listed building were considered fine examples of early reinforced concrete, and yet they were unstable and had to be

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removed. Luckily, contractors have managed to retain some examples of the concrete in out-of-the-way areas.

Twr-Y-Felin was run as an eco hotel until 2008, when it was acquired by the Retreats Group Trust. Plans are for the building to become a boutique retreat, as well as the Retreats Group’s biggest development so far and its base of operations. It will boast a bar and a restaurant, as well as conference rooms and luxury bedrooms and suites. The hotel will be the last of the three properties to open – in 2013 – although a main contractor has not yet been appointed.

Penrhiw Priory will be the first project completed, in November 2011. Formerly a vicarage and a nunnery and latterly a retreat of lesser luxury than it is soon to exude, the building is currently being restored to its original footprint and design by Carreg Construction.

Carreg managing director Andrew Phillips told Premier Construction, “We’re stripping and removing some quite ugly additions that had been made to the building over the years and, as well as carrying out general repairs to the exterior such as repointing the stone and installing cast iron gutters and new lead work, we’re fitting out the interior with top quality installations.

Everything has been purpose made and no expense has been spared.

“There are extensive new services, and that has been a major part of the work, and all the windows have been replaced. The six bedrooms are all en suite and have been fully tiled – it’s all real high end stuff – and we’ve installed water storage tanks for the high pressure showers.

“Pren Joinery, our sister company, have been looking after the woodwork. We had to create a new workshop in the area specifically for the job – there are oak floors and panelled

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doors throughout – and now that we have in place all the new equipment we needed for the job, it makes sense to keep the workshop. I can foresee that becoming an important part of our business now.

“We have also worked on the former stable building that adjoins the priory. It had been joined to the main building and we’ve actually ‘re-separated’ them as part of the work to remove unsympathetic additions. The stable will now serve as a standalone apartment and take the number of bedrooms to seven”.

Away from the buildings themselves, the contractors have been busy making the exterior match in terms of quality, as Andrew explains: “There’s a new drainage system and we’ve put in natural stone paving all the way around the buildings with a granite sett driveway. Additionally, there is now a completely new lighting system for the exterior, which extends to the woodland on the site”.

Andrew’s company was hired for its local links as well as its expertise, which Andrew feels has increased greatly as a result of the contract: “It’s not often that you get the opportunity to work on such a nice conservation project. It’s challenging work but I feel we’re fortunate to have been given the chance and I think we’ve made the most of it. It’s important to keep a good reputation and work like this can help you to make a name for yourself as a company.

I’d feel confident now of taking on any similar project given the experience we now have behind us”.

Carreg are now finalising fittings and decorations in the main building, and Andrew expects to be finished by mid November, whilst the priory will officially open as a retreat in May 2011.

Along with their luxury bedrooms and scenic grounds, visitors to the priory will enjoy a dining area and kitchen for 12 people, a library and study room, a spa and a dedicated housekeeper and maid.

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The Retreats Group Trust continues to search for suitable historic properties in West Wales, Normandy, Brittany and North Spain, as it seeks to become a major player in the niche yet lucrative market of corporate retreats. The developer is already thinking beyond the first three properties, having recently acquired a property on the High Street of St. David’s. Keith Griffiths has himself spent plenty of time at corporate events, as befits the head of a global superpower within its field. The architect supposedly came up with the investment idea whilst relaxing in a French castle after a meeting with some of his ultrapowerful associates, and resolved to bring the same kind of luxury retreat to his homeland.

He said, “My aim is to match the Armani and Bulgari hotel standards of fit-out within an historic building. I want to provide luxury corporate hospitality to the highest level of excellence, yet located within some of the iconic historical landmarks of this picturesque corner of Wales”.

Ultra-green college opens for new academic year The College Ystrad Mynach’s new build in Hengoed, designed with green features throughout and recently opened just in time for the 2010-11 academic year, has been recognised as one of the most sustainable buildings in the Wales.

The new build is located near Caerphilly and houses a new library, classrooms, refectory and learning support facilities.

The four-storey teaching block also contains a hair and beauty studio and space for public areas for students, exhibitions, competitions and public events. It was constructed within the footprint of the building it replaced after a two-week demolition phase. The building has been designed by AWW Bristol and constructed by Midas Construction.

The college was honoured at the Welsh BREEAM awards held recently, as one of the 6 most successful sustainable buildings in Wales, scoring an ‘excellent’ rating of 72.62%.

“The buildings we live and work in account for 50% of the UK’s total emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas.

Construction generates 72 million tonnes of waste per year, 17% of all waste”, said Paul Martin, Deputy Principal of The College Ystrad Mynach. “By building to BREEAM Excellent standards, we are making a contribution to ‘responsible building’ and helping to minimise our carbon footprint. Over time this makes both economic and environmental sense”.

Chris Mitchell, director of AWW, said, “We are delighted that Ystrad Mynach’s new build has been recognised as an exemplar of environmentally sensitive design. We have worked closely

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with the college to meet their aspirations for a building that had a truly sustainable design approach, which includes naturally ventilated classrooms, a ‘green’ roof to encourage bio-diversity, rain water harvesting and a new bio-mass boiler. This has been achieved whilst still responding to the design philosophy of adjacent buildings.

“We believe that this building and the true teamwork ethos of the project, shows the way forward not only for the college, but for all further education buildings in Wales”.

The new build includes a host of green features, including rainwater harvesting for the toilets, a natural timber frame to the refectory, a biomass boiler, natural ventilation and a green roof.

The College’s estates manager, Steve Davies, spoke to Premier Construction, saying, “The project took a lot of discussion and planning but other than that the work went ahead smoothly. We knew what we were to expect from Midas, who were excellent.

There was a real team spirit around the place and all parties involved were committed to helping each other out.

“The BREEAM award has been an important part of the project and we’re proud to have got it, but the most important thing is providing an excellent educational facility and I think it’s clear for all to see that we’ve done that”.

The College has six sites throughout the Caerphilly Borough with each offering its own unique learning environment. The College has more than 14,000 students ranging from school leavers to adult mature students and offers both academic and vocational courses at entry and degree level.

Feeding young minds Students at the college can now be sure of all-round sustenance thanks to a superb new refectory kitchen created on site by commercial catering specialists Space.

Specialists in foodservice design and installation, Space worked in close partnership with Midas to install the production

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kitchen in an all-new, four storey teaching facility. With more than 15,000 students walking through the door every year, the kitchen had to be practical and hard-working as well as feature some of the latest equipment.

Space created a real workhorse of a kitchen with a spacious central island cooking unit supplemented by versatile Rational combination ovens, to get the food away on time. Front of house there is a smart run of serveries and counters whilst the kitchen boasts a clever conveyor dishwashing system to keep everything ship-shape.

Space successfully project managed the entire scheme from start to finish, coordinating with the main contractor and all the trades to ensure the new facility was completed on time and within budget.

To find out more about Space, visit www.spacecatering.co.uk

£1.2 million sports centre set for summer 2011 completion The scheme is the brainchild of Fishguard and Goodwick Sports Club and aims to provide much needed changing facilities for local sports clubs, plus meeting and function rooms for community use.

Tom Kinver, whose firm Kinver Kreations has provided design for the project and worked alongside main contractor Enzo’s Construction, said at the launch, “We expect it will take about 12 months to construct the new building, which will hopefully be ready for use by sports clubs and the community by May 2011”.

Work began on site in May 2010.

The design relies on overhanging eaves, eave forks, cantilevered flying eaves and balconies to add aesthetic appeal what is otherwise a highly functional building. Externally, the two storey building features Forticrete face block and timber cladding, with oversized glazing and port holes.

Speaking in August 2010, Tom Kinver said, “The steel erection will start within the next few weeks and, for the first time, we will be able to observe the Phoenix building rising out of the ground”.

Located in Goodwick, Pembrokeshire, the facility will stand as a new multi-purpose community centre, with a music room, a meeting room, a restaurant and bar area, viewing areas for football, and cricket and rugby pitches. Four changing rooms will support the sport.

The site used to be home to a 1970s pre-fabricated, sports club building, which was demolished to make way for the new centre.

Concrete rubble from the old building has been recycled in the foundations of the new sports club.

Organisers of the project have been awarded a £500,000 presentation cheque by Big Lottery officials. Extra funding has come from the Welsh Assembly Government and Pembrokeshire County Council, while there has been a ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign locally to raise £5 per brick. Fundraising plans include door-todoor promotion of the ‘Buy-a-Brick’ scheme and car washing at the local Stenaline Ferry terminal, while the weekly Phoenix Bingo session continues alongside plans for a sponsored sleepover, a Goodwick Brass Band concert and a sponsored Rosslare to Fishguard Pigeon race.

John Deason, Fishguard and Goodwick Sports Club chairman, said his team was anxious to increase the fundraising effort and welcomed new volunteers.

He said, “The combination of successful grant applications, community fundraising and volunteer efforts will deliver for the

community a first-rate centre that will provide vital facilities.

“The key to our success with grant applications has been our ability to raise match funding and to maximise the input of volunteers, which demonstrates the high level of community support for the scheme”.

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GHA’s 414 new homes built in partnership with Cruden Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is investing in hundreds of high-quality new homes in one of the biggest social housing new-build projects in Scotland of recent times.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and GHA’s Tenant Chair Sandra Forsythe last year marked the launch of the £57million project at the first of the sites at Shafton Road in Knightswood – which has now been completed and handed over, ahead of programme.

A total of 414 homes are planned, in partnership with Cruden Building & Renewals Limited, at nine sites across the city in Phase 2 of GHA’s new build programme which is providing apprenticeship opportunities for local young people.

Work is nearing completion on the first three sites which will see the creation of 55 new homes in Drumchapel, Knightswood and Pollok.

Work on a further 265 homes at four sites in Yoker, Pollok, Linthouse, and Pollokshaws has also started while another 94 homes are due to be built on sites in Duke Street/High Street and Govan.

The project is supported with funds from the Scottish Government and construction is being carried out by Scottish housebuilder and principal building contractor Cruden Building & Renewals Limited.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The launch of this new build programme represents a significant step in delivering essential new housing that will benefit GHA tenants.

“The Scottish Government is committed to the regeneration of Glasgow’s most disadvantaged communities.

“We will work with our partners to ensure the people of Glasgow reap the benefits from large scale housing and regeneration projects”.

Sandra Forsythe, Tenant Chair of GHA, said: “We are delighted work has started on our Phase 2 new build project and we are really looking forward to handing over the keys of these stunning new homes to the lucky tenants across nine communities in Glasgow.

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“We’re also thrilled that we have been able to work with Cruden to create apprenticeships specifically for young people in the local catchment area”.

The nine sites will see: • 26 homes built at Airgold Drive/ Ledmore Drive in Drumchapel • 13 at Shafton Road in Knightswood • 22 at Halley Place in Yoker • 16 at Kempsthorn Crescent in Pollok • 70 at Brockburn Road in Pollok • 80 at Holmfauldhead Drive in Linthouse • 93 at Riverford Road in Pollokshaws • 47 at Summertown Road in Govan • 47 at Duke Street/High Street in Townhead The homes – which have Secured by Design accreditation, a police initiative which helps cut crime by improving home security – are for tenants coming from areas which are part of GHA’s clearance programme.

Tenants serving on all the Local Housing Organisation (LHO) committees in the new-build areas – Great Western Tenant Partnership, Clydeside, Pollok Tenants’ Choice, Clydeview, New Shaws, Compass and Cernach, – were closely involved in the specification and design of the new homes.

They worked with GHA’s new build team, Cruden and their design teams including Glasgow architectural firms Anderson Bell Christie and Hypostyle.

The new properties have between one and four bedrooms and include terraced homes, cottage flats, flats and semi-detached homes. 18 will be to wheelchair standard.

Plenty of room has been left for luxury during the project, as Colin Preston of S.C.I. Communication Services Ltd told Premier Construction: “We’re happy that we were appointed by Cruden as their specialist contractor for the installation of the digital television reception systems.

“The new systems will give a full range of digital terrestrial and satellite programming availability to the residents and each home has Sky Plus HD along with digital radio”.

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S c otl a n d The new homes are also environmentally friendly, achieving a ‘Very Good’ rating under Ecohomes standards, an assessment scheme run by Building Research Establishment Ltd (BRE) which grades each house.

GHA’s Phase 2 new-build programme follows the completion of Phase 1 which saw 259 homes built in the north of Glasgow.

Alex McGuire, GHA’s Executive Director of Regeneration, said: “These new homes are great news for our tenants – and are another piece in the regeneration jigsaw which benefits Glasgow as a whole. As well as building new homes people want to live in, we are determined to help build communities right across the city”.

The Community Benefit clause included in all GHA investment contracts delivers local training and employment initiatives which benefit residents of Glasgow.

In support of GHA’s Community Benefit Clause, Cruden has already created opportunities for ten apprentices on the initial sites with further apprenticeships to come across the remaining sites. Cruden’s four-year modern apprenticeships are certified by Construction Skills and trainees will work towards a City and Guilds certificate.

Cruden are also creating jobs for local people with further employment opportunities being created as the programme rolls out, these being co-ordinated through the City Council’s Regeneration Agency Network.

Allan Callaghan, managing director of Cruden Building and Renewals Ltd, said: “Cruden are committed to building high quality homes that will regenerate communities across Scotland.

In doing so, we are not only providing first class homes, we are also creating real employment opportunities for young people

by delivering on-the-job training and teaching life-long skills through our established apprenticeship scheme.

“Our apprenticeship programme provides a solution to help young people gain the practical skills they need such as joinery and plumbing to join the workforce. We aim to work with local people and local firms wherever possible throughout the construction process and it is our hope that the training we deliver will have a lasting impact on the communities long after the homes have been completed”.

Cruden Building & Renewals Ltd and Cruden Estates Ltd have combined forces to bring expertise in the areas of regeneration and residential property, working in partnership with GHA.

Aberdeenshire Council awarded further £1.35million for new council homes New council homes will be developed across Aberdeenshire following a third successful bid by the local authority for Scottish Government funding and will go towards new homes in Alford, Cruden Bay and Stonehaven.

Aberdeenshire Council will receive £1.35million towards the development of 45 new homes as part of the £25million third round of new build housing incentive funds made available to all 32 local authorities.

The successful bid follows a grant of £2.75million in two bids last year bringing the total figure to over £4million and will allow the authority to build 155 houses in total, some of which are now already underway.

The authority has started work already on 18 houses in Mintlaw,

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6 in Johnshaven and 12 in Tarves following funding bids last year, and has been working with CHAP, Bancon and Robertson Construction to add to its existing stock.

Director of Housing and Social Work Ritchie Johnson also sits on the Scottish Government’s Housing Policy Advisory Group and said: “We are building quality, energy efficient council homes in Aberdeenshire, whilst also continuing to maintain and improve the housing stock we currently have.

“This programme of new council house building will benefit future generations, raise living standards and provide people who have the greatest need with high quality homes. With over 7,000 people on our housing waiting lists the funding is welcome news, especially in the current economic climate”.

For the third round of funding, the Scottish Government has

increased its subsidy to £30,000 towards the construction of each new home. Aberdeenshire Council will meet the additional costs primarily through revenue from its Housing Revenue Account – the income received from council house rents.

Aberdeenshire Council has a stock of approximately 13,000 properties. The council had a waiting list of 7,017 applicants in June 2009, which includes direct applicants, transfers and homeless applicants. The council re-let 935 properties between March 2008 and April 2009. During the period March 2008 to April 2009, 1,593 households presented as homeless.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Social Work and Housing Committee Councillor Gurudeo Saluja said, “Affordable housing is a key priority and to be able to start work on new council homes having worked hard to secure funding is great news for us and even better news for the local community”.

Vice chairman Councillor Carl Nelson added, “We are providing new homes to people on our waiting list and also meeting the housing needs of the area”. ”It’s an important part of the council’s policy to provide quality housing and I’m pleased to see this work taking shape”.

Wates in Balgrayhill residential project Wates are carrying forward Glasgow Housing’s maintenance and repair commitments with a contract to carry out external alterations on a set of tower blocks at Viewpioint Place in Balgrayhill.

The work includes application of insulation with render over the top, as well as new insulation to the roof and external

refurbishment to the towers.

One of three site managers currently on the job, Wates’ Jackie Wallace spoke to Premier Construction with a progress report: “The planned completion date was originally May 2011, but we’re confident we can finish earlier than that – maybe even by the end of the year. We’ve been making quick progress since

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S c otl a n d we started on site in December 2009. When you consider there are around 300 flats in the towers we’re working on, that’s pretty impressive.

“We’ve been removing old tin cladding and replacing it with new cladding and render with insulation to 4 inches. On the roof, we’re basically starting all over again – ripping up the roof and putting down new slabs and felt cladding.

“We’re also upgrading the TV system and the lightning conductors, as well as putting in a curtain walling system on two of the towers”.

Wates has a large team on the job, with the intention of completing quickly as well as professionally. Originally, there were four site managers involved in the project – one for each tower – but the workload is now shared between Jackie, his two fellow site managers and the project manager. Wates also have a team of ‘gate men’ on site, and Jackie says, “We don’t always hire gate men, but this job has had a larger workforce on it than you might expect, with a view to beating the agreed completion date. There have been at least 65 of us, including sub-contractors, on site on any given day”.

Asked what had been done to avoid disruption to residents,

Jackie replied, “We’ve managed to avoid moving people out of their homes – the only disruption was that some people have had to move their cars temporarily out of the car park.

High rise in Glasgow The four towers at Viewpoint place, which reach as high as 25 storeys, date from the 1960s and are some of the tallest buildings in Glasgow. Faced with crippling housing shortages in the immediate post-war period, the city undertook the building of multi-storey housing in tower blocks in the 1960s and early 1970s on a grand scale, which led to Glasgow becoming the first truly high-rise city in Britain. However, many of these “schemes”, as they are known, were poorly planned, or badly designed and cheaply constructed, which led to many of the blocks becoming insanitary magnets for crime and deprivation.

It would not be until 1988 that high rises were built in the city once again. From the early 1990s, Glasgow City Council and its successor, the Glasgow Housing Association, have run a programme of demolishing the worst of the residential tower blocks, including the Gorbals blocks in 1993. Others, such as Viewpoint Place, have been deemed worthy of maintenance.

Edinburgh tram project moves on despite hiccups Construction of a 21st Century ‘transport solution’ for Scotland’s capital is now well underway. The city’s largest thoroughfare and busiest shopping destination, Princes Street, has tram tracks laid, around 50,000 metres of pipes, ducts and cables have been diverted from the route and significant work is progressing in the west of the city with off-street works from Haymarket to Edinburgh Airport.

The first tram of the fleet of 27 arrived in the city in April and sits proudly at the tram stop on Princes Street as a popular visitor exhibit. In fact, by the end of July, more than 60,000 people had passed through its doors. The depot at Gogar, which will house the trams, will be ready later this year to receive additional vehicles as they are delivered.

A recent statement from Richard Jeffrey, chief executive of Edinburgh Trams, read, “On-street works are currently behind schedule because of a well-publicised contractual dispute with one member of the construction consortium. However, Edinburgh Trams remains confident that the full route can still be delivered within 2012, and we are rigorously pursuing the contractor to deliver within the terms of their contract.

“The reality of a modern, integrated public transport scheme for Edinburgh grows ever nearer and I, along with my incredibly capable team, remain committed to the delivery of the project in 2012”.

The rationale behind bringing trams to Edinburgh remains

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solid. Edinburgh’s population continues to grow and the city’s streets cannot cope with increasing traffic demands. Trams carry high passenger volumes which help reduce car numbers and congestion. Trams create no on-street emissions as they are electrically powered. Carbon dioxide emissions associated with the generation of electricity used to power the trams will be balanced and offset by the reduction in emissions from those

drivers choosing to travel by tram rather than car.

Councillor Jenny Dawe, leader of City of Edinburgh Council, said, “We have come a long way since May 2002 when “Transport Initiatives Edinburgh” was formed to deliver major transport projects for the City of Edinburgh Council.

“Edinburgh is at the heart of a region of over one million people, expected to continue to grow over the next 20 years bringing consequent problems of traffic congestion and pollution which could threaten our future prosperity. We are well on the way to delivering a long-term solution, providing a high quality, integrated, modern, efficient transport system to keep Edinburgh moving”.

Contracts for the project have so far been handed out to major contractors such as Farrans, awarded the contract to finalise the diversion of utility infrastructure, who have been working alongside the main consortium made up of CAF, Siemens and Bilfinger Berger.

Rebuilding a community, transforming lives The first phase of a housing regeneration project in the Vineburgh area of Irvine is underway in a project comprising the construction of 82 houses.

Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd is carrying out the construction project for Lead Developer Cunninghame Housing Association, and has appointed nine young apprentices from Ayrshire to assist with work on the scheme.

The apprentices, aged between 16 and 19, are being trained in a variety of disciplines including joinery, bricklaying, painting and plumbing over the course of their four-year apprenticeship.

Housing minister Alex Neil visited the development in July and helped to bury a time capsule. The capsule – buried in a flower bed in the appropriately named New Caley Road – will stay in the ground until 2060.

Mr Neil, who first visited the site a year ago at the launch of the massive regeneration scheme, inspected the first phase of 44 houses in the new Homezone, created to give the pedestrian priority.

Part of the site has been given over to artwork from Impact Arts, who produced decorative tiling. Ron Richards, chairman of Cunninghame Housing Association said the community was “at the very core of their planning partnership.”

North Ayrshire Council leader David O’Neill said Vineburgh has a strong sense of history and local pride. He added: “Politicians nowadays often speak about sustainable communities and I’m not sure everyone understands what we mean by that.

“Basically a sustainable community is one where local people take pride in the area, take good care of their houses and play a part in keeping the community alive. From what we’ve seen here, Vineburgh is well on the way to becoming a first-class sustainable community and we should all be proud of that.”

The redevelopment of Vineburgh will: achieve high design quality to create homes and spaces which are desirable; introduce planting and trees to transform the character of the area and change perceptions of the area. The design and layout of the new Vineburgh will also make it safer and more secure for everyone living in the area and will help to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

All homes will have high levels of insulation, making them more energy efficient and more economical to heat. There will be a broad range of house types, which will meet current and future needs; for example 10% of new houses will be adapted for wheelchair use.

North Ayrshire Council commissioned Austin-Smith: Lord LLP in 2006, to undertake the preparation of the Regeneration

Masterplan for the local community within the Vineburgh area.

Cunninghame Housing Association(CHA) were appointed in 2007 by North Ayrshire Council’s Housing Services to undertake the redevelopment of the housing for rent and new supply shared equity. Through the bid submitted to attain Lead Developer status for Vineburgh, CHA committed itself to securing maximum training and employment opportunities from the housing investment in the local area.

This significant project will deliver approximately 300 affordable new homes and be developed over four phases. Approximately 200 new rented houses will be provided over phases 1 to 3.

Phase 2 of the project will provide 104 properties (86 for rent and 18 for sale on a new supply shared equity basis); phase 3 will provide 73 (45 for rent and 28 for sale on a new supply shared equity basis) and phase 4 will fully comprise housing for sale by the successful private developer.

Since 1986 the Cunninghame Housing Association’s development programme has gradually gained momentum. The marked increase in the association’s total improved housing stock from 87 properties in September 1990 to 333 projected units by December 1993, serves to illustrate the significant level of growth investment secured by the association over that period in time.

In 1990 the association changed its name to Cunninghame Housing Association and has continued to grow at a significant rate over that period to the present day.

Ashleigh Construction are achieving a sustainable level of turnover of £60 million, and their non-adversarial commercial approach continues to be a welcome and attractive ethos to their client base.

The company have taken a positive, pro-active approach to the current business challenges and, over the last two years, have successfully altered the balance of work undertaken. This level of stability has been achieved through focus on quality workmanship and investment in skills and training - which have been crucial in attracting new business opportunities in the public sector.

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Improved access routes to West Scotland ports take shape Work on a £6.5m dual carriageway scheme on the A75 is now well under way, following a ground breaking ceremony by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson earlier this year.

The A75 Cairntop to Barlae scheme, which will create a new 1.4 mile stretch of dual carriageway, will improve the access to and from the west coast ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan and support businesses, communities and tourism across Scotland. The scheme’s main contractor is RJ McLeod.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “This Cairntop to Barlae scheme will bring significant economic and social benefits to Scotland, including sustaining 30 jobs during the construction period as well as supporting plans to relocate Stena’s port to Cairnryan, further developing the area and ensuring connections from Cairnryan north and south are not only retained, but enhanced.

“This investment will also provide better

overtaking opportunities, helping traffic flow along the length of the route, meaning quicker and safer journeys for communities, tourists and freight traffic alike.

“The Scottish Government is committed to improving links across the country and this is one of a number of key projects planned for the A75 and A77. We have recently invested £29m in these routes with a further £60m earmarked for eight more projects in the coming months”.

The twelve month long contract will see a new eastbound carriageway constructed on the site of a disused railway line, with the existing A75 set to become the new westbound route, giving both east and westbound traffic dedicated safer overtaking opportunities.

Several drainage and watercourse culverts will be constructed as well as a Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) including two

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retention ponds. Several link roads will be constructed, connecting the east and westbound carriageways and an existing bridge across the disused railway will be demolished and removed. Protection and diversion works associated with BT, Scottish Water, Premier Transmissions and Scottish Power infrastructure will be carried out and provision of road restraint systems, signage and road marking/studs to the new eastbound and modified westbound A75.

Aberdeen seeks to grab a share of the growing shipping industry Aberdeen Harbour Board has awarded a £14 million contract to construction company McLaughlin & Harvey for the first phase of the Torry Quay redevelopment.

The Northern Irish firm will undertake works on the initial stage of a three-phase project worth £30 million, which got under way in April 2010.

The first phase, which will take a total of 18 months to complete, includes the demolition of the existing wharves at Torry Quay and replacing them with 300 metres of realigned, deep draughted quays constructed from steel piles and reinforced concrete.

These new quays are designed to be more suitable for modern, deep draughted ships and heavy cargoes, such as Subsea 7’s new 145m long and 26m wide diving support vessel, Seven Atlantic, which recently made its first official visit to Aberdeen Harbour.

The development will provide stronger quays for heavy lifts and create more room in the River Dee for vessels to navigate. Future uses of the new facility could include a support base for oil and gas customers and the handling of equipment for offshore renewable energy installations.

McLaughlin & Harvey has engaged steel giant ArcelorMittal to supply a range of foundation products for the project including hot rolled AZ sheet piles, tubular piles, H section beams, and tie rods through their partner Anker Schroeder, which together form the backbone of the works.

On completion, the project, which is part of Aberdeen Harbour Board’s £65 million development strategy, will result in over 500 metres of new deep water berths and more than seven hectares of back up land on the south side of the River Dee. Ken Reilly, engineering director of Aberdeen Harbour, said, “We are delighted that work is about to start on this redevelopment.

Aberdeen Harbour is an integral part of the north-east’s economy and it is essential that we offer port users new and improved facilities as vessels increase in size.

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“Substantial consultation has taken place with all the stakeholders in the area to ensure the works are carried out without disturbance to the environment, particularly protected species of salmon and dolphin that frequently visit the harbour.

“Throughout the project, we will continue to consult with our customers and wider stakeholders, ensuring there is as little impact on regular operations as possible. As one of the busiest ports in the UK, it is essential we continue to further develop the harbour to support the requirements of the diverse range of existing and potential port users”.

According to the board’s latest financial report, for the second consecutive year the port has witnessed significant growth in passenger numbers using the regular ferry link to the Northern Isles. Over 68,000 people travelled between Aberdeen, Shetland and Orkney between January and June, against 63,000 over the same time the previous year.

Colin Parker, chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour, said, “The results from the first half of the year have been extremely promising and we are delighted to have exceeded our forecast for the second quarter. We have maintained busy global links through our regular scheduled international shipping services and increased the number of passengers using the port. This highlights the regional importance of the harbour’s role within the north-east.

“Despite this positive start to the year, we are not complacent and continue to invest in new port infrastructure, such as the Torry Quay redevelopment and Commercial Quay East [a strengthening and deepening project]. This ongoing investment in the port provides our customers with cost effective and fit for purpose facilities enabling us to maintain our position as one of the UK’s busiest ports”.

Activity in the energy sector continues to increase following a slight decline in oil and gas related traffic during 2009 and the port has maintained its regular scheduled links to West Africa.

General cargo including, scrap metal, salmon feed and grain

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S c otl a n d exports were in line with projections.

Aberdeen Harbour handles around five million tonnes of cargo per year, valued at £1.5 billion, and is seeing growing levels of shipping for a wide range of industries. With more than £200 million invested by the board in the last 30 years, the port is one of the most modern in Europe.

With versatile facilities, competitive charges and diversity of traffic, it serves Scotland’s third city and an extensive hinterland.

Centre of activity for the offshore oil and gas industry’s marine support operations in North-west Europe, it is also: • The principal commercial port in Northern Scotland • An international port for general cargo, roll-on/roll-off and container traffic • The principal mainland port for freight, passenger, vehicle and livestock services to Orkney and Shetland • A major centre for forest product imports and finished paper exports • A gateway for agricultural products and supplies • An important fishing port, serving a local processing industry • A marshalling point for exports of oilfield equipment • A port of call for cruise ships • One of the busiest Trust Ports in Britain

McLaughlin & Harvey The Northern Irish firm operates across the UK and has over 100 years experience in the design and construction of new ports and working within existing live commercial harbours. Torry Quay is one of many recent projects undertaken by the firm and is also one of the largest, alongside similar works at Belfast Harbour.

As well as expertise in marine engineering, the company counts industrial buildings, renewable energy engineering and road and railway infrastructure amongst its civil engineering profile.

Elsewhere, McLaughlin & Harvey specialises in construction, specialist joinery, facilities management and framework contracts.

Timmer Market flats under construction Currently on site under the leadership of Chap Construction are a set of 53 drug rehabilitation flats as part of an integrated residential and clinic program. The collaboration between NHS Grampian and Grampian Housing Association is designed to provide both affordable city centre accommodation and treatment for drug users.

The design contract for the £12 million project was won by Richard Murphy Architects as a result of a limited competition in 2002 organised by Grampian Housing Association for a site immediately to the north of Union Street in Aberdeen, then used as a car park. The Castlegate site, part of the historic origins of Aberdeen, is approximately triangular in shape and fronts onto the extremely busy East North Street.

The brief initially called for a variety of flats and accommodation for the Salvation Army but this latter element has now changed to an NHS IDTRS Clinic (Integrated Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Service). The arrangement of the site uses the fall towards East North Street to place the drug rehabilitation

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centre on the main road with no access to the south, and with the flats above it accessed from a gated communal garden from the south with no access to the north. In such a way, the two population groups will be oblivious to each other’s existence, with the exception of two sunken gardens giving light to a patient waiting area and staff areas of the drug rehabilitation unit along its southern boundary.

The living spaces of most flats face south and east on to the internal garden, which is designed as an agreeable sheltered micro-climate. A gatehouse design completes the enclosed garden with a gated entrance at which point there will be entry phone control.

The drug rehabilitation unit is divided into clinical areas to the west and administration to the east, using the natural fall on the site to ensure privacy to all consultation rooms placed along the boundary. Consultation rooms are organised around an open plan waiting area and crèche which opens onto a small sunken garden. This idea is repeated in the administrative area.

The principal materials of the building envelope are proposed as a semi-polished aggregate concrete facing block and zinc panelling which are intended to sit in harmony with the surrounding natural granite of the city. A high level clerestory screen of glass and opaque panels sits below the roof edge.

On the courtyard elevations light grey blocks and randomly positioned coloured vertical brick courses are proposed, with

darker coloured string courses. These lighter coloured materials will contrast with the darker materials used on the street elevations.

The project is currently under construction on site and is set for a February 2011 completion date. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has recently visited the site to see construction work progressing and is said to have been extremely impressed with the new addition to Aberdeen’s housing market.

Extension relieves pressure on packed church A new £1.3 million hall is to breathe new life into the popular St. Silas’ Church, a gathering place for the ‘Scottish Episcopalian’ (Anglican) Christian denomination which is situated in the Woodlands area of Glasgow’s West End. Work involves installing a brand new hall to replace the original, which dated from the late 19th century. Church attendees and the local community will soon benefit from a large hall, three meeting rooms, storage space, four offices, a new kitchen, a café area and vastly improved disabled access to the church and both floors of the new building. There are also toilets and a shower in one of the existing rooms as well as a disabled toilet and baby-changing area. The new hall has an extensively glazed front and a two-phase pitched roof that tops a steel frame.

Ali Downes, who is overseeing the project on behalf of the church, spoke to Premier Construction: “You could say our prayers were answered”, he quipped, “as there were a number of people in the congregation who have been praying for more children and young people in the church. We now have so many children that we’re running out of space for them and that’s one of the important reasons for building the hall. It’s to be used for the Sunday schools and so on that we run”.

Youngsters aside, the church leadership identified a need for more space for the church’s many additional activities: for

meetings; for more and better toilet facilities; for offices; and to provide a hub to reach out to the community.

The church’s many community activities include a meal service for the homeless, a community group for toddlers and a football team.

Work has progressed well and the building is now in the last stages of waterproofing, with final touches being put to the rainscreen cladding. The planning stage was not quite so straightforward, however, as Ali explained: “This is a listed building and it’s within a conservation area, so it was difficult to push the planning application through. We would have liked to have more eco-friendly features but by the time we came to consider that, it had already been such a slog to get as far as we had with the application that we didn’t want to jeopardise it”.

Main contractor Fleming is heading for an October 2010 completion date on the project, which began on site in September 2009.

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All go at new college site in Alloa Construction is now well underway at the site of the new Forth Valley College Campus in Alloa. Work on the £21 million development, supported by the Scottish Government’s £17 million capital investment in the further

education estate and undertaken by Miller Construction, will support 130 construction jobs and provide 30 students with work experience as part of their course work.

The new Alloa campus is due to welcome its first cohort of students in August 2011 and will provide new, state-of-the-art facilities for students and the local business community.

Forth Valley College is also updating its campus in Stirling which will support a further 130 construction jobs and approximately 40 work experience students.

Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Lifelong

Learning, visited the site as construction work began in April. He said: “We must continue to stimulate the economy when and where we can in order to support a strong recovery. Not only will this new campus provide a community hub in the heart of Alloa, it is helping students gain vital work experience through the Get Ready for Work programme and has created more than 130 jobs in a sector under pressure in the current economic climate.

“Forth Valley College has ambitious plans to develop and upgrade across its three main campuses, providing education and opportunities in positive learning environments for thousands of students in Central Scotland”.

Linda McKay, Principal for Forth Valley College said: “We are delighted construction is now underway at the site of our new Alloa Campus.

It’s fantastic to think that we will have a new state-of-the-art community campus open in August next year”.

The new campus development in Alloa will have space for up to 2900 students per

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academic year, across all modes of attendance, and will include high tech-specification teaching rooms, workshops, gym and cafeteria.

The Campus will offer provision in subject areas such as construction, engineering, motor vehicle maintenance, science, business, computing, childcare and education, creative industries, hairdressing and beauty therapy.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is providing £21 million, 100 per cent funding, for the new campus, part of a wider investment in the college’s estate which totals £50 million.

SFC has made available £15 million at this stage to allow work on the Alloa building to start now, meaning that students will be able to move into the new facilities in August 2011.

FCS proves credentials with eco-friendly visitor centre Work is moving ahead well at the new Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) visitor facility based in the heart of the Tweed Valley Forest Park at Glentress Forest (TVFP).

The forest is already the biggest tourist attraction in the Scottish Borders, with 300,000 visitors a year and increasing. To cope with this demand and to provide modern facilities, FCS is totally revamping the current visitor facilities on offer at Glentress. The aim is to make Glentress a five star visitor attraction.

The Peel project is being developed by FCS with the support of a design team led by GAIA architects and with McLaughlin & Harvey as the main contractor, on a 12 acre site opposite the exiting facilities and on the edge of the forest itself.

There was a 12 month enabling works contract carried out by R J McLeod before the main build contract began. This included earth moving, drainage (SUDS) installation, and the construction of the access roads and pathways on site.

Glentress Peel will consist of four buildings: The Orientation building, which will be a meeting place providing information on the activities on offer at Glentress, other FCS sites in the Tweed Valley and further afield. It will house the osprey viewing and exhibition space and the shower, toilet and changing facilities.

• The café building, with outdoor decked area overlooking the ponds • The bike shop/hire outlet • The Peel building to house FC rangers and offer business and training facilities.

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The buildings will be linked with a series of roads, pathways and signage. A wood fuel boiler, housed in the Peel tower building, will provide heat and hot water for each of the buildings using a district heating system. Rainwater is being harvested from the roof of the buildings to be reused in the bike washes on site.

The project is aiming for a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’ and for

the facilities to gain a Gold Star Green Tourism Business Award.

A bespoke truss structure supports the roof of the buildings, fabricated from timber from Glentress Forest.

Timber I beams form the structural element of the external walls.

Preservative-free timber (Douglas fir from Glentress Forest) is used for the cladding of each building and the surrounding decking. The buildings are designed for an expected lifespan of 100 years.

The café building is designed with south facing glazing to maximise the solar gain. High levels of air tightness and insulation, from recycled newspaper, means the building comes close to requiring zero active heating and cooling systems.

The Esheils burn runs through the bottom of site which is a tributary of the river Tweed. Extensive consultation has been carried out with SEPA to ensure the water course is unaffected by the Works.

Due to the expected increase in visitor numbers, the forest entrance road onto the main A72 required extensive upgrading.

A new entrance was created as part of the Peel Project.

The enabling works contract began in autumn 2008 with the 12 month build contract beginning in February 2010 at a cost of £2.9 million. The whole Glentress Peel project has been awarded £8.4 million in funding in total to create a showcase site for the Tweed Valley Forest Park. £200k of support has been granted from SportScotland and £740k comes from Scottish Enterprise.

Training and skills development is integral to caring for the built environment The Conservation Group at Historic Scotland – the government agency tasked with protecting the historic environment in Scotland, takes a strategic approach in working with key industry and sector partners to further the needs of the traditional sector. It works in partnership with others to raise the profile of the sector and has facilitated the development of new specialist vocational qualifications.

Scotland has a long tradition of building with stone and lime stretching back to Roman times. A large proportion of Scotland’s buildings constructed prior to 1920 used lime mortars in both construction and finishing. From the mid Nineteenth Century the use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortars became increasingly common. In the Twentieth Century it became the norm for new construction, and became increasingly used to repair traditional buildings originally built using lime mortar. This had a negative visual and practical impact, and can also have a serious effect on the condition of the building. In recent years, the industry began returning to the use of lime mortar and was having to re-learn the skills to use it effectively.

It was against this backdrop that Historic Scotland began looking to develop a new national qualification which would

provide expert advice on this important skill, and provide a benchmark for quality across the sector.

The result was the National Progression Award (NPA) in Conservation of Masonry which was developed with the NPA Steering Group, Scottish Qualifications Authority and the Professional and Operational Validation Boards.

Delivered in partnership with Scotland’s colleges, including Glasgow Metropolitan, Edinburgh’s Telford, Moray and Orkney, the award consists of 6 modules including the principals of conservation, the selection and application of traditional lime mortars, re-pointing stone walls in lime mortar and lime harling.

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S c otl a n d and over 150 qualified and new entrants have successfully completed the award. 250 are expected to have been through the course by 2011.

Ian Walker, Head of Traditional Building Skills for Historic Scotland explains: “The current stonemasonry apprenticeships didn’t feature a lot of lime mortar work. It was evident that the industry needed a benchmark which would help teach and safeguard this important skill in Scotland.

“The idea was to offer this to new apprentices as well as giving qualified masons who were interested in entering this field, the opportunity to develop new skills. We also offer the training to other people who have relevant craft skills such as brick work, plastering, and roofing”.

Following a £1.45 million award from the Heritage Lottery Fund to the Technical Conservation Group and further funding from other bodies (Historic Scotland, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow), The HLF Training Bursary Scheme was established.

170 training opportunities were divided up into one month satellite training bursaries to take up the new National Progression Award (NPA) Award in Conservation Masonry, and one year placements with other partners.

Applicants require suitable vocational skills or craft skills development potential. Interested parties should contact anne. steadman@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

A key part of the Heritage Lottery Fund bursary scheme is offering candidates the chance to work on projects. Recent activity has included the lime washing of the Great Hall at Stirling Castle and restoration of the original lime mortar at Eilean Donan Castle with John MacLean Stone Masons.

Historic Scotland has had two bursary placements working on the bridge leading to the castle over the last two winters. These placements with John MacLean Stone Masons have provided invaluable experience for the two bursary holders, working on the parapet walls of the bridge and also the piers of the bridge.

Sharing information with other like-minded parties is also a key element of Historic Scotland’s work. For example, earlier this year, two Historic Scotland stonemasons, Kenny McCafferty and Malcolm Hutcheon travelled to the United States to visit the Virginia Lime Works.

The stonemasons, who are both adult apprentices, spent time working with a leading US expert in the use of limestone, James Price at the Works which provides lime mortars for historic preservation, new construction and ecologically friendly building. The company offer basic mortar analysis, for clients with an interest in the original design of their mortar, custom mortar replication and custom coloured mortars.

The pair travelled to the States after winning the Scottish Stone Masonry Competition sponsored by Historic Scotland and run by the Scottish Stone Liaison Group. As part of the trip they also spent time training young people in Harlem, New York working on the ‘Youthbuild’ project which looks to rejuvenate the physical

environment of communities through teaching skilled trades to ‘at risk’ youths.

Ian said, “We aim to offer as comprehensive training as possible.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to give this year’s Masonry Competition winners the chance to visit one of the leading lime work companies in the world and also work in New York with the young people in Harlem. The guys gained a lot out of this trip, not just in terms of their masonry skills, but also sampled real life in New York.

“They are already using the knowledge gained on the trip in their work and we hope that the trip will form the foundation for successful partnership working with these projects moving forward”.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the work of Historic Scotland should visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk.

Developers continue to lay down milestones in £120m 3Rs Project The opening of Braehead and Mile End earlier in 2010 brought the total up to seven new city schools in less than a year under the Aberdeen 3Rs scheme, and recent weeks have seen the addition of an eighth.

Seaton School has been completely remodelled to provide improved facilities for the school for up to 198 pupils, as well as community facilities and a family centre. A temporary unit which housed the youth project was removed, with the youth project being incorporated within the refurbished building. An all-weather sports pitch has been provided and there is also a police office in the building designed to enhance policing in the local community. The school is located on Seaton Place East.

Further developments are soon to be upon us, as work on

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Manor Park school approaches an autumn completion date, while Kaimhill Primary School will be replaced by early 2011 with a new nursery to P7 school for up to 198 pupils on the existing site on Pitmedden Terrace, and will also include a redeveloped community facility, community library, and an all-weather pitch.

The innovative Reorganise, Renovate and Rebuild public/private partnership scheme has already made sweeping changes to the educational landscape of the area.

Significant community and sports facilities are a key part of each school-build project. All are being built to exacting levels of sustainability in their design, construction and operation.

Outdoor spaces are designed to provide safe, stimulating places for learning, play and socialising.

Every school has a fully equipped kitchen for preparing meals to support the city council’s healthy-eating Hungry for Success programme.

All boast high standards of insulation, an innovative lighting management system linked to ambient levels of daylight, underfloor heating, natural ventilation, the ability to conserve and use rainwater and sustainable urban drainage systems.

Director of Education, Culture and Sport Annette Bruton said, “I am absolutely delighted that we are providing city pupils and their families and communities with such high-quality schools.

“All the 3Rs schools I have visited are hugely impressive and these latest schools are no exception”.

Council Leader John Stewart said: “It is wonderful to see these fantastic schools opening.

“The facilities are second-to-none and I am sure that the

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youngsters, parents and staff will be thrilled with their modern new schools”.

3Rs Project Board Chairman Councillor Kevin Stewart said: “The sheer quality and design of these schools are breathtaking”.

Lead councillor for education Andy May said: “These schools offer the very best for pupils and staff. I am very proud that we are able to provide such a high standard of schools for the pupils of Aberdeen”.

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Dunfermline kids escape temporary classrooms The Victorian home of Townhill Primary School in Dunfermline is undergoing a £1.5 million extension project as part of the Building Fife’s Future scheme. Then new classrooms will finally move children out of the temporary ‘teaching village’ – the field of cabins that occupies part of their playground.

The extension includes four new classrooms across two storeys, which are linked to the existing single-level building by a ground floor link corridor. Each pair of classrooms has its own cloak room, toilets and storage space. The upper level is accessible by lift.

The latest addition to the school is a steel frame structure with smooth masonry and render to the exterior, interspersed with timber cladding. The pitched roof features natural slate.

Main contractor Hadden has been on site since March 2010, and the firm’s land and development manager, Stephen Lynas, told Premier Construction, “The ground conditions on the site were not the best, which is probably down to the mining that was carried out in the area historically.

There has been extensive piling to combat that.

“We came to the site after a traditional tender process, and this project continues our track record of working for local authorities across Scotland – we’ve now worked for 11 or so of the 32, and that gives us a strong sense of what to expect.

“This site has been a tight one and we’ve had to shut off part of the playground, but we’ve

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been able to avoid closures and make the most of the holidays to get work done. The extension actually takes up part of the playground, but eventually the teaching village will be removed to free up space on the other side. We expect to be done by the end of mid November”.

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Ferry firm to launch £80 million new port A brand new port to accommodate ferries between Scotland and Northern Ireland is under construction in an approximately £80 million project for Stena Line at Old House Point, two miles north of Cairnryan on the eastern side of Loch Ryan. Stena’s intention to leave Stranraer was first signalled in February 2003.

In addition to being more suited to the needs and demands of travel and freight customers today, the new facility, to be known as Loch Ryan Port, will also ensure that journey times and fuel requirements can be cut. In addition, Stena Line now operates from a state of the art facility at the new VT4 terminal in Belfast and wishes to have matching facilities at the new Loch Ryan Port.

The project is being carried out for Stena Line Ports UK by main contractors McLaughlin & Harvey. RPS is the lead consultant on this project, responsible from its inception, through planning process, preparation of detailed design and tender documents.

The group is also providing project management and supervision services.

Site preparation included clearance of vegetation and asbestos, as well as the demolition of derelict buildings, oyster tanks and concrete slabs.

Earth moving works on the 28 acre site were temporarily delayed by the discovery of 50 World War II shells and the site was immediately evacuated whilst these were removed by army bomb disposal experts over a six hour period.

The project includes the creation of standage areas for 190 unaccompanied dropped trailers; further standage for 350 cars and 50 commercial vehicles; a suspended deck jetty future-proofed to facilitate 220+ metre long vessels and a layby berth and a state of the art terminal building incorporating environmentally friendly features. There will also be a passenger walkway from ship to shore. The dredged level of the port will be - 8.5 metres CD, with a separate channel and turning circle.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “This new development will safeguard and create 1,400 jobs and trigger significant investment in Dumfries and Galloway. I am delighted to welcome the decision to approve this project and Stena Line’s commitment and continuing contribution to the Scottish economy.

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“The relocation of the port to the new Loch Ryan Port will also aid tourism with faster crossings between Scotland and Northern Ireland and help the regeneration of Stranraer as a major marine leisure area.

“This is a significant announcement for transport and investment in Scotland, highlighting the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to working with investors to support jobs and the economy and to keep Scotland moving”.

Dan Sten Olsson, Chairman of Stena Line, said: “This is a historic announcement for the people of Scotland and indeed Northern Ireland. The investment we have announced will provide Scotland with a first class port facility which underlines and enhances the port’s prominence as the third largest gateway in the UK. “The link between Scotland and Northern Ireland provides a huge number of benefits for both countries. Tourism and freight business between Scotland and Northern Ireland has seen significant growth in recent years and despite the current difficult trading conditions, we are confident that an investment of this magnitude will pay dividends over the medium to long term. We believe that working in partnership with the Scottish Government and their counterparts in Northern Ireland we will have state-of-the-art facilities that everyone can be proud of”.

Mr Olsson admitted he had previously doubted that the company would see sufficient growth in passenger numbers to justify the project and that plans had been in place to leave the area, but said he had been convinced after discussions with Mr Salmond.

The 20 month project is due for completion in August 2011.The project is part of a larger £200 million investment in the port by Stena Line, with the remaining money going to purchase two new passenger ferries.

Port developments on Loch Ryan are designated national developments in the Second National Planning Framework (NPF2) and are subject to formal parliamentary approval. The motion to approve the harbour order was moved in Parliament on 3 February 2010 and came into force on 4 February 2010.

It is hoped that he creation of the new port will also aid the regeneration of the waterfront at Stranraer, providing an

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S c otl a n d opportunity to develop 26 acres of waterfront. Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP Alex Fergusson welcomed the move, saying, “This formal announcement signals the start of a new era not just for Stena, but for the town of Stranraer itself.

“Many will be nervous about what the future holds in store, but I take an optimistic view. I applaud Stena’s decision, which will tie the company to Loch Ryan for the foreseeable future, and it opens up a potentially fantastic future for a dramatic redevelopment of Stranraer harbour waterfront”.

Tony Fitzpatrick, director of economic regeneration for Dumfries and Galloway council, said, “This is tremendous news and a real win-win situation.

“Firstly, the council saw the retention of the existing Stena workforce as an absolute priority. Secondly, this frees up the majority of the Stranraer waterfront area for wider regeneration”.

P.T. McWilliams Civil engineering experts, PT McWilliams Ltd are working alongside McLaughlin & Harvey on the project.

Together the two companies have carried out an extensive scope of works, involving controlled site clearance and Japanese knotweed removal.

On-site crushing and screening was carried out using a Finlay 683 screener, a Finlay 1540 Cone Crusher and a Pegson 1000 Maxtrax Cone Crusher. Additional works involved rock armour sea defence; dredging; filling operations; drainage and utilities installation; the A77 road realignment; and surfacing and pavement laying.

A Northern Ireland based company, PT McWilliams Ltd specialise in highways construction, industrial development, refuse and renewable energy, waste water infrastructure, waterways and pipelines and sports complex development.

Further information on the company’s experience in the construction and civil engineering industry can be found on their website www.ptmcwilliams.com.

£180M James Watt Dock development moves ahead Riverside Inverclyde and RJ McLeod are behind one of the largest-ever individual regeneration projects yet seen in Scotland, with Greenock’s iconic Grade “A” listed Sugar Warehouse at its heart.

The £180M redevelopment of Inverclyde’s historic James Watt Dock by Riverside Inverclyde and Peel, one of the UK’s leading property and transport companies, sees the creation of stateof-the-art commercial, marina and leisure facilities set alongside modern residential and retail space.

Over a ten year period, the redevelopment of the 50-acre dock will: • generate over £180M of public/private investment • create some 1,700 jobs • build in excess of 750 residential units • provide in excess of £10M-worth of social housing, of which the first phase (85 units) is being developed by River Clyde Homes • establish 45,000 sq ft of retail space • create 145,600 sq ft of commercial space • enhance some 480 metres of waterfront • develop a 400+ berth marina • breathe life back into the iconic “A”- listed Sugar Warehouse The project is being delivered via a new Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) between Riverside Inverclyde and Peel.

One of the first tasks of is the creation of road access site investigation and enabling works and environmental

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improvements to allow first phase developments to take place and prepare the wider site for the visit of the Tall Ships Race to James Watt Dock in 2011.

As well as the project’s significant headline figures in terms of jobs, housing, retail and commerce, heritage and leisure, there are further community benefits. These include supply chain guarantees that will give local companies businesses opportunities, and special training clauses in some contracts that will offer local people the chance to gain the skills to let them take up local job opportunities created by the project and other projects being developed by Riverside Inverclyde and partner organisations.

Riverside Inverclyde chief executive Bill Nicol said, “Gradually, this project will transform an area that in former days was the absolute hub of Greenock. Through this project, we will be building one of the most outstanding and vibrant locations in Scotland to live and work in, that will be the envy of many”.

Speaking on behalf of Peel, Euan Jamieson said, “The James Watt Dock site is a huge opportunity, both from the point of view of location and potential, and it is important for the regeneration of Inverclyde. It is also a major challenge, with historic issues of low demand and infrastructure, and has resisted development for over two decades.

“However, it has been demonstrated that enormous strides can be made in social and economic regeneration when the public and private sector work together. We believe James Watt Dock will further demonstrate this, with the partnership of Peel and

Riverside Inverclyde bringing together the public and private sectors on an equal basis, and providing funding resources to bring about this redevelopment”.

Allan McQuade, director of Riverside Inverclyde URC and director of business infrastructure at Scottish Enterprise, said, Scottish Enterprise is very supportive of the James Watt Dock development proposals which join together the area regeneration skills of Riverside Inverclyde URC and the proven development and management experience of the Peel organisation. It is a genuine public/private sector partnership and we wish the venture every success. We are confident that the James Watt Dock area will become a genuine lifestyle development of which the people of Inverclyde will be justifiably proud”.

Riverside Inverclyde Riverside Inverclyde is an Urban Regeneration Company (URC) that is committed to changing the face of Inverclyde. Along the A8 corridor, from Port Glasgow to Greenock, the development of outstanding riverside locations will replace an area that has previously suffered as a result of a decline in industry.

With a £400 million capital investment of public and private funding, Riverside Inverclyde is a joint partnership between Inverclyde Council, Clydeport, and Scottish Enterprise. The partnership has the full support of the Scottish Government and been designed to secure and enhance the long-term economic growth and prosperity of the area.

Find out more at www.riversideinverclyde.com

Grade B listed leisure centre nears end of 3-year upgrade project Closed now since 23 December 2008, Carnegie Leisure Centre in Dunfermline is undergoing a major overhaul of its facilities under main contractor Barr. The centre is expected to re-open during 2011. Fife Council is investing over £17 million into the facility with the aim of delivering a modern, fit-for-purpose sports and leisure facility.

The project comprises the complete refurbishment of and new extension to the existing centre. The scope of works involves a complete strip out down to the bare shell, removal of most internal walls, reconstruction of all roofs, insertion of a new two storey steel structure within the existing building and formation of a new high level plant room structure.

The key features include a new steel ‘Myrtha’ style training pool and complete refurbishment of the other two existing swimming pools with the provision of entirely new filtration systems. Other

provisions include a new sports hall, a dry changing area, ‘wet side village change’, three aerobics studios, a combat room, an 80 station fitness suite, a climbing wall, a ‘health suite’ and a new main feature entrance reception and café area.

Externally, the existing building fabric is being completely upgraded and work includes stonework remedials, window refurbishment, re-slating of all roofs, insulated render systems and over-cladding of flat roofs with a single ply membrane system.

Grant Ward, Fife Council’s head of leisure and cultural services, said recently, “The refurbishment of Carnegie Leisure Centre is progressing satisfactorily, although the project does present a significant technical challenge as we’re having to deal with a complex mix of the old and the more recent.

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with regards to the Grade B listed elements of the original Edwardian building, which date from the early 1900s”.

The project is behind schedule. Mr. Ward defended the delay, saying, “We made a firm commitment via the design of the new facility to ensure that this important part of Carnegie’s legacy and Dunfermline’s built heritage is protected and enhanced and, if need be, we would prefer to take a bit longer if that’s what it takes to get it right”.

The refurbishment of Carnegie Leisure Centre is part of a wider £50 million investment plan for Fife s sport and leisure facilities.

Kirkcaldy Swimming Pool and Fife Institute in Glenrothes are also being replaced with state-of-the-art, brand new facilities as part of Fife Council’s declared commitment to improving sport, leisure and cultural opportunities.

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Green energy on the Horizon Horizons Environment, part of Scottish Water, has almost completed work on a cutting-edge anaerobic digester that will turn food waste into energy at its Deerdykes Organics Recycling facility in Cumbernauld.

The facility, which already recycles commercial and industrial food waste into compost, is currently feeding the digester, a process which began in June 2010, with energy being produced from late September.

With landfill tax set to escalate by £8 per tonne each year until at least 2014, Horizons Environment provides a cost effective alternative for food waste.

The new £7.5 million anaerobic digestion unit will recycle 30,000 tonnes of solid and liquid food waste turning it into around 8,000 megawatts of power each year - enough electricity to power up to 2,000 homes.

Chris Banks, Chairman of Horizons and Scottish Water Commercial Director, said: “The unit harnesses biogas produced by the breakdown of organic materials. The biogas will then be used in a combined heat and power engine to produce electricity and heat.

“This electricity will be used at Deerdykes and any surplus will either be used to power the neighbouring industrial estate or delivered back to Scottish Water, via the national grid, as part of Scottish Water’s vision to become a low carbon water company.

A scheme to export the heat to local homes and businesses is also being investigated”.

The process also produces nutrient rich digestate which can be used as a liquid fertiliser to improve the nutritional content of agricultural soil resources.

WRAP, which is part funding developments at the Deerdykes site, estimates that food waste in the UK is currently around 18 - 20million tonnes, with commercial and industrial producers amounting to over 10million tonnes.

Iain Gulland, WRAP Director for Scotland, on his recent visit to the site, said: “Having invested £1.7m in the Deerdykes Anaerobic Digestion project, it is great to see that it is on track. This is clearly going to be an impressive, high-quality facility which will play a key role in diverting food waste from landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

The construction work at Deerdykes has been completed, with a hydrolysis tank, digester unit, liquor treatment tank and grey water storage tank all operational.

The digester is a massive 16 metre-high, 20.5 metre diameter tank which holds food waste for 15-20 days and convert it to biogas. This steel tank has been surrounded with insulation and profiled sheet cladding to maintain internal process temperatures.

As well as waste from the food industry, household food waste collection trials from customers in Central Scotland are also currently being conducted at Deerdykes.

The anaerobic digestion process runs alongside the existing composting facility at Deerdykes which has turned more than 120,000 tonnes of food and garden waste into 60,000 tonnes of environmentally friendly compost since 2005.

Schischek Schischek supplied RedBin-P500 differential pressure sensors for the project through environmental technologists Monsal, before dealing directly with Scottish Water for spares supply.

Since 1975, the Schischek Group has supplied electric explosion-proof products worldwide: for heating; ventilation; and water treatment for industrial and offshore applications.

Schischek Explosion-Proof has become an important partner for consultants, public authorities, control companies, installers, OEMs and end-users.

All ‘Schischek Ex’ products are PTB certified and are produced and approved to the very highest standards and regulations.

According to type and kind of protection, their products are suitable for operation in ‘Ex’ areas - zones 1, 2, 21 and 22 - in accordance with ATEX 94/9/EC. Visit Schischek’s website at www.schischek.com to find out more.

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Consumers raise their glasses to major drinking water project Powering ahead to ensure world-class drinking water quality, with significant challenges being overcome by the contract team, is a £17M scheme known as the Castor Bay to Dungannon Strategic Trunk Mains project.

The scheme includes the provision of around 51km of new trunk main to supply the daily demand for the Dungannon Resource Zone from the Castor Bay water treatment works in Northern Ireland.

The project also includes the construction of a 30Ml/day pumping station, a 6.4Ml service reservoir and associated 8Ml/ day pumping station with associated mechanical and electrical works. Completion of this project will allow three current low yield water sources to be taken out of service as well as providing for future demand requirements.

The project, which will support and expand the existing water network infrastructure in the Craigavon, Armagh and Dungannon areas, is being carried out for Northern Ireland Water by BWW Water, a joint venture between Dawson WAM and BSG Civil Engineering. Project Managers are Capita Symonds.

Speaking of the scheme, Mr Jonathan Wilson, Senior Project Manager at Capita Symonds said: “This is a vast and complex project and a major piece of capital investment.”

On the subject of construction challenges posed by the project, he said: “This scheme is spread over a number of different sites and involves many multi-disciplinary aspects.

One of the challenges is in constructing the new infrastructure whilst maintaining the existing infrastructure, and this can only get more complicated as we continue to integrate the new infrastructure with the old.”

The pipe laying element of the project involves laying mains parallel to and then across the M1 Motorway for around 40km with the vast majority being laid across open countryside.

The first 25km of pipeline is a ‘gravity main’ which relies on a gradual incline to keep the water flowing, with the remaining 26km being reliant on pumped supply. Initially starting in 710mm diameter piping, reducing through 630mm and 450mm

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down to 400mm diameter further along.

Premier Construction spoke to BWW Water Contract Director Rodney Moates, who said: “Extreme weather during the project has caused a lot of difficulty, but we have managed to overcome this. For example, November 2009 was the wettest ever recorded and was followed by the heavy snow which affected most of Northern Europe.

Currently a specialist directional drilling Subcontractor are installing one of the most challenging sections: over 1km of twin piping laid on a route which runs underneath two major rivers, a canal and a railway (the main Belfast to Dublin line).

Archaeological surveys have been an important feature of the works, as the ground in the area is reputed to contain artifacts. Rodney said: “The archaeologist working with us is always one step ahead. Any area of topsoil we disturb has to be surveyed first, so it’s a rolling process. There have been a few finds that are undoubtedly significant, and the archaeological team have been very excited at their discoveries - even though the things they’ve found wouldn’t strike the average person as

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I re l a n d important at first glance. That shows why it pays to call in an expert!”

He added that environmental considerations are also major element of the project, saying, “A project of this nature relies on core materials, and when there is no green option, you have no choice. However, although you wouldn’t think of plastic piping - £4 million worth – as ‘green’, the fact that it is sourced locally, like the rest of our materials, represents a massive reduction in haulage distances compared to other projects I’ve seen - and that must add up to a significant carbon saving.

“On top of that, the majority of excavated material has been used for post-filling, and the fences and hedges that we’ve disturbed have only been touched during seasons when wildlife isn’t breeding.”

Both the contractors and the client have also looked after local residents. Regular updates on the project have been circulated throughout the area in order to maintain strong customer relations, and local charities and events have also benefited from generous sponsorship. There was even a sponsored ‘duck derby’ race in aid of local GAA club.

Rodney said, “If you involve local communities in this way, it makes a big difference. By letting people know who you are, what you’re doing in their area and why you’re doing it, it’s easier to get people on board with you. People around here have been remarkably undisturbed by the minimal disruption we’ve caused, and I think that if you help people to recognise the need for the works, and keep them informed, then you’ll often create a good reaction”.

“The delivery of this project will bring significant benefits to consumers and will ensure that Northern Ireland Water’s drinking water supply objectives are met for the foreseeable future.”

The project has been on site for eleven months, with phased commissioning commencing in October / November 2010 through to completion around April 2011. Project Manager, Jonathan, outlined that the goal is to provide beneficial use

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to the client of the various completed elements as quickly as possible.

A government-owned company set up in April 2007 to provide the water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Water (NIW) supplies 625 million litres of clean water a day for almost 1.7 million people, as well as treating 134 million m³ of wastewater every year.

In order to deliver this service, the company require a huge system of pipes, pumping stations, water and wastewater treatment works and reservoirs. There are 26, 500 kilometres of watermains and 14, 500 kilometres of sewers in Northern Ireland (combined, enough to stretch from Belfast to New York and back four times!).

Though most of the time this system works well, NIW is planning a lot of investment over the next few years to ensure that they protect public health and the environment for generations to come. In fact, by 2020 The company is planning to invest £3 billion that will reduce leakage levels, lower the threats of flooding and improve water and wastewater quality.

NIW believe that in years to come, they can deliver much more than just water and sewerage services. They own one of the most visited tourist sites in Northern Ireland, Silent Valley, situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and now with a fantastic new visitor centre. The company also hope to open many more of their sites to visits from the public.

NIW work with an array of organisations and agencies on projects to improve the quality of life for others. These range from the University of Ulster in the Step Up Programme to NIW’s nominated charity WaterAid, which saves the lives of thousands of people in Africa and Asia.

So the 1700 people who work for NIW are working hard not just to provide world-class water and sewerage services for their customers, but to put something back into their community and into communities world-wide which do not have clean water and basic sanitation.

Construction News

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Northern Ireland hits the road Transport Minister Conor Murphy recently welcomed the successful completion of Roads Service’s 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £4.2million for structural road maintenance in the Derry city area this year.

The minister said, “A range of local schemes have been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year. While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services”.

The minister noted the ongoing work to improve the Northern Transport Corridor with the scheme to dual the A2 Clooney Road between Maydown and City of Derry Airport.

He said: “The dualling of the A2 Clooney Road is progressing well with the majority of the earthworks and drainage now complete. The works remain on programme and my Department expects the scheme to be completed in November.

“Good preparatory progress is also being made on other strategic road improvement schemes planned for the Derry City Area. These schemes include the A6 Derry to Dungiven dualling, the upgrading of the A5 Western Corridor between Derry and Aughnacloy and the widening of the A2 Buncrana Road”.

In total 7.9kms of carriageway were resurfaced in the Derry city area during the 2009/10 season at a total cost of £1.02million, the most significant being 270m of the A5

Victoria Road, 800m of the B522 Templemore Road, 540m of the B523 Church Brae and 975m of the C576 Glen Road.

Murphy recently officially opened the 12 km A1 Beech Hill to Cloghogue dual carriageway five months ahead of schedule.

The scheme extends around the northern and western outskirts of the city of Newry to complete the upgrading of the A1 Sprucefield to the border route to dual carriageway standard.

Murphy said, “This project is the final link on the key strategic route between Belfast and Dublin on Ireland’s Eastern Seaboard and makes a substantial positive contribution to the social and economic well-being of our communities both north and south. The completion of this 12km stretch of new road from Beech Hill to Cloghogue, at a cost of just over £150million, marks the achievement of the Department’s commitment to upgrade the remaining section of this road to full dual carriageway standard.

“The A1 also provides access, via Newry, to the port of Warrenpoint, one of our strategically important regional gateways and convenient road connections to the cities of Lisburn and Newry and the towns of Dromore, Banbridge, Dundalk and Drogheda”.

The scheme involved substantial rock cuttings with 1.2 million tonnes of rock excavated to make way for the new dual carriageway. In line with current good construction practice all of this material was processed on site and used in the construction of the new road. Over two million man hours were successfully worked on the project, which employed 500 people at the peak of the scheme.

The scheme includes five flyover-type junctions and 17 new bridges including a 190m long viaduct carrying the new dual

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carriageway over the Newry River, the Newry – Portadown canal, the canal tow path and the Tandragee Road.

Environmental considerations have been an important aspect of this project, not least because of its location on the outskirts of the city of Newry and on the boundary of the Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The scheme includes mitigating measures relating to noise, landscaping, water quality and the protection of vulnerable animals.

Motorists now have new views across this attractive landscape, including views of the impressive 18-arch Craigmore Viaduct on the nearby Belfast – Dublin railway line.

Minister Murphy thanked Roads Service, Amey Lagan Roads, Lagan Construction and Ferrovial Agroman Ltd for their work completing the scheme ahead of schedule and also the local community for their assistance during the development and construction of the scheme.

This project was part funded by the European Union, TEN-T (Trans-European Network Transport) Programme and is led by Amey Lagan Roads Ltd, a consortium formed by Amey Ventures Ltd and Lagan Projects Ltd. Construction works are being carried out by a joint venture of Lagan Construction Ltd and Ferrovial Agroman (Ireland) Ltd with maintenance services being provided by Amey Infrastructure Services Ltd.

Two wind farms boost Irish renewable portfolio Electricity Supply Board (ESB) has begun construction on a new wind farm in Co Derry. The project, Curryfree wind farm, is located between Dunamanagh and New Buildings and work is due to be completed by August 2011. When completed, it will generate enough renewable energy to power 8,000 homes.

The wind farm, 7km South of Derry city, was developed by RES, one of the leading renewable energy companies in the world.

RES will also build the project, on behalf of ESB. Curryfree Wind Farm will consist of six wind turbines, each with a height to tip of 100 metres and rotor diameter of 80 metres.

The main civil works are being undertaken by a local contractor, W&H Alexander, and the project is a welcome boost to the

economy in the region.

Joe O’Mahony, head of ESB Wind Development Ireland & GB, said, “The construction of this wind farm at Curryfree indicates ESB’s commitment to investment in renewables and is another step in transforming ESB into a carbon neutral company.

Curryfree wind farm will not only help ESB reach its targets, its construction will also help the local economy”.

In a separate development, ESB also confirmed that its 20 megawatt Hunters Hill wind farm close to Fivemiletown in Co Tyrone is now generating electricity to meet the needs of more than 11,000 homes. Located ten kilometres from Omagh, the site was purchased by ESB from RES in February 2009.

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were again employed for the necessary civil and electrical works.

ESB took over the site from RES in July.

Gordon MacDougall, chief operating officer of RES, said, “We are delighted to complete the sale of Curryfree Wind Farm to ESB, following on from the successful construction of Hunter’s Hill Wind Farm. The sale demonstrates confidence in RES’s strong track record of project development and delivery of high quality turnkey construction contracts. We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with ESB through the construction of Curryfree”.

Ger Keenaghan, ESB Wind Development project director, said, “Hunters Hill is a significant boost to Northern Ireland’s renewable energy generation capacity. The project is another example of the strong relationship between ESB and RES. It further underlines both companies’ strong record in leading renewable development on this scale”.

W&H Alexander had previously undertaken the design and build contract at Hunters Hill as part of a framework agreement with RES for the civil works package. The works undertaken by W & Alexander (CE) Ltd consisted of: the upgrading of 2000m of existing site tracks; construction of 3600m of new site tracks which were mainly constructed using the floated road technique; 8 turbine foundations consisting of 30t of steel reinforcing; and 330m3 of structural concrete.

8 crane hard standing areas along with transformer bases and a control building with an electrical compound were also constructed. Innovative new construction methods were implemented to overcome the problem of excessive peat depths of up to 7m.

The site is situated within the Foyle catchment area and sustainable urban drainage (SUDS) was used to prevent any damage to local rivers or the wider environment. This was

complemented with extensive water quality testing.

Alexander’s John Farrell is now co-ordinating the firm’s civils contract at the Curryfree site. He told Premier Construction, “We’re just starting off the works with around 12 on site every day; the works are expected to take four weeks. The ground conditions are good here and well suited to excavations we’re doing, so I don’t anticipate any great difficulty. This continues our framework agreement with RES and we’re delighted to be here”.

Northern Ireland’s largest capital arts project, The MAC (the Metropolitan Arts Centre), which is the successor to the Old Museum Arts Centre, is set to move gracefully and successfully into its closing stages if construction in 2011.

Arts and Leisure, the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and a programme of sponsorship and fundraising.

Powerteam Once the project gets into full swing, Powerteam Electrical Services, a subsidiary of Viridian Group, will begin work on its 30th wind farm project and its 12th for RES. After a 4-6 week design stage, January will see the commencement of a 6 week on site construction phase followed by commissioning for a further 6 weeks.

Powerteam ‘s Managing Director, Alastair Dawson, told Premier Construction, “This is our sixth year of constructing renewables projects. Year on year these projects have contributed to a larger percentage of our turnover and we anticipate this continuing as we look to grow our business across both Great Britain and Ireland. Although we work across the UK and Ireland, this particular project continues a relationship with RES and Alexander that’s already well established”.

The company specialises in large-scale electrical infrastructure construction and refurbishment work, including not only renewables but also substations, overhead lines for Distribution Network Operators such as SSE, Western Power Distribution and ESB and private network operators. Visit the company’s website at www.powerteam.eu.com to find out more.

MAC brings culture to Northern Ireland

The origins of the new £17.7 million cultural centre lie in the Old Museum Arts Centre (OMAC) which for over 20 years provided Belfast with some of the most original, inspiring and often provocative arts events in the UK and Ireland and the same will be true of The MAC – Belfast’s first arts centre to be built from scratch. In the heart of the Cathedral Quarter, The MAC will be six storeys high will be a fully accessible, state-of-the-art venue which will bring the City into line with the kind of cultural provision offered by other major cities in the UK and Ireland, and help further develop its identity as a top-flight European City. The MAC will accommodate: two theatres (350-550 and 120-seater spaces respectively); three visual art galleries; an artist in residence space; workshop spaces; offices for resident companies; a dedicated space for young people; a rehearsal room; and a combined bar, café and restaurant.

The MAC will open its doors at the end of 2011 and will be fully operational by the following spring. It will offer a world class programme ranging from blockbuster events and exhibitions to challenging, experimental new works. Across all its spaces, The MAC will celebrate and showcase home-grown arts and culture as well as bringing the rest of the world to Belfast.

Behind The MAC lies a noble ideology - to place the arts at the heart of contemporary life, housed in a new and modern environment. The MAC will attract approximately 200,000 people each year and is set to become one of Europe’s most significant arts centres.

Funding has come in from a number of sources, including the Department of Social Development the Department of Culture,

Construction The building has been designed by an integrated design team led by architects Hackett Hall McKnight and is being constructed by Bowen Mascott JV, the main contractor, which is a joint venture between two building firms from Cork and Newry specially created to deliver the 5,500m2 structure.

Braecom’s Kieran Mooney, the project manager, spoke to Premier Construction about the progress being made: “Demolition had been carried out by owners of the site prior to us taking possession as part of the redevelopment of the northern area of Cathedral Quarter. The site was level, and the ground conditions are typical for Belfast: sheet piled foundations up to 25 m deep and secant piling for the basement to avoid

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water issues.

“All the public spaces are never more than one door away from the foyer, which creates a feeling of openness. Box spaces are accessed from the foyer, and there is multi level access to the main theatre. You can also climb on top of the theatre to gain access to large open galleries at the top of the building.

The place is designed to be open and accessible with minimum use of corridors to public areas and access doors. There are three public lifts - two duplex and one large. The lifts allow easy access to all levels.

“The building is based on a concrete frame are ambitious deep beam walls above galleries supporting dance spaces and allowing generous natural light into the modern art gallery. The foyer is designed to continue the feel of the cathedral quarter laneways.

“The exterior is being finished with a mixture of natural stone (granite and basalt) and brickwork with large areas of glazed fenestration and a tall lantern structure rising above the building.

The windows are anodised with a dark bronze finish.

“The building is highly secure, with an addressable fire alarm system and a fire fighting lift, as well as a CCTV security system for the security of the premises and artworks.

“We’re also going for an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating and the architects have been awarded in the RIBA Design Competition for the project”.

AEM Ltd AEM Ltd (Antrim Electrical and Mechanical engineers) is playing an important role in work on The Mac, with Jim Lyttle undertaking the role of site manager.

Throughout this project AEM Ltd have had to ensure that materials, workforce, timescale and techniques are flexible due to the fast pace of developments. Specialist sound and lighting equipment is being installed within the theatre which requires close co-ordination with the main contractor and the structural

steel contractors due to the all of the fixtures being cast into the walls.

AEM Ltd’s long lasting relationship with the main contractor has spanned over 20 years. This working relationship has benefited many prestigious projects including Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra and Linenhall Plaza, Belfast.

AEM Ltd have the experience and expertise to work within commercial development, health, retail, education, residential, industrial, leisure and government, in both the public and the private sectors. Founded in 1985, AEM Ltd has grown rapidly in size and reputation and now regularly competes for projects across a wide range of sectors throughout the UK and Europe.

To find out more, visit www.aem-ltd.com

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Limavady’s cultural hub nears completion Featuring a 200-seater theatre, the imposing two storey Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre (in Irish ‘Ionad EalaÍon agus Cultúir Ghleann na Ró’) has become an anchor feature of Limavady’s Main Street over the past few months.

Located on the site of the old Alexander Hall, the centre will become a key part of the artistic and cultural life of the entire borough, providing a much needed regeneration for the physical townscape of Limavady.

Other aspects of the centre include art workshop rooms, event spaces, exhibition space, galleries, a visitor information centre and a gift shop. This centre isn’t just there for official meetings - the community can also book space for events, meetings and activities.

Limavady Borough Council’s director of development, Valerie Richmond, spoke with pride about the project. “Since December 2005, when I joined the council, a considerable amount of the preliminary planning for the project had already been completed.

I have worked closely with the culture, arts and tourism officer and the senior management team to develop the project further.

“Previously, Limavady Town Hall provided the focal point for the local community. However, over time the building either needed a complete refurbishment or to be replaced. Eventually, the old building was demolished and the façade of the town hall was retained in the new build”.

The new facility has cost close to £3m (including FFE). The build period was 18 months and has been completed on schedule without any major obstacles. The contract has so far been completed within budget.

Mrs Richmond continued, “The project will have a great impact on not only the town of Limavady but also the whole borough.

For so many years now the area has been without a focal point.

“The town now has an external space with a small stage area which can be used for a wide variety of activities. Internally, we now have a number of flexible spaces including an auditorium which can accommodate approximately 215 on tiered seating.

In addition, the building offers a dance studio, two arts and craft workshops, three exhibition galleries and two large community meeting rooms”.

The council’s tourism information office will be moving from the council offices into the ground floor of the new building and the new centre is viewed as an excellent location to market the

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borough’s beautiful environment and tourist product. This will be complemented by a retail outlet which, amongst other things, will provide a showcase for local arts and crafts. The centre will also provide a base for museum collections and a location for temporary museum and heritage based exhibitions.

Mrs Richmond added, “Two new retail units have also been attached to the building and we are currently in the process of seeking tenants. We are looking for activities which will complement the range of activities which will be on offer within the centre.

“The centre is seen as a great opportunity for town centre regeneration. We would hope that it will bring help to improve the evening economy in the town and of course contribute to tourism.

The council is also currently working with the Department for Social Development on a regeneration plan for the town.

“We hope that local schools, arts and cultural groups will seize every opportunity to make use of this superb facility. The success within the North West region by Derry City Council in achieving City of Culture status has also come at an opportune time and great opportunities will present themselves for Limavady to raise the profile of Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre at regional and national level”.

Internal fit-out is now close to completion and council developers and contractors Heron Bros. are looking forward to the building opening to the public in October.

Successful operation by contractors fulfills doctors’ orders Construction of a new state-of-the-art multi-million pound trauma and orthopaedic facility has recently been completed at Craigavon Area Hospital in Northern Ireland, in a project winning praise for the contractors.

Constructed for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust

by Farrans Healthcare and designed by Milligan Reside Larkin in association with P O’Hagan Architects, the £11.8 million Trauma and Orthopaedics Unit is the final phase of a £17 million investment plan designed to improve waiting times for services.

The Trust praised the contractors saying: “Farrans Healthcare have been very flexible in their approach and have offered innovative solutions to any issues which arose. We are delighted with the new Trauma and Orthopaedic Unit. The workmanship is of the highest standard and the building was delivered with the minimum of disruption to services on the site”.

The unit includes two laminar flow theatre suites, one for orthopaedics and one for trauma; a seven-bed recovery area and a 15-bed ward with seven single en-suite rooms. The unit links directly to the existing hospital’s internal theatre street, allowing bed-bound and ambulant patients privacy and dignity from admission through both surgery and recovery to final discharge.

At its heart are its unique theatres that utilise the latest innovative skirtless ultra-clean laminar flow ventilation canopies to control airborne infection during surgical procedures.

The operating tables are situated in a theatre-like environment with the backdrop of the surgeon’s control panel with integrated PACs monitors on a colourful feature wall. Other innovations include new high-pressure laminate wall panel systems with colour co-ordinated glued joints which further aid infection control; blinds integrated into glazed screens, copper ironmongery, and ample natural daylight.

Speaking at the opening of the new unit earlier this year, Northern Ireland Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: “This is a superb new facility which will bring real benefits to patients and staff. The new unit provides a top-class facility for people in this region who need trauma and orthopaedic services and will ensure that the health service continues to provide safe, high-quality services for the people of the Southern Trust area.

It means patients are able to have their treatment locally, rather than having to travel to Belfast”.

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Traders to revel in attractive townscape Work is progressing well on the £2.7 million Lurgan and Portadown public realm works with the appointed contractor SIAC Construction Ltd, who recently completed a similar scheme in Armagh. The bulk of work in both Lurgan and Portadown should be completed in early autumn 2010, after a January 2010 start.

The works in both Portadown and Lurgan, which took three years of planning, are transforming the town centres and helping to re-establish them as contemporary market towns whilst retaining their unique original characters.

Developers hope the improved streetscapes will make more people want to come into and, more importantly, stay in the towns.

Shoppers can look forward to wider pavements, a better quality of main civic spaces and side streets hopefully leading to an increased café culture throughout the towns and better access from the car parks to the town centres.

The project is led by Craigavon Borough Council, which hosts monthly meetings to ensure all traders, stakeholders and project

partners are kept abreast of progress to ensure the works are a success.

The group comprises representatives from Craigavon Borough Council, Lurgan Forward, Translink, Northern Ireland Planning Service, the Department for Regional Development Roads Service, Northern Ireland Water, SIAC (NI) Ltd., Lurgan traders and street representatives and the main funders of the scheme, the Department for Social Development.

Minister for social development, Margaret Ritchie MLA, said, “It is a great opportunity to regenerate and invigorate the town centre and make it a much more pleasant shopping experience for both residents and visitors. The completed scheme will restore the town centre to standard befitting a modern, contemporary market town and will hopefully improve future trading conditions in the town”.

The total funding package of £2.7million

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consists of £2million from the DSD, £600,000 from Craigavon Borough Council and £100,000 from the DRD Roads Service.

Chair of the communications management group and chair of the development committee, Alderman Sydney Anderson added, “This investment will help Lurgan substantially in a number of ways. Firstly it will bring some local employment within the construction industry and make sure that the town is fit for the 21st century. This is great news for Lurgan and will help contribute to Lurgan’s regeneration and development”.

Limerick Tunnel reaches completion An estimated 40,000 people walked under the River Shannon through the new Limerick Tunnel which opened to the public for an open day recently, in advance of the full opening. It was the last chance for the public to walk the tunnel before it officially opened at the end of July. The tunnel’s July opening came well ahead of its scheduled unveiling date of 17 September.

The Limerick Tunnel took four years to construct at a capital cost of €660m, and is one of the biggest infrastructural projects ever in the Mid-West region - rivalled only by the construction of the hydroelectric power station at Ardnacrusha during the early 1930s.

The tunnel will provide a fourth crossing of the river Shannon in Limerick, and will take an estimated 27,000 cars out of the city centre. The tunnel will improve access times for commuters to the city, as well as access to Shannon Airport, Galway, Cork, Kerry and Dublin.

The open day was from 10am to 7pm, but thousands of people had already gathered from 9am to be among the first group through the tunnel. Direct Route, the company which built the tunnel, also provided food and canteen facilities at the end of the tunnel, and park and ride facilities to help in traffic management.

They were hoping to raise over €100,000 for charities through the sale of a special commemorative brochure.

The 675m long Limerick Tunnel is the Limerick city bypass connecting the Dublin Road, N7 to the Ennis Road - N18.

The tunnel consists of the following 9.75km of two lane dual carriageway and 2.3km of single lane dual carriageway, with a 750m causeway across Bunlicky Lake. A total of 11 bridges, 6 underpasses and 8 culverts make up the scheme, with 2 ‘Toll

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Plazas’ recouping the cost of construction.

The new development is seen as a vital cog in Ireland’s transport system as it is capable of handling up to 40,000 vehicles per day. Removing up to this many vehicles from the city centre will, according to planners’ projections: eliminate traffic congestion; improve air quality; lower CO2 emissions and allow for further pedestrianisation of the city centre as well as bus corridors. The tunnel also improves access times for commuters to the various local industrial estates as well as access to Shannon Airport, Galway, Dublin and Cork.

Direct Route (Limerick) Ltd. is a consortium of Irish Companies made up of Allied Irish Banks (Holdings & Investments) Limited, John Sisk & Son Holdings Ltd., Lagan Holdings Ltd., Meridiam Infrastructure Finance S.ar.l, Roadbridge Limited and Strabag AG. Direct Route (Limerick) Ltd. signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the National Roads Authority (NRA) on the 18th August 2006 for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Limerick Tunnel.

The government’s Transport21 plan, which was announced in November 2005, is a €34.4 billion blueprint for the continued development of Ireland’s land, sea and air transport infrastructure over the next decade. This level of financial commitment by the government will enable the authority to plan ahead with the confidence for the accelerated development of the national road network. The Transport21 plan will see €9.4 million invested every day for the next 10 years in Irish transport. The government set a target of securing €1.27 billion of private finance for these projects, a figure which represents 23% of the total investment program.

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£3m housing project houses Downpatrick seniors The new supported housing project by Trinity Housing, located on Bridge Street, Downpatrick, will provide: 12 three-person, two-bed apartments for frail elderly people with mild dementia; and 2 two-person, two-bed and 10 one-person, one-bed apartments for frail elderly people with moderate dementia. All the properties are designed to wheelchair standard.

A Trinity Housing statement reads, “This state of the art facility was driven by customer focus and has been designed to specifically cater for the specialised needs of the end users.

With research indicating old style residential care homes are not adequate, it is clear that new building types are required.

As part of the design process, Trinity Housing, along with the SEHSCT (South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust) and McCartan Muldoon Architects, set up a working group to work in partnership in developing the brief, the approach to the design and planning of this building and how best to develop the site. Research was carried out into existing facilities in the UK, Australia, Germany and the USA and the Dementia Services Development Centre was consulted along with clinicians and specialists within the SEHSCT”.

The scheme will be assessed under the Dementia Audit Tool and Trinity Housing aim to achieve ‘Gold Standard’ for best practice, maximising funding in providing the highest standard of accommodation possible for the client group.

In order to minimise the impact the building had on the environment, the scheme was designed to ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ Level 3 standard, minimising CO2 emissions by reducing heat loss and making use of a renewable energy source with a biomass boiler.

The site, previously occupied by a derelict children’s home, has provided much needed community regeneration in the local area. The site analysis reviewed the social aspects of the location, availability and access to local community facilities and public transport to ensure residents felt a part of the surrounding community structure.

In land use terms, the building was specifically tailored to the site to maximise the site potential, yet also respect the historic significance of its location. The building groups together a series of self contained apartments around landscaped gardens and terraces, promoting outdoor leisure and recreational activities and providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment while meeting all requirements of Secured by Design.

According to Trinity Housing, “The approach taken by Trinity Housing and its design team throughout project delivery for this scheme was to achieve value for money, based on whole life

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cost and quality, with benefits of reduced costs and improved construction times and defects.

“Good management of buying and storing materials has ensured the amounts of materials ordered are accurate and delivered at appropriate times. Management of site activities and training and awareness has promoted good practice awareness for all workers involved onsite. The implementation of a site waste management plan has ensured all waste is monitored and segregated in defined waste groups in compliance with best practice”.

Good site waste management practice has ensured that the scheme not only complies with environmental targets and the Code for Sustainable Homes, but can also be completed at lower overall cost. Greater reuse and recycling of materials on site has led to lower disposal costs and avoidance of waste transportation costs, and also lower levels of material wastage.

Major efficiencies were sought in operating and running costs.

The building is designed to reduce running costs of the building by 50% compared to similar facilities, and U-values 40% lower than current regulations. The energy performance rating for this scheme is A, which indicates a high energy efficient building fabric, heating and lighting systems. This level of energy efficiency will result in reduced operating costs for all tenants.

Trinity Housing is a member of Apex Procurement Limited. The housing association is collaborating with architects McCartan Muldoon and main contractor O’Hanlon & Farrell on the project, which is due for completion in February 2012.

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Wastewater PPP is one of UK’s largest One of the largest Public Private Partnership’s in the UK, Project Omega is Northern Ireland Water’s £122m PPP project for wastewater treatment and sludge disposal that will allow the region to meet stringent EU regulations on water quality.

The project, which commenced in February 2007 and is scheduled to complete in 2032, is one of the most advanced wastewater management and sludge disposal schemes in Europe.

Project Omega includes the design and construction of three new pumping stations at Donaghadee, Millisle and Briggs Rock; the upgrading of six existing wastewater treatment facilities at Ballyrickard, Ballynacor, Bullays Hill, Seagoe Armagh and Richill, and the upgrading, operation and maintenance of a number of existing wastewater sludge facilities.

Additional works on the scheme comprise the construction of a second incinerator at Duncrue Street, Belfast; the construction of a new state-of-the-art fully enclosed wastewater treatment facility for North Down/Ards and the provision of a sludge disposal solution for Northern Ireland.

Glen Water Ltd (a 50:50 joint venture company between Veolia Water UK and Laing O’Rourke) is responsible for the design, build and finance of the project and will maintain and operate the new and enhanced facilities over a 25 year period. Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd and local companies BSG Civil Engineering, from Maghera, Dawson Wam from Ballynahinch and Williams Industrial Services from Belfast also form part of the Glen Water consortium.

Completed elements of the project include the upgrade of Seagoe Wastewater Treatment Works in which the existing pumping station was modified to accept screened sewage.

A new storm tank cleaning system was installed along with a standby generator and a new pipeline was installed from Seagoe to Ballynacor waste water treatment works to transfer flows to Ballynacor. A 3.1km pipeline has been laid from Millisle to Donaghadee and a 2.8km pipe line has been laid from Donaghadee to the wastewater treatment works. A further new pipeline has been constructed between Seagoe Waste Water Treatment Works and Ballynacor Waste Water Treatment Works.

The new Wastewater Treatment facility for North Down/Ards has been constructed on the High Bangor Road, Donaghadee. The fully enclosed treatment facility has been designed in sympathy with the surrounding landform and uses landscaping to further enhance its appearance and setting. The works serve 110,000 people in the area.

Bullay’s Hill Waste Water Treatment Works has been retained as preliminary treatment, storm tanks and screened flows. Odour control has been installed and the existing pumping station has been modified to accept screened sewage. The existing storm tanks have been fitted with a cleaning system.

Positioned close to the Copelands Marina harbour wall, the new Donaghadee Pumping Station has been completed.

The pumping station is 3.7metres high, 15.5m long and 3.5 m wide. It has been finished with random rubble stone to blend with the Marina and to reflect the rocky shoreline. The building is rectangular in shape and the surrounding area has been landscaped with grass.

The new pumping station at Millisle is a circular underground structure 15m wide by 12m deep. Pipelines from Millisle to the waste water treatment works have also been constructed.

A further new pumping station is located at Briggs Rock and comprises an underground structure 45m square by up to 18m deep, finished using a traditional reinforced concrete

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construction. The work also included the laying of pipelines from Briggs Rock to the water treatment works and back.

Ballynacor Waste Water Treatment Works has been upgraded to become the main sewage treatment centre for existing flows and for flows from Bullay’s Hill and Seagoe Waste Water Treatment Works.

The works included the installation of new storm tanks, new aeration tanks, new final settlement tanks, a new inter-stage pumping station and a new return activated sludge (RAS)/surplus activated sludge (SAS) pumping station. .

Ballyrickard Wastewater Treatment Works has been upgraded in a £12M investment, whilst £6m was invested to upgrade Armagh and Richill Waste Water Treatment Works. Included in the programme of work at Armagh was the refurbishment of the inlet works, the provision of new secondary treatment aeration tanks, new final settlement tanks, new sludge holding tanks, the installation of new odour control equipment and a standby generator.

Additional works completed include the construction of a new incinerator at Duncrue.

Catholic schools boost for Northern Ireland A major programme of works is revitalising a host of schools supported by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools The majority are located in the Down and Connor Diocese, where work has been commissioned by the St MacNissi’s Trust.

Main contractor Carmor, a consortium formed from the local construction firm O’Hare & McGovern and Interserve U.K., has been working with two firms of architects on the scheme: Samuel Stevenson & Sons and Kennedy FitzGerald Associates (KFA).

KFA were project architects and lead consultants for St. Cecelia’s College, Derry; St. Mary’s Primary School, Portglenone; and Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock. St. Mary’s Primary School and Our Lady and St Patrick’s College were designed in collaboration with 3D Reid Architects in Edinburgh.

The schools are designed and built in accordance with CCMS and Department of Education standards following detailed design evaluation and assessment. The buildings are built of traditional materials with pitched roofs and a combination of clay facing brick and pre-coloured renders. Great care and attention is given to the space and daylight within the buildings, together with the sustainability and energy saving requirements.

Kennedy FitzGerald has been involved with O’Hare & McGovern on a range of previous educational and other projects, including the East Down and East Tyrone Colleges. The firm has also been involved with CCMS in previous innovative schools in Northern Ireland, notably the Aquinas Grammar School in Belfast.

The practice has over 30 years’ experience of educational buildings in Northern Ireland, many of which have received design and construction awards. These projects include primary, secondary and third level educational buildings.

St. Joseph’s Primary St. Joseph’s Primary School and Nursery Unit was one of four schools combined to form a single project under the Department for Employment and Learning’s Public Private Partnerships.

The school, designed by Samuel Stevenson & Sons, is a 15 class base school with 4 resource areas, 1 multipurpose hall and a school meals kitchen. The design was developed in close consultation with the school principal as well as in accordance with the CABE Guidelines for Good School Design. The school building is designed on a north west - south east axis both to provide opportunities to maximize views from the school and

also ensure the main entrance is always well lit. The building comprises curved two storey teaching wings each side of a double height reception space and multipurpose hall.

Key Stage 1 classrooms are located on the ground floor with direct access from the outside through their respective cloakrooms. Key Stage 2 pupils on the first floor can also access their classrooms directly from the outside without having to pass through other teaching spaces.

The central location of the multipurpose hall articulates the main entrance and creates a focal point on entering the school.

Likewise the double height glazing incorporating the stain glass window draws visitors to the main entrance. The pupil cloakroom entrances are clearly identified by the use of render and different coloured doors making the building legible to both pupils and visitors alike.

St. Joseph’s Primary School occupies an elevated site set above the Saintfield Road, the main arterial route from Carryduff into Belfast. However the site enjoys an almost semi-rural setting on the edge of the hills of Carryduff, overlooking the countryside beyond the Saintfield Road. It is an attractive site; however the existing school layout does not reveal this potential.

Temporary accommodation dominates the site with the main school building being almost “lost” in the site, barely visible from the main approach off Knockbracken Drive.

The site has been developed to make best use of a very challenging location. A condition of the brief was that the existing school must remain operational during construction. Also, the site area of 1.2 hectares is considerably smaller than the area recommended by the Department of Education for a school of this size.

However, this has not compromised the proposed site solution with generous hard play spaces being provided following the natural terraces of the site. There is clear segregation between the different Key Stage playgrounds with a more formal shaped playground providing the opportunity for structured ball games.

A garden area is provided beside the Key Stage 1 playground as a teaching aid.

The main car park is located discreetly at the bottom of the site, but still easily accessible to both buildings. Vehicular access has been carefully designed with a bus turning circle and generous drop off areas. A separate service access is provided away from the main entrance.

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St. Patrick’s Grammar School

About CCMS

Another project designed by Samuel Stevenson & Sons, St Patrick’s Grammar School is a completely new school designed for 665 pupils on the site of existing playing pitches. The school remains in operation during construction and will be demolished at a later stage to make way for a new artificial playing pitch.

The design is intended to contribute to and reflect the Catholic ethos of the school; the building is designed on a north west south east axis both to provide opportunities to maximize views from the school and also to provide a northerly orientation for special subjects where solar gain can be problematic. The building comprises two curved teaching wings each side of a courtyard which is completed by a double height entrance concourse flanking the main halls, changing and music departments. The building form is sympathetic to its hilltop location and follows the curved and steep boundaries to the south-west of the site.

The courtyard plan also provides shelter from the prevailing winds and a break- out area from the entrance courtyard both during school hours and for out of hours activities.

The teaching wings are arranged both to reflect the orientation preferences for subjects but also to provide a satisfactory level of natural light and ventilation.

The intention is to provide maximum flexibility and to encourage third party use and out of hours activities in the sports hall, main halls and drama suite, which are all grouped together beside the main entrance and the double height concourse.

Externally, the multi-purpose synthetic pitch and bitmaced basketball play area are planned in close proximity to the school for ease of use at break times. There is also a clear segregation between pupil and vehicular movements and a dedicated service area.

The reorganisation of the grass play areas also will now provide the school with a full competition size GAA pitch whilst also creating the flexibility for cross-use for soccer and additional training areas.

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools is the advocate for the Catholic maintained schools sector in Northern Ireland.

CCMS supports the management of Catholic maintained schools through boards of governors.

As the largest employer of teachers in Northern Ireland (8500 teachers), CCMS plays a central role in supporting teachers whether through its welfare service or, for example, in working parties such as the Independent Inquiry into Teacher Pay and Conditions of Service.

CCMS supports trustees in the provision of school buildings and governors and principals in the effective management and control of schools. CCMS also has a wider role within the Northern Ireland education sector and contributes with education partners to policy on a wide range of issues such as curriculum review, selection, pre-school education, pastoral care and leadership.

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Developing Jersey in Style Recent times have seen economic downturn in Jersey as elsewhere, and yet the island’s construction industry has survived the worst of the recession thanks to the committed and expert efforts of firms like AC Mauger, part of the Style Group – a major player on the Channel Islands’ construction scene.

Master of a hatful of trades, the firm has been involved in a range of projects including residential, leisure, airport and highrise over the last twelve months.

One recently completed project is the island’s airport control tower – a new feather in the company’s cap, as managing director Joe Kent explains: “We successfully used slipforming techniques, which is something we haven’t been used to as a firm, so it was a new badge on the lapel for us. It was a challenging project as we were on occasion working in foggy and windy conditions in an airport environment with all the associated health, safety and security concerns that entails.

“In the wider sense, the airport work proved that as a company we’re not only capable of taking on some of the most prestigious contracts but that we’re adaptable – you have to be on Jersey, because the island is too small for there to be as much specialism as you might see on the mainland”.

Also on site recently has been a £2.75 million project to install holiday lodges at Les Ormes, a leisure retreat that Joe compares to Center Parcs. The lodges are timber framed and cedar clad, and include exterior swimming pools.

As for more permanent residential units, the company has been even busier. Joe told Premier Construction, “There is very little high rise on the island and it’s notoriously difficult to get planning permission. That doesn’t stop us working on existing buildings, however”. The company recently oversaw a refurbishment project at The Cedars, a residential apartment block managed by the States of Jersey Housing Department, and used Alumasc’s innovative Acrylic Brick Slips for their ability to retain the tower block’s unique appearance. The Cedars is the first high-rise project where the Brick Slip system has been used so extensively. Joe added, “I was particularly proud that we were

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able to put new glazing in over 70 units across 15 storeys whilst keeping all the residents in situ”.

Elsewhere, June 2010 saw the completion of a new development of 15 luxury private apartments on the site of a former hotel overlooking St. Brelade’s Bay. Meanwhile, Joe is particularly happy with recent developments at Le Squez, a residential scheme where the firm had previously been involved in a mixed refurbishment and new build project in 2008, and which has just seen the beginning of a new phase of development.

Joe told Premier Construction, “It’s good news that, despite the current climate, construction projects are still going ahead on the island. We’re in the same boat as our rivals, who have seen a reduction in their workloads, and yet here we are plugging away and looking forward to the recovery.

“Everyone has worked harder during the recession, taking on more roles and trying to remain positive about the future. It has helped that the States have recognised the situation and contributed stimulus funds to the industry. As one of the major firms on the island, and one which has done well to avoid the worst of the recession, we’ll be looking to come out of it strongly”.

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Jersey contractors put wet winter behind them as residential project completion approaches Charles Le Quesne’s Jersey division is continuing its reputation for luxury exclusive homes with a demolition and re-build project at Cedar Cottage, after one of the wettest winters on record did its best to disrupt the project at a vital stage. Quantity surveyor Nic Michel, whose team began work on the site in October 2009, told Premier Construction, “Last winter [2009-10] was one of the wettest we have ever seen on the island.

“There was a lot of snow on the mainland and thankfully we avoided the worst of it here, but the rain nevertheless caused us a few problems. We were at the stage of ground works during the bad weather, and unfortunately when that happens, no matter how keen you are you keep things moving, there’s only so much you can do.

“We also faced one or two difficulties with the frame of the building, which is a steel and timber composite, due to the

different tolerances of the materials. All the timber was cut off site, but if we work on this type of frame again, I’d prefer to use timber panels on site to get the sizes right and so on”.

Despite early setbacks, the project has developed into a stunning private residence that now looks like being completed before the end of 2010. The five bedroom house has three bathrooms, one of which adjoins the master bedroom as an en suite. The same room features a walk-in office area.

The property has high ceilings throughout, and the ground floor areas are of interest, according to Nic, who says, “The lounge, dining and kitchen areas are all painted brilliant white and make up virtually one large open space, except that there is a huge full-height stone fireplace feature in the middle that grabs your eye, and a very large set of glazed doors at one end of the living room”.

Externally, the house features a mixture of insulated render and imported Cornish stone to one of the elevations. Solar panels for water heating accompany a heat exchange system, both of which plug into a central energy management system which has provisions for further connections. All of the property’s heating is under floor.

The contract does not include landscaping within its remit, as the private client has decided to have that work done separately once the house itself is complete. However, Charles le Quesne’s contract has included completion of a stand-alone garage to the side.

Work on the house is now at the stage of electrical fit-out and Nic expects work there to be complete by Christmas 2010.

Charles Le Quesne teams up with social housing providers The Guernsey Housing Association is working closely with the States Housing Department and main contractor Charles le Quesne on a programme of new developments to provide new affordable and social housing.

Mont Beauvoir, at Clos de Mont Arrive, St Peter Port is the site of 15 new two bedroom bungalows which are under construction and due to be finished in October 2010. The chalet -style bungalows are designed for older people, with no steps, shower rooms and everything available on the ground floor, but with a second bedroom in the large roof space if needed, for a carer or a more able partner.

The £2.5 million project is due to be handed over at the end of October, and is currently at the stage of landscaping and decorating. Charles Le Quesne’s project manager, Shaun Sale, told Premier Construction, “We’re using Kingspan SIPs on the bungalows, which are still relatively new for Guernsey, and they’re good for insulation. Add that to the solar panels on the roof for hot water, the internal air conditioning and distribution units and the storage heaters, and the units are nice and warm.

“There are grab rails throughout the properties, not just on the stairs, and the ground floor shower rooms are in fact like wet rooms, with everything draining centrally. There is also level access to both the front and rear”.

Speaking about Guernsey Housing Association’s planning and design requirements, Shaun, who hails from England, said, “Things are different here to the mainland in that there is not the same strict level of compliance enforced by local authorities when it comes to buildings. There are mandates, of course, and things like the solar panels on this project show that the authorities here are looking to keep with the times, but the rules and regulations are not as stringent”.

The timber frame units follow a trend, as Shaun explained: “There’s a lot of timber build on the island at the moment and

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there has historically been very little brick work due to the cost of importing bricks. There are also virtually no bricklayers, in fact, so SIPs are ideal for our purposes”.

About the contractor Charles Le Quesne have been at the forefront of the Channel Islands construction industry for more than 125 years.

The company was founded by Charles John Le Quesne in 1881. To date, his successors have completed numerous building projects across all sectors, incorporating a wide range of designs, and including many of the landmark buildings in the Channel Islands.

From offices in St Helier (Jersey), and St Peter Port (Guernsey), Charles Le Quesne work across the retail, leisure, industrial, commercial, residential and public sectors. Visit www. charleslequesne.com/aboutus for more information

A s s o c i ati o n s

Traditional buildings require traditional materials

by Paul Watts of Mike Wye & Associates Ltd Many builders and building material supply companies are experiencing lean times on the back of the credit crunch. We hear of developers laying off tradesmen and the local builders’ merchants can be rather lonely places these days. New building programmes up and down the country have been mothballed or shelved.

It tends to be during economic times like these that decisions are often made to make do and mend rather than undertake new construction. There is a natural temptation more than ever to use the cheapest materials or accept the cheapest tender. The cheapness of the material may be down to the fact that it is mass produced or it may be that it is not like for like and that cement or hydrated lime is being quoted for rather than material compatible with the existing.

Far too often, people still do not understand the need for a traditionally built property to have traditional materials used on it. From flooring or render to simple decoration or pointing, buildings made to older construction methods can suffer greatly if modern materials are employed. It cannot be emphasised enough that a building constructed with a solid wall needs to have materials used in repair and maintenance that allow the moisture within the building to evaporate.

Modern acrylic based paints, cement render or cement pointing should all be avoided and products like Limewash, breathable emulsion, distemper, claypaint for decoration and lime for mortar and plaster should be used for pointing rendering and plastering.

The thermal expansion rate of cement is far greater than that of brick, stone or lime. This makes hard cement mortar incompatible with more traditional materials. The cement mortar is also much more rigid than lime mortar and cannot cope with the greater movement associated with traditionally constructed properties with their soft mortar and limited foundations. All this means that cement render or pointing is always prone to cracking and delamination on an old building compared to when lime is used. Rain is likely to track directly into the cracks, saturate the walls causing poor insulation and premature rot in wood or even structural failure.

Unfortunately for the novice, the world of lime and breathable paints can be a confusing one. There are different forms of lime and many choices for internal decoration. To add to the confusion there can be widely differing opinions on the best materials when talking to suppliers and practitioners.

There are three types of lime available: Lime Putty is slaked from quicklime with an excess of water making it a wet product. Mortars based on lime putty are the most traditional and also the most breathable and can last indefinitely. In fact lime putty actually improves with age as long as it is prevented from drying out. Only when dry can it carbonate and complete the hardening process. A Pozzolan can be added to create a chemical set making it a hydraulic lime and able to set in the presence of water if required.

Hydrated lime is the most widely available form of lime as it is used as a fattening agent to mix with cement where the use of cement is appropriate. Although chemically the same as lime putty, it is slaked with an exact amount of water making it a dry powder. It should not be used as a binder for a lime mortar as it could be too weak due to carbonation within the bag and may not give you an adequate mortar for building or plastering.

Natural Hydraulic Limes (NHLs) are slightly more complicated as they are normally sold in different strength bandings and chemical properties. Supplied as a dry powder, they come with natural Pozzolans as impurities within the limestone, hence ‘natural hydraulic lime’. These all have a limited life and in the same way that bags of cement will absorb moisture over a period of time, bags of NHL will do likewise and need to be stored well ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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to extend useful life.

Different NHLs are as follows: • NHL2 – The weakest, usually used on soft materials for internal plastering or repointing.

• NHL3.5 – This is the general purpose NHL and can be used internally and externally for building and rendering.

• NHL5 – NHL5 is the strongest and we only recommend this for flooring and underground work.

A further complication to the banding is that different manufacturers can provide an NHL 2, or 3.5 with widely differing properties to another. As a general rule of thumb we suggest that English and German NHLs are used internally as they have a larger proportion of free lime, this means that they are much stickier and creamier but have a slower and ultimately weaker set. The French NHLs are stronger and set quicker so are better for building and external works. It is very important to note that with all work you must make sure that the mortar you make from them is weaker than the masonry that you are using it on. Pointing should be sacrificial and be allowed to erode away rather than the surrounding masonry.

Before deciding on which type of lime to use the most important part of lime work is ensuring the breathability of the building, from the bare substrate through to the breathable paint applied to the plaster or render. It has been known for people who have applied a full breathable lime render and painted it with acrylic based masonry paint and therefore sealing the building. This will keep any moisture within the building and makes the breathable lime render largely a waste of time and money.

If a material was not originally used in its construction then it is likely that it should not be introduced into the fabric of the building. The key phrase to remember is ‘like for like’ so if lime mortar was used to bed brickwork then lime mortar is likely to be the best material to be used to repair it.

Not only it is important to research the type of materials used and source the most appropriate, it is vital to determine at an early stage if the property is listed or in a conservation area. If work is undertaken without the correct consents, this would be a criminal offence and may lead to prosecution.

Mike Wye & Associates is a specialist supplier of natural building and decorating products and one of the UK’s leading lime specialists. They have been training people in the techniques needed to maintain and conserve traditional buildings for many years. In a further move to help those looking for advice, the company has an excellent free guide to the maintenance of a

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traditional building that can be downloaded from their website.

In conjunction with a number of industry experts, the company is currently offering a series of one day seminars around the country. Contact the company for details of dates and venues for this essential day for anybody with a traditionally built property.

Telephone 01409-281644, email sales@mikewye.co.uk or visit www.mikewye.co.uk

CITB-ConstructionSkills: 10 years of Positive Image

By Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITBConstructionSkills No industry can survive without recruiting a steady flow of incoming talent. Here at CITBConstructionSkills, we’ve spent the last ten years recruiting on industry’s behalf through our ‘Positive Image’ campaign.

We didn’t begin Positive Image because of some vague desire to educate young people about our industry for the sake of it, but in response to real commercial imperatives. Any industry – indeed any business - can only ever be as good as the people working within it and it’s essential that we attract the best and brightest young people to our sector in order to avoid the sorts of skills shortages we have seen in the past.

We appreciate that some of the smaller construction firms will need help to present a positive image of the construction industry and attract new recruits. This is why we do this on your behalf nationally, so that you can get the best people locally.

And having the best people means you’re able to deliver the best results for your customers; getting them coming back for more and telling their friends about your business.

Speaking to youth audiences in a meaningful way is challenging, but it’s a challenge we’ve been rising to for the past ten years.

We don’t have the huge advertising budget of the Army or the RAF, but what we do have is the ability to move with the times in order to speak to our audience in a way that will not only get us noticed and them listening, but actually encourage them to begin a career in construction.

In competing against all the other advertising ‘noise’ for the attention of the nation’s youth, we’ve had to really do our research.

Over the last ten years, we’ve changed our approach to reflect the latest trends and young people’s interests. We’ve targeted them through the magazines we knew they were reading such as Kerrang! and More. We’ve put postcards in cinemas when big films such as ‘American Pie’ were showing. We’ve created ‘gaming’ style advertisements young people could play online and sent them text messages on GCSE and A Level results days.

We’ve engaged big-name celebrities such as Fearne Cotton and June Sarpong to voice our adverts, and then we made sure the

right people saw them by putting them in the commercial breaks of popular shows such as Hollyoaks. Our advertising trailblazed its way into the changing rooms of big high street stores such as New Look and capitalised on the traditional teenage interests of sex, drugs and rock and roll through our “Trev got the whole pub plastered” and “Mark did a lot of laying in Ibiza” advertising campaign. Controversial? Perhaps. Effective? Definitely.

Indeed, the results speak for themselves. Five years into the campaign, we were getting up to over 40,000 unique visitors to our bConstructive website per month. The success of Positive Image was already garnering tangible results online, and in the coming years we realised “going online” would become the best way to get results. In 2010, 95% of the campaign shifted to being internet based. We have also reached the unusual position that as our campaign got more effective in terms of getting results, it also got dramatically more cost effective. In 2006 the cost of generating an enquiry was £8.00. In 2009, it was 31 pence.

Now we are looking ahead to what’s next for the campaign and if it is going to be as effective as it can be we’ll need your help.

Joining us will cost you nothing - indeed, helping us to promote construction careers on a local level could have a positive impact on your bottom line. Being a Construction Ambassador in schools and at events will raise awareness of your business.

Local column inches from entering your apprentices into Skillbuild, or putting forward ‘Positive Image’ case studies will mean that when people think of a building company in their town, yours will be the one that first springs to mind, and for all the right reasons. By getting involved in Positive Image, you may find that you begin getting Positive Results on a local level so we hope to hear from you soon.

To find out more, go to www.cskills.org/positiveimage

NSA stands for professionalism Members of the National Sewerage Association (NSA) operate across a full range of specialist drain and sewer maintenance areas, carrying out works such as CCTV inspections, flow monitoring, manhole surveys, cleaning and descaling, blockage clearance and minor civil engineering works.

Many were founder-members of either the Association of CCTV Surveyors or the Association of Flow Survey Contractors before the two bodies merged to form the NSA in 1996.

Many member companies have grown over the years and ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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are now considered to be among the larger companies in their respective fields, while some have been acquired by larger companies and have been re-organised to meet the changing market place and others chose to remain small to serve local needs. Thankfully the NSA has not forgotten its roots and remembers when the original Associations were formed to set standards and encourage a quality service at a reasonable cost to the benefit of both company and customer.

Manufacturers and suppliers have supported the NSA with their membership over the years and the Association has been able to work in partnership to the benefit of all. Several trade publications, such as Premier Construction and Drain Trader, request editorial material related to the sewerage industry.

The Association continues to meet its established objectives, which include the following key aims: *To act as a forum for closer working relationship between manufacturers, contractors and designers in ensuring that technological development and improved contracting services go hand in hand with common commercial interest. * Customer needs and service standards in performance, financial, quality and safety terms are identified and guidance on their achievement given on request. * Audit procedures have now been established to ensure that members comply with the standards set and to deal with any non-compliance. A service is also provided for arbitration, conciliation and expert witness advice.

The Association also acts as a focus for external enquiry for the industry and the general public.

The development and promotion of appropriate training programmes, in association with Develop Solutions (previously WTi), is undertaken in order to set operative training standards, to accredit those achieving these requirements and to ensure that these standards are upheld. Courses have been developed for working in both sewers and domestic drains.

The Association played an active role in the production of European Standard BS EN 13508 parts 1 and 2 and its national equivalent the Manual of Sewer Condition Classification – Edition 4. The NSA was also a major consultee for the revision of the Model Contract Document for Sewer Condition Inspection.

Ongoing organisational changes within various external groups and Government departments necessitate ongoing monitoring of existing links, to ensure that meaningful liaison is maintained and inquiries are properly directed. The Association has and continues to be in contact with several bodies, including OFWAT, to reinforce the membership case in various respects.

The Association’s current concern revolves around the proposed transfer of private drains and sewers to the Water Companies, and the NSA is actively involved in the consultation process with DEFRA to protect the interests of members and maintain service standards to the benefit of both client and the general public. The uncertainty this is creating in the industry is believed to have triggered the recent increase in membership

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from 26 to 40.

Many senior water company personnel are concerned that procurement officers’ tendency to award contracts to the lowest tender, with limited regard to qualifications and standards, has the potential for a major safety risk and an adverse financial and competitive impact within the industry. The NSA shares this concern, regarding the maintenance of standards to be of paramount concern to safeguard the good name and continuance of an industry which members have worked hard to establish.

Good health and safety practices, high-quality workmanship, employment practices, operator training, customer service and sound common sense must prevail.

Further details can be obtained from the Secretary at 98 Alric Avenue, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4JW (Tel/Fax: 0208 942 9391) or visit the website, www.sewerage.org.

Providing a vital service to the construction industry The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) promotes the highest standards of professionalism within the pest control industry. Formed in 1942, it plays a major role in enhancing these standards by way of training courses and examinations, publications, exhibitions and conferences.

The aims of the association are to represent a responsible industry committed to the control of public health pests without risk to the general public, non-target animals and the environment; represent the interests and opinions of the UK pest control industry; encourage high standards of professionalism within the industry and explain the role of the industry and its benefits to the community.

which should only be undertaken by a trained professional.

By choosing a British Pest Control Association member company, you are ensuring that the contractor is able to provide a thoroughly professional and consistent service. Before being able to join the BPCA as a full member, the business must initially be able to meet, and then maintain, the rigorous criteria laid down for membership.

On site reassessments are conducted on all members every three years and member companies must conform to the Association’s Code of Practice and Code of Conduct.

Members are listed on the BPCA website at www.bpca.org.uk.

The BPCA also has the facility to provide a postcode search for the closest member company to you.

The role of pest control in the construction industry Rats and mice have caused serious fires by gnawing the insulation off electrical cables, floods by puncturing pipes, and have been known to chew holes in gas pipes. Pigeons and starlings incur substantial cleaning costs to remove their nests and droppings, which are also reservoirs of insect infestation, can block guttering and damage stonework. In all aspects of pest control, prevention is better than cure and measures should be taken to proof buildings against bird and rodent damage.

Mice can squeeze through a gap of just 10mm, therefore, it is imperative that in the construction of buildings all gaps are sealed, drains have U-bends, and any other gaps (such as grilles and the space under doors) are proofed. Selection of the right systems and their installation and integration is a specialist job,

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The new Planning Policy Statement: what it means for archaeology and you Planning Policy Statement 5: planning for the historic environment (PPS5) was published in March of this year. It replaces PPG 15 and PPG 16, which have been the cornerstone planning policies for the heritage sector in England for nearly twenty years. It represents one of the most significant opportunities in decades for archaeologists, their clients and the public to get more from archaeology (for time and money put in). In order to realise this opportunity, the whole sector has to think creatively and radically about how archaeology is practised and how the PPS may best be implemented.

To take this forward, the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) discussed the new PPS and how it may be implemented at their April annual conference in Southport. While participants acknowledged that PPGs 15 and 16 (and especially 16) were ground-breaking and have enabled a robust level of archaeological practice and development of significant new information and understanding; it was concluded that the extent and quality of public benefits that government and archaeologists desired could not be delivered consistently because of failures in the way in which the market functioned.

PPS5 however changes everything. It gives archaeologists the potential consistently to • help the property sector get the best out of developmentled investigations • deliver stronger research through a more collaborative approach • focus on understanding and enhancing cultural significance • promote public participation and support • build the expectation of professionally accredited quality But archaeologists need to achieve this in the face of the challenge from substantial cuts that could significantly weaken local government historic environment services and alter the way in which development-led archaeology is managed.

To tackle these complex issues a group of specialists has convened to scope out the challenges posed by current practice, the opportunities afforded by PPS5 and the means of achieving them. The group hopes to reach all parts of our multidisciplinary sector, and is committed to promoting a broad and rapid debate about PPS5 across England, and, as far as planning policy permits, across the UK. The outcome of this debate will

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be structured guidance for implementing the new PPS in a way which demonstrably produces even greater public benefit, which is more cost-effective for those that commission it and which is more rewarding for those that undertake it.

What has changed?

The vision for the property sector For the property sector we wish to achieve efficient implementation of the planning system, helping it to meet nationally consistent, fair and proportionate obligations, and to be recognised for the contribution it makes to society through the work of archaeologists. We want our sector to promote better public understanding and appreciation through a wide range of publications and accessible media. This is key for sustainable development. We would like to see a network of staffed resource centres linked to local authority Historic Environment Records, around which public and professionals can coalesce to explore and research the past of their locale, and more opportunities for participation in decision-making and the archaeological process, working with but not supplanting professional experts.

For our profession we wish to see strong recognition of our skills, versatility and range of professional services to clients and society

The Institute’s role The Institute is facilitating the working group of individuals who have volunteered to help facilitate and report on cross-sectoral discussions. The members have strong links with the curatorial, contracting and consulting sectors; local authority conservation officers and buildings conservation professionals; academia; archives; museums; the property and construction sectors; community archaeology groups; and archaeology training and skills development groups. It is planning seminars with a wide range of audiences to gather and develop ideas that will refine the goals and improve delivery, delivery that will help defend PPS5 principles from being weakened or lost in reform of the planning process.

The outputs of the project will need to draw on good practice case studies and will include detailed recommendations for improved standards, guidance and training for planners, the archaeological sector and others. Such guidance should cover how to design, manage and implement investigation and

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A s s o c i ati o n s understanding of all elements of the historic environment - built, buried, and submerged – in a way that realises the public benefits that PPS5 envisages. We will report in later editions upon the findings and recommendations of the group and just what these mean for you.

National Heritage Planning Policy Overhauled PPS5 Planning for the Historic Environment and its supporting Planning Practice Guide were published in March 2010. By bringing together policy on how built and buried heritage is dealt with in the planning process into a single unified system, the PPS represents a fairly radical overhaul of heritage planning policy.

The overriding aim of the PPS is that the historic environment should be “conserved and enjoyed for the quality of life they bring to this and future generations.” It widens the scope of the historic environment to include places/features/landscapes that have significance due to their archaeological, historic, architectural and artistic interest. These are now called “heritage assets.”

The need to balance heritage conservation and measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change have been made explicit for the first time. The importance of the reuse and sympathetic adaption of historic assets (primarily buildings) to reduce emissions is stressed. In relation to renewable energy schemes such as wind farms, the PPS emphasises the need to weigh the balance between the public benefit of renewable energy with potential harm to heritage assets.

Applicants are expected to assess the ‘significance’ of heritage assets before a development is designed and applications submitted. This includes a requirement to consider the contribution of setting to this significance. No distinction is made between designated (scheduled monuments, listed buildings,

ATLAS

conservation areas, registered parks, gardens and battlefields and World Heritage Sites) and non designated (everything else) assets.

Assessments will have to cover both known and potential (i.e. currently unrecorded) heritage. The level of assessment detail required/submitted should be proportionate and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of a proposed development. Quite what is deemed to be proportionate will be depend upon the local planning authority.

The PPS instructs planning authorities to not validate applications where this assessment is deemed to have not been fully addressed.

Where desk based assessment information is insufficient, archaeological evaluation will be necessary. The Planning Practice Guide suggests that local authorities can require an extensive range of survey techniques; inevitably this will take longer and cost more.

Developers will be expected not just to pay for the recording of archaeological or historic buildings impacted by development, but also to provide resources for access, research, publication, education, presentation and archiving of the results.

A definition of setting of heritage assets is included for the first time, but it is not clear how this definition will aid applicants in practice as the subject is still vague and subject to differing interpretations.

As the development industry recovers from the deep recession and as the coalition government’s programme of cuts start to come into effect, the publication of the new PPS will no doubt throw up new challenges to developers, investors and local authorities throughout the region. Watch this space for more developments.

The Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists Established in 1946, ATLAS is the national representative employers’ organisation for companies which engage in the steeplejack, lightning conduction, earthing design, installation, demolition and restoration of high rise and historic buildings, industrial chimneys, churches, off shore rigs and other important tall structures.

The association is the leading, independent professional voice of this very specialist sector and arguably one of the most proactive trade associations in operation, driven by the goal of sharing and promoting specialist knowledge and expertise.

ATLAS endeavours to set professional standards, support professional development and represent the interests of the profession. Its 60-strong membership accounts for the majority of the UK’s professional industry workload and members’ expertise are becoming increasingly recognised in Europe and the Far East.

ATLAS also provides a superb open forum for the discussion and resolution of industry issues that cause concern to members.

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Members can discuss issues of common interest, share their experience and find solutions to common problems. Many members find this open forum one of the most valuable benefits that ATLAS has brought to the industry, as it facilitates dialogue between members, organisations, industry and government.

ATLAS members also benefit from the promotion and exposure of common interests and common complaints and over the years have seen a series of improvements made to the quality of services offered, health and safety standards, training, and technical standards.

The safety of operatives is a huge priority for ATLAS which prides itself as a pioneer in this area.

Atlas has been involved at the forefront of industry topics for many years and has been providing expert comment and feedback on important issues that effect specialist construction industries. Added to this, ATLAS works tirelessly to improve and enhance industry technical and safety practices and this enables member companies to keep up to date with all enhancements and developments.

Membership of ATLAS requires all companies to adhere to the standards set by the association at all times and strict enforcement of these standards is a key pillar of the association.

Due to this, strict membership criterion must be met to maintain association credibility at all times.

Atlas members have approved a written Code of Conduct, thus setting a professional benchmark for members’ behavior

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A s s o c i ati o n s and a minimum level of service clients can expect. Atlas and its members are ever striving to offer and deliver the best professional service to the steeplejack and lightning protection industry.

ATLAS Code of Conduct Membership of ATLAS is not given automatically.

On application, each company is required to supply three references.

Applicants are visited by the association’s membership committee to ensure they meet requirements.

These include a comprehensive health and safety policy, public liability insurance and records of accidents and training given.

Full members must have been trading for minimum of two years and are asked to comply with the following code of conduct: 1.

2.

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10.

11.

Conduct their business lawfully, comply with all relevant legislation and trade fairly and responsibly Give assurance of the best possible service to all customers Offer products and services within relevant British, European and international standards Give assurances of fully trained staff and operatives within the business Give assurances that advertising/sales promotions/public relations should comply with current advertising standards Display Information relating to products, services and prices in an easy to understand form, complying with current price legislation Give assurances that all information given to customers should accurate, truthful and based on full product knowledge Carry out all work to the best of their ability, advising the customer of any delays or problems Provide an assurance that services should be undertaken at an agreed time and date Give customers adequate guidance on the use, care and maintenance of products Deal quickly and courteously with any complaints from customers

For further information, see: www.atlas.org.uk

CAI stands for professionalism in the aerial and satellite industry As the recognised body for the aerial and satellite industry, the Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) is committed to raising standards and the criteria for membership are extremely high.

One membership requirement is that any installing member company will agree to the examination and test of any equipment manufactured or supplied, the inspection of any installation or an investigation into conduct which could have a detrimental effect on the reputation of the CAI or its members.

CAI Members employ only qualified personnel whose work is monitored by an inspector. If a CAI member is undergoing inspection, it may be that the CAI inspector will wish to accompany them to view their installing capabilities.

All CAI members guarantee their installations for a minimum of 12 months. In addition to this, the CAI undertakes to back this guarantee with its own 12 month guarantee, for domestic installations only.

This means that should a CAI member fail to honour their 12 month guarantee on a domestic installation, the consumer can seek redress via the CAI. Provided that the problems concerned fall within the realms of the original guarantee, the CAI will arrange

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to have the work corrected - at no extra cost to the consumer.

In addition, all members are required to work to the exacting standards laid down in the CAI’s Codes of Practice.

CAI Members should also carry identity cards that clearly state

their name and company details, together with a photograph. If you are in any doubt about the validity of an installer, ring the CAI on 01923 803030 during normal office hours.

All CAI Members are required to have full insurance cover for all aspects of their business. Most importantly there is a minimum requirement of £2,000,000 for public liability insurance. This gives the consumer total peace of mind before the company even commences work.

The CAI will fully investigate any complaint that it receives against one of its members and is empowered to impose sanctions on members if necessary.

When it is deemed that a member has fallen outside the boundaries of the CAI Codes of Practice, they will be instructed to correct the areas that have been identified.

The CAI will monitor the complaint to ensure that the defects are rectified. The member company will then be asked to confirm to the CAI that this has been done, within the pre-determined timescale that will have been set. The CAI will then check with the customer to ensure that they are now satisfied.

A CAI member who fails to rectify work or to carry out the necessary training will be removed from membership and will no longer be authorised to use the CAI logo.

Those installers that are properly qualified and properly vetted are always the ones to choose. In order to have a professional installation carried out, it’s always wise to seek credentials and preferably choose one that belongs to a professional trade organisation such as Confederation of Aerial Industries.

A current problem is that those regions that have still not experienced switchover are areas where a lot of money can be made by unscrupulous aerial installers. There is nothing legislatively to say an aerial installer must fulfill any requirements before they can install, and because of this, many installers are climbing ladders and fitting aerials and satellite dishes when they are inexperienced, and unqualified. As switchover is due to be completed in 2012, this is an ideal time to make a quick buck, even if the end result and the quality of work are appalling.

To be accepted as a CAI member an applicant must formally apply, and undertake a formal inspection by a member of the CAI assessment team. It is now also mandatory when joining the CAI that installers working in a domestic capacity must undertake a working safely at heights course, as well as a criminal record check.

The CAI also requires every member to carry an ID badge including a photograph of themselves, details of the company they work for and a unique ID number which can be checked with CAI HQ, if there are any doubts. The CAI also advise that any installers who are just starting out, or wish to undertake a refresher course, should complete the organisation’s basic aerial and satellite course so that they learn to install the ‘CAI’ way.

Remember also that the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ really applies. It might not be that a CAI installer is necessarily the cheapest, but do you really want the aggravation of trying to call them back when you are not happy with the end result?

The reception may not be accepted by you especially if an aerial isn’t installed properly, or worse an uncertified installer may have no insurance so you cannot make a claim in the event of any damage.

There is every reason to choose someone that has the correct and up to date qualifications and experience and no reason at all to choose someone that has none - so be sure to choose a CAI member every time.

Advising clients about Site Waste Management The introduction of the Site Waste Management Plan Regulations 2008 has brought to the fore a number of issues relating to Construction Waste Management, Site Waste Management and the UK sustainability agenda.

For some time clients have been demanding that their project teams consider, reduce and manage site waste, sometimes to reduce costs of waste to landfill and sometimes to secure ratings or compliance with schemes that necessitate consideration of Site Waste Management – indeed there are now consultants who have made this arena their specialisation. But now the new regulations in England (and Best Practice Guidance in other parts of the United Kingdom) have made it necessary for many more clients, who may have differing perspectives on sustainability and Site Waste Management, to grapple with demands made of them by these regulations and Best Practice Guidance. The Site Waste Management Regulations 2008 do not, however, offer any guidance or assistance for clients. Clients are therefore asking their project consultants to tell them what is required of them – and asking for help in dealing with the regulations.

Whilst there is no requirement in the regulations for anyone to advise clients, (or anybody else involved in a project), about Site Waste Management, there is clearly a need for this to happen and a clear business opportunity for someone to provide such a service.

A consultant’s guide to the provision of services relating to the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 and Best Practice Guidance has now been published by the Association for Project Safety and is available for those who wish to offer the additional service of ‘Site Waste Management Plan Client Adviser’ to their clients or who wish to know more about the ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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A s s o c i ati o n s whole subject of Site Waste Management.

“Advising clients about Site Waste Management” provides consultants with information and procedures that they can use to help clients and design teams meet the challenges of effective site waste management on projects. The guide: • Gives a concise background to Site Waste Management • Outlines the costs of site waste and the environmental benefits of Site Waste Management Plans and planning • to increase recovery, recycling, and re-use of materials and to reduce site waste • Provides an overview of the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 and Best Practice Guidance • Explains the implications of the Regulations and Best Practice Guidance • Outlines “who does what” in different parts of the United Kingdom • Suggests services that consultants can provide to help clients and design teams deal with their Site Waste • Management obligations • Demonstrates the synergies between these services and CDM processes and requirements • Provides a step-by-step guide to working as a client adviser dealing with Site Waste Management Plan issues This ‘Advise and Assist’ process often parallels the duties of the CDM co-ordinator under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. The Association for Project Safety, which has in-depth knowledge and experience of CDM co-ordination practice, has used its experience to help develop this ‘step-by-step’ guide so that this additional service to clients can be offered by CDM co-ordinators, as well as other consultants. They will then be acting as an adviser to clients on

Site Waste Management - a ‘Site Waste Management Plan Client Adviser’ - a clumsy term but it says exactly what is in the tin!

Because the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations and Best Practice Guidance also directly, or indirectly, require clients to make sure that others carry out certain duties, clients will expect assistance from designers and certainly designers will need to consider their obligations in supplying the information required in the Regulations. It is clear that in many instances clients will need a specific adviser to ensure that their duties are properly discharged and that all parties work together to comply with these new Regulations (in England) or the Best Practice recommended in other parts of the United Kingdom. The CDM co-ordinator, who, for most construction projects valued at £300,000 or more will already have been appointed, is in an admirable position to provide efficient and targeted advice to the client on all of these matters and this is the basic premise upon which this guidance is based. On the other hand consultants who wish to provide a separate advice service to clients will also find that this guide helps them deliver that service consistently and effectively.

“Advising Clients about Site Waste Management” shows that there are simple ways of harnessing the benefits of the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 (and Site Waste Management Best Practice) that will help clients with their obligations and duties, assist them in reducing the costs of project waste and enable them to maximise environmental gains – all of which can be compelling concerns in contemporary project realisation.

Copies of the Guide, priced at £34.00 incl P&P for members and £44.00 incl P&P for non-members, can be obtained by contacting the Association for Project Safety, Stanhope House, 12 Stanhope Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5HH, T: 08456 121 290, E: info@aps.org.uk, www.aps.org.uk

The New ‘3 Rs’ – how do they sound?

A look at schools, acoustics and the construction industry

by Andrew Parkin BEng(Hons) CEng FIOA FIHEEM, Technical Director at RPS, member of the IOA Building Acoustics Group and Chair of the ANC Schools Committee.

Where we are now With the recent decimation of funding for public sector projects, schools have been particularly hard hit. Whilst many academies have come away unscathed, Building Schools for the Future has been scrapped, with many live school projects being cancelled and LEPs being disbanded.

Despite the huge cut in spending, schools still need to be brought up to scratch, with much of the existing stock being well below even the minimum standards set out in the School Premises Regulations.

In this context, we need to look at new ways of making the best of the existing school stock, in the recognition that there simply isn’t enough money around to rebuild every school, despite aspirations and commitments made by the previous government.

Smarter, leaner, greener, more cost effective solutions need to be found.

R is for Refurbishment Refurbishment of schools is nothing new. This has always been the least costly method of breathing new life into the existing school stock and, in a lot of cases, is perfectly adequate.

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However, this does rely on the existing building being in a reasonable condition and of a decent standard to start with.

When it comes to compliance with Building Bulletin 93 (BB93), there appears to be a wildly varying approach for refurbishments.

In theory, as soon as works that require a Building Regulations application are carried out, Part E should be invoked and, as a means of compliance with Part E, BB93 should come into force. However, wording within BB93 is often not strong enough and contain such phrases as ‘it is desirable’ and ‘should aim to meet’; these phrases hold little or no contractual obligation to upgrade the acoustics of schools spaces through refurbishment.

Sadly therefore, BB93 is often ‘derogated’ from refurbishment projects. Budgets are often so low that it is simply not possible to bring existing buildings up to the latest acoustic, thermal, ventilation etc. standards and tough decisions need to be made.

In these situations, there are three main options, as follows: Choose which aspects get upgraded (e.g. acoustics, thermal etc.) and spend the money concentrating on these, to the

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Institute of Acoustics events The growing challenges facing acoustics designers will come under the microscope at the Institute of Acoustics’ autumn conference at Austin Court, Birmingham on November 2-3.

Organised by the Institute’s Building Acoustics Group, the conference will examine several issues posed by construction projects, including lightweight framed buildings, modular/off-site fabrication, acoustics aspects of sustainable energy, refurbishment and remodelling of existing buildings for the same or change of use, use of vegetation in urban landscapes for acoustics benefit and the reliability of ‘variable’ acoustics in multi-use spaces.

For more details, ring 01727 848195 or go to www.ioa.org.uk exclusion of other aspects Rather than refurbish the whole school, determine what proportion could be upgraded ‘properly’ and set about doing this. The school then have the option to manage and timetable teaching accordingly Based on full surveys of the existing building, make an informed choice as to how far each aspect (e.g. acoustics, thermal etc.) can realistically be upgraded with the given budget and make incremental improvements. The risk here is that, whilst improvements could be made, if the starting point is particularly poor then, even after refurbishment the school still not be suitable for its intended use

R is also for Remodel In a similar vein to Refurbishment, Remodelling involves working within the confines of the existing building. However, instead of making improvements to existing elements (e.g. walls, doors etc.) there will be a removal of existing elements and construction of new ones to suit the required teaching styles and operational policies of the school.

When introducing new walls and doors within an existing school shell, it would be very difficult to argue that these should not meet with BB93 targets. The complication comes, however, when the existing shell can not adequately control flanking of sound. In these cases, although a new partition or floor may be capable of achieving BB93 targets in isolation, the weaknesses of the existing building would prompt a failure; in these instances this should be highlighted as a risk and included in the Alternative Performance Standard register.

In addition to new ‘hard’ construction elements to control sound insulation, use of absorbent finishes to optimise reverberation times will also need to be considered. Careful design will be required to see that any new absorption measures will not interfere with daylighting, natural ventilation or thermal mass requirements. Although the most cost effective solution is often to use a suspended ceiling, the numbers of schools taking this approach is decreasing, with wall panels and suspended baffles/ rafts becoming increasingly popular.

And R is for Re-Use This is possibly the most radical solution and is yet to hit the UK in any significant volume. However, the major drive towards free schools and academies, together with significant rebates involved with taking on vacant buildings, paves the way for this approach.

As with many things, the Scandinavians have been doing it for years! Across Sweden and Denmark, old buildings have successfully been converted into schools. In the UK, it is not

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just historic buildings and old warehouses that are being looked at with a view to creating schools, especially as many of these have already been turned into housing. What we have in the UK, partially due to the economic climate of the past few years, are vacant retail, industrial and commercial spaces. Many of these are well serviced in terms of transportation and infrastructure and have plenty of land. The challenge is to make these spaces suitable for a new generation of learning environments.

So, how do we turn a former factory or B&Q into a school?

Looking at many of the academies designed and constructed in recent years, there has been a trend towards large, voluminous shells with cellular spaces constructed around central open areas. This same principle can be easily replicated in a portal frame shed; granted, the external appearance may not win many awards but the internal environment (arguably the most important aspect) can be just as good.

In order to achieve good sound insulation between spaces, we need to be looking at modular (off-site) constructions, SFS or timber frame buildings-within-buildings and secondary structures. If designed correctly and complimented with good dri-lining and internal glazing a superb quality environment can be achieved, matching and even bettering that normally expected from more traditional constructions.

Within cellular teaching/learning spaces, the same principles to reverberation control as in a ‘standard’ classroom can be adopted, e.g. ceilings, suspended absorbers, wall panels etc.

The challenge comes in the large open spaces. Whilst many of these will be utilised for dining, circulation and LRCs, they are also likely to be used for teaching/learning. High floor to ceiling heights will invariably cause problems with long reverberation times, poor speech intelligibility and significant build-up of noise. We therefore need to investigate ways of combating this, which may include suspended absorbers (e.g. traditional baffles and rafts, or feature shapes); one approach used in large call centres is to create ‘Acoustic Piñatas’ (pictured) formed by suspending large acoustically absorbent objects within netting or a cage. Alternatively, absorbent canopies could be suspended from the roof over sensitive spaces. Careful selection of FF&E items will also need to be made to assist in the overall acoustic environment.

Summary We can not expect to design and construct schools in the same we have been and need to adapt to new financial and building stock constraints. We must treat this as a challenge, not a problem, though. There is significant scope to make tomorrow’s schools exciting projects to work on and environments suitable for their intended use of teaching and inspiring the next generation, in addition to being a good workplace for teachers.

Wild Flower Turf

The ideal product for environmentally friendly landscaping and green roof projects

Wild Flower Turf has developed a unique product designed to give a bio-diverse wild flower turf suitable for all types of landscaping and green roof projects.

The growing system produces a very different type of turf product, ideal for today’s market. It involves mixing compost with seed, which is then laid over an impermeable membrane. It is soil-less, light to handle, quick and easy to lay and provides new solutions for civil engineering and urban development.

The speed of installing a wildflower meadow is demonstrated clearly if you visit www.wildflowerturf. co.uk. Watch the time lapse video of the growth cycle of an instant wildflower meadow, which was filmed over nine weeks from April to June this year.

It is not difficult to see from the video how Wild Flower Turf provides a bio-diverse habitat for all sorts of organisms bringing the environmental advantages of the countryside to any urban development. All species used in the turf are native to the British Isles and produce a meadow that is attractive and eye catching. There are also nectar rich species of flowers grown in the mix, providing a vital benefit to the dwindling populations of butterflies and bees.

Sainsbury’s initiative are on the endangered list. By laying Wild Flower Turf, the perfect environmental habitat for these species is instantly accessible.

Other recent installations include work at the Natural History Museum, Cardiff Castle, the Horniman Museum and the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Not only is Wild Flower Turf visually outstanding, but when used for green roofs, as it is in many of these projects, it also improves the insulating properties of a building. The turf lends itself very well to roofs as it is hardy, light to handle and requires little maintenance. One cut per year in the autumn with a strimmer or mower, is all that is required and this provides a good over winter colour. www.wildflowerturf.co.uk Tel: 01256 771222

The company’s Managing Director, James Hewetson-Brown points to the advantages of using his turf as compared to the risk and disappointment often associated with seeding.

“So many customers come to me needing a solution when seeding has failed and I am pleased to be able to offer a guaranteed way of establishing a wild flower site. The turf is suitable for a wide range of uses and examples include orchards, green roofs and a municipal park as well as river diversion schemes, in fact anywhere that biodiversity, low maintenance and a natural environment is needed.”

When Sainsbury’s built their latest eco store in Dursley, Gloucestershire, they used Wild Flower Turf to create a landscape habitat supplying a rich diet of pollen and nectar for bees. The bees are housed in special bee hotels made from sustainable materials and thrive on the environmentally attractive wildflower meadow.

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Getting a grip on water

By Alex Stephenson, Director of the Rainwater Harvesting Association With well-publicised alternating floods and droughts, the average observer of the UK climate could be forgiven for believing that in this country we are schizophrenic about our weather and, in terms of dealing with it, highly confused.

However, the reality remains that both floods and drought can exist side by side. Occasional heavy downpours can overwhelm the national storm drain system, whilst at the same time national supplies of mains water are under serious and increasing stress.

This serves to explain why water-related issues, both of supply and surface water management, feature to the fore on every designer’s checklist, and on the checklists of their developer clients. It also explains why Part-G of Building Regulations were updated in early 2010 to include mains water consumption criteria, along with options for the ways in which this can be controlled and reduced.

Featuring highly on the list is an option to reduce mains water consumption by substituting harvested rainwater for mains water for non-wholesome applications such as toilet flushing, clothes washing and outside uses such as garden irrigation.

Although a long and well-established approach around the world, particularly in nearby Germany, modern rainwater harvesting systems are a relatively new technology to the UK market. Developers and designers can be uncertain of when and where to use them, what the capabilities and implications are of their use and what benefits they can bring to their projects. This article is therefore intended to shed a little light into these areas.

First of all, the UK market is broadly broken down into two main sectors or systems; domestic and small-scale non-domestic projects, and commercial systems that are capable of storing hundreds of thousands of litres of rainwater, and of displacing millions of litres of mains water. The working principles behind all systems are the same, in that rain falling on the roof (normally) of a structure is filtered and stored in a suitably-sized underground (usually) tank from where it is pumped automatically to the service concerned when required. All necessary operations of the system are controlled by a management unit, which also controls continuity of supply in prolonged dry spells, making usage indistinguishable to using a mains supply.

The majority of the suppliers serving this market are members of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association, with most able to supply both domestic and commercial scale systems. All share in common, compliance with the Association’s Code of Practice, which includes a commitment to supply systems that meet the requirements of the relevant British Standard (BS 8515). Most will also provide developers and their professional advisers with a free, no obligation preliminary design and budget quote service.

From a developer’s perspective, the right time to consider including a rainwater harvesting system in their project is at the outset. For minimum cost and maximum effectiveness, the system needs to form part of the underground works for the project, working seamlessly with the overall drainage and surface water management arrangements.

An important attribute of rainwater harvesting systems is that they ‘do what it says on the tin’. Although annual rainfall patterns cannot be guaranteed, Met Office statistical data provides a reliable source of annual rainfall information, whilst other variables, such as mechanical losses over different roofing materials and across filters, are well-understood and can be taken fully into account at the design and specification stage.

The interaction with any surface water attenuation requirements can also readily be integrated into a coherent design, either within a single tank configuration, or by linking to separate holding tanks or crates.

The drivers for the incorporation of rainwater harvesting into new projects and existing buildings, are increasingly stressed mains water supplies and increased public environmental awareness. Above all else, it is very hard to explain logically why we do not use water falling locally as a non-wholesome supply for suitable applications, rather than sending it on a long and expensive journey to purify it before flushing it down a toilet!

For more information see www.ukrha.org Alex Stephenson is a Director of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association, and Director of the UK Stormwater Division of Hydro International. He is also Convenor of the British Water SUDS Focus Group, and Chairman of the UK-RHA’s Industry Liaison Group.

How the FIRAS Scheme can help building owners comply with new fire safety legislation In October 2006, the long awaited and much discussed “Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) order 2005” came into force.

This legislation places obligations on the “responsible person” to ensure the fire safety of a building. This person, who could be the managing agent, owner, employer, occupier or other person who has control over all or part of the building, is responsible in law for conducting a fire risk assessment to ensure that all persons using the building can escape safely in the event of a fire, that fire precautions comply with building regulations, and that they are installed and maintained properly.

Guidance on complying with the legislation is included in a series of 11 “Fire Safety Risk Assessment” documents covering different types of building from schools to shopping centres, hospitals, hotels, residential care homes etc. These documents are available as downloads from the government’s “Communities and Local Government” website (previously know as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister).

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Failure to comply with the requirements of this new legislation could result in the building owner or operator being subject to fines of an unlimited amount and/or a two year jail sentence should they be unable to demonstrate that they have taken all practicable steps to achieve a “fire safe building”.

This legislation is causing building owners and occupiers to question the adequacy of the fire protection in existing buildings and that being specified and installed in buildings currently in construction, (evidence of this is apparent in the growing number of ‘third party inspection assignments’ which Warringtonfire Certification is being called upon to carry out).

For 13 years, Warrington Certification Limited has, with the support of trade association partners (such as ASFP, BWF, DHF, GGF, BAFSA and others) promoted the third party certification of contractors and installers of fire protection in buildings through the FIRAS scheme. The aim of the FIRAS scheme is to certificate reputable and competent installers of “proven” fire protection products and systems to enable these installers to provide

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A s s o c i ati o n s clients with confidence that the job is carried out correctly to agreed specifications.

How can the building owner or operator be sure that the fire protection products and systems in their building are correctly installed so that should they be called upon to perform in the event of a fire they will do so?

A way of gaining this assurance is for the installation of fire protection products and systems to be installed by contractors and installers who are third party certificated as part of an industry scheme such as FIRAS, which enables the installer to provide a “meaningful” certificate of conformance supported by a UKAS accredited certification body who have expertise in the field of fire protection.

At this point a word of caution is appropriate as since the implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order new “installer certification” schemes are being launched to provide “certification” of the installer’s passive fire protection products and systems. An area in which new “certification schemes” appear to be focussing their attention is the compartmentation area of passive fire protection, particularly penetration seal installation (fire stopping).

Warrington Certification recommends that clients check the validity of the “certification” held by installers and what level of confidence this certification provides.

• Is the installer’s third party certification issued by a UKAS accredited certification body?

• Does the certification body carry out periodic or annual audits of the installer’s ‘quality systems’?

• Does the certification body carry out periodic/random inspections of the actual installation work on site to check that it is done correctly using the appropriate tested and proven materials?

• Beyond any initial training of the installer, before issuing certification, is there any ongoing competence assessment of the installer or their employees?

• Does the certification body monitor the “Certificates of Conformance” being issued upon completion of work?

• Does the certification body monitor that the installer is not issuing “Certificates of Conformance” for work outside the scope of certification issued, (i.e. issuing C of C’s of intumescent coating when the installers certificated scope only covers penetration sealing)?

As those installers certificated under the FIRAS scheme will know, anyone asking these questions of a FIRAS certificated installer can positively respond “YES”.

The FIRAS scheme criteria are based upon practical competence, supported by the knowledge rather than making discipline training course a mandatory component of the schemes.

This approach to assess the knowledge of those installing the protection through underpinning knowledge questioning and to verify their practical competence by watching the installers at work has proved much less disruptive to the installer companies as this can be conducted at site. Underpinning this is the ongoing random inspection by FIRAS Inspectors of 15-20% of all installation jobs carried out by companies and the inspection of the installer company’s office system and maintenance of their project records.

The scheme has grown in stature over the past years to a point where a number of major retail companies, health authorities and trusts, university estates management operations and mass transport organisations are now specifying that fire protection packages should be undertaken by FIRAS certificated contractors.

The FIRAS Scheme is a voluntary certification scheme and those installer companies who become certificated as part of the FIRAS Scheme pay an annual fee related to their activity level in fire protection installation. In view of this there is no cost to the specifier or client for whom the fire protection work is being done.

Sceptics may say that because a company is not registered as part of the UKAS accredited third party certification scheme such as FIRAS it does not mean that they will produce bad work

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which is not in compliance with project specifications.

This is of course very true but without certification there is no assurance of the quality of the work unless the ‘responsible person’ is going to take the time to check out the installer company’s works themselves or employ an inspection body to do so.

The specifier benefits as he is employing an installer who has proven competence and is able to issue a third party backed certificate of conformance on completion of the contract works. In addition, he or the main contractor or client may be invited by the FIRAS installer company to attend and witness the random inspections.

The growth and industry recognition of the FIRAS Scheme has resulted in a company’s entry in the list of FIRAS Registered Installation companies (available on the Warrington Certification website) becoming the criterion by which “Metronet” approve passive fire protection installation companies for carrying out fire protection works on the underground system, and other organisations are now following suit.

The FIRAS Scheme continues to develop to benefit those certificated as part of it and the construction industry to which the scheme is ultimately providing a service.

The more recently introduced areas of the FIRAS scheme, the residential and domestic sprinkler installation scheme (developed in 2003) to introduce a voluntary, controlled regime for contractors working in this relatively new area of fire protection, and the commercial and industrial sprinkler systems installation scheme are both continuing to expand.

The residential and domestic sprinkler installation scheme section of the FIRAS scheme was developed to provide reassurance to building control, fire officers and building owners that sprinkler installations in residential accommodation and domestic dwellings are designed and installed by competent contractors in compliance with appropriate industry standards.

Here again the FIRAS scheme assists the building owner in demonstrating compliance with RRO. Part of the requirements of registration of this part of the scheme involves random system design review to ensure that the design of the fire protection (as well as its installation) is appropriate to the risk posed by the fire to the building.

The FIRAS scheme is currently expanding to address the

maintenance of installed products and systems as appropriate.

This will align the passive sections of the scheme with the sprinkler scheme requirements which already identify that installers should provide a maintenance agreement with each installed system. Here again the FIRAS scheme certificated installers will be providing a service which satisfies a requirement of the RRO.

In conclusion, since the “Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order” has become legislation, building owners and operators are required by law to demonstrate compliance with its requirements, so why not allow the FIRAS Scheme to assist in this process?

Those wishing to find a FIRAS installer to undertake passive or active fire protection installations can review the list of certified companies available at www.firas-database.co.uk

Taking Measures to protect you from Asbestos •

Employers of building maintenance and repair workers are required to carry out a risk assessment before undertaking any work which exposes, or is liable to expose, employees to asbestos. They must take the appropriate steps required by the Asbestos Regulations to prevent or reduce these risks.

Providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work or disturb it.

At some point somebody has got to work with asbestos containing materials, but who is allowed to do this? In the United Kingdom work on asbestos has by law to be carried out by a contractor who holds a licence under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, although there are exceptions. Normally, nonlicensed work includes work on asbestos-containing textured coatings, asbestos cement and certain work of short duration on asbestos insulating board.

The duties imposed by regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 supplement the provisions of some of the duties imposed by other sets of regulations, in particular the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 which require the client to provide designers and contractors who may be bidding for the work or who they intend to engage), with the projects specific health and safety information needed to identify hazards and risks associated with the design and construction work.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 place legal duties on employers and employees with regards to asbestos in the

However in many cases the employers and their workers have little or no information about the premises where they are going to undertake work, and are not aware if asbestos containing materials are present. Consequently, it is difficult for them to consider the risks, or if precautions may be needed. A duty to manage the risk from asbestos in non-domestic premises was therefore added to the Control of Asbestos at work Regulations in 2002 to address this. These requirements have since been brought forward unchanged in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 as Regulation 4.

Those who own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for premises that may contain asbestos, will either have: • • • • • •

• • • •

A legal duty to manage the risk from asbestos material; or A legal duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk They will be required to manage the risk from asbestos by: Finding out if there is asbestos in the premises, its extent and what condition it is in; Presuming the materials contain asbestos, unless you have strong evidence that they do not; Making and keeping up to date a record of the location and condition of the ACM’s or presumed ACM’s in their premises; Assessing the risk from the material Preparing a plan that sets out in detail how they are going to manage the risk from this material Taking the steps needed to put their plan into action Reviewing and monitoring their plan and the arrangements made to put it in place; and

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A s s o c i ati o n s workplace, Regulation 10 states that: “Every employer shall ensure that adequate information, instruction and training are given to those of his employees who are or are liable to be exposed to asbestos or who supervise such employees...”

Therefore those who employ construction workers to carry out demolition or refurbishment work have a legal duty to ensure that they have adequate information, instruction and training regarding asbestos, as those tradesmen are always liable to be exposed to asbestos as a result of the type of work they carry out.

In fact, the Approved Code of Practice, which accompanies the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, states that: “Asbestos awareness training is required to be given to employees whose work could expose them to asbestos. In particular it should be given to all demolition workers and those workers in the refurbishment, maintenance and allied trades where it is foreseeable that their work will disturb the fabric of the building because asbestos containing materials (ACMS) may become exposed during their work. Exemption from this requirement would apply only where the employer can

demonstrate that work will only be carried out on buildings free of ACMs. This information should be available in the client’s asbestos management plan”.

Asbestos awareness training is a legal requirement for most employees and supervisors working in the construction industry.

In addition to initial training, the Approved Code of Practice which accompanies the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 also states that refresher training should be given at least every year. Therefore, there is an ongoing annual legal requirement for refresher training to be carried out for the identified employees.

ARCA is the leading supplier of asbestos awareness training aimed at building and maintenance workers.

ARCA trainers have considerable experience within the asbestos removal industry and understand the issues that are faced every day. The range of courses which ARCA have available is comprehensive. Each has been designed to ensure that your staffs acquire a real depth of knowledge and capability.

To find out more or to arrange a no obligation meeting to discuss your employees asbestos awareness training needs please contact ARCA on 01283 531126.

National Arboriculture Conference – ‘i-tree’ could Increase Resources for UK Tree Management

This year, the AA welcomed delegates to Manchester University, in the heart of the city. With the Piccadilly main line railway station just 250m from the venue, attendees enjoyed the benefits of an urban centre, easily accessible by public transport.

The programme offered something for everyone, with a range of highly-respected speakers from around the world. It started off by concentrating on the built environment, with urban design a key topic for discussion and strategic management of our tree stock looked at from several perspectives over the three days.

Prof. Dr. Halib Francis Schwarze (Switzerland) explained the detailed scientific understanding of biological control of tree decay fungi • Dr Glynn Percival (UK) described how sugars can stimulate root vigour • Dr Giorgio Catena (Italy) gave delegates his definitive account of thermal imaging – a much debated subject • Philip Van Wassenaer (Canada) presented a study on tree assessment technologies

International speakers at the Arboricultural Association’s 44th National Amenity Arboriculture Conference held from 12th-15th September included David Nowak of the US Forest Service. David introduced the innovative ‘i-tree’ software that has been so influential in the United States – helping New York’s tree department secure $220m as a result of a cost-benefit analysis of its urban trees.

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There was a special programme of speakers for the Tuesday morning, chosen by the National Association of Tree Officers, which concentrated on issues particular, but not exclusive, to tree officers, including: • Tree management strategies • Budgetary control • ‘Professionalism’ – what it means.

• There was also a range of subjects of particular interest for contractors, including • Opportunities for business diversification • Management tools • Planting and establishment • An interim report on research into the strength of tree forks • Testing minimally invasive diagnosis techniques by use of pulling test Look out for the next issue of Premier Construction, in which we’ll feature comment on and reviews of the conference.

About the Arboricultural Association Since 1964, the Arboricultural Association has been the national body in the UK and Ireland for the amenity tree care professional in either civic or commercial employment at craft, technical, supervisory, managerial or consultancy level.

There are currently 2,000 members of the Arboricultural Association in a variety of membership classes. The charitable objective of the Arboricultural Association is to advance the science of arboriculture for the public benefit. It does this by setting standards, promoting standards and enabling compliance.

The Arboricultural Association’s web site is www.trees.org.uk

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