Premier Construction 16-1 by PHIL AINLEY

Roma Publications

Volume 16 - Issue 1

Campbeltown Water Works Nearing completion

McLaren Car Plant Roars ahead

Mogden Sewage Treatment Works £140 million upgrade and extension is underway

Low Carbon community building – BEST House

Contents PREMIER CONSTRUCTION

Volume 16 • Issue 1

Heritage

Dear readers, We begin this issue with a special focus on heritage in construction. Then we move on to our usual round-up of the regions. In the North West we look at the regeneration works that are underway in Pendle, Lancashire. In the North East and Yorkshire £18.8 million of preliminary works are being carried out on the site of the Scotswood development, west of Newcastle city centre as part of the Scotswood Masterplan. Next in the Midlands and East Anglia region Bedfordshire East Schools Trust (BEST) is celebrating, following the completion of its brand new £2.2M co-location building at the Samuel Whitbread Community College site in Shefford, Bedfordshire. In the South west, a restoration project is ongoing in Nailsea, near Bristol, to restore a medieval tithe barn as a community centre with offices for Nailsea Town Council. Construction of a prestigious new McLaren car plant roars ahead in Woking. From spring 2011, the MP4-12C and all future McLaren sports cars will be produced at the new £40 million McLaren Production Centre. In Wales, Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel is the latest school to be built through Carmarthenshire County Council’s £180million Modernising Education Provision programme and is part of the authority’s plan to meet growing demand for Welsh medium education in Llanelli. Scottish Water is currently at work on increasing capacity from Kinloch Park Pumping Station in Campbeltown by providing additional treatment at Slaty Farlan Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) in a £10 million project Under construction to an award-winning design on a World Heritage Site containing Northern Ireland’s top tourist attraction, is the new Giant’s Causeway visitor centre in County Antrim.

BALI.......................................................................................................................5 Traditional Lime Plastering..................................................................................11

North West Pendle Regeneration project.............................................................................28

North East & Yorkshire Scotswood Masterplan......................................................................................32 Headingley Enterprise and arts Centre.............................................................34

Midlands & East Anglia Bedfordshire East Schools Trust (BEST)..........................................................49 PCD Builders.......................................................................................................53

South West Restoration project at Nailsea...........................................................................64 ZeroC profile.......................................................................................................65

South East & London Conquest House..................................................................................................71 Mogden Sewage Treatment Works...................................................................76

Wales Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel................................................................................94

Scotland Scottish water.....................................................................................................96 Ruchill Park.......................................................................................................102

Ireland Bangor Leisure centre.......................................................................................106 Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre ....................................................................115

Associations PestEx 2011.......................................................................................................120 Nemex 2011......................................................................................................122

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Heritage

Young leadworker of the year award The Lead Sheet Association and Lead Contractors Association are jointly promoting a ‘Young Leadworker of the Year’ competition among LCA members for 2011. The only entry criteria for the competition is that entrants should be 25 or under by the closing date for entries (which is 31st March 2011) and be employed by a member of the Lead Contractors Association. All entrants will be required to submit photographs of work they have carried out together with details of the various projects they have worked on and the type of work done. Their work may be directly inspected by an LCA vetting officer, either on site or by attending a convenient regional location where a series of practical tests will be carried out. All practical assessments will be completed by August 2011. Six finalists will then be selected by a judging panel which will consist of Members of the LCA Council, LSA technical officers and Nigel Johnston, general manager of the LSA. The six finalists will then attend a finals day at the Lead Sheet Association roof training centre in Kent, where they will be set a series of tasks over identical model roof sections, to be completed within a given time limit. On conclusion of the practical side of the final, the judges will then discuss design theory and working practices in order to test the knowledge of each finalist The judges will examine each model roof section and, taking account of the responses during the theory discussion, will then determine the overall winner of the ‘Young Leadworker of the Year’ award for 2011. The winner will receive £500 in leadwork tools, a copy of the Lead Sheet Manual and a training bursary worth £3,500 towards a formal leadwork national vocational qualification. Each of the other finalists will receive a lead sheet manual and three days personalised leadwork development training from the LSA. In launching the award, LSA Chairman Joss Campbell said “We want to encourage and promote all young leadworkers that represent the future of our industry and hope this award will provide a significant recognition of the specialist individual skills that we know are being developed within the Lead Contractors Association”

Lead Contractors Association Formed in 1984, the LCA aim to prioritise quality standards in all manors of lead work. The LCA now comprises of over 100 specialist contractors committed to providing quality craftsmanship for their clients, supported by 15 associate members supplying materials and ancillary services.

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The LCA have expanded in recent years, increasing their offices bases throughout the country as well as overseas. The LCA now operate in every region of the UK and have contractors located in Europe. In a statement, chairman of LCA Dave Martin reflects on the current status of LCA: “I am proud to look around the current LCA Council and consider the wealth of knowledge and experience available to our members and the industry for the foreseeable future”. For further information regarding the LCA, details can be found on their website at www.leadcontractorsassociation.com

School pupils take learning to the (green) roof The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) is the UK’s premier trade association for landscape designers, contractors and suppliers of products and services to the landscaping industry. Membership for designers and contractors requires them to undergo a comprehensive vetting process to ensure the integrity of the BALI brand is maintained and associated with professionalism, quality and service. Equally, product and service suppliers must sign up to the BALI Code of Conduct to ensure they meet and exceed their clients’ expectations. Two BALI affiliate members – Boughton Load and SITA UK - work closely to produce an excellent product for green roof construction, just one example of BALI members leading the way. St Bartholomew School in Newbury, Berkshire, has future proofed new school buildings by investing in a green roof, and products from BALI affiliate members Boughton Loam and SITA UK have helped in its construction.

The project began with the building contractor, Willmott Dixon, challenging a selection of Year 9 students to investigate the possibility of having a green roof system on new buildings planned for the school. The ‘Willmott Dixon Challenge’ required students to research the design, installation, cost, maintenance and life span of a green roof and establish whether it would improve the biodiversity of the school grounds and positively impact on the environment. The students’ findings were presented to Willmott Dixon senior managers and their design and construction team, who subsequently decided in favour of installing a green roof system. St Bartholomew School’s interest in green roofs extended to involving a group of Year 8 pupils. They learnt about the different types of materials used and green roof expert Dr Alun Tarr, who spoke at a BALI’s green roof and living walls seminar in Sheffield, led a science experiment with the pupils testing green roof sedum varieties. The group created miniature scaled green roofs, which were then planted in specially constructed wooden boxes in the ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Heritage

school grounds. The pupils monitored the growth rate of the sedum over a series of months and incorporated this research into both their science lessons and the overall research put forward to the Willmott Dixon Challenge. West Berkshire Council worked closely with Willmott Dixon in the planning stages, using the scheme as a flagship project for other schools in the area. RoofGreen UK, subcontracting for Roofline, were brought in to construct the green roof and the pupils selected six different varieties of sedum to achieve as much variation as possible in leaf colour, flower colour and plant height. As well as achieving maximum aesthetic value this ensured the roof encouraged extensive biodiversity. The total roof area covered approximately 4000m2 and BALI affiliate members Boughton Loam worked with Roofline to supply 400 tonnes of specialist lightweight growing medium containing BSI PAS 100 quality compost from fellow BALI affiliates SITA UK.

Bernard Courtney, horticulture manager from RoofGreen UK, commented on the logistics of installing the green roof: “It was a massive undertaking to get 400 tonnes of soil and 55 tonnes of gravel to roof level of a six storey building. Moreover, none of the roofs are flat and have a very intricate design with slopes of different angles ranging from 6 degrees to a maximum slope of 18 degrees. Special soil retention brackets had to be installed to ensure maximum stabilisation. Planting was also a massive undertaking on this project: 68,000 plants in an area the size of a small football pitch spread over seven different roof areas. We were very satisfied with the outcome of what was a very prestigious project; our team felt proud to be a part of it”. For details of BALI companies designing, supplying and installing green roofs and green roof products, visit www.bali.org.uk.

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.

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.

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“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. Several of the bee species being given this new home by the 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. To download a free guide to meadow or roof installations, please go to www.wildflowerturf.co.uk/pcm www.wildflowerturf.co.uk Tel: 01256 771222

ARB Show planned in for 2011 The annual ARB Show, which regularly sees in excess of 2,000 dedicated arboricultural visitors buying specialist kit from specialist trade exhibitors, is scheduled for June and September 2011. The Amenity Conference will be at Warwick University on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th September 2011, while the showpiece Utility Conference will be at Bosworth Hall Hotel on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July 2011.

used when working in some of the tree world’s most challenging environments. More demonstrations, workshops and practical sessions around the showground included a series of demonstrations by Kingswood Training on the safe matching and use of rigging systems sponsored by Fletcher Stewart; and the Tree Climbers’ Forum were busy as ever guiding visitors on a whole range of

Almost two thousand visitors attended The ARB Show in 2010, making the most of the opportunity to explore over 70 trade stands promoting services and selling an extensive choice of products for arborists and those working in the arboricultural sector. New products appearing at the event included a new access platform from Cumberland Industries, new climbing ropes from UK distributer Fletcher Stewart and from ForestandArb.com, and new pruning saws from Sorbus International. Main event sponsor STIHL also launched its new STIHL X-Fit PPE range at the show, and the clothing was worn by the STIHL-sponsored Canopy Access team who held a series of demonstrations giving insights into the specialist combination of techniques ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Heritage practical and kit-related issues. The construction site was also a popular attraction, with Abbey Pynford presenting their Housedeck foundation system and Geosynthetics demonstrating Cellweb, their Geocellular tree root protection system. The Contractorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Workshop also laid on a programme of more formal presentations, where visitors could hear about the process involved in the development of arb industry products, about the correct use of an air spade in root care management and about best practice when working at height. The Arboricultural Association would like to thank all exhibitors and sponsors, including STIHL (Main Event Sponsor), Horticulture Week (Media Sponsor) and Arbjobs.com (Competition Sponsor) for their input and contribution to the 2010 show. The Arboricultural Association invites input from all involved in the industry to ensure the event continues to meet their needs and expectations in the future.

About the Arboricultural Association Since 1964, the Arboricultural Association has been the national

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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 Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s web site is www.trees.org.uk

Traditional methods for traditional buildings When people began plastering, approximately 14,000 years ago, those professionals knew exactly what our professionals know now; from its early forms using earth plasters to slaked lime putties - a successful new plaster or repair project depends on an understanding of the materials and the science behind them. Lime, as a plaster-render material and mortar, has its roots in the Middle East and can be traced back 140 centuries to northern Jordan. Indeed the plasterers tools used then remain the same to this very day. The earliest plastering which has survived shows great skill and excels in its composition compared to modern day materials. In Europe, historic plaster work denotes lime plaster from very early Greek and Roman times. We know of the existence of perfect plaster work in Greece dating from about five hundred years before the Christian era. In Britain, earth plasters ‘daub’ were used predominately during this period, amazingly up to 1900 commonly used repair ancient timber framed buildings still remain. Today, traditional lime plastering is seen as a specialist method predominantly associated with buildings dating pre 1919, which require original methods to ensure they can be brought back to life using a consistent process. The greatest advantage of using traditional lime plastering on older structures is the flexibility it gives dated buildings by allowing them to move without the damage that could be suffered by modern, more rigid materials. Traditional lime plastering also promotes breathing ability in buildings and allows the passage of moisture through the walls in contrast to modern materials that trap moisture within walls and, consequently, damage the timber frame structures. “Old buildings tend to be of a structure that moves slightly”, Marc Delea, from MD Plastering, specialists in traditional lime methods, commented. “If you then put modern rigid plastering on top of this, the building will move and cracks will form which will allow water to seep in and problems such as rotting and damp are likely to appear”. This traditional method uses time-honoured materials such as horse hair, animal hair, straw, earth plasters and, of course, lime. Slaked lime putty is unlike other cement and plasters that regularly have a chemical reaction when mixed with water and set hard. In contrast to this, lime putty undergoes a lime cycle through which it sets by absorbing oxygen, crystallising, and then returning to its original rock form. Limestone is taken from the rock and then powdered down before being added to water, when it then undergoes a chemical reaction, which turns it into putty which is then mixed with sand and hair. Once the plaster form is then applied to a structure, it begins to absorb the oxygen and crystallises back to its original rock state. It is then decorated using a lime wash which comprises watered down lime putty with pigment in it. This is washed over the plaster through which water evaporates leaving the pigment on the plaster with the putty. Despite new technology, modern methods and quicker

processes constantly coming through the industry, the requirement for traditional lime plastering has not dissipated. “On a lot of listed buildings you simply cannot use modern day materials because it would cause a bad reaction”, Marc Delea said. “As soon as modern day materials are used on an old building, the house is no longer compatible with what was originally there. You spoil the fundamental building design and create potential structural problems”. “There are also only a few companies that have a reputation for working on historic buildings”, Marc Delea added, “and clients who require the use of traditional lime plastering seek out these specialist companies to complete the works. Companies or individuals tend to specialise in traditional lime plastering for their love of old buildings and because of a desire to preserve the old fashioned ways”, Marc Delea said. “We try to replicate how plastering was originally done and conserve beautiful buildings that the public enjoy all around the country”.

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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. 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

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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. 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. The thermal expansion rate of cement is far greater than that of brick, stone or lime. This makes hard cement mortar

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 to extend useful life. 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. 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.

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. 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 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

The Limes, They Are A’Changing By David Casey of Traditional Plaster Finishes Part 3 – History of the Earth

I have called clay plaster the poor relation, but there is no other reason for this than the fact that you can go and dig up some clay (there are literally places which pay for it to be removed), chuck in some sand and straw, a bit of cow pat and/or lime and off you go. I have seen clay plaster on some of the, for me, most interesting period dwellings- low status farm buildings. Why so interesting? Because so many have been lost, tucked away, outgrown, neglected and unwanted; a mud hut is bound to lack the popular appeal of a Tudor mansion or a Wealden house. Recently, we partially rebuilt a thatched one story dwelling near Ipswich, almost in its’ original state. Inside and out, the walls were finished with clay plaster. It has long been the case that lime plaster is an acceptable replacement for the clay finish, and at the end of the day it looks good, it is an appropriate style of finish which allows the building to breathe, BUT it is not always original, or appropriate to the original purpose of the building; a low cost, often homemade dwelling, manufactured with materials readily available in the locality. Now, I am not so curmudgeonly that I would ban everybody

from poshing up their homes. I do, however, feel that some of our efforts towards preservation should include even such basics as particular types of wall coatings. I feel that there is a danger of abandoning vernacular individuality in favour of an (admittedly pleasing and healthy) homogeneity. Had you asked me five years ago whether I was concerned that lime plaster was too common, I would have thought you bizarre! Even now, the answer would be no, but my interests have expanded. On the above mentioned building, we aimed for a synthesis, whereby areas of frame which were untouched or patched up ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Heritage were plastered in clay, and areas which were rebuilt were finished with lath and plaster, allowing the insulation of the new timber frame. This allows future generations to observe original methods and surfaces in the form of clay work, and the happy marriage of u-values and tradition in the form of lime work. I have to say, my respect for the ancient craftsmen who achieved a lasting flat surface with mud is enormous. As with all restoration plasterwork, the mixture is paramount to the style of finish. I have heard an argument in favour of continental clay over British mud for the following reason. In Europe, one may obtain loess clay from the glacial eras, which is ground to a fine spherical particulate shape, as opposed to our British equivalent which tends to be laid down in platelets. Whilst I am willing to accept that loess clay may be an easier material to use, I have yet to be convinced that it is the automatically the right material. Given that there are often ‘clay pit’ ponds in the back gardens of period properties, we can postulate a local, rather than international origin for at least some of our daub and earth plasters. From a sustainability viewpoint, of course, something which you dig out of your garden and live in, and which can be remixed and used again hundreds of years later has a fairly low carbon footprint! So, where does this leave us? Over the course of history, styles in construction have always tended to evolve. The very fabric of our buildings changes, not necessarily abandoning what came before, but gradually replacing elements; timber gives way to brick, which gives way to concrete, then steel, and so on. Clay gives way to lime, which gives way to cement. In my admittedly biased corner, I am both fascinated and encouraged by the tendency of the moment to re-look at traditional and vernacular methods to address modern day issues. I see lime based materials in floors and foundations, timber extensions, fibrous binders in cementitious materials; techniques in which I rejoice. I hear people advocating the opening of windows to reduce damp by allowing buildings to breathe and I breathe a sigh of relief! And best of all, I see that in the restoration field, we are not stagnating.

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Companies produce products which are easy to use, which fulfil valuable criteria around sustainability and breathability, synthesising modern thinking with traditional wisdom. As for tradesmen, well it varies! I meet some people who are rooted in modern methods; I have heard the phrase “It would be better to knock it down and start again” on many occasions. It is usually uttered by people who pull wattle and daub out of walls and throw it away, before asking for wattle and daub to be supplied because ‘conservation are insisting on it’! I do love the amazement on faces when I rescue piles of (apparently) worthless dirt, and remix it to rebuild their walls with. I also meet people interested in traditional methods, who are willing to learn and preserve, who are prepared to employ techniques which have stood the test of time. Which group do I condone? My sympathies are self-evident, but in all honesty there are many different traditional and modern projects out there, and probably the world needs both types of contractor, in the appropriate field. Personally, I look forward to the future with interest. Details of bespoke training opportunities can be found at www. thehistoricbuildingcompany.co.uk

When is a good match not good enough? Stuart Johnston of Masons Mortar reflects on his company’s role in the building industry When Masons Mortar was first established some 23 years ago, we effectively reintroduced building limes and lime mortars back into the Scottish building industry. Our business started out as a building limes supplier and mortar manufacturer. We saw an alternative to supplying individual components as others did. We were producing ready mixed bagged materials that provided our customers with all they needed to carry out their work successfully with minimum fuss or difficulty. The building conservation industry was a relatively fledgling element of the general restoration and repair market. Our core aims and objectives, our company policy was to provide materials and advice for the care and repair of our built heritage. We never believed that “near enough” was “good enough” and worked to set ourselves apart from all other suppliers in our industry. We achieved this through our approach to customer requirements, providing information and advice for architects, builders and their clients alike, publication of simple but concise guides, seminars and training days, that has not changed. However In the last ten years or so with a plethora of television programs and innumerable web based articles freely available for downloading along with word of mouth, has resulted in a much wider spectrum of people now seeking out our materials and advice either through the course of their contracts or in advance at the specification stage. Masons Mortar Ltd has continued to develop and expand the materials and products we offer to meet this every growing market. We recognised at a very early stage the importance of matching materials, both on a technical performance level and on colour and texture, in the early days this was all laboriously worked though with sample mixes and trials. It became obvious to us that what was needed was a faster more sophisticated approach and so we embarked on a three year research and development program for predictive colour matching with a premier Scottish university. We now have the most sophisticated colour matching system available anywhere for matching natural stone, render, mortar, lime wash and lime paints. In addition we have continued to expand and update our equipment for the mortar manufacturing side of the business. In parallel with developing the colour matching, we have also introduced a wide range of repair products, particularly for natural stone and cast architectural masonry that not only match in colour and texture, but perform at a technical level that sustains our original goal of providing materials that are fit for purpose. Initially our core business was the conservation, repair and maintenance side of the building industry with special attention and focus on the nation’s historic building stock. Today, due to the significant technological advances we have made in colour matching and our continued investment in production equipment and development of diverse repair materials, our business is rapidly growing through reputation into much wider fields. Mason Mortar Ltd now supply repair materials, colour matched for everything from all types of natural stone, brick, cast concrete and glass reinforced cement panels. We manufacture specialist

grouts suitable for consolidation of masonry of all kinds to grouts that can be used under water. We have also expanded into sophisticated renders to match masonry finishes. As an ISO 9001 accredited company for manufacturing of mortars and colour matching, we continually monitor and strive to improve our quality control and production processes. For businesses to succeed in this difficult market we all find ourselves in, customer satisfaction is paramount. Our philosophy has not changed and never will. We are passionate about delivering a great service to all of our customers, tailoring products and services to suit their individual needs. At the forefront of this commitment is our team. From our production colleagues, sales and technical support staff, Masons Mortar Ltd is dedicated to meeting your needs, just as we did when we first introduced our building limes and lime mortars to Scotland nearly a quarter of a century ago.

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The IFA Annual Conference and Training Event 2011: University of Reading, 13 - 15 April 2011 Understanding Significance: the key to assessing, managing and explaining the historic environment Indeed, this year’s conference will see the groundbreaking launch of a report by the Southport Group (a working group of historic environment professionals, partnered by English Heritage) that will outline recommendations for a framework of guidance and other products that could help to realise the aspirations of PPS5.

Who should attend? This event provides an excellent CPD opportunity for anyone operating within the historic environment. The sessions and workshops are relevant to practitioners at all career stages from entry level professionals wishing to learn essential skills and develop their knowledge of up-to-date policy and practice to those who already have a successful career and are looking to update their knowledge and enhance their skills. Those with a keen interest in the historic environment who want to hear about the latest discoveries and partnership working between the profession and the voluntary sector would also find the Conference beneficial.

The Institute for Archaeologists (IFA) annual conference has become established as the premier archaeological conference in the UK, attracting over 400 participants each year. With its combination of keynote addresses, wide-ranging sessions, workshops, displays, poster sessions and other events, it is a vital forum for discussing topical professional issues, as well as providing updates on current research. This year the conference returns to Reading – the IfA’s home town, to explore the theme of ‘Understanding Significance’. Over the three days from 13-15 April, delegates can attend a stream of topical lectures updating them on current issues, policy and best practice, and new techniques and developments in the profession. All will focus on understanding significance as the key to assessing, managing and explaining the historic environment. Practical training workshops to develop skills and understanding in a range of subjects and new techniques will run in parallel over the course of the conference. Both the lectures and workshops will provide essential CPD opportunities for all practitioners in the sector. This year’s theme stems from the recent publication of Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment, which places the significance of an asset at the heart of policy to promote and protect our heritage. What the IfA conference will consider are not only the steps for determining and recording significance but also how to further understanding among wider audiences in order to maximise public benefits. Although PPS5 may be incorporated into a new overarching National Planning Policy Statement, the government has indicated to the IfA that it is working hard to ensure that the principles of PPS5 are retained. It is therefore vital for all those working in the historic and built environments to get to grips with developing an understanding of the significance of a heritage asset.

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Sessions and workshops will include: • CPD logs, PDPs and training plans - Kate Geary, Institute for Archaeologists and Kenneth Aitchison, Landward Research Ltd • Characterisation - where next? - Emma Hancox and Adam Mindykowski, Worcestershire County Council • Southport Group: towards a revitalisation of professional practice - Taryn Nixon, Museum of London Archaeology and Chair of the Southport Group • Assessing the significance of iron objects and production remains - Evelyne Godfrey • The planning jigsaw: how does it all fit together? - Tim Howard, Institute for Archaeologists • Understanding and protection: the application of significance in the Historic Environment and the National Heritage Protection Plan - Paul Stamper, Edmund Lee and Charlotte Winter, English Heritage • Assessing significance underwater: just piles of old rocks, geophysical anomalies and shifting sands? - Paul Sharman, Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology and Caroline Wickham-Jones, University of Aberdeen • Essential writing skills for archaeologists - Alison Taylor, Institute for Archaeologists • Self employment and business start-ups - Tariq Mian, Towergate Risk Solutions • Aren’t we all in this together? The importance of partnership working - Susan Casey, RCAHMS and Jeff Sanders, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland • Assessing significance for planning applications: preparing PPS5 - compliant reports for local authorities - Duncan McCallum, English Heritage and Sandy Kidd, Buckinghamshire County Council

• New research possibilities for old finds - Andrew Jones, IfA Finds Group and Ian Panter, Principal Conservator, York Archaeological Trust • Training: promoting best practice - Archaeology Training Forum • Widening the audience for community archaeology: the significance of PPS5 - Austin Ainsworth • Highlights in British archaeology - David Jennings, Oxford Archaeology • Visualisation in archaeology - Garry Gibbons

How to book For further information about how to book, details about the sessions and workshops, and a detailed timetable for the event can be found at the IfA website at www.archaeologists.net/ conferences. Discounts on bookings apply until 21 March 2011.

Restoration and conservation mortars By Ugo Spano, St. Astier Limes Liaison Office Today all of us are charged with ensuring the survival of our historical and vernacular built heritage through careful and considered conservation, restoration and renovation.

• Environmental considerations • Correct working and site practice

All too often, buildings are repaired with inappropriate materials and poor skills. Many are the subject of interventions that in time lead to their total loss. Others are simply changed out of all recognition. In most cases, the mortar used for repairs, restoration or conservation contains cement. In these buildings, the use of cement mortars promote condensation build up, salt reactions and, generally, drastically affects the long term survival of the building. St. Astier natural hydraulic lime mortars provide a valid alternative to cement mortars or cement/lime mixes and, if applied properly, they will have a much longer life. Environmentally, they offer far greater efficiency than cementicious mortars by re-absorbing CO2 and not compromising the recyclability of the building materials. We work with what we call the ‘ten commandments’ when judging the suitability of mortar: • Compatibility • Low capillarity and shrinkage • Adequate Ca(OH)2 or free lime content • Resistance to frost • Resistance to salts • Vapour permeability (breathability) & good sands • Early setting, good elasticity/workability/re-workability • Suitable compressive and bonding strength

We prefer to look at compatible mortars rather than like for like. The reason for this is that today in most cases, it is not possible to reproduce exactly the mortars of the past. The binders are different; the sands might not be the same. In the EU, a lot of sand pits have closed and some of the historic pits no longer exist. Compatibility should be both chemical and mechanical.. Mortars introduced into existing structures must not react chemically with existing mortars and surrounding masonry by introducing soluble salts such as sulphate (gypsum) or aluminates causing sulphate attack; or alkalis (potassium and sodium) causing a reaction with the sand (alkali-silica reaction). In mechanical terms, mortars should not be too dense to impede breathability or have poor elasticity resulting in cracks that will allow water/moisture penetration.

Rule 1: Compatibility

Rule 2: Look for low capillarity and shrinkage These are both properties affecting the durability of the mortar. High capillarity allows moisture penetration and, if a mortar has poor breathability (such as cementicious mortars), there will be condensation and associated problems. The main causes of high capillarity are poor sands and void structure and high quantity of free lime in the binder. Free lime crystallises in the voids, reducing their size and therefore increasing their capillary action. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Heritage Poor building details and drainage increases the amount of water in touch with the masonry which can be absorbed by capillary action. High shrinkage is also a source of cracking and it is to be avoided.

Shrinkage is caused by: • Inadequate suction control of the masonry units. If suction is not controlled by adequate wetting or dampening of the masonry, water in the mortar will be sucked into the masonry. The mortar is therefore deprived of the water necessary for hydration and the mortar becomes friable as its matrix has not formed properly. • High free lime content. This is because free lime is very fine and demands more water at the moment of mixing the mortar. The evaporation of this water leaves micro cracks in the mortar (shrinkage). • Wrong dosage in the mortar mix. Commonly occurring when too much binder is used. Over-binding produces a heave effect, causing cracks. • Poor mixing of the mortar can cause over-binding in certain areas and low binding in other with cracks as a result. • Poor protection from drying wind, direct sun, driving rain and frost when the mortar is still fresh will also cause cracking and shrinkage. So will poor curing: mortars, especially lime mortars, need time to cure. So, depending on the weather conditions, mortar needs to be dampened for few days in warm weather or in the presence of drying wind. In cold rainy weather and when frost is expected, fresh mortars have to be covered to prevent damage. This is normally done with hessian sheeting.

Rule 3: Adequate Ca(OH)2 or free lime content

Free lime, high calcium lime, available lime, air lime, hydrated lime, portlandite, fat lime and slaked lime are basically all the same and consist of calcium hydroxide - Ca(OH)2. The trade uses all these denominations and sometimes people do not know that they all refer to the same element. They are classified in BS/EN 459 Standard as CL (calcium limes) and are differentiated by the percentage of Ca(OH)2 content. Free lime makes mortars more workable and this is liked by the mason. However, free lime affects a number of important properties in mortars such as: Setting and hardening time: an early set and a relatively quick hardening are important to be able to build with some speed. Initial setting of a hydraulic mortar is within one or two hours; the final set is within 24 hours. The final set determines the moment when the mortar cannot be re-worked. Hardening takes longer. It is the time that the calcium silicates and other hydraulic components in a mortar take to become insoluble. In the European norms, both properties are taken into consideration and the definition of NHL 2, NHL 3.5 and NHL 5 is based on the hardened strength at 28 days expressed in Newton per mm2. Free lime is not hydraulic and needs contact with air to reabsorb CO2 and reconstitute itself to CaCO3 or limestone. This process called carbonation may take a very long time. Damp environment, rain, and the location of the mortar (exposure to air) contribute to slowing and in some cases even stopping carbonation. The result is that the mortar does not harden. Free lime will dissolve in water at a ratio of 1 to 6 and this is the reason why leaching occurs. Leaching not only is an unwanted visual effect but also deprives the mortar of some of the binder with the result that you have a different mortar in the structure from the one specified. Free lime, because of its fineness, increases water demand in the mortar. This is one of the causes of shrinkage, as already discussed. It also increases capillarity by crystallising in the voids, reducing breathability. The reduction of the void size affects also the frost resistance, as we will shortly see.

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High free lime mortars such as 1:1:6 and 1:2:9 mixes or hydrated (powder or putty) lime mortars might not be as suitable as they are supposed to be. Careful judgement has to be made in relation to their use. This also applies to lime mortars made with hydraulic lime with very high free lime content now being sold in the UK market.

Rule 4: Resistance to frost The reduction in void size - by free lime crystallisation or a poor void structure caused by poor sands and the slow carbonation of free lime - makes the mortar more susceptible to frost damage. Frost starts always from the surface and goes inward. Frozen water particles in the surface voids push the water in the voids behind further in and so on. If there is a good void structure accommodating the water movement, this process will not generate a pressure and the mortar will resist frost. The size of the voids is also important: ice has a volume of 8% greater than water so it will exercise pressure if the voids cannot contain more that the water they already contain. This is the case in saturated mortars where the water absorbed during rain before frost occurs is occupying all the voids. Hardened mortars with a good void structure will resist frost. St. Astier NHL Mortars have been successfully used in areas of extreme cold such as Canada, Alaska, Norway, Finland, Denmark and wet/cold areas as part of Ireland and UK. The basic principle is to avoid saturation of the mortar when still fresh, so protection at this stage is of extreme importance.

Rule 5: Resistance to salts The same mortar will also resist the outward migration of salts contained in the masonry. A macro void structure in the mortar will accommodate the pressure exercised by salts when moving or crystallising. When structures contain salts, it is almost impossible to control them if they become unstable. Their behaviour is linked to the relative humidity which is typical to each salt. A lower RH will cause crystallisation; a higher RH will cause the salt to go into a solution and migrate. If the void space is sufficient, these phenomena will not cause a damaging pressure. If crystallisation occurs, they stay in the wall and if there is no space in the voids the pressure can be great enough to crack the mortar. If they go into solution, they will eventually come out and can be cleaned off the wall. Lime is hygroscopic: it attracts water and by doing so a new lime mortar used for re-pointing or rendering might attract moisture contained in the structure and therefore change the RH of the wall in which the salts are contained, causing their movement. So a high free lime mortar will absorb salts. This is fine if we are using a lime mortar to diminish the salts content in the wall. Once the lime mortar is saturated with salts, it can be removed and the salts with it. It is not so good if we wish to keep the mortar. In this case, a NHL mortar with less free lime and a good void structure will obtain the required result. The same type of mortar will not suffer from salts ingress promoted by external agents such as is common in marine environments. The re-pointing of the harbour wall in 2000 at Atlantic College in Wales is still in perfect condition 10 years later. The mortar is an NHL 5 with very coarse sharp sand (pictured).

Rule 6: Vapour permeability (breathability) and good sands A breathable mortar is essential in the control of condensation. No damp; no rot; a much better living environment. It also helps in consuming less energy in heating. If a room is damp, a lot of the heating will go in drying out the damp before heating the room. Hardened mortars with good breathability will dry faster than dense mortar. Saturation of the mortar is well reduced and so is the risk of frost damage. St. Astier NHL mortars if compared to cement/lime mortars have a better breathability by 200%. The two main factors in achieving good breathability are: A relatively low free lime content in the binder to avoid too much crystallisation in the mortar voids and the use of well graded sands in the mortar. The choice of good well graded sand is of paramount importance in obtaining a breathable mortar.

Rule 7: Good setting, elasticity and workability Setting and hardening determine the work rate. They are also related to the mortar dosage, the water addition and the weather conditions during execution of the work. Protection and curing methods are directly connected with setting, hardening and curing mortars. Therefore, it is important to have a good idea of the setting and hardening properties of mortar to be able to determine whether it will be suitable for the work, what particular precautions to use and for how long. Elasticity determines the amounts of movement that the mortar will take before cracking. It is also relevant in calculating the positioning of joints. A good elasticity will help in accepting thermal movements. Workability of a mortar is in many cases left to the mason executing the work and, almost invariably, this results in excessive water addition to obtain the “plasticity” that masons like. This is wrong as too much (or too little) water can have serious effects on setting time, shrinkage, capillarity and so on. Information on the correct water addition should be given to

the mason and supervisors should check that the instructions are followed.

Rule 8: Suitable compressive and bonding strength It is no good to look just at quick setting and hardening. A very hard mortar, especially when made with cement, is not the solution to all requirements. Quick setting and strong hardening have become synonymous with “a good mortar” since the advent of cement but in restoration and conservation, setting and hardening should be only part of the evaluation to be made on the most suitable mortar for the job. Of course we need setting and hardening, especially in adverse climatic conditions and seasonal work. But this should never be to the exclusion of all other considerations made up to now such as compatibility, breathability, elasticity and so on. In restoration and conservation, St. Astier NHL mortars comply with all requirements. They set and harden faster and stronger than lime putty or hydrated lime without the use of pozzolans ( a “dear” word to many but essentially a poorly known subject, open to uncertain results) or cement. Many producers state that their product contains “pozzolanic” additions. This is in most cases cement. Just ask the question about re-working the mortar within 24 hours. If the answer is no, the mortar most likely has a cement content. The compatibility and other properties of NHL mortars ensure that performance and durability are achieved without the use of cement. They represent a logical and natural choice in the restoration and preservation of our built heritage.

Rule 9: Consider the environment Lime mortars re-absorb CO2. St, Astier NHL mortars will reabsorb between 38% and 49% of the CO2 emitted in production. NHL mortars are also non toxic and, once hardened, they will not increase the water pH. Cementicious mortars can contain chromium VI (directly related to skin allergies) and, depending on the type of cement used, components like pulverised fly ash (PFA), granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) and others that contain a number of dangerous elements such as heavy metals and many other toxic elements. NHL mortars will also be easily removed from masonry units, allowing them to be re-cycled. The breathability of St. Astier NHL mortars eliminates condensation and contributes to a better living environment for people with breathing difficulties (asthma, for example).

Rule 10: Correct working and site practice Good materials can become useless if the correct site practices are not followed. Good workmanship and supervision are essential. If mortars are not dosed or mixed properly, if they are not cured and protected correctly, if they are applied badly, if the application surfaces are not properly prepared, if suction is not controlled, if salt movements are not taken into consideration and so on, the result will be a failure. Architects, engineers – specifiers in general – should work with the contractor to ensure that he has the necessary comprehension and skills to apply the mortars and follow the necessary site practice. Ii is, however, the responsibility of the mortar manufacturer to give specifiers all the information they require for the evaluation of the mortar to be adopted. St. Astier Limes not only provide this information but also, when required, the technical staff actively work with the specifier giving technical advice to establish the most appropriate mortar for the proposed intervention. For more information, clarification or for any query please contact: technical@stastier.co.uk Or ugo.spano@btinternet.com ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Heritage

Ensuring a bright future for the past English Heritage exists to protect and promote England’s spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood. English Heritage is the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. Officially known as the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, English Heritage is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The powers and responsibilities of English Heritage are set out in the National Heritage Act (1983) and today they report to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Although sponsored by DCMS, English Heritage works with a range of government departments, notably CLG and Defra, to help realise the potential of the historic environment. English Heritage is funded in part by the government, and is also part funded from revenue earned from their historic properties and other services. In 2008/09 the organisation’s public funding was worth £132.7m, and income from other sources was £48.1m. English Heritage works in partnership with central government departments, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the private sector to conserve and enhance the historic environment, broaden public access to the heritage and increase people’s understanding of the past. The organisation meets these responsibilities by: acting as a national and international champion for the heritage; giving grants for the conservation of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; maintaining registers of England’s most significant historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; and advising on the preservation of the historic environment. English Heritage also encourages broader public involvement with the heritage, promotes heritage-related education and research, cares for Stonehenge and over 400 other historic properties on behalf of the nation, maintains the National Monuments Record as the public archive of the heritage and generates income for the benefit of the historic environment. English Heritage is currently running a five-year investment programme for its properties. Based on an audit of all the organisation’s properties, £30m is being targeted at those sites with the most commercial potential, in order to make as many sites as possible self-financing. Projects range from major refurbishment and restoration works at Kenilworth Castle to relatively small but significant improvements to exhibitions and interpretation, catering and retail facilities.

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In the construction sector, English Heritage has joined forces with ConstructionSkills to call for concerted action across the construction industry, the built heritage sector, educational establishments, careers organisations, funding bodies and government departments to tackle the continued shortage of heritage building skills. English Heritage has also published research demonstrating the shortage of craft skills across the country and a Skills Action Plan which they are now implementing. This includes raising the profile of vocational training and the built heritage construction sector and attracting more young people to pursue careers within it. The plan is also geared towards encouraging the use of suitably skilled and qualified people, and developing qualifications to ensure that traditional building knowledge and skills can be attained from GCSE to Master Craft level. Find out more at www.english-heritage.org.uk

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Heritage Construction News

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Manufacturers know quality installations make a difference In most walks of life it is a fact that it doesn’t matter how good a product is if the person installing it doesn’t have the skills, knowledge or experience to install it properly. When it comes to roofing products, it is ultimately the property owner who suffers the consequences of poor installation. It is therefore reassuring to come across a leading manufacturer in this market that has such confidence in one particular group installing their products they are prepared to double the performance warranty offered to the client. VM Zinc, now the UK’s largest supplier of rolled zinc for roofing and cladding, have taken such a step in recognising the quality standards of the specialist members of the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors (FTMRC). Since 1st January this year, VM Zinc have begun offering a performance warranty on their range of zinc sheet, coil and profiles of twenty years for projects where their material has been installed by a member of the FTMRC.This is double the standard ten year warranty offered by VM and most other metal roofing manufacturers for their products. Paul Carter, head of UK operations for VM Zinc, was pleased to be in a position to formally recognise the quality standards of the FTMRC membership. “We know we have a quality product range with a long term maintenance free performance record”, he said, “but we are entirely in the

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hands of the installer when it comes to delivering that performance to the client”. VM Zinc have been working closely with the federation since it was formed in 2006, providing technical support to members as well developing a co-ordinated UK training programme for installers, using facilities at the Building Crafts College in London and the LSA Roof Training Centre in Kent. “We have seen the federation grow and been impressed by its uncompromising attitude towards quality standards, through the regular vetting of its membership”, said Paul, “and we have therefore decided to recognise this quality by offering an exclusive blanket extended warranty where our products are fitted by FTMRC contractors, as we know our installation guidelines will be properly adhered to”. This additional peace of mind for the client sets FTMRC members apart from other roofing contractors and provides formal recognition for their endeavours to raise the bar when it comes to the standard of metal roofing and cladding installations. FTMRC chairman Ian Harvey was delighted for his members to be recognised in this way: “For such a market leader as VM Zinc to take this step is a great statement of confidence that our

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young organisation is going the right way”, he said. “I know some of our other associate manufacturers are now considering following VM’s lead to offer a similar commitment to the FTMRC with regard to their own product range, which is continuing good news for both our members and their clients”. The FTMRC is a national organisation of specialist contractors working in aluminium, copper, GM and stainless steel, as well as zinc, with an independent secretariat based in East Grinstead and supported by an associate membership of manufacturers and distributors. Further information on the VM Zinc range of products is available on 01992 822288 (email vmzinc@umicore.com web www.vmzinc.co.uk) and details about the FTMRC are available on 01342 301627 (email rwr@ftmrc.co.uk web www.ftmrc.co.uk)

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Derelict Knowsley house now family home A derelict house has been brought back to life and is now home to a young mum and her children. The threebedroom property on Shaftesbury Avenue in Kirkby had been repossessed and left to fall into disrepair for four years before Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) and Knowsley MBC stepped in. The property was attracting anti-social behaviour and had become a blight on the neighbourhood. Now it has been completely renovated and provides spacious modern living facilities for Colleen Muldoon and her two children. The 25-yearold can now remain close to her family and her children’s school. She said, “I feel like I have landed on my feet. I am living close to my family and my granddad lives on the estate. It is very important to me that my family is close by”. The property needed a new roof, a full re-plaster following re-instatement of internal walls, new windows and doors, installation of a kitchen and bathroom and a new heating system. Knowsley Borough Council provided funding through the Working Neighbourhoods Fund for the project. The local community also benefitted from work and training opportunities during the construction and one Knowsley resident who was unemployed has gone on to gain a full-time, permanent position with the main contractor on the project. Ian Thomson, operational director of homes at KHT, said, “The partnership working between KHT and KMBC has been really important in being able to provide Colleen with her new home. Through this project we have been able to transform a once derelict property into a home for a family and been able to tackle a source of anti-social behaviour for the wider community”. Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills, said, “I’m delighted that this piece of work has brought about so many positive benefits for the community. The work between the council and KHT has transformed a derelict property, provided a home for a young family and given valuable training and employment opportunities to local workers during the renovation work”.

About Knowsley Housing Trust Knowsley Housing Trust is a charity based in a vibrant and dynamic area of Merseyside and is one of the largest housing associations in the country, with a portfolio of around 13,000 homes. KHT’s regeneration teams are currently delivering major improvements to homes and neighbourhoods, developing new homes and investing in communities through creating skills and job opportunities in order to make a lasting and positive contribution towards the regeneration of Knowsley. KHT offers a wide range of services: small repairs, gas servicing and garden improvements are just some of the diverse contributions at hand for residents of KHT homes.

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Working in conjunction with its residents and the local community, KHT have set up a ‘menu of opportunity’ – a service that welcomes feedback with an end product report entitled ‘you say we did’, a quarterly report showcasing improvements to the community based on said feedback. Area Boards in Kirkby, Huyton, Halewood and Prescot, Whiston and Knowsley village share a budget of £500,000 per annum to support initiatives which contribute to addressing the issues and problems identified by local communities as a well as a bonus £100,000 to share throughout the entire borough. KHT have in excess of 650 houses designed to meet the needs of the elderly and vulnerable, as well as disability access for each building.

Impressive new home for homeless services Construction of the Shaddon Gateway Community Centre - a new multi-million pound community centre in Carlisle - is progressing on the former Shaddongate car park behind the John Street Hostel.

The development is designed to address the needs of homeless people, as well as providing a much needed community resource and the facilities will be available for the community’s use, as well as residents who require homelessness support. The project is being carried out for Carlisle City Council. Main Contractors are Lambert-Gill Ltd; Lead Consultant Architects are Johnson & Wright and Project Managers are Carlisle City Council, with the construction work being overseen by project manager Martin Faulder. The vision for the centre was drawn up by the council, working with other agencies including the police, NHS, housing associations and the voluntary sector. The building will incorporate arts and creative rooms, an IT suite, training room and cyber cafe, health and alternative therapy rooms, interview areas, office spaces and hot-desking space for up to 21 people, a commercial kitchen that could double as one for training, a space that could be developed into a community cafe or social enterprise area and a conference suite. There will also be a community hall with an 85-person capacity, capable of hosting activities including sports and theatre. The centre will also include an exhibition area. The development has been carried out to an innovative ‘green’ design and includes energy efficient measures such as: a ground source heat pump; rainwater harvesting; solar shading; low energy lighting and sections of sedum roof. Apprenticeships in Construction Skills have been incorporated during the building of the centre. The new centre will provide services including: access to health advisory services for local residents; improving and creating links to local groups/services; access to learning/development; support, mentoring and coaching services and a workshop facility. Speaking from the construction site, Tammie Rhodes, the city council’s Principal Housing Officer for hostel and homeless services, said: “Seeing what you have spent months and months wrapped up in plans and designs coming off is really exciting. “Standing in between the steelwork, visualising the room and spaces, you can see the potential of the building.” Carlisle city councillor Olwyn Luckley, portfolio holder for Community Engagement, said: “The new facilities are innovative and forward-looking, both in their design and the vision of what they can provide. “The aim is to address the short and long term needs of homeless people as well as providing a much needed community resource.” The scheme is part funded by a £1.89m grant from the Government’s Places for Change programme. All works should be completed by late autumn 2011. Established in 1974 Lambert-Gill are a family company with a reputation for high quality and standards. The company continually strives for excellence and adheres to their core values of strong customer care, loyalty and integrity. The company has extensive experience and expertise in all sectors of construction with a turnover in excess of £14 million and have successfully delivered schemes in education, retail, industrial, hospitals and healthcare, housing, financial institutions, churches and diocesan works, government establishments and historic buildings. The company’s projects range in value from small works to

schemes of over £4 million. They are externally accredited to: ISO9001:2008 (Quality); ISO14001:2004 (Environmental) and BS OHSAS18001:2007 (Health and Safety).

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N o r th We s t

New look for Lancashire town Pendle Council is investing £2.1m to reintroduce slow moving traffic to the town centre of Nelson. Putting the road back through Nelson town centre is what traders, residents and the Council have been wanting for years, since it became clear that pedestrianisation carried out in the 1980s and 1990s had contributed to economic downturn in the area. The new High Street will also include a new pedestrian area, new seating, signs and impressive up-lighting at ground level, which will light up key buildings. The project is being joint-funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is managed by the NWDA in the Northwest. NWDA have contributed £1.21m and ERDF have contributed £950,043. The main contractor is J&R Moran. Project manager Johanna Latty told Premier Construction, “The idea of the project is to re-introduce traffic sensibly – a one-way 20mph system – and to match the economic benefit that will bring by giving Nelson a look that attracts visitors for leisure and retail. Everything in the streetscape is being upgraded, including street furniture, paving, signage and trees”. She continued, “The scheme had been in the pipeline for quite some time – the council produced a masterplan in 2006, which was the basis of the funding application. Residents, traders and the council alike agreed it was time for change and the feedback so far is that the new look is giving the town its heart back”. Discussing the allocation of funding, she said, “We are achieving a lot of value for money. A lot of work has been done in-house and we have a good, multi-disciplinary professional team at the council, which has strong local links. We have been especially pleased with the quality of workmanship produced so far by contractors, and I’m sure local people will agree the funding is being well spent”.

A link to the past In December 2010, designs were approved for a 10-12 metre shuttle to be placed in the centre of the ellipse shaped central

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space of the newly improved town centre. The structure, a nod to the early industrial heritage of Lancashire, will light up at night and will be made by DP Structures out of steel in a bronze/corten colour. The purpose of the focal point is to give height to the newly created central space without dominating the area. It will also create a strong visual link from all areas of the town centre. The shuttle will link to the repositioned Memorial Cross on Market Street with views of Pendle Hill in the background. Councillor Sheena Dunn said, “This is an inspired idea and the weaving shuttle is a really exciting design. The shuttle will be something Nelson can be proud of which reflects the heritage of the area and is something really unique: we haven’t found any other town that has a Shuttle!” The structure will be in place as of summer 2011 to coincide with the completion of the wider regeneration scheme.

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

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Middlehaven development transforming town

A multi-million pound scheme to transform underused land in Middlesbrough is being boosted by continued public and private sector investment. Middlehaven is a mixed-use scheme which will see residential, business and leisure facilities created on land which has remained undeveloped for a number of years. The site is already home to: the £70m Middlesbrough College; Temenos, the first of five proposed Tees Valley Giants by internationally renowned artist Anish Kapoor and structural engineer Cecil Balmond; two office blocks, Hudson Quay 1 and 2, by Terrace Hill; and BoHo 1 and 2, the creative quarters of DigitalCity. Now work is underway on sustainable

community developer BioRegional Quintain’s ‘Community in a Cube’ residential block, the first phase of its £200m Riverside One scheme, under main contractor GB Building Solutions. Richard Buckley, director of delivery at Tees Valley Unlimited, said, “While many other regeneration schemes across the country have stalled as a result of the recession, Middlehaven has managed to maintain momentum. “And what is also encouraging is the fact that the work which has taken place is incredibly varied. In one corner stands the magnificent Temenos, in the other Middlesbrough College, while in between are Terrace Hill’s business units, Community in a Cube and BoHo 1 and 2. “All are helping to transform the site into a thriving mixed-use development, bringing with them significant jobs and investment”. Chris Munro, area manager of Tees Valley at the Homes and Communities Agency, the landowner and also a major funder of the project, added, “We’re delighted that Middlehaven, one of the flagship developments in Tees Valley, continues to be a real success

Addressing a primary concern Providing much-needed additional school accommodation through the construction of an extension and internal refurbishment, a project at St Francis RC First School, Bradford is just being completed in a move to help address the need for additional primary school places in the area. The £1.6 million project was undertaken for Leeds RC Diocesan Trustees by Main Contractors Torpoint Ltd. Architects and Project Managers were Aedas; Quantity Surveyors were BCS; Mechanical and Electrical Engineers were Brian Mellor & Associates and Structural Engineers were SEJC Consulting Engineers. The works involved the construction of a single storey extension to house a new main entrance for the school, administrative accommodation and a second hall. A second single storey extension was constructed to house a bin store. The scheme also involved the demolition of a single storey classroom annexe and internal refurbishment of the original school building The main new extension features external elevations in a combination of facing brickwork, blockwork, render and cedar boarding, incorporating curtain walling, aluminium framed windows, aluminium external doors and a built up felt roof. External works included hard and soft landscaping. Bradford District is one of the most deprived areas in the country, with two thirds of Bradford District’s residents (66.57%) living in the 20% most deprived wards in England and Wales. The expanded school accommodation at St Francis is much needed, since due to a rapidly rising pupil population driven

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story. It’s an excellent example of the benefits public and private sector partnerships can bring”. BioRegional Quintain’s Community in a Cube development is a block of 80 apartments which form the first phase of RiversideOne, the UK’s largest zero carbon development. A comprehensive and holistic sustainability vision overarches RiversideOne which will enable it to achieve high standards of sustainability. The scheme will be built to BRE EcoHomes and BREEAM ‘excellent’ standards and will benefit from features including on-site renewable energy generation, a car club, low impact construction materials and opportunities for food growing.

by an increased birth rate and net inward migration, there are currently insufficient primary school places to accommodate future demand from children requiring a primary school place from 2012 onwards Based on data provided by the local health authority, a total of an additional 4000 primary school places are required over the next five years as a minimum Much of the primary school estate remains as poor quality with a maintenance backlog of over £32,000,000. The district is therefore in need of urgent further capital investment, for both additional places in order to meet its statutory obligations and to address the extensive condition and suitability issues Established on the 25th January 1993, Torpoint Limited has built a reputation for delivering high quality works across West Yorkshire.

Building strong links within local authorities, housing associations and the education sectors, Torpoint Limited delivers new build, renovation and refurbishment-related projects that range in value from £250k to £2 million. Successful in operating to partnering, traditional and negotiated single or multi-phased contracts, Torpoint Limited continues to evolve a proactive and solution-orientated approach that supports their clients, users and the local community. The company’s substantial level of repeat business, coupled with their client references are the best testament to their consistently high standards of workmanship and reputation for delivering quality projects on time and on budget.

What is a quality bus corridor? The A65 Quality Bus Corridor scheme has been developed to provide a high standard of bus service along a highly congested route from Hawksworth Road into Leeds city centre. New bus lanes currently being installed will be wide enough to be used as shared bus and cycle lanes once main contractor Carillion has completed works. The current phase of the corridor scheme covers the section of the route between Kirkstall Lane and the inner ring road. The scheme will provide 4 kilometres of new bus lane, covering both inbound and outbound journeys. Bus priority signal arrangements at two major junctions are included in the scheme and are accompanied by additional pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities and cycle lanes. Pre-signal arrangements are to give buses priority at the exits from the bus lanes, while passengers will notice a significant improvement to their facilities, including new shelters and information displays (in real time at the busiest stops). The two major junctions where buses will be given priority are on the entry to the central area where there are no proposed bus lanes. Traffic will be controlled at a level in this central section to remain free flowing and buses will be given priority entering. Parking will not be allowed within the bus lanes and there will generally be no on street parking provision. Benefits from the scheme include bus passenger journey time improvements of 4-6 minutes in the peak periods and up to 3 minutes in the off-peak periods; a projected increase of 9% in bus use; and improvements in the safety and movement of pedestrians, cyclists and traffic. Luckily for drivers, it is expected that the final scheme proposals will have little or no effect on the private car. Cars may queue in different locations but overall journey times should be similar to original conditions. The construction programme started in April 2010 and is programmed to finish in June 2012.

The traffic management on commercial road between Beecroft Street and Gilbert Mount is to remain in place until the end of June 2011. The current arrangement of one lane in each direction will be maintained during all busy times and only slight delays are expected. A temporary pedestrian crossing is now operational near the Angel Halls of Residence, west of Gilbert Mount. The service road between Staples and Benfield Ford has been narrowed to one lane and is closed to through traffic. Businesses in this location are open as usual and the service road can be used to access these businesses. The new footpath is now open for pedestrians. The bus stop on the service road is temporarily out of use while the works in this area are ongoing.

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Two new areas of traffic management were installed overnight on Monday 31st January into Tuesday 1st February, as developers continued to juggle a busy highways and vital works. The city bound A65 carriageway, starting opposite Benfield Ford and ending at Marlborough Street, was narrowed to 3.25metres per lane, including a short section around the West Street car park. The traffic management is required in order for the road to be widened safely. There are also off peak (0930 -1530) lane closures in this location. Moderate delays are anticipated at peak periods. The disruption is expected to last at least five months. Traffic management is required alongside Woodside View in order for the footpath to be rebuilt and for works to a new pedestrian crossing. Developers expect this section of traffic management to be removed before April 2011. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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School extension progressing towards May completion A £1 million extension to St. Winefride’s School in Bradford is developing at pace. The new addition to the primary school takes advantage of space to the rear of the school previously used for deliveries and bin storage. It will house improved staff facilities and administration offices, a group support teaching room and a new dining hall. Space freed up once the extension works are completed will be used to form new music rooms as part of the same contract. Building surveyor James Wilkinson, of project managers Aedas, told Premier Construction, “This is a good site to work on as we’re working in an area not currently used for teaching. Although we are taking the necessary precautions so as not to interfere with the normal running of the school, the location of

the works means we are never directly affecting the staff or the pupils. Segregation has been simple. “There have been no major glitches other than the cold winter, which meant up to four weeks’ delay for some work such as bricklaying”, he added. The current works continue a longstanding relationship between AEDAS and the Diocese of Leeds, the project client. James adds, “We know what to expect from the client in terms of demands and requirements, which is why we understood instantly that the existing administration facilities at the school were designed for a much smaller school. As there have been various extensions since the school

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was originally built, our role is essentially to make the school a more functional and modern place”. Main contractor Torpoint has been on working on site with AEDAS since late summer 2010, and expects to complete works in May 2011.

Positivity over early stages of regenerative housing project £18.8 million of preliminary works are being carried out on the site of the Scotswood development, west of Newcastle city centre. By 2027, the development will have brought 1,800 homes, a new neighbourhood centre and a network of improved open space to the area, all of which will be designed to stringent environmental standards. Funding from the Homes and Community Agency and Bridging Newcastle Gateshead is behind this site preparation stage of the masterplan, which is being carried out by Galliford Try Infrastructure Limited and supported by Turner and Townsend, Halcrow and Atkins. Beginning on site in June 2010, the current works, which include extensive earthworks, are set for completion in December 2011. The housing is then set to be delivered by the Scotswood Urban Regeneration Vehicle which is a partnership

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between Newcastle City Council and a consortium comprising Keepmoat, Barratt and Yuill. The shared vision for Scotswood is ‘”to create a new vibrant and long lasting neighbourhood in Scotswood that will attract and retain new households and businesses for the benefit of all in the area”. The delivery of the Scotswood Masterplan will secure the long lasting, integrated regeneration of the area involving a mixed community. The overarching aims are to: • Change the poor perception of the area and create a new positive image citywide and regionally, • Reverse outward migration and encourage new residents and employers to stay,

• Build on the existing community and integrate new households through innovative design and increased social and cultural activities, • Create a lasting legacy of a thriving, well-educated community with good future prospects, living and working in a sustainable, vibrant neighbourhood. Andrew Phillips, of Newcastle City Council, told Premier Construction, “After a lengthy process of stakeholder consultation, masterplan development, demolitions and funding applications, there has been a lot of support from local businesses and residents now that tangible physical activity has finally begun, although it is at least 15 years before the overall scheme is complete. £270 million has been pledged by Newcastle City Council and private sector consortium to carry out the works, which demonstrates the faith of the project’s backers in what is being achieved”. There are a series of six inter-related development frameworks setting out the design strategies to guide the overall quantum, layout and form of development at Scotswood. Each framework contains performance standards to establish the development quality for the delivery of the masterplan.

Character: a place with a distinct identity The masterplan aims to create a distinctive new neighbourhood and this framework establishes character areas to create a new sense of identity. A minimum Building for Life Silver Standard is targeted.

Land use and community: creating a sustainable neighbourhood The redevelopment of Scotswood will be housing led, but will also include various mixed-use elements. This framework sets out the quantum of planned development, including the balance and mix of dwelling typologies and tenure with the focus on family homes of 3 and 4 bedroom houses meeting Lifetime Homes standards. There is a requirement for up to 25% affordable housing to be spatially distributed across the masterplan. This framework also sets out targets for employment training and the provision of community facilities along with community safety and engagement strategies.

Public life: quality of streets, public realm and parks The framework sets out the design guidance for the hierarchy of streets, spaces and parks to establish an overall consistent design approach, but one which will achieve variety through creating defined character areas, adding richness and local interest to the neighbourhood.

Resources: use of energy, water, waste and materials The framework sets out the environmental targets for the development. All residential development will achieve a minimum of Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. There is a commitment to achieve Code Level 4 from the outset and throughout the scheme with aspiration to move to Code Level 6 when viable technology can be demonstrated and funds available within the Scotswood Project. The non-residential buildings will be required to meet BREEAM ‘excellent’ standards.

Urban form: network of streets, blocks and plots The structure of the Masterplan is derived from the key elements of public streets, development blocks and housing plots and which are well connected to the surrounding neighbourhood. The framework sets out design guidance for the development in terms of layout, scale, massing and appearance along with dwelling space standards.

Connections: improved movement and access The framework sets out the movement strategy, the hierarchy and function of streets together with public transport and parking provision. It proposes a number of hard and soft measures to improve accessibility and encourages travel by sustainable modes.

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The beating HEART of Headingley A new community and business development centre for Headingley is now up and running, after construction work was completed in January 2011. Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART) is run by the Headingley Development Trust and is based in the old Headingley Primary School on Bennett Road, an 1880s building which was closed in 2006 and has since been refurbished by main contractor Stainforth Construction. Work on the refurbished building has created new performance, exhibition and events spaces; a community centre service managed in conjunction with Leeds City Council; a range of large and small meeting rooms; and a café with a secluded outdoor seating area. Local enterprises are boosted by a business centre located on the first floor, which is particularly targeted at the arts and media industry and should generate up to 10 new businesses a year. The HEART project has attracted massive community and political support, with investment so far from local residents of over £105,000. This support, along with the HDT team’s plans for the building, persuaded Leeds City Council’s executive board to agree to lease the school building to HDT over 125 years on a peppercorn rent and to loan some of the capital funding needed for the refurbishment of the building. There is also an agreement with the council that HEART will represent the community centre provision for Headingley for the next 25 years. Besides keeping the former school building in community use and introducing excellent new facilities to central Headingley, it is hoped that HEART will create a cultural buzz to Headingley and provide a focal point for the whole community. It will extend the local business base and encourage graduates to stay on and make Headingley their permanent home. Development manager Kim Johnston told Premier Construction, “We have already seen a huge level of involvement locally. Even prior to the new centre opening, HDT had over 900 members and over 40 local volunteers. That generated a lot of word-of-mouth, which is only increasing now we’re up and running”. She continued, “The meeting rooms are already being used heavily by groups linked to the existing community centre, which is closing down, and we have begun putting on new events, including a secret art exhibition with contributions from professional artists and local amateurs, which went down a storm. We are all positive about the impact the new building will have on the area”. Since its establishment in 2005, HDT has accomplished string of

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victories on behalf of the Headingley community, including leading the community buy-out of a wholefood shop, setting up a farmers’ market, and beginning to make a difference in establishing a more sustainable community through local housing initiatives. To find out more about HEART or to get involved with fundraising and volunteering, visit www.headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk

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Active future for Gateshead

by summer 2011 in time for the excitement surrounding the 2012 London Olympics. As part of the programme, two entirely new centres – Heworth Leisure Centre and Blaydon Leisure and Primary Care Centre – have already opened. The rest of the programme covers upgrades to Gateshead Leisure Centre, Dunston Pool, Gateshead International Stadium and Birtley Pool. The £2 million works on Birtley Pool, which are due for completion in mid-April, involve the re-modelling of the main entrance, a relocated viewing gallery for improved sight lines, re-tiling of the pool and pool hall and an all-purpose room which will provide space for dance, meetings and parties. Project manager Bernie Forster is overseeing the entire programme. He told Premier Construction, “Like all the facilities we’re upgrading, Birtley

Gateshead Council is spending £36m to bring new and upgraded leisure facilities to Gateshead in partnership with contractor Willmott Dixon. It is the largest single investment the council has ever undertaken in leisure and represents a commitment to ‘build an active future’ and improve the health of Gateshead people. The work is staggered over a three-year period so we can offer as wide a variety of leisure opportunities as possible to Gateshead residents whilst this massive transformation to facilities takes place. The works will be completed

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was, to an extent, a dated building. In fact, its age means that it pre-dates the border change which saw us inherit the facility from Durham Council. As such, the architectural records we have are incomplete and that has led to a few surprises on site, such as unexpected damage to the existing steel frame”. “The contractor has done well to take that and other obstacles into their stride and has been pro-active with stakeholders as befits a participant in the Considerate Constructors scheme”, he concluded.

Smart and stylish new hotel is “a credit to the town” Crown Properties (Scarborough) Ltd, one of the regions leading property developers have spent the last year transforming an eyesore site into what has been described as “An absolutely wonderful building which is a credit to the town,” with a project to construct the new Premier Inn Scarborough, which has just completed on the edge of the town centre on the corner of Vernon Road and Falconers Road. The project to build the 74 ensuite bedroom hotel, constructed by Main Contractors PDR Construction, was commended by Clients Crown Properties (Scarborough) Ltd. “The new hotel is absolutely wonderful and is a credit to the town - I am thrilled with the finished product - Premier Inn were keen to locate in Scarborough and this development has created a destination hotel which will attract people to the town” said Mr Rob Taylor, Commercial Director of Crown Properties Scarborough Ltd. Architects were Hayes Associates of Scarborough and Project Managers were Lawrence Hannah of York. The hotel - the first new build hotel to be constructed in Scarborough for over 70 years - was built on the former site of a petrol filling station and car showrooms, demolished prior to the current contract, which involved only initial site clearance works Occupying most of the footprint of the site, the 11,000 sq ft fourstorey building, which provides a 45,000 sq ft of accommodation, is constructed in a combination of steel and timber framework, with external elevations in red brick and coloured render, incorporating feature aluminium framed and timber sash windows, with roofing in a combination of profiled panelling, slate and flat roofed areas. In addition to the bedrooms, internal facilities include a reception area and a ground floor Brewers Fayre bar/restaurant. Attention do detail regarding sound insulation was an important factor of the construction, as Premier Inn guarantee guests a good night’s sleep. The design of the building went to great lengths to ensure this - even to the extent of making sure that the automated voice in

the hotel lift was quiet, so that it would not disturb guests at night. Kevin Murray acquisition manager for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants which owns the Premier chain said he was delighted that the company had expanded its roots to Scarborough. “Premier Inn continues to expand across the country and Scarborough is an important new location for us.” Nick Taylor the Former Scarborough Council Urban Renaissance Manager said the hotel will be a real boost for the town. “The new development should be applauded - it is great news for Scarborough as it shows that confidence for the town is growing.” “Although a small purpose-built hotel was built in Flixton in recent years, this is the first purpose-built hotel built within Scarborough’s town centre for many years and should prove a good draw to this part of the town.” The Scarborough Premier Inn is estimated to have cost around £6.1 million and is expected to will create 55 new jobs – a welcome boost to Scarborough’s economy.

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Premier Inn is the country’s biggest and fastest growing hotel company with over 580 budget hotels across the UK and Ireland. The company were recently named ‘best budget hotel brand’ at 2011 business travel awards. Since its formation in 1992, PDR has grown to become one of the largest independent construction companies in the north of England and has developed an impressive reputation as a revolutionary construction resource for many leading-edge companies. Crown Properties (Scarborough) Ltd have been instrumental in the redevelopment of many eyesore sites in Scarborough, notably the transformation of the previously neglected Pavilion Square which it completely refurbished and is now an example of classic Victorian architecture. The private company have major interests in residential, retail, leisure and commercial sectors and have recently secured planning consent for a 10,000 sq ft contemporary retail unit adjacent to the Seamer Road Retail Park in Scarborough which has already created a great deal ofinterest with national branded retailers.

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Small-scale developer converts family-owned commercial site into residential opportunity A miniature community of four prestigious town houses, four semi-detached houses and six apartments’ is currently under construction in the Clifton area of York. Developer Robert Pulleyn has secured permission to demolish the former Clifton garage which previously occupied the site and had been part of the family business since the 1960s. The works are being carried out in three phases, the first being the six apartments, which are located to the rear of the site and are currently under construction with a completion date of spring 2011. The four semi-detached houses are to follow in the middle of the site and are due to be completed in the autumn. The finishing touches will be put to the site towards the end of spring / summer 2012 as the four prestigious terraced houses are completed to the front of the site, closest to the A19 Clifton Moor to the north-west of the city centre. The six apartments are part of one block and all feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Finished to a high standard and benefiting from under-floor heating across the building, the apartments are being built to a certain quality and not to a budget or a timescale, according to Robert: “We are small-scale developers who don’t operate like the big players in the industry. There is a significant personal touch in the project and we are effectively both the main contractors and project managers”. He continued, “I was told I was mad to begin a project like this in the economic climate of 2009, but I was fortunate in that bank funding was forthcoming on the strength of other, quite different business ventures I’ve previously undertaken with success. Although the original intention was to rent out all the apartments, the interest

in them, given their quality and their location in a prestigious and convenient area of York, has meant that we’ve already been made offers for two of them, (both of which have been accepted), without even promoting the development. That’s enough to give us plenty of confidence in the rest of the development”. Robert’s new firm, R&R Pulleyn Developments Ltd, which he runs in partnership with his son, is spending £1.7 million on the former site of the garage, and they also have planning permission on a site that they own in Harrogate for an office development. The Pulleyn’s latest enterprise continues a family tradition of homebuilding, as he explains: “My grandfather (an ex Lord Mayor of York) built homes in the York area prior to the 2nd world war and named developments like Pulleyn Drive off Tadcaster Road (opposite the racecourse) after his company. Following on from this, the garage which was originally run by my father, two brothers and me from the mid 1960s (until I acquired the business in 1992), and ran until the development commenced in 2009. We are considering using our family name when we finalise the name of the current development, as that would retain a nice link to the history of the site”. Robert is positive about the future of the company. He told Premier Construction, “This is a relatively small-scale beginning for what could become a relatively small but successful company. We are well aware of the need to take things slowly without getting ahead of ourselves – one other site we have in York is being kept on the back burner for that very reason – but we are very pleased with our progress at the moment, so watch this space!”

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Interserve behind high-tech hospital makeover Construction work is well under way on a multi-million pound redevelopment to expand cancer services on The James Cook University Hospital site. In March 2010, work began on a new ‘stand alone’ state-of-the-art radiotherapy centre as part of a £35million scheme at the hospital to provide the very best cancer facilities and leading-edge treatment for patients. The new ‘stand-alone’ centre, construction of which is in the capable hands of main contractor Interserve, will house three linear accelerators, a CT scanner and new outpatients’ clinic suite. It will also have a large, double-height waiting area fitted with glazed curtain walling and under-floor heating. It is located near to the existing radiotherapy/oncology department at the north entrance of the hospital. The scheme - expected to be completed by winter 2011/2012, also includes work to extend the current chemotherapy day unit to provide additional capacity and refurbish existing waiting room and reception areas. In autumn 2010, hospital staff and patients alike celebrated the completion of work to the existing department to house a new £2.5m TomoTherapy machine – an advanced CT scanner with a high energy x-ray treatment beam that accurately targets tumours. Director of planning Jill Moulton said, “We are trying to keep disruption on the hospital site to an absolute minimum but inevitably with a development of this size, we have had to make some temporary moves in the radiotherapy/oncology department. “For example, the chemotherapy day unit was transferred to the ground floor of a modular building, which isn’t ideal but it is necessary, and we would like to thank patients for their patience and support during this time. When the work is complete, we hope to have a cancer unit which places alongside the best hospitals in Europe”. As part of the redevelopment, 170 tonnes of steel work will be going into the new building’s frame, almost 60,000 bricks will need to be laid and 700m2 of stone wall and floor tiles will need to be put down. A trench, filled with power cable, has been dug approximately half a kilometre long to accommodate for the electricity the building will demand. Developers of the stand-alone building are aiming for a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for its environmental standards and will introduce a number of new ‘green’ initiatives, such as rainwater harvesting system and a ground source heat pump, which will provide for the under-floor heating. David Flewker, regional director at Interserve Project Services Ltd, said, “Interserve is delighted to be delivering, as part of the Procure 21 Framework, the radiotherapy and oncology development for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at The James Cook University Hospital. We have worked closely with the trust to design this cutting edge facility and as a local company we are extremely pleased to be involved with a project that will bring an improved level of healthcare to the community”. Turning the first sod in March 2010, trust chairwoman Deborah Jenkins was joined by patient Hazel Brock, staff, PCT colleagues

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and representatives from Interserve. She said, “This really is an exciting time for the development of cancer services. Working closely with our commissioners, we’re getting state-of-the-art facilities which will benefit patients and staff and be a huge asset in the region for many years to come”. The radiotherapy and oncology service delivers an integrated service to a population of approximately one million, extending through Teesside, South Durham and North Yorkshire. Currently, the hospital offers 41,100 treatment sessions for radiotherapy (known in medical terms as fractions) but the figure is increasing year-on-year.

TomoTherapy The new £2.5million TomoTherapy Hi-ART® machine is now up and running at the hospital, making it only the third NHS hospital in the UK to treat cancer patients with this technology. The treatment, first used on patients in the USA in July 2003, combines a CT scanner with a high energy x-ray treatment beam that more accurately targets the tumour and normal organs immediately before treatment. It also allows an unprecedented level of accuracy in how it delivers the radiation to the body, enabling complex shaped tumours to be precisely targeted by radiation whilst minimising the radiation received by normal organs, which, in turn, reduces radiation side effects and long term complications from treatment. 65-year-old grandfather-of-five Victor Chivers, from Thirsk, was the first prostate cancer patient to benefit from TomoTherapy treatment at the hospital in September 2010. Clinical director of radiotherapy and oncology Dr Peter Dunlop said, “This is one of the most advanced types of radiotherapy machine available and means we can more accurately target patients’ tumours. We have found the operation is smooth and treatments are comfortable for patients because they are often quicker than with the conventional equipment, especially in complex head and neck cases, although this type of treatment will not be suitable for everyone”. “It’s the start of an exceptionally exciting time for the development of radiotherapy and oncology services at the trust – building work on the new state-of-the-art radiotherapy is also well underway on site, thanks to the support of our primary care colleagues and the North of England Cancer Network”. To date, dozens of patients have received treatment on tomotherapy, which has been operational since June. TomoTherapy technology is developed and manufactured in Madison, WI, USA, by TomoTherapy Incorporated (www.tomotherapy.com), and is supplied in the UK by Oncology Systems Limited (www.osl.uk.com) based in Shrewsbury. Clinical advisor and director at Oncology Systems, Julie Mead, added, “The whole oncology team, with the support from trust management, has worked hard to secure this new technology for the people of the North East of England. Now with its TomoTherapy system in place, James Cook has become a leader in the UK NHS with the ability to offer world class radiotherapy for its patients”.

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Inspirational design for state of the art new school Designed to accommodate 1,200 pupils aged 11 - 16, within an innovatively designed building, Trinity Catholic College is a new state-of-the-art secondary school for Middlesbrough, under construction in Saltersgill Avenue in a project which is making good progress on programme. The new school will replace the former St David’s RC School and the Newlands FCJ School. It is being constructed on the playing fields of St Davids School, with the school’s pupils being decanted into the new building and the old school being demolished when construction is complete. The development is being carried out as part of Middlesbrough Borough Council’s £100 million Building Schools for the Future programme. Main Contractors for the scheme are Willmott Dixon; Architects are Aedas. The school, which will break new ground in education design, is being constructed in a combination of two and three storey elements and will feature a three storey glazed central atrium incorporating a huge multi-purpose ‘street’ running through the middle of the building, flooding the interior with light and creating a central circulation/break-out space. The building will have three separate teaching wings and will include a four court sports hall, ICT facilities, a multi gym, science and technology laboratories, a dining area and a catering kitchen. The design for the layout was inspired by a traditional church, in keeping with the faith of the schools. The street forms the dining room and social area of the building, which will also include a creative, artistic hub accommodating art, music and drama rooms.Throughout the building the design emphasis is

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on creating light, open airy space with vibrant, modern colours. The building is structured around steel frame with external elevations in a combination of materials including Forticrete architectural masonry, render, curtain walling, standing seam copper coloured cladding, topped by a single ply shallow pitched roof. External works include new landscaping, with planting and shrubs, play areas, a parking area and a boulevard pedestrian/ cycle approach. There will also be two grass sports pitches, a multi use games area and an artificial turf pitch with flood lighting and a separate entrance for community use. To minimise disruption during the construction of the building, all construction traffic is being kept separate from the existing school by providing a separate temporary site access off Saltersgill Avenue. Currently, construction of the school building is 70 per cent complete, with the exterior now watertight and work progressing internally. Construction of the new school building is due for completion in July 2011, with the external works following in a second phase of the project. The school is scheduled for opening in September 2011. Middlesborough Councillor Mike Carr, Executive Member for Children, Families and Learning, said: “This new school building for Trinity Catholic College will be a superb educational environment for our young people who will have the very best surroundings in which to learn and succeed.” Father John Lumley, of the Diocese of Middlesbrough, said: “We are really excited about the future of Catholic education

in Middlesbrough. We have a lot of hopes and expectations for Trinity.” One of the largest privately owned companies specialising in construction, development and support services, Willmott Dixon pride themselves on strong family values of loyalty, respect, honesty and openness. These are embedded in everything that the company does. The company strives to lead the industry’s transition to a low carbon economy and is the only company in their sector that aims to be carbon neutral and send zero waste to landfill by 2012. Just as in the 1990s the company led the way with partnering, which has now become the accepted way to deliver projects on time and budget, Willmott Dixon are taking new initiatives with sustainability, including their unique 10 point sustainable criteria for all projects. This is the means of measuring their building site progress to being a true sustainable business. Willmott Dixon has one of the best retention rates in the industry and on average people stay with the company for over 10 years. The company also have more ethnic minority and female

employees (six and 17.4 per cent) than the industry average (3.8 and 14.7 per cent).

Bridge replacement nears completion Work to replace Whitechapel Road bridge, which carries the B6120 over the M62 near Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, began on Monday 16th August 2010 with the closure of the bridge. During the bridge work, the B6120 is closed to traffic and pedestrians for approximately 42 weeks. Once the works are completed by main contractor Lafarge May Gurney and managed by Highways Agency Managing Agent Contractor Aone+, the new bridge will restore an important link between the local communities of Scholes and Cleckheaton and significantly reduce the need for any future bridge works. The work will cost in the region of £10.5 million

at the time, “The scheme has been progressing well and we are pleased that this major milestone has been reached. The works are approximately two weeks behind schedule due to the bad weather experienced before Christmas. This meant we had to cancel our initial dates for lifting the beams into place. We will be doing everything we can to make up the lost time over the coming months. Every effort is being made to minimise the disruption, to road users and residents”.

Investigations had shown it would not be economical to repair the bridge and the only option was to replace it. The old structure, which contained asbestos, was demolished in stages. Due to the complexity of the demolition process and the need to minimise disruption to the motorway users the work can only take place overnight night and at the weekend. Careful demolition methods are needed. For a short period in autumn 2010, motorists were treated to a strange sight as half of the bridge was left standing. Councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) explained, “Half the bridge had been demolished and half was still standing, which looked a little strange. As the structure contained asbestos, it had to be taken apart carefully. This takes time”. A specific type of bridge has been designed, known as an integral bridge, which has the advantage of avoiding the need for a central pier. This has significant safety advantages for the travelling public and those tasked with carrying out inspections of the structure. In advance of the main bridge works it was necessary to divert utility services running through the bridge. The majority of the work was completed without delay, but work to divert a sewer took longer than anticipated due to unexpected ground conditions. However, the summer 2010 target for beginning on site was met comfortably. During the closure, clearly signed diversion routes are in place for drivers and cyclists. These have been planned in close consultation with the local councils. The Highways Agency has insisted upon a range of measures to minimise the disruption for local residents and schools, including setting up a free bus service for those school children and other pedestrians who would have normally used the bridge. A major milestone was reached in January 2011 when work to install the steel beams for the new bridge was successfully completed. Highways Agency project manager Tim Calvert said ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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New Tyne Tunnel opens The new Tyne Tunnel opened in early March, a month later than expected, as part of a lengthy construction programme costing £260 million, which also includes the refurbishment of the original 1960s tunnel. Construction of the new tunnel got under way in 2008, while work on the refurbishment of the original tunnel began in October 2010 with the removal of the wall panels at night. Convoy traffic management has allowed operators to keep the original tunnel open during this preparatory works phase, but it will close for the major refurbishment works once the new tunnel is completed. The entire scheme is expected to be completed by 2012, when both tunnels will be open simultaneously. The Tyne Tunnel was originally opened in 1967 and is part of the A19, which is a strategic highway in Tyne & Wear and connects the north and the south of the river between East Howdon and Jarrow. The existing tunnel causes severe traffic problems as the dual two-lane approach roads narrow to a single lane road through the tunnel . The tunnel is owned and had been operated by Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority. However, the owners appointed a concessionaire in November 2007 to run the old tunnel and to construct a new road tunnel alongside to ease the traffic congestion. The concession contract worth €500m was granted for a period of 30 years to TT2 (Tyne Tunnels Two). The TT2 consortium consists of Bouygues Travaux Publics, a French firm, and also the financial institutions HSBC Infrastructure Fund II and Bank of Scotland Corporate. The concession, which started operating the existing tunnel on 1 February 2008, includes the delivery of the second Tyne crossing tunnel scheme and also the operation and maintenance of all the tunnels under the river, including pedestrian and cycle tunnels. The TT2 consortium will also provide about 65% of the investment that

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is required over the 30-year life of the concession. Speaking to Premier Construction, project director Paul Fenwick of Newcastle City Council said, “One of our objectives when appointing the concessionaire was to keep the toll as low as possible whilst making sure the works were paid for by tunnel revenues. We were also looking for innovation in construction, design and scheduling, as well as minimising its impact on the environment and the neighbouring communities. “Residents and users of the tunnel have been appreciative of our efforts to consult and inform them throughout the length of the project and we have been impressed with the operation of the tunnel as to have lost the transport link during works would have been a blow for the whole of Tyneside. As someone who has been involved in highways in the area for a number of years, I have always seen the project as a worthwhile cause and it’s encouraging to see a major portion of it being completed”. Trevor Jackson, managing director of TT2, said local people should have “a sense of pride in the scheme”, but sounded a note of caution about the transport infrastructure on both sides of the Tyne, calling for major improvements to road junctions, such as Silverlink in North Tyneside, to avoid future traffic congestion”.

Major highway schemes on the road to completion Birse Civils are nearing completion of a number of highways projects, including barrier renewal and civil works, in the Highways Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Area 12 road improvements scheme. The works include those underway at the M1 junction 34 Meadowhall Roundabout; M1 junctions 41 to 42; M180 junction 4 and the M621 junctions 1- 3. Following initial enabling works at the M1 Junction 34 North Meadowhall Roundabout, the main scheme commenced on 10th January 2011. The project includes: carriageway widening for an additional lane to the eastern quadrant of the roundabout; footway realignment; the laying of kerbing; carriageway resurfacing; the installation of highfriction surfacing; drainage works; roadmarking; the erection of new traffic signals and the introduction of MOVA traffic control systems with wireless detection and cabling. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2011. A-one+ is supervising the works on-site. Birse are also replacing the existing steel central reserve safety barrier with a concrete step barrier to current standards on the M1 between Junction 41 and 42. Associated work includes: installation of new road lighting in the verge prior to the removal of the existing road lighting within the central reservation; drainage works within the central reservation; pavement works within the central reservation; the renewal of the existing steel barrier in the verge with a new steel system, and the

replacement of road markings and studs where necessary. The schemeÂ started on 22 November 2010 with completion due by 31 March 2011. Further central reserve barrier replacement works are being carried out by Birse on the M180 Junction 4. The scheme involves replacing the steel central reservation barrier with a safer, concrete barrier, improving drainage and carrying out carriageway repairs on a 0.8 mile (1.3km) stretch of the motorway. The new barriers are stronger and more robust - reducing the risk of vehicles involved in accidents crossing from one side of the motorway to the other, and improving the safety of road users and road workers. The barriers also require less maintenance and repairs and hence will reduce the likelihood of future disruption to the road user. A similar scheme of central reserve barrier replacement is underway on the M621 between Junctions 1 and 3. Again, the works involve replacing the existing steel central reserve safety barrier with a concrete step barrier. Associated work includes: the installation of new road lighting in the verge, prior to the removal of the existing road lighting within the central reservation; drainage works within the central reservation; pavement works within the central reservation and the replacement of road markings and studs where necessary The scheme commenced on October 4th 2010, with completion due by March 31st 2011.

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New Sheffield surgery to improve public access Construction work is well under way at East Bank Medical Centre, a new purpose-built GP surgery in the heart of an inner city district of

Sheffield. Patients and staff of the existing Northern Avenue surgery in Arbourthorne are set to benefit from the state-of-the-art development, which will offer some of the most modern primary health care facilities and services in South Yorkshire.

The new medical centre and pharmacy will replace run down and cramped facilities. Benefits include an expansion from 5 to 14 consulting rooms. The surgery will offer ideal placement training for medical students and allow practitioners to become mentors for trainee GPs. The new facilities will be used by a range of community health education groups. Sharon Turner, practice manager at the Northern Avenue Surgery, which is part of Central Sheffield GP Consortium, said, “This is great news for patients. It means they can receive treatment in a first class environment, which is accessible and in the heart of the local community. “At the moment we are a little off the beaten track and we struggle to accommodate all of the services we would like to offer to our

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patients. Moving to a site on a main road and expanding to a two-storey building with space to accommodate a variety of services will offer benefits to the neighbourhood”. Wildgoose Construction is the main contractor and has been on site since July 2010. The new medical centre is due to be completed in late April 2011, with services to be offered to the public from early May

Raising the standard of healthcare in Hull Set to provide a major boost to healthcare in the region, construction of the £16.5m Wilberforce Health Centre is making good progress on programme in Story Street, Hull. The new centre is being developed by LIFTCo Citycare, the partnership between the city’s primary care trust NHS Hull, the construction company Sewell Group, The UME Group and Community Health Partnerships, which has already revolutionised health care facilities in many parts of the country. Architects for the scheme are HLM, Mechanical Engineers are BBS and Structural Engineers are 3E. The new centre is located on the site of the former Grattan department store building, which was demolished as part of the project. The 4,500sq m five storey building will incorporate two GP practices, a community cafe, a dental practice, accommodation for ambulance service paramedics, a sexual health clinic, a drug treatment centre and a teenage pregnancy service. The building features a full height central milling space with a transparent ETFE roof to allow maximum natural internally. The 102 week development has presented a number of challenges for the construction team - one of which is the scheme’s location on a tight city centre site - and another which involved the disconnection and demolition of an electricity sub-station sited within the former Grattan building, and the construction of a replacement sub-station nearby. Another challenge was presented by the piling for the building, which had to be designed to avoid the original piles of the Grattan building, constructed some 60 years ago. This involved the construction team working from very old drawings in order to determine where to locate the new building’s 125 new piles. The building is structured around a steel frame utilising around 400 tonnes of steel, with external elevations in rainscreen

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cladding, aluminium framed windows and a flat roof incorporating a plant room and arrays of solar panels. Internally, the building features cost in situ concrete floors, metal stud partitions and main feature wall ground floor to roof level. Currently the steel frame has been erected, the floors have been completed and the external facade is weather tight. The development is also providing training opportunities, with construction apprentices being recruited through the

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re Constructionworks scheme. Local schools teaching the Construction As Built Environment Diploma have also been invited to visit the site to assist with their training programmes. Christopher Long, chief executive of NHS Hull, said: “Wilberforce Health Centre will provide a range of high-quality health services for the people of Hull. “Its location in the heart of the city centre means that thousands of residents will benefit from a variety of services delivered in modern, welcoming surroundings. “This marks another step forward in the delivery of real choice and convenience for patients and the public in Hull.” “NHS Hull has invested heavily in improving services and facilities for patients over the past few years and the Wilberforce Health Centre is a fine example of this.” The project is scheduled for November 2011. Sewell Estates sits at the centre of the Sewell Group and is the umbrella for the group’s developments, construction and facilities management divisions. Sewell was founded in 1876. Now, with a multi-million pound turnover and hundreds of staff, the group’s strength is their ability to integrate all of their activities. Sewell have a high-profile reputation and pride themselves on being a proactive and innovative organisation. Their proactive approach has seen them embrace Public Private Partnership working, Private Finance Initiatives and forge strategic partnerships. The group built and now manage, via Sewell Education (Hull) Ltd, the UK’s first PFI school, have carried out pioneering work with the NHS LIFT programme and, with their strategic partnership Esteem, aim to become the preferred bidder to deliver Hull City Council’s £400m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Sewell Education (York) Ltd also manages in partnership with City of York Council, three successful PFI schools in York. Sewell Estates is an innovative arm of the Sewell Group and works to the highest professional standards, achieving sustainable, profitable growth across all divisions.

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High quality new council homes take shape A development comprising the construction of 29 new council houses, apartments and bungalows is underway in Albert Road, West Melton in a project being carried out by Wildgoose Construction. The scheme, being undertaken for Chevin Housing Association and Rotherham Council, has been designed by Acanthus WSM Architects. All of the new properties are being built to Lifetime Homes and Building for Life silver standards - in addition to achieving Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. These standards are above and beyond the typical open-market house building standards and will ensure a high-quality build, a safe environment and incorporate high energy efficiency measures, making them affordable for council tenants to live in. The development is one of six new council housing build sites in Rotherham, the first for

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over 25 years. Cllr Jahangir Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods for the Council, said: “After waiting for so many years to be able to build new council housing, to see these developments physically taking shape is fantastic.” “It’s also great to see local labour being used on the constructions and the future of the borough being supported with both apprentice student placements getting the sort of training and expertise that will help to set them up for life.” The YORbuild Framework was used to procure the schemes. Lee Parkinson Development and Performance Manager for the YORbuild Framework commented “The YORbuild Framework is playing an increasingly larger role in the delivery of new build social housing

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provision across the region and demonstrates the capacity and flexibility that the framework can offer users. Again, the integrated employment and skills planning model developed by the Framework Management Team is set to deliver excellent outcomes which is complimentary to the value added by YORbuild’s approach to efficiency, supply chain management, economic regeneration and waste / carbon reduction.”

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Site work begins on vital flood protection scheme A ten year slog through planning, design, land acquisition and stakeholder negotiations is about to bear fruit for the Environment Agency as construction work begins on the £14.25 million Banbury flood alleviation scheme in Oxfordshire. Banbury is subject to a permanent flood risk throughout the year due to the clay soil in the surrounding area, which leads to rapid run-offs into the River Cherwell whenever there is significant rainfall. The town was flooded badly during Easter 1998 and again in the summer of 2007. Over 125 residential and 35 commercial properties were flooded in 1998, causing over £12.5 million of damage. Ever since, the need for intervention has been clear. Works already completed nearby will become part of the wider Banbury scheme. The Moorfield Brook Pumping Station was completed in 2003 and protects more than 400 houses in the nearby Grimsbury area. It helped to protect residents from the flooding in 2007 but is just one part of a comprehensive solution against river flooding in Banbury, especially if the worst predictions of climate change become reality. The main elements of the current works are two: teams led by main contractor Morrison Construction will first build a large flood storage area, upstream of the M40 near Banbury; subsequent works will create localised flood defences at nearby Wildmere Industrial Estate and Tramways Industrial Estate. Minor preliminary works were carried out over the winter to avoid disruption to nesting periods when pruning or removing trees and bushes. The completed scheme will reduce the risk of river flooding to a total of 441 residential and 73 commercial properties. This will include Banbury’s railway station and Grimsbury Water Treatment Works. Overall, flood risk will be reduced to a 1-in-200 year (0.5% chance of flooding each year) standard. According to the Environment Agency’s man in charge, project executive Richard Harding, innovative ideas have gone into the project. He told Premier Construction, “Overall, the measures we’re taking seem simple: an ‘earth shift with control structures’, we call it. However, not only because of the size of

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the scheme and the effort and investment behind it, but also because of the innovation that went into the control structure, this is a significant undertaking. This control structure is only the second of its kind to be installed in the UK: the first was completed in the last couple of years in Scotland, based on suggestions made in papers drawn up during planning for the Banbury works”. Discussing the lengthy planning process, Richard said, “We’ve been through a complicated process of negotiations and land aqcuisition, during which our job has been to put forward a viable flood protection scheme and convince stakeholders of its benefits. Naturally, a scheme of its size and impact will raise a few objections but, since we had a decision in our favour in November 2010, nobody has taken up the right of appeal and we are now ready to move forward. Overall, the consensus has been that the area needs to be protected”. Alongside flood protection, the scheme will also include the creation of over 12 hectares of new Biodiversity Action Plan habitat, such as seasonal ponds and wet grassland. There will also be a new

circular walk, located north of Banbury immediately upstream of the M40. Richard added, “Land that falls under Environment Agency jurisdiction as part of negotiations over land offers us a nice opportunity not only to create important natural habitats, but also to link the local footpath network and make it easier for walkers to access river crossings”. Councillor Michael Gibbard, Cherwell District Council’s portfolio holder for planning and housing, said, “We are in full support of this scheme and are delighted it can now go ahead. Once complete, it will provide vital protection for homes and businesses in Banbury affected by the 1998 flood. Only those who experienced its devastating effects will really appreciate the significance of this announcement and I am sure they will join me in welcoming the news”. The project is being paid for by the Environment Agency and partners including Cherwell District Council, Network Rail and Thames Water. The engineering company Prodrive will also contribute by building part of the scheme on their land. Works are due for completion in 2012.

Low-Carbon Community Building BEST House

Bedfordshire East Schools Trust (BEST) is celebrating, following the completion of its brand new £2.2M colocation building at the Samuel Whitbread Community College site in Shefford, Bedfordshire. Constructed by the Stamford-based low-carbon building specialists, LowC Communities Ltd, the building is home to a purpose-built nursery and a suite of offices for the delivery of children and family services. This 805 square-metre building is set to play an important role in bringing together the local community. The project was conceived in 2008, when the newly-formed organisation, BEST, identified a need to take a more holistic approach in delivering education and family services for its pupils in Shefford. The organisation currently looks after the educational needs for some 6,500 pupils, in 25 schools dotted around its mainly rural catchment area. At its conception, it was planned that the new co-location project, which has since been christened ‘BEST House’, would bring together an existing 20-year-old nursery and provide office and conference facilities for NHS Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire PCT, SCITT, Extended Schools, community policing and, perhaps most importantly, the local community themselves.

Following an architectural design by Hanson Leddington Architects, a successful bid for funding via the DCSF Co-location Fund and site investigation works by JGI Geo-Services Ltd, the project commenced in the spring of 2010. Due to the large span of the roof design, the building has been constructed using a steel frame, in-filled with timber panels. The design has also included extremely-high levels of insulation in the walls, floor and ceiling – far in excess of the 2010 Building Regulations. The outside of the building has been clad with a mix of Cedar wood and steel panels. HMT Joinery were responsible for all or the Cedar Weather boarding to the exterior of the building. They also completed the kitchen Fit out, all interior woodwork finishing and internal fixtures & fittings. In addition to this HMT Joinery assembled all of the nursery furniture and IPS wc systems and cubicles. From the outset, it was determined that the new building would have outstanding environmental credentials – resulting in very low carbon emissions. LowC’s design team set about designing a building that would deliver an EPC rating of ‘A’, annual carbon emissions of less than 27Kg/m2 and, although it was not required, a BREEAM energy rating of ‘Outstanding’. Importantly, all of this would be delivered using a budget more suited to a traditional, less efficient, new build project. Richard Griffin, LowC’s managing director, commented: “It was absolutely essential from the outset of the design process to accurately profile the anticipated energy usage in the building.

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Midlands We looked at all elements such as electricity, space heating, hot water, air conditioning and ventilation and, rather than make assumptions, we interviewed our clients to gain an insight into how they would be using the building.” “We started with our industry’s standard modelling software and then introduced our own research and data that we’ve gathered from countless buildings in operation, to arrive at an operational profile. To establish the operational performance is paramount. A building’s energy consumption can vary by as much as a factor of 200% depending on its occupants’ usage, and the associated electrical and thermal loads can also vary by up to 400% from the standard design tool modelling adopted through the traditional part L design approach.” Richard went on to explain that their choice of building materials - such as the insulation, in conjunction with the selection of technologies to lower energy usage would not, in isolation, deliver the challenging low levels of carbon emissions in operation. “We clearly needed to adopt a renewable energy generation strategy to meet the exemplar targets that we had set, and these needed to be flexible enough to meet the building’s changing energy demands in real-life operation.” After considering traditional approaches such as solar PV, biomass heating, ground-source heat pumps, etc. - the decision was taken to install an 8kWe combined heat and power (CHP) system. The crucial difference to conventional CHP is, that this system is fuelled by Pure Plant Oil (PPO) and configured within an energy centre designed to optimise its ability to reduce carbon. The detailed engineering feasibilities, pre-build, confirmed that this solution provided by far the most cost-effective solution to achieve the required operational targets and efficiencies (£ installed per kg CO2 reduction). The Ofgem-accredited renewable fuel is pure UK-sourced Rapeseed Oil (with an extremely-low carbon content 0.009kg/kWh- 2010 building regulations) and, importantly, qualifies for double ROCS (Renewable obligation certificates) providing a revenue stream for BEST. The CHP system generates the electricity for the site and the waste heat from its exhaust, cooling system and oil, is recovered to

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provide the building’s space heating and hot water requirements. A thermal storage tank allows the electricity to be generated when there is reduced need for heating and hot water, thereby acting as a buffer between generation and demand. With gas-fired boilers and a connection to the electricity grid, the building is able to generate what it needs, with the backup of being able to import energy when required. Water use is also minimised by the roof’s ability to harvest rainwater – storing it in a tank which is then used for flushing toilets. Ian Kite, chief executive of BEST Ltd, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the new building and it will help us deliver our Trust’s aims of promoting the advancement of education and community cohesion.” “The fact that construction started in May 2010, the nursery has moved in during January 2011 and the project is on time, within budget and has overachieved its design commitments – is truly remarkable.” “I couldn’t sing the team’s praises high enough as the process has been completely painless compared with the traditional construction routes previously adopted - so much so, that it’s almost unnerving!”

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Traffic management scheme set to come in under budget The M6 J8 to 10A Birmingham Box Managed Motorways scheme has moved a step closer to completion following the successful testing of

signs and signals that will help manage congestion and smooth traffic flows. To help manage traffic flows during periods of peak congestion and to reduce the risk of collisions occurring, staff in the Highways Agency’s West Midlands Regional Control Centre at Quinton, near Birmingham, can now set variable mandatory speed limits on the overhead lane signals on the M6 between junctions 8 and 10. There is plenty of room for enthusiasm at the Highways Agency, according to Paul Unwin, Highways Agency project manager, who told

Premier Construction, “We are expecting to come in on schedule and on or even under budget, so we are all enthusiastic about the scheme. Carillion have done an amazing job for us and deserve a special mention”. He added, “The success we’ve had on the first two phases is encouraging for the third phase, which will add similar levels of management to the M6 between junctions 5 and 8”. About active traffic management On 12 September 2006, motorists on the M42 in the West Midlands were the first in the country to be able to drive on the hard shoulder during busy periods as part of a scheme aimed at cutting congestion. The original scheme runs between junctions 3 and 9 and directs drivers to use the hard shoulder during times of peak congestion using electronic signs above each lane. Together with variable speed limits, which help smooth the flow of traffic, the scheme has had great success in reducing congestion on the M42. Refuge areas are provided at regular intervals to provide motorists with a safe place to stop

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away from the traffic. These refuge areas are linked by telephone and CCTV cameras to the nearby regional control centre. Highways Agency control room staff have access to over 200 cameras on the 11 mile stretch, allowing them to easily spot any incident as it occurs. They can then close any individual lane or lanes by putting a red ‘X’ on the electronic signs above the lane(s) affected. This will then protect the vehicles involved in the incident as well as clearing the lane to allow emergency vehicle access. Compared with road widening, active traffic management is significantly more cost effective and provides comparable benefits including increased capacity, reduced journey times, improved journey time reliability, lower emissions and lower fuel consumption.

New council tackles housing maintenance challenge Council housing in Shropshire previously owned by Oswestry Borough Council and Bridgnorth District Council is now owned by the new Shropshire Council and managed by Shropshire Council Landlord Services. The new council’s asset management team looks after 4285 properties. These are divided between standard two and three bed houses, one and two bed bungalows, one and two bed flats and studios. They are located in the Oswestry and Bridgnorth areas of Shropshire. At the head of the management team is Angela Douglas, who oversees both planned and responsive maintenance. She spoke to Premier Construction about her work: “In order to have the biggest impact on our Decent Homes backlog, we adopted an elemental programme of work. After becoming a unitary authority in April 2009, we consulted with our tenants to determine what their priorities for their homes were. “Warmth and weather-tightness” was the response, and so we have concentrated on programmes of central heating installations and upgrades, replacement of external doors, thermal insulation improvements (loft and cavity walls) and roofing repairs. Following the procurement of these areas of work, we have recently procured a programme of kitchen refurbishments which started on site earlier this year”. The programme is a chance to get two jobs done at once, as Angela explains: “We have also been running programmes of works not covered by the Decent Homes programme such as digital upgrades, external painting, periodic electrical

inspections and works resulting and adaption works. By having these contracts in place we are also able to work towards reducing our change of tenancy void time”. Asked what she looked for in a contractor, Angela said, “We evaluate our tenders based on costs and quality. To ensure quality, we expect information to be provided within the tender submission but we also carry out interviews with tenant representatives on the interview panel. We are looking for a contractor to be able to demonstrate successful experience in delivery in the social housing environment, focus on customer care and respect for our tenants and their homes and possessions. We also look at how they communicate effectively with their customers from initial contact through to completion of the work and examine details of what training their employees undertake not just from the practical side but also where customer care is concerned”. As far as the political side of contracting is concerned, Angela’s team is on the ball: “In line with the Gershon review and advice ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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from the Homes and Communities Agency, we have procured via a number of consortia. This has enabled us to reduce the procurement time as already compliant with OJEU guidelines and has helped us demonstrate value for money. We are working with a number of our contractors on local initiatives, including a recent supply chain event for local contractors”. There is no room for sub-standard workmanship, either, says Angela: “Where programmed works are carried out, all tenants

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Hospital contract is a challenging operation Two new operating theatre suites are being developed at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, with the aim of the project being to improve the hospital’s current provision of cardiac services. The new angiography theatre and hybrid theatre suites are being created within an existing operating theatre area of the hospital’s main theatre suite in F Block, on level 4 of the hospital. The project, for Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is being carried out by Main Contractors Toshiba Medical Systems. Architects are Horsley Huber Architects The new theatres, together totaling 296m², are being created through the conversion of an existing general theatre space and an endoscopy suite, along with their associated rooms, with the works including the removal of walls and fittings. The construction site is in the middle of four working theatres, so the works have had to be sensitive to the clinical area – meaning there is

are given a satisfaction form to complete. The returns are very positive – over 97% satisfaction to date – and where there is a negative reply, these are investigated. This information is reviewed by us and the contractor at each progress meeting and we will be reporting this to our residents’ groups on a regular basis”.

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an occasional need for the construction to halt due to noise or vibration. Access to the site is also difficult due to its location and fascia panels have been removed from the outside of the building to facilitate this. Both suites will feature special flooring and the hybrid theatre suite will feature a laminar flow canopy, - a theatre ventilation system that gives an ultra-clean facility, allowing more flexibility on the type of surgery being performed. This means that other teams, as well as the cardiac team, would have the ability to scan a patient, as well as perform invasive surgery, within one suite. Although the suites are in a secure, staff-only area of the hospital, fire safety has been a very important consideration and the new suites will

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be compliant with HTM’s fire prevention standards, as well as Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s fire policy. The project commenced in September 2010 and completion of Phase 1 – the angiography theatre, is due in April 2011, with phase 2, the hybrid theatre, due for completion in August 2011.

PCD Builders – a case study in word-of-mouth marketing West Norfolk based construction group PCD Builders Ltd is one of the leading family owned construction businesses in the region. The company was founded in 1986 by three brothers who had been working separately in the construction industry for a number of years. PCD has now grown to encompass various building teams throughout the region, carrying out all aspects of building and contracting work. As general manager Jo Sheldrick explains, the secret to success is not only hard work and quality workmanship, but also the ability to generate word-of-mouth business. Jo told Premier Construction, “We’re well known in the area in which we operate and there are a number of reasons for that. First, it goes without saying that, as a building contractor, your work is highly visible. However, it takes time and a lot of hard work on a wide range of projects for people to realise that these consistently good buildings they’re seeing are all down to one company”. She continued, “Then you have to consider your rapport with the client. It’s one thing to be honest and friendly as well as hard-working, but it’s another when you have an ‘X-factor’ that makes you part of the community as both a company and a set of individuals. All our people are part of the community and come from King’s Lynn and the surrounding villages, meaning that it’s extra important for us to uphold our reputations through our work. If you’re trusted as a contractor, you’re trusted as a neighbour and vice versa”. “On top of that, it helps to be a force for the good in the local economy. We always try to give opportunities to local apprentices, a practice which has led to three of our core staff members being hired permanently on the strength of their apprenticeships. Many

of our sub-contractors rely on us in our position of responsibility as well, since many of them count on us for significant proportions of their work”. One recent PCD project earned through the strength of reputation is the £1.3 million extension to the offices of Adrian Flux, an insurance company based in East Winch, just outside King’s Lynn. The company’s HQ had been extended twice previously by PCD, and the natural choice was to go with the trusted contractor. Jo explains, “We have a long-standing relationship with the Flux family, and our success working for them has brought in work not

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Midlands only on their site, but also on sites they’ve recommended us for. A decade ago, we even built a new home for a member of the Flux family! Our managing director, Paul Everitt, has a real passion for homebuilding and we have built a wide range of homes in the area, from luxury new-build to a three-storey renovation of an old flour mill in Blackborough End”. Currently on site is a mixed housing development in West Winch, where 20% of the homes are destined to be used by housing associations as affordable housing. Jo says, “We spend a lot of time sourcing development opportunities in the area, which goes to show that success is not only based on being trustworthy – you also have to have an eye for good business!” To find out more, visit www.pcdbuilders.co.uk

Birmingham’s ‘learning quarter’ expands Work on the £25 million building of the Midlands’ first academy to specialise in the creative, digital and performing arts is now well under way. BOA’s (Birmingham Ormiston Academy) state-of-the-art new building has now reached a milestone in its development, as the highest point of the structure has been completed. The summit stands 23 metres high. To mark this milestone, an official “Topping Out” ceremony was held in December 2010 and attended by local celebs including Birmingham City Council’s education chief, Councillor Les Lawrence; companies involved in the build, including main contractor Bovis Lend Lease; and sponsors and partners of the academy. Facilities at the new academy will include a 300 seat theatre, four dance studios, six rehearsal (drama) studios, a 3D technology suite, an open air amphitheatre and a TV studio. Hayley Miller, general manager of the Birmingham Local Education Partnership, said, “We are thrilled to see excellent progress on the Birmingham Ormiston Academy, which promises to be one of the many jewels in the crown of education in the city reflecting the diversity of learning experiences that will be on offer for young people. We must pay tribute to the hard work of those who have laid the foundations of a world class facility, and to all those who have been involved in designing this new landmark for Birmingham”. Councillor Lawrence said, “The city needs this academy firstly to increase the educational opportunities for young people and secondly to add an extra dimension to the learning quarter that will make the area one of the best in the country, if not in a European sense”. BOA is sponsored by Ormiston Trust and Birmingham City University and partnered with Maverick TV and the BRIT School. It will open in September 2011 for sixth form years and will include 14-16 year-olds in 2012.

Altered Images Ltd Altered images Ltd have supplied a full consultancy service from the beginning of the project interacting and liaising with the end user client, the main construction contractor, the architects and all appropriate M&E contractors / sub-contractors. They have discussed the aims and ambitions of the client in order to provide a technical concept that they could achieve within their budget. Also they have continued to liaise and advise regarding all construction elements in relation to specialist technical areas in order to ensure ‘fit for purpose’ facilities are provided. Altered Images Ltd have provided an ‘end to end’ service to provide a fully integrated digital solution. This includes a multicamera high-definition Television Studio with vision and sound

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galleries and a central technical area. Multiple High-Definition Edit Suites and two Broadcast Radio Studios with separate ‘dry room’ for live multi-person interaction. Also included in the design is an overall infrastructure that links all the TV and Radio Studio environments and the Edit Suites with the Theatre and Recording Studios. All technical areas are connected to a central digital media sharing server and in turn to a multi-channel player/recorder server to create a state of the art solution. This has been done however within tight budget limitations.

Setting a new benchmark in high quality social housing Setting a new benchmark in high quality social housing above and beyond the Decent Homes standard, a five year multi-million pound rolling programme of refurbishment is upgrading thousands of properties managed by Aragon Housing Association - part of the Grand Union Housing Group. The association was formed in 1994, following the transfer of 6,500 homes from Central Bedfordshire Council. It manages homes across Bedfordshire and is now also working in Milton Keynes, Northampton, Luton, Aylesbury and Cambridgeshire. The association achieved the Decent Homes standard for all its properties three years ago and is now carrying out a rolling programme of further improvements to its housing stock. Under this programme, around £8 million worth of improvements to around 700 properties per year are being carried out - and this year the association is spending a further £3.5 million on the installation of PV panels. “We started to carry out housing improvements after the stock transfer, so we were already ahead of the game in reaching the Decent Homes standard. Having achieved our statutory obligations, we are now carrying out further improvements which could be termed “Decent Homes Plus” said Bob Hopkins of Aragon Housing Association. The refurbishments are being carried by numerous contractors and include kitchens, bathroom refurbishments, heating replacements, roofing, electrical wiring upgrades improvements to communal areas, external decoration, the installation of air source heat pumps and the installation of £3.5 million worth

of solar PV systems on predominantly south facing roofs. The largest of the current works programmes involves central heating and boiler replacements. Some of the contractors involved include SDC Builders, CSG Properties, Realmfield Builders, Crispin & Borst, Potton Windows and Rowland Parker. Woolgar DA have installed energy efficient solid state lighting, which uses half the energy of a CFL. The refurbishment works include heating improvements to 580 properties which the association designates as ‘hard to heat’, and is employing various technologies such as air source heat pumps and PV panels. Although heating systems in these

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properties are still functioning satisfactorily and do not need replacing, it was decided to try new measures as some tenants were facing fuel bills of up to £1,500 a year. In a pilot project focused on these properties, Aragon Housing Association is working in partnership with SDC Builders Ltd, Bedford College, Architectural Research Ltd, Eco Design Consultants, Loughborough University CREST and Venables Associated Ltd to develop a model for retro-fit low carbon measures of older properties. The project is being piloted in Wrestlingworth on the Beds/ Cambs border, at a small bungalow which is one of the electricity-only properties in Aragon’s stock. Electricity-only

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properties tend to be much less energy efficient than those with gas, which is why this property was chosen. Dean Doerr, Aragon’s CAD Technician/Project Assistant commented: “This project was aimed at hard to heat homes as a large proportion of Aragon’s housing stock is rural and off the gas network. This situation can often result in people falling into fuel poverty. From this project, we aim to take ideas tested on this building and use the most effective solutions on other buildings in similar situations. The energy consumed by this building should be balanced by the energy produced by the solar panels during the daylight hours, resulting in significantly reduced fuel bills or even no bills at all!”

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New road will bring new homes

A new £3 million road is being built in Staffordshire County Council’s Pye Green Valley to support 300 new homes. Improvements to the natural environment have been built into the plans from day one, upgrading the two thirds of the site not allocated to housing. Staffordshire County Council’s environment and biodiversity experts and landscape architects have been involved from the start of

the scheme, which is being carried out by Main Contractors Balfour Beatty. The project includes the installation of a sustainable drainage system which controls the rate at which rain water falling on the new road flows into a stream flowing through the valley. A concrete culvert is being installed to carry the new road over the stream. In addition, a new roundabout is also being constructed at the junction of Cannock Road, Belt Road and Stafford Lane, a new play area is being constructed, and a new puffin crossing is being added on Cannock Road. Further works involve the creation of new ponds, extensive landscaping and tree planting, improvements to the woodland and the creation of new heathland.

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Access to the open spaces is being upgraded for the whole community, with footpaths and cycle routes built in from the start, so that everyone can access the benefits of the natural world on their doorstep. Once the new road is finished, one third of the land will be sold to a developer for new houses and receipts from the sale will go into front line public services and improvements.

Bagot Street student digs to open for 2011 intake Main contractor VINCI is hard at work on a pair of student housing blocks on Bagot Street, a short distance from the central campus of Aston University. The new student towers, which reach up to 17 storeys, have been designed for the site in Birmingham by Formroom Architects. The towers overlook both Bagot Street and Lancaster Street in the north of the city centre on the site of the former George House, a now-demolished office building.

accommodation in it with 77 apartments for 416 students. The recent expansion of Aston University has prompted the developers to see the scheme through, and the presence of a number of other higher education centres around the city will, it

The scheme for the Bagot Street Partnership, a joint venture between Iliad and Cosmopolitan, features one larger building that is part 17 / part 10 storeys, defined by a locally-agreed height limited, with a shorter building next door of 8 and 9 storeys. Within the two blocks are a total of 119 multiple bedroom student flats for 656 students and a central courtyard ringed by the blocks that exists to provide the rooms overlooking the inside of the site with natural light. The entire project is costing around £35 million. The taller section of the scheme has been designed to be on the western side of the site bounding Lancaster Street, partly to reduce the amount of overshadowing that it will cast, and partly to act as a gateway building. It will have the vast majority of ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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is hoped, fuel continued demand for the apartments. Particularly impressive for student accommodation is the corner windows that offer continuous double aspect views for some rooms and the floor to ceiling glazing that is used. Another improvement on standard student accommodation is that every bedroom has an en-suite facility and room for a double bed. Flats are designed with 4-6 of the en-suite rooms clustered around a spacious kitchen and lounge area. Features also include an onsite laundry and a games and common room for the exclusive use of residents. Iliad’s Joe Cross spoke to Premier Construction with an update from the site in late February. He said, “At the moment, both the buildings are entirely watertight and most of the rooms are plastered. Fittings and furniture are being put in place as I speak and the exterior is being clad with clay tiles in a variety of colours. We should reach practical completion in July, with a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating, in good time for the new academic year in the autumn”. Joe added, “There seems to be plenty of interest in the units already and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out they were all let before the academic year starts. We held an open day in January for students to visit some completed apartments and the reaction was very positive. These units improve on standard student accommodation – the idea is to take it to the next level. I see the market for this standard of student housing growing over the next few years – we are looking into the possibility of carrying out further developments of this kind in both Birmingham and Liverpool”.

About Iliad Group Formed in 1996 and based in central Liverpool, Iliad are one of the UK’s leading independent development organisations. Their affinity with regeneration projects is matched with a talent for master–planning and a proven track–record in managing complex sites. They have applied an imaginative and pioneering approach to each of their schemes throughout the North West, and are setting out now on the journey towards leading and delivering the regeneration of other UK cities’ landscapes through urban strategies developed in partnership with both public and private partners. About Cosmopolitan Liverpool-based Cosmopolitan Student Homes has been providing student housing since 1969 and currently manages some 3,700 units of accommodation in Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Salford, Bradford and Stratford-upon-Avon. It is part

of the not-for-profit Cosmopolitan Housing Group, which reinvests any surpluses generated into its mainstream social housing provision. Geoff Redhead, Cosmopolitan Group chief executive, said as work began on Bagot Street, “We are very excited and pleased to have started on site at Bagot Street, our second student homes development in the Midlands. “The partnership we have formed with Iliad is bringing major private investment into this area of the city at a time when many other building projects have been badly hit by the recession. It’s good news for everyone with an interest in the continued regeneration of Birmingham and of course for the students themselves, who will benefit from a really impressive, but affordable place to live”.

Contractors in big build-up to massive academy project One of the largest academy projects in the country, The Lincolnshire Priory Federation of Academies comprises the amalgamation of five schools into three new first class academies - where extensive construction works are underway. The project is being carried out for Lincolnshire County Council by Balfour Beatty Construction, who are carrying out the developments in three design and build sub contracts. The works are being carried out at Priory Witham Academy (£23 million), Priory City of Lincoln (£9.5 million) and the Priory LSST (£9.5 million) - all located in Lincoln. The Witham Academy will educate children up to the age of 18 and will provide outstanding facilities and specialise in performing arts and business. This will be the first all-age school to be built in the country. Six buildings make up the Priory City of Lincoln Academy; a main two-storey building and five single-storey teaching pods. The construction works are being carried out in two phases,

with the main building and two pods built in phase one, and the remaining three pods following on after demolition of the existing buildings. The academy, which specialises in ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Midlands engineering and sports, will house 11-18 year old students from the City of Lincoln Community College. At the Priory LSST, the works comprise building a boarding house for children from military families and pupils travelling from afar. The three-floor boarding house block will include 60 ensuite bedrooms and catering and common room facilities, and will have separate floors for boys’ and girls’ rooms. Other works include the construction of a massive sports complex and the construction of a Faraday building which will house a planetarium and stables for 10 horses. Work on the overall scheme started in September 2009 and is scheduled for completion in August 2011. Lincolnshire County Council spokesman Ian Jones said:”This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students in the Lincoln area. They will have access to new schools with outstanding modern facilities.” Balfour Beatty is a world-class infrastructure services business operating across the infrastructure lifecycle with strong positions in major markets. The company has four market-leading businesses in professional services, construction services, support services and infrastructure investments. Balfour Beatty deliver services essential to the creation and care of infrastructure assets including investment, project design, financing and management, engineering and construction, and facilities management service. Their services can be brought together in any combination to provide an integrated capability. The company work for customers principally in the UK, Europe, the US, South-East Asia, Australia and the Middle East, who value the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise. Balfour Beatty work in partnership with customers in public, regulated and private sectors. As assets grow in scale and complexity, infrastructure owners increasingly want to work with a trusted partner who can deliver more complete solutions.

Largest Birmingham council building in 100 years takes shape The new £36.5 million office development at Woodcock Street 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 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 are highly visible both from inside and outside of the building. 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. 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. There will be 2,200 fixed desk workstations with a range of

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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. 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. 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 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”.

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Council rescues medieval building A restoration project is ongoing in Nailsea, near Bristol, to restore a medieval tithe barn as a community centre with offices for Nailsea Town Council. The trust appointed to the £1.4 milion project is restoring the building with grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), English Heritage, Nailsea Town Council, other funding bodies and local support. The tithe barn is a grade II* listed medieval building, dating back to the 15th century. Architectural features include solid pennant stone walls and a fine oak roof of considerable historical significance. George Tasker of Architecton, who has overseen the project, told Premier Construction, “One of the main challenges is to restore the roof to its original state, beginning by removing the panelled ceiling that was installed in the 1970s. It’s a delicate job with a fine balance between retaining existing material and repairing damage like for like”. George continued, “Another challenge has been to bring in all the facilities needed for a modern community centre, including toilets, plant and kitchens. We are housing all that in a contemporary extension so as not to interfere excessively with the main building”. He added, “The client has shared our vision of keeping the look of the building close to original, hence the restoration of the roof. Elsewhere, plaster is being removed to expose the original masonry and reveal the scars of the past. It’s fantastic to get a sense of the building’s history in that way”.

About the contractor Leading on-site efforts on the project is Somerset-based main contractor W. Coombes & Sons (Contractors) Ltd. The company was founded in 1871 by Walter J. Coombes and continues as a family business under the leadership of Tim Coombes, who represents the fourth generation of Coombes contractors. The firm has a direct workforce of around 40 experienced employees, many of whom are long-serving, and represents one of the major employers based in the town of Ilminster. Tim told Premier Construction, “As a company with such a long and stable history, we are known by our clients and by local professionals to be trustworthy, skilled and dependable. As a result, we are fortunate enough to be included on many tender

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lists, especially for conservation and restoration projects such as this one, in which we specialise”. To find out more about W. Coombes & Sons’ large and varied range of capabilities, visit www.wcoombesltd.co.uk

Low carbon developer adds to growing Poundbury phenomenon The urban planning experiment at Poundbury, near Dorchester, is continuing to produce exciting results. Two recent developments by low-carbon company ZeroC, delivered by main contractor KDJ Slade & Sons, epitomise the sustainable ethos of the new town.

St John Way This development consists of four detached houses designed by Francis Roberts in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style. This style is characterised by strong exaggerated features with medieval influences and romantic elements. These include steep roofs, turret-like external staircases and dominant finials to the garages. Despite their early 1900’s architecture, modern technologies and construction materials have been employed to enable the houses to achieve the required sustainability standards. The houses are designed to achieve the new Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 standards with a reduction in carbon emissions of 70%. Materials were chosen from the ‘A’ rated options in the BRE Green Guide, only FSC accredited timber was used and all insulation products were zero ODP with a Global Warming Potential of less than 5. The houses were constructed using a timber frame with block outer leaf with sand and cement render painted white. The average U-Value is 0.17. The steep pitched roofs were formed from cut timber to incorporate the dormers, with natural slates using solid insulation. Windows were made from renewable softwood and were double glazed with a U-Value of 1.7. All four homes have sold off plan, in a difficult market, attracting a mixture of young families and retired couples.

Great Cranford Street Great Cranford Street is a mixed use scheme designed by David Oliver and Poundbury master planner Leon Krier. The development is made up of ten affordable flats and six private duplex apartments over a commercial unit leased to the Driving Standards Agency, as well as seven individual houses. Like those on St John Way, the houses are designed to achieve level 4 of the new Code for Sustainable Homes. This was achieved together with a 70% reduction in carbon emissions with several important elements: a communal biomass district

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S o u th We s t heating system serving all units; green guide A-rated sustainable construction materials; high insulation standards; rainwater harvesting and other water saving fittings; low energy lighting; and recycling and composting facilities. Water use on the residences was restricted to 80 litres per person with rainwater harvesting supplying toilets, washing machines, the outside taps, restricted flow spray taps, shower and 130 litre capacity baths. The development was carried out using a JCT design and build contract. The build was phased starting with the block of ten affordable apartments, followed by the private apartments and commercial unit and finally the seven houses, with an overall build time of 18 months. The overall build cost equated to approximately £135 per sq ft, including finance and professional fees. The budget was constrained by an uncertain market, weak commercial values relative to the residential space, and the high affordable housing requirement. Despite this, build costs and sales margins were achieved.

About the award-winning developer ZeroC was formed in 2008 from the award winning house builder Cornhill Estates, a company that has been building high quality homes and mixed use developments for the past 10 years. The new company is already at the forefront of sustainable development and leads the way in delivering outstanding homes that are inexpensive to live in and that respect the environment. Currently, the company is resourced to deliver in excess of 300 homes a year and has consents, or locations subject to planning options, for over 1500 homes, offices and commercial buildings. The residential housing scheme at Upton, Northampton, won the BRE award for the highest scoring BREEAM EcoHomes development in the United Kingdom. Recently, the residential work at Poundbury development in Dorchester won the Regen SW award for the best sustainable housing scheme to be delivered in the South West. ZeroC is also winner of one of the Oscars of house building, the What House ‘Sustainable Developer of the Year’ award.

Castle wins victory over the ravages of time A £5.5 million project is underway to restore the Grade II listed Durlston Castle, the centre-piece of Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve near Swanage. The renovation will bring the Victorian castle back into full public use as a world-class visitor centre at the eastern gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The aim of the project is to ensure the site retains its integral beauty, tranquility and wildlife importance, while completely restoring the parts of the Victorian castle that have become run down over the years. The project is being carried out by Main Contractor Greendale Construction Ltd, for Dorset County Council, which owns and manages the park. Detailed design for the scheme has been carried out by award-winning architects Long and Kentish. Work commenced in April 2010, with the castle due to reopen in summer 2011. The project will provide accommodation for the castle’s visitor services, a gift shop and catering facilities, as well as

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the creation of a new exhibition building and terrace to host a wide range of exhibitions and displays based around the area’s world-renowned natural heritage. The rejuvenated castle will also be fully equipped to host everything from conferences to weddings. The works have also included stabilisation of the steep bank down to the coastal path on the North West side of the castle, where a retaining wall utilising gabion cages has been installed. The front of these cages has been faced with Purbeck stone, with the area above providing a stable footprint for the castle shop extension. Other works include: the installation of a lift and stairs in the east keep (one of three new lifts being installed in the castle); restoration and protection works to the castle’s existing steel floor beams, walls and ceilings; the laying of new ground floor concrete slabs; mechanical and electrical installation and stonework restoration, rebuilding, cleaning and re-pointing. Further works include the encapsulation of the whole castle under a temporary roof, with major works being undertaken

to restore the Belvedere and main castle structure, and stabilisation and tying in at roof level to support the stone cornices. The Belvedere is also being re-roofed in copper. As part of the project, artist Gary Breeze will create a ‘timeline’ along the new zigzag path to the castle, exploring geological time and change in relation to the Jurassic Coast, and ‘The Rock’, a one-ton, fossil-packed slab of Purbeck Stone, illustrating the diversity of life in a Purbeck lake 120 million years ago, will be positioned within the castle. More than half of the Durlston Project’s funding, £3.1m, has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with significant contributions from the Friends of Durlston, the county council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency and many other charitable trusts, organisations, businesses and individuals. Dorset County Council countryside ranger service manager, Hamish Murray, said: “The newly restored castle will be a great asset to the whole area and we look forward to a successful opening.” Director of Greendale Construction Ltd, Robert Hooker, added: “We were delighted to have been awarded this major contract. The Durlston Project is an interesting challenge involving both traditional and modern construction processes. We look forward to helping to deliver a world class amenity for the local community and visitors to enjoy for many years to come. Those involved from site team to design team and client are pulling together as one. It will be the gateway to the eastern end of the Jurassic coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site.” Durlston Castle was built between 1887 and 1891 by local stonemason and entrepreneur, George Burt, as the centrepiece of his Durlston estate, now Durlston Country Park. Dorset County Council established the country park in 1973, and its Countryside Ranger Service has managed it ever since. This 280-acre countryside paradise was designated a National Nature Reserve in 2008.

School project brings new facilities into play A project comprising extension, refurbishment and external works is nearing completion, providing extensive new facilities at Queensway Catholic Primary School in Torquay. The scheme is being undertaken for Torbay Borough Council by main contractors MBS Ltd. Architects are Narracotts; M & E consultants are SDS; structural engineers are Dartmoor Designs and quantity surveyors and employer’s representatives are Paul Sherriff and Associates. The project has been carried out in two phases - the first comprising the extension works and the second involving the refurbishment element of the scheme and the external works. The first phase extension works have been completed and included the demolition of an external garage and mobile classroom and the construction of a three-storey classroom block forming a new, relocated main entrance to the school and incorporating a new reception area, a community room, four classrooms, a plant room and storage areas. The extension is structured around a steel frame with external elevations in brick at the lower level, with mainly render above; aluminium framed windows and a flat roof. The school’s sports hall was also extended by about one third in this phase. Refurbishment works being carried out in the current second phase comprise the internal reconfiguration and refurbishment of an area previously containing four classrooms to form a two new general classrooms, a new pre-school area and a library. This phase also includes external works comprising the reconstruction of the school playground to include two new terraces and play equipment; the erection of new perimeter fencing, and the extension of the staff car park. Throughout the project the main contractors and the school have worked in close co-operation to ensure the smooth progress of construction within a fully functioning school. The project is due for

completion in mid February 2011. The story of Queensway Catholic Primary school commenced in 1857, when a catholic elementary school was built adjacent to the Church of the Assumption, Abbey Road, Torquay. In 1953, the school stopped teaching children of all ages and became a primary school. During the 1960’s, Devon County Council looked for a piece of land for a site for a new school to replace the one at Abbey Road because the buildings had become antiquated and the playground inadequate. A suitable site was reserved on Queensway situated beside playing fields at Shiphay Manor, and it was considered appropriate to name the school after the road in which it stood. After many false hopes and disappointments, the director of education services of the County Borough of Torbay at last obtained from the Department of Education the permission to proceed with the building of the new school.

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S o u th We s t Construction commenced in 1972, the foundation stone being laid by Bishop Cyril Restieaux on 20th June 1973 and the building completed in April 1974. On 1st May the pupils moved into new school, which now jointly serves the parishes of the Assumption, Abbey Road and Holy Angels, Chelston. In addition to many minor internal alterations and improvements over the years, a classroom was added in 1990 to cater for the growing number of pupils. During the summer of 1999, the school gained funding from the government to build a new classroom to accommodate their rising numbers of reception children. However, the increase in pupil numbers has continued unabated and a new seventh classroom was constructed to allow the school to have discrete teaching groups throughout the building. During 2004 the school also managed to fund the creation of an ICT suite, a new staff room and also a new administration area. MBS Ltd was established in 1989 with an aim to provide quality construction services to a wide range of clients throughout the south west. The company prides itself on being able to obtain repeat business, which has enabled them to maintain steady manageable growth and an impressive portfolio, including major public bodies, commercial and private customers. This has been achieved by remaining competitive, and working closely with clients, design teams and users, enabling MBS Ltd to maintain consistency to the highest standard. MBS Ltd is committed to the professional development and training of all employees within the organisation. This ethos applies to the constant monitoring of their sub contractors to ensure they meet the company’s quality management criteria. The company directly employs a highly skilled and motivated workforce and is proud of its record of retaining the best personnel. Working within both the public and private sector, MBS Ltd have been involved in constructing several landmark buildings for varied uses, including retail, industrial, housing, education, law enforcement, defence, healthcare, primary healthcare, and specialist bespoke designs.

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Students settled in new Jesus College building The regeneration of an old Victorian warehouse opposite Jesus College, Oxford, has provided 31 student rooms and additional teaching space. Known as the Ship Street Centre, the building is located between Ship Street and Broad Street and was completed in time for the 2010-11 academic year by main contractor Feltham Construction.

In line with the exceptional standard and beautiful features of Jesus College, the building regeneration incorporates part of the Oxford city walls, “The Bastion”, as a prominent feature of the structure. “The inclusion of the city wall as part of the structure of the building is a strong and striking characteristic,” project manager Derryn Cope from The Clarkson Alliance commented. “We worked closely with English Heritage to ensure that remedial work undertaken meets the listed structure specification, the works exposing

previously hidden elements of the city history”. Jesus College acquired a 125 year lease on the building in late 2006, and started working with the design team headed up by Architects Design Partnership (ADP). The three storey building includes two seminar rooms on the ground floor, alongside a lecture theatre suitable to cater for up to 100. Five of the student rooms have been made accessible for wheelchair users. A solar thermal system is fitted on the roof of the building in addition to various energy saving features such as energy efficient lighting. The building also has a central electricity meter system, which will provide a focal reading point to allow a collective and accurate energy usage recording.. “The warehouse is an oblong building that previously had unusual extensions to both the north and south sides of the structure”, Derryn Cope said. “We demolished these extensions to replace them with more useful spaces, which incorporate the lift, both staircases, some of the new bedrooms and a finishing kitchen; the north staircase has been constructed to allow excellent views of the historical city wall

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element. “The logistics of the site made it quite an unusual but interesting project,” Derryn Cope concluded. “However, we factored all of this additional work into the schedule and the final result is the regeneration of a fabulous old building providing an accessible, convenient and much needed new space for Jesus College”. En-suite bathrooms, ample desk and storage space and incredibly fast internet connectivity provide an excellent academic environment for students. The project cost £7.3 million in total and is being funded largely through the college’s network of alumni. Additional funding came from the Wolfson Foundation, a charity which awards grants to support excellence in the fields of science and medicine, health, education and the arts and humanities.

In-house construction team at work on latest attraction at Colchester Zoo Work is under way on the new extension to the Wilds of Asia attraction at Colchester Zoo. Gibbons, rhinoceros hornbills and red pandas will all be moving into a new and improved home in time for the busy Easter holidays. The new exhibit will create stunning viewing opportunities for these three species, as the visitor begins to feel immersed within their natural habitat whilst surrounded by beautiful themed gardens. With three new, naturalistic and large enclosures for the species, visitors will be able to explore and relax in this new exhibit with seating and viewing areas provided to catch the best glimpse of the animals. The exhibit will also provide further viewing of the leopards at the nearby Ussuri Falls feature and giant anteater enclosures. The new enclosure for the zoo’s two pileated gibbons will provide plenty of space for them to climb and explore. Created to mimic a forest environment, the enclosure will feature large glass viewing windows to take in the full scope of the landscape, as well as two indoor windows to allow viewing of the indoor accommodation. The area will be planted in a way that, once grown, will create a sense of a full, deep forest habitat, mimicking the gibbons’ natural environment and providing visitors with a true sense of the forest. The new home for a recently arrived pair of rhinoceros hornbill birds will provide them with a wide outdoor space in which to explore, as well as a comfortable indoor roost. With large glass panel viewing of the outdoor enclosure and a window to the indoor accommodation, visitors will be able to enjoy wonderful

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viewing opportunities of the birds as they enjoy their spacious new home. Colchester’s pair of red pandas will enjoy a new and spacious home in this part of the zoo, with a number of different platforms and plenty of space for them to climb and explore. Their enclosure will feature further large panel glass viewing, with opportunities to view the pandas from a number of different points around the enclosure, offering visitors the perfect opportunity to see the pandas from a closer and clearer vantage point.

The construction team The zoo employs a permanent construction crew and keeps a fleet of plant in order to maintain the freshness of its exhibitions and to respond to ever-improving understanding of animal habitats. The team is led by Paul Maguire, the zoo maintenance manager, and includes two plumbers, two electricians, three painters, four carpenters and ten semi-skilled labourers, with specialist works tendered to sub-contractors. Paul told Premier Construction, “We have an ongoing programme of change at the zoo, which helps us to constantly find the best way to house the animals so that their habitats not only match the wild as closely as possible, but also give our visitors the best chance to witness that. “We also have to consider that many of our visitors are season ticket holders and that they will come more than once a year and expect to see something new and interesting. One of the ways in which we maintain that possibility is by having breeding programmes with other zoos. Of course, if we take in new species, we often need some element of construction in order to accommodate them”. Paul continued, “Although we have no set budget for construction, we know that our yearly expenditure on construction can reach seven figures and it’s vital to maintain a crew of people to respond to that”.

The Conquest of London Excitement is building over the new-look Conquest House, which is being refurbished according to designs by Emrys Architects. Conquest House is a 1950s office block in the heart of the Bloomsbury conservation area, owned by GMS Estates. Like many buildings of its type, it had out-lived its useful life and required extensive re-development to provide high-quality, contemporary office space to live up to its prestigious location by Grays Inn Fields. The £5 million project is currently on site under contractors Collins Construction with completion due in Spring 2011. Tom Gibbon, managing director of GMS Estates, told Premier Construction in mid- February, “We are anticipating completion of the works by the end of May and already I’m confident we’ll have a lot of the space pre-booked in advance of handover”. He continued, “Things are moving quickly on site and I’m very happy with Collins Construction, who are really pulling out all the stops for us. At the moment, the new lifts are being installed and the majority of plastering and air conditioning is complete. We’re about to begin a major crane operation for the new roof plant, while the final touches are being put to the envelope to make it watertight”. Tom concluded, “The level of finish will be excellent throughout the building and that’s already beginning to show, which is one reason we have several interested parties already”. A modernised entrance with full DDA access signals the building from the main road and gives way to a striking contemporary reception area. A glazed atrium to the rear creates valuable breakout space, whilst flooding light into the building and a dramatic link bridge suspended within the atrium allows inclusive

access to the rear courtyard garden. Conquest House will achieve a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating, with an energy efficient passive chilled beam cooling system that upgrades the building performance whilst minimising its energy requirements. In addition, solar arrays deal with the majority of the building’s domestic hot water requirements and low flush toilets and a rain water storage system reduce water consumpROMA PUBLICATIONS

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tion. Low velocity air systems supply air with minimal energy use and heat exchangers recover heat from the extract. Glyn Emrys, director of Emrys Architects, says, “Sustainable design is at the forefront of our work, and there is nothing more sustainable than giving an existing building like Conquest House a new low-energy lease of life”. Across the building, there will be 22,500 sq ft of net floor space over six floors. There will be a floor to ceiling height of around 2.7m or above and a and floor to underside of chilled beam of generally 2.4m (or above). The building is designed for potential letting on a floor-by-floor basis, with ground and lower ground floors interlinked by a new atrium to the rear of the building. A landscaped garden and terrace will be available to all tenants, and the building will feature showers as well as new WCs. The original façade will be retained, with the U-value improved by the application of an insulated internal lining. The new extension is being constructed to achieve modern thermal efficiency standards with a PPC aluminium curtain wall system and a warm roof system rising from areinforced concrete retaining structure.

Vital transport link secured for coming decades Maintenance work on the Theydon Bois viaduct has been completed by main contractor Concrete Repairs Ltd. The viaduct, which carries the B172 between the villages of Theydon Bois and Abridge over the London Underground Central Line, has been subject to £800k worth of repairs to secure its stability for at least 50 years.

The windows to the John Street and Theobald’s Road elevations are being replaced with new double glazed sash windows that achieve modern standards of thermal efficiency. The windows to the rear elevations are new double glazed, PPC aluminium framed units, in both existing and new openings, that achieve modern standards of thermal efficiency. All existing roof coverings are to be replaced with a modern waterproofing and ballast system that will meet modern thermal efficiency standards. A new roof terrace is being created at first floor level, overlooking the existing garden and mature plane tree, and will be finished with timber decking. Further balconies are being created on the second, third and fourth floors. The structure is the original concrete encased frame. Existing floors have a dead load capacity of 7.0kN/m2 and a live load capacity of 3.5kN/m2 (including 1.0 for non l/b walls). The new structure is a steel frame with a structural tray and concrete slab arrangement. Floors will have a dead load capacity of 5.5kN/ m2 and a live load capacity of 5.0kN/m2 (including 1.0 for non l/b walls). The aim of the works was to repair damaged concrete to the underside of the viaduct, and to improve the general strength of the bridge thus prolonging its life. This work is being carried out because of concerns over the safety due to spalling concrete (with patches falling off the underside) as well as lack of cover over the steel reinforcement bars, which was causing the bridge to be weak. Damaged concrete was removed by hydro-demolition and structural concrete was sprayed over the exposed reinforcements. The viaduct’s two single-lane carriageways were repaired one by one in order to keep the road open during works. Project manager James Kennerley, assistant structures engineer at Essex County Council, told Premier Construction, “This scheme follows on from a first phase of works carried out in 2005, which secured the Abridge side of the viaduct. As well as general repairs to concrete, the works have ensured we can remove a 7.5t weight limit for traffic over the bridge. “With all similar bridges, the works respond not to any immediate risk of the bridge collapsing – it would be unthinkable to allow that level of deterioration – but to the need to ensure maximum reliability and safety for the coming years”. “The contractor did an excellent job for us and was good at anticipating issues before they arose. We got through the works with the absolute minimum of disruption to local residents, to the credit of the contractor”.

What is spalling? Spalling is usually the result of reinforcing steel either being misplaced too close to the edge of a concrete slab or the concrete being left uncoated and exposed to the elements. New concrete is naturally alkaline. This alkalinity acts to protect reinforcing steel from corrosion. The effect of weathering of bare concrete is that concrete slowly has its alkaline materials leached out. In areas of acid rain, the process accelerates. When steel rusts, it takes up to three times the volume of unaffected steel. As the steel rusts it eventually forces the concrete to crack, exposing new reinforcing steel and fresh concrete to the weather. The process repeats itself with the situation continually worsening, which is why spalling is also known as ‘concrete cancer’. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Albert Bridge strengthening programme surges forward The grade II* listed Albert Bridge is undergoing upgrade works under main contractor Interserve Project Services Ltd. Hyder Consulting are the consulting engineers for the project.

S W Radley Electrical Contractors are responsible for the temporary electrical supplies to the Albert Bridge while the refurbishment is being carried out. As the bridge is still open to the public safety is a key concern therefore it is paramount that the walk ways across the bridge are always clearly lit. The work involves grit blasting all structural elements back to bare metal, strengthening the wrought iron deck beams, replacing bridge deck timbers, repainting the bridge and relighting the whole bridge.

Strengthening work includes bolting new steel plates flush with the top and bottom flanges of the wrought iron cross girders, new steel tension angles added to all cross girder connections, and installing new longitudinal timber joists to support the footway. Following discussions with English heritage, a plate bonding solution was developed for the localised strengthening of the outer girder web panels adjacent to the towers. This solution avoided drilling new holes in the web panel for a bolted connection. Further work includes repairs to existing metalwork, a new drainage channel section with new flashing to provide an effective waterproof seal to the deck and replacement of defective deck timbers with matching material. Recent developments at the site have seen the third Lumisphere Products Ltd low voltage, low energy, efficient system to be installed on the bridge. There are 3,640 light units housed within individual luminaries, utilising Nylon 66 lampholders and UV stabilized polycarbonate globes attached to the special cable, using the Lumisphere Products Ltd patented design luminaries to waterproof. The units are pressure tight to IP68. The system is encased within a marine grade

Curtain up on spectacular new theatre In 2011, the curtain will rise on the spectacular £25.6 million New Marlowe Theatre, now under construction in Canterbury, bringing an exciting new era for lovers of theatre and the arts in the South East. Built on the existing, but extended site in the heart of Canterbury, the New Marlowe Theatre will give Kent a world-class theatre, bringing audiences state-of-the-art facilities housed in a stunning contemporary riverside building. The project is being carried out for Canterbury City Council by Main Contractors ISG Jackson; Architects are Keith Williams Architects. Project Managers are Drivers Jonas; Structural Engineers are Buro Happold; Services Engineers are Sandy Brown Associates and Cost Consultants are Rider Levitt Bucknall. It was decided to develop the new theatre following a feasibility study into the scheme which looked in detail at the previous Marlowe Theatre, its history, and the potential for either refurbishment of the existing theatre or the building of a new theatre. As a result of the work undertaken, the City Council unanimously decided in favour of redeveloping and extending the current the-

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stainless steel trunking with 68 Lumisphere Products weatherproof transformers mounted on special saddle brackets that straddle the trunking. All the cabling is contained within the trunking, reducing the vandal risk. Additional guards were fabricated from clear polycarbonate and stainless steel to protect the lower festoons from vandalism. Special consideration was given within the design so as to make the guards virtually invisible. The 2010 refurbished scheme follows the design criteria of the previous (2001) scheme with new luminaries, cable and transformers being installed, utilising the 2001 bespoke 316 grade stainless steel trunking system and protective guards by Interserve Site Services’ electrical division, the appointed electrical installers. The £7 million project is due for completion in August 2011.

atre on its existing, but expanded site, to create a ‘New Marlowe’. The scheme retains only the original Marlowe’s flytower structure and stage, but otherwise will be a totally new construction. The new three-storey theatre will have a 1,200 seat auditorium (larger than the original); with comfortable seating and an improved view of the stage from all seats. The auditorium will have much improved acoustics for all types of shows and a larger orchestra pit accommodating up to 80 musicians The building will also have a second auditorium which will feature innovative shows, community and educational productions, workshops and other creative activities. Designed as a flexible and multi-purpose performance space, the second auditorium will be able to seat 150 people. However, a state-of-the art retractable seating system means that the auditorium can easily be adapted into a flat floor space that will be able to accommodate up to 300 people, ideal for workshops or music gigs. Other features of the new building include spacious foyers with bars and amenities on all three floors; a new forecourt piazza; a riverside café and terrace and modern meeting spaces for use by business and community groups. The building has been designed to be fully accessible to all patrons, staff and visiting artists. The project, which in formal terms is a complex pavilion, includes an 8m high colonnade to a multi level glazed foyer, thereby presenting a unified façade to the west side of the Friars, an important historic street, and creating a gateway to the drama within. The foyer connects all the major spaces in the Marlowe with the riverside terraces and pathways, and is seen as a ‘crystal ribbon’ by day, transforming into a blade of light by night, uniting all the

theatre’s public spaces. The colonnaded overhang also provides shelter to the south facing foyer from solar gain. The retained flytower is being remodelled, and will be extended vertically by 9m to a point to create a pinnacle form, adding accent and silhouette to the city’s skyline. The flytower will be clad in a stainless steel mesh skin, causing its form to ‘dematerialise’ and its surfaces to shimmer and sheen, whilst subtly reflecting the changing hues of the daytime sky and sunset. Due to open in September 2011, the new theatre will offer a programme of bigger and better shows, including the major musicals, the best plays, international quality opera, ballet, and classical music, as well as bands and rock concerts.

Wildlife safari project makes tracks towards completion Creating an exciting new safari experience for visitors, is a major £1 million upgrade at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent, which will include the considerable expansion of the park’s African Experience exhibit. The project is being carried out for the Park by numerous contractors working on different sections of the scheme. This new development will transform the park experience for visitors, who will be able to take a vehicle safari around the numerous attractions, interspersed with ‘drop off’ points allowing them to walk through certain areas of interest in between. The ‘on foot’ areas of the 600 acre park will be divided into four zones, where visitors will be able to explore exhibits and interactive educational displays. The works include the construction of two large new African style cafes or ‘lapas’’ in different areas of the park. Each of the buildings measures approximately 23m by 7m and is of timber frame construction with timber boarding external elevations, lightly stained and feather boarded, with tongue and groove internally. Both cafes feature large verandas and thatched roofs. Another element of the project involves the construction of a large ‘Pallas Cat’ enclosure sited within the park’s bison field, together with the construction of a new pathway leading from a new drop off point right through the building viewing area and into the new cafeteria. The new enclosure will incorporate three cages comprising telegraph poles on the outside with wire mesh behind, with the mesh being hung over the roof and down the sides and buried and concreted in trenches below ground. There will also be a large

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t viewing area. The building is of timber/steel construction with external elevations in half round larch and timber frame and a corrugated steel roof. A new children’s play area is being constructed next to the cafeteria, together with a 17m by 5m oval shaped education centre. The centre is open sided and features a thatched roof supported by wooden poles. Internally, there will be timber seats carved from trees on the park, together with an area where visitors can watch educational videos about the wildlife park and its conservation projects worldwide, as well as a stage for demonstrations relating to the park animals. In the African Experience area of the park is a further 100 acre fenced attraction where a variety of animals including wildebeest and rhino roam free. This section will be accessed via a new ‘air lock’ drive-in electric scissor-gated entrance designed to allow the trucks to enter safely. At the “Bug Stop” section of the park an additional new children’s play area is also being constructed. Yet another element of the scheme involves the construction of

two new roads - one across the rhino paddock and another across the bison field. These will primarily be used as public walkways and will be bounded by new steel and timber fencing. The project is expected to be completed in April 2011. Two recent projects have also been completed at Port Lympne’s sister park, the 90 acre Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury. Both projects were carried out largely by Jackson’s Fencing of Stowting Common near Ashford, working together with the park’s staff. One of the projects involved the construction of a Javan langur enclosure within which the animals are able to roam in a more natural environment. It incorporates a timber framed monkey house, a tunnel and around 40 telegraph poles with climbing frames, platforms and ropes in between. A moat has also been created around parts of the perimeter of the enclosure, with the animal area being bounded by electric fences. The other project involved the refurbishment of the park’s bull elephant house, which included the removal of much of the building’s internal steelwork and the erection of new steelwork to provide a more open internal area.

Sewage works gets the full treatment in £140 million upgrade A £140 million upgrade and extension is underway at Mogden Sewage Treatment Works in Isleworth, West London to extend sewage treatment capacity by 50 per cent. The project is being carried out for Thames Water by Black & Veatch. As principal contractor, Black & Veatch is responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the extended works. Mogden Sewage Treatment Works was originally constructed in the 1930s and is one of Thames Water’s largest treatment works covering an area of 120 acres. The Mogden plant was built for the West Middlesex drainage district to replace 28 small sewage treatment works and over the years has been expanded, still within the original site boundaries. The upgrades will enable Mogden to treat over 50 per cent more sewage, so it can cope with heavy rainfall and will ensure Mogden continues to meet effluent discharge consents set by the Environment Agency. This will significantly reduce the amount of storm sewage that overflows into the tidal stretches of the River Thames when the site becomes overloaded during heavy rainfall. The improvements will also help Thames Water to meet tighter quality standards for the effluent they discharge. The scheme includes upgrades and augmentation of the existing sludge plant and construction of a completely new effluent stream that includes a new covered inlet works, covered primary tanks and new aeration lanes. To make space for this, the western embankment, which is within the existing site boundary, was reshaped. The landscape to the west of the site will be enhanced once complete, benefiting local wildlife. As well as significantly reducing sewage discharges, these improvements will help reduce odour at the site, as the use of storm tanks will be reduced during heavy rain, and new and existing equipment will be covered over. The design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of all odour control covers, together with associated connecting

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ventilation ductwork and odour control systems required for the project, is being carried out in a ‘Cover Collect and Treat Odour Control Package’ by Odour Control Systems. The covers are being supplied on an ongoing basis over an 18 month period. John Naylor, Managing Director of the company, which is based in Hawarden, Flintshire, said: “This package provides a single solution for the client and reduces their interface risks and subsequent costs - as demonstrated by this project for which we offered GRP covers at a substantial cost saving and in a better design than the initially specified aluminium covers. Not only are the GRP covers extremely cost competitive, but they also offer significant carbon savings in their manufacture, compared with the manufacture of aluminium covers - and this is what convinced the client to switch to GRP and use our service on this project.”

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Also playing a key role in the project, Longwood Engineering are manufacturing and installing six additional inlet screens and local control panels at Mogden Sewage Treatment Works west side. The six inlet screens are Longwood Engineering escalators to screen the incoming flow to 6mm in two dimensions. Each screen is installed in an inlet channel 1880mm wide x 2950mm deep and designed to handle 1167L/S. The screens have been designed and manufactured to meet Thames Water’s and the project’s specifications, and are made in coated carbon steel and stainless steel. The screen order to Longwood Engineering is in the region of half a million pounds, with the screens and control panels programmed for delivery in June 2011. Longwood Engineering already have 12 escalator screens installed at Mogden (eight on the east side, and four on the west side), together with screenings handling equipment - which makes Mogden a flagship site for Longwood Engineering. The Mogden Sewage Treatment Works upgrade project will increase flow to full treatment at the sewage works by 34 per cent from 790 to 1,064 million litres per day. This will enable the facility to reduce its use of storm tanks and greatly reduce potential for storm sewage discharge into the River Thames. In addition, around 40 per cent of the energy required to treat storm and wastewater will be generated onsite from renewable biogas – a byproduct of the sewage treatment process. The Mogden site currently serves 1.9 million people and covers an area of about 120 acres. Thames Water has made allowances for a six per cent population increase until 2021. Work is due for completion in 2013. Steve Shine, Thames Water’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “This work marks a fundamental step in improving the quality of London’s iconic river. We inherited a Victorian sewerage system, which is struggling to cope with the demands of 21st Century London. Since it was built, the capital’s population has more than

doubled, climate change is bringing less frequent but heavier rainfall and many green spaces have been concreted over preventing natural drainage. “Although our sewage works operate well under stable dry weather conditions, in heavy rainfall excess flows pass through storm tanks, which provide a lower standard of treatment, and overflow into the tidal stretches of the River Thames - rather than having sewage back up on to the streets or even into people’s homes. “The improvements at Mogden Sewage Works, which currently serves 1.9 million Londoners, will enable the site to treat more sewage and allow for a six per cent population increase until 2021. As well as significantly reducing sewage discharges, these improvements will help reduce odour at the site, as storm tank use will be reduced, and new and existing equipment will be covered.” According to Tony Collins, Managing Director for Black & Veatch, “The Mogden project is a great opportunity for Black & Veatch to deliver a first-class plant for Thames Water and its customers. We have a great team in place who can call on Black & Veatch’s ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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sulting, federal and environmental markets.

The project builds on Black & Veatch’s 20-year relationship with Thames Water in supporting the water company’s need to meet regulatory requirements and fulfill customer expectations with an efficient, high-quality water and wastewater service.

Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients’ needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions are provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black & Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, program management, construction management, environmental, security design and consulting, management consulting and infrastructure planning.

The Mogden project forms a part of Thames Water’s £650 million investment programme to improve treatment standards and increase the volume of sewage treated at Mogden, Crossness, Beckton, Long Reach and Riverside sewage treatment works. In April last year, Black & Veatch was selected to deliver a fiveyear programme of improvement works that will enhance the security and quality of treated water and wastewater for communities served by Thames Water. The agreement forms part of Thames Water’s £4.9 billion AMP5 investment programme between April 2010 and March 2015. Commenting on the utility’s AMP5 procurement strategy Martin Baggs, Thames Water’s chief executive, said: “In our continued drive to be more efficient for our 13 million customers, we’ve completely changed the way we do our work. Instead of letting numerous small contracts to lots of providers, we’re working with leading organisations to deliver the base load of our fiveyear investment programme.” Black & Veatch Managing Director Tony Collins said: “Our ability to combine our fully integrated design and construction capability means we are in the unique position to undertake this sizeable programme as a single entity rather than engaging with a joint venture partner.” The appointment builds on Black & Veatch’s 20-year relationship with Thames Water in supporting the water company’s need to meet regulatory requirements and fulfil customer expectations with an efficient, high-quality water and wastewater service. Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specialising in infrastructure development in energy, water, telecommunications, management con-

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The employee-owned company has more than 100 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries on six continents. Black & Veatch supplies the full range of consultancy, design, procurement, refurbishment and decommissioning services. They deliver pragmatic and innovative solutions for clients in the areas of water, environment, information and other vital infrastructure. With experience of countries and cultures across the globe, Black & Veatch are in touch with local issues and can tailor their services to satisfy local needs, whilst at the same time their global network of professionals provide access to expertise that only an organisation with true ‘concept to decommissioning’ capability can provide. Black & Veatch is nearing its second century of service to the infrastructure needs of the world. From its founding in 1915 by E.B. Black and N.T. Veatch, through to today’s worldwide operations, the company has always placed the needs of its clients first in building a world of difference. Thames Water is the UK’s largest water and sewerage company, serving 13.6 million customers across London and the Thames Valley. The company plan and carry out their operations in compliance with all relevant Health & Safety legislation and codes of practice. In addition, their Quality and Environmental Management systems are both approved by Lloyd’s Register of Quality Assurance (LRQA) to the quality standards BS EN ISO 9001:2000 and BS EN ISO 14001:1996 respectively.

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Construction of prestigious new McLaren car plant roars ahead From spring 2011, the MP4-12C and all future McLaren sports cars will be produced at the new £40 million McLaren Production Centre (MPC), under construction in Woking. The MPC will be the home to the production of McLaren Automotive’s range of high-performance and highly efficient sports cars, supporting up to 800 jobs and manufacturing around 4,000 cars by the middle of the decade. New standards of quality will be introduced into the sports car market, as well as innovative new technologies unique to McLaren. Given that Foster + Partners have designed both the nearby McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) and now the MPC, it’s not surprising that the two buildings at McLaren HQ share a common design ethos. Just like the award-winning McLaren Technology Centre, the MPC has been carefully designed to fit perfectly into its environment to be as efficient and environmentally sensitive as possible. The 2,000m² MPC is a single-storey structure with a basement, submerged into the landscape to minimise visual impact. A staggering 200,000 floor tiles are being laid at the new facility - enough to stretch from this site to McLaren London’s future home in Knightsbridge. Thanks to meticulous planning, good weather and the hard work of the construction team, the centre remains ahead of schedule.

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The contractors, Sir Robert McAlpine, built an exact replica of a basement section so that clients could sign-off the design, materials and fit before work began on the real thing. The facility will be filled with quality systems that combine the best of both hand-built techniques and ‘lean’ production processes. Up to 300 new jobs will be generated directly at McLaren as a result of the new centre’s construction, with many hundreds more indirectly through the construction programme, supply chain, and brand new global retail network. Ron Dennis, chairman of McLaren Automotive said upon launching the construction programme in 2010, “We have long held the dream of building a range of McLaren high-performance sports cars that take the raw elements of Formula 1 principles, processes and performance and forge them into a unique package: one that offers customer-focused requirements of quality, efficiency, comfort and reliability.”Investment in the new facility confirms our intention to challenge convention at the highest levels of automotive design, from a high-tech home that I am proud to say will deliver jobs, expertise and innovation in manufacturing and engineering.” “We’ve approached the MPC planning and construction programme in the same rigorous and detailed manner as we would start a Grand Prix season or as we’ve managed the research,

development and launch of our new McLaren Automotive car company”. “Every aspect has been considered, and solutions resolved, whether it be on the production facility’s timing and layout, the local sensitivities regarding the practical, logistical and environmental impact of the new facility, or how we deal with details such as keeping the site and surrounding roads as clean and as traffic-free as possible. It’s very important to me, to all at McLaren, and to our partners in this project that the MPC is not only brought to life on time and on budget, but that it’s also completed in a way that supports the Woking area and its community”. “I was born in Woking and am proud that McLaren is the town’s biggest employer as well as being a genuine global leader in technological innovation and high-value manufacturing.” The MPC aims to reflect the environmental credentials of the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC), McLaren’s award-winning Woking headquarters, and examples of the environmentally sensitive and detailed development programme that McLaren is undertaking include: McLaren Automotive’s SLR manufacturing operations and processes were reviewed, and as a result, energy consumption within the MPC will be reduced for the 12C and future cars. For example, specialist ‘low-energy’ paints have been selected for the 12C that can be cooled mainly through natural air-flow within the building. Noise levels will also be negligible. A major re-contouring landscape project will sensitively screen the MPC from visitors to the adjacent Horsell Common. Importantly, the landscaping project is re-using all existing soil (unusually, none is leaving the site), massively reducing the transportation impact and the potential for the introduction of invasive plant species to Horsell Common. 820 new trees, and 68 existing mature trees that were transplanted in a local nursery before the bird-nesting season, will be planted on-site to further screen the MPC and MTC and positively contribute to the local environment

Jenson Button. “It feels so monstrously fast...and it sounds better than any turbocharged car I can remember,” wrote Chilton. “The MP4-12C rides well but offers a handling balance that’s truly exploitable, that flatters novices yet is still fun for Jenson Button.” Sir Robert McAlpine is a leading UK building and civil engineering company. The story of their success is written in the projects that make up the company’s proud record of achievement. A family-owned company founded in 1869, Sir Robert McAlpine’s dynamism, pioneering approach to construction and commitment to service have always kept them at the forefront of the industry. The company aims for excellence in design and construction matched by the highest standards of management and technical skills. They also look to fulfill their responsibilities to the communities and environments in which they operate, while working in a way that is safe and sustainable. Their continued success is underpinned by the quality and expertise of their staff, their collaborative approach to business and their skill at providing clients with cost-effective solutions to construction challenges.

An extensive landscaping programme features the planting and sowing of native shrubs and a grass seed mix in sympathy with Horsell Common species that will ensure the site is in keeping with its location Every vehicle that leaves the site receives a high-power wheel and chassis wash to ensure that dirt and mud is not left on the surrounding roads: a safety concern that McLaren also believes is of visual benefit to the surrounding area Funding for the £40 million investment has come from McLaren Automotive’s existing shareholders, whilst a new shareholding offer will support future development programmes for a range of McLaren high-performance sports cars that will be launched soon after the MP4-12C. McLaren plans to design, engineer, test and manufacture 4000 cars by the mid decade starting with the MP4-12C, 1000 of which will go on sale globally in 2011. The first independent reviews of the new McLaren high-performance sports car which will be produced at the new centre are landing in print and online media publications. The automotive media world have been buzzing with excitement as it gets its first taste of the innovative new MP4-12C.  CAR magazine, the prestigious and influential monthly, brought forward its on-sale date by 24 hours in a bid to publish the story first in the UK. “The launch of the MP4-12C is the story of 2011. It’s the motoring equivalent of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding,” said editor Phil McNamara. “Unusually, we’ve dedicated our entire cover to the MP4-12C, to showcase our 15-page first drive inside and we’re backing this up with McLaren week at Carmagazine.co.uk, with videos, wallpapers, polls and more special features to celebrate the launch of this benchmark sports car.” McLaren Automotive invited CAR magazine to Portugal in late January 2011, to test MP4-12C prototypes on both road and track. CAR’s experienced road tester Chris Chilton, who has driven every significant supercar dating back to the McLaren F1 and Ferrari F40, drove the MP4-12C, and revelled in a hot lap with ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Massive cost and carbon-saving heating system puts sports centre in premier league An innovative heating system is set to cut up to £400,000 a year off the fuel bills of London’s iconic National Sports Centre, in Ledrington Road, Norwood, whilst also cutting its CO2 emissions by more than 50%. Vital Energi was selected to design, supply and install a recordbreaking low carbon solution at the National Sports Centre (NSC), as part a £13 million refurbishment by the London Development Agency (LDA). The £900,000 upgrade of the system was funded by the LDA after it discovered that there was massive potential for improvement on performance of the existing system, despite it being refurbished only three years ago. Upgrading the system was a priority as the NSC will be a training facility for the 2012 Olympics. By reducing the operating costs and carbon emissions of the NSC, Vital Energi’s innovative system is also helping the LDA lead the way in meeting the Mayor of London’s 2025 carbon reduction target of 60%. The LDA appointed Cynergin, an independent consultancy, to assist with procuring the project and vetting tender proposals. Cynergin recommended Vital Energi for the appointment, due to its long history and expertise in providing flexible solutions to prestigious projects such as MediaCityUK and Heathrow Airport (Terminal 5). Vital Energi’s design expertise, coupled with their unique 25 years experience of decentralised energy solutions, enabled them to significantly improve on the LDAs initial programme, whilst also pro-

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viding an energy solution with a payback of a remarkable 3.5 years. Working within very tight timescales, Vital Energi developed a highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) engine and combined it with a number of other energy-efficient technologies, resulting in the record-breaking performance of the system. At the centre of Vital Energi’s turnkey solution is a new 1000kW output CHP which produces heat and electricity simultaneously from natural gas. The CHP system functions at a groundbreaking 93% efficiency, which is a significant improvement on the average 70-80% efficiency rate of CHP units - making this one of, if not the most efficient CHP unit in the UK. Vital Energi has introduced the cutting-edge engine as a solution to rising utility costs which are creating an ever-increasing worldwide demand for more efficient low carbon and energy technologies. Installing the CHP unit could have been lengthy and problematic due to the limited space within the building and the restrictions that apply to listed sites, however, Vital Energi solved the problem by designing and building an external hub to house the CHP engine next to the main NSC building. To support the CHP unit, Vital Energi removed NSC’s existing system and replaced it with a new fully condensing boiler solution. In addition to modernising the heating and electricity system Vital Energi designed four energy saving pool covers for the facility’s swimming pools, which will further reduce the running costs and carbon footprint of the NSC.

Flood alleviation project will safeguard homes, businesses and Gatwick airport More than 1,300 homes and businesses across Crawley and Horley as well as Gatwick Airport, are set to benefit from a major Environment Agency project that will reduce the risk of flooding from the upper reaches of the River Mole. Being carried out by Morrison Construction, the first phase of the Upper Mole Flood Alleviation Scheme, comprising raising the level of the existing Tilgate Dam at Tilgate Lake within Tilgate Park, Crawley, is nearing completion on programme and approaching budget. The Environment Agency has liaised closely with Crawley Borough Council on the design of the project, since the council is currently, and will remain, responsible for the upkeep of the dam. Initial design for the scheme at planning stage was carried out by Jacobs, with Morrison Construction providing input for the detailed design. Flooding caused major disruption and damage to the people of Crawley, Horley and Gatwick Airport in 2000, with flooding around the A23 coming close to causing major damage to the communications network. Gatwick Airport is vulnerable to flooding from three watercourses and a major flood could cause the whole airport to close for a period of weeks whilst specialist equipment is replaced. This would cause major disruption to the whole region.

The Tilgate Dam project involves raising the level of the existing earth dam by three metres, which will allow up to 233,000 cubic metres of flood water to be stored before it overspills when flows are high, with the stored water being released back into the river in a controlled way, helping to reduce the risk of high flows that would have otherwise caused flooding to properties downstream. The works involve effectively creating a new 285 m long earth dam immediately behind and above the height of the original one. The control to attenuate flows whilst retaining the existing normal reservoir level is via an orifice plate and a box culvert structure. Challenges facing the contract team included the presence of dormice on the site, revealed by an environmental survey. This meant that the works had to be timed in order to avoid the dormicesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hibernation period. Other challenges included that of site access - as the site was located adjacent to a large housing estate. The solution to this problem was to use material procured from a borrow pit within Tilgate Park as general fill for the majority of the new dam. Using soil from the same site meant that it did not have to be brought in from elsewhere - a saving of around 6,000 lorry movements to and from the site over the life of the project.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t In the initial stages of the project, trees were removed to access to the dam and borrow pit area, and a haulage road to transport the fill from the borrow pit to the dam was created along the lake bed, after the lake was drained and the fish temporarily removed to another site by a specialist contractor. A further challenge was posed by the presence of smoke bombs and grenades left by the Canadian Army who occupied the site during the Second World War. This resulted in several instances where site works had to be stopped for bomb disposal operations. Once construction of the new dam has been completed, additional works include the installation of new walkways, ramps for disabled access and a disabled fishing platform, as well as the creation of additional car parking space. A new wooden bench-type seating area will also be created on the crest of the new dam. In addition, new trees will be planted to replace those removed at the start of the project. The former borrow pit area will also be landscaped and converted into a reed bed. The 12 month project is due for completion in June 2011. The Tilgate Dam project is one of four separate elements of the overall flood alleviation scheme which, when combined, will increase the storage capacity of flood water to 1.8 million cubic metres. The other elements involve the creation of new flood storage reservoirs at Worth Farm, Crawley, the Stanford Brook at Clay’s Lake, Pease Pottage and on the River Mole at Ifield – which will hold large amounts of water during and after spells of heavy rainfall. The stored water will slowly be released back into the river, which will help reduce the risk of high flows that would have again caused a flood risk to nearby homes.

Opening doors to affordable housing in London Providing much-needed high quality affordable homes in the London Borough of Barnet, a project to construct two apartment blocks has just been completed in Park Road, on the former Barnet Trading Estate in Park Road, for Family Mosaic. 10 of the properties are for shared ownership, with the remaining 24 apartments being for general needs housing. The development was carried out by Main Contractors Andrew Towns-Wadey Ltd, who are also constructing other residential and commercial properties on the estate for M25 Securities. The Family Mosaic scheme involved the construction of two four-storey blocks - one to be known as Clementine Court, containing 18 one-and two-bedroom flats, and the other, called Hornbeam Court, containing 16 three- and four-bedroom flats. The development has been constructed to the Eco Homes ‘Very Good’ standard. Each of the blocks has a basement level gated car park, with further surface car parking, together with landscaping and the creation of a children’s play area also being carried out as part of the development. Each of the blocks is timber frame construction, with all of the flats having fitted kitchens and gas central heating. The threeand four- bedroom flats in particular are generously sized and have been designed with separate kitchens. Hornbeam Court was handed over in November 2010 and was fully occupied immediately afterwards. Handover of Clementine

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Court took place on February 28th 2011. Mitil Patel of Family Mosaic Housing Association said that the housing association were happy with the project and had found the main contractors “accommodating to our needs for affordable housing.”

homes and invests £45 million into their existing homes.

The project ran for almost two years, with delays being caused by adverse weather and service connection problems.

The association continually engages with customers in order to understand their needs and aspirations and how they change over time. By understanding customers’ needs and aspirations, the association can deliver quality services and can also demonstrate their accountability

One of the largest affordable housing developers in the country, Family Mosaic provide good quality, affordable homes and housing services to over 45,000 people in communities across London and Essex.

As well as helping to regenerate existing communities, such as Elephant and Castle in south London, Family Mosaic are involved in significant new developments, such as the delivery of 1200 new homes along the Thames Gateway in Essex.

The association has over 20,000 homes for rent, as well as homes for people with extra support needs and temporary housing. They are also building over a thousand homes every year and are selling shared ownership properties to people who wouldn’t, otherwise, be able to afford their own home.

All of the association’s developments embrace sustainable design and energy saving initiatives.

Every year the association spends £200 million developing new

Andrew Towns-Wadey Ltd, based in North London, offers a wide range of building works, including the construction of prestige, luxury housing, business parks, social housing and major renovations.

Environment Agency well a-weir of safety issues The Environment Agency is spending almost £10 million on a series of upgrades on the rivers Thames and Kennet. The project involves works to four weirs on the Thames and one on the Kennet. The aim of the project is to replace these five ‘paddle and rymer’ weirs with modern structures, in order to remove the inherent long term health and operational risks associated with their current manual operation. Portmere Rubber Ltd are pleased to have supplied all of the rubber seals for this project Paddle and rymer weirs consist of vertical timbers called ‘rymers’ that form slots against which wooden ‘paddles’ with long handles rest to retain water flows upstream of the weir. The

paddles are held in place by the pressure of water flowing against them. In total there are nine paddle and rymer weirs remaining on the Rivers Thames and Kennet, and they are thought to be the only operational examples of these types of weirs left in England. The five weirs that are the subject of this phase of works are: •

Radcot Weir (River Thames, Oxfordshire)

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Northmoor Weir (River Thames, Oxfordshire)

•

Mapledurham Weir (River Thames, Oxfordshire)

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Blakes Weir (River Kennet, Reading)

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Molesey Weir (River Thames, Surrey)

The Environment Agency’s project manager, Paul Fraser, spoke ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t to Premier Construction, explaining the need to replace the weirs. He said, “These weirs, when operated manually, pose a risk to the operator. We calculated that the lifting involved subjected the operator to around three times the recommended forces and could lead to both short and long-term injuries. This can be avoided by replacing the paddle and rymer weirs with electrically operated modern gates meaning we are better able to respond to changes in river conditions and with a finer level of control”. Work on four of the weirs will be completed by contractors JT Mackley and Jackson Civils in 2012, by which time the Environment Agency hopes to have consent to carry out similar works on the remaining four paddle and rymer weirs, which are listed structures. Works at Northmoor Weir are delayed whilst the agency works with the local community on several issues they have raised.

Thames Link Marine Ltd “Thames Link Marine Ltd are privilaged to be invited to work

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for the Environment Agency and Mackleys on the Molesey Lock contract. At Thames Link Marine we have been working on the Upper Reaches of the River Thames since 1986. We have seen many changes and look forward to an exciting future on the River Thames”

Thomson Habitats Ltd We project manage and deliver habitat creation and restoration schemes throughout the UK. The development at Molesey has allowed us the opportunity to provide a bespoke system, via our French partners Fish-Pass, satisfying our client’s requirements while ultimately aiding eel migration. Further project examples can be found at www.thomsonhabitats.com.

UK transport link backed up by large-scale maintenance operation One of several framework contractors responsible for keeping Eurotunnel operations going is Dyer & Butler. The contractor, whose bases span the south of England and Wales, is tasked curative maintenance of all structures, buildings, roads, drainage and associated elements around Eurotunnel sites at the Folkestone terminal and Samphire Hoe sites. Eurotunnel, the train service which can take passengers to France in just 35 minutes, has also tasked Dyer & Butler with an emergency call out service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which sees the Nursling-based company work outside of the UK for the first time on the Calais side of the line.

strong points. Steven explained, “Our work can vary massively – one day, we’ll be called out to repair a retaining wall damaged by a lorry and the next we’ll be creating drainage channels under concrete platforms. Currently, the major objective is to repair road surfaces that have been damaged during the cold winter”. As for the language-gap created when both French and British framework contractors collaborate, Steven says there has been nothing to worry about: “I’ll admit that’s down to our French colleagues, whose English puts our French to shame!”, he confides.

The contract was awarded in 2009 and prompted commercial director Neil Edwards to comment, “The Eurotunnel contract is an important win for us and we are excited to take the Dyer & Butler brand across the Channel for the first time. This is also an important move forward in our drive to secure more work in the Kent and South East area”. Project manager Steven Simmonds told Premier Construction, “Our work here is always carried out under tight conditions. We have to operate stealthily because this is an active commercial site. One of our most important considerations is not to get in the way. As a result, we are constantly looking for new working practices and materials that will help us to speed up our work”. As Eurotunnel’s go-to firm for a wide range of works, Dyer & Butler team members at the site count versatility amongst their

Landmark retail complex on track to break records At 1.9 million sq ft, Westfield Stratford City will be the largest urban shopping centre in Europe and the prestigious gateway to London’s Olympic Park. A magnificent three level mall and contemporary external streetscape will form the centre of the development. An innovative fusion of different brands, experiences and formats will grace the magnificent three-level mall and a beautifully designed ‘lifestyle street’. Art and culture will be integral to the experience; from the striking architecture of individual retail districts, to new retail concepts, cultural collaborations, events and installations that will enhance this next generation of retail space. Stratford City and the Olympic Park together form a 700-acre development. Westfield Stratford City will be a core component of East London’s Olympic legacy.

steel flooring – equivalent to over 40 Wembley football pitches. The Town Centre Link Bridge, which has been successfully pushed over 11 live railway lines at Stratford Station, has touched down on the other side of the tracks. In an unprecedented feat of engineering, the 1,600 tonne, 128m long and 14m wide bridge touched down in Stratford. John Armitt, Chairman for the ODA, said: “The town centre link bridge is crucial to getting millions of spectators from Stratford Town Centre to the other side, into the Olympic Park. It will play a key role during the Games and will play a key role in legacy, allowing residents and commuters to walk freely from one side to the other.”

The Legacy Masterplan includes provision for a total of 2.9 million sq ft retail and leisure space, 1.3 million sq ft hotel space, a large 6.6 million sq ft commercial district, 16,400 new homes and 180,000 sq ft of community spaces. 180,000 spectators per day are expected to attend the venue during the Olympics. £17 billion will be invested in public transport within the Lower Lea Valley as part of preparations for London’s Olympic Games. This will deliver new and improved transport infrastructure that is set to make Stratford City one of the best connected destinations in the UK.. Contractors have reached a major milestone in the construction of the development with the completion of the steelwork for the retail centre. Over 40,000 tonnes of steel has been erected on site to date and developers have installed over 3 million sq ft of ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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New Welsh-language school due for July 2011 An old Llanelli Welsh medium school building has been demolished to make way for a new one. The former Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel was knocked down in late 2009 to make way for a new £6 million state-of-the-art school under the same name. Under main contractor Kier Western, work is now nearing completion on the new school, which should be completed by July 2011. It will provide first class accommodation and facilities for 210 pupils, plus nursery provision to help meet future demand for Welsh medium education in Llanelli. The two-storey, steel-frame building is clad in Ivanhoe Katrina Multi Brick, Staffordshire blue brick, cream render and cedar. Reconstituted Welsh slate and aluminium sheet roofing complete the exterior, with sloping roof lights included to bring daylight to the double-height principal corridor spaces. Internally, the scheme comprises a mix of carpet and safety vinyl flooring with interruptions of barrier matting at the main entrances. Plastered walls are included throughout with an intended trade matt finish. Natural daylight is encouraged throughout the building but artificial lighting is to be controlled through the integration of presence detection to avoid unnecessary use. The building is predominately naturally ventilated with mechanical ventilation included as a secondary method to the main hall. Wireless technology is deployed to all the ‘teaching spaces’ and staff zones. Dining facilities are included as part of the main hall there is also a separate dining room for the younger infants (i.e. nursery and reception). Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel is the latest school to be built through

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Carmarthenshire County Council’s £180million Modernising Education Provision programme and is part of the authority’s plan to meet growing demand for Welsh medium education in Llanelli. Education and children’s services executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said, “I’m really pleased to see such excellent progress being made on the new school for Brynsierfel. Every child in Carmarthenshire deserves to have access to the best opportunities and facilities we can provide, and this is what we are totally committed to delivering”.

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Refurbishment of an architectural landmark A £5.2 million refurbishment project has just been completed at the architecturally flamboyant and eye-catching Dollan Aqua Centre in East Kilbride. The upgrade will now extend the life of the grade-A listed building, which has won numerous architecture awards for its stunning design. The project was carried out for South Lanarkshire Council by Clark Contracts. The project included major structural works, new floor, wall and ceiling finishes and mechanical and electrical services. As part of the initial work, an asbestos survey revealed asbestos contamination in duct areas, which had to be subject to a complex asbestos removal and environmental clean. The health suite has also had a new sauna and steam room installed, along with new floor

tiles, lockers, decoration and cubicles. The main pool hall area has been fully re-tiled and re-roofed. Cameron Barr, South Lanarkshire Council’s project manager for the upgrade work, said: “As the building was built in the 1960s, over the years various areas have had to be repaired. However, as a result of a survey, it became apparent that the structural integrity of the building had to be addressed urgently. The issues related mainly to the existing concrete degrading over the years due to the aggressive nature of the environment within the pool.” David Cooper, Construction Director, Clark Contracts said: “We were delighted to be involved in the refurbishment of such an

12 new schools under construction in Lanarkshire despite government cuts South Lanarkshire Council is overseeing a significant investment into its schools, which is proceeding despite government cuts. So far, 50 brand new primaries and three refurbishments have been completed with around 50% of primary pupils now enjoying school life in bright and modern surroundings. Also part of the £812 million scheme, 12 more primary schools are currently under construction and are due to open in the near future. Included in the list of 12 is St Charles Primary. Approval for the £6m school on vacant land in Harvester Avenue, Newton, was granted at a meeting in December 2009. This original plan featured seven classrooms but three extra classrooms have been added to the original plans, to accommodate future growth of the surrounding community. A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said, “The approved plans for St Charles’ Primary School include three additional classrooms to accommodate predicted future pupil growth within the St Charles catchment area. The original application was approved in December 2009 for seven classrooms. However, the design always had the ability to

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important leisure facility for the people of East Kilbride.” The centre, which opened in 1968, features a vaulted 324ft parabolic arched roof. In 1993, it was listed as one of 60 key monuments in Scottish post-war architecture and in 2002 it was designated as a category A listed building by Historic Scotland.

accommodate a future three classrooms extension to cater for predicted [community] growth. South Lanarkshire Council had originally hoped that work on the new St Charles Primary could begin in December 2009, with completion by December 2010. However, work got underway in March 2010 following the transfer of land by the developer, Kier Scotland. The development, which is part of phase two of the council’s primary schools modernisation programme, is also an important element of a larger regeneration of the Newton Community Growth Area as laid out in the new South Lanarkshire Local Plan. Pupils will remain in their existing school in Newton Brae, while construction of their new building takes place. The new school will be two storeys in height and will be positioned towards the north and west of the site, furthest away from neighbouring properties on Newton Farm Road. A multi-use games area will also be incorporated in the site, bounded by a five-metre-high mesh fence. The entire site will be covered by two CCTV cameras, mounted on six-metre-high poles. The school itself will feature ten classrooms, an assembly hall and gymnasium with stage, a dining room, an ICT suite, a general purpose room and a kitchen. When work is completed, the school’s facilities will also be available for community lets outside of school hours, according to the council.

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£10 million Campbeltown water works nearing completion Scottish Water is currently at work on increasing capacity from Kinloch Park Pumping Station in Campbeltown by providing additional treatment at Slaty Farlan Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW). The solution has five improvement stages: 1. Increasing the volume of waste water pumped forward from Kinloch Park Pumping Station to Slaty Farlan WWTW by up to 20 litres per second. 2. Improvements to the current treatment process 3. Kinloch Park Pumping Station outfall extended and moved away from pontoons in Campbeltown Loch. 4. Construction of a new rising main from Kinloch Park Pumping Station to Slaty Farlan WWTW and additional network activities. 5. Long term investment solutions. Increasing the pumping capacity from Kinloch Park to Slaty Farlan by improving the treatment process at the plant will reduce the number of unsatisfactory discharges at Campbeltown Loch. The discharge point of the current outfall pipe from Kinloch Pumping Station will be moved, cleaned and extended away from the nearby marina, improving its performance and complying with SEPA consents. The new ‘rising main’ (transfer storm sewer) from Kinloch Park to Slaty Farlan will accompany improvements to the infrastructure on nearby Lower Askomil Walk to minimise the risk of foul flooding from the sewer network. The development and implementation of work includes removing excess sewage spills from Campbeltown Harbour and

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the construction of a new outfall and improved final treatment from Slaty Farlan The benefit of this work includes extensive environmental improvements to Campbeltown Loch to comply with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the EU Waste Water Treatment Directive.he scope of the project is split into five work packages:

Work Packages 1 & 2 Stage 1 involves increased screening on the incoming flows and the provision of additional biological treatment units. Stage 2 is the replacement of aging equipment at the works, including 24 membrane cassettes, inlet screens and aeration diffusers. Work package 1 is complete and work package 2 is now mostly complete. There has been limited impact to the public in Campbeltown as a result of this work, which has taken place within existing sites.

Work Package 3 The discharge point of the existing outfall pipe from the Kinloch Park Pumping Station needs to be moved. The outfall will be cleaned and extended to improve performance and comply with SEPA consents. Work started on site in June 2009 with Scottish Water partners Morrisons Construction. The flows went through the extended outfall for the first time on 27th August 2009 and completion was reached in late 2009. Work was carried out using marine construction methods requiring a barge and a team of engineering divers. However, set-up and some construction took place on an area near Kinloch Park, which was visible to locals and visitors.

Work Package 4 The main part of Stage 4 involves the construction of a new ‘rising main’ (transfer storm sewer) from Kinloch Park Pumping Station to Slaty Farlan Waste Water Treatment Works. The original proposal was to run the rising main along part of Esplanade, North Shore Street, Low Askomil Walk and

Campbeltown Loch foreshore, adjacent to Low Askomil Walk. In the initial stages of the project, Scottish Water listened to feedback from local residents and contractors regarding this proposal. This resulted in plans being amended to create a sub-sea route for the new rising main. Also included in stage 4 are improvements to the existing infrastructure on Low Askomil Walk. Work started on site in May 2009 with Scottish Water partners Morrisons Construction, who reached completion in March 2010. Use of the sub-sea route for the rising main benefited residents in the Low Askomil area in a number of ways, including: less disruption in terms of traffic management, access to properties; no damage to the sea wall and property walls; significantly reduced construction time because the beach work would have been dependent on tides; and less rock excavation. As with Work Package 3, a barge in the loch was visible during this work. The land section required a temporary closure on the shore and this was co-ordinated with advice and discussion from the community forum.

Work package 5 Improvement stage 5 is the development and implementation of work which includes: • Removing excessive sewage spills from Campbeltown Harbour • Constructing a new outfall from Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) for treated storm flows • Increased final treatment at the WWTW • Network improvements at Woodlands Drive, St John Street, Main Street and McCallum Street • A new CAR (Controlled Activities Regulations) licence Black & Veatch have been appointed to design and construct the long term investment solution for Scottish Water. Work began in spring 2010 and is due for completion in late 2011 to bring extensive environmental improvements to Campbeltown Loch to comply with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

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Final phase of waste water network upgrade progresses towards completion The fifth and final phase of improvements to Campbeltown’s waste water network is well advanced and on target for completion late this year in a scheme for Scottish Water.

The first four previous phases of improvements to the network were designed to increase the pumping capacity from Kinloch Park Pumping Station to Slaty Farlan Waste Water Treatment

Works and extend the outfall at the pumping station. The final phase of the work is being carried out by Black & Veatch, which will improve the pumping station and provide storm treatment at the WWTW and increased foul treatment. Part of the work includes improvements to the sewer network and increased capacity in the Main Street, McCallum Street and St John Street area of the town centre. The current fifth phase involves an investment of about £10 million and will take Scottish Water’s investment in all phases of the improvement work to about £23 million. Mr Eddie Burns, the project manager, said: “This phase is a key stage of our programme of work on the long-term solution for Campbeltown’s waste water network and will build on the good work already carried out.

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“The completed improvement work has reduced the frequency of discharges of storm water in storm conditions to Campbeltown Loch in compliance with existing consents from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.” Mrs Jane McKenzie, Scottish Water’s regional community manager, said: “Scottish Water has worked with the local community, Argyll & Bute Council and SEPA during the delivery of the all phases of our work.”

Contractors catching up on harbour works Orkney Islands Council has been awarded ERDF funding of £1.19 million towards its programme to prepare the Golden Wharf and West Pier facility at Lyness on the island of Hoy in Orkney for use as a marine renewables service base. The funds will be used to support Phase 1 works including development of the quay frontage for additional hard standing, storage and fendering and measures to cope with increased vessel movements. Works are now well under way at this former naval base on Hoy, which has remained more or less unused since 1957. An international crew of sub-contractors has been recruited, including Danish marine construction experts Peter Madsen Rederi, who were awarded the harbour dredging contract. The council’s convener, Stephen Hagan, said, “The works at Lyness are absolutely necessary if we are to stake our place as a centre for marine renewables in Europe and it’s very pleasing to see Orkney’s potential supported by the ERDF. “There is keen renewable technology developer interest to utilise the refurbished site as soon as it is available. The marine renewable industry currently employs around 200 people in Orkney, and this figure is expected to increase dramatically, with this sector described as having the potential to generate the “greatest economic benefit to Orkney since the birth of the oil industry in the 1970s”. The project, which is 40% ERDF grant funded and has a contract value in excess of £3 million, commenced in mid October 2010 and is scheduled for completion in May 201. The main contractor for the works is Currie Brothers Ltd, a local construction company. Additional dredging to ensure adequate depths on approaches to the new berths has been ordered as a variation to the contract. Also added as a variation are the hardstanding works to the service base, some 10,000m².

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John Orr, head of marine services, told Premier Construction in early February, “Currently, the sheet piling and the stone service base are complete and work is ongoing on tubular piling, the suspended deck, services and concrete works, while dredging can commence soon now that surveys have been completed”. He continued, “It is considered that overall the contractor is some five weeks behind programme. Much of this delay is directly attributable to the extreme weather in December 2010. Currie Brothers Ltd have stated that they will attempt to return to programme by engaging extra resources and working extended hours”. Orkney Islands Council transport and infrastructure committee chairman Councillor Jim Foubister visited the site along with fellow councillors in January 2011. He was impressed with the catch-up and progress being made by the contractors: “It is the dawning of a new era for Lyness – already there are a

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S c otl a n d number of companies showing interest in using it as a base for marine renewables. We hope that it is an industry which is going to grow and grow”, he said.

Currie Brothers Ltd Established in 1987, Currie Brothers Ltd is a family run Marine and Civil Construction and Plant Hire business, based in Orkney. With over 25 employees, the company’s work load is varied and extensive. In the last few years, the company has been actively involved in the new and exciting field of marine renewables. With extensive knowledge of the seas around Orkney, a skilled workforce and steel fabrication workshop, Currie Brothers have

Significant housing project responds to Glasgow demand 88 new self-contained apartments along with a block of five terraced houses are being built on Riverford Road in Pollokshaws, South Glasgow. Main contractor Cruden is carrying out a £10 million project on behalf of Glasgow Housing Association, after arriving on site in March 2010. The site, which was formerly occupied by a series of 10-storey apartment blocks and overlooks an old 16th century church yard, required extensive remediation once demolition was completed. The works are due to be completed in late 2011. Site manager Donald Pollock told Premier Construction in early February, “The site is fairly busy at the moment with around 50 people here per day on average. The timber kit frame of the apartments, which are split into two blocks, is being completed with a buff brick facade, and there will eventually be a landscaping programme

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proved to be a major contributor to Open-Hydro’s successful deployment of the first marine tidal turbine in Orkney waters. The company has already had interest from other companies hoping to test their tidal devices at the EMEC tidal site at Fall of Warness, Eday, Orkney. Moreover, Currie Brothers are currently the principal contractor for the manufacture of EMEC’s new subsea mooring systems. In addition to their involvement on the Lyness harbour project , Currie Brothers have been the main contractor on several major pier development projects, both in Orkney and the North of Scotland, the largest being a £3.5million redevelopment at Wick harbour (including the placing of sheet piles and rock armour).

around the site. Touch wood, we haven’t yet discovered anything gruesome related to the graveyard next door – so far we’re on schedule and the end product will be a modern, convenient place to live”.

About Glasgow Housing Association Glasgow Housing Association is one of the largest social landlords in the UK, with more than 50,000 tenants and 26,500 factored home owners across Glasgow. The association also plays a role in the regeneration of Glasgow alongside partners such as Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government. Since stock transfer from the city council in 2003, GHA has invested nearly £1 billion in modernising and improving tenants’ homes across the city, making them warmer, safer and drier by cladding and re-roofing properties, as well as installing new central heating, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows and wiring. Simultaneously, GHA is behind a significant new-build scheme across the city. Phase 2 of the programme is well under way and will see 414 new homes built at nine sites across Glasgow. The first phase saw 259 homes built in the north of the city.

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A Scottish ‘first’ for Waitrose Waitrose’s first new-build store in Scotland will open its doors to the public in Newton Mearns on 12 May, 2011. The project is being carried out by Main Contractors Marshall Construction.

Waitrose Newton Mearns will be the retailer’s fourth and largest store in Scotland and construction of the 36,000 sq ft building, which has a sales area of 25,000sq ft and a 180 space car park, represents an expansion by Waitrose in Scotland as part of a UK-wide

growth strategy by the supermarket. More than 200 new jobs will be created at Waitrose Newton Mearns. All new employees will become Partners (as all Waitrose employees are known) in the John Lewis Partnership. Waitrose’s local and regional sourcing team is currently meeting a wide range of local producers, tasting products from around Scotland to complement the 300 or so Scottish lines already introduced to the stores in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Tracey Marshall, local and regional product manager for Waitrose, said: “We’re hoping to find some more innovative companies in Glasgow and the West of Scotland that epitomise the qualities we look for in new suppliers: delicious tasting products that are made using the highest quality ingredients.

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“We already have many long-established suppliers in Scotland, such as our beef farmers, and are proud to work with fantastic companies who supply Waitrose UK-wide, such as Gigha Island Halibut and West Brewery.” The store forms the second phase of the new Greenlaw Neighbourhood Centre, a £30 million mixed-use development in the heart of Newton Mearns.

New rink will be star attraction for region’s ice skaters Set to create a major new attraction for the region’s ice skating enthusiasts, a £3.4 million project to provide a new ice rick at Auchenharvie Leisure Centre is nearing completion at Saltcoats Road, Stevenston, Strathclyde. The new ice rink will replace the existing facility at this site and will accommodate public skating, curling, ice hockey, speed skating and ice dance and figure skating. This will secure the future of ice sports in the area and centralise provision for the whole of North Ayrshire. The project is being carried out for North Ayrshire Council by Main Contractors CBC Architects and Quantity Surveyors for the scheme are North Ayrshire Council. The 3,166m development involves re-cladding of the original two-storey building envelope, with the external elevations in a combination of facing brickwork, blockwork, render and profiled cladding, incorporating feature louvered panels and roller shutter doors, together with a monopitch profiled sheeting roof. Internally, the works involve the creation of a new ice pad and changing facilities. Other facilities at Auchenharvie Leisure Centre, including the swimming pool and KA Fitness, have remained open throughout the construction work. Frank Keddilty, former Chief Executive of KA Leisure said: “The new rink is great news for everybody and secures the future for ice sports in the area. It is also a boost for Auchenharvie Leisure Centre and, at a time when the number of ice rinks in Scotland is reducing, will not only provide facilities for the local community but attract skaters from further afield.” The project commenced in July 2010 and is due to be completed ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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S c otl a n d in May 2011. The development is part of a massive £25 million investment in new sport and leisure facilities in North Ayrshire to replace the ageing Magnum Leisure Centre. With a turnover of circa £63 million, CBC is an indigenous family owned Scottish contractor working across all market sectors. As a progressive and modern thinking company, they have adapted their business systems and train their workforce on an ongoing basis to meet the changing and challenging times which the construction industry is currently going through. CBC have embraced the principles of Latham and Egan and are involved in numerous partnering and framework arrangements with their clients, and also have a number of informal but similar arrangements in place with key supply chain partners. The evidence that these principles are effective can be seen from the company’s 70% repeat business levels.

Six into one does go with new multiplex school A new multiplex school is under construction in Ruchill Park, Glasgow, replacing an existing primary school and accommodating pupils from three other merged primary schools, together with pupils from a special needs school and an early years centre. The £16 million school development is being carried out as part of the Pre 12 Strategy, Phase 4, and is being undertaken for Glasgow City Council. The new school will replace the existing provision for Ruchill

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Primary School and Westercommon Primary School for the nondenominational sector, and will also accommodate the merger of Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School and St. Cuthbert’s Primary School for the denominational sector. High Park Autism Unit and Benview Early Years Centre will also transfer to the new school. The school construction contract is being undertaken by City Building (Glasgow) LLP, working with Anderson, Bell and Christie, Architects, GCC.

A second £1.3 million contract, involving the construction of an access road, is being carried out by the Council’s DRS Project Management & Design Services in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and City Building (Glasgow) LLP. Both contracts are being supervised and managed by the Glasgow City Council’s own in-house project management and design services team, within the Development and Regeneration Services (DRS) department. Both contracts are being delivered using traditional building

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£2.5 million renaissance for Grade A listed church One of Lanarks’s largest and most impressive buildings, the 100-year old Grade A listed St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Bannatyne Street, is undergoing an extensive £2.5 million renovation in a project including internal upgrading and modernisation, as well as external restoration and landscaping improvements. Main Contractors for the project are SIM Building, who too over the project after the

original main contractors, Glasgow stonemasons Hunter & Clark Ltd entered

and civil engineering contracts - rather than under PPP or equivalent schemes. Accommodation within the new school will include 16 general classrooms; two general purpose rooms, a games hall and a media /library, as well as associated non-teaching accommodation. There will also be two nursery classrooms, an enclosed external play area and toddler and baby classrooms, together with associated non-teaching accommodation for these areas. Additional accommodation will include four autism class bases, an external protected area, a general purpose room, an associated visiting specialist room, a library/media learning area, a soft play room and associated non-teaching accommodation. External facilities will include purpose-built playgrounds, a secure floodlit synthetic sports pitch and soft landscaping. The building is expected to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. Construction is scheduled to be completed in December 2011. City Building (Glasgow) LLP was formed in 2006, evolving from the former Building Services Department of Glasgow City Council. It is now an arm’s-length organisation owned by Glasgow City Council with its own board and managing directors. This enables it to deliver quality construction services across the public and private sectors. It receives no public funding for trading operations and has delivered more than £21 million in cash surplus over the last three years, which was returned to Glasgow City Council for investment in front line public services.

administration and ceased work. Architects Wylie Shanks have been lending their expertise to work on the church, which was built in 1859, before being burnt down in 1907 and subsequently reconstructed to designs by Ashlin and Coleman of Dublin. Wylie Shanks has provided full design team services for St. Mary’s, as well as assisting in obtaining grants. The scheme includes upgrades to the church’s roof and masonry, as well as its associated buildings, including the priest house and clubrooms. The works comprise the installation of internal glazed screens and floor restoration within the church, rearrangement of the presbytery to improve the priest`s living accommodation and meeting rooms, and alteration and modernisation of the club rooms to create a function suite. A full mechanical and electrical upgrade was also carried out throughout the campus, bar and kitchen and clubrooms. Building fabric repairs include roof and

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stonework remediation, including the repair of the church tower and restoration of the stone finials. In addition, a porch is being rebuilt as a garden room, and the church and its steeple will be floodlit. The courtyard is to be re-laid out to facilitate parking, disability access, and pedestrian circulation, although the courtyard works are still to commence due to extreme weather experienced in Dec 2010, which delayed completing the external fabric works, which in turn has delayed dropping of the scaffolds. The works are due for completion at the end of April 2011. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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£270 million hospital will redefine the provision of healthcare Redefining the provision of hospital care in the UK and Ireland and achieving new standards for hospital design and amenity, a new acute hospital for the South West of Northern Ireland is under construction in a £270 million project at Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. The building complex is almost one million square feet in area and is located on a 60-acre site overlooking Wolf Lough on the Omagh road out of Enniskillen. The Northern Ireland Health Group (NIHG) consortium were appointed as Preferred Bidder by the Western Health and Social Care Trust to design, construct, finance and manage the new acute hospital. The consortium has four stakeholders - FCC Construction SA, Allied Irish Bank Plc, Interserve Investments and P. Elliott & Co. Construction is being carried out by P. Elliott & Co in their largest ever contract and they are working in unison with FCC Construction from Spain. The new 312 bed hospital will provide essential health and social care for the people living in the Western Trust Area and will offer services including acute medicine, accident and emergency, day and elective surgery, children’s and older people care services, critical care, imagining, diagnostics and consultant-led maternity services. Geotechnically, the site is very challenging. The adjacent Wolf Lough and woodlands area is prone to land slip, and the foundation condition resembled tooth paste. The bulk of the site is built up from over 3,500 double auger drive piles onto which a 400mm thick transfer slab is constructed and the site upfilled. With a policy of ‘ No excavated material to be taken off site,’ the earthworks were a complex exercise of identifying and using existing competent material for upfill, and lime stabilizing other material to the required CBR’s for piling mats. The new hospital campus is a three-storey complex for the most part, with some areas having four stories. The entrance to the hospital will run through a wet land area and will feature a bridge. The hospital will include bright spacious single private bedrooms and a hospital street, which essentially is an internal courtyard running right through the building. The single patient rooms all benefit from striking views of either the adjacent Wolf Lough and woodlands, or the beautiful internal ‘ linear garden‘. The hospital will also incorporate a full restaurant, cafe, shop and hairdressers and there will even be an ATM machine and crèche.

The hospital comprises a series of well designed and considered departments and public spaces that are animated by sunshine and daylight with continuous views of landscape and rural surroundings. The environment will be reassuringly uninstitutional and yet provide an exemplary and flexible clinical facility. Organic in form, the buildings sit naturally in their landscape, nestling the contours and breaking the skyline with their shallow sloping roof planes. Northern Ireland Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: “The new hospital will offer a wide range of invaluable services including 24/7 A&E, inpatient services including medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, day case surgery and day procedures. It will also offer a comprehensive range of diagnostics, including radiology and laboratory tests and a wide range of outpatient services. “This new state of the art health care facility for the people of Enniskillen and the surrounding areas represents a significant investment by my department. Despite forced budget cuts and huge financial pressures, this new hospital remains on course for completion and will be a vital facility for the South West region.” The project is due for completion by 2012 and has over 650 construction operatives and 65 staff on site.

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Derry Guildhall project on track

He added that, despite these minor setbacks, work is on track and progressing well. The project will involve the restoration of the stonework, roof, windows and stained glass of the iconic building, as well as the restoration of the Guildhall clock. As part of the project, work to create new steps and a ramp are to take place at the entrance off Guildhall Square. Kevin added that work on the stained glass and cathedral glass is at an advanced stage with over half of the off-site stained glass and cathedral glass work being complete allowing the windows at the Whittaker Street side to be re-installed towards the end of February. He explained that stained glass windows at Shipquay Place have recently been removed and transported to a studio where the restoration work is continuing. To facilitate the restoration works, the Guildhall clock and clock tower are temporarily out of view, to ensure the clock does not get damaged while work is taking place. It is expected that the scaffolding will remain in place until late March or early April and the newly restored clock face will once again come

Work on the first phase of the restoration of the Guildhall building is progressing well, with work remaining on track despite the severe weather conditions over the December period causing contractors some problems.

Kevin Sage, project manager with H&J Martin, the main contractor appointed to work on the extensive external restoration programme of the Grade A building which commenced in August of last year, explained, “The exceptional weather we experienced throughout December caused us a number of problems. Due to the sub-zero temperatures we could not carry out any pointing and on the coldest days we could not build in any stone as the mortar would be affected. We were able, however to continue with the cutting out, shaping and working of stones on site”.

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into view by then. John Kelpie, city engineer with Derry City Council, said, “The restoration works are beginning to take shape and the transformation will be immense. We are looking forward to the scaffolding being removed from Whittaker Street towards the end of March 2011 when we will first see this elevation being restored to its former glory. “The public have responded well to the works and are really interested in the restoration work we are overseeing with our conservation architects Consarc Design Group. They recognize the significance of the project and its potential as we prepare for our year as City of Culture in 2013”, he commented.

Olympic facility on the way in Bangor A leisure facility for North Down County Council is being constructed under main contractor Farrans. The centre will include a training facility for elite swimmers, a performer development centre for both elite swimmers and athletes, a high performance strength and conditioning suite and offices for local swimming development body Swim Ulster. The bold design, courtesy of architects McAdam Design, uses large simple areas of a palette of high quality materials. The centre’s cross section responds to the profile of the site, integrating a large building effectively into the natural topography of the site. The design includes feature areas of natural stone as a reference to walls and structures which were previously on site. It integrates the historical demesne, the adjacent, recently restored Victorian Walled Garden, and the leisure centre, allowing each to compliment the other in function and layout. Selected as a sustainability demonstration project by Constructing Excellence Northern Ireland, the building is on target for achieving BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating, which is extremely rare for wet leisure facilities. CHP units will locally generate all heat requirements and 65% of the building’s own electricity. Rainwater harvesting will store 75,000 litres of water for reuse in the building, while the 70m glulam beams which form the roof structure are sourced from sustainably managed forests.

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The project represents an investment of £38 million in new leisure facilities, including a grant of up to £15 million for the pool from the Northern Ireland Executive administered by Sport NI. The new leisure centre will provide state-of-the art sports facilities for the local community as well as training, strength and conditioning facilities for elite swimmers and athletes. On site since August 2010, the project is due for completion in summer 2012. Sports minister Nelson McCausland said, “This will be Northern Ireland’s first Olympic-sized swimming pool. As a regional centre of excellence, it will be a state-of-the-art facility to be enjoyed by all the people of Northern Ireland. Sport is essential for our young people, and DCAL’s (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure) investment in elite sports facilities is not just about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is about creating a sporting legacy for our young people so they feel inspired to play sport,” the Minister continued. The project represents an investment of £38 million, including up to £15 million investment from the Northern Ireland Executive. It is anticipated that employment opportunities for around 200 tradesmen will be created during the course of the build. Commenting on the project, the mayor of North Down, Councillor John Montgomery, said, “This facility will be a tremendous local legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and deliver long-term economic and sporting

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A view from the site

Farrans design manager Felim Blaney has been involved in the project from the start, bridging the gap between design and construction and assisting in the ‘buildability’, technical feasibility, and the integration of specialist designers on the project. He spoke to Premier Construction in February: “The site is developing well”, he said, “despite challenges we’ve encountered with unforeseen ground conditions. As a team we have pooled significant effort to redesign and reschedule the works and mitigate delay to the build programme”. “Challenges have been a driving force for innovation. Our first operation on site involved stripping back the existing topsoil for reuse in the soft landscaping. This was formed into a large temporary bank on the east of the site shading the nearby residence from the construction activities. This was particularly beneficial when large areas of rock were encountered absorbing and protecting local residents from the noise and vibration of rock breaking activities. Over 7,000 cubic meters was then crushed on site for re-use in roads and car parks and avoiding the recent hike in the aggregate tax. We also reviewed landscaping levels with RPS and are currently reusing over 30,000 cubic meters of spoil to enhance the undulating parkland profile of the scheme. This saved 3,333 lorries of waste ground to landfill and reduced the carbon footprint of the scheme by 159 tonnes. Innovation is not reserved for times of crisis, however, as Felim explains: “The rainwater harvesting on site is something that

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has benefited from some clever design. This has been further enhanced by proposing a siphonic rainwater system that reduces the number of downpipes from over 40 to 4, enhancing the clean lines of the façade and reducing over 500m of underground drainage”. As things stand, the building is to be handed over in late summer 2012. Representatives of the council are up to date with the developments of the scheme and are looking forward to a site visit this summer to see the installation of the glulam beams being delivered from Austria. With a beam length of 70m and a depth of 1.5m, this is reported to be the largest glulam structure in the UK. He adds: “I’m a member of the current leisure centre and have been using the pool since the early 70s, so I have a personal stake in making sure the area gets an excellent facility. I’m also acutely aware of the need to finish in good time, especially as I have three children constantly asking me when I’ll be able to take them swimming!”

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New road creates idyllic village Residents of one Northern Irish village are still getting used to their new, quiet surroundings since Roads minister Conor Murphy MP opened the A29 Carland Bridge scheme in December 2010. The new bridge is part of an improved

section of the A29 and is designed to cut out a dangerous bend in the road, which previously cause congestion and accidents. The main objective of the £4.7 million scheme with a total length of 1.85kms was to remove the existing traffic bottleneck at Carland, which was caused by a sharp bend being located next to the old bridge across the Torrent River. The bend had an advisory speed limit of just 5mph and lorries using the route would take up both lanes of the road while turning. Previously drivers would be forced to a halt on this busy section of trunk road, waiting to take turns at passing.

The recent works were also carried out in order to improve safety along this section of trunk road, reduce journey travel times along the A29 Link Corridor, and improve the quality of life for local residents through a significant reduction in passing traffic. The project’s main contractor was Fox Contracts of Omagh. Commenting on the scheme, the roads minister said, “The A29 Carland realignment is part of a designated corridor linking Armagh to Coleraine and this long awaited road improvement has been completed ahead of schedule. “Investment in road improvements, such as this important project, meets the [N.I.] Executive’s strategic objectives in terms of promoting economic growth, competitiveness and balanced regional development. “This scheme has been well received by the local community and motorists who use this important link corridor. This scheme has now removed a notorious bottleneck on the A29 route between Dungannon and Cookstown and will improve road safety and reduce delays on this important part of the roads network”. Deputy first minister Martin McGuinness

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added, “The A29 is an important part of the north/south roads network to the west of Lough Neagh linking Armagh to Coleraine. The local community around Carland has long awaited the delivery of this project, as have the travelling public. I think the benefits of the scheme will be appreciated for generations to come”.Seamus Keanan, Client Engineer for the Department for Regional Development told Premier Construction, “Local people are generally delighted with the new road as they can now reclaim their village, free from the hazards associated with a traffic volume of over 9000 vehicles per day. Road safety has been greatly enhanced for residents and through traffic alike. The lands for this scheme were vested over twenty years ago so it’s very satisfying to have it finally completed”.

Third phase begins at NHBC Seal of Excellence site McGinnis Developments’ John Logue is continuing his exemplary work at the Coopers Mill project in East Belfast. John, who was recently named as a Seal of Excellence Award-winner for his successful site management, has overseen a new approach to McGinnis new-build schemes, as he explained to Premier Construction: “We brought in a new system for this site, which involves bringing home buyers to the site two weeks before completion. Previously, they will have let us hear their requests and requirements and what kind of installations they’d like us to put in. Once on site with them, we demonstrate how things work and let customers make a note of any snagging issues – this makes sure that, when their handover happens, they are completely happy with everything. The new approach means we have to be even tighter than usual and meet all our deadlines. We haven’t missed a date here so far, and I count that as one of my most important achievements. I’m sure it has something to do with the award. “In the end, we hand homes over completely ready and we make sure they’re welcoming places. I’d have no hesitation in moving in myself – otherwise, I wouldn’t feel any pride in putting my name to the work”. Discussing the economic environment, John says, “There was no getting away from the fact there was a recession on [as work began], but what can you do about it other than keep on working? It’s no use sitting around and moping about it – I know that much. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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“Whether that was the reason for our success here I can’t say, but I do know it’s been full steam ahead here from the very beginning. Everyone here has been motivated to get the job done – not just quickly, but well”. John has now received NHBC awards for four separate sites. Asked for his reaction to the latest gong, he said, “I feel grand about it, to put it simply”, he adds, “and I’m lucky to have had a good team behind me all the way. As a site manager, you know that awards are available, and I personally see no reason not to go for them with everything you’ve got”. John is straightforward and earnest in discussing his working practices, and he maintains what he sees as a very simple approach to management: “It’s not hard to get people going and get the site running how you want it to. Once people know what you expect them to be doing, that’s usually as far as you need to go as a manager. You have to be strict at times, of course, but strictness and friendliness are not mutually exclusive. I enjoy working on construction sites and more often than not I’m with people who think the same way”. Making his way in the construction industry since 1977, John has worked his way up to his current position in a steady fashion, and like many of his fellow winners, he agrees that experience has contributed to his achievements:

“Experience teaches you how to deal with people in this work and in life in general. It’s no good to be on bad terms with people because nobody ends up winning if that’s the way you work. Experience also teaches you simple things like knowing which subcontractors you prefer to work with, and that makes a huge difference. “We look for experience in our subcontractors. Personally, I prefer to go to people I know and trust, budget allowing. We always get references and, in some cases, we visit other sites to check out the quality of work we can expect. New subcontractors are not discouraged from working on our sites, but we recognise that newcomers need special supervision when they first get involved to make sure that they are producing the results we want. On this site, all our subcontractors have been good, even the new ones. Pre-contract meetings have been adhered to and all the work I’ve seen so far has been good quality. There’s no reason we can’t continue to pick up awards”.

The latest on site Work began at the site in March 2009 with enabling and road works before John took the reins in June of the same year with an average team numbering 100 working under his guidance. Previously used for agriculture, the site required a standard cut and fill operation before it could be turned into a residential area to match its surroundings. 2011 sees the beginning of the third phase of work at Coopers Mill, which will add a further 85 units to the 100 already completed. First handovers will be overseen in April and May 2011, with an overall completion date for the phase expected in the following autumn. John says, “We lost a couple of weeks’ work at the end of 2010 because of bad weather but everyone pulled together to make sure we were back up to full speed as quickly as possible. I feel we took it in our stride well. As for the houses themselves, we have largely stuck to the original plans drawn up with architects in 2009, although we have modified some of the exterior finishes to make sure we get the best look possible one homes are complete”. Coopers Mill is located just off the Belfast – Newtownards dual carriageway. The development is 15 minutes from Belfast City Centre and 5 minutes from Newtownards. The location is convenient for the Ulster Hospital and Stormont with the George Best Belfast City Airport only 15 minutes away. The homes are available for as little as £85,000 and range in size from in excess of 500 sq ft to approximately 1,225 sq ft.

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Northern Ireland’s longest ever new carriageway opens The £146 million A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway- the longest ever section of new carriageway constructed in Northern Ireland - was opened one month ahead of schedule in December 2010. The road was officially opened by Transport Minister Conor Murphy MP, MLA, together with First Minister Rt. Hon Peter D. Robinson MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA. The 20.5 km A4/A5 corridor improvement scheme also included the realignment of the A4 Annaghilla Road and the A5 Tullyvar Road which were completed earlier. The project was carried out by main contractors Amey Lagan Roads Ltd for Northern Ireland Roads Service. Amey Lagan Roads Limited is a consortium formed by Amey Ventures Limited and Lagan Projects Limited. Construction was carried out by a joint venture of Lagan Construction Limited and Ferrovial Agroman (Ireland) Limited with maintenance services being provided by Amey Infrastructure Services Limited. The roads service’s scheme development consultant’s team for the A4/A5 Schemes was Mouchel. The A4 dualling scheme, which included the construction of five flyover-type junctions and 17 new bridges, involved substantial earthworks with 2.4 million cubic metres of material excavated to make way for the new carriageway. Over two million man hours were successfully worked on the project, which employed approximately 500 people at the peak of the scheme. Environmental considerations have been an important aspect of this project. The department, through its technical and environmental advisors, identified all significant environmental constraints within the road scheme corridor and designed the new road to the highest environmental standards in compliance with all statutory obligations and legal requirements. This included construction and relocation of a badger sett, habitat enhancement for a stretch of realigned Oona Water and extensive landscape planting along the length of the new roads. Opening the new carriageway, minister for regional development Conor Murphy said, “The A4 dual carriageway is the longest ever section of new carriageway constructed in the North. This new 20.5 km stretch of dual carriageway, which has opened a month ahead of schedule, represents a significant investment in the infrastructure in the Dungannon area and the West.

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“Since taking up office I have been committed to tackling the years of under investment in the west and to the delivery of balanced regional infrastructure throughout all of the north. The opening of this dual carriageway will be of significant benefit to both strategic traffic and motorists in the local area. “The new A4 scheme, combined with the recently upgraded Westlink means that you can now drive uninterrupted between Belfast and Ballygawley. The scheme will reduce journey times and improve road safety for those travelling east to west improving access between Belfast and both Enniskillen and Omagh”, First Minister Peter Robinson said, “The Programme for Government recognises the importance of our road network in facilitating the efficient movement of people, goods and services and in growing a dynamic and innovative economy. “The completion of this new dual carriageway also marks the completion of a major package of works which included the A1. These recent improvements at an overall capital cost in the order of £330million will benefit both the local and regional economy through improved journey times and enhanced safety and are an example of the executive delivering tangible benefits for Northern Ireland. “The challenge for the executive is to build on the benefits of these substantial infrastructure improvements to secure the growth, the jobs and private sector investment that will drive our prosperity in the years ahead”. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said, “Investments in road improvements, such as this key project, meet the Executive’s strategic objectives in terms of promoting economic growth and competitiveness and balanced regional development. “The ability to now travel between Belfast and Ballygawley in the heart of Tyrone on uninterrupted motorway/dual carriageway with much reduced travel times together with significant safety improvements is now a wonderful reality for all those who use this route”. 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.

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Henderson Foodservice soon to centralise in multi-million property investment Henderson Foodservice, the market leading foodservice business in Northern Ireland and a division of the Henderson Group, has announced an investment of approximately £14million in new warehousing and office accommodation on the company’s 23.5 acre site at Hightown Avenue, Mallusk. The move is in response to sales growth in excess of 30% since 2007, and ongoing expansion which will see all warehousing and distribution services centralised at Mallusk in a demolition-rebuild project. Henderson Foodservice currently operates two depots, one located at Finvoy Road, Ballymoney, employing 52 staff, and the other at a Mallusk site where 101 people are employed. Both depots will move to the new purpose-built facility in early 2011. All staff working in Ballymoney will be given the opportunity to transfer to Mallusk or be offered suitable alternative roles within the company. The development work is being undertaken by Patton Construction, who are based in Ballymena; the contract has provided employment for 120 people during the construction of the facility. Damien Barrett, managing director of Henderson Foodservice, explains, “Henderson Foodservice has enjoyed a very healthy period of growth winning a number of significant long-term contracts with both the public and private sectors. In order to maintain that level of year-on-year growth we have carefully reviewed our current business practices to ensure maximum efficiencies. Consolidating distribution to one base enables us to streamline the business, share resources and reduce running

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costs in general. The £14 million investment will provide a 130,000 sq ft state-of-theart frozen, ambient and chilled warehousing as well as a suite of new offices”. “We have a well-motivated and highly-skilled workforce at Ballymoney and it is our intention that they will all either relocate to Mallusk or be given the opportunity to take up a different role within the company. Over the next number of months we will be consulting all of these staff to discuss optimum transfer timings and options. We will be maintaining current employment levels as a result of the depot changes and indeed as we continue to expand further, recruitment will become an important part of our business plan”. “It is our aim that this new facility will deliver a fully integrated operation capable of serving our customers throughout Ireland efficiently whilst providing best value for money. In so doing, Henderson Foodservice can look forward to maintaining its position as the market leading foodservice business in Northern Ireland”, concluded Mr. Barrett.

Award-winning design for a truly ‘giant’ worldclass attraction

Under construction to an award-winning design on a World Heritage Site containing Northern Ireland’s top tourist attraction, is the new Giant’s Causeway visitor centre in County Antrim. The Giant’s Causeway lies in Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast World Heritage Site, in a location where the landscape features cliffs formed by hexagonal basalt stones, agricultural land and cliffside walks. The causeway itself features over 38,000 hexagonal columns of basalt and is visited annually by over 600,000 people from across the world. The £9.4 million contract to build the new visitor centre is being carried out for the National Trust by main contractors GilbertAsh. Architects heneghan peng’s design for the new centre was chosen from entrants in an international competition. Structural consultants are Arup; building services consultants are Bennett Robertson; civil engineering consultants are White Young Green and quantity surveyors and project managers are Edmond Shipway. As the site is continuing to remain open throughout the contract, a number of enabling works were required and have been carried out by FP McCann with a fit out by Gilbert-Ash. These works include the construction of temporary kiosks and the transformation of the nearby Causeway Hotel’s function room to accommodate the National Trust’s shop to provide for visitors during the construction works, The Causeway Hotel itself

is providing catering, and a temporary road now guides visitors via the front of the hotel to the stones. Other enabling works include extending the car park in front of the Causeway Hotel, changing the use of Innisfree Farm to become an additional car park, installing a series of variable message signs in the wider causeway area, and relining the car park at Dundarave in Bushmills to allow for a park and ride service. Currently the enabling works are being completed and construction of the new visitor centre has commenced. The design of the new single storey visitor centre utilises the large difference in level across the site, where two folds are created in the landscape. One of these, extending the line of a ridge, will accommodate the building. The second, extending the level of a road, will screen the building’s new car park from view. The new 1,815 sq m state-of-the art building is structured around a steel frame with elevations in locally sourced basalt cladding, incorporating a glazed frontage which will ensure that people with disabilities who may not be able to walk on the site will be able to enjoy the spectacular coastal views. The building will also be slightly sunken into the ground, and will have a grass roof to restore the natural ridgeline of the surrounding landscape and provide a habitat for wildlife. The centre will include an interpretation area, a shop, an 80-cover cafe serving light refreshments, toilets and baby ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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changing facilities and a tourist information centre providing guidance on the Causeway Coast and Northern Ireland. Externally, a new car park will be constructed to the east of the building, trail paths will be upgraded and new paths created. John Davis, contracts manager for Gilbert Ash, said, “Obviously

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we were delighted to have been chosen because it’s such a landmark scheme. It’s going to be a world-renowned visitor centre and it’s fantastic to be part of that”, he added. Associated CAD Solutions Ltd. was tasked with the responsibility of providing 3D building information modelling (BIM) services for the project. The services of ACS were engaged directly by the main contractor Gilbert Ash, specifically to create a 3D BIM model from the architects and engineers’ 2D drawings during the pre-construction design phase. The 3D BIM model was used as a tool to identify potential design conflicts between the various design disciplines during the pre-construction design phase, and thereby minimise the potential time loss and impact of costly design changes during construction. The 3D BIM model provided the specialist sub-contractors with the specific geometry of the building and also a visual aid from which they could progress their construction design details. Following on from the pre-construction design phase, the 3D model was further developed to provide the construction team with various cross-sections through the building for set-out onsite, and also fabrication and production drawings for off-site manufacture.

High-tech food processing plant to create 85 new jobs Another milestone in the history of Linden Foods was made on Thursday 13th January 2011 when Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster visited the company’s new Dungannon site to officially open it. She commented, “Companies like Linden Foods are leading the way by investing in new technology and new product development for future growth... the food industry is a key contributor to Northern Ireland’s economy and one that has shown impressive resilience to the economic downturn, better than virtually every other sector”. This £10 million investment made by the company to build a 5,740sq m product development facility will boost the company’s competitive position in the meat processing sector with the view of increasing sales by 32%. Main contractors on this project were B & C Building Contractors. Trevor Lockhart, the chairman of the Fane Valley co-operative, said, “By specifically dedicating resources towards infrastructure and the people needed to bring ideas to life, we are convinced we can underpin the future growth and profitability of our business”. Managing director Gerry Maguire said, “This new facility, which includes a dedicated development kitchen where new recipes can be trialled and crafted, is the next natural step for the company’s growth and will allow us to bolster our position as market leader within the meat processing industry”. The company forms part of Linden Food Group, which has a turnover in excess of £300 million and employs 1,100 people on seven sites in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and England.

With this investment comes the creation of 85 more jobs over the next 3 years to add to the firm’s existing team of employees. Invest NI offered £497,000 towards the project, a sum which was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Design David Miller of Icon Architects, experts in food processing structures, is the man behind a range of modern innovations at the plant. He told Premier Construction, “This is Linden’s first large, open-plan facility. The immediate benefit of its layout is that it’s easier to clean, maintain and supervise, and that advantage is furthered by the neat way in which we have incorporated services into the building – by running two gantries along the length of the structure to offer easy access”. He continued, “All flooring and worktops have anti-microbial surfaces and, right down to the smallest details, such as handlefree doors and easy-clean white tiling, the facility is perfect for food processing. On top of that, with features such as the attractive atrium installed to the front, the building not only plays the part of a factory that is streets ahead of similar facilities in the area, but also looks the part. I’m pleased with the success of the project, and I’d like to think our design has helped the client to demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to food processing”.

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The Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group (SLPTG) SLPTG (the Steeplejack & Lightning Protection Training Group) can provide clients or customers with all the necessary information regarding training, qualifications and experience to ensure that any contractors or sub contractors they are considering working with can demonstrate that they and their workforce have the correct qualifications and experience in lightning protection. According to the chairman of the SLPTG, “If an operative cannot produce a CSCS card stating that he is a qualified lightning conductor fitter NVQ II or NVQ III, then do not let him carry out work on your lightning protection system. Likewise, as all lightning protection work is covered under SCOPE, any company working on your lightning protection systems should be registered with the Construction Industry Levy Scheme. If not, do not let them carry out work. We have seen, over the past few years, an increase in other industries and unqualified personnel offering lightning protection services without the correct training, knowledge and experience”. Working closely with ATLAS (the Industry Federation), CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and Construction Skills at the National Construction College (in Bircham Newton, Norfolk), the SLPTG has formulated a national apprenticeship scheme and continues to expand training availability for this specialist industry. According to the SLPTG’s Colin Sanders, “The SLPTG demonstrates that we fully understand the commitment and consequent investment that is required for training because adaptable, skilled people are vital to the success of our industry”. Alan Ritchie, several secretary of the Construction Union, says, “A fully carded workforce is a safer and better trained workforce”. Richard Diment, director general of the Federation of Master Builders, says, “The FMB, as the leading trade association representing SMEs in the British construction sector, supports and promotes all aspects of craft management and health and safety training. It recognises CSCS as a vital means by which its members can record and provide proof of the skills and competency of their workforce and sub-contractors”. Julia Evans, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders, says, “CSCS provides a base line standard which is broadly accepted by the majority of the construction industry. It enables workers to demonstrate important proficiencies and companies to demonstrate a commitment to safe and efficient working”. Full information on the on the above statements and the CSCS Card Scheme can be found at www.cscs.uk.com The SLPTG needs to develop training for our industry by working

closely with clients and customers, main contractors, training providers and our members to ensure that the training delivered to our workers is improving the quality of our workforce in all areas. This will mean the introduction of more dynamic forms of training, which will elevate the industry. Please remember: if an operative cannot provide a CSCS card which states his NVQ II or NVQ III qualifications for on the rear, do not let him carry out the works! For further information, contact Lynne Fletcher (GTO) on 01625 664500, e-mail info@slptraininggroup.org.uk or visit the website at www.slptraininggroup.org.uk

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Pest Problem? See an Expert PestEx 2011, to be held on 6 and 7 April 2011 at the ExCel centre in London’s Docklands area, is the place to be for all those in the construction industry with a professional interest in pest control. On display will be the most up-to-date array of products designed for use in the control of pests – be they of the flying, crawling or scampering varieties. Of particular interest to the construction industry will be the stands from the leading European manufacturers of rodent control and flying insect killing machines – for example Jafo, Bradenburg and Insect-OCutor. Similarly, delegates can meet pest control experts on a range of subjects from bird control to repelling rodents. The event is organised by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), which 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 & 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 to Government, other key decision makers, the general public and associated industries; encourage high standards of professionalism within the industry and explain the role of the industry in today’s society and its benefits to the community.

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

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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 the width of a pencil, so 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. There are a variety of proofing methods for preventing birds from nesting on buildings. Netting, wires, ‘pyramids’ and spikes can be used to protect small features or whole facades of buildings. Selection of the right systems and their installation and integration is a specialist job, which should only be undertaken by a trained professional.

Why choose a BPCA member? When purchasing services, unlike goods, buyers cannot see what they are getting before making up their mind. The decision to take on a service contractor is, therefore, something of an act of faith. With current environmental and health and safety legislation, buyers cannot afford to make a mistake. By choosing a BPCA member company you are ensuring that the contractor is able to provide a thoroughly professional and consistent service. Membership is open to organizations involved in any aspect of the business of professional pest control. However, 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; which in brief includes industry held qualifications, demonstration of CPD, insurances and sites assessments to name but some. Conformation further stands to the Association’s Code of Practice and Code of Conduct.

Working with your pest control contractor

Effective pest control requires partnership between client and contractor. Mutual understanding is key to all. The contractor must have a clear understanding of the client’s needs and the client of what is technically possible and economically viable. This understanding can be reached through a contract specification, which defines clearly the service to be provided

whilst avoiding unreasonable or unrealistic demands of the contractor. A specimen specification is available from the BPCA. A comprehensive pest control contract covers preventive measures, management reporting procedures, accountability, and a documented system of actions, which provide appropriate evidence for the defence of ‘due diligence’ against prosecution and its consequences. Professional pest controllers also provide the necessary documentation and risk assessment for employers to meet the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999. A professional pest control contract ensures that you have no pest problems – and that you stay that way. When selecting a pest control contractor, several points need to be considered. The contractor should have the ability to carry out a full survey of the premises and present a clear report, with action points, recommendations and a firm quotation of cost. As the client you should insist on seeing evidence of adequate technical resources and of correctly trained and qualified service staff, supervisors and management, and also proof of adequate public liability, product liability and employer’s liability insurance cover. Finally a good working relationship can be maintained between the client and contractor if reporting procedures are developed, giving clear accountability on both sides, and clear contract terms are drafted to specify the pests to be covered, frequency of visits, responsibility for preventative measures, arrangements for extra treatments or emergency call-outs. Entry into the exhibition is free of charge for visitors. All visitors need do is pre-register by clicking onto the dedicated website at www.pestex.org. The ExCel Centre is situated in the heart of London Docklands, with easy by Docklands Light Railway, by car via the nearby motorways, or for international travellers, via London City airport. For further information PestEx 2011, call 0845 108 5504. For a list of BPCA members or for any further questions please contact 01332 294288 / www.bpca.org.uk / enquiry@bpca.org.uk.

Construction students lay foundations for success with Diploma awards The construction industry has been hit recently due to the global economic slowdown with knock-on effects contributing to a precarious outlook. However, there is hope for the future, with construction business forecasts expected to pick up this year. But companies across the UK are being urged to think about their own futures, as well as the future of the next generation of construction workers, by getting involved with and having a better understanding of the Diploma in Construction & Built Environment (C&BE). The diploma is a new type of qualification that listens to businesses and incorporates its philosophy into the curriculum.

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It has been heavily influenced by industry representatives to ensure that the approach to work required by employers in their young recruits is fostered at an early age. Skills shortages caused by the drop off in training during the last recession were felt years later, therefore it is crucial that this current downturn does not create similar problems. Diplomas have been developed in collaboration with employers to ensure their relevance and value and, that they provide flexibility and choice for all learners through a unique mix of traditional and work-relevant learning. They are valued by employers and higher education institutions, as their combination of essential skills, relevant experience and applied learning provides an excellent grounding for careers. Diplomas offer a qualification equivalent to GCSEs and A-Levels. The Foundation Diploma is equivalent to five GCSEs at grades D-G; The Higher Diploma to seven GCSEs at grades A*-C and the Advanced Diploma to three-and-a-half A levels. Students gain an excellent grasp of English, mathematics and IT skills, while learning how they relate to the construction industry. They also develop the skills that employers seek, such as how to think creatively, problem-solve, communicate effectively and work both independently and as part of a team and study a range of topics, from understanding the importance of health and safety issues to the management challenges involved in construction. Increasingly important industry issues like sustainability and the impact of the built environment on the community, and professions such as architecture, planning, civil engineering, surveying and building services are also explored. Having been developed by employers, schools, colleges and universities, the Diploma aims to help young people aged 14 to 19 realise their potential and gain knowledge and skills in a ‘real world’ environment. It has the flexibility to be taken instead of or alongside GCSEs, A-levels and vocational subjects and aims to equip students with skills they can apply to the next stage of their development, be that university, college or the job marketplace.

The hard work and success of the inaugural year was recognised recently at an innovative Bolton vocational centre as the first C&BE students were given awards after successfully completing their first year of study. The 16 students were the first group at the Powerwave Centre in Horwich to study for the diploma. The ceremony was attended by opportunistic former secretary of state for education and Bolton West MP, Ruth Kelly, and the budding youngsters also gave demonstrations of their construction abilities and skills. Special awards were also given to six students in recognition of their outstanding academic and practical achievements. Nick Gooderson, head of education, training and qualifications at ConstructionSkills, commented, “By investing so much time and energy into delivering the Diploma in C&BE companies are helping to provide the next generation of highly-skilled construction workers. Positive employer action such as this is exactly what the diploma needs: dynamic and enthusiastic companies who can engage with and develop young people who are looking to start a career in construction”. One thing guaranteed with students is plenty of untapped creativity. Businesses that work with students enjoy the fresh ideas and new perspective that young people bring, which will also help motivate existing staff. Working with the diploma is a fantastic way of developing new recruitment channels. This could not only reduce HR costs dramatically but it also means companies get first pick of the best young people coming into the job market. Similarly, young people are more likely to work for a company if they have had positive work experience there or have heard good things about the company from other young people. Unfortunately, the diploma will only succeed with industry-wide buy-in, providing the kind of pragmatic knowledge and skills that only employers can. So it really is extremely important that businesses both small and large in all sectors of the construction industry get involved with the diploma in C&BE to ensure a skilled, safe and enigmatic workforce for the future.

NEMEX – helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint It seems certain now that human activity, and the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere. As a result, global temperatures are starting to rise, which in turn is having a knock-on effect on climate and weather patterns. There is little doubt of the impact that climate change will have on our economy, environment, and our society. Indeed, the effects are already starting to be felt through recent extreme weather events ranging from heat waves and droughts, to storms and devastating floods.

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In an attempt to limit the effects of global warming, the UK has set strict targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050, and to obtain 15% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. It is no surprise that, as a consequence, businesses are under increasing pressure to review and reduce their energy usage. There are few better opportunities for business leaders to explore and identify the very latest solutions and find helpful advice and support than the National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX), the UK’s leading event for energy efficient solutions, which returns to the NEC Birmingham, 24th – 26th May 2011.

NEMEX 2011 will showcase the latest advances in renewable energy products, energy management systems, and energy efficient technologies. It will also give visitors access to industry experts in an extensive seminar programme, supported by a uniquely experienced steering group which includes ESTA, EiBI, Tesco and the Energy Institute. NEMEX forms part of Sustainabilitylive!, which brings together the International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX), Brownfield Expo (BEX), Environmental Technology (ET), and Sustainable Business (SB) - The Event.

Who’s going to be there? This year’s NEMEX features some of the biggest names in the energy sector including British Gas Business, Powerstar, Business Stream, powerPerfector, Monodraught, and Siemens Metering Services. The show attracted just under 9,000 attendees in 2010, with numbers expected to rise in 2011. Popular draws will be products and services for carbon management, energy efficiency, renewables, micro-generation, and biogas solutions.

Seminar programme The three-day seminar programme which runs alongside the exhibition will address a wide range of issues that are currently affecting the energy sector. Day One includes seminars on government policy, skills and training, carbon reduction strategies, and energy standards. On Day Two, there are sessions on grants and financing, procurement and energy supply, energy efficiency services, demand response and voltage optimisation. On the third day, expert speakers will discuss issues such as behavioural changes required in marketing energy efficiency and examine case studies on community engagement. Alongside the seminar programme, the Major Energy Users Council (MEUC) will join Utility Week to hold workshops over two days of the show. The workshops will explore issues such as the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and what it means for companies in the future, energy efficiency measures, as well as saving and managing energy and carbon. The workshops will be held on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, more information will be available soon on the NEMEX website www. nemex.co.uk.

HEVAR – the main event for heating and ventilating industries Visitors to NEMEX can also take advantage of HEVAR, the essential event in the UK for buyers and specifiers in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration industries, which for the first time will be co-located to NEMEX. Its seminar programme includes on Day One energy management in buildings, building controls, effective lighting and examine cooling challenges. On the second day, delegates can attend sessions on energy efficient buildings and seminars run by the Heat Pump Association and BRE. The final day will include speakers talking about renewables, wind and solar technologies, heat pumps and anaerobic digestion and biofuel.

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A s s o c i ati o n s exhibitors, visitors, and environmental decision-makers across both private and public sector organisations. Exhibitors already signed up include NQA, BSI, Envac UK Ltd, Environmental Sustainability KTN, and Toshiba TEC UK Imaging Systems. Parsons Brinckerhoff and powerPerfector have been confirmed as sponsors of the event.This year’s lead event sponsor is Siemens plc, with Parsons Brinckerhoff, powerPerfector and BSI now confirmed as co-sponsors. Its three-day conference will explore topics such as the coalition government’s plans for a low-carbon economy, retrofitting and future-proofing the built environment and sustainable transport.

Recognising excellence and innovation – the Environment and Energy Awards The Environment and Energy Awards recognise excellence and innovation in sustainable business practices across the environment, land, energy and sustainable business sectors, and has attracted a record number of entries for 2011. This year, the awards will have 13 categories including two new awards: Best Energy-Efficient Refurbishment Award and Best Energy Supplier Customer Service Award. Results will be announced at a gala dinner on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 at the National Motorcycle Museum.

Industry partnership NEMEX would like to thank the following partners for their support: The Energy Institute; the Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA); the Major Energy Users’ Council (MEUC); the National Energy Foundation (NEF) and the Renewable Energy Association (REA). NEMEX would also like to acknowledge its media partners Utility Week, ACR, edie.net, Energy in Buildings and Industry, HVR and Sustainable Business magazine. In 2011, Sustainabilitylive! is partnering with The Prince’s Mayday Network (www.maydaynetwork.com), the UK’s biggest business led movement of businesses and organisations taking action on climate change and resource depletion. Mayday businesses work together and with partners to seek out and promote the best solutions to the major environmental challenges we face. NEMEX will be held in Halls 3 and 3a at the NEC from 24th – 26th May 2011. For up-to-date exhibitor news, seminar programmes, information on how to exhibit or how to register for free attendance visit www.nemex.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8651 7120.

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 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

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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. Failure to comply with 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”. The FIRAS scheme criteria are based upon practical competence, supported by knowledge rather than making discipline training courses a mandatory component of the schemes. This approach 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. 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. 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

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.

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. 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 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 ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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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 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’ 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..

Dignity and mobility – hot topics in the care industry Each year around 40,000 people – mostly elderly – are awarded a “disabled facilities grant” for adaptations to the home, such as handrails, ramps and stair lifts. The equipment allows frail elderly people and others to maintain their mobility, preventing or limiting deterioration in their condition. Specialist improvements to homes often require only minimal intrusion and investment, especially when compared with extensive blanket housing projects such as the Decent Homes scheme, and yet many victims of unsuitable homes are left waiting for the improvements they need. Freedom of Information Act responses garnered from local authorities by one national broadsheet and published in May 2010 show widespread delays in providing aids to those who seek help. Similar concerns over provision of equipment have struck the care home industry, as many elders failed by their local authorities find themselves limited to care homes despite their preference to stay at home. Both they and others who willingly take up residence in care homes place mobility and dignity high on their list of priorities. Earlier this year, widely-recognised elderly person Sir Michael Parkinson published a report calling for misconceptions about the elderly to be replaced with a new focus on placing dignity at ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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A s s o c i ati o n s the heart of care. At the launch of his report, Sir Michael said, “Becoming National Dignity Ambassador has strengthened my belief that dignity in care needs to be everybody’s business”. “It struck me that whilst there are some excellent examples of care, where people are given the dignity and respect they need and deserve, much more needs to be done”. To coincide with the publication of the presenter’s paper, former health secretary Andy Burnham announced the launch of a new “dignity day of action” in February to promote greater sensitivity towards the elderly. He also launched a £50,000 Bright Ideas Grant to support innovative projects that encourage dignity in care, although the sum involved was condemned by some as insignificant.

What can be done? In practical terms, whether in care homes or in private properties, the smallest investment in mobility aids can make the biggest difference, allowing people with restricted movement to live with the same ease as their neighbours. Packages including raised toilets and rails can be bought and installed for as little as £250, whilst a full house kit out of easyturn tap and door handles can be achieved for less than £150. It is often cheaper to ramp up to a doorstep than to install steps, whilst an extra hand rail parallel to a stair banister, designed for functional value rather than decoration, often costs much less than the original banister itself. Care homes are not exempt from criticism when it comes to maintaining the dignity of their residents, as Sir Michael Parkinson’s recent reports have demonstrated. Innovation in care homes, to provide the latest automated and computerised conveniences, can go far beyond what is possible in a private home. Admittedly, so can the cost. But is dignity not worth paying for?

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