premier construction magazine 16-5

Roma Publications

Historic Scotland Safeguarding the nation’s historic environment

Volume 16 - Issue 5

RIBA Award winners 2011

NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Awards 2011

Stay ahead of the competition See Construction Study Centre’s guide to training on CDM, Building Regs, H&S, Project Management and Property Maintenance. 1-3 day courses, led by experienced and active professionals, UK wide this autumn.

Undertaking building and structural surveys to establish building condition, identification and repair of some typical structural defects 21 Sep 2011 25 Oct 2011 22 Nov 2011

Manchester Birmingham London

COURSE BACKGROUND This 1 DAY COURSE will provide an overview of building and structural surveys, including typical defects, subsidence etc, preparing reports and repair option.

SPEAKER ALL VENUES David Symonds OVERVIEW Establishing the client’s needs • The briefing process • Interpreting the brief and setting objectives • Resource management: controlling the time and cost of the survey Legal liability and compliance • Contractual liability and negligence risks Preparations for undertaking a survey • Documentary information • Health and safety risk assessment • Surveying equipment

The preparation of survey reports and schedules • The structure and style of the report or schedule of condition • The contents of the report Further investigations • Crack and level monitoring • Excavations and boreholes • Soil testing, laboratory analysis and root identification Typical structural defects • Lateral restraint problems • Corrosion and rot, chemical attack • Accidental damage • Repair options Subsidence • The difference between subsidence and settlement • Shallow foundations and filled ground • Clay soils, shrinkage, trees • Leaking drains Repair of some typical structural defects • Superstructure repair • Mass concrete underpinning

Effective planned maintenance of buildings – protecting capital assets in difficult times 3 Oct 2011 27 Oct 2011 9 Nov 2011

Manchester Birmingham London

COURSE BACKGROUND This 1 DAY COURSE will provide practical expert perspectives on effective planned maintenance, with a background in the necessity for cost effectiveness and due consideration of climate change and sustainability issues.

SPEAKER ALL VENUES John Edwards OVERVIEW Maintenance strategy • Purpose, content and development; influences on strategy Asset management • Purpose and advantages of asset management; balancing different types of values; development and use Understanding maintenance requirements • Common examples of planned maintenance and their cycles; influence of building use and type; performance of buildings in use Surveys and inspections • Types and their purpose; recording and using information; the benefits of building pathology Planned ‘v’ responsive maintenance • Defining the difference; advantages and disadvantages

Different forms of planned maintenance • Cyclical; condition based; occupancy demand Understanding building performance • Use or occupancy; survey and inspection data use Improvements through planned maintenance • Using building performance data; understanding refurbishment and retrofit opportunities; cost and value analysis Legal responsibilities • Health and safety; tenancy obligations; listed buildings and conservation areas Different types of buildings • Understand the influence of different types; individual building types; system built structures; traditional buildings Implications of climate change • Understanding building performance challenges; common planned maintenance requirements; dealing with increased maintenance requirements; green supply chain issues Specifications • Ensuring adequate standards; performance and prescriptive specifications; supply chain issues Procurement and contract management • Options; supply chain management; tendering; supervision

The project management boot camp – 50 things every PM needs to know 3 Oct 2011 6 Oct 2011 16 Nov 2011 17 Nov 2011

London Birmingham Bristol Manchester

COURSE BACKGROUND This 1 DAY COURSE will provide a tool kit for existing and potential project managers on the do’s and don’ts of successful PM. SPEAKERS’ PANEL The speaker for each course will be from a panel of either Richard Allen or Nigel Clayton.

OVERVIEW The effective project manager • Establishing criteria for effectiveness • Leadership role explained • Knowing the stakeholders’ needs • Understanding project constraints • Identifying project aims and goals Project stages • Defining the concept and the business case • Identifying the key development stages • Planning implementation • Confirming hand over • Final close out timing Project definition • What is the project management plan?

• Understanding project life cycle concepts • Creating a work breakdown structure • Establish an effective communications plan • Identifying the organisation breakdown structure Risk management • Identifying the risks • Managing the risk through risk meetings • Appointing risk champions

22 Feb 2012 7 Mar 2012 27 Mar 2012 29 Mar 2012

Bristol Manchester Birmingham London

• Understanding the dynamics of risk management • Controlling the risk plan Programming • What is a programme?

• Knowing the types of programme • Understanding basic Gantt charts • Terms used in programming • Critical path analysis The team • Motivating the team • How to delegate effectively • Dealing with ‘obstructions’ • Responding to spoken, written and silent language • Knowing the people types Control of projects • How to manage conflict • How to monitor progress simply • Keeping an eye on KPIs • Reviewing with feedback • Review the PMP Managing change • Configuration management • Change control • Tools for valuing change • ‘Don’t forgets’ when dealing with change • Rescheduling with change Earned value analysis • Mixing time, cost & quality • Monitoring project using earned value – understanding cost & programme performance • Indicators • Knowing RIRO! • Calibrating EVA Closing out • Careful definition of the stage • Plan for the completion • Avoiding unwanted termination • Post implementation project evaluation • And don’t forget to praise & reward!

Dealing with condensation, damp and rot in buildings 7 Sep 2011 16 Nov 2011 14 Dec 2011

Birmingham Manchester London

COURSE BACKGROUND The aim of this 1 DAY COURSE is to understand why condensation, damp and rot occur in buildings and to discuss appropriate remedies.

SPEAKER ALL VENUES Stephen Neale OVERVIEW Identification of the sources of moisture in buildings • Building uses and activities • Building and services defects What is dampness?

• The physical properties that contribute to dampness • The quantification of dampness The importance of relative humidity and how to measure it • The interaction of moisture and temperature • Using an electronic hygrometer How to measure the moisture content of building materials • Distinguishing between air dry and ambient moisture levels

• Using an electronic moisture meter • The difference between masonry and timber measurements What is condensation?

• Dew point and surface temperatures • Seasonal factors How does interstitial condensation occur?

• Condensation within building elements • The interpretation of temperature gradients The effects of heating, insulation, ventilation and physical barriers • Design parameters • Problem solving The implications of mould • Mould types and toxicity • Conditions that cause mould The causes of rot in timber • Types of fungal decay and contributing conditions • Wood boring insect: species and lifecycle Remedies for dampness and condensation • The range of options • Decision making criteria Repairs for timber decay • The extent of timber replacement • The use of chemicals

Contents PREMIER CONSTRUCTION

Volume 16 • Issue 5

Dear readers, Awards are high on the agenda this month as we profile a host of winners in the NHBC’s Pride in the Job Quality Awards, as well as turning our attention to architects commended for design excellence in the RIBA 2011 annual honours.

Announcing the Pride in the Job 2011 Quality Award winners, NHBC Chief Executive, Imtiaz Farookhi, said: “Winning a PIJ award at any level has become an accolade well worth having, marking the recipient out as a top performer. All the site managers have shown true diligence and commitment to producing the best quality homes possible.”

The RIBA Awards are synonymous with great design, clear thinking and integrity, earning a huge amount of respect within the industry. This prestigious awards ceremony, now in its 21st year, has grown steadily in stature to hold a revered place in the industry calendar. The awards provide the industry with an opportunity to recognise and applaud the talents of all the participants, not just the winners.

Next up, we do the rounds of the pick of the country’s current historic building conservation projects backed by Historic Scotland - an agency within the Scottish Government which is directly responsible to Scottish Ministers for safeguarding the nation’s historic environment and promoting its understanding and enjoyment. The organisation’s role is to deliver policy and advise on all aspects of the historic environment on behalf of Scottish Ministers, as well as to carry out statutory functions - including scheduling sites of national importance and taking them into state care, and listing structures for their architectural or historical significance.

Changing focus from the historic to the modern, it’s time to look in on a major project to construct a new community facility known as the Phoenix Centre in Goodwick. Currently progressing on time and under budget, the new centre is an architectural triumph based on the sports club embracing the community Looking beyond UK shores, we call in to take a look at Belgium’s biggest infrastructure project, the Liefkenshoek Rail Tunnel, a scheme valued at 680 million euros and involving the construction and maintenance of the civil infrastructure for a new 16.2 km freight-only railway in the bounds of the Port of Antwerp undercrossing the River Schelde and the Canal Dock.

Of course, that’s just a small sample of the vast selection of projects covered this month. Take a closer look and keep bang up to date with latest happenings on the UK construction scene, with Premier Construction.

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Rebecca Chamberlin

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RIBA Awards Royal Shakespeare Theatre..............................................................................10 Middelfart Savings Bank..................................................................................12

NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Awards Westgate Drive...................................................................................................26 Elwyn House......................................................................................................28

Scotland Historic Scotland...............................................................................................32 Scottish Water...................................................................................................45

North West Sellafield decommissioning frameworks.........................................................60

North East & Yorkshire Selby Community project.................................................................................62

Midlands & East Anglia Condover Hall...................................................................................................68 Norwich City Council Decent Homes..............................................................72

South West Thamesdown Drive............................................................................................78 Trewhiddle Village.............................................................................................84

London & South East St Pauls Cathedral.............................................................................................93 Kings Cross redevelopment............................................................................101

Wales The Phoenix Centre..........................................................................................117 Llanelly House..................................................................................................122

Overseas Liefkenshoek Rail tunnel..................................................................................124

Heritage Lead Contractors Association........................................................................132

Associations ConstructionSkills..........................................................................................140 ARCA...............................................................................................................148

www.premierconstructionmagazine.co.uk © Roma Publications Ltd. All contents are copyright. All rights are reserved. No part may be stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the publishers.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. the editorial policy and general layout of this publication are at the discretion of the publisher and no debate will be entered into. No responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, artwork or photographs whilst in transmission with the publishers or their agents unless a commitment is made in writing prior to the receipt of such terms.

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I N D U ST RY N E WS

Bribery Act Significant For Industry Practices From July 1st 2011 the new Bribery Act has been in force, and legal experts have warned that all firms should ensure that working within the new guidelines is a priority, including companies from all sectors, including the construction industry.

The Act endorses ‘reasonable and proportionate’ corporate hospitality, but the advice is to implement anti-bribery programmes and to make sure that all employees are familiar with the updated legislation, with experts particularly highlighting the potential for breach of the Act in overseas business.

Partner in Deloitte’s forensic and dispute services team, Nic Carrington stresses the importance of ensuring that management and staff in overseas operations “properly understand that local custom and practice will be no defence under the new UK law and that consequently their actions may give rise to significant corporate and individual liabilities back in the UK.” He explains that “Unless properly trained and followed through, it may be easy for management and staff to dismiss new policy documents as not relevant to their local operations and what they perceive as the realities of conducting business on the ground. A meaningful anti-bribery risk assessment must therefore fully engage with overseas operations to identify all the risk areas that are faced and an effective training programme will be critical.”

VAT Slash Best Move For Residential Construction Industry?

More than 40% of respondents to the most recent quarterly survey by the Scottish Construction Monitor say that one of the government’s highest priorities should be cutting VAT payable on home building improvements to 5%. According to the survey, completed by the members of the Scottish Building Federation, this is considered to be the most effective measure to boost industry in the current economic climate.

Capita Symonds on £3.1 Billion Build in Kenya Proving that they can win the most prestigious contracts around the globe, Capita Symonds have recently been appointed as programme delivery partner for a major new investment in Kenya.

The project will see an entire new city developed in the Greater Nairobi region, a mixed-use development comprising housing for 62,000 people besides, of course, the premises for many businesses. There will be social facilities as well as premises for retailers, commercial businesses, and the tourism industry.

Capita Symonds will be leading the way from the laying of the first foundations right through to the completion of the construction, ensuring that the client’s vision for the new Tatu City translates smoothly into reality. They will be overseeing all aspects of the process, from project and design management, development of a programme management office and procurement, to overall programme management in the postconstruction phase. In particular the firm will be responsible for managing the construction of the necessary infrastructure, including power, water and gas supplies, road

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networks and IT provision.

Carl Devlin, the Capita Symonds director for programme delivery expresses the proud achievement of the company, which has previously secured illustrious contracts in Britain such as with the ITV’s relocation of Coronation Street to Salford Quays and was shortlisted for similar programme delivery roles for London 2012 developments and Crossrail. Now the company is continuing to cement its reputation on the world-stage by winning the bid to supply their expertise on this project.

“Tatu City is a key win for us as it demonstrates our ability to win the largest international bids,” he said, “We will be working with the local project teams to provide them with the leadership and expertise to ensure that this complex, groundbreaking project is delivered successfully.”

The same survey found, that since the last quarter, confidence in the industry is +16 points, now standing at -6.

But despite this, 70% of participants expressed no greater confidence for business prospects over the next twelve months compared with the last year, suggesting a need for significant action to give the industry a lift.

These statistics have become public as the Markit/ CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) also records falling confidence in the industry.

While June’s score of 53.6 still represents growth, it is down on the 54.0 of the previous month, and comes alongside a six month low in business confidence within the sector. Survey author Sarah Bingham also states that “The contraction in residential construction provides further evidence to highlight the weakness of the household sector in recent months…”

All of this information seems set to lend more weight than ever to the campaign for VAT rates to be cut, a campaign which Scottish Building Federation chief executive Michael Levack has described as “a long-standing issue”.

VAT rates are under the control of the UK Treasury, but the mood in Scotland particularly implies that the Scottish Government will be called to put significant pressure on in Westminster to cut rates to the minimum allowed under EU law.

Osborne To Put New Face On Dartford Station £7m Deal KickStarts GB Renewables The latest subsidiary in the GB Group, GB Renewable Energy, has won a £7m contract with Northumberland County Council, to fit photovoltaic (PV) panels on 400 council homes and 130 public buildings.

The project will also have a wider social impact, as BG pledges to train local workers to install the new technology.

This significant deal is not the full extent of GB’s intended business in the area, as they plan to provide renewable energy to private home owners too, in a significant business venture.

In the broader plan for renewable energy provision, GB will offer solar panels, air-source and ground-source heat pumps, biomass boilers and combined heat and power (CHP) heating to the private market, but importantly, they will offer the equipment and installation for free. Where GB will make its profit in the scheme is through feedin tariff revenue.

Martin Smout, GB Group chairman and chief executive, explains that the innovative business move is tailored to the current money-consciousness of society, while not compromising on what he describes as the ‘urgent’ need to get the government’s renewable energy agenda under way.

He says that “The Committee on Climate Change has set a target for the UK to reduce emissions by 60% by 2030, to achieve this we need to move away from oil and gas and focus much more on renewable energy. Councils will have higher targets to look at the efficiency ratings of their buildings and we believe that homeowners will see increasing incentives to help them afford the changes needed to their properties to help them make the switch from traditional fuels to renewable.”

With all these things in mind, GB’s Renewable Energy division seems poised to make a strident entry onto the UK construction scene in both public and private sectors.

Osborne, the company who recently completed the £14.5 million redevelopment of Clapham Junction, have just been awarded the both design and build contracts for Network Rail’s planned rebuild of Dartford Station, a project set to cost $7 million. Funding is mainly provided by the Homes & Communities Agency through Dartford Borough Council (£6.073m), while the national government programme for station improvements has supplied a further £1 million.

The redevelopment project, due to commence in September and be fully open by the end of 2012, will involve the demolition of many existing buildings, including rail office buildings in front of the station, in order to make space for more adequate parking facilities.

The three-storey design for the new station will incorporate offices on the second and third floors to accommodate relocated offices. New concourse and ticket-office facilities will be built at ground-level, which Network rail intend will improve travellers’ general experience of using the station, creating a more

pleasant and convenient environment particularly more attractive to rush-hour passengers.

It will be a challenging project, as the station will be kept fully operational as the construction work is carried out, but service-providers Southeastern are confident that the project’s entire impact will be a positive one. Service delivery director Vince Lucas has stated that “Dartford is one of our busiest stations and deserves an environment to match. This project will help provide our passengers with a better experience when travelling by train and help area around the station. We will be working hard with Network Rail to ensure that there is minimal disruption to our services.”

Student Tower to Revitalise Southampton The local council has recently given approval to plans for a new tower block of student accommodation in Swaythling, Southampton, to be completed in time for the beginning of the academic year in 2013.

This area of the town will profit greatly from the redevelopment and business that the new build will bring into the currently run-down area, which covers 0.3 hectares.

At present the site is the home of a youth centre and the Inner City Boxing Club, but the community will lose none of the benefits of these facilities with the opening of the new development. Designed by Fluid Architects, based in Crawley, the central tower comprising the 360-bed student accommodation will also have two wings to house businesses requiring relocation due to the project. Bouyges Development, who submitted the planning application, have also committed to relocating the facilities currently based on the site.

Named the Southampton City Gateway, the development promises to deliver a new centrepiece to the area, smartening up Swaythling’s town-centre and housing many potential customers for the local shops and facilities.

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RIBA

Prestigious awards honour exceptional architecture The recently presented prestigious RIBA awards judged new buildings in the UK, Europe and further afield to find the 2011 RIBA Award winners and RIBA International Award winners.

RIBA Awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows, or for buildings in the rest of the EU by RIBA Chartered Architects.

RIBA International Awards are for buildings outside the EU by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows.

Now in its sixth year, the Lubetkin Prize shortlist is drawn from winners of RIBA International Awards. These are for buildings outside the EU by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows. The Lubetkin Prize is presented at the RIBA Stirling Prize dinner to the best RIBA International Award winner.

Judging criteria for the awards includes: budget; size; complexity of brief; detail; invention/originality; contract type; client satisfaction; sustainability; social factors and delight.

This year’s RIBA award-winning buildings range geographically

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from a winery in Spain to a community hall on the Scottish Hebridean island of Raasay, and in style from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford to ‘Love Shack’ - a self-build hideaway in the Lake District National Park.

The recently completed Velodrome is the first ever 2012 Olympics event building to win an architecture prize and is one of five RIBA Awards for Hopkins Architects, a practice previously shortlisted three times for the RIBA Stirling Prize.

2011 has been an exceptional year for private houses which constitute 17 out of 89 UK winners. Schools and universities have also flourished with 14 schools (including three BSF projects and two Academies) and 9 university buildings winning awards. Last year’s RIBA Stirling Prize winner, Zaha Hadid, is an award winner this year with the Evelyn Grace Academy in South London.

Three very different health buildings – the NHS Teenage Cancer Trust in Birmingham, Foster + Partner’s private Circle Hospital in Bath and a new Maggie’s Cancer Care centre in Cheltenham – showcase carefully designed, comfortable spaces to aid patient wellbeing.

New campus exhibits a high degree of architectural excellence Praised as “fluidly knitting together considerably diverse uses,” the design of the University of Wales, Newport’s new £35 million City Campus has been recognised in the prestigious RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) architectural awards.

Designed by architects BDP, and constructed by Wilmott Dixon, the campus is situated on the banks of the River Usk. Opus worked closely with the design team to ensure that the reinforced concrete structure contributes to the acoustic and thermal performance of the building. The flat slab structure allows free zones for the routing of services around the building.

The structure was analysed in a three dimensional model with a finite element analysis of the floor plates.

Commenting on the announcement of the award, the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Graham Rogers said: “The city can rightly be proud of the building, which the university has always made clear belongs to the people of Newport. As well as being at the heart of the regeneration of Newport and providing economic growth for the region, we can now proudly say that we have one of the best buildings in Wales right here in our city.”

Chris Harding of Architects, BDP added: “It is great news for the university and everyone involved with delivering this amazing building. BDP is very proud of this award and delighted that the City Campus is now recognised for its innovative and creative design.”

Housing sound and television studios, screening theatres, lecture theatres, learning support, exhibition space, teaching studios and academic offices, the design approach is to provide a sociable and convivial environment which fosters interdisciplinary learning, research and outreach.

Constructed on a podium on a tight site, the six storey building is ‘U’ shaped, incorporating a yellow cladding centrepiece known as the ‘hot house’ where academics and researchers can work together.

The external elevations are in a combination of high performance

glazing, variable bonded brickwork and horizontal black zinc cladding, topped with a very large curved metal standing seam roof which appears to ‘float’ over the whole building, creating a highly distinctive skyline.

External works included extensive hard landscaping and tree planting.

“The building is designed to encourage interdisciplinary working and the cross fertilization of ideas between the three faculties which occupy it” said Chris Harding, adding that the design also optimises the river views.

He said that the whole development is designed to be open and accessible with many shared facilities and a main frontage located on a new waterfront square. “With ground floor exhibition space and a cafe open to the public, the building design is geared to encourage people to enter and see what is happening at the university and possibly take up courses.”

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RIBA

Royal Shakespeare Theatre transformation team take a bow The project team responsible for the transformation of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford have taken a bow after the scheme won a top architecture accolade.

The £113 million upgrade carried out in a project designed by Bennetts Associates Architects, working with Main Contractors Mace, has been honoured for its architectural excellence by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Anthony Clerici, RIBA West Midlands regional chairman, said: “The theatre was rewarded for the way it retained Elisabeth Scott’s grade II listed facade and foyer and the creation of the auditorium which features a thrust stage and seats 1,040 people. Judges particularly praised Bennetts Associates Architects for their design of the building, for their thoughtful and cohesive planning, drawing particular attention to the tower and the way the theatre relates to its surroundings such as through the widening of the riverside walk.

Simon Erridge of Bennetts Associates Architects says: “The new auditorium was key to the project. Wrapping around three sides of the stage on three different levels it was designed

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especially for Shakespearian productions and ensures that no-one in the audience is more than 15 metres away from the actors.”

He added that another key element of the scheme concentrates on the main street frontage of the building which has been transformed to extend a warm and inviting welcome to visitors.

“The building was previously entered through the park to one side and the main street frontage had the appearance of an industrial warehouse. We needed to improve the relationship between the building and the town to attract people in. Visitors flocked to attractions such as Shakespeare’s grave and his school but rarely visited the theatre.” The solution, he explained, was the introduction of a visually striking new main frontage to the building with inviting foyer spaces, as well as the formation of new pedestrian routes leading from the town to a new public square created next to the theatre.

The third key element of the scheme, he said, was the introduction of a dramatic 36 metre high tower constructed in load bearing brickwork topped with a largely glazed upper level.

The tower acts as a highly visible landmark, acting like a magnet to attract visitors.

Internally, the lower levels of the tower contain the main foyer, lift and circulation routes for the theatre. A series of exhibition spaces are located in the centre section of the structure, with the upper level incorporating a rooftop level restaurant and viewing area overlooking the whole of Stratford.

“Alongside the new elements, we also thought it important to retain the character of the original building, with many of the original features being restored - or re-used in the case of the old stage, the boards from which were recovered and re-laid in the new foyer - so now everyone will have the chance to tread the boards used by famous actors!” said Mr Erridge.

Vikki Heywood, Royal Shakespeare Company Executive Director, was delighted at the award: “The architects, Bennetts Associates, have created a fantastic new building. It is a building for everyone, with lots for visitors to enjoy whether they are seeing a show or not and we are very proud indeed to have won a RIBA Award.”

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RIBA

Architects scoop honours for prestigious bank HQ project Leading Denmark-based architectural practice 3XN (3XNielsen) has just won a prestigious 2011 Royal Institute of British Architect’s (RIBA) European Award for a project to design a head office for Middelfart Savings Bank.

“This was certainly good news and we were all very happy about the award” said Mr Kim Herforth-Nielsen of 3XN. “This project is much more than a bank building, it is a facility for the whole community” he added. “Our aim was to design a building that fits into the small town of Middlefart whilst at the same time creating a community facility.”

Projects from all over the Europe were reviewed in the selection, and it is recognised as being one of the most prestigious International Architectural Awards in Europe. The project was reviewed and personally visited by the RIBA Jury on two separate visits earlier this year.

Middelfart Savings Bank is a key institution in the town of Middelfart, located by the Lillebælt waters on the island of Funen, Denmark. Thus the savings bank wanted their new head office at Havnegade 21, to provide a new public space for the local citizens as well as an architectural icon for the town and the savings bank.

The 5,000 sq m new building constructed by the roof and

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facade contractors HS Hansen is far from just a bank and thus the head office created in the project is not just a traditional office building. The bank is a realisation of its ambition to be amongst the best workplaces in Denmark and – at the same time – act as a social agent in the local community. 3XN interpreted these ambitions into a tactile design, understanding architecture as a comprehensive framework for social life.

The building is characterised by a dramatic roofscape accommodating multiple functions. 83 prism-like skylights compose the spectacular roof surface defining the geometry of the building – in reference to the maritime environment as well as the surrounding timber framed buildings. Thus, the new head office gently reflects and interacts with the dimensions, scales, roofs and cornice lines of the old town.

The roof is specially designed to frame a perfect view towards the water while at the same time shading from direct sunlight; thereby demonstrating a perfect synergy between design and function.

A bookshop, a café, a real estate agent and the cash desk are placed around a central plaza, resulting in the building forming an informal public meeting space at the ground floor level. The savings bank work stations are located on three open terraces internally connected by broad staircases encouraging

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RIBA 3XN was founded as Nielsen, Nielsen and Nielsen in Aarhus in 1986 by the architects Kim Herforth Nielsen, Lars Frank Nielsen (partner until 2002) and Hans Peter Svendler Nielsen (partner until 1992). The three Nielsen architects, often referred to as the Nielsens – and today simply as 3XN – quickly became known for two things: their preference for ground-breaking architecture, in defiance of the anti-humanistic modernism, and projects demanding a high level of detail and employing workmanship of the highest quality.

3XN Architects define their philosophy as “Architecture shapes behaviour. That is why we try to create places where people can interact and communicate and where synergy can grow. We believe that buildings, like people, are more than just the sum of their many parts. We believe that it is possible to achieve a synthesis of design, function and context. That is why a holistic approach is our guiding principle, and why we are forever exploring the possibilities of building better, cleverer, more beautifully.” interaction and informal meetings or breaks. All plateaux are endowed with plenty of daylight and an unhindered view to the water.

The working environment is further improved by sustainable features such as natural ventilation and the latest technologies in energy efficient heating and cooling. Thermo active concrete elements facilitate energy savings of 30-50 percent.

Kim Herforth Nielsen, Principal and Founder of 3XN says “It is great that Danish architects are receiving such awareness and respect around the world lately.”

The project has been referred to as Denmark’s best office building by a leading Danish architecture critic. Since then, the project has received widespread attention from around the world for its iconic architecture and social philosophy combination. It has previously been awarded the MIPIM/Architectural Review Future Projects Award in 2006 and IIDA Global Excellence Awards 2010, Honorable Mention.

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Award-Winning Design Of A Centre Fit For Heroes Page \ Park Architects have won a RIBA award for their response to a charity’s request for an ‘iconic building’.

Their design for the Centre for Scottish War blinded, Linburn, recently opened by the Duke of Gloucester, is an innovative timber-clad construction, inspired by a hand-carved Chinese celestial dragon which was housed in the display room of the current facility. This inspiration manifests itself in the building’s undulating footprint and sweeping zinc standing seam roof.

“We were delighted to have won the RIBA award - which was our second this year. The other was for our design of the McManus Galleries project in Dundee” said Mr Jamie Hamilton of Page \ Park Architects. He added that one of the most challenging aspects of the project was achieving the correct geometry for the building’s undulating steel skeleton.

The 800msq single storey building, constructed by Brown Construction of Dundee, replaces the charity’s existing 1950’s facility which occupies an adjacent site.

The building is structured around a steel frame, with external elevations in timber cladding, incorporating aluminum/wood composite framed windows. External works included the construction of a greenhouse and landscaping to create a sensory garden.

The new facility includes a workshop, art space, training areas, a gym, therapy spaces and administrative offices, as well as a remembrance room. The building offers a comfortable and sociable environment, whilst also providing rehabilitation and life skills assistance for servicemen and women suffering from visual impairments. With the facility now taking in veterans of more recent conflicts, the mixture of activities reflects the changing demographic of users the organisation now supports.

The building harbours a strong focus on internal flow, with a mainly open plan arrangement along one circulation spine. The organisation of the building aims to be as simple as possible so that the users can easily form a mental picture of the building. In addition, bold ‘gestures’ are made at doorways and changes of direction to further assist navigation RIBA describes the scheme as: “This elegant building, sitting beautifully in its West Lothian landscape, demonstrates the benefits of enlightened architectural patronage by a distinguished charitable trust. The sinuous plan form – taking its inspiration from a hand carved Chinese celestial dragon – has produced a building which is comprehensible for its users, all of whom suffer different levels of visual impairment. The sweeping zinc covered roofscape and limited external materials generate a sophisticated and elegant building, free of institutional connotations.

Rooms are accessed off a single, broad spine, connecting the social, work and rehabilitation spaces of the building, with access to each subtly differentiated by variations in the internal colour palette.”

Scottish War Blinded set out to procure a building of exceptional architectural quality to reflect the image of the organisation in the strongest possible light. The charity specified that the building should meet the needs of the service users vacating the existing facility and the forecast needs of the many more who will join them in the new centre. It also determined that the building should be light and modern with a services theme and take cognisance of service users’ visual impairment, including specific design features relating to that.

Scottish War Blinded held the official opening of the new centre on 1 June. HRH the Duke of Gloucester carried out the ceremonials and there was an RAF fly past to mark the occasion.

Scottish War Blinded members and staff have been impressed by the support they have received from many quarters.

Scottish War Blinded was founded in Edinburgh in 1915 with

the object of caring for Scotland’s sailors, soldiers and airmen and women who were blinded in the service of their country. In addition to those blinded in conflict, assistance is given to any person who has been a member of the Armed Forces and has suffered a visual impairment.

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Ice Age museum exhibits design excellence The stunning design of an Ice Age Museum at Cresswell Crags , near Worksop, won OMI Architects of Manchester a RIBA Award for Design Excellence.

Creswell Crags is one of Britain’s most important archaeological and geological sites and is currently shortlisted for World Heritage Status.

A dramatic magnesium limestone gorge, fractured by a series of fissures and deep-cut caves the crags has provided evidence of human and animal activity dating back more than 50,000 years. Creswell Crags hit the headlines in April 2003 with the discovery of the Ice Age Cave Art which was billed as one of the most important prehistoric finds in the last decade.

The project involved the sensitive design of a new museum and education centre on this precious site, to interpret the morphology of Creswell Crags and its rich collection of artefacts that have been brought back home from the likes of the British Museum.

The new building, constructed by GF Tomlinson, incorporates state of the art exhibition areas, a research laboratory and library, collection storage facilities, a suite of rooms for education

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groups, talks and conferences a shop, cafĂŠ and administration offices.

The building acts as a gateway to the crags and the fragmented form of the new structure defines a descending sequence of movement that arrives at the foot of the gorge. Locally sourced magnesium limestone is used throughout to connect the building with the indigenous geology. The raw oak boarding used is aging nicely and is a fitting response to the woodland setting.

The building is approximately 1300m2 in area and is roughly five times larger than the previous visitor centre that was demolished as part of the redevelopment.

Located within steeply sloping woodland overlooking the gorge, the basic form of the building is that of two long low linear blocks running parallel to the contours of the site over two storeys - the north side single storey and the south face two storeys. The building acts as an intentional visual barrier between the visitor car park and the gorge to ensure views of the site are restricted until an appropriate stage in the visitor sequence. Only once the visitor starts to move through the

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Two magnesium limestone ashlar stone spine walls split the building into two parallel blocks and define the circulation route through the building. The walls rise above the adjacent primary blocks to enhance the legibility of the circulation route to the Crags.

On the north side of the building, a single storey timber clad structure houses the back-of-house activities such as the offices, storage and maintenance areas. The ashlar stone walls puncture this element and form a full height cave entrance clearly visible from the car park.

The southern portion of the building opens up to the stunning views and sunny aspect. A two-storey timber clad block with a stone base hugs the circulation spine. At high level the timber clad exhibition space overhangs the solid masonry base containing the education area below.

At the western end of the building, a simple glazed form cantilevers out to form the second prow of the building containing the coffee shop and providing the visitor with views towards the Crags.

Housed in the low-level masonry base, the education spaces provide an immediate relationship to the site for kids to wander back and forth to the site.

Sustainable measures include locally sourced building materials such as magnesium limestone and English oak. The building is heated using ground source heat pumps and rainwater is harvested for water recycling. The oak cladding incorporates bat nests for the 100’s of bats temporarily displaced by the demolition of the former visitor centre.

The building is intentionally discrete and modest, playing a supporting role to the main attraction - the gorge. It guides the visitor on their journey and subtly instils a real sense of drama and anticipation.

The building’s eco credentials were recognised in 2010 with a RIBA Low Carbon Award.

David McCall, of OMI Architects said: “Creswell Crags is one

of the most important museum sites we have worked on and is an important progression of our work in this sector. It is one of the most sensitive sites in the UK, possibly up there with Stonehenge. The need for the building to inform visitors - but not detract from the setting was fundamental and demanded the sort of balanced approach we are known for.

“Great care has been taken to ensure the site gets the quality of building it deserves. We went through a rigorous site selection process to ensure there was no detrimental impact upon the setting. Our aim was to create a contemporary museum building that visitors can move through freely and take in interpretive information in a relaxed and informal manner before they venture outside to visit the caves.

“The museum is in effect a gatehouse to the Crags, directing visitors towards the site whilst offering important interpretation of what they are going to see or have just seen. The principal feature within the site is the Crags themselves. The new building aims to be a complimentary backdrop. A high quality structure that is a delight to use and move through, but, one that does not overwhelm its setting.”

Creswell Crags Museum is the culmination of nearly ten years of OMI involvement with the site providing a range of architectural services from early feasibility work through to the design and construction of the new museum and footbridge. The project reflects OMI Architect’s interest in sculptural forms, creating beauty and delight in buildings, whilst responding to the human, social, environmental and spiritual values that inform them to give the architecture depth and relevance.”

Sir David Attenborough and museum patron Professor David Bellamy opened the museum in 2009.

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Architectural inspiration for gallery refurbishment is a work of art in itself Page\Park Architects have won national recognition by RIBA for design excellence in a project to refurbish the historic Grade 1 Listed McManus Galleries in Dundee, built by George Gilbert Scott in 1867.

Housed in a splendid Gothic Revival-style building and displaying Dundee’s main collection, the galleries are managed and operated by Dundee City Council’s Leisure and Communities Department.

The project was carried out for Dundee City Council by Muirfield Contractors. The display design was undertaken by Campbell and Co., Edinburgh. The appointed Heritage Consultants were ABL Cultural Consulting, London.

The refurbishment was funded by Dundee City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Union and Historic Scotland, with additional contributions from The McManus Fundraising Appeal.

Voted Dundee’s best loved building in 2000, The McManus has

been at the heart of art and culture in the city since its opening in 1867 - when it was then known as the Albert Institute for Science, Literature and the Arts.

Over the years, the building has been beset by problems, owing to the fact that it has been built on land which was formerly marshland, immediately north of the old city walls of Dundee.

It was renamed ‘McManus Galleries’ in the mid 1980s in recognition of Maurice McManus OBE, twice Lord Provost of Dundee who championed works during the period which stabilised the building.

However by 2000, it was clear that more work would be needed, and to provide a truly modern museum experience, a decision was taken to completely restore the building and its services with a focus on how it functions and how best to provide an accessible service to the visiting public.

“The basic premise of the works was to open up the building and take out as much of the clutter which had accumulated over ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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the past 100-odd years, and to peel back the building to what it was originally intended to be” said Mr Justin Fenton of Page\ Park Architects.

“Offices in the top storey of the building were re-located and supports from the gallery areas were removed to open up the internal space” he added.

An important element of the project was the creation of a new south entrance off the newly pedestrianised Meadowside and the addition of a new retail area, in a move designed to re-energise the south entrance elevation and visually tie the building back into the city. A new civic space was also created around the exterior of the building.

Beautiful new open gallery spaces with state-of-the-art displays and interactive exhibits were created and a new top-lit atrium was also installed, together with a new vertical circulation core with a lift and a spectacular staircase, plus a Creative Learning Suite, with the latest equipment for workshops and classes.

“We created a new axis with the building’s southern entrance which lines up with the northern entrance and we created a new vertical circulation core which balanced with the original Gilbert Scott circulation staircase” said Mr Fenton.

Other works included the complete renewal of heating, lighting, ventilation and electrical fixtures; the underpinning of the building to provide stable foundations; the repair and repointing of all stonework; the re-slating of all roofs and turrets and the restoration of the leadwork on the finials, which are a defining feature of the architecture of the building.

The project has brought the 143 year-old facility into the 21st century and provides a greatly improved visitor experience and a ‘must see’ attraction in the heart of the City and Tayside.

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Outstanding holiday home scoops design honours A highly distinctive holiday home featuring black tarred shingles in perfect keeping with its environment on a Kent beach has won a 2011 RIBA award for design excellence.

Designed by Nord (Northern Office for Research and Design) Architecture, the home - known as the Shingle House - is designed with a warm concrete and timber finish internally and is currently being let out for holidays by Living Architecture.

It has been long-listed for the 2011 RIBA Manser Medal – the annual award which recognises the best new house or major extension in the UK and has also won a Scottish Design Award for Best Residential project 2011.

The brainchild of philosopher Alain de Botton, the house is dedicated to creating modern architecture which can act as holiday villas and thus educate the public on the principles of strong design.

Designed as a ‘living experience’, the brief required a simple house comprising simple accommodation. The notion of daily ‘rituals’ and the close relationship with nature, are common features of the design approach, which have been used as a tool for organizing and positioning key spaces within the house.

The contractor was Ecolibrium Solutions, while structural

engineer for the project was Jane Wernick Associates and quantity surveyors were Boyden Group LLP. Anglia Building Surveys ensured all parties fulfilled their Health and Safety obligations under the CDM Regulations on this project.

The site in Dungeness is challenging, with an unstable shingle bed, extremes of sun, rain and wind and numerous government regulations. It is Britain’s only desert, a shingle wasteland punctuated by hardy, brightly-coloured plants.

A dedicated conservation area, the vast beach is home to a peculiar assortment of buildings and activities, from tiny fishermen’s huts - many of them owned by artists, including, most famously, the late film-maker Derek Jarman - to a giant nuclear power station, lighthouses and the terminus of a miniature coastal steam train.

Alan Pertt, of NORD, said: “One of the main challenges was to build a new house within such constrained ecologicalprotected, planning guidelines. We were not allowed to build a new home if we were not replacing another one at Dungeness.

“So to receive such an award, having built under such strict planning guidelines and then for the house to be assessed rigorously by RIBA’s architects, is fantastic. We are all delighted with the outcome.”

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The architects used four conjoined buildings – a former fisherman’s cottage, a shop selling fish, a small ‘smokie’ and a fishing shed – and turned them into one living space, with a living room, a bathing room with a sunken concrete bath, kitchen and dining space.

The external skin of the house is entirely ‘cloaked’ with a combination of tarred, timber-cut shingles and timber boards.

The chimney is the only concrete element seen from outside, and reflects the colour of the surrounding landscape, in contrast to the tarred external walls.

Sage-green sea kale, blue bugloss, red poppy and yellow sedum give bursts of seasonal colour in the stony desert landscape of Dungeness, but it is the purple hue in August from the viper bugloss that is referenced in the purple heart floor which weaves its way throughout the house.

The Shingle House responds perfectly to the specific geography of Dungeness, and the changing environmental conditions of the site throughout the seasons.

The home, which sleeps eight people, is the second completed

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home for Living Architecture. The project is a series of rentable holiday homes around the UK built by established and emerging architects.

NORD’s reference points for the ‘Shingle House’ are both in the local vernacular style and the traditional building method of wrapping a structure in one continuous material.

NORD is a young Glasgow practice which, since its inception ten years ago, has won many awards including the Architecture Grand Prix Prize at the 2001 Scottish Design Awards for completion of the Tramway Arts Centre; Building Design Young Architect of the Year Award (YAYA) in 2006 and Scottish Architect of the Year in 2007.

Its London 2012 Substation received a RIBA Award in 2010 and made the Stirling Prize long list.

Living Architecture is a new social enterprise set up to revolutionise both architecture and UK holiday rentals. It offers a chance to rent holiday homes designed by some of the most talented architects at work today, and set in some of the most stunning locations in Britain.

RIBA accolade for Woodland Trust’s new eco-friendly HQ

Photograph courtesy of Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios

A £5.1million RIBA 2011 award-winning building which has become the new home of the Woodland Trust is being held up by international companies as one of the leading examples of eco-friendly office space in Europe.

Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the new three-storey HQ, at Autumn Park, Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire has also won a host of other awards throughout 2011, including the RICS East Midlands Awards: Sustainability; BCO Midlands Awards for Best Corporate Workplace; Grantham Civic Society: New Building: Winner, and Sustain Magazine Awards: Design and Architecture.

The building is thought to be one of the most environmentally friendly in the UK and international companies like Microsoft and Dell see it as a European-leading example of eco-friendly office accommodation.

The building has been constructed on a greenfield site in Grantham, Lincolnshire just a few hundred metres from the Trust’s previous accommodation.

The form of the building is one of an ascending spiral which moves seamlessly from landscape to building: The higher portion of the building which accommodates the open plan work space is orientated north-south and comprises a three storey, 15m deep block situated towards the middle of the site.

A wing of service and cellular space descends from the three storey volume along the western boundary, culminating in a single storey bike store which encloses the central woodland glade. The form helps create an idiosyncratic and interesting building that communicates the mission and values of the

Woodland Trust, whilst providing an exemplar workplace that meets BCO and institutional requirements.

The building is innovative as it uses ‘standard’ materials in an inventive way in order to reach an affordable solution to achieving thermal mass in a new office building. This has been achieved by creating ‘concrete radiators’, which serve to cool the building, whilst working structurally compositely with the timber.

Rather than expending budget on innovative technologies and materials, the solution sought to use standard materials in a new way. It has demonstrated that sustainable solutions can be truly affordable.

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NHBC

A pride of winners take a bow The ultimate accolade honouring the UK’s top performing site managers, the 2011 Pride in the Job Quality Awards recognise an outstanding level of achievement by winners and their site teams, who are a credit to their companies nationwide.

Recognised for their dedication in building high quality UK homes to meet the exacting needs of new-home buyers, the Pride in the Job (PIJ) Quality Award winners were shortlisted from over 13,000 UK managers working on sites registered with NHBC, the UK’s leading home warranty and insurance provider and standards setting body for new build homes. Competition for PIJ recognition is always intense, with just over 400 awards given this year to site managers all around the UK. Announcing the PIJ 2011 Quality Award winners, NHBC Chief Executive, Imtiaz Farookhi, said: “By adding a competitive element to house-building through the recognition of exceptional site managers, Pride in the Job promotes best practice in house-building, thereby continually bettering the construction quality of new homes, year on year, for homeowners and their families.

“Winning a PIJ award at any level has become an accolade well worth having, marking the recipient out as a top performer.

All the shortlisted site managers have shown true diligence and commitment to producing the best quality homes possible. I wish them all the best of luck for NHBC’s regional events in the autumn, as we continue this year’s search for the UK’s best site manager.”

The only awards scheme to recognise the specific, significant contributions of site managers in new home construction, Pride in the Job has been instrumental in raising the build quality of new homes in the UK for over three decades, with NHBC registered house-builders now routinely striving for perfection in their work to ensure success. PIJ was created in 1981 by the then incumbent Chairman, Andrew Tait OBE, who died in March aged 88. Under Tait’s leadership, NHBC embarked on a historic drive to raise housing standards to protect homeowners.

Now in its 31st year, NHBC inspectors began judging developments for the current PIJ campaign 12 months ago, assessing managers against 38 stringent criteria. The QA winning site managers now progress to regional events in the autumn, hoping to win a Seal of Excellence or Regional title.

Those topping their region in one of four builder-size categories will then progress to the Supreme Awards gala final in January, hoping to be crowned as a national winner during NHBC’s 75th anniversary year.

About NHBC NHBC (National House-Building Council) is the leading warranty and insurance provider and standards setter for UK housebuilding for new and newly converted homes. As a non-profit distributing company, it reinvests all income in achieving its primary purpose; improving quality in housebuilding to protect homeowners.

NHBC marks its 75th anniversary in 2011, celebrating three quarters of a century of raising standards in UK house-building to protect homeowners.

Started in 1936 as the National House-Builders Registration Council, NHBC has worked consistently to raise the construction standards of new homes and provide protection for new homebuyers.

As the UK’s leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes, NHBC’s Buildmark warranty cover more than 80% of new homes built in the UK and currently protects approximately 1.7 million homjes. Over the past 40 years, NHBC has protected more than 30% of existing homes in the UK. There are approximately 20,000 house builders and developers on NHBC’s Register (known as registered builders or registered developers), who agree to comply with NHBC rules and standards when building new homes.

NHBC employs over 1,100 staff, including 280 building inspectors across the UK, who carry out and collect data on around one million inspections at key stages of home construction each year.

As well as inspectors, there are surveyors, engineers, energy assessors, health and safety, training, registration and claims staff, who all deliver NHBC’s key services to customers.

Find out more about the organization and the awards at www.nhbc.co.uk

Teamwork Is A Winner For Richard Proudly scooping his first NHBC award, David Wilson Homes site manager Richard Cadman is “absolutely elated” with his success, which he puts down to having the right team and being able to motivate them to win.

“I set my heart on winning the award and it certainly wasn’t easy -

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the team are also really pleased and winning the award has meant a lot to them too. In today’s competitive housing market you need something to make you stand out from the crowd and this award certainly helps” he added. He is particularly appreciative of the help of his contracts manager Wayne Morris, without whose

guidance he says he could not have won the award.

Richard, who started his career as a joiner, has been in the building trade since leaving school many years ago and comes from a family who has been involved in the construction industry, including his father who was a construction director when Richard first started work. His fiancée also works for David Wilson Homes a sales negotiator.

“I was lucky that I could take advantage of the chances I got in my career and worked hard and made the best of them” said Richard.

And still on the subject of awards, for the second year running, David Wilson Homes is officially the highest quality major national housebuilder, having been awarded an exclusive ‘5 Star Housebuilder Award’ by the Homebuilders Federation.

The award is the result of recommendations from customers as well as the company’s superior build quality, so they are especially proud to be the only major national housebuilder to be awarded this accreditation two years running.

With its stunning house types and sought-after area, Serenity @ Lakeside offers something for everyone. The location and amenities in the area are second to none, with the Lakeside shopping centre and Doncaster Dome, the UK’s largest leisure, sporting and event centre right on the doorstep.

The site includes an impressive range of 250 properties, including luxury apartments and three- four- and five-bedroom houses, all overlooking a lake in an exclusive area of Doncaster.

Currently the site is one of the company’s best-selling developments in the Yorkshire area.

David Wilson Homes is dedicated to creating the highest-quality homes to be lived in and loved. At every stage of the process, from designing new communities to fitting their luxurious carpets, the company has a picture of the family that will call their stateof-the-art houses, ‘home’. It is this focus on excellence and family that has been at the root of David Wilson Homes’ success for over 40 years.

The company is based in a small village in Leicester and today is recognised as one of the country’s leading house builders,

operating in 13 regions across England, Scotland and Wales.

In 2007 David Wilson Homes became part of the Barratt Developments group – a natural merging of two companies dedicated to providing the highest standard of design, construction and customer service in the business.

Barratt was established in 1958 in Newcastle and has enjoyed an unrivalled track record of consistent growth ever since. In recent years, Barratt has won every major industry award going.

The company has sold over 300,000 new homes around the country and are leaders in design, urban regeneration, social housing and innovation. Barratt currently sell over 15,500 new homes a year and are building on developments from Aberdeen to Plymouth, helping to meet housing demand in towns, cities and rural areas. The company builds for all kinds of buyers, from first-time buyer apartments to family townhouses to luxury penthouses, plus homes for rent and shared ownership.

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Quality project brings quality award A small housing company which prides itself on going the extra mile for its clients can now reflect on that ethos after achieving a NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award.

For co-founder of DKM Homes, Bridgnorth, Daren Guest, it is the first award with the company – his second in his career – but he considers it to be the most important as it was given in the face of stiff competition from bigger and well-resourced companies.

The new award was given for DKM’s project at The Grange, in Westgate Drive, Bridgnorth. It is a unique development of three new homes set in the mature grounds of a substantial late Victorian residence which was also refurbished in the scheme.

The development is located within a short level walk from Bridgnorth town centre.

Daren said: “I think the award was given because of the quality of the workmanship on the project and the materials used. We set out to give clients their dream home and that means from the first brick to the last tile on the roof.

“We are proud of what we do and the tradespeople we use are ones that we are loyal to -and they are loyal to us. We are delighted that a small company can compete with the big guns of the construction sector and still come out on top.

“The award is also recognition for the standards we set out to achieve. It is a testament to the whole team.”

Daren, who is a carpenter by trade, has served a project manager with Barratt and later Taylor Woodrow, where he took his first NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award. After redundancy, he decided to set up his own business which has grown successfully year on year.

The three new build units on the site include one four bedroom

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and two five bedroom homes, all with large gardens.

The new homes include high quality contemporary kitchens and bathrooms, generously proportioned accommodation and an up to the minute specification.

At the centre of the development sits the Grange, a late Victorian residence that has undergone an extensive refurbishment bringing the property up to date, including stylish, modern kitchen and bathroom installation, while maintaining the original features of this wonderful period home.

All of the properties sold quickly – including one which was snapped up when the builders had only just marked out the plot with pegs.

“The development enjoys a superb location in the grounds of an old manor in one of the last sites of this type left in Bridgnorth. The manor is set in one and a half acres and this creates a wonderful sense of space. This has been a very successful development and winning the award is just the icing on the cake” said Daren, adding that the company always tries to provide that little bit extra for purchasers. “Our first scheme involved the construction of starter homes and we included solid granite worktops in the kitchen specification – something that you would not normally expect in this price range” he added.

DKM is a residential development company that is dedicated to quality workmanship throughout the build process to ensure that its properties are of the highest quality.

The company’s next scheme is a luxury barn conversion project.

Through its continued use of established qualified tradesmen and contractors, DKM’s focus remains the delivery of high quality developments.

Ross Whitehouse celebrates award for Victoria Place project Project manager Ross Whitehouse can be forgiven for sporting a broad smile after achieving a NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award.

For it was the first time the Barratt and David Wilson Homes (Mercia) site manager had scooped the award after 15 years of trying – and, ironically, it was the first site project he had overseen after switching companies!

The award-winning project in question was Victoria Place on the former Victoria Hospital site in the heart of Lichfield, Staffordshire.

With history permeating the medieval streets together with the towering spires of the cathedral, Lichfield provides a stunning backdrop for the development. With a mixture of two bedroom apartments and three, four and five bedroom homes the development is located within easy commuter access to direct main line links to Birmingham and London and major roads including A38, A5 and M6.

Ross said: “It is a great feeling to have won after 15 years of effort. All the more sweet that we achieved it with such a fantastic team on a great project which mixes detached units with threestorey town houses and all in a good location.

“The award is recognition for all the hard work that we have put in as from day one there has been a great team ethos and every one has bought into what we wanted to achieve on site. So it’s very much deserved.”

He has also been congratulated by the company’s chief executive and managing director.

Ross began his career as an apprentice bricklayer before becoming an assistant manager at the age of 20 and was site manager by the age of 22 – the youngest in the company he previous worked for, before linking up with Barratt and David Wilson Homes (Mercia) about a year ago.

The Victoria Place development has also been well received by the public with many of the homes being sold already. The site is expected to be completed shortly. Lichfield is one of the top sought after locations to live in the West Midlands, often referred to as Staffordshire’s premier heritage city – passionate about its history and its future.

For the second year running, David Wilson Homes is officially the highest quality major national house builder, having been awarded an exclusive ‘5 Star House builder Award’ by the Homebuilders Federation.

The award is the result of recommendations from customers as well as its superior build quality and is the only major national house builder to be awarded this accreditation two years straight.

David Wilson Homes are dedicated to creating the highestquality homes to be lived in and loved. At every stage of the process, from designing new communities to fitting luxurious carpets David Wilson Homes have a picture of the family that will call their state-of-the-art houses, ‘home’. It is this focus on excellence and family that has been at the root of the company’s

success for over 40 years.

David Wilson Homes began in a small village in Leicester and today are recognised as one of the country’s leading house builders, operating in 13 regions across England, Scotland and Wales.

In 2007 David Wilson Homes became part of the Barratt Developments group – a natural merging of two companies dedicated to providing the highest standard of design, construction and customer service in the business.

Barratt was established in 1958 in Newcastle and has enjoyed an unrivalled track record of consistent growth ever since. In recent years, Barratt has won every major industry award going.

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NHBC

Award ‘recognises’ local trades’ team too The company owner and site manager of an awardwinning development has pinpointed local tradesmen as the key to his success in winning an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality award.

Mike Oram, founder and managing director of Badger Homes, spoke of his delight for the team that helped him to win the award for the £4 million development of Elwyn House, situated in The Avenues, one of the most established and desirable residential areas in Exmouth.

He said: “The key to the award and a fantastic finish on the development is the fact that I use a local team of tradesmen who work well together and get the job done. I have worked with them for the best part of 20 years so this award is really in honour of them.”

Elwyn House is a select development of 14 two and three bedroom luxury apartments, with the ground floor units having direct access onto the communal gardens and terraces.

All the apartments to floors one and two have balconies, as well as access to the communal gardens. All have been finished to a high specification with modern kitchens, intelligent lighting systems and gas fired under floor central heating.

They also feature a central vacuum system which sucks out the dust from the air and minimises the chance of allergic reactions to dust particles.

Mr Oram said that some of the installations, such as the central vacuum system, had first been tested in his own home, before

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being rolled out on to this development The development also incorporates electric access gates, lift access to all floors, allocated parking and a bicycle store.

The ground floor apartments have direct access onto the communal gardens and terraces, whilst all apartments to floors one and two have balconies as well as access to the communal gardens and facilities.

As with all Badger Home developments, the specification is of a very high standard with modern, stylish kitchens, innovative use of space and design in the bathrooms, a wide range of quality tiles and interior design packages available to choose from the company’s interior design team, should this be required.

Mr Oram said: “I am delighted with the award but it is really recognition for all the hard work they have ploughed into Elwyn House. We all put our heart and soul into all Badger Homes developments and the award really does realise this.”

Badger Homes was founded in 1985 and Elwyn House represents the latest in a long line of luxury developments it has built over the years.

Based in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, Badger Homes are one of the area’s largest independently owned new home builders.

They have, over the years, established an excellent reputation for service, quality, individuality of design and customer satisfaction.

All of this is maintained by their expert technical staff, skilled and well established local labour force and the continued use of high quality building materials.

Due to their ability to be flexible in their approach, they are able to offer an extremely wide variety of new homes. Whether it is a starter home, family home, bungalow or apartment, they are sure they can cater for individual needs.

The company was awarded the title of ‘Potton Builder of the Year’ in 1992 and has also been nominated for local authority best new build awards.

Construction News

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Wayne’s four star performance

It was same again for Wayne Berry as he picked up a fourth consecutive NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award.

The Persimmon Homes site manager won his first award in 2008 and has notched up one every year since, including this year for a £7.4m Kings Park West housing scheme involving the construction of 49 homes in West Heath, a suburb of Birmingham.

Wayne, who has been in the construction field since the age of 18, said: “I think the success of achieving the award is having a happy team, a team that you can trust and having the right tradespeople around you to

get a quality job done, on time and on budget.

“We are delighted with the recognition that the NHBC inspectors have given us and I think they appreciated the quality and consistency of the workmanship of the project.

“It is a great accolade for the people on the job and obviously put smiles on their faces as they can now move forward in going on to other jobs knowing they have this award on their CV. It is a moment for us all to be proud.”

The scheme is being built on a 3.4 acre Brownfield development, land formerly owned

by West Heath Hospital.

The ‘Kings Park West’ scheme will feature a mix of two, three and four bedroom traditional semi detached and detached houses, including an element of affordable housing to enable local people to continue to remain close to

www.romauk.net

their roots, with three bedroom properties on the first release.

Persimmon is one of the UK’s leading house builders and builds around 16,700 homes a year on more than 500 sites nationwide, with headquarters in York.

The group comprise of a North, South and Central Division with a total of 36 regional offices building from Scotland, Through the North and Midlands, down to the South and South West of England and South Wales.

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Majid scoops second title in three years A civil engineer turned project manager has scooped his second NHBC Pride in the Job Award for his work on a multi-million residential development in Kingston-uponThames.

Majid Ridha, of Crest Nicholson Ltd (South), received the award for The Royal Gallery – a seven-storey 124-apartment project.

The scheme also won a second commendation from the NHBC for its on-site health and safety performance.

Majid, who has been with the company for 10 years, said: “It is a great feeling to receive the award, but it is one for all the team working on the project. I believe it was the team’s attention to detail that enabled us to secure the award.”

For the former civil engineer, who turned to project managing sites several years ago, it is his second award in three years.

He said: “The award is also recognition for the way the team had to manage and build on a site where access was difficult, efficiency of material supply was key and planning was critical.

We coped, but it was a bit of a challenge.”

The building, which has been designed into the shape of the letter ‘E’, features wings consisting of one, two and threebedroom apartments, including 79 private and 46 affordable homes. The building is constructed on a concrete podium, with landscaped gardens between each wing.

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All wings are linked into one build, and a doctor’s surgery is incorporated on the ground and first floors, with car parking at basement level. Apartments benefit from either a terrace or balcony, and the development also features a selection of penthouses with large rooftop terraces.

Kitchens will come complete with stylish units, electric ovens and brushed steel Bosch appliances, including an electric oven with chimney hood and gas hob. Penthouses will come with granite worktops, double electric ovens and stylish glass chimney extractor hoods. Bathrooms and en-suite bathrooms to master bedrooms will include elegant Hansgrohe fittings.

Nearly half of the properties have already been sold and the project is close to completion.

Heatmech Ltd carried out all the plumbing and heating work on the project. W Hanson Group supplied all the ply wood and timber for the scheme.

Crest Nicholson has been building new homes for over four decades and is firmly established as a leading developer with a passion for not just building homes, but creating vibrant sustainable communities.

Its development portfolio ranges from contemporary city centre apartments and townhouses to traditional detached family homes and complex regeneration schemes.

Five Star Performance From Stephen Foster Winning his fifth NHBC Award - this time for his work on the challenging £90 million Lakeside residential development in a former quarry in Coleraine - is Farrans Homes site manager Mr Stephen Foster.

The project, on a 42 acre site, is one of the most unique and visionary civil engineering projects ever attempted in the UK. Located in the former disused Northstone quarry, the development will feature 450 superb homes and a beautiful lake with a stunning cliff-face backdrop. The lake has been created using a geogrid wall system. “This is certainly the largest retaining wall structure of its type in the UK” Stephen commented.

“This is a unique site using quality materials and constructed by a good team” said Stephen who says “It’s all about maintaining high standards of quality and having the right people on the ground. It is, after all, a team effort and I have a very good team.”

By combining feature buildings along the lake front, with treelined boulevards, the development will create a genuinely private living space in the centre of Coleraine.

The promise of the Lakeside development is being realised by the successful integration of a diverse mix of residential properties including high quality apartments and houses, with plenty of open public space. Through careful planning of street layouts and the orientation of the buildings, the impact of vehicles is being minimised whilst the views to the lake and landscaping are utilised for optimal enjoyment.

An unprecedented ‘cut and fill exercise’ was needed to fill the hole in the quarry which required 350,000 cubic metres of material.

Stephen Foster said: “There are 42 acres here, that’s right from the quarry basin and most of it, the top of it, has level ground. The scale of it is mind-boggling.

“Anyone looking at it could have taken the easy option and

developed the top section and let the hole in the ground go.

“But Stephen Villiers at Alan Patterson Design came up with this concept of a massive cut and fill exercise and so we needed approximately 350,000 cubic metres of material to fill this hole in the ground.”

To give an idea of what this means - an average concrete lorry carries eight cubic metres of material and so, to fill the massive hole, it would take about 43,750 lorry loads.

Stephen explained: “This is the first quarry of its kind that anyone’s ever done this with.

“I would say it’s a bigger operation than Victoria Square, certainly one of the biggest cut and fill exercises for quite some time, certainly the biggest that I can remember.

The scheme is also setting new standards in environmental sustainability with most of the materials sourced from the site, such as stone from the ‘cliff’ face which will be used for foundations and roads.

Farrans Homes has been working closely with the scheme’s architect, Alan Patterson Design, Bangor, in order to deliver a contemporary and unique development which reflects the unusual and stunning setting.

So far approximately 35 building shells have been constructed.

Philip Tweedie of Philip Tweedie and Co, Coleraine, who are the selling agents, said: “We are delighted to be involved in such a unique and exciting project.

“When completed it will be a fantastic residential development for the Coleraine borough.”

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Spectacular St Kilda To Join Groundbreaking Digital Archives The beautiful and remote Scottish site St Kilda is to be part of an ambitious project in which cutting-edge technology will be used to create 3D digital records of some of the country’s most treasured heritage locations.

A team of experts from the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation (CDDV), a partnership between Historic Scotland and Glasgow School of Art, have travelled to the UNESCO World Heritage site of St. Kilda to begin digitally laser scanning the site, which lies 41 miles off the Scottish mainland.

Work is expected to take two weeks and will include scanning of the physical make up of St. Kilda as well as the main structures on the islands such as the blackhouses and 19th Century dwellings in Village Bay. The team will also record the more remote archaeological remains of the Amazon’s House and Callum Mor’s House.

The site is being laser scanned as part of the Scottish Ten project, a ground breaking initiative which uses cutting edge technology to digitally record all five of Scotland’s world heritage sites and five international sites in order to better conserve and manage them.

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By using the most advanced laser scanning technology, the team can develop exceptionally accurate, down to the millimetre, 3 dimensional archival records of some of the world’s most spectacular heritage sites. This can be used to monitor changes to the structures as well as providing the basis for remote access, education and interpretation resources to allow a much wider audience to experience many of the world’s heritage sites.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said; “The Scottish Ten is a hugely important project, not only for Scotland but also on an international basis.

“Heritage crosses boundaries and tells the story of peoples and nations. Scotland’s expertise in digitally documenting historical sites is providing tangible benefits at both home and abroad and this project will continue to increase our understanding of and help to better care for heritage sites around the world.

“St Kilda is a truly fascinating site by its very remoteness, its stunning landscape and the physical landmarks left by the people who shaped it and I very much look forward to seeing

the results of this ground breaking work.”

As part of the trip the team will be using terrestrial laser scanners, GNSS devices and 360% photography to digitally create a detailed 3D model. This will take the form of a two week period of fieldwork followed by processing, examination and interpretation of the data.

David Mitchell, Director of Conservation for Historic Scotland said; “St. Kilda poses a number of challenges for the team in terms of its physical make-up, however that is what makes it so exciting.

“We plan to conduct phased fieldwork over the course of the trip which will look at the island’s geographic environment as well as some of its most recognisable structures.

“The technology will allow us to record a never-seen-before level of detail into the island and its structures which we hope will greatly enhance our understanding of St. Kilda.”

The team has also commissioned airborne LiDAR scanning of the islands, which has never been attempted before.

Doug Pritchard, Head of Visualisation at Glasgow School of

Art said; “The LiDAR scanning has the potential to bring a new dimension to our knowledge of St. Kilda.

“Many parts of the islands are inaccessible by foot so we are looking at accessing a number of areas that have never been surveyed before which could provide some really interesting material about the island and how it developed.”

The island is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland who in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Scottish Natural Heritage runs a continuing programme of conservation and research on the islands.

Susan Bain, the National Trust for Scotland’s St. Kilda Property Manager said; “We are delighted to welcome representatives from Historic Scotland and Glasgow School of Art to St. Kilda.

“This technology has the potential to increase our opportunities to share the island with a much wider audience than ever before and we very much look forward to receiving the finished data.”

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Contractors Give Scottish Castle A New Crown A key element of a major refurbishment contract for Dunvegan Castle, perched high on a rock face on the MacLeod Estate on the Isle of Skye, is now complete.

Situated on an upstanding mass of partly columnar basalt, approximately 30 feet in height above the shores of Loch Dunvegan, the Castle is undergoing a phased re-invigoration.

The first phase, undertaken by main contractors D Blake & Co for MacLeod Estates, saw works complete to nine flat roofs and one pitched slate roof, and has involved the construction of a stair scaffold and a temporary roof to provide the contractors with some protection from the elements. Architects on the project were Simpson and Brown.

The castle’s original copper and lead roofs were in a bad state

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of repair due to poor detailing and specification and were letting in a considerable amount of water.

Therefore lifting the failed copper and lead roofing and replacing it with new well detailed lead work was a crucial part of the recent works, as well as cladding the inside of the parapets to prevent water seepage through the cracked render in these areas.

The removal of the old copper roofing in the area over the castle’s 17th century Piper’s Gallery revealed beautiful stonework, which has been restored and left uncovered.

Advancing on the major roof restoration project, the MacLeod Estate has recently secured additional grant aid funding from Historic Scotland towards the cost of overhauling and repairing all the castle’s windows which are in very poor condition.

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S c otl a n d Work has already started and is scheduled for completion in July 2011. It has also commissioned a local stonemason to undertake repairs to the copingstones of the main entrance and the 18th century relief carving of the coat of arms above Dunvegan’s portico entrance.

Due to the harshness of the climate, the rain and salt from the seawater had actually worn holes in the glazing of the windows, which was last re-fitted in the 1960s. Another element of the scheme involves the replacement of the castle’s rusty old cast iron down pipes with maintenance-free lead ones.

The second phase of restoration works to the castle’s electrics, plumbing and heating systems are planned for the winter of 2013/14.

The castle’s interior will then be re-decorated throughout with plans for exciting new areas of the building to be opened up to visitors. This in turn will reinforce its aim of safeguarding and promoting Dunvegan Castle’s vital role as a major tourist attraction and one of the largest private sector employers in what has historically been an economically fragile area.

Currently the team at the MacLeod Estate is working hard to build on the significant improvements to the visitor facilities over the last two years.

The scope of works range from a new main gate ticket office and a complete refit of the castle shop and the MacLeod Table Cafe’s WC to a new Garden Museum and Victorian gazebo in the Walled Garden. A restored Edwardian flower room and a new exhibition of the roof restoration will also form part of the impressive new visitor attractions.

Hugh MacLeod, MacLeod Estate Director, said: “We are thrilled that this Herculean project is ahead of schedule and on budget.

The quality of the lead work is second to none.

“In order to further protect Dunvegan Castle’s fabric and to render it truly wind and watertight, the estate has asked Simpson & Brown to overhaul and repair all the castle windows, especially those on the West sea-facing elevation which are in very poor condition.”

Conservation Project rescues nationally significant listed church

Contractors completing a three-year project to repair and conserve the Category A-Listed Cromarty East Church have been praised for their work.

As Cromarty’s former parish church and historic place of worship, the East Church reflects the changing fortunes of local people and tells the story of the community through the centuries.

Its heritage value though extends far beyond its Highland location and the building is considered to be “of exceptional interest in a Scottish as well as a local context.”

Past descriptions of the East Church as “the epitome of a post-Reformation Church” and “a true Presbyterian edifice” are, however, misleading, as the extensive work uncovered an earlier and more complex history than had previously been known.

Once thought to date from the early 17th century, archaeological excavations during the project established the church’s medieval origins with the discovery of multiple burials beneath the floor together with a kerb of carved stones marking position of the altar at the east end.

The development of the church through the 17th and 18th centuries resulted in a harled, slated and T-plan building which

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Dunvegan Castle is one of the greatest and most renowned among Hebridean strongholds, and the only one which has been continuously occupied by the same family, during a period of nearly eight centuries.

The massive exterior comprises six separate buildings, with five being open to the public and the sixth housing the administrative and domestic offices of the present Chief and his family.

Architecturally it is a structure of great importance, containing work of at least 10 building periods. The Castle has a unified design with Victorian dummy pepper-pots and defensive battlements running the whole length of the roof line.

This ‘romantic restoration’ was carried out by the 25th Chief between 1840 and 1850 to the plans of Robert Brown of Edinburgh. Underneath this outer skin however, there remains a series of complete buildings, each of a different date, which, following the recent works, should soon be shown off to visitors to maximum potential.

largely escaped later extensive internal remodelling, leaving the interior intact, with pews, fixtures and fittings giving an appearance of antiquity so often absent in Scottish parish churches.

From the 1930s the East Church was one of two Church of Scotland churches in the small town. With one congregation supporting two buildings, money for repairs and maintenance was in short supply. By the 1990s the ageing fabric was riddled with damp and rot, and a decision was taken to dispose of the building. Recognising its significance, the East Church was acquired in 1998 for £1 by the newly-formed Scottish Redundant Churches Trust (SRCT), established to take into care places of worship of outstanding national importance and safeguard them for future generations.

For 10 years the SRCT worked with local people to keep the East Church wind and watertight and to make it accessible to the community and to the many hundreds of visitors who came to experience the unique atmosphere of the building. The plight of the church came to the attention of the nation in 2006 when it was a finalist in the BBC ‘Restoration Village’ series.

Funding success followed in 2007 when the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a major grant towards the £1.3 million project to repair and conserve the church, its contents and the surrounding B-listed graveyard. Major grants were also awarded by Historic Scotland and The Highland Council.

Main Contractor for the conservation project is Laing Traditional Masonry Ltd; Architects are LDN (Forres); Quantity Surveyors are Torrance Partnership; and Structural Engineers Mott MacDonald.

“We were extremely fortunate to have Laing Traditional Masonry as main contractor. They did a great job and have a superb reputation, not only for the quality of their work, but also for their commitment to training apprentices – the next generation of skilled of skilled stonemasons” said Victoria Collison-Owen, SRCT Director.

“What was fantastic about Laing Traditional Masonry is that

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S c otl a n d right from the start in 2008; they understood the importance involving local people and they worked with our Community & Education officers to give guided tours which gave a real sense of ownership. The local primary school made regular visits and saw the painstaking process of stripping back and carefully repairing the building. All the children learned so much and loved every minute of it.”

The project was carried out with the intention of retaining as much of the original fabric as possible and using traditional materials like lime to replace cement-based products that had caused damage to the building. Apprentices worked alongside skilled craftsmen and training courses were held to allow contractors throughout the Highlands to learn about working with lime.

“The project is not just about restoring this building, but also investing in skills to allow historic buildings to be repaired in the future” said Victoria Collison-Owen.

In addition to replacing cement-based harl with lime to allow the building to ‘breathe’, the drainage around the church was improved to direct water away from the foundations. The roof was stripped and re-slated using reclaimed slates.

All the timber sash and cash windows were overhauled, with historic glass being carefully retained and modern glass replaced with reclaimed horticultural glass. Cracked historic glass was repaired rather than replaced in order to keep the maximum amount of original material.

“Undertaking the work has been a long and complex process.” said Victoria Collison-Owen. “We set out to repair the building and to tackle the ravages of time, damp and rot whilst ensuring that the unique character of the East Church remained intact. We have achieved that thanks to a dedicated and skilled team who rose to an almost impossible challenge. The people of Cromarty, and visitors to the East Church, are now able to see the church as it should be and to enjoy what is a very special building and a remarkable part of Scotland’s ecclesiastical heritage.”

£5.35m Memorial Hall refurbishment is good news for the whole community A project involving the sensitive restoration, refurbishment and extension of the Grade B Listed Lanark Memorial Hall in Lanark is progressing well The project is being carried out for South Lanarkshire Council by Mansell Construction Services Limited.

The repairs to the building are creating work for a variety of skilled workers who are carrying out isolated stonework repairs; re-roofing; window refurbishment, flooring replacement; internal redecoration; replacing the heating and ventilation system; improving performance and catering facilities and making improvements to the war memorial access.

Work is scheduled to be completed on the Grade B listed building by Spring 2012 when it will provide: a new and accessible entrance; a multipurpose facility which can accommodate a wide variety of community activities; an events venue with the potential to attract nationally profiled performance arts; an attractive venue for functions with catering and bar facilities; easy access to all areas of the complex for disabled persons and re-provisioning of the Cargill Club accommodation.

Mansell Construction’s Regional Director, Callum Leslie, said: “We were delighted to have been appointed as the main contractor for the Lanark Memorial Hall refurbishment and extension. We are very pleased to be working with South Lanarkshire Council on such an important community project.”

Councillor Hamish Stewart, Deputy Chair of Community Resources Committee commented: “South Lanarkshire Council, together with Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland has fully funded the refurbishment of this significant Grade B listed building. I am sure the people of Lanark will be delighted with this marvelous facility which will give Lanark an excellent arts venue to accommodate the cultural life of the town and surrounding area and will make full use of all it has to offer.”

“I am delighted on behalf of our members that work is about to start on the new Cargill House Club.” said Club Chairman Kevan Carty. “The new building will provide a superb venue for club members and also for the use of other organisations in our

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town. Better access for the disabled will be a great bonus to those using the club. As a result of close co-operation with South Lanarkshire Council, the club will be able to offer an excellent service to both members and non members alike.”

Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs, said: “Lanark Memorial Hall has an important place in the community since its creation. It began as a tribute to the memory of 232 Lanark men who lost their lives in WW1 and these repairs will see it continue as a cultural venue for generations to come.”

Expertise carved in stone restores architectural ‘gem’ A project to help preserve a nationally important building - St Salvador’s Episcopal Church in Farington Street, Dundee - is underway with a major programme of works comprising the repair and restoration of stonework.

The Victorian church, consecrated in 1874, is built largely in stone from Dundee and a local sandstone from Fife. The works include replacing both defective and cement covered stones, as well as replacing the tracery stones in the windows (the most challenging element of the scheme).

An architecturally significant building, both within Scotland and in a wider British context, St Salvador’s was designed by Britain’s foremost Gothic Revival architect G F Bodley. Situated in the Hilltown area of Dundee, it was originally founded as a church and school to serve the mill workers of the area.

G F Bodley was commissioned to design the halls and church, and worship started in the upper part of the building to the south. The nave of the church followed in 1868 and the chancel in 1874. The whole building was consecrated on Holy Cross day in that year.

The current restoration project is being carried out by Stonemasons FA Sweeney. Architects are Simpson & Brown.

Those elements of the building requiring large replacement stones were the first to be restored as a longer delivery period was required by the quarry supplying them. This particularly applies to the tracery stones, which had to be measured at an early stage to avoid delays.

“The Dundee stone in particular is not good for building and tends to deteriorate quite quickly due to its high clay content which causes pieces to break off the surface. This problem was not helped by the fact that cement was used to carry out repairs the early 20th century. This tended to accelerate the decay in what was already quite a soft stone and actually caused more damage to the stone. We now use lime mortars which are much more compatible with the stone and don’t cause the same problems” said Mr John Sanders of Simpson & Brown Architects.

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S c otl a n d Currently the contractors are approximately half way through the programme, and are reported to be doing well.

Speaking of the historic role of the church in local society, Mr Sanders said: “When the church was built, Dundee was unusual in that most employed people locally were women who worked in the jute mills. As the main breadwinners, women therefore had a much more important role in Dundee which was more matriarchal than other cities. A church such as St Salvador’s was open 24 hours a day to accommodate women wishing to pray on their way to or from their shifts.” said Mr Simpson.

A separate recent project in the ongoing programme of works to preserve the church’s interior involved conserving the interior and the organ, and re-laying the stone floor.

George Frederick Bodley (1827-1907) was the brother-inlaw (and first pupil) of Sir George Gilbert Scott who designed Dundee’s Episcopal cathedral and the Albert Institute (now McManus Galleries). One of his assistants was Ninian Comper, architect of the cathedral in Aberdeen.

The structure of Bodley’s churches stands clear and firm, but in many of them the whole surface of walls and ceilings (and sometimes the roof timbers and moulded stonework) are dissolved in a veil of stencilled pattern, each design having its source in a mediaeval example.

St Salvador’s, commissioned at an early stage in Bodley’s long career, shows the beginning of interest in a simple English gothic style, an ideal basis for colored decoration. Its design is a progress from west to east, starting with the low sloping roof of the porch. Then comes the nave, tall and quite narrow, with the rich green of the lower part and the deep biscuit colour of the buttressed aisles graduated up into the lighter tones of the upper walls and roof, where massive timbers are bevelled with red.

A more sumptuous red is the basis of the chancel arch which leads onwards and upwards into a space completely dominated by colour, having its climax in the high altar and figure-painted reredos. This and much of the stained glass are the work of the London firm of Burlison and Grylls.

Challenging project preserves roof of one of Dundee’s finest buildings A highly challenging conservation project is drawing to a close after a major repair of the roof of one of Dundee’s finest buildings.

The stately Camperdown House, set in the magnificent 395-acre Camperdown Park, has been described as “at the very highest rank of Scottish country houses.”

And it was Main Contractors Muirfield Contracts and Simpson and Brown Architects who were tasked in a commission from Camperdown’s owners, Dundee City Council, to repair the complex roofing of the country residence.

Camperdown House was erected by Admiral Duncan’s son and heir, Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Duncan of Camperdown. It was constructed between 1824 to 1828 to designs by leading Edinburgh architect, William Burn (1789-1870).

The family of Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Duncan of Camperdown, was actually created an Earl by King William IV in 1830, a retrospective honouring of Admiral Duncan.

The title only lasted three generations, with both the third and fourth earls of Camperdown being brothers, the fourth Earl dying childless in 1933.

The last occupant of the house was their cousin, Georgiana Wilhelmina, Dowager Countess of Buckinghamshire, who died in 1937. The house contents were sold in a four day auction in 1941 and the house and estate were purchased by Dundee Corporation in 1946.

Burn’s finest design for a neo-classical mansion, it was built in a

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beautiful lemon white sandstone from Cullalo on the north shore of the Firth of Forth.

The magnificent hexastyle (6 columns wide) Ionic portico on the short east side of the house is a perfect expression of the “Greek Revival” spirit. The main south facade is plainer with engaged pilasters which allows unrestricted enjoyment of the view over the gardens and the river Tay beyond.

It also allowed an uninterrupted sequence of sumptuous interconnecting ‘state’ rooms - the dining room, library and drawing room - along the south front.

The glory of the interior is the double height central hall or Saloon with an elegant Georgian fireplace and ‘scagliola’ pillars richly coloured to look like marble, the whole covered and lit with a painted glass cupola featuring in the centre Admiral Duncan’s coat of arms proudly showing his gold medal.

The complexities facing Simpson and Brown in restoring the roof of such a fine example of Scottish architecture were multifaceted.

Simpson and Brown’s Rachel Mayhew said the main house roof, was designed so that the roof pitches were hidden behind the parapet walls meaning that rain water was channelled into the building instead of away to the eaves. In order to protect the important interiors, while large areas of the roof coverings were lifted, a large temporary roof was constructed over the house.

A total of 39 pitches on the main house and 31 on vernacular roofs of the north ranges were stripped and reslated. Humidity in the roof spaces of the house was discovered to be high due to

the existing non breathing roofing felt, so that was also stripped out and replaced before reslating.

One of the main areas of work involved the large central cupola over the saloon.

To get light in to the centre of the building Burns designed a double height saloon space with a balcony walkway at first floor level around the saloon topped with a fine double skinned cupola. The cupola has plain external glazing and the inner dome is made from leaded, sliver stained, fired glass panels. When fired this sliver stain gives colours ranging from pale lemon to nicotine browns and reds.

The inner glass is made from kelp glass, so called due to the incorporation of seaweed ash to the glass during the melting process. Â This glass was noted for its ability to take a stain well, even the difficult darker reds. Â The works included the removal and restoration of the inner panes by a specialist glass conservator.

It was discovered that in the outer cupola a section of one of the main structural ring beams had dry rot and required to be cut out and replaced.

To do this the contractor had to take out all the inner cupola glazing in order to be able to scaffold and prop up the outer cupola from below, while the timber was cut out and replaced.

The entrance portico on the east side had at some point been covered with lead sheets fixed into stone. However, due a lack of fixings, the heavy lead sheets had ripped away from their fixings and slipped down the portico into the gutter and stopped

rainwater running off the roof.

It was decided to strip the lead completely and apply a layer of plywood so that the lead could be secured properly to the plywood using the numerous fixings recommended by the Lead Sheet Association, thus avoiding damaging numbers of fixings into the dressed stone portico roof.

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Historic church resurrected A comprehensive programme of extensive repair and conservation work at the historic St Magnus Church in Lerwick has just been completed in a scheme that has been described as “Marvellous - a first class job restoring the church for another 150 years of life” by Bill Brock of St Magnus Church.

Main Contractors for the scheme were DITT, a local firm experienced in working with historic buildings.

Works to the church, which was built in 1864, were extensive and included complete stripping and re-slating of all the building’s pitched welsh slate roofs, using both original and new welsh slate; repair and refixing of the corss/finial base stones at the gable apexes, skew copings and crow steps to an acceptable condition, and replacement of all rainwater goods with cast iron fittings painted to the original building specification.

Other works included the repair and replacement of the stone tracery to the windows as required, and the repair or restoration of damage to stained glass windows caused by water and weather.

In addition, extensive stonework repair and replacement was required, including to mullions, transepts and lintels, and a stone window in the chancel was so worn that it had to be completely replaced with a new one, hand cut by a local stonemason.

Some of the stained glass windows were removed and sent to stained glass experts Cannon MacInnes Glasgow for restoration, whist other windows were restored on site. Some of the windows are rare and were made by 19th century Gothic revival architect Ninian Comper. These have been described as ‘arguably the best ecclesiastical collection of stained glass in Shetland’, and, ‘extremely valuable as a Scottish resource’. New stained glass windows were also installed in the vestry and tower.

Masonry paint which had been applied to stone arches in the mid 1970s was removed to reveal the original stone and significant areas of plasterwork were replaced - including on the whole of the west gable, which was re-plastered in traditional lath plaster and lime mortar.

Sleeper walls beneath the floors were also found to be defective

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and were repaired, and a second door leading into the church which had previously been boarded up, was reinstated.

Just as the originally planned project was being completed in July last year, it was discovered that the steel beams supporting the church tower were completely corroded through, which necessitated replacing the beams with reinforced concrete beams. This was a difficult job and required shoring up the tower, removing the ceiling and floor and digging down into bedrock to form a new concrete base for the beams, with all of the excavation having to be carried out by hand.

The cost of the project was partly funded by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and the National Churches Trust.

Other grants came from the Scottish Episcopal Church; the Scottish Churches Heritage Trust; the All Churches Trust; the Garfield Western Foundation; the Shetland Churches Council Trust; Shetland Islands Council; Shetland Amenity Trust, and the National Churches Trust Ltd.

Excitement builds as town awaits new church and community facility Excitement in the community is building as construction of the new Maybole Parish Church and Carrick Centre progresses on a site located in the heart of Maybole, Ayrshire.

The project will create new community facilities and will incorporate a modern church,with a separate dedicated youth facility.

The scheme is being carried out for the Church of Scotland by Main Contractors Fleming Building; Architects are ARP Lorimer and Associates.

The brief to the architects asked for a flexible multi use building that will provide comfortable modern facilities for the activities of the church and local residents. A range of spaces will be provided from a large hall down to small private meeting rooms.

Local interest will be supported by the presence of the Maybole Historical Society and a Drop-in cafe for all.

A substantial car park will serve the new building, as well as the local health centre, railway station and the town centre as a much needed resource for Maybole.

Within the building the smaller spaces are arranged along the Culzean Road frontage providing a lively faรงade to the street, with the more internal spaces of the large hall and worship space being positioned towards the railway.

All the spaces are accessed from welcoming entry courts that lead into a well lit central gathering place. The range of spaces

and flexible furnishing arrangements allows a wide variety of functions to be accommodated from private meetings to conference and cinema functions. The design of the building allows this wide variety of activities to take place alongside the worship requirements of the parish.

The building will provide a centre of great presence in the town, a modern landmark building for the future.

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Church Spire Restoration Maintains Historic Skyline The congregation of a prominent historic Victorian church in the heart of Dundee city centre recently celebrated completion of a three-year, £400,000 restoration project at the B-listed building.

Work to repair the spire of Meadowside St Paul’s Church of Scotland in Nethergate has included replacing more than 200 stones — all from the same area as the original building material when the church was built in 1852 — as well as five carved stone finials.

Main Contractors for the scheme were Stone Engineering who were reported to have done ‘a very good job’. Architects were Arc Architects.

“The church’s elaborate stonework was crumbling and falling down into the street, with much of the deterioration caused by severe weather, so restoration was needed. The project required complicated works both to stabilise the steeple and conserve the stonework. The cross on top of the steeple was also re-gilded; lightning protection was installed and stained glass windows were conserved” said Mr Tom Moreton of Arc Architects.

He added that the steeple stabilisation works included cutting out broken stones and piecing in new ones, as well as removing corroded iron fixings and corroded copper rods which were causing the stone to split. In addition, some of the pinnacles were unstable and were leaning over.

The General Trustees of the Church of Scotland, who also made a financial contribution to the project, recommended appointing a conservation architect to supervise the restoration, ensuring

that the church would be fit for purpose for the next 150 years.

The project also received £167,000 from Historic Scotland and £108,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The congregation pitched in with fund-raising ventures and money was also raised from several bodies, individuals and businesses, including the Baird Trust, the Ferguson Bequest Fund, the Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust and the Dalrymple Donaldson Trust.

“Stone Engineering did a very good job, it was a difficult contract and was hit by severe weather which caused problems. We used high performance lime mortars which were resistant to frost and these worked very well” said Mr Moreton.

Meadowside St Paul’s Church was built in 1852 as a replacement of the Mariners Church. Designed by Charles Wilson, now this is one of the highest buildings in Dundee. The church features doorway mosaics, a hammer beam roof, stained glass, sets of tapestried pulpit falls and stone walls in the garden.

Rainbow Glass Studio Ltd Rainbow Glass Studio Ltd carried out the restoration/conservation of the historic stained and leaded glass windows throughout St Paul’s Church, Meadowside. This work began with simple cleaning of the glass, through to removal and full conservation of any required windows. We found the project extremely rewarding and enjoyed working with all those involved All work carried out will be of the highest standard by skilled craftsperson’s using traditional methods and high quality materials. We do not compromise the quality or finish of our work.

All work carried out followed CVMA guidelines, which promotes minimal intervention and maximum retention of original materials.

Our Directors include a PACR accredited conservator and an Accredited artist of the Church of Scotland. Please feel free to contact us if you require any future advice regarding architectural stained glass windows. We cover all areas of Scotland but we would welcome any enquiries from further afield. ICON Accredited Studio

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Scottish Water Starts £25m Loch Ryan Project Construction has begun on Scottish Water’s £25m Loch Ryan project to bring a modern waste water treatment system to Stranraer, Leswalt, Kirkcolm and Cairnryan.

Contractors Leslie MWH will be working in a variety of locations over the course of the scheme.

They are currently concentrating on the construction of a new pumping station at Port Rodie, with work soon to start on the simultaneous construction of the new treatment facility near Smithy Hill.

Work is also taking pace to determine the best route for the underground pipework that will be used to move waste water to the new treatment plant and then transfer the treated effluent to the northern channel of the Irish Sea. Stephen Hepburn, Construction Manager for Scottish Water, said: “This is great news for the area. After years of studies and surveys to assess the best option for an extremely difficult civil engineering challenge, Scottish Water is removing the permanent discharge of waste water to Loch Ryan.

“The waste water from the surrounding communities will receive a greater level of treatment than is currently provided.”

He said: “The construction work will have a minimal effect on local residents and businesses. We will continue to extensively consult local people and groups in the region as we have in the previous year.

“This consultation ensures our project progresses in harmony with the various community interests in and around Stranraer.”

The project will see the demolition of the existing waste water treatment works (WWTW) at Port Rodie and the retirement of three WWTWs at Cairnryan, Leswalt and Kirkcolm.

“With the exception of Cairnryan, the waste water from the settlements around Loch Ryan will be pumped to a new waste water treatment works at Smithy Hill. This works will perform primary and secondary treatment,” he added.

A long outfall pipe will transfer the final effluent to the northern channel of the Irish Sea near Larbrax, completely removing the permanent discharge to Loch Ryan.

He added: “We are in the process of finalising the plan for the outfall. We conducted extensive seabed surveys last September.

This work helped us determine the shape, composition and density of the sea bed.

“We have two methods we can use – directional drilling through the rock, or dredging the sea bed and laying the pipe on the sea bed.

“At Cairnryan, a shared facility will serve the needs of the village and the new Stena terminal nearby. This has many advantages – an 8km pumped waste water main is no longer required to Stranraer. A shorter 2km main to the new WWTW will reduce construction costs and total life cost of the project.”

Scottish Water has kept the community informed to date by holding regular local stakeholder meetings, distributing a frequent email newsletter, briefing councillors and council officials and by attending community council meetings. This work will continue over the course of the project.

The Loch Ryan project aims to give the town of Stranraer and the smaller communities which surround Loch Ryan the same quality of waste water treatment as the rest of Scotland.

Appropriate odour-control measures will be included at the key points in the process to ensure that odour is controlled to an acceptable level.

Scottish Water is also commencing a rolling programme of work on the waste water network in Stranraer, which will improve the water quality in Loch Ryan and the aesthetic quality of the waterfront.

The overall cost of the programme is £1.6 million and consists

of 11 small and distinct projects across various sites in Stranraer.

Stephen Hepburn said: “This work is being conducted separately from the Loch Ryan project, but will contribute towards the environmental benefits that the Loch Ryan project will deliver.

“This initiative is also part of a wider programme to improve water quality across Wigtownshire. The work will also improve the water quality in the Black Stank Burn, the Town Burn and the Sheuchan Burn which all feed into Loch Ryan.”

The programme is necessary to satisfy the legal requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and Shellfish Directive and will deliver significant improvements to the water quality and shellfish environment in Loch Ryan.

The overall construction and commissioning period is likely to be no more than 21 months.

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Scottish Water project edges closer to completion

Scottish Water’s £34m Dunoon Waste Water Improvements scheme is fast coming to completion, with further recent improvements currently being made to the infrastructure.

The scheme aimed at improving the waste water infrastructure in Dunoon and to protect the natural environment in the coastal waters of the Firth of Clyde, saw the addition of a gravity sewer being laid in the town.

Contractors GMJV, working for Scottish Water, recently restarted work on laying a pipeline across the entrance to the Western Ferries terminal.

GMJV is currently working to deliver improvements to pipework, associated structures and outfalls from Sandhaven through to Bullwood Quarry. Black & Veatch is constructing the new treatment works at Bullwood.

In order to progress with this particular section of the project, Scottish Water, in its constant liaison with local residents and road users, introduced traffic management measures around the Western Ferries terminal.

Part of an area used for car parking at the terminal was temporarily closed to allow contractors working for Scottish Water to continue with their work. It will result in the near completion of the new gravity sewer being laid.

Mr Rick Griffin, Scottish Water’s project manager, said: “This is a key element of the works and we have liaised closely with the local authority and Western Ferries to ensure we can progress with it while minimising any disruption in the area.”

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The scheme will remove a large number of untreated sewage discharges which currently flow into the Holy Loch and the Clyde and will provide biological (secondary) treatment at a modern treatment facility.

One of GMJV Contractors certainly went the extra mile during one day’s work last year, when his quick thinking might have saved the life of a canoeist who got into difficulty in the Firth of Clyde.

David Torrance, who was working for GMJV, contractors on the Dunoon sewerage scheme, was finishing work at the town’s West Bay shortly after 4pm when he noticed something in the water about 200 metres from the shore.

He initially thought it was a seal, but then realised it was a person and heard very faint cries for help. David quickly called 999, and got through to HM Coastguard.

Clyde Coastguard called out the Dunoon Coastguard Rescue team and dispatched the police launch Rhona to locate and identify the object.

The Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter R177, which was in the air on exercise, was sent to assist. The police launch, after arriving on scene, was able to confirm that the reported object was a man who had been canoeing.

It is understood that he capsized his craft and fell in the water.

He was winched into the helicopter and taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, after spending an hour in the Clyde.

Scottish Water is the sole provider of water and waste water services to an area of 79,000 square kilometres (over 30,000 square miles), a third of the area of Britain. And Scotland has

Construction News

a longer coastline - over 11,000 kilometres (over 6,800 miles) with a small and relatively dispersed population which requires a large number of small water and waste water treatment works.

Scottish Water is the fourth largest water and waste water services provider in the UK and at £1 billion it is in Scotland’s list of top 20 businesses by turnover.

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Multi-million pound water project will deliver massive environmental benefits

Scottish Water is carrying out a multi-million project which will deliver massive environmental benefits to rivers and coastal waters in Ayrshire.

One of the biggest projects of its kind ever undertaken in Scotland, the storm water management work will improve water quality in the River Irvine and Kilmarnock Water and the bathing waters of Irvine Bay. The scheme will help Scottish Water meet stringent EU directives and bathing water standards and Scottish Environment Protection Agency regulations.

MBV, a joint venture between contractors Morrison Construction and Black & Veatch and their design partners Halcrow, are on site in the £31m first phase of the project and will install a new storm water network between

Irvine and Meadowhead Waste Water Treatment Works.

The IrvineMeadowhead project will improve storm water management in the Irvine and Kilmarnock areas by creating a new collection and transfer system which will allow better control of waste water dischargesand substantially reduce unsatisfactory intermittent discharges (UIDs) to the rivers and the Firth of Clyde.

The new systems in both towns will collect combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges, which occur when there is too much water for the existing infrastructure to handle, usually during or after heavy rainfall. Excess flows are discharged into local watercourses to relieve pressure in the system and avoid flooding.

Creating the new storm water network involves constructing about 12 miles of large pipelines; three new transfer pumping stations located at Irvine Sports Club, Milgarholm Park in Irvine and the addition of a new storage tank south west of Kilmarnock providing 12,000 cubic metres of storage capacity which will prevent early spills to rivers by holding back waste water in storm conditions before it is pumped forward for disposal via an existing long sea outfall at Gailes Pumping Station in Irvine.

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Further works include additions to the inlet works at Meadowhead WWTW, including a new screening chamber that will provide preliminary screening to the storm water prior to discharge via the Gailes outfall.

Mr Rob Mustard, Scottish Water’s general manager of waste operations, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be underway with this scheme, which will make significant improvements to the natural environment in these parts of Ayrshire. Since 2002 we have invested £4.2 billion in Scotland’s water and waste water provision.”

Mr Alastair Graham, senior project manager for the the Irvine-Meadowhead scheme said: “We are minimising disruption to local residents as much as possible by using installation methods like tunnelling and by routing pipework away from major commuter routes.

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High quality refurb for NHS staff nears end An eight month project aimed at refurbishing a building to provide office accommodation for NHS National Services Scotland is coming to a close at Meridian Court, Glasgow.

The former Glasgow headquarters of the Scottish Executive will see the basement, ground and first to fourth floors of the 5,887 sq m building being occupied by NHS National Services Scotland a specialist organisation within NHS Scotland.

The seven-storey building will accommodate around 500 staff who are relocating from other offices in the city, while the other remaining two floors will be refurbished for future occupants.

The £7 million project is being carried out for NHS National Services Scotland by main contractors Sharkey. Project advisors are Turner & Townsend; architects are Cre8 Architecture and mechanical and electrical consultants are Wallace Whittle.

Works include the strip out of the entire building to shell state; the replacement or refurbishment of the building services and the installation of new internal walls, suspended ceilings, lighting and raised access floors, as well as complete re-decoration and the laying of new carpeting.

Balfour Beatty Engineering Services are carrying out the

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mechanical and electrical fit-out, including low impact installations such as daylight linking lighting controls, seasonal commissioning and inverter-driven motors.

Many of the installations are prefabricated modules, and preflexed luminaires are included in the scheme. For increased efficiency, existing switchgear and boiler house plant will be retained and re-used along with sub-mains cabling and pipe work in the main risers.

In addition, the first to fourth floors are being fitted out to the particular operational requirements of NHS National Services Scotland.

Their offices will be largely open plan, with partitioned areas including meeting rooms, quiet rooms, training rooms, break out areas, tea points and ‘hot’ offices.

A new reception area, a suite of meeting rooms and a staff catering facility is being created on the ground floor and the basement will include a car parking area and storage facilities.

The building is also being made fully DDA compliant, including the installation of a step lift at the reception area and the installation of toilets for disabled people (as well as general WCs) on all floors. Interplan’s Urban cubicles and solid surface vanities

were specified by Cre8 Architecture. The flush fronted solid grade laminate cubicles gave the washrooms the prestigious but durable finish they needed.

All of the building systems are designed to be environmentally sustainable, including a chilled beam low energy, low cost and low maintenance cooling system.

The building is scheduled for completion this summer.

Having NHS National Services Scotland as occupants of the building is in line with the Scottish government policy of re-using surplus Scottish government space to the benefit of the taxpayer, as opposed to the commercial market.

A family business employing over 150 professionals, George Sharkey started as a sole trader of Joinery Services in 1969. Both sons, Scott and Stephen joined the company in the early eighties where they worked their way up through the ranks starting as apprentice joiners.

In 1998, they became joint managing directors and rapidly expanded the company. They have now split their joint roles, with Scott operating as CEO and Stephen as group managing director, with the support of the experienced and dynamic management team.

Construction News

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Third phase of school refurbishment powers ahead.

The construction of a new extension is upgrading facilities at Douglas Ewart High School in Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire.

The project is the third phase of a five-phase programme of refurbishment at the school, a scheme being carried out for Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Main Contractors are Ashleigh Scotland, who also undertook the previous two phases in two separate contracts. These comprised the installation of a new external envelope to the existing building in curtain walling, render and composite cladding, with a metal standing seam roof.

Quantity surveyors and CDM Co-Ordinators for the current contract are McGovern Miller Partnership, while Mechanical and Electrical Services Engineers are Waterman Building Services.

The scheme includes demolition to make way for the new three-storey link block which will join two existing buildings on the site.

Internal facilities will include a new kitchen

and dining room, three new art classrooms, a lift and two drama rooms.

The new link block is structured around a steel frame with masonry cavity walls, an in-situ concrete ground floor slab, and pre-cast concrete first floor. The external elevations will be finished with smooth-finish insulated render, with high-level Kingspan insulated wall cladding panels, and will incorporate an aluminium powder coated curtain walling system, windows in aluminium powder coated frames and an aluminium standing seam roof.

A large part of the works will involve a new mechanical and electrical installation which will be integrated into the building’s existing systems.

The project is being undertaken within the grounds of an occupied secondary school and leisure facility, which need to remain

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operational during the contract and therefore require a high level of health and safety management.

The refurbishment programme is around 75 per cent complete and is on schedule for overall completion in November 2011.

The fourth phase of the project will involve the upgrading of music and drama facilities and the fifth phase will comprise the relocation of the school’s gymnasium from another site to the existing campus.

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New wind farm will power 37,000 homes A 35 turbine wind farm is under construction at Gordonbush, in a project near Brora, in Sutherland.

The 87.5 megawatt wind farm will be capable of powering 37,000 homes.

The project is being carried out by SSE for by Main Contractors RJ McLeod. The construction works include the building of roads, hardstandings and substation hardstandings, as well as a welfare building; the erection of three met masts and the upgrade of a single track ‘C’ class road.

Construction work over the last few months has included developing the access track, now completed, which leads from the site entrance at Ascoile up to the location of the on-site substation. The spur roads between the turbines and the turbine bases are also being constructed.

The substation is now being built, with SHETL (Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited) the company which is delivering the grid connection, having transported their equipment to site in May 2011 in order to carry out the construction. The work will continue up until the grid connection date in October 2011.

Associated works on the project include the strengthening, reinforcement and widening of the Clynelish and Moss roads to facilitate delivery of the turbines in Autumn 2011.

Work began in the autumn last year and full commissioning is due around the end of the financial year.

SSE recognise that their investments in new electricity generation benefit from the co-operation of the local community

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in a variety of ways, particularly during the construction phase. In recognition of this, their policy is to establish long-term funds to support community projects in areas where they are developing generation projects.

The Gordonbush Community Fund will benefit Golspie, Brora, Rogart and Helmsdale Community Council areas and will deliver over £3.6m during the 25 year life of the wind farm.

In addition to the general fund, a £300,000 Sustainability Investment Fund has been established for the communities of Golspie and Brora.

The fund will focus on areas such as social enterprise and skills development and be managed by the charity Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) in partnership with SSE and the community.

SSE is involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity, in the production, storage, distribution and supply of gas and in other energy services.

The company generates electricity in power stations, hydro electric schemes and wind farms; produce gas through their interests in North Sea production; deliver electricity to homes, offices and businesses via overhead lines and underground cables and deliver gas to homes, offices and businesses through their 50% share of Scotia Gas Networks. They also: retail (or supply) electricity, gas and related home services; own and operate gas storage capacity; provide mechanical and electrical contracting and engineering services and own and operate telecoms network capacity.

RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd operates over a broad spectrum of construction disciplines with resources spread across Scotland, including the Western and Northern Isles. The company’s sizeable in-house resources include plant and transport valued in excess of £8M, around 400 staff (including over 200 operatives) and their own Quality, Safety, Environmental and Training (QSET) Department.

CS Drilling Services CS Drilling Services undertook drilling & blasting to provide access to the turbine bases and the infrastructure for future maintenance of the turbines.

Construction News

The company operates state of the art Atlas Copco D9 and L6 drilling rigs each capable of drilling between 9000 and 13000 cu metres of rock per week, enabling R J McLeod to complete the road access to each turbine on time and within budget.

As well as the Gordonbush wind farm, CS Drilling Services have previously worked successfully with R J McLeod on the Kilbruar and Novar wind farms and currently with the Glenfinnan Hydro scheme.

The company is owned and managed by two directors who have over 30 years experience between then in rock drilling, water well drilling and the related use of explosives.

Call our news team on 01706 719972

£22 million project opens door to new homes for tenants

A long-term project to refurbish 145 properties as part of a phased regeneration of the Maukinhill Estate, in East Greenock, is anticipated to be finished within the next 12 months.

The final phase of the £22 million regeneration of the estate is being carried out

by McTaggart Construction on behalf of Cloch Housing Association.

Following extensive negotiations with the Scottish Government, the Association attracted a housing association grant of £10m and £7m from the Nationwide Building Society to complete the regeneration of Maukinhill.

It is anticipated that the physical regeneration of the estate will be complete by mid 2012. The new homes are being handed over on a phased basis.

The aim of the development is to make sure that every tenant who wanted to remain on the estate will have a new home.

McTaggart Construction also undertook the first phase of the scheme comprising the construction of 48 new homes which was completed in October 2009.

Architects for both phases of the scheme are Coltart Earley Architecture.

The regeneration of the estate followed the transfer of 280 Inverclyde Council houses to Cloch Housing in 2007 after a successful ballot of tenants, 98% of which voted to transfer to the association.

The construction of the new homes follows the demolition of older properties which were beyond repair.

Properties being constructed are a mixture of semi detached and terraced houses, flats and amenity housing (e.g. for elderly people) in a range of sizes including two, three and four bedroom sizes.

All works are being carried out in close liaison with the tenants and demolition of the old homes is taking place in a rolling programme, with the tenants of these properties being decanted - sometimes into temporary accommodation and sometimes directly into their new homes as they are constructed, in a phased handover.

Cloch Housing Association is a provider of

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rented and shared ownership accommodation based in Greenock and celebrated 40 years of service during 2008.

The association was originally formed in 1968 as a charitable non profit making organisation under the name of Christian Action (Greenock) Housing Association Ltd. At that time its objective was to provide suitable and affordable housing for rent to stem the flow of young families leaving the area.

McTaggart Construction was founded in 1946 and has established an enviable reputation in the market place, based on the delivery of a quality product on time and to budget.

With a portfolio of successfully completed projects covering all industry sectors and strong bonds with a long list of highly successful consultants, the company offer clients knowledge, experience and versatility.

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All change at Irvine Central Hospital A major operation to involving both new build and refurbishment has been successfully completed in a £16 million investment at Irvine Central Hospital, in Ayrshire.

The project, carried out by Main Contractors Dawn Construction and overseen by quantity surveyors Currie and Brown Management of Glasgow, sees the former outpatients department in Kilwinning Road fully refurbished and a new extension constructed, with the new facilities now open and providing a range of services for patients.

The development was carried out for Ayrshire and Arran Primary Care NHS Trust.

The first area of the former outpatients department now has a reception office, three consulting rooms and six interview rooms.

The second part of the outpatient department has also been refurbished, and now incorporates accommodation for anticoagulant clinics, paediatric clinics, joint rheumatology, podiatry, nail surgery, dietetics, nurse specialist for epilepsy, speech therapy, phlebotomy, an endocrine clinic and a new vasectomy clinic.

Services which have moved from the existing building to the new extension include: dermatology, including a new nurse-led biopsy clinic; care of the elderly; stroke clinic; travel medicine; urology; urology nurse specialist service; continence nurses; general medicine; chest medicine; gastroenterology; infectious diseases; renal; rheumatology; and a rheumatology nurse specialist.

A Central Decontamination Unit (CDU) has opened providing services including cleaning; inspection and assembly; and packaging and sterilisation of reusable surgical instruments and medical devices.

The service is provided to across the healthcare field, including all operating theatres, wards/departments and outpatient clinics, Ayrshire Maternity Unit, community midwifery and family planning and Well Woman services.

The new Gallery dining room and kitchen has also been completed and offers meals and snacks for patients, visitors and staff at Ayrshire Central Hospital. The dining room seating has been increased from 100 in the old dining room to 150 in the new facility.

There is also an outside patio area which has 30 seats.

The new kitchen, although smaller, is making the best use of space with state-of-the-art equipment including self-cleaning ovens. A particular major improvement is the waste facility.

All kitchen waste is now collected and reused – either for

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compost or for energy - making Ayrshire Central Hospital and Girvan Community Hospital the only two hospitals in Scotland making best use of kitchen waste for green energy.

Jim Crichton, Director of Primary Care and Mental Health Services, said: “While our work for planning the new health facility at Ayrshire Central Hospital continues we are still committed to improving the Ayrshire Central Hospital site.

“Along with new buildings we have completed a massive refurbishment programme of some of the existing buildings – bringing them right up-to-date. Our staff and patients now enjoy more pleasant surroundings.”

Dawn Construction Ltd is the Dawn Group’s founding company, and over the last 34 years has grown to become one of the country’s leading construction specialists, with a turnover approaching £90M. The company has an extremely successful track record of delivering projects, which demonstrates their experience, capability and reliability. This, coupled with their approach to business underpins their growth and the volume of repeat business they enjoy.

Dawn Construction have a wealth of experience across the entire spectrum of market sectors, including retail, commercial, industrial, residential, leisure, health and education. From supermarkets to PFI schemes, retail parks to hotels, hi-tech offices to leisure centres, they have firmly established themselves as a market leader with projects ranging in size from £3M to £30M.

College is centred on sport Existing sports facilities at George Watson College in Edinburgh are undergoing a £6 redevelopment to provide multipurpose fitness facilities designed for the 21st century.

The impressive new facilities will be known as the George Watson College Centre for Sport.

The school campus was constructed in the 1930s, so the old sports facilities were in need of considerable updating.

Contractor AKP Scotland is undertaking the project, led by Smith Scott Mullan Associates, a Scottish architectural practice, to comprehensively redevelop the facilities at George Watson’s College Centre for Sport.

The project includes re-roofing and re-glazing of the original sports facility, rebuilding the swimming pool hall, rationalising and expanding the changing facilities, comprehensively upgrading the original gym facilities and creating a modern fitness suite.

Within the original building, the project includes the creation of a central hub incorporating windows overlooking the swimming pool.

The new fitness suite extension will be in keeping with the existing building and will incorporate a new gym studio and a fitness room with a mezzanine floor and large glazed areas giving views of the Pentland Hills beyond.

Construction work, due for completion before Easter 2012, is progressing well with roofing works almost complete and the new facility will shortly be wind and water tight.

The steel frame, blockwork and roof for the fitness suite extension, which replaces demolished squash courts, are now in place.

Building work on the swimming pool has also now commenced some time ago due to the extensive nature of the demolition work involved in its restructuring. External walls were taken down and rebuilt and this will see the original pillars of the former swimming pool have been removed to create a more open interior creating a view directly into the pool hall and a valuable gathering space or “hub”.

Mr Gareth Edwards College Principal said: “Despite a severe

winter which delayed the start of the project, AKP Scotland has brought the project back on track, on schedule and within budget, so we are happy.”

The facilities, once opened, will be used for curricular activities by upwards of 2,300 children from nursery age to 18 years, and, out of school hours, will also be open to the wider community, as well as sports and youth clubs, football academies and other organizations.

He added: “The new facilities will offer flexibility to take account of the changing needs of the curriculum. They will also ensure that we have sports facilities second to none in a Scottish school on a single campus.”

The school was created as a Charitable Hospital in 1741. The Hospital was the legacy of merchant and financier George Watson; today, the George Watson’s Family Foundation continues this legacy, raising funds for bursary support.

In July 1870 the Merchant Company was granted powers by Parliament to reform all the hospital under its management, and along with the other Merchant Company Schools, George Watson’s Hospital was remodelled into a day school.

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Regeneration Gives New Energy To Area A Greenock thoroughfare is set to be transformed as part of a major redevelopment the town centre amid a £180 million investment.

Work has already progressed on West Blackhall Street to give shop fronts, pavements and road surfaces a new lease of life.

Regeneration Convener Councillor Jim Clocherty said: “This is a key part of our regeneration programme for Greenock town centre.

“West Blackhall Street is one of the first streets that thousands of cruise ship passengers see when they arrive in Greenock and we want to make it as accessible and attractive as possible. We are proud of our town and want visitors to enjoy their experience so much they come back for more.”

Inverclyde Council, Riverside Inverclyde and their partners successfully applied for £1.32 million from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

The total scheme which is underway for Greenock Town Centre is £1,985,000 with additional match funding being provided by Riverside Inverclyde and Inverclyde Council.

Plans have already been approved to refurbish existing shop fronts on Cathcart Street and work is already underway to create an event space and to upgrade the quality of the landscaping on either side of the junction of Cathcart Street with Rue End Street.

In West Blackhall Street paving slabs will be re-laid, tarmac repaired, chewing gum removed and railings re-painted. Work will also be carried out to improve shop fronts; clean stone work and remove vegetation from gutters.

Councillor Clocherty added: “Developing the town centre will make it a more positive place and a quality environment for business and the local community.”

The project forms part of the £180m James Watt Dock development. Riverside Inverclyde and Peel are behind one of the largest-ever individual regeneration projects yet seen in Scotland,

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with Greenock’s iconic Grade “A” listed Sugar Warehouse at its heart.

The focal point of the development will be a £5.4m transformation of these iconic “sugar sheds”, Scotland’s largest cast iron and brick structure, built in 1885.

The sheds were closed by Tate & Lyle in 1995 and have since lain derelict. A number of other projects have come to nothing over recent years.

The redevelopment sees the creation of state-of-the-art commercial, marina and leisure facilities set alongside modern residential and retail space.

Over a ten year period, the redevelopment of the 107-acre dock will see the creation of some 1,700 jobs; build in excess of 750 residential units; provide in excess of £10m-worth of social housing; establish 45,000 sq ft of retail space; create 145,600 sq ft of commercial space; enhance some 480 metres of waterfront and develop a 400+ berth marina The project is being delivered via a new Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) between Riverside Inverclyde and Peel.

Speaking on behalf of Peel, Euan Jamieson said: “The James Watt Dock site is a huge opportunity, both from the point of view of location and potential, and it is important for the regeneration of Inverclyde.

“It is also a major challenge, with historic issues of low demand and infrastructure, and has resisted development for over two decades.”

The first new houses - a mixture of flats and family homes - will be ready in 2011, with the others to be launched in phases.

Work is under way to build the road and power infrastructure that will support the development, and to make the sugar sheds wind and watertight.

Once completed, the revamped building will be a mixture of loft-style apartments, offices, restaurants and cultural spaces,

including a maritime museum.

Riverside Inverclyde’s chief executive, Bill Nicol, said the project marked a new beginning for Inverclyde. “Gradually this project will transform an area that was formally the absolute hub of Greenock.

“Through this project we will be building one of the most outstanding and vibrant locations in Scotland to live and work, that will be the envy of many.

“What we are seeing here is the creation of a sustainable community by bringing land and property back into use. The sugar sheds transformation is what we would call a ‘hope’ project.

“People can see the work going on already, and soon they will be able to come in and see how the place has been transformed.

Sometimes big regeneration projects are talked about for years, then nothing happens. We are delivering.”

Meanwhile Mr Jamieson insisted that the long-term plan is flexible enough to withstand the global economic turndown.

“We are continually looking at the economic situation and have confidence in this project.

“Already there is £180m secured and ringfenced to create the vital infrastructure that will enable the rest of the plan to go ahead in the coming years. I also believe that over the next two years the market will recover.

“There is strong demographic demand for the accommodation on offer, in close proximity to Glasgow. I am confident that the flexibility of this project will ensure we are in the best position to respond to the recovery.”

In addition a £2.2m access road has been completed, with £1.3m of works having been advanced on public realm works to create the backdrop for a Tall Ships event.

Other developments at James Watt Dock include Blue Sea Marinas being appointed as marina operator, with pontoons and moorings being installed in the historic dock. Later phases will see the creation of increased marina and leisure facilities set alongside attractive residential and retail space

2011 will also see Riverside Inverclyde advancing projects which have clear economic development outcomes and are aimed directly and job creation and business support: Kelburn,a 6.45ha site just 15 minutes from Glasgow Airport; Riverside Business Park, an extensive business location already home to over 20 SME’s, where an additional phase of office development is planned. This will be constructed to a Grade A standard, with at least a very good BREEAM rating, and will comprise flexible sized office suites. The new accommodation will be available from late Autumn 2012; and Cartsdyke, a site accommodating up to 70,000 square feet of bespoke office accommodation, included dedicated car parking. The land has already been remediated and is ready for development.

This year will also see the start on two exciting new projects, including the refurbishment for commercial use of Greenock’s Georgian Customs House and in close partnership with Inverclyde Council, the redevelopment of Gourock town centre.

One attraction for the local community and visitors alike is set to be Greenock Arts Guild’s new theatre, the “Beacon” due to open in the middle of 2012. Set on the site of the former Lamont dry dock adjacent to the historic East India Harbour in Greenock, the new arts centre will house a five hundred seat auditorium, a one hundred seat studio theatre, rehearsal rooms and a café and bar.

The Scottish Government has invested £22m in the regeneration of the area. Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said: “This redevelopment will breathe new life into Inverclyde and bring great benefits to those who live here, generating jobs and investment, and creating new homes and retail facilities.

“This project demonstrates that effective joint working between the public and private sectors can create certainty and confidence despite current market conditions.

“This will accelerate the ambitious programme to transform Inverclyde and ensure its proud heritage of the past heralds a bright new future.”

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Sellafield Decommissioning Framework Contracts Awarded 55 historic buildings have already been demolished at the site of the decommissioned nuclear power plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, but now 108 further decommissioning projects are underway, and contracts have just been announced for the latest stages of siteclearance.

Astrel (incorporating Aker Solutions E&C, Hertel, Studsvik UK); Cumbria Nuclear Solutions (comprising James Fisher Nuclear, React Engineering, Shepley Engineers, Stobbarts, WYG Engineering, Westinghouse Electric); DEV Nuclear ( including Doosan Power Systems, Energy Solutions EU and Babcock Nuclear) and Nuvia are the new partners selected by Sellafield Ltd to provide a range of services in the process.

Client Sellafield Ltd said that the new frameworks provided by the chosen contractors would help accelerate hazard reduction at the site. They will be providing specialist nuclear engineering solutions to technically challenging projects, many of which have to be carried out in high radiation environments.

Sellafield commercial director Keith Case said: ”Sellafield Ltd is applying both existing and new innovations to overcome technical decommissioning challenges, whilst at the same time making these work in highly radioactive environments.

“The new partners have beaten off stiff competition to secure involvement in these important decommissioning frameworks at Sellafield. Our primary focus, and that of our owners Nuclear Management Partners, is the safe decommissioning and cleanup of the Sellafield site and the decommissioning frameworks will bring a good complement of skills and expertise to meet our goal of tackling the high hazard projects at Sellafield safely, with care for the environment and whilst ensuring best value for the taxpayer.

“The previous decommissioning frameworks were in place for four years and provided a sound basis for delivering a number

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of key hazard reduction projects. Sellafield Ltd has taken the opportunity to review the learning from our experience to identify opportunities for improvement and build this into the revised arrangements going forward. A corner stone of this approach will the development of appropriate partnering behaviours demonstrated by early and genuine engagement of the supply chain in effectively meeting the challenges we face.”

The frameworks offer the opportunity to place up to £35m a year through individual packages of work, and Sellafield Ltd also recently commissioned Babcock-Balfour Beatty JV as contractors on their waste storage project.

New developments in nuclear power promise to provide plenty of work for the construction industry in the near future, as eight sites for new nuclear power stations were approved by Energy Secrectary Chris Huhne in October last year. Sellafield is also among these sites, which must build new reactor plants by 2025, although other potential sites in Cumbria – Braystones and Kirkstanton – were ruled out for development due to concerns about the possible environmental impact.

Speaking about the plans for new power plants Chris Huhne said “We urgently need investment in new and diverse energy sources to power the UK. We’ll need renewables, new nuclear, fossil fuels with CCS, and the cables to hook them all up to the Grid as a large slice of our current generating capacity shuts down. The market needs certainty to make this investment happen, and we are determined to clear every obstacle in the way of this programme.”

These works will not only invest in the future of the country’s energy, but will also be good news for the construction industry, set to create many multi-million pound contracts like those for clearance at Sellafield, as well as more extended contracts for the building of the new plants and the infrastructure necessary for their effective and efficient running.

Major renaissance for Nelson’s older terraced streets The latest phase of a project renovating terraced properties in a conservation area is underway in Albert Street and Mosley Street, Whitefield, Nelson, where works are progressing well.

The project is being carried out in a regeneration partnership known as PEARL2 (Pendle Enterprise and Regeneration Ltd) between Pendle Borough Council and Barnfield Construction, one of the North West’s premier contractors. It aims to make Pendle a better place to live, learn, work, play and visit. The refurbished houses are available for purchase and are generating considerable interest from buyers.

The aim of the Whitefield Regeneration Project is to renovate the existing terraced housing and adapt it to the current needs of local families. Over 50 houses will have been renewed by the time the project draws to a close in 201 2. Many of the houses date back as far as the 1890s, and most were dilapidated, fire damaged and, unsurprisingly, uninhabited.

“Whilst maintaining the character of the houses externally, internally they are being completely renovated. This is to reflect the changing housing needs within the area. Traditionally most of these houses were 2 bed-roomed with a few being 3 bedroomed. We are developing energy efficiency housing which will provide a mixture of 2, 3, 4 and 6 bed roomed houses and at the same time maintaining the traditional character of the area . By doing so it will ensure that families will remain within the community and able to move into appropriate housing as and when their needs change - By doing so, it will ensure longterm sustainability and avoid empty properties in the future” said Iftekhar Bokhari of Pendle Borough Council.

The Albert Street scheme, which involves comprehensive internal and external refurbishment, is creating a range of two, three and four bedroom houses, with the four bedroom homes being comprised of two houses knocked into one to provide very spacious accommodation.

The works include the complete stripping out of the interiors and the replacement of the floor joists, many of which had suffered from dry rot; the installation of new plumbing and wiring and the construction of kitchen extensions. Properties being joined to provide four bedroom accommodation are having the two back rooms converted into one large family living room, with the upstairs accommodation comprising four bedrooms (including one ensuite) and a family bathroom.

Other measures such as the installation of efficient boilers and high quality insulation to the latest standards are also being used for energy efficiency. External improvements include the installation of sash style windows and stone cleaning of the exterior elevations which are also being repointed in lime mortar and re-rendered to the rear of the properties. Other works include the reconstruction of the chimney stacks and the installation of new traditional troughing and rainwater goods, as well as re-roofing using as many of the original slates as possible.

The current phase is due for completion in June to mid July 2011 for Albert Street, with the works completing on Mosely Street in September.

The initial phase of work in Stanley Street (completed in November 2010) was very successful and involved the

renovation of 14 terraced houses, formerly mill houses. The works comprised the installation of new kitchens, highly efficient heating, electrics, stone cleaning, repointing, the installation of new windows and doors, re-roofing, and the installation of timber sliding sash window frames, new gutters and chimney stacks. All existing stone and slate used was salvaged and reused wherever possible.

Twelve of the fourteen terraces were knocked from two houses into one to make larger homes comprising of two lounges, a large kitchen, a dining room and a sitting room.

Standard homes have a kitchen, dining room and lounge.

Barnfield Construction was commended for their speedy, thorough and effortless customer service approach which resulted in them starting work on the current phase.

The project has been shortlisted for an award in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ Regeneration category.

It’s hoped many more successful projects across Pendle will follow, such as the refurbishment and new housing development on the previous Lob Lane Mill site in Brierfield.

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Council and health services join forces to gain state of the art new facilities A brand new community hospital and civic centre is under construction in the Selby Community Project, in Selby.

NHS North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services and Selby District Council have jointly funded the scheme, which is being built by Leeds-based BAM Construction.

The Selby Community Project will deliver a new state-of-theart community hospital and district council civic centre on land adjacent to the existing Selby War Memorial Hospital on Doncaster Road. The scheme has been made possible because of the joint funding arrangements in place from both sides. The total project spend is in the region of £22m with the hospital element being funded by land sales and public capital in the region of £16m.

The original Selby War Memorial Hospital was built in 1927.

Over the years the requirements of the hospital have changed significantly and it has long been recognised that a new hospital will support improved local health services. The current hospital building has a significant backlog of maintenance work which, even if undertaken, would bring the hospital up the very minimum standards required of it. Selby District Council is also in need of new purpose-built office space as the existing civic centre is coming to the end of its life. So, by working together the two organisations have pooled resources to deliver the project.

The organisations are sharing their resources in building and running the new development, which supports the long-term goals of making better use of resources for both.

The site shares its infrastructure and it has been projected that

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by sharing key services and procuring the scheme together we will have saved in the region of £2 million.

The new hospital includes: 24 in-patient beds for intermediate care and rehabilitation; enhanced diagnostics including digital imaging and ultrasound; a minor injuries unit; ante natal and post natal clinics with ultrasound; a minor surgical suite; enhanced and expanded outpatient services and a base for community intermediate care and rehabilitation and for other community services such as district nursing and health visiting.

Other facilities include: adult, older people, child and adolescent mental health services; children’s services

(outpatients); community dentistry and therapies, such as chiropody, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and drug and alcohol counselling.

The hospital has been assessed against the criteria set for BREEAM Healthcare and will achieve a rating of “Excellent”.

BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance. The Civic Centre is likely to achieve a ‘Good’ rating, but has chosen not to be formally assessed.

Overall the CO2 reduction for the site is predicted to be 24% below the emissions for the same building built to the standards required by the Building Regulations Part L2A 2006. This represents a reduction in CO2 emissions of over 90 tonnes per annum.

The new civic centre incorporates modern office accommodation; meeting and training rooms, shared with the hospital and a new council chamber.

The building structure is predominantly concrete to act as a thermal buffer and reduce the solar overheating and hence the need for mechanical ventilation and cooling. The office areas are predominantly naturally ventilated with Monodraught Windcatchers to avoid the need for mechanical ventilation and the perimeter areas of the hospital and the reception are predominantly naturally ventilated to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation or cooling. In addition, shading and solar control glass have been incorporated to reduce solar gain.

Passive infra red and daylight control of the lighting has been included wherever possible to reduce heat gain conserve energy and reduce CO2 emission. Low flow taps to reduce water consumption, reduce energy consumption and reduce CO2 emission.

In addition, a gas fired combined heat and power plant is

included in the hospital to generate heat and electricity and also serves the civic centre.

February 2011 saw the start of a package of improvements to the A19 Doncaster Road just south of Selby town centre, between Baffam Lane and Newport Avenue. There will be a new mini roundabout to help ensure traffic flow and a new raised zebra crossing to make it as easy as possible for people to reach the new site.

Work on the project commenced in January 2010 and completion is scheduled for September 2011, following the demolition of the existing hospital and final landscaping work.

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Market moves in on successful new industrial units A highly successful development comprising the construction of four new industrial/distribution units has just been completed at Normandy Court, Wakefield Europort, Castleford, West Yorkshire.

The project was carried out for Ernstone Developments, a division of Pelican Engineering, by Main Contractors AJ Roberts Construction, who have been praised by Mr Richard Crump of Ernstone Developments, who said: “AJ Roberts have done a great job, completed on time and on budget.”

The units, measuring 3,000 sq ft, 6,500 sq ft, 9,000 sq ft and 26,000 sq ft are already proving popular, with Unit 1 having been let by commercial vehicle hire company Petit Forestiere; Unit 2 let to Hyco Manufacturing Ltd; Unit 3 sold to HEC Couriers and only unit 5 remaining available for sale or rent.

Mr Crump added that he was pleased with the take up of the units. “Despite a tough property market there are obviously still people looking for the right thing at the right price.”

The units are built to the very latest specifications meeting all current building regulations and heat insulation requirements.

Units 2 to 7 have fully finished office areas with separate fully tiled toilets. The first floor storage areas above the offices have first floor windows and staircases provided and are designed to be suitable for converting to additional office space at a later stage.

Wherever possible environmentally friendly features have been incorporated into the design such as low flow taps, dual flush toilets and motion sensitive light switching.

The specification also includes a 6.8m eaves height; a floor loading capacity of 30KN/m²; electrically operated loading doors; gas central heating to offices; external lighting; fully finished offices with Cat II recessed lighting, perimeter cable management system and fully carpeted and kitchenettes in units 2 and 7.

All of the units are steel frame structures with external elevations in metal cladding and cladding roofs incorporating aluminium framed windows, rooflights.

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External works include the creation of securely fenced concrete yards and parking areas and soft landscaping.

The Europort development benefits from planning permission for 24 hour operation and is built to a uniformly high standard.

The whole of Europort is served by public transport and has high levels of landscaping within a low density of development.

Earnstone Developments Ltd specialises in the design and development of industrial units and Commercial property in the South Leeds and Wakefield area.

Based in Wakefield, Earnstone Developments Ltd is part of the Pelican Engineering Group which was established in 1919 and has traded continuously since then.

Established in 1958, AJ Roberts Construction is a family-run construction firm with over 25 directly employed staff, a 10,000 sq ft warehouse and a highly experienced management team.

The company’s wide range of expertise in a variety of sectors including residential, industrial, commercial and public combined with their strong commitment to delivering the highest quality projects for clients and their heritage and family values - makes them the first choice for building and construction in Yorkshire.

£53 million civic centre is the jewel in the crown of town renaissance scheme Construction of Rotherham’s new £53 million civic centre is making good progress in a project which is a key part of the £2bn Rotherham Renaissance scheme.

The new building will bring together council services from across the town centre, allowing the vacated sites to be redeveloped.

The development is located on the former Guest & Chrimes site by the River Don in the town centre.

The design has been prepared by architects Carey Jones, who worked on the Frenchgate Interchange in Doncaster and the St Pauls Quarter in Leeds. The main contractor is GMI Construction.

The design aims to provide a high quality new office development with strong links to the town centre, bringing a significant portion of the former Guest & Chrimes site back into economic use. Also included in the development are landscaping, flood protection and improvements to the junction with Main Street. The building is set to open out to the town and river to the east, and to introduce a sense of arrival relating to the new civic square. The publicly accessible plaza will see visitors from the town centre cross the existing road bridge and emerge into a light filled public space.

The works involve the construction of a 16,000 sq m modern office building with three individual blocks of 5-7 storeys, interlinked at one end by a large glazed atrium.

Other features include a single storey semi-basement,

incorporating car parks, store and plant rooms.

The car parking layout is co-ordinated with the structure grid for the three blocks.

At the centre of the building there is a front reception/entrance block with access via five staircases, eight personnel lifts and one goods lift.

The building has steel frame structure, with composite in-situ metal decked floors, encapsulated with a stone and metal rainscreen cladding system and dry wall lift shaft construction. The exterior will incorporate sandstone similar to Rotherham Red and brass metal work to reflect the history of the borough and the site.

The design also includes two roof courtyards which have the

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Once complete, the building will achieve a BREEAM energy efficiency rating of ‘Excellent’.

Project manager Paul Smith told Premier Construction that work was progressing at pace, saying, “By the time we’re finished, this development will lead to a much more efficient council service – not only in terms of being centralized, but also in terms of the 30% saving in desk space it will provide.”

Chief executive of Rotherham Council, Martin Kimber, said, “We are all working together delivering regeneration. It is fantastic to see regeneration in the borough, in the heart of the town centre”. He added, “GMI Construction Group and their subcontractors are doing a great job in using local labour and sourcing local materials”.

Jarrod Best, managing director of GMI Construction, added, “This flagship development brings together a state-of–the-art building design and specification, alongside traditionally, locally sourced materials built by a local workforce.

“On behalf of the expert team working on this project, we are excited to be playing a leading role in the renaissance of Rotherham town centre, and the ongoing regeneration of the surrounding area, creating new jobs, investment and social opportunities”.

Once completed in early 2012, the scheme will free existing council office sites throughout the town centre enabling alternative redevelopment to take place.

GMI Construction is a well established and successful building and construction services company with a track record for delivering award winning projects for an international portfolio of developers, public sector clients and blue chip companies.

The company’s operations span multiple sectors and region specialising in the delivery of high quality, energy efficient and often complex construction projects worth up to £50 million from inception to completion, meeting tight deadlines and rigorous specifications with confidence.

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Barnsley set for new museum

Experience Barnsley is an exciting new museum and archives centre to be situated within the Grade II listed Town Hall as part of a £4.5m project.

The project is being undertaken by Graham Projects on behalf of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, with Redman Design of Ilkley, Yorkshire having designed the building.

A state-of-the-art archives and local studies research centre will be created, and a purpose-built store to house the borough’s archives. Important archaeological collections are already being brought back to Barnsley

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from other towns and cities.

A large changing exhibition gallery will host touring collections and exhibitions created by local history groups and societies.

There will be facilities for the borough’s heritage community, including training, specialist equipment and heritage workspace, and staff will be on hand to help with activities and events. £2.6 million funding from the Heritage Lottery and further finance by the European Regional Development Fund means the borough should have its own facility, dedicated to telling the stories of its past, by 2012.

The project has been carefully designed to ensure that the Town Hall, built 75 years ago, will continue to be the democratic and civic centre of Barnsley.

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The Portland Stone exterior will also be cleaned and restored, making the borough’s best-loved building a real landmark.

Dr John Tanner, who is managing the project, said: “Exciting galleries will tell the vibrant and diverse stories of Barnsley over many centuries to the present day, enabling future generations to learn about and appreciate how the borough has come to be and all it has to be proud of.”

Flood defence will protect 400 properties Geared to protecting around 400 homes and businesses in the area, the Oakenshaw Beck flood alleviation scheme at Agbrigg, Wakefield was planned following the severe floods of June 2007, which caused devastation across the district.

The scheme, which has been developed in a partnership between Wakefield Council and the Environment Agency, is being carried out by Main Contractors CA Blackwell.

The result will be a flood bank and flood wall, securing an area of land that will temporarily hold floodwater resulting from heavy rain storms upstream on Oakenshaw Beck.

The works comprise the following main elements: excavation of made ground (ash) fill material from the main site and disposal on the fill site; construction of flood embankment control structures; a pumping station and control house; a parapet wall, floodwalls and floodgates.

A diversion weir, channels, ponds and low flow culverts are also being constructed. Miscellaneous works include the construction of fencing and a cable pulling chamber. The flood embankment is approximately 350m long and constructed of cohesive (clay) material with a 4m wide crest and 1 in 3 side slopes, with a clay cut-off extending below base level.

The flood wall is of traditional construction in reinforced concrete and comprises of two separate lengths, at the upstream and downstream ends of the scheme. At the downstream end, the flood wall is approximately 74m long and up to 1.5m high. A length of around 30m is a direct replacement for the existing culvert parapet wall adjacent to the A638 Doncaster Road.

At the upstream end the flood wall is approx. 75m long and up to 1.4m high. The flood wall is being constructed without cladding

except for the parapet section, where masonry cladding will be used, re-claimed from the existing masonry. Three floodgates are incorporated into the scheme at locations where access through the defence is required. Two floodgates are required at the upstream and downstream ends of the scheme. The third floodgate is required for access to an allotment site.

Currently the project is going very well, with the overall works 60 per cent complete and construction of the embankment 90 per cent complete. “The contractors are doing a very good job and we are very pleased with them� said Paul Maddison of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council.

Work started on 4 April 2011 and is planned to be complete by September 2011.

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Historic landmark becomes children’s adventure centre A Grade 1 former Midlands’ stately home is ready for a rush of children through its doors after it underwent a £6 million transformation to become a high-tech adventure centre.

Leading school trip provider JCA, part of the TUI Education group, has opened Condover Hall in the heart of Shropshire, enabling students to enjoy unique and exciting curriculum-led activities within the grounds of the impressive Elizabethan mansion.

The stately home, near Shrewsbury, has under gone a major transformation by Main Contractors Forbes and Whiteford, working with Architects G D Lodge and Partners.

The project has seen the grand architecture of the imposing Hall being kept, while the interior has been restored to its former glory, with sumptuous chandeliers, wood panelled rooms, fine plasterwork and magnificent fireplaces.

Providing a first-class venue for Learning Outside the Classroom, there is a varying range of activities for pupils in year four and above such as abseiling, archery, climbing, fencing and swimming.

The hall, which also boasts a dance studio, allows children to have a session testing their Harry Potter skills in a themed spell room! Sports teams and events can be hosted using the all weather sports pitches, indoor sports hall and swimming pool, and the hall is also offering specific netball coaching.

With an occupancy of up to 500 people, the flexible accommodation is situated in newly refurbished buildings throughout the estate grounds.

The construction project included the conversion of a courtyard building into a refectory, the conversion of existing classroom buildings to sleeping accommodation, and a programme of external works including the creation of outdoor games and activity areas, together with the demolition of an

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elevated walkway. Attractions such as state-of-the-art themed rooms in the main building with tantalising names including the Laser Room were also created.

The hall has numerous uses as a venue, for example for team events, as an outdoor education and adventure centre, for educational school trips or as a school/student team building.

English language course specialist EAC will host English language camps for juniors at the venue in July and August.

Joined by adventurer and TV presenter Ben Fogle, ambassador and Olympian sports personality Dame Kelly Holmes and TV star and political figure Lembit Opik, new owners JCA cut the ribbon at Condover Hall in front of local teachers and students.

Ben Fogle said: “There is no better way to engage children in education than learning outside the classroom so I am delighted to be involved in the launch of Condover Hall. I am looking forward to trying out the new state-of-the art high

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ropes and seeing what I will learn.”

Dame Kelly Holmes added: “Venues like Condover Hall can be very inspiring to both students and teachers and I am sure they will love attending here.”

Janie Burt, Managing Director, JCA added: “We have been inundated with advanced bookings for Condover Hall and look forward to showing teachers the venue in all its splendour.”

The hall is the flagship activity centre for JCA, part of Tui Travel PLC., the global leader in educational travel, and which also owns holiday firms Thomson and First Choice.

“Superb design...quality construction...a success story right from the start” says Lembit Opik Speaking exclusively to Premier Construction, leading Liberal Democrat figure and media personality Lembit Opik, who, together with Ben Fogle recently opened the new Condover Hall Chidren’s Adventure Centre in Shrewsbury for JVS Travel Sport said: “The design of this facility is a role model for others to follow. There are three things that are really special about this scheme. Firstly it is a great venue giving a stately home a new lease of life. The building was in good condition to start with, but JVS have spent a fortune to tailor it to precisely what is needed for a learning experience.

“Secondly, JVS haven’t cut corners in terms of the quality of the construction. I had to compete with Ben Fogle on climbing a wall at the new facility, scrambling past tyres and metal framework - and it was obvious from the experience that not only did they have health and safety sorted, but the design was superb. This really is a top level project indicating that it is well worth making an investment in a development like this.

“Thirdly, the developers really had a clear focus of what they wanted right from the start - unlike with some developments where you can see that things have been added on as an

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afterthought.

This scheme has been designed by experts who know exactly what they want from the educational experience and have designed it logically and coherently step by step from the beginning right through to the end - and have planned their budget effectively. To me, that is one of the most important elements of the whole scheme.

“When I was an MP I spent a lot of time on planning questions and I learned to tell the good developments from the bad. This development couldn’t have been better designed. It has made the most of the existing building and brought it from the past right into the future, whilst spending the money wisely and not compromising on quality.”

He added that the new venue has been very well received.

“Even at the opening, there were many young people showing great interest and enthusiasm. They were getting far more out of the venue than they would have even in a well-equipped school playground. They were learning teamwork and personal skills and the difference between being told what to do and taking on responsibility for themselves. This is the only way which we are going to get away from a ‘don’t do that’ culture to a ‘have a go at this’ culture in a safe way. They might get bruises and grazes - but that’s life - and this venue gives the opportunity to learn about life in a more realistic way. I am pretty sure that it is going to attract pretty much 100 per cent occupancy. It was obvious that this was a success story right from the start” he concluded.

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Early contractor involvement spells success for highways framework Now entering its fourth year, a highly successful highways improvement framework is being carried out for Worcestershire County Council.

The framework agreement includes contractors Alun Griffiths and Volker Fitzpatrick, who competitively tender for the civils works packages involved, with the contracts being awarded on a standard type cost/quality basis.

Early contractor involvement to improve value engineering has resulted in savings on the scheme.

Alun Griffiths have so far carried out projects ranging from £15,000 to £1.5 million.

Works carried out by Alun Griffiths have included a wide range of schemes over the term of the agreement, including footway and cycleway improvements, traffic calming works in housing estates in the Kidderminster area and the creation of bus priority routes including one in New Town Road on the east side of Worcester. The creation of another bus priority route on the west side of the town was undertaken by Volker Fitzpatrick.

Other works by Alun Griffiths include highways structural repairs such as the installation of bridge bearing replacements, concrete repair works on the A449 at Ombersley and Hartleybury and concrete repairs to a bridge over the Worcester/Birmingham Canal.

Further contracts by the company include rock face stabilisation and netting at Kidderminster and the construction of a piled retaining wall to an embankment supporting a road east of Kidderminster. Junction improvements and the construction of a masonry retaining wall were carried out in Malvern, and a gabion retaining wall was constructed at Clifton Upon Teme.

A river training wall was reconstructed following flood damage in Tenbury and a road raising scheme was carried out which tied into an Environment Agency flood protection project at Upton Upon Severn. Other contracts include high street improvement works in Evesham town centre.

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Works currently out to tender include the creation of a new cycleway on the north side of Worcester, masonry repairs on a bridge in Eckington and bridge painting works.

“It has been a fairly successful framework and we have delivered good value for money to the client” said Mr Laurie Graham of Alun Griffiths.

“We are supported by our head office in Abergavenney and our system of early contractor involvement has resulted in significant savings.”

The framework agreement ends in March 2012.

New academy to be ‘spectacular’ A £26 million science academy for 1,100 students in Kettering is set to score high for its architectural design.

The Kettering Science Academy is being built by Willmott Dixon Construction for Northants County Council and The Brooke Weston Partnership, with plans for it to be handed over in June 2012, and full completion by February 2013.

The new academy building, set over 11,500sqm, will be built on three floors with a steel framed structure and traditional brick and block elevations incorporating large areas of glazing and a flat roof.

External landscaping will see a mix of sports pitches ranging from five-a-side and athletics track to rugby and cricket facilities, as well as a large car parking area.

Designed to a quality that is consistent with the Brooke

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This courtyard will include a sky terrace, seating area and large scale artwork and will allow outside eating and study during the warmer months.

The circular glass panelled design will ensure that light floods into all areas of the inner building and looking out onto this central courtyard will be the library and restaurant.

The academic subjects will be ordered into a faculty system, utlising five double height faculty areas. The faculties will have a central study area and be lined by two columns of classrooms.

Each classroom will be designed with a glass fronted window, providing high visibility throughout.

The Science faculty will feature two ‘super labs’ - larger than average laboratories installed with the latest equipment.

Peter Simpson, Executive Principal of the three Academies within the Brooke Weston Partnership said: “I can assure everybody that our new academy building will be a spectacular addition to Kettering and that it will make a great contribution to raising standards and achievement.”

The existing academy building will be demolished and the site landscaped as part of at the latter end of the contract.

Chief architect at Nicholas Hare Architects, Ruth Saxton, who led the team that came up with the successful final design, said: “The academy partnership puts a large emphasis on transparency and visibility and so the faculty system has been designed to enable this.

“We have designed out opportunities for misbehaviour and bullying and using the glass also helps teaching staff to support each other.”

The new building will also feature an impressive 450 seat theatre which will sit at the front of the site near to the impressive tree lined entrance.

Students will access via the front entrance and use a smart card system to swipe through the central reception. This swipe system acts as an automatic register.

The building is also set to become one of the greenest ever built in the county. An onsite geothermal heating system will be linked to the building’s thermal mass; photovoltaic cells will convert solar energy into electricity; data screens will display

to students and users the energy usage of the building.

These technologies will reduce the need to take energy from the national grid and help the academy to make huge energy savings compared to the running costs of other academies in the UK. The energy produced by the photovoltaic cells will be enough to provide the power to light the restaurant. A new hall road has been made to ease congestion for site deliveries and site access.

Craig Reason, senior operational manager at Willmott Dixon Construction, said: “The project is being delivered on budget and on time. We have 60 people on site and all are focused on handing over the academy to the county council next June, with the students walking through the doors in September of that year.

“The new Kettering Science Academy building will be one of the lowest carbon buildings that has ever been built in Northamptonshire.”

His staff have also been engaging students in classes on the construction and the different careers open to them in the industry.

The Kettering Science Academy is being delivered as part of the Government’s Partnership for Schools (PFS) framework.

Norwich council homes set for higher standards Hundreds of council homes across Norwich are being improved even further after the local authority successfully completed a key Government target.

Having achieved the Government’s Decent Homes target for 100 per cent decency in all its homes by December 2010, Norwich City Council is now back focusing on its asset management strategy of refurbishing its housing stock to an even better standard for tenants.

Affordable housing contractor Lovell has picked up the major contract to carry out housing repairs and maintenance work for Norwich City Council, filling the void left by the collapse of incumbent Connaught in September.

Under the terms of the new deal, Lovell will provide housing refurbishment, repairs and maintenance.

The contract includes replacing kitchens, bathrooms heating, electrical re-wiring and the installation of new windows and doors, as well carrying out adaptations for the disabled, plus structural and environmental improvements.

Gary Atkins, of Norwich City Council, said on completion of a five-year rolling housing stock survey of part of its 16,000 homes, work was now underway to provide new windows to 2,000 properties; internal doors to 800 homes; 800 kitchen and bathroom

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refurbishments; 400 homes would undergo re-wiring, and 1,000 gas boilers would be replaced.

He said: “The aim of this particular contract is to concentrate on our asset management strategy and deliver improvements on an individual basis following the successful achievement of the Decent Homes standard last December.”

The structural improvements include upgrading non-traditional built homes, replacement of concrete staircases, ground stabilization works, and carrying out adaptations for the disabled, including the installation of

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Midlands & East Anglia ramps, level access flooring and stair lifts.

Environmentally, the contract includes fitting out of solar panels on homes and other eco-friendly measures.

He said: “Lovell has stepped in and have done a real good job on many fronts, while local sub contractors have also responded well to the demands of the work.

“With a staff of 33 people and an £18 million budget for a council housing stock that covers Norwich boundaries across four miles, we are kept busy.

“However, customer feedback at 96 per cent suggests that we and our contractors are doing the job right.”

Lovell, part of construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall plc, is based locally in Thorpe Road, Norwich.

Norwich City Council has a long history of building and renting affordable homes. Today around 16,000 homes across Norwich are rented from the council.

Around 30% of all homes in Norwich are council properties and roughly 1/3 of council homes were built before 1945.

Specialising in housing maintenance and refurbishment, new-build housing and regeneration development, Lovell has offices throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Council using our experience in housing refurbishment and maintenance

Construction News

Call our news team on 01706 719972

£30m science hub will provide the right chemistry for students.

A midlands university is hoping a new science and technology centre will provide the right chemistry for future students and spark a major boost for the local economy.

Miller Construction (UK) Ltd has been commissioned as the main contractor to build the £30m Science and Technology Centre at Staffordshire University’s Stoke-on-Trent campus.

The centre has been designed by Sheppard Robson Architects and is supported through an £8m grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The scheme, within the University Quarter (UniQ) at Leek Road, is the first in a series of new schemes for the institution, and forms part of the largest education-led regeneration project in the UK. The complex will accommodate all of the University’s science teaching and research, plus other specialist fields including renewable energy, medical technologies, and biomechanics.

It will feature specialist science and technology laboratories, a cognitive and developmental

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work to deliver a high-quality service for residents,” says Lovell regional director Simon Medler.

Lovell has become the nation’s complete housing solutions specialist by combining industry expertise, unrivalled local knowledge and a willingness to think innovatively and ambitiously.

It provides partners with the most comprehensive service in the industry – from the purchase of land to the design and build of new homes, refurbishment of existing homes, and the regeneration of communities – as well as providing a first class maintenance and repair service to keep homes in perfect condition.

It also helps create successful, sustainable mixed tenure neighbourhoods, with services ranging from repairing a leaking tap to refurbishing a resident’s home or building 100 new homes.

For over 30 years Lovell has been working with local authorities and housing associations, helping communities rebuild their identities with confidence and pride.

Lovell was already an industry leader, but has further increased the size and scope of its operations with the recent agreement to take on a number of significant contracts.

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psychology suite, interview rooms, two lecture theatres which can be converted into a single 250-seat facility, an IT suite, a learning resource centre, flexible learning spaces, a café, and a public exhibition space.

The facilities will also be available for use by science students from the City of Stoke-onTrent Sixth Form College and neighbouring Stoke-on-Trent College.

The UniQ is an ambitious project which brings together a unique collaboration of Stoke-on-Trent’s three key educational partners. They all share a vision of breaking down barriers to give everyone the chance to achieve their full potential. And all are working together to ensure the brightest possible future for the city.

The four-storey building is expected to be handed back and opened by autumn 2012.

Ian Jubb, Regional Director, Miller Construction, said: “This is an exciting project for Miller Construction and we are confident that the new centre will make a valuable contribution to the regeneration of Stoke.”

Paul Richards, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Staffordshire University said: “The Science and Technology Centre is another giant step in the regeneration of North Staffordshire and we are confident it will make a significant impact on creating a science-literate community and a qualified workforce to help grow our sciencebased industries.

“The new centre will also provide the University and its partners with the facilities and capacity to undertake more consultancy and research which has relevance to the wider world.”

www.romauk.net

One of the long term objectives to be achieved through the development of the Centre includes expanding the science and technology education on offer through the development of 20 new innovative, flexible and industryrelevant courses focusing on the challenges facing today’s society.

It will also help employers to develop new products/services and improve efficiency/ processes within the science sector and assist entrepreneurs in the creation of more than 70 new business enterprises in the science and technology sector.

The project has already seen the opening of a new Lifestyle building at Stoke-on-Trent College and the relocation of the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College to a new building adjoining Staffordshire University’s campus on Leek Road.

Mark Petersen, associate at Sheppard Robson and project leader, said: “The Centre, as part of the UniQ regeneration project, is expected to bring twofold benefits to the area, boosting the local economy by attracting new businesses, and by equipping the region with a highlyskilled workforce, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which is strong in the Midlands and will undoubtedly benefit from fresh talent.”

Church in the 21st Century It used to be the case that when the M&E consultant planned the technical requirements of a church project , he might expect to have to provide a microphone and a couple of loudspeakers; not any more !

Increasingly a modern congregation will expect video projection, multimedia facilities, an extensive mixing console and a sound system more akin to a concert venue than a church hall.

In fact over the last few years the use of technology in church worship has increased exponentially and the hymn book has been replaced by computers connected to flat screen TV’s or to high powered video projectors onto electric screens. Similarly progressive congregations will sing to the accompaniment of a worship band comprising electronic keyboards, guitars, and a kit of drums providing high energy praise and worship songs far removed from the style of hymns traditionally led by a choir and organ.

Working almost exclusively in church installations, B&H Syscom based in Peterborough are heavily involved in equipping church for modern worship, and work with established churches and new builds alike to integrate hi tech systems for sound, light and video into older buildings and turnkey design and build.

Brian Hillson , the MD from B&H explains; “ church worship styles vary from meditative Plainsong to full on rock gospel services at sound levels closer to the O2 Arena than country church, so its no longer appropriate to simply provide a sound system just to handle the speech from the preacher, but often a full range music system which would be at home in a high quality disco or concert venue.

Equally well , innovative churches are using video clips, downloads, specialist softwares to show supporting multimedia material to re inforce the Christian message, add to the worship experience, and make the services more creative and relevant to an all age congregation.

Some services aimed at people who are not regular church attenders are more like concerts and meant to appeal to teenagers who are used to loud and interactive music and so the equipment has to be capable of handling this kind of programme. So church worship is not static, and the styles of service are as varied as the people who attend church, so we need to ensure that the technology in church buildings keeps pace with the changing demands of technology, and keeps the teaching relevant and meaningful for new generations of

Christians to express their faith.�

The new Salvation Army building at Sheringham is just one example of how even a new Hall in a long established coastal resort has taken the opportunity to update its technical facilities to the most up to date standards by installing a comprehensive 24 channel sound system, an extensive video projection system with multiple screens, and a stage lighting system as part of the M&E provision for the new build.

The Message of Christ may be 2,000 years old but the expression of Faith is definitely 21st Century

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Midlands & East Anglia

New Facility Is Vital Ingredient In Company’s Expansion A new, improved and larger production facility replacing an older building is currently under construction for food ingredients and flavouring specialists Kerry Ingredients at the company’s site in Boraston Way, Burford, Tenbury Wells.

Main Contractors for the project are GP Thomas and Son Ltd. The new building, which measures 32 metres wide and 61 metres long, stands on the site of a former production facility which was demolished to make way for the development, which is due for completion at the end of November 2011.

Structured around a steel frame, the new building features external elevations in metal cladding, roller shutter doors and a metal cladding roof incorporating rooflights. External works include hard landscaping.

Currently, the construction team is working on the second phase of demolition, with the team reported to be doing an excellent job.

Kerry Group is a world leader in food ingredients and flavours serving the food and beverage industry, and a leading supplier of added value brands and customer branded foods to the Irish and UK markets.

Spanning all major food categories, Kerry’s core technologies and global resources are in culinary, dairy, lipid, meat, cereal, sweet and beverage systems and flavours. They provide innovative, practical product solutions to food manufacturers and foodservice companies.

The group has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions in its relatively short history, from

the commissioning of its first dairy and ingredients plant in Listowel, Ireland in 1972, and has achieved sustained profitable growth with current annual sales of approximately €5.0 billion.

Headquartered in Tralee, Ireland, the group employs over 20,000 people throughout its manufacturing, sales, technology and application centres across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Asian Markets.

The company supply over 15,000 food, ingredients and flavouring products to customers in more than 140 countries worldwide, and have established manufacturing facilities in 23 countries.

Phase Two Commences For Aston University Development Three months after the completion of Phase 1 of its student accommodation regeneration project, Aston University in Birmingham is to forge ahead with the second phase of the £215 million development by appointing leading contractor BAM. The contract to build new student villages for the University is worth £45 million, and all phases are on target to be completed in 2014, at which point it will provide sufficient on-campus accommodation for over 3,000 students. This date will also see the removal of all existing 1960s housing towers from the campus.

Aiming to provide not just increased quantity but good quality housing, the scheme is currently the of the largest regeneration projects in the midlands. The new blocks will consist of five- and seven-bedroom units, each unit equipped with modern, spacious, communal cooking facilities, which will be well-equipped with white goods, and which the university claims will incorporate several design features for maximizing hygiene.

Alan Charters, Director of Capital Development for Aston University, said: “The Aston Student Villages (ASV) scheme is of major importance to the University. It is the largest regeneration project in its history and when completed will

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provide improved student facilities which we believe will match the finest of anywhere else in the world.”

Phase 1 was begun in 2008, and delivered the first batch of the two thousand four hundred new, exclusively en-suite student rooms in time for the 2010-2011 academic year.

This contract is a valuable win for BAM Construction Midlands who secured the position of “preferred contractor” after a competitive procurement process. The firm has a well-established track record in the construction of university facilities, and will be aiming to consolidate its reputation for quality work further in this project.

Advised by Emprima, the Solihull-based construction consultants and project managers, the University, together with ASV, a charitable trust formed to procure and then manage the facilities for 37 years, has been developing its student village plans for the 40-acre campus for a number of years.

Mr Dakin confirmed that Ian French, who recently completed the highly regarded Severn Trent Centre in Coventry, would lead BAM’s on-site construction team. It will be working with Nottingham architects, Lewis & Hickey.

A £5 million contract has been placed with DSM Demolition Ltd, of Birmingham, for the demolition of existing buildings, including two existing 1960s high-rise accommodation towers

in the centre of the campus, site clearance, ground remediation and enabling work, processes which are already underway.

Replacing the high-rise blocks will be two blocks of accommodation of between four and 18 storeys, providing 1,053 en-suite student bedrooms and shared facilities. Two residential blocks, providing 1,300 high-specification en-suite rooms, were constructed by Carillion as part of Phase 1.

The new buildings will lead the way not only in terms of the scale of the development, but also in terms of the design of student accommodation, as the blocks for both phases of the development have been designed with the environment in mind. They are being built using the latest energy-efficient materials and systems, and also benefit from cutting-edge, environmentally friendly features such as green roofs, wind turbines, a Combined Heat and Power Plant and rainwater recycling.

The new designs are specifically tailored in order to meet not only the recognised BREEAM excellent standard, but also to comply with the ‘Secured by Design’ initiative which is managed by ACPO CPI Limited on behalf of the UK Associated of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Secured by Design focuses on crime prevention at the design, layout and construction stages of homes and commercial premises and promotes the use of security standards for a wide range of applications and products.

The development will also have positive ramifications for the local construction industry, with the company claiming that thousands of jobs in construction could be created as a result of this contract award.

Richard Dakin, BAM’s director in the Midlands, commented: “We will bring to this project BAM’s high standard of construction, collaborative working and community engagement. It is very exciting for us to be building something to enhance the life of this City’s students and doing this for such an important client as Aston University.”

BAM offers construction, engineering and design services to clients, and aims to lead the way in the UK in terms of ‘green’ developments. Earlier in July the company announced that it had appointed Nitesh Magdani to the post of Head of Sustainable Development, a new role created to ensure that the firm remains on track in its desire to be at the forefront of the industry when it comes to sustainable construction.

An architect by profession, Mr Magdani spent nearly 11 years at Aukett Fitzroy Robinson. His design for the Adnams Distribution Centre in Suffolk in 2006 was the first project to use hemp in a commercial UK building, as well as laying claim to having the longest glulam beams and one of the largest green roofs.

Mr Magdani spoke positively about the direction and challenges of his new role: “I am looking forward to the opportunity to influence BAM’s output, from design stages right through to project completion. One of the initial challenges will be implementing sustainable design tools through the use of BIM (building information modelling), which BAM now uses across all design disciplines.”

The architects on the project, Lewis and Hickey, are also a company with a strong consciousness of the importance of sustainable development. Their website states that their work is based in the belief that ‘the environment, and the sustainability thereof is common sense’ and their Environmental Policy statement makes it clear that this is a company which believes it can make a big difference to the way that the UK lives, works and thinks.

With this in mind the ‘excellent’ BRE Environmental Assessment Method score of the new Aston University complexes will no doubt be a feather in their cap, and is a specific opportunity to help the next generation see how their way of life, influenced by design features of their new accommodation, can have a positive impact on the environment.

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New lease of life for iconic local building An iconic local building in Thamesdown Drive, Blunsdon, near Swindon, which was previously the home of Motorola, has just been converted to provide purpose designed headquarters for medical product manufacturers Vygon.

Project Managers, Employers Agents and CDM Co-ordinators were 5 Consulting Ltd; the Main Contract was won in a competitive tender by Gloucester based Barnwood Construction.

“Vygon are delighted that the project has been completed on time and on budget” said Mr Richard West of 5 Consulting Ltd. The project was complex from the outset in establishing which elements were economically viable for reuse and maximising value for the client. An online auction took place for retained

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assets and redundant plant to maximize value for the client, prior to the main contract commencing.

Vygon, who employ 85 people and are relocating from Cirencester, are part of an international company specialising in medical apparatus and equipment, which has grown significantly over the last 30 years.

The project involved part demolition and extension of the existing building to transform it into a warehouse distribution centre on the 46 acre site. The development included the creation of 20,000sq ft of offices within the main building, the creation of a new a training facility and the construction of a new high bay warehouse.

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The works included the demolition of 75% of the former manufacturing warehouses on the site and the conversion of one of the retained warehouses into a training suite and a goods in area, with the works involving the initial strip out and re-fitting of the of the whole of the interior, the installation of new internal partitioning and new mechanical and electrical services and redecoration. The building includes greeting areas, training suites, offices, restrooms, a breakout area and a canteen within a central circulation area. Some internal steelwork within this area was replaced and significant external steelwork was shot blasted.

Other works included the construction of a new high bay warehouse and associated service yards. This element of the scheme required the remodelling of the existing site services for the building, as well as the installation of a jet airstream heating and cooling system and low energy lighting. The building is structured around a steel frame with external elevations in metal cladding and a double curved cladding roof.

Within the main building, new offices have been created and a new heat recovery air conditioning system has been installed, together with new partitioning, new data cabling and new floor, wall and ceiling finishes. Other works to the main building include cleaning of the external elevations and remedial repairs.

Adam Fletcher of Adapt Properties, who are Vygon’s retained development managers, said: “This move will provide the Swindon area with numerous job opportunities and give a sizeable boost to the local economy. “ “This is a fantastic strategic opportunity for Vygon. The new facility will provide much needed state-of-the-art warehouse and office space for the company”.

“Vygon are relocating as they require larger premises to support the needs of the business, they currently operate over three small sites and this centralisation will greatly improve efficiency and facilitate further growth.”

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Vygon (UK) Ltd makes single-use medical and surgical products. The company is a leading provider of intravenous access devices to the NHS. Brand names include; Multicath, Lifecath, Leadercath, Bionector, Biovalve and MIC. Vygon (UK) Ltd is part of the The Vygon Group which manufactures and markets more than 100 million products in 110 countries.

Barnwood Construction, founded in 1962 has been built on solid foundations and has a reputation for quality construction, care and being customer focused. Over the years there have been many changes in the construction industry, especially where technique, technology and of course client requirements are concerned. Through all this the ethos and principles at Barnwood Construction have never changed.

Barnwood Construction’s strength is its people. Its senior management team, staff and workforce of committed, hard working people share an attention to detail and a desire to evolve to meet new challenges.

Commended for building excellence Nominated for an LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Award celebrating constructional and architectural excellence, construction of the new Malvern Crossing Care Home has recently been completed on a site in Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury.

LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence awards are all about excellence achieved through building standards, technical innovation and sustainable designs.

Local, regional and national award ceremonies are held throughout the year with categories incorporating every class of building from domestic extensions, social housing, apartments, schools, hospitals, commercial and retail to industrial properties.

The care home project was carried out for Aspirations Care

by Developers ME Wynn & Co, with Longlevens Building and Roofing Services as Main Contractors, with whom ME Wynn & Co have had a very successful association. The Architects were DSW Designs.

“This is the second independent care home we have built for Aspirations. The first was Abbeymead in Gloucester, which was completed last year and was also recommended by Gloucester City Council Building Control inspectors for an LABC award.

“The final result was that we were highly recommended for the quality of our work on the scheme and came third out of 30,000 entries” said Mr Ted Wynn of ME Wynn & Co Ltd, who was delighted that the company has again been nominated for an LABC award for the current project.

“It’s a real feather in our cap and quite an achievement. I feel that we have further improved our work with this contract - the home really is like a five star hotel” he added.

The inspectors were not the only ones impressed by the new development.

“The clients are absolutely over the moon with it – the directors (Sharon Workman & Ian Salter) say that yet again the standard has passed their expectations, and they are delighted to include the new property into their care home group” said Mr Wynn.

It is designed to accommodate adults with profound and multiple disabilities. Facilities at The Malvern Crossing Care Home include seven ensuite bedrooms equipped with special hoists, as well as a lounge, dining room and a kitchen with specialised tables for wheelchair users so that residents can cook if they wish (although a catering service is provided).

The home is designed to allow wheelchair access throughout.

A rainwater harvesting system has been installed to provide water for flushing toilets and for washing machines.

The two storey building features external elevations in brick

and render, with UPVC framed windows and a pitched tiled roof. External works included the creation of landscaped gardens with seating and patio areas, as well as a car park.

Longlevens Building and Roofing Services are a well respected Gloucester-based company who have been established for over 20 years.

Collectively, the directors of the company have over 50 years experience which they feel shows in the quality of their construction work.

The company offers a full range of construction services; from brickwork and patios, through to loft conversions, extensions and new building. Longlevens Building and Roofing are well practiced in many forms of construction and are able to build bespoke or traditional designs, commercial or domestic projects.

Every year the company takes on apprentices through CITB, so they also support local young people’s careers whilst getting the job done.

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Go-ahead for £80 million Bristol Hospital The £80 million redevelopment of the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), which will greatly improve the hospital environment for patients in the centre of Bristol, reached another milestone as the Board of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) approved the full business case for the redevelopment.

At the end of March it was announced that the Trust had secured the £70 million loan for the refurbishment by the Department of Health. The Trust aims to sign a contract with construction company Laing O’Rourke in the summer.

The refurbishment will include the provision of: an integrated assessment unit, bringing together all the clinical staff to assess and treat adult patients who need to be admitted to hospital; an urgent ambulatory care centre, adjacent to the emergency department, where the patients who do not need to be admitted to hospital can be treated, and sent back home or into community services, and a purpose built short stay unit for patients who are likely to be discharged within 60 hours; Other new facilities include: a state-of-the-art intensive care unit; a surgical floor with wards that are located directly next door to theatres and the intensive care unit; and a medical floor where key medical wards are adjacent to each other to allow integrated care by all clinical staff.

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Robert Woolley, Chief Executive of the Board of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have worked on this redevelopment for many years. We are redeveloping our hospitals to improve the hospital environment for our patients and our staff and the new facilities will enable us to transform the ways in which services are delivered to patients.

“This redevelopment will enable us to work more efficiently, ensuring that patients are diagnosed and treated quickly and are only admitted to hospital if they need to be. We are working with our NHS partners in this area to transform care for our patients and this is a very important part of this.”

Dr Mike Nevin, a consultant in intensive care and Head of the Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, said: “It is impossible to overstate exactly how important making these structural changes are in regard to our ability as a Trust to offer the highest standards of clinical care to the people of Bristol. We will be offering 21st century models of care for medicine and surgery in state-of-the-art buildings that are fit for purpose.

Better diagnostics, and senior medical input in the new integrated assessment unit, will help decrease the number of patients admitted to hospital unnecessarily, returning the patients back to the safety of their homes, and to our partners providing community services.”

Big Screen Comes Back To Newquay After 16 Years Construction of Newquay’s new state-of-the-art Lighthouse Cinema in Crantock Street has just been completed in a project carried out for WTW Cinemas by Pearce Construction.

Built on the site of the town’s former Victoria Cinema, the new three storey cinema - the first to open in Newquay for more than 16 years - boasts four digital projection screens, two of which are 3D; 600 seats and employment for 24 local staff.

The building has a large foyer with concessions areas including a bar and sweet shop, seating areas and a lift.

Screen One has a unique elevated platform at the front which means it can be hired for entertainment and presentation purposes.

The building is structured around a steel frame with external elevations in a combination of cladding and textured render incorporating windows at first floor level, as well as full height feature glazing (visible from the main staircase which wraps around the lift core), and a metal curved roof.

The fitting out of the building was carried out by GF Holdings who installed all the mass barrier ceilings, suspended ceilings, mechanical and electrical services, perimeter and dividing soundproof walls, acoustic flooring, two projection boxes and the timber terracing for the raked seating. Other works included full height ceramic tiling in the WCs and, on the main foyer floor, the construction of counters and complete internal decoration. The fit out was completed on time and on budget with the cinema opening in May 2011.

David Williams, Managing Director of WTW Cinemas, which

also owns and operates cinemas in Truro, Wadebridge and St Austell, said: “It was absolutely fantastic to be able to open Newquay’s brand new cinema in time for the summer. There had been much anticipation and everyone involved in this project was very excited that the town will have a modern and comfortable venue that it can be proud of.”

Stephen Gilbert, MP for Newquay and St Austell added “I had no doubt that the new cinema would be a real hit from the day it is opened, and that’s why I’ve always been a keen supporter of its development. I congratulate the team at WTW Cinemas, and David Williams in particular, for all the hard work and dedication that has gone into this project.”

Guy Thomas, Newquay Town Centre Manager, commented: “The development of the cinema in Newquay is a wonderful and positive addition to the town centre and to the facilities that the town has, not only for tourism but for the local audience too. The fact that the facility is one of the best in the South West adds to the assertion that Newquay is the experiential capital of the county.”

Family-run business WTW Cinemas owns and operates cinemas The Plaza in Truro, White River Cinema in St Austell and The Regal in Wadebridge. White River Cinema recently won the RAAM ‘Best Independent Cinema in the UK’ award.

The new cinema in Newquay is the second phase of the company’s development plan, which included the construction and opening of St Austell’s White River Cinema in December 2008. The third stage will be the refit of the existing Plaza cinema in Truro in 2012.

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Resounding praise for new, luxury holiday village A £7 million holiday village in Cornwall has won resounding praise from holidaymakers for offering high-end luxury breaks.

Trewhiddle Village, now re-branded as ‘Natural Retreats Cornwall’ has quickly set a quality hallmark for luxury breaks. It offers the perfect retreat, nestling in 8 acres of undulating, partly wooded Cornish countryside and yet is just outside St. Austell, only a mile from the beach and within 20 minutes of the world famous Eden Project and historical harbour towns of Fowey, Mevagissey and Charlestown.

Built by Roseland Peninsula Homes to exceptional standards of design and quality, Natural Retreats Cornwall consists of 34 stunning New England style villas, including 3 two beds; 6 three beds and 25 four bed homes.

Constructed in phases over the last two years the villas have large balconies and private decking to fully utilise the south facing aspect. They offer wonderful double height, atrium-feel entrance halls; high-end luxury kitchens incorporating all white goods and granite work tops; travertine flooring on the ground floor with underfloor heating and carpets upstairs. Superb stylish interiors are complimented by rich furnishings and a high specification unrivalled by any other local holiday residences. A unique concierge service offers guests access to an array of additional services including insightful local knowledge and arranging or booking special events.

The villas, specifically designed for Trewhiddle by local firm Laurence Associates are timber framed, with external wood cladding and double-glazed windows.

A tranquil walk meanders through the deciduous woodland, past ponds and up through a signed trail over the neighbouring farm land. To complete the development a large, open recreation area provides communal BBQ areas, adventure play equipment for children and adults alike and an ancient working well. It is also the perfect space for ball games and generally running off steam.

Formed in 2004 by Johnny Goldsmith and Richard Green, Roseland Peninsula Homes Ltd has a refreshingly positive attitude

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towards development. It has an unparalleled understanding of the county’s residential and commercial property market, raising the standards for all to match.

Richard Green of Roseland Peninsula Homes said: “We are passionate about our approach which is reflected in our attention to detail and quality of our developments. For us the most important thing being established here is a reputation for significant builds, sympathetic to the beautiful and historic Cornish landscape. Where possible we utilise local partners and craftsmen to ensure continuity and a real sense of involvement in the surroundings. Natural, traditional and modern methods are used to create a true synthesis with the location. The Trewhiddle Village project has been shortlisted for ‘The Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards’ which have been designed to recognise the very best of the UK housing market, but just as important to us has been the feedback from our clients who have been holidaying here since Christmas last year.

“The reaction has been simply outstanding, with many stating that the design and facilities are phenomenal, and this has been reinforced with repeat bookings.”

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Studios Undergo ÂŁ4m Redevelopment A GRADE II listed building which has long been the inspiration of internationally recognized artists is undergoing a modern day makeover.

Porthmeor Studios, in St Ives, was designed and built by photographer Graham Gaunt and provides workspace for fishermen, artists and the St Ives School of Painting.

But it is perhaps best known for the internationally significant artists who have worked here, including Ben Nicholson, Patrick Heron, Francis Bacon and Wilhelmina Barns Graham.

Prolonged exposure to the harsh marine environment has taken its toll on the building, and it is now extremely fragile and in urgent need of major repairs.

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S o u th We s t The £4 million project will repair and refurbish the building and improve access. Phase 1 will be completed in July 2011, and Phase 2 in July 2012.

The client is the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust; the design is by architects Long & Kentish, and the main contractor is Symons Construction from St Ives. Structural Engineer is Keith Rolleston Associates; Building Services King Shaw Associates and Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager, Trevor Humphreys Associates.

Funding comes from Arts Council England, Sea Change/CABE, Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Cornwall Council, ERDF Convergence and European Fisheries Fund In the first phase, they are creating a whole level of public space for exhibitions entered at ground-floor level from the street and stretching through to the beach side. In the cellar there will be a learning centre about pilchard fishing and more studios. Above the public level is the School of Painting, which will have two studios at the top of the building, fitted with a new lift going up to the school and down to the studios for ease of access.

The second phase will involve work on these secondary studios and the remaining cellar spaces.

In the refurbishment, Long & Kentish is using new scantle slates from the Delabole quarry – which provided the studios’ original slates – in north Cornwall.

The studios were originally built using mining construction techniques and components: massive concrete walls; 60ft [18m] long recycled mine logs; cast iron columns plus beams from ships. There are also masonry walls and the upper superstructure is a timber frame with slate cladding, which has fallen into state of disrepair.

The building was actually beautifully made but there has been water damage and it was in such a poor condition that English Heritage was willing to pay for emergency restoration.

Architect partner MJ Long said: “The studios are the only remaining example of a building type that used to stretch all along

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the beach at Porthmeor. The rest have been turned into holiday flats.

“The 18th century engineer John Smeaton built a wall to stop sand washing inland, and fishermen built against the wall and used the cellars to press pilchards, and the lofts to dry and repair the nets.

“In the early 1880s, after Whistler and a number of other artists came to St Ives and found that the light was fantastic, suddenly many artists started coming to work there. One converted a fisherman’s loft and by the end of the decade virtually all the lofts were studios.

“There was one period in the 1950s when there was an astounding list of distinguished artists working there, including Francis Bacon and Ben Nicholson. Meanwhile the cellars were still occupied by fishermen and still are. The relationship between them and the painters has always been quite good. They’ve

always been slightly amused by each other.”

Rolfe Kentish said of the one remaining building: “It has been threatened with collapse. It is a timber, concrete and masonry building that has had no maintenance so it has leaked for years.

“We’re trying to make the studios sound without changing their character, in a way that is consistent with their history. It is a question of getting familiar with every board in the building and making individual decisions on each one.

“The challenge is how to fix it up after years of neglect and get the building maintained in the future. The Borlase Smart John Wells Trust tries to keep the studios for serious artists who can’t afford to spend a fortune on rent. So rather than charging more, the approach is to get a few more artists in.

“We’ll have room for 18 by pushing the roof up and getting in two new starter studios, and by subdividing some of the very large ones.”

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£17 Million Specialist School Takes Shape

Construction of the £17 million new state of the art Brannel School is making good progress on site at St Stephen, Cornwall.

The new building for the specialist English and Performing Arts school has been designed by HLM Architects, and is being built by Kier Western Truro to replace the old school buildings which have aged beyond economic repair.

The new facilities will provide 6,622 sq m of teaching space for up to 750 pupils, as well as a theatre, performing arts spaces, multi use games area, all weather floodlit sports pitch, outdoor amphitheatre and a specialist Area

Resource Base to cater for up to 12 pupils with special needs.

The building has been designed to provide maximum flexibility, and includes integrated ICT facilities to provide further opportunities to increase personalised learning and enable the school to take advantage of future developments in classroom technology.

The buildings will meet the latest environmental standards with ground source heating, solar water heating and green roofs and is expected to achieve the Excellent BREEAM rating.

Pupils from all years at Brannel School have been closely involved with the design of their new school building and Headteacher Ray Bell says that their involvement is resulting in the creation of a very special place of learning.

“Our pupils, staff and members of the local community have worked intelligently and creatively with HLM architects and Cornwall Council staff” he said, “What a privilege it is for

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us all to play a part in designing such wonderful new facilities”.

Caroline Buckingham, Director at HLM Architects, added “Brannel School will have an immense impact on the china clay area that it serves and the new facilities will provide access for the whole community to life-long learning. It will be a welcoming and exciting place for learning, providing students, staff and the local community with a healthy, challenging, inspirational and transformational learning environment.”

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New stand completed in run-up to Wimbledon championships The latest of many improvements and developments for the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon, is a project now approaching completion and comprising the amalgamation of the original Court 2 and 3 areas and the provision of new facilities within a new stand.

The project has been designed by architects Populous and has been built by Galliford Try, who have been carrying out projects at the venue for the last 25 years.

Located on the west side of the site, south of Centre Court and adjacent to the Millennium building, the new stand, which has a footprint of approximately 1060 sq m, includes seating for 2,000 spectators (both ticketed and free access). The stand is an open-air 6m high bowl structure, mostly constructed in fair faced concrete and shaped in a rectangle with 10 metre radius corners. Facilities include spectator terracing, including seating for disabled people, eight commentary boxes and ‘Hawk Eye’ observation points on the lines of the court.

Beneath the stand are ancillary facilities including debentures, a lost property store, plant rooms and a players’ area.

The east side of the stand, which incorporates a series of columns spaced at approximately 3 m intervals, is cantilevered over a walkway which connects with the Centre Court and Court Number 2.

Populous, working with Galliford Try, have been involved in the redevelopment of a number of key areas at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon.

The grandest part of the project has been the redevelopment of the famous Centre Court. The project involved the upgrade of the south-eastern, northern and eastern wings of the

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existing Centre Court and the provision of new accommodation comprising debentures, hospitality and dining facilities to take The Club into the 21st Century.

The most dramatic feature of the redesign is the retractable roof, the evolution of which was scientifically demanding: measuring 65 x 75 metres, the hydraulically operated structure is a ‘folding fabric concertina’, with steel trusses supporting

a translucent fabric skin. The roof now allows the feature matches and finals to be played under cover during the inclement weather over the two weeks of The Championships.

A key consideration is the internal environment during those times when the roof is closed: both the players and spectators need to be comfortable. To that end, the design allows natural light to reach the grass, while airflow removes condensation from within the bowl.

With tickets ever more in demand, an extra six rows of seating on three sides of the upper tier increased the capacity from 13,800 to 15,000. New wider seats have been installed as well as new media facilities and commentary boxes.

Another element of the project, the new Court 2 which was completed in 2009 and seats 4,000 spectators, is sunk into the ground to reduce its visual impact. The basement area contains player’s facilities and areas for officials and ground staff. Adjacent to Court 2 are new turnstile and first aid facilities.

Mr Bill Augustin of Populous said: “Galliford Try have been carrying out projects at this venue for a long time. They provide the client with what is wanted, carry out projects on time and know the client very well. They are doing an excellent job.”

A J Tensile Fabrications Limited A J Tensile Fabrications Limited were contracted to design, manufacture and install two new tensile fabric canopies as part of the work being carried out on Court No.1 - Debenture members areas.

The two almost identical canopy designs (on the south east and south west corners of Court No.1) consisted of a structural steel frame with a fabric membrane roof (manufactured from PTFE coated glass). From being given the final go-ahead the two canopies were designed and built in approximately 12 weeks then installed on site by four-five men over five weeks Although A J Tensile had not worked with the client/main

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contractor before, Gary Patterson (Project Manager) of A J Tensile had previously worked with this client/main contractor (for a previous employer) 18 months earlier on another tensile fabric canopy project.

A J Tensile Fabrications Limited was founded in 2000. The company operates from two units totaling 12,000sq ft. and employing 14 staff. The company’s main area of activity is contract welding of PVC and PTFE fabrics.

Wilson & Wylie Contracts Limited Wilson & Wylie Contracts Limited carried out porcelain floor tiling to the external Debenture terraces and Debenture WCs. This included laying a levelling compound to the power-floated concrete, a separating membrane, which also provided a waterproof layer underneath the tile installation, and finally 450x450mm non-slip tiles. The tiles were fixed in adhesive and incorporated intermediate and perimeter movement joints to conform to British Standards.

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Library turns over a new leaf

A new chapter in the life of one of Kent’s historic libraries is about to begin with the completion of a major £2.5 million upgrade.

The beautiful Carnegie building which hosts Gravesend Library in Windmill Street is currently being restored and enhanced.

The project is being undertaken by contractor WW Martin, to the design of Clay Architecture.

The original wall tiles and parquet flooring have been exposed and windows at the back of the library have been unblocked to create a much lighter space. Other conservation and refurbishment works to the original Edwardian library building include masonry and window

repairs, re-roofing the existing slate roof, over-roofing of the existing flat roof, and refurbishing and upgrading the existing feature roof lights.

All slating and lead works were carried out by Complete Roofing Contractors Ltd. The slates used are Welsh natural.

The steel frames for the new annexe are now in place and looking up Windmill Street residents can see how the refurbishment and the new build will work together to create a stunning building.

Once the project is complete, Gravesend Library will offer a whole range of services, including a room for library events and community meetings, a courtyard reading garden, more local history material and better collections of books and other materials.

Opened in 1905, the Carnegie has become a landmark of the town centre, but after 106 years, a makeover is underway.

The Carnegie building, named after the millionaire who first funded it, will be transformed and will have new computers and books, once again making it the pride of the

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town centre.

Christoph Bull, the district manager of Gravesham and Dartford libraries, said: “The new library will be one of the best in the county, and will be just as much a community centre as a library.”

Facilities within the two and three-storey library buildings will include a community room which can be hired out, a room for teenagers, a place to register births and deaths, a reading garden, and of course lots of books.

There will also be a changing room with showers for adults who live in sheltered or assisted living accommodation, which they will be able to register to use.

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London housing upgrades successfully completed Two housing refurbishment projects in Southwark - a £2.7 million scheme on St Saviours Estate and another development on the Rouel Road Estate - have been successfully completed by Standage.

Both projects were carried out for the London Borough of Southwark.

The project on to refurbish high rise blocks of flats on the St Saviours Estate, has received positive feedback from tenants and residents. The works were carried out to three six storey blocks of flats and two storey blocks over 52 weeks and included: the renewal of all asphalt roofs with high performance insulated roof systems with 30 year guarantees; the replacement of existing windows with uPVC windows; the renewal of all private balconies with asphalt and spartan tiles; the repainting of all external decoration; the removal of all existing glazed public balcony balustrade panels and their replacement with safe and attractive aluminium powder-coated perforated metal panels and the replacement of front entrance doors with tri-laminated timber doors with multi-point locking mechanisms.

In addition, all resident’s kitchens, bathrooms, central heating and electrics were replaced; communal lighting was replaced across the estate; new lateral mains were installed to all blocks; asbestos removal was carried out to the balconies on three blocks; a door entry system was installed to one of the blocks and all old windows in the communal staircases were replaced with a glass block system.

Mr Chris More of Standage described the challenges of the scheme as “Liaising with the tenants and keeping them happy, as well as the client, keeping the programme going and providing a good service.”

“The outcome was that the client was happy and letters were received from satisfied leaseholders and tenants” he added.

A & E Elkins - a long established and experienced local company - were very pleased to be chosen to carry out renewal of flat roofs with their pluvitec roofing system, and renewal of the asphalt balconies on the St Saviours Estate.

The project on the Rouel Road Estate was completed last November and involved the refurbishment of a total of 230 240 flats in 10 two and three storey late 1960s constructed blocks of varying sizes and comprised works including he installation of new aluminium framed windows and high security entrance doors; re-asphalting of balconies external decoration; concrete repairs and the erection of fencing to the gardens of ground floor flats.

E Smith Metal has carried out all the steel fabrication on both

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the projects at St Saviours Estate and Rouel Road Estate, including rails, ramps, etc.

Established in 1938 Standage has grown over the last 70 years to become a leading name in London’s refurbishment sector.

The company is a mediumsized building contractor which enjoys a high work volume from the public sector. Standage combines regeneration, refurbishment, alterations and adaption’s to existing buildings in the areas of social housing, office fit-out, educational establishments, historical buildings and estates. Their experience caters for both void and occupied properties, ranging from local authority housing to some of the most prestigious buildings in the City of London.

£40 Million Restoration Marks 300th Anniversary Of London Icon One of the largest and most impressive restoration projects ever undertaken in the UK - the restoration of St Pauls Cathedral - has been completed in time for the cathedral’s 300th anniversary.

The St Paul’s Cathedral programme of cleaning and repair has taken 15 years and numerous highly skilled contractors, who have comprehensively restored the building, inside and out, for the first time in its history. The project was led by Martin Stancliffe Architects and Purcell Miller Tritton.

Since the project of cleaning and repair commenced, the exterior and interior of the cathedral have been beautifully restored. Once blackened and damaged, the west front now rises majestically at the top of Ludgate Hill. The interior of the cathedral has been transformed by state-of-the-art conservation techniques and the light that now floods the space highlights the Portland stone used in the cathedral’s construction bringing mosaics, carvings and sculpture to life.

More than 150,000 blocks of the cathedral’s white Portland stone were cleaned on the outside alone.

Other work included repair of the interior, redesign and landscaping of the south churchyard gardens, restoration of the grand organ and adding wheelchair access to the crypt. The American Memorial Chapel, built in the 1950s to commemorate US forces who died in the second world war, has also been cleaned and restored.

“One of the main elements was the comprehensive treatment of all the external stonework to make sure that it was clean and watertight. Another major element was the extensive cleaning programme throughout the interior of the cathedral, which was a six year project in its own right” said Mr Martin Stancliffe, of Martin Stancliffe Architects.

“A whole sequence of projects stretching over around 15 years have been carried out in the crypt - all geared to making the space more useable and including the creation of a conference facility, a refectory, shop, education and choir practice facilities. Improving accessibility was also key to the project” he added.

Martin Stancliffe, Surveyor to the Fabric, who has overseen the restoration project, said: “It has been a privilege – and an extraordinary experience - to have led the team of professionals, craftsmen and conservators who have contributed so much to this transforming project.

This great building is now in a sound state, and probably looks better than at any time since its completion in 1711.”

“This great building is now in a sound state and probably looks better than at any time since its completion in 1711” said Mr Stancliffe.

programme” said Mr Gary Bricknell, Director of Trevor Caley Associates.

Other prestigious projects by the company include the recent completion of mosaic tile works at the Grade 1 listed St Pancras Station, as well as schemes at the Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial.

UK leading mosaic experts carry out challenging restoration One of Britain’s leading mosaic design, conservation and restoration companies - Trevor Caley Associates - carried out the restoration and conservation of mosaics in the cathedral, including those on the barrel vaults, along the chancel and on the pendentives.

The works included the replacement of decayed or lost tesserae and the stabilisation of loose tesserae, often working at height when carrying out in situ repairs. A particularly challenging element of this work was the need to remove the 25 square metre St Mark pendentive mosaic, which hangs just above the organ, to the company’s workshop for restoration and then re-hanging it six months later. This involved working on a very high scaffold suspended from the cathedral’s central dome at a level just below the Whispering Gallery.

“This was a particularly noteworthy project for us. It was an enjoyable job, working with a nice team and all went to ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Demand sparks expansion of popular school Geared to providing extra pupil places in order to cope with increased demand, is a project to expand Somerhill Junior School in Somerhill Road, Brighton.

The project is being carried out for Brighton & Hove Council

by Main Contractors Westridge Construction, with the council also acting as architects for the scheme.

The works include the extension and refurbishment of the school, as well as internal remodeling.

The project will provide a new secure reception area and a remodeled administration area, including a new head teacher’s office, an administration/bursar’s office and a community meeting space. The works will also provide additional and remodeled circulation space, a refurbished staff room, a modified kitchen, improved changing facilities and new disabled access to the first floor via a platform lift.

Further works include the construction of a first floor extension to provide four new classrooms, a shared activity space, two group rooms and toilets.

External works include hard and soft landscaping and the upgrading of access to the school.

The project is part of a larger scheme designed to accommodate larger numbers of children growing up in Hove over recent years. In another contract, Davigdor Infant School, which shares the site with Somerhill School, is also being expanded in a similar project.

Speaking of the project to expand both Somerhill Junior and Davigdor Infant School, Brighton & Hove City Council Cabinet Member for Children & Young People Vanessa Brown said: “The numbers of children growing up in the city has increased significantly and this has put pressure on many schools. This expansion aims to help ease that pressure and ensure that more local children go to their local schools.”

“We want to ensure children attend school with pre-school friends, parents don’t have to travel long distances and extended services offered by schools are tailored to meet the needs of the whole community.”

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Mixed use scheme rises to the challenge of a complex site Yale Terrace in Islington is a contemporary mixed use scheme, comprising eight town houses, four flats and a 3500 sq ft commercial unit, just being completed on what can only be described as a challenging urban site.

The project was carried out for Empyrean Developments by Main Contractors Future Urban.

Bellis Cooley Architects acted as design advisors and dealt with all planning matters throughout the construction phase of the project.

This is an important project for Bellis Cooley Architects, being a new practice. Therefore a director was involved at all times and worked closely with an associate and a part 1 architectural assistant.

The technical design was handled by Ramsden and Partners

Architects, throughout construction and Bellis Cooley Architects worked closely with them to ensure the detail matched the design intent.

The project involved the demolition of a former plumber’s merchants nestled between two roads, one a narrow residential one way lane, the other a key road and junction - which created significant logistics and delivery difficulties.

These constraints, combined with consideration for the needs of six neighbouring shops and apartments resulted in the need for hand demolition, helibar reinforcement, underpinning and sheet piled temporary works - just to get the project out of the ground.

The next issue was how to service this awkward site. Future Urban took the decision to leave one mid-terraced house down, using its position as the crane location. When the crane was dismantled, the team had to play catch up and erect the missing house with only the most minimal of logistics support.

This level of attention to detail and execution was demanded in all elements of the design and build.

Basement and ground slabs for the commercial unit were formed out of SIKA watertight concrete offering a 20 year warranty. The basement itself was built over a Thames Water Deep Sewer that necessitated a non-piled solution due to the imposed exclusions zone, with Ellis & Moore, the engineers opting instead for a mass raft foundation.

The three-bedroom houses range in size from 98 to 134 square meters and the two-bedroom apartments range from 67 to 78 square meters with a comparable specification to that of the houses.

The town houses are all traditional construction with insulated block and beam slabs. External elevations boast a distinctive Wienerberger white brick contrasted by Prodema wood ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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effect panelling, offset by aluminium windows. The properties incorporate terraces, balconies, and each has fully decked courtyard gardens.

For both roofs and terraces, Future Urban opted for traditional mastic asphalt upside down roof systems in lieu of the more favoured single ply membrane.

Whilst the houses have only a nominal footprint, the intelligent use of space has yielded abundant natural lighting.

The exacting internal finishes, designed by Empyrean’s In-house design team, created a level of modern opulence expected in homes worth twice their value, whilst not compromising the buildings’ eco credentials.

The specification includes German state of the art kitchens with top brand appliances. Accented in stainless steel and brushed aluminium, with glass splash backs and composite stone work tops, the kitchens form the striking centre piece for the townhouses.

Large porcelain tiles adorn the ground floor of each house, with under floor heating throughout. Bathroom floors are all finished in ceramic tile, while bedrooms contain plush, comfortable carpeting.

The separate living room is a quiet retreat, with modern gas fireplace that perfects the ambience in which to unwind and relax. The oak covered flooring was supplied and fitted by Oakwell Building Services Ltd, who also fitted the matching oak overlay to the stairs.

With a w/c or bathroom, on every floor, the properties incorporate top quality sanitary ware, with wall hung toilets and wall mounted sinks. The ground floor w/c’s double as utility rooms, removing the laundry equipment away from the main living areas.

All the master bedrooms have beautifully crafted German fitted wardrobes and 100% wool carpets and most enjoy the benefit of a private terrace.

Whilst built under the old Eco Homes Standards, Empyrean

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took the conscious decision in reducing their carbon footprint to meet many of the Code of Sustainable Housing Level 3 standards.

The building envelopes have been designed with the most exacting U-Value possible for such a build and the windows boast exceptional acoustic performance.

The houses incorporate solar thermal panels and under floor heating with individual room controls, whilst the flats similarly have the latest heat recovery systems and income generating solar voltaic cells.

All in all, the Yale Terrace development is an exemplar of how to deliver a contemporary, environmentally conscious design on a Brownfield urban site to a discerning consumer.

Mr Nick Charalambous of Future Urban said: “The public reaction to the development has been excellent - everyone seems to like it.”

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Refurbished civic hall will be the pride of the town A £1.3 million contract to refurbish and extend Didcot Civic Hall and town council offices in Oxfordshire are nearing completion for Didcot Town Council.

Main Contractors are Mansell Construction Services.

The civic hall is the administrative centre of the town and also acts as a community centre for a wide range of organisations such as the Women’s Institute and British Legion, as well as corporate events, seminars, weddings, concerts and parties.

“The building looked in a reasonable condition but there was an awful lot wrong behind the scenes” said Mr Colin Wynn of Didcot Town Council. “The design brief for the architects Sutton Griffin was to utilise and re-assign spaces within the existing building” he added.

The project, which is refurbishing and extending the 30-year-old building, includes the construction of an extension and the creation of a new entrance onto Broadway with glass sliding doors to make the building

more visible and accessible to the community. The new two storey extension will have the heating and air handling units, as well as new toilets, and three meeting rooms (large, medium and small).

The extension is constructed in brick in keeping with the local vernacular, with decorative timber cladding in between windows on the upper storey’s and brise solei. The building incorporates aluminium framed windows and a flat roof.

A new foyer created within space previously occupied by offices will include a reception and information centre, and a new larger bar and kitchen are also being installed to accommodate large events and functions.

There will also be a new stage and 18 m by 18 m sprung floor in the main hall. A new heating system has also been installed, replacing the previous three old gas fired boilers that had

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reached the end of their service life.

Work is expected to be complete in July 2011.

Town council leader Bill Service said: “This is fantastic news for the town. One of the reasons Mansell was chosen was because it was able to offer to complete the work in a much shorter timescale.”

Mansell Construction Services is engaged in property repair, maintenance and improvement, public and private housing, design and build, new build, contract decorating, plant hire and property investment.

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Resourceful redevelopment creates smart, stylish London accommodation Creating a smart new boutique development of 14 stylish serviced apartments for medium to long term rent, plus Grade A contemporary offices, is a project involving the resourceful redevelopment of a former light industrial building in Turnmill Street, Clerkenwell, London.

The project is being carried out for developers Marldon, who are also undertaking the construction. Southern Scaffolding Services LLP have been involved in the project from the beginning and have supplied all the internal and external scaffolding requirements of this very complex building and renovation works.

The development is already proving a success. “Just out of interest we advertised one of the apartments and had an enquiry straight away� said Mr Henry Bartlett of Marldon.

The five storey mixed-use scheme features a basement, plus street-level and first floor offices behind a double-height glazed frontage and 14 one bedroom apartments on the second, third and fourth floors above, each with floor to ceiling windows and either a balcony or terrace. Two penthouses with terraces are located on the fifth floor. Bespoke hardwood joinery and purpose-made kitchen cabinets and bathrooms give every apartment its own individual style.

The front and side elevations of the original building have been retained and are rendered in white and the remainder

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of the building was demolished to basement level. A new double height glazed frontage has been added and new traditional timber sash style and casement style windows have been installed. A new concrete flat roof has been fitted, with a Kingspan Sarnafil roof above, which is in turn topped by a greed sedum roof.

The Grade A contemporary offices on the ground floor

comprising a total 13,500 sq.ft. (1,255 sq.m.) have been designed to maximise natural light - perfect for the modern commercial occupier.

Features include large floor plates, raised access floors, hand-crafted woodwork and the use of sustainable materials, all within an air-conditioned environment.

Currently the project is reported to be going very well, with the external envelope of the building complete, works underway in the common areas and 10 of the flats fully finished.

Clerkenwell is a vibrant area noted for its creative industries, bars and restaurants. Turnmill Street offers easy access to the West End, City, Islington and adjacent to Farringdon Station.

Established in 1968, Marldon is a specialist design and build partnership that has built up an impressive residential and commercial property portfolio across central London, for both sale and rent.

Marldon’s unique style of design is the work of architect Simon Smith who combines an understanding of modern living with artistic flair; he is also equally at home creating contemporary office space.

The Marldon building team comprises over 100 employees with a range of skills covering all trades, including mechanical and electrical services. The company’s own joinery shop produces

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bespoke kitchens, bathrooms, wardrobes, doors, and stairs, thus creating an individual style to the finishes of each project.

The company’s philosophy is to encourage apprenticeships and training at all levels, thereby creating a well managed and loyal workforce dedicated to quality.

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Essex BSF programme forges ahead.

Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College in Essex is celebrating having reached a significant milestone in its £20m-plus redevelopment with the completion of the current phase of construction works on its campus in western Canvey Island.

The school is one of four initially being redeveloped under the Essex Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The programme is being led by the Essex Local Education Partnership - a company set up to deliver the building scheme - which sees Skanska, RM plc and Essex County Council working together to build new secondary and special educational needs (SEN) schools across the county.

The current projects are in Wave 4 of the Essex BSF programme, which also includes redevelopments at Columbus School and

College in Chelmsford and Castle View School in Canvey Island, all due for completion in January 2012.

Phase 1 of the construction works at Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College is now completed with the handover of a new sports hall, dance studio, music facilities and teacher training centre.

The new spaces are already in use, offering students an opportunity to enjoy a 600sqm hall on the ground floor with associated changing and hygiene facilities. A state of the art teacher training centre with an observation gallery is also now in use, along with the dedicated music classrooms, recital studios and dance studio located above on the first floor.

The works are part of a £20m-plus building programme to create a 900-place school for 11-16 year olds.

The entire programme of works at the school involves a series of phased handovers, including a new multi-use games area handed over in September 2010, teaching “clusters” due in September 2011 and, finally, an assembly hall and other new spaces.

At Chelmsford New Model Special School – now called Columbus School and College – a new College Campus for 14-19 year olds is being built on the site of St John Payne School and refurbishment and rebuilding on the Woodlands site will provide a school campus

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for the 3-14 age group.

The design celebrates the school and college’s ethos. The learning environments, and the social spaces within the learning clusters, will be exciting and vibrant to deliver a learning experience truly tailored according to need, supported by specific Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools. These spaces also have the flexibility to work as larger learning environments.

Castle View School, Canvey Island will be reopened on the site of Furtherwick Park school, which is due to close in 2011. This new build school for 1200 students aged 11-16 involves significant ICT investment.

The design creates a stimulating environment in which individual learners can excel. The airy, triple-height atrium will provide an inspiring and welcoming focus for the school and community: social inclusion is at the heart of the design. Students, staff and the community can enjoy the café space and still receive podcasts sent to their mobile devices via the online ‘Learning Platform’.

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Rebuilt Heston School opens its doors Pupils and teachers at Heston Community School in Hounslow, Middlesex, have moved into their new school building, constructed as part of a £24 million redevelopment of Heston school.

The design and build redevelopment scheme is being carried out for the London Borough of Hounslow and managed by the council’s Capital Strategy Team within Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning. Main Contractors are Apollo Property Services Group’s specialist division, Apollo Education, who are also carrying out the next phase of the works involving demolition, refurbishment and the provision of new facilities.

Apollo is working with design partners Ellis Williams Architects, service engineers PinnacleESP, structural and civil engineers Campbell Reith and landscape architects Sprunt. Token Cleaning Services Ltd carried out all the builders cleans and pressure washed all the pavements.

The newly built two storey school, on Heston Road, brings together Heston Infant and Nursery School, and Heston Junior School within an integrated facility. The new school has visual and performing arts status and includes new facilities to showcase this specialism. The new building is ‘U’ shaped with the main school entrance on the western elevation. The hard play areas, situated on the west and north sides, surround the school, with the teaching rooms and hall are immediately accessible. This allows the classrooms to open out onto hard play surfaces, which in turn access soft play areas, followed by the nature and wildlife areas.

With an eye on sustainability, the school’s heating and cooling strategy involves the use of ground-source heat pumps which will assist in the fulfillment of a 20% on-site renewable target.

The rebuild is the second phase of the project, which has already seen a new block built for the community school to replace numerous mobile classrooms and the outdated Norwood Block. The new block provides teaching spaces for art, design and technology, including food technology and textiles rooms, ICT/Business suites and general teaching spaces for English. There is also a new Learning Resource Centre and specific teaching, study and breakout areas for sixth form students.

One of the key design criteria was the minimisation of aircraft noise through enhanced acoustic performance, as the school is located close to Heathrow Airport. The structural concrete frame and flat slab structures selected provide a high thermal mass and good noise separation, as well as good flexibility for future changes to internal layouts.

Councillor Sachin Gupta, lead member for education at the London Borough of Hounslow, said: “This is an important step on the way to giving these schools the buildings they deserve.”

“We are determined to make sure local schools have facilities that meet the needs of future generations, and the wider community.

“The new building gives teachers state-of-the-art facilities to help children learn and achieve.

“When the scheme is finished, Heston will have school buildings to be proud of.”

Governors, staff and local residents were involved in the consultation for the design of the new building to ensure that it provides the best opportunities for pupils in the future.

The next phase of the work will see the demolition of the existing junior school building to create an external learning and play environment incorporating a Multi Use Games Area.

In conjunction with this, the existing infant school will be remodelled as the permanent kitchen and dining facility for the Community school.

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All the works have been carried out with the school in use.

The works commenced in November 2008 and are due to be completed at the end of 2011.

The Apollo Group is one of the largest providers of property services in the UK, operating for both public and private clients within the housing, education and the public and commercial sectors.

Apollo’s projects range from major social housing regeneration schemes through to the delivery of fast track school improvement works and the construction of new educational facilities, as well as facilities for health and leisure and the emergency services.

The business employs 890 people and its annual turnover level is approaching £300 million.

Express Delivery As Vinci Steams Ahead On Kings Cross Station Project The massive redevelopment of Kings Cross Station’s Western Concourse is forging ahead with contractors Vinci Construction UK at the helm of the extensive works.

The western range package of works is the biggest of the station’s £400 million redevelopment carried out for Network Rail, and will bring about tremendous improvements to one of London’s busiest stations.

Designed by McAslan, the new semi-circular structure to the west of the station will house a spacious 8,000sq metre concourse - three times the size of the existing one and include the installation of voltaic roof panels which enable the building to be self heating and much brighter than the original station.

The new concourse will house shops in a streamlined pod raised above the floor and will provide a key connection to the northern ticket hall of the underground station. It will also connect the platforms in the main train shed and reduce conflicting flows of passengers.

Passengers will enter the station through the new building and leave through the Victorian southern facade, eventually onto a spacious hard landscaped square designed by Stanton Williams and scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2013.

The roof to the station’s western concourse is 150m wide x 20m tall and resembles an umbrella with one half sliced off.

Its form and height have been determined by the curve of the Great Northern Hotel and the primary axis of the booking hall in the Western Range building.

Steel is used for the primary structure, while cladding is 70% anodised aluminium and 30% in laminated glass. If the whole roof had been glass, the solar gain into the concourse below would be too great, thus the glass has been used sparingly to provide just enough daylight onto the concourse where it is most needed.

The roof’s primary structure is composed of 16 steel tree columns at the perimeter and a 10m-wide (at the base) central steel funnel. The columns are linked to the funnel by radial S-beams.

Each tree column has a cast-iron node that transfers the loads from the radial beams into the vertical columns. The S-beams are made from flat box sections, 150mm wide and ranging in depth from 450mm to 250mm, which are then welded together on site to form 65m-long beams, and extend from the tree supports to the roof’s apex.

Connected to the S-beams are diagrid members, or circular hollow sections that gradually run into the funnel. The diagrid members express the spreading out of the concourse and give an aesthetic continuity, while providing the roof structure with horizontal restraint.

The geometry of the secondary roof structure is the same as ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t the primary roof structure. But, while the primary radial beams are curved, the cladding and glazed elements to the roof are faceted, hence the need to separate the two. Their physical separation also helps to lighten the structure’s appearance.

Welded steel pins connect the two structures with a gap varying from 25mm to 570mm.

The secondary structure consists of powder-coated aluminium extrusions 120mm x 80mm and nodes that feature a pin with a thread at the top to allow for adjustment as the geometry changes.

Large triangular composite cladding panels (up to 7.5sq m each) are then fixed to the secondary aluminium structure by concealed toggle fixings. Working from the inside out, the composite panels comprise: a perforated metal sheet with white backliner; a layer of acoustic absorption; thermal insulation and, on the outside, anodised aluminium. Once installed, the joints between the panels are sealed with silicone.

Fritted and laminated single glazed panels will be fixed to the secondary structure at the perimeter of the roof and the apex. At the perimeter, the glass cantilevers jut out from the aluminium gutter line by 8m providing weather protection.

The western concourse roof has been designed to respect the grade I listed Western Range building that it sits behind.

Its roof is kept separate from the Victorian building, and meets its facade at a low level. Its fully glazed, louvred wall allows the concourse to be flooded with daylight and to reveal the brickwork and masonry features of the original departures elevation.

Two sections of laminated, single-glazed louvres – each 48m long x 15m tall – have been fixed on either side of the Western Range building. The low-iron glass louvres - each 1,500mm x 600mm - are fixed at vertical sides only and to mullions spaced at 1,500mm centres. There are no horizontal fixings, maximising visibility through to the Western Range building.

The louvred facades act as a truss, with a curved radial beam acting as the top chord and a horizontal connection at firstfloor level as the bottom chord, which is connected by vertical mullions and stiffened with cross bracing.

Ian Fry, King’s Cross programme director for Network Rail, said: “The redevelopment of King’s Cross station will give passengers what they want – a bigger, better, brighter station.

It’s a massively important part of the regeneration of this quarter of London, continuing the improvements that have already taken place in recent years.”

The majority of the station redevelopment will be completed by 2012, in time for the Olympics, with the transformation complete by 2013.

Vinci Construction UK is a national construction and facilities company and is part of VINCI, world leader in concessions and construction.

At local level, the company’s regional teams operate throughout the UK, offering a fully-integrated service – from inception, ground investigation and remediation, through to project completion and beyond to the delivery of operational solutions.

Vinci offers customers unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise. The company has strong working relationships with other Vinci companies and subsidiaries in the UK, all of which are leaders in their field. As a result, they can combine ideas, skills and entrepreneurial flair to deliver top-quality work in all sectors.

Kings Cross Central redevelopment is right on track King’s Cross is changing. That much is clear if you walked past the vast 67 acre development site which sits between the two major stations – St Pancras International and King’s Cross, in central London.

In September the estate will officially open when 4,500 staff and students from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, (part of the University of the Arts London) move in to the Granary Complex, in the heart of the site.

At the recent pre-launch event, on-site photography and digital animation offered a glimpse of what the University of the Arts London and architects Stanton Williams hope will become the first truly 21st century art school.

Exposed old brick sits alongside new structures, as much of the site is based on retained railways transit sheds and a vast granary store dating from the 1850s. The impressive design means that there will be plenty of light and space in which to work. Alongside a 12m-wide ‘street’ running down the middle of the site, the new development will include a theatre and performance spaces; a dance studio; exhibition spaces and workshops; the potential for temporary pop-up spaces; even viewing areas where students can watch each other working.

By virtue of maintaining a visual link with the area’s industrial past, the building already has, as Roger Madelin, joint chief executive of Argent, the asset and development manager for King’s Cross, pointed out at the event, “a heart and soul.”

Essentially it unites the spread of the five disparate CSM

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campuses into a single site, with 4,300 students expected to arrive in September.

As well as education the multi-million pound redevelopment of Kings Cross will deliver on a number of other fronts – with up to 2,000 new homes and 3.4m sq ft net of office space and 500,000sq ft of retail space – over the next few years.

There will be 20 new streets, 10 major public spaces and 20 historic buildings and structures are to be restored and refurbished across the 8 million sq ft site – the largest site in single ownership to be masterplanned and developed in central London in over 150 years.

Work has also already started on site on the first affordable homes, which will be owned and managed by One Housing Group and will be ready for occupation next year. And detailed plans for the first ‘open market’ homes were given the goahead by Camden Council a few months ago.

Other notable milestones which will be achieved in the next few years is a 657-bedroom landmark student housing scheme delivered by Urbanest UK which will be complete by September 2013, Camden Council’s plan to move into a new office building at King’s Cross in 2014 and BNP Paribas Real Estate occupying a new 340,000sq ft office building by 2015.

Around King’s Cross, over £2bn has been invested in the transport infrastructure alone, with the latest investment, a new concourse for King’s Cross station, opening next year.

In total the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership is investing over £150m in the infrastructure. This includes Granary Square – one of the largest public squares in London; an energy centre and district heating grid, new streets and public spaces and three new bridges across the Regent’s Canal.

One of the 20 new roads includes ‘The Boulevard’, the first major street to be built in London in over 100 years, which will also open this September.

King’s Cross is being developed by the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership, which consists of Argent King’s Cross Limited Partnership backed by Argent Group PLC, London and Continental Railways Limited, and DHL Supply Chain.

The whole King’s Cross development looks set to create a completely new piece of the city with a brand new postcode to match – London N1C. For more information visit www.kingscrosscentral.com

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£200m decent homes scheme is one of country’s largest Social housing contract specialists Mears is ploughing on with a £200 million ten-year contract to completely refurbish Brighton & Hove City Council’s 12,500 housing stock.

In a contract believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the country, Mears is upgrading, repairing and maintaining the council’s homes and bringing them up to decent standards in line with government guidelines. Work began in 2010.

The contract builds on Mears’ existing contract with Brighton & Hove which provides responsive and void repairs, together with gas servicing and programmed, cyclical and further maintenance works to Brighton & Hove’s portfolio of council houses.

Tenants have been at the centre of a wide ranging refurbishment drive across Brighton & Hove that includes the installation of 200 new kitchens and bathrooms.

The new housing contract with Mears delivered improved homes with tenants choosing their own individual styles and colours.

Residents chose from a range of options to customise their makeovers from a selection of kitchen worktops and cupboard doors. Kitchens and bathroom works also now include full redecoration of walls and ceilings.

Not only is the local economy benefiting with 10 new local staff employed and 10 apprentices taken on board, but the environment is being protected with 100% of waste recycled.

This is being achieved through waste to power biomass generation, non combustible waste recycling and clean waste used to power 10,000 homes with green energy.

Sheltered housing residents at Jasmine Court are seeing a revamp with communal bathing facilities replaced by private shower rooms or bathrooms in all flats. These include new lower level walk-in tiled showers.

Communal kitchens have also been fitted into Sanders House, Jasmine Court and Muriel House so that older residents can cater for their increasingly busy social lives comfortably.

Tenants themselves applied for funds for this initiative through the Estate Development Fund.

Newly painted homes in Portslade, among 450 that have been decorated, will be inspected annually to ensure they withstand weathering under the guarantee from paint manufacturer Dulux. New low maintenance UPCV gutters and fascias have also been fitted.

For the first time tenants have a choice of four colours for new front doors as part of the front door replacement programme,

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which also includes options for a low level spy hole for wheelchair users.

Mears chief executive Bob Holt said: “Working together with Brighton & Hove we can deliver the tangible improvements into the community which are so important to the people that live there.

“I believe this to be one of the largest contracts of its kind awarded in the UK ever and represents a significant move to a long term partnership for Brighton & Hove.”

As part of the long term project, Brighton and Hove City Council has been spending nearly £2m a month over the last year improving council housing in the city.

The priority was to get the number of council homes meeting the national Decent Homes standard up to 75% – a massive increase on the current figure of 60%.

Some £1.4m was earmarked for energy efficiency measures, and a further £850,000 for disabled adaptations. More than £500,000 was also spent on projects chosen by tenants.

The council is also investing in a new housing ‘super centre’ at the Fairway Trading Estate in Moulsecoomb to give tenants better customer service and quicker repairs.

A joint project with Mears, this will also include a training academy for trade apprentices and a kitchen manufacturing workshop.

The spending programme for 2010-11 is part of a three year strategy that aims to see a massive £76m spent on improving homes and neighbourhoods. All council homes will be expected to meet the Decent Homes standard by end of 2013.

Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t

New social housing creates ‘lottery feeling’ Tenants moving into new affordable housing in various areas of the London Borough of Croydon could be forgiven for thinking they have won the lottery due to the high standards achieved in each of the finished developments.

Croydon Council is part way through completing a major drive to build new council houses in various parts of the borough in a bid to provide existing tenants with the new 21st century living; re-using brown field sites, and tackling its housing waiting list.

As part of that initiative, the council has commissioned four contractors - Breyer Group, Mansells, Osbornes and Mulalleys – to deliver a mix of over 100 three and four-bed family houses, maisonettes, flats and bungalows. All Access Ltd supplied the scaffolding These are all built to high Government housing standards, offer eco-friendly initiatives and seek to solve over-crowding issues in the current housing stock.

Many were built in New Addington and Fieldway, on previously dilapidated brown-field sites such as former garage blocks that were unused, vandalised and had become an eyesore.

Tenants have just moved into the 64 homes that were built as part of the second phase of the council’s house-building programme.

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C&G Plastering undertook all the external rendering, internal partitions, plaster board installations, plastering and floor screeding In Thorpe Close, New Addington, - for which contractor Mansell was responsible – six three-bedroom houses have been built on the site of a disused and abandoned block of garages that had become an unsightly mess for the people who lived nearby.

All of the three-storey homes were built to level five standard of the Government’s code for sustainable homes and are fitted with solar panels and low-energy heating systems that mean tenants will save money and the buildings will have a low carbon footprint.

According to the council, the green technology and insulation included in the homes is so advanced that tenants could potentially have no energy bills if used correctly.

Mansell also completed further new homes in King Henry’s Drive.

The Breyer Group has delivered four experimental bungalows in Gorse Road, Shirley, which will be offered to tenants who are living in larger family homes that could be put to better use.

In addition, Breyer Group has built or are in the course of finishing a mix of family homes, flats and bungalows in Wingate

Crescent, Shrublands Avenue, Tedder Road, Milford Gardens, Regina Road, Wontford Road, Queen Elizabeth Gardens and Selsdon Park Road.

Mulalleys have built homes for the council in Tilford Avenue and Alwyn Close, as well as refurbishing and fitting a total of 3,000 kitchen units across Croydon’s council housing stock.

Mr Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, said: “Many of the people who contact me asking for help are living in overcrowded or otherwise unsatisfactory accommodation so it is great to see that Croydon Council is getting on with doing something about it by building new council homes - and homes that have the lowest possible impact on the environment to boot.”

Councillor Dudley Mead, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “There is a recognised shortage of housing in every London borough but Croydon is delivering a housebuilding programme, to ease the problem.

“The new homes that we have just delivered will provide accommodation for families on our waiting list, many of whom will be living in overcrowded conditions. There are over 5,000 on our waiting lists but by building our own homes, we are trying to make a real difference for families.

“Many who have moved into their new homes have spoken of their delight at the standard of construction and have acknowledged that to them, it was like winning the lottery.”

He added: “We know we’re the first council in London to build level five homes and I suspect we’re the first in the country.”

The homes’ completion comes two years after the first phase of new council homes in Sumner Gardens was opened. They won a national architectural award and also have a range of environmental fittings that help reduce their carbon footprint and drastically reduce energy use.

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Pre-launch preview of £35 million Mary Rose Museum The ongoing work at the £35 million Mary Rose Museum has taken a major step forward with the release of how it will look when it opens to the public this autumn.

Warings, a member of the international construction and services group Bouygues, is constructing the scheme for the Mary Rose Trust.

The Mary Rose Trust and internal architects Pringle Brandon unveiled a new illustration of how the new museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will be seen by the public when it is opened.

The building has been designed by Wilkinson Eyre, probably best known for the Millennium Bridge, crossing the Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle.

For the Mary Rose, they have designed an elliptical ‘jewel box’, placing the hull at the centre with galleries running the length of the ship, each at a level corresponding to the deck levels.

Artifacts will be set out in these galleries, designed by the architect and maritime archaeologist Chris Brandon, so visitors can see what the decks would have looked like moments before the ship sank.

The building is conceived as a finely crafted, wooden jewellery box, clad in timber planks in response to both the structure of the original ship and HMS Victory.

The timber will be painted black, reflecting England’s vernacular boat shed architecture, and minimally ornamented with inscriptions drawn from the carved ciphers used by the crew of the Mary Rose to identify their personal belongings.

A balcony to the west will offer visitors a spectacular vantage point over the Royal Navy dockyard and its numerous 18th and 19th Century Grade 1 and 2 star listed buildings.

Inside, the preserved starboard side of the Mary Rose hull will be the museum’s centrepiece. New galleries corresponding to the principal deck levels – castle, main and hold – run the length of the ship, imitating the missing port side and allowing the original artifacts to be displayed in context.

Galleries at either end will display additional material related to the corresponding deck level, and include further artifacts, interpretation material and hands-on experience.

Philippe Jouy, Warings Managing Director, added: “This is a project which will pose some unique challenges for our dedicated team. Not least is the immense care required to build a modern museum around the precious timbers of the ship as the final stages of its conservation continues.

“The museum will represent the very best in 21st century architecture and construction, providing a beautiful and secure

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environment for the finest collection of 16th century artifacts in the world.”

In the meantime, the ship’s hull is about to enter the final phase of conservation as the sprays are turned off later this year and visitors will have a unique look into the complexities of preserving the Tudor warship.

Head of Conservation at the Trust, Professor Mark Jones said: “Our visitors in 2012 will be able to see this final phase of conservation by looking into a hotbox and seeing both the ship and the process for removing the 100 tons of water the timbers now contain.

“This should all be gone by 2016, when we can take away the hotbox and reveal the ship completely. But even when she is fully dried out, the building’s temperature, light and humidity will be very carefully controlled to ensure that all the artifacts are preserved in perpetuity.”

Next year will mark 30 years since the wreck first broke the surface of the Solent, and will be when the Mary Rose Trust will open the new museum.

John Lippiett, Chief Executive of the Mary Rose Trust, said: “It is a huge challenge to build safely not only over a unique 450 year old structure but also on a site which is itself a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

“But we have a team combining some of the best architectural, engineering and construction practices in the world and for us they have developed a scheme which managed to be both stunning and subtle.”

New nursery and clinic for Westminster community A building has been stripped back to its core and returned to the community as a £3 million centre with a nursery, primary care clinics and offices.

T&B Contactors were tasked to deliver the five-storey refurbished Bessborough Street Nursery and Clinic for Westminster Council, with the design being carried out by architects Ingleton Wood.

The basement will consist of meeting rooms, toilets, building storage areas and primary care facilities; the ground floor will see a nursery, a new learning environment for 50 children, three new play areas, a new sensory room and a children’s health clinic.

The nursery will have direct access to the rear garden, while the second and third floors will be occupied by children’s accommodation and family services provided by Westminster City Council.

The first floor will house a primary care clinic with a number of consulting rooms, toilets for disabled people, a kitchen, breast feeding areas and a reception area; while the second and third floors will be available for general office use.

Alan Darrah, of T&B Contractors, said the work consisted of stripping the building back to its core, including the walls, floors and ceilings, and then extensive re-plastering, mechanical and electrical installations and complete internal reconfiguration.

Externally, the works comprised cleaning of the brickwork using a Doff cleaning system and the laying of new coverings on the main roof and to balconies on the first second and third floors.

The most difficult aspect of the job said Mr Darrah was the installation of basement piling for a new lift shaft serving all floors.

The building has been fitted out with metal framed windows throughout, while the external brickwork has been cleaned of grime using the Doff cleaning system.

The building, funded by the council and NHS Westminster, is expected to be completed by the end of July, this year.

Currently the work is at the finishing stage including internal decoration, tiling and mechanical and commissioning of mechanical and electrical services.

Bessborough Nursery is a setting linked to the Churchill Gardens Children’s Centre and serving children and families in the community across Tachbrook, Churchill, Warwick and St Vincents wards.

T&B Contractors is an established building contractor operating throughout the Northern Home Counties, Essex,

Cambridge and the London area. Its three operating divisions: Main Contracting, Special Works and City Division have proven track records within the construction industry.

T&B has the capacity to undertake works from £25k to £5m in value within both the public and private market sectors and is a long-established main building contractor delivering contracts for a wide range of clients throughout London, The Home Counties, Essex, Cambridge and Northampton.

Ingleton & Co and John S Wood began practicing in the mid 1930s. In the 1960s they merged under the name of Ingleton Wood which, since that time, has grown into a multi-disciplinary building consultancy.

It is one of a few medium-sized consultancies offering integrated design and technical skills. From offices in London, Billericay, Colchester and Norwich, their services include architecture, building surveying, planning, services engineering and interior design.

They manage large-scale new-build and refurbishment projects from initial concept planning through to the design and fit-out of interior spaces.

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Major new London hotel rises near Tower Bridge Boasting stunning views over London the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel is an approximately £70 million project now nearing completion. It is set to redefine luxury accommodation and conferencing facilities within the famous Tower Bridge district.

The Management Contract to construct the new hotel is being undertaken by Grange Hotels, themselves, using their own construction team and a number of sub contractors.

Buchanan Associates are the Architects and Interior Designers for the project.

Described by the architects as “an interesting piece of urban design”, the new hotel is divided into three blocks of varying heights interlinked by glass bridges. The West block being 15 storeys high, the Centre Block 8 storey’s and the East Tower 11 storey’s. The blocks are constructed on top of a two story podium incorporating the hotel’s main entrance, reception and main restaurants. There are three further storeys beneath ground level, which will include accommodation such as a main conference hall, swimming pool, and gymnasium.

The hotel is being constructed on a rarely-found empty site which was largely flattened during the war. “Amazingly nobody had built on it” said Dean Buchanan, director of Buchanan Associates.

He added that two unusual elements of the scheme involved a search for unexploded bombs and an archaeological survey which unearthed a Roman graveyard.

The works commenced with a 10 meter excavation for the hotel’s basement levels, large horizontal props and contiguous piling around the perimeter of the excavation to stabilise the ground.

The podium and frames of the three blocks are constructed as a concrete frame. The exterior of the building is clad in a combination of stretcher-bond brickwork, aluminium panels, glass and solar shading louvers. The facades are visually split with vertical brick piers and the main facades are articulated with silver coloured panelling and black glass. External glass-

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walled lift shafts are situated on the two end blocks and will offer panoramic views. The flat asphalt roofs of the blocks accommodate building services including photovoltaic’s and solar thermal panels. The development is also served by an aquifer borehole and a combined heat and power system.

The new hotel incorporates 370 contemporary guest bedrooms and suites with amenities including 32 inch flat screen digital TVs, individual climate control and king/queen sized beds, in addition to sumptuous Italian marble and granite bathrooms stocked with luxury toiletries.

There will also be a specialty restaurant with Eastern fusion menu, a continental diner serving breakfasts and lunches, and a sophisticated lounge bar.

Another major feature is a stunning Spa and Health Club with pool, state-of-the-art gymnasium, and steam, sauna and aromatherapy suites.

The construction is now almost complete with a phase 1 opening (comprising mainly the bedrooms, conference centre and restaurant) scheduled for June 2011. The overall project completion is anticipated in early autumn 2011.

L - P: Archaeology Providing an essential service to the client at the land purchase stage of the development, L-P: Archaeology provided an assessment of risk to the project arising from the need for archaeology on the site, which was known to contain a Roman burial ground.

“Right from the beginning, we ensured that a strict programme was in place to deal with any delays on site resulting from

Construction News

archaeological excavations and ensure that there was no disruption to the contractor’s schedule” said Mr Guy Hunt of L-P: Archaeology, who project managed the scheme.

Although the project was challenging, any problems were overcome, the programme ran smoothly and the archaeology was completed on schedule.

A number of significant finds were unearthed, including rare items connected with Roman burials and cremations.

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Project provides top class new facilities for school’s sixth form

The conversion and extension of a former gymnasium block into a new sixth form facilities is underway at Trinity School of John Whitgift in Shirley Road, Croydon.

The project is being carried out by Farnrise Construction; Architects are Geraghty Taylor Architects. Polished plasterwork was carried out by Franco Finishes Ltd. New facilities being created include a computer study area, coffee bar and servery, multi functional area, toilets, staff areas, a meeting room and storage space.

The block, constructed around the 1960’s, is a concrete encased steel framed structure, clad in brick and curtain walling incorporating a double height internal area.

The double height interior made it possible to install a new mezzanine floor over around 90 per cent of the building footprint, with the remaining 10 per cent forming a new double

height central atrium linking other areas of the building. Other works include installing new aluminium framed windows throughout the building, together with new building services and complete redecoration, as well as the installation of new fixtures and fittings, including within the new coffee bar and servery.

Further works involve the construction of a small two storey extension extending the original space by around 10 to 15 per cent. The extension is structured around a steel frame with external elevations in stone incorporating aluminium framed windows and a flat roof with PVC membrane.

Trinity School of John Whitgift is an independent day school for boys, which educates approximately 900 boys between the ages of 10 and 19 years.

Trinity has an excellent reputation for combining an intellectually rigorous and challenging academic environment with outstanding pastoral care and support.

The school has a worldwide reputation for music, and also successfully nurtures sporting talent, with a number of pupils selected to compete at international level.

Trinity School is part of the Whitgift Foundation, founded in 1596 by John Whitgift,

www.romauk.net

Archbishop of Canterbury. His legacy provides the school with outstanding facilities and an exceptionally extensive range of bursaries and scholarships, allowing pupils from a wide variety of backgrounds to benefit.

Farnrise Construction are capable of delivering projects from £300k up to £6 million and have a wealth of experience in providing construction solutions on schemes in the education, healthcare, commercial, ecclesiastical, industrial, leisure and general public works sectors. The company’s operations have grown in the last year and they now have three main offices, with their head office located office in Gatwick Farnrise are experienced in all forms of procurement, with a proven record in design and build, which is particularly utilised in the public and health sectors. The company’s education sector site teams are also particularly active and usually have at least a dozen school projects on site at any one time.

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Care home rises from former police base A £4.3 million 65-bed care home is being built on the former site of a police station and is due to open by the end of the year.

SDC Build of Bedford is close to finishing the three-storey building at Acacia Mews, St Albans Road East, in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on behalf of Avery Healthcare.

The project has been designed by DWA Architects of York and is being project managed by quantity surveyors Goodrich Projects Ltd. Avery Healthcare, which prides itself on building care homes that are more like ‘care hotels’ than traditional homes, has specified that all the development’s single bedrooms will have first-class en-suite facilities to help ensure ‘guests’ enjoy service and support to quality hotel standards.

The home will also have communal lounges, dining rooms, a kitchen, a hairdressers, as well as a therapy room and communal landscaped courtyard gardens, with parking facilities.

The brick and block building is designed a pitched, tiled roof, and sash-style Upvc windows, with a wood grain finish.

Paul Riley, of Goodrich Projects, said: “All the rooms will have quality finishes and the building, which will be impressive on completion, will be in keeping with the local area.”

Avery Healthcare managing director John Strowbridge said: “The architecture of the building will be very sympathetic to that of the surrounding area.”

Avery Healthcare is an established operator and developer of care homes for the elderly, with a national reputation for delivering purpose built, high quality, design led care homes.

Its care homes are registered to provide residential care for the elderly, including nursing and dementia care as well as shorter term, respite or convalescence care services.

Avery Healthcare is currently one of the few care companies within the UK with an active building programme, having secured finance for the development of a raft of new homes across the UK, bringing its portfolio to a planned total of 30 homes.

Stanland Group The Stanland Group designed, supplied and installed all the commercial laundry equipment and ancillary items for the project, working within the agreed budget and timeframe.

The company has also carried out the design, supply and installation of all the commercial laundry equipment at several of the recent new build projects for Avery Healthcare.

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Ken Robinson, Projects Manager for the Stanland Group, has had many years experience of designing and installing commercial laundry and catering equipment in numerous new build nursing homes.

The Stanland Group was founded in 1952 and now has a £5 million turnover and employs 65 people. The company’s areas of activity include commercial laundry and catering equipment, equipment maintenance, auto-dosed laundry and kitchen detergents Stanland Group looks forward to a continuing relationship with Avery Healthcare to supply their laundry equipment for many years to come.

New dance HQ takes shape in leaps and bounds An £8million project to create a new headquarters building for Rambert Dance Company, the national company for contemporary dance, on London’s South Bank.

The new building will replace Rambert’s previous West London premises which were not fit for purpose.

The project is being carried out for Ramber Trust Ltd. Main Contractors for the scheme are ISG. Architects are Allies & Morrison.

The project for the UK’s oldest dance company includes the construction of a six-storey concrete frame structure with single-storey basement level on a narrow infill site behind the Royal National Theatre building.

Facilities within the new building will include three double height high-specification dance studios, the largest of which incorporates retractable seating for 50 people and has an adjacent sound studio, a range of treatment rooms, as well as administrative offices.

The Rambert Dance Company archive, dating back to 1926, will be housed in a specially designed facility and also features a community outreach centre. The building will also include a storage area for stage scenery and props, accessible via a large rear loading area.

The project was commenced at the end of May 2011, with

completion scheduled for the end of 2012.

Rambert is one of the the most distinctive and the most creative dance companies in Britain today.

Founded by Marie Rambert in 1926, the company has sustained her pioneering commitment to choreography and developing dancers as artists, leading the way for over 80 years.

The vision of this energetic Polish woman ensured that dance as an artform took root and blossomed in this country, and Rambert’s influence now extends across the world.

Marie Rambert was heavily influenced by her work with Diaghilev, Stravinsky and the Ballet Russes. She stressed the value of collaboration between choreographer, composer and artist and we continue in that tradition, routinely commissioning composers and artists alongside new choreography.

Today, the company thrives on its unique ability to share with audiences the widest range of repertoire: works from their rich heritage as the UK’s oldest dance company; new works and re-stagings by choreographers from all over the world, including those who may be less well-known in the UK, and landmark dance from the 20th century. Bold, risk-taking, agile and beautiful, our dancers combine rigorous technique and artistry with an extraordinary ability to challenge and entertain.

The new premises will transform Rambert’s working practices and realise its full potential for the next 80 years and beyond.

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Heritage project restores historic manor to its rural roots Completing the restoration of the Grade II* listed 17th century Llanyrafon Manor as a Rural Heritage Centre and tourism gateway for the Borough of Torfaen, is a project designed to represent and conserve a rural way of life which is significant to the area’s cultural, built and community heritage.

The project is being carried out for Torfaen Borough Council

by John Weaver Construction.

Within the main building, it is intended that the history and significance of the Manor house and the families who lived and worked on the site is told. It will provide a venue for training opportunities for rural communities; farming families; micro and small enterprises and young people.

The outbuildings and the new build elements will accommodate community facilities to enhance the area’s sustainability and development. These will include; a café overlooking the grounds and Manor house, a tourist information point, a shop selling a selection of souvenir goods and local produce, and toilets, teaching and informal meeting spaces which could accommodate enterprise, cooperatives or micro businesses.

The external landscape will play a fundamental part of the attraction and will begin as soon as the visitor enters the site.

Beautiful open spaces from which to enjoy the house and other architecture have been designed with the local community group to encourage visitors and other local residents to learn about the site’s rural heritage. A section will be given over for public use where people will be encouraged to enjoy this local gem and attend community events such as farmer’s markets.

Interpretative displays such as furniture of a timeless nature will be used within the ground floor of the manor house.

Creative exhibition spaces will feature items such as small

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graphic panels inside drawers which can be opened up, tapestries and wall hangings, interactive picture frames and pamphlets of various periods interpreting particular issues of the times. This will help create an informal environment where visitors can enjoy the house at their own pace and extract the level of information they desire.

The second floor will be mainly for the use of the Rural Development Officers who will use the centre as a hub for the delivery of the Rural Development Programme in Torfaen. They will co-ordinate many of the training and learning activities held at the centre. A designated room for meetings and conferences will be available for formal sessions or private meetings and will be for hire. In addition, an education space will provide school parties visiting the site with a classroom environment in which to learn about the historical significance of the site.

Following an initial site visit by Ty Mawr Limes technical director Nigel Gervis, the Ty Mawr breathable, insulated Limecrete floor system was specified and installed throughout Llanyrafon Manor. For extensive internal repairs, Ty Mawr Woodwool boards and laths were used to provide the ideal background for both the company’s hydraulic and fat Lime putty plasters.

Over 100 years of construction expertise and craftsmanship skill lies behind the John Weaver name.

Today, this award winning company is pre-eminent in its sector and successfully combines these traditional values with modern materials and building techniques to undertake new build, refurbishment and conservation projects up to the value of £8million.

In addition, John Weaver has its own specialist joinery section and a highly flexible Small Works department.

Contractors praised their performance on new community centre project Progressing on time and under budget with just three months to completion, is the construction of the Phoenix Centre in Wern Road, Goodwick, providing a new community facility serving the twin towns of Fishguard & Goodwick and their surrounding rural villages.

The project is being carried out by Enzo’s Construction, who have been commended for their work on the scheme.

“The contract team is doing very well and have helped us to achieve savings on the contract.” said Project Architect Mr Tom Kinver of Kinver Kreations, who became involved with the project through being a regular visitor to the former facility which the new centre is replacing.

“In the interests of the community spirit we convinced our design team to waiver our fees for the project” he said and added “We tried to come up with an inspiring concept that would capture the imagination so that we would be able to raise grant money for it” The design principle for the new building was based on the idea of the sports club embracing the community, represented by the way the changing rooms wrap themselves horizontally around to embrace the community part of the building and form a large terrace.

The Big Lottery and the Welsh Assembly Government have contributed £1 million towards the project, with further funding coming from local organisations and local people.

The new centre is being built in a combination of single and two storeys’ on the site of Fishguard & Goodwick Sports Club’s former clubhouse. The site is equidistant between Fishguard and Goodwick and is centered within the twin town’s playing

fields at Phoenix Park. It is located on land reclaimed from what was, prior to 1974, the local rubbish tip. Hence the name Phoenix Park – the new centre is literally rising from the ashes.

The driving force behind the project is the local sports clubs’ commitment to open up the new building to wider community use. The club’s consultations reveal that the new centre will be used by over 4,500 people on a regular basis, from over 65 different community groups. It is a project unique in Wales; whereby a number of local sports clubs (cricket, football, rugby, squash and tennis) have joined forces with cultural groups, disability support groups, Pembrokeshire Youth Service, senior citizens and Pembrokeshire Lifelong Learning.

The single storey section of the building will have four large changing rooms, two for rugby with eight showers and toilet facilities each. There will also be two football/cricket changing rooms with seven showers and toilets facilities each. To keep the buildings footprint as small as possible, the changing rooms will open directly onto two sports pitches.

There is also a separate officials changing room with independent shower and toilet facilities, accessed via a medical room. A large store with external access can be used by the sports club for storing training and line marking equipment.

The main two storey section of the building incorporates the main entrance leading to a naturally well lit foyer area which also contains the male, female and unisex disabled toilets, plus the stairs and lifts which lead to the first floor.

Opposite the entrance are double doors leading into a large community function room. This large space can also be divided with an acoustic folding partition into a function room and smaller meeting room. This room has plenty of fenestration to

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The first floor is accessed from the main foyer area, and will offer an elevated panoramic perspective of all three playing areas and the pleasing scenery beyond. A viewing terrace projects out on the south east elevation towards the rugby pitch to form a balcony. Also on the first floor are the music and conference room and a large store room to provide adequate space for the safe storage of musical instruments.

The external envelope of the building has been designed to be low maintenance, cost effective, quick to build, look new for longer, secure, easily repaired and cleaned in the event of vandalism.

Due to the ground conditions and budget, the building is a lightweight structure with wooden cladded upper elevations and lower areas faced in a quality pointed buff block. The building also features powder coated aluminum framed

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windows and doors and high level glazing around the changing room areas, which will provide natural light and ventilation whilst retaining privacy, The mono-pitch roofs are clad with environmentally friendly Alwitra Evalon polymer proprietary membrane.

Enzo’s Construction has received top marks from the prestigious Considerate Contractors Scheme for their work on the project.

Considerate Constructors inspectors check construction sites across the UK for their safety, good neighbourliness, cleanliness, environmental impact, responsibility and accountability.

In all categories Enzos’ Phoenix Centre site scored in the top 10% margin; with an overall score of 34 from a maximum of 40.

This is one of the highest scores in Wales and automatically qualifies the site and its contractors for a place in the UK Annual Awards.

College goes nuclear with £6m project A new energy and fabrication centre has been completed at a college on Anglesey with the aim of providing a skilled workforce for the nuclear industry.

The specialist centre is located at the Llangefni-based Coleg Menai, a further education college serving a population of about 120,000 in Anglesey and the Arfon district of Gwynedd.

Contractor Anwyl Construction completed the centre following the removal of an existing temporary tent structure on site.

The building, two-thirds funded by the Welsh Assembly, will offer skills in welding and steel fabrication, as well as specialised health and safety, and boost skills needed to decommission the nearby Wylfa nuclear power station.

The development, which is also funded by the college and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, will play a key role in the area’s dream of becoming the Energy Island.

The centre will be equipped with specialist facilities with three main areas of focus: Nuclear, Renewals, and Fabrication and will provide courses that are designed with the input of specialists to ensure that they meet the needs of industry.

A partnership with Magnox North will ensure the centre is configured to meet the needs of the nuclear sector. This

will include a Flow Loop Simulator (FLS) based on a unit at the Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, and a Human Performance Conditioning (HuP) Laboratory.

These features will be unique in both the Further and Higher Education institutions across the UK. The centre is designed to achieve the highest “excellent” BREEAM Environmental Standard.

The renewable technologies featured in the centre include ground source heat recovery from sixteen bore-holes, each drilled 100 meters into the granite bedrock; wind turbine generation on-site; photovoltaic electricity generation on the centre roof; rainwater harvesting and recycling.

A large state-of-the-art welding and metal fabrication teaching workshop also occupies around one third of the ground floor area of the Centre.

Coleg Menai Principal Dafydd Evans said: “Our vision is certainly ambitious but we have already done a significant amount of work with key players to ensure that courses we deliver at the Energy and Fabrication Centre meet the requirements of industry.

The site, which will also house the National Skills Academy, is expected to attract over 800 students in the first year.

The centre was used recently to host a Green Power Forum (GPF), the UK wide green energy training and networking forum.

The Green Power Forum Wales is a joint initiative between GPF, heat pump manufacturer Stiebel Eltron UK, Anglesey Energy Island and Coleg Menai.

Mr Evans said: “The Green Power Forum is the first green energy conference to be held at our brand new Energy and Fabrication Centre.

“It also provides us with an opportunity to showcase the new centre to Welsh businesses and also discuss the technologies Wales should be focusing on.”

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Grade 1 listed hotel upgrade handled with care Involving essential upgrading and remodelling to provide high quality guest accommodation, is a project making good progress at the Grade 1 Listed Nanteos Mansion hotel in Aberistwyth.

The project also includes the provision of self catering holiday apartments within a stable block.

The scheme is being carried out by Main Contractors C. Sneade & Company, with Catalina Architecture as project architects. “C Sneade are doing very well, they are a good contractor, very approachable and have become part of the design team” said Mr Rory Wilson of Catalina Architecture.

Due to the building’s Grade 1 listed status, the works carried out in the project must meet the approval of both the local authority and Cadw - the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment division.

The majority of the refurbishment and remodelling within the main house is being carried out within the bakery wing, which had been semi derelict, but is now being fitted out to incorporate six new guest suites. Original features of the building are being retained and the works are being carried out using traditional construction materials and techniques and appropriate finishes from companies such as Farrow and Ball.

The works include structural repairs and retaining and restoring existing windows wherever possible as well as installing new windows where necessary, in a style to match the originals. Other works comprise the installation of lath and plaster partitioning and ceilings, the installation of new building services and decoration throughout.

Works to the main house include the installation of rigid

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blown glass insulation; significant remedial treatment for dry rot; structural repairs to the walls of all rooms including the reception area which has also been re-decorated, and the upgrading of all building services. Both the main house and the bakery wing have also been re-roofed and new oak window lintels have been installed in these areas.

Within the south wing of the stable block, one large self catering apartment comprising a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and four bedrooms is being formed, with the creation of further apartments scheduled for a later phase of the work which will follow in a separate contract.

Currently the roofing of the main house has been completed and work in the stables is progressing well, with good progress also being made on electrical work within the main house and stable block.

The project is due to be completed in 2012.

Nanteos Mansion is a Georgian building built in the Palladian style between 1739 and 1757 for the Powell family, on the site of a much older settlement. The present mansion is built around the walls of an earlier house, with the cellars dating back to the tenth century.

The mansion was designed to accommodate the needs of the gentry, particularly those addicted to hunting and entertaining.

William Edward Powell (1788-1854) added to the main body of the building by adding butler’s and housekeeper’s quarters, a larger kitchen, the bakery and the billiard room. The completed house, with an impressive total of 69 rooms, was completed by 1847 at a cost of £2880.

The Powells gained their extraordinary wealth from owning lead and silver mines at Cwmystwyth and Llywernog, the workings of which can still be seen. However, the family’s fortunes dwindled after the First World War and the last Powell of Nanteos, the delightfully eccentric Margaret, died in 1951.

Upon entering the house, guests were received in the morning room (the first room on the left). The former library is now a bar, and is situated next to the ballroom where larger conferences and wedding receptions now take place.

The main reception room on the first floor is the Music Room. Its Italianate fireplace bears a delicate relief in white marble depicting Aesop’s fable of the Fox and the Stork. Its Rococo- style ceiling celebrates the four seasons, entwined with musical instruments.

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Multi-million pound flood scheme completed in “a very good job” A multi-million pound flood alleviation project has been completed – ultimately providing relief to hundreds of residents – in what has been described as “A very good job.”

Phase 1 of the Denbigh Flood Risk Management Scheme was completed by contractors Morrison Construction and Phases 1A, 2 and 3 were carried out by McPhillips on behalf of Denbighshire County Council.

“The contractors did a very good job, it was a successful scheme. All phases of the scheme were entered for the Considerate Contractors assessment and both contractors scored very highly” said Mr Wayne Hope of Denbighshire County Council.

The £4.1 million scheme is aimed at reducing flooding risks in and around Denbigh, particularly to 226 homes and 26 commercial buildings. It is being funded by Denbighshire County Council, the Welsh Assembly Government and the EU Convergence Funding.

The project began in February 2010 and the third and final stage was completed in June, this year.

Phase 1 of the scheme included works from the A525 culvert to Dalar Wen culvert, comprising reprofiling of the open channel of the brook and replacement of the highway culvert at Dalar Wen. From Dalar Wen culvert

to Y Maes culvert, the open channel of the brook was reprofiled and from Y Maes culvert to the footbridge near Cysgodfa the works comprised replacement of the highway culvert at Y Maes and minor improvements to the open channel.

At the footbridge to Cysgodfa, channel reprofiling and upgrading of the existing culvert was carried out, whilst from Cysgodfa to Plas Pigot Country Club improvements were made to the existing open channel.

In Phase 1A, improvements to the existing inlet structure and utilisation of the existing storage area was carried out at Middle Parc, whilst Clwyd Avenue saw land and highway drainage improvements and the construction of a new culvert to increase flow capacity.

At Ruthin Road (Captains Bridge) improvements to the existing culvert and the construction of an additional culvert was undertaken to increase flow capacity, and minor improvements were made to the existing watercourse at Lon Ceiriog.

Phase 2 included Construction of a new storage area to attenuate flows during periods of heavy rainfall and improvements to the

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existing headwall along the open watercourse from Lodge Farm to Tan y Sgubor. The storage area was designed to store approximately 14800m3 of water for a one in one hundred year storm event. In addition, from Coppy Farm to Tan y Sgubor, construction of an additional storage area was carried out within the farm, the existing ditch was reprofiled and improvements were made to existing highway drainage.

In Phase 3 from Lon Llewelyn to Smithfield Road and from Smithfield Road to Lenten Pool, a new surface water drainage system was constructed and improvements made to the existing highway drainage system.

From Henllan Place, Lenten Pool, to Barkers Well Lane, the existing surface water culvert was upgraded and re-aligned with a new 1200mm diameter pipe.

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£6 Million Restoration Will Bring History To Life A £6 million project to regenerate Llanelly House is restoring the grade one listed building, which is the most important Georgian townhouse in Wales and one of Llanelly’s most important historic buildings.

The building, which is a fine example of an early 18th century Georgian Town house, was in a poor state of repair and was bought in 1998 by the Town Council with the object of completely restoring it.

But while the restored Llanelly House will provide a snapshot of the elegant splendour of a Georgian House, it will also serve a much wider purpose. At the very core of the development are community initiatives and schemes which aim to ensure it is history of the people of Llanelly, and their stories, that are central to the house.

The project, funded by the Heritage Lottery and the Welsh European Funding Office, is being carried out for the Carmarthenshire Heritage Restoration Trust (CHRT) by main contractors John Weaver. Conservation Architects are Austin Smith Lord.

Standing immediately opposite the Parish Church, it is the former house of the Stepney family, and was built in 1714 by Thomas Stepney, M.P. for Carmarthenshire. It has a chequered history, and it is recorded that John Wesley, the apostle of Wesleyan Methodism, stayed there on several occasions during his visits to the town.

“The house is being restored to its original 1740 Georgian appearance. Interestingly the original house is in Jacobean style, and was encased in a Georgian frontage by the Stepney family” said Mr Craig Hatto of CHRT. Currently the Georgian frontage is being restored, including the removal of modern shop fronts,” he added. “Old render is being removed, new lime render applied and the building is being re-roofed.”

The original house foundations have just been excavated and have been dated at around 1640. The interiors, including the drawing best parlour and the Great Hall, are also being restored to their original Georgian appearance. Rare Grissaille

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artwork, which could be the work of John Lewis, has also been revealed when later over-painting was delicately removed by a restoration expert from the walls of one of the anteroom chambers. All the works are being carried out under the stringent requirements of CADW, the historic environment service of the Welsh Assembly Government.

John Weaver are using the project to teach traditional building skills to number of apprentices who will learn everything from plastering to carpentry and stonemasonry.

The completed house will provide: a major heritage interpretation and exhibition space on the ground floor; a high quality cafe / restaurant facility for visitors and residents with linked training opportunities. The house will also showcase visitor experience and interpretive technology, creating a major tourist attraction.

Lisa Bancroft, Development Manager for CHRT is tasked with ensuring that Llanelly House balances the demands of restoration and long-term sustainability. She explains: “The house itself when you walk in will ostensibly be renovated and restored to its pristine condition of the 18th century.

“Downstairs the house will be very much for people to use, to chill out in with a restaurant, shop, workspace area and events.

Then upstairs we will be interpreting the house in different ways, using different characters”.

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Belgium’s Biggest Infrastructure Project Powers Ahead Currently the biggest infrastructure project in Belgium, The Liefkenshoek Rail Tunnel project involves the construction and maintenance of the civil infrastructure for a new 16.2 km freight-only railway in the bounds of the Port of Antwerp undercrossing the River Schelde and the Canal Dock.

In 2013 the new tunnel will connect the left bank of the River Schelde with the right, linking the western and eastern docks of the city.

The project, valued at 680 million Euros, is intended to provide a solution for the large rise in goods transport by rail which is expected in the area.

The scheme is a design, build, finance and maintain agreement, with a maturity period of 41½ years (3½ years for construction up to availability, plus 38 years after the achievement of availability for maintenance).

The project involves the construction and maintenance of civil infrastructure (with associated electro-mechanical systems where essential for maintenance of the civil infrastructure) to provide for others to construct, maintain and operate the railway.

The project is being carried out for Infrabel N.V. Following several tendering phases the contract was awarded to the successful bidding consortium LocoRail NV in November 2008.

This consists of the Belgium company CFE NV, the French VINCI Concession SA company and the Dutch company BAM PPP. Mott MacDonald Ltd will be Technical Advisors to the Locorail consortium’s lending bank.

The project comprises a double-track route from Bundel Zuid to the Antwerp North marshalling yard, which runs under three

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water bodies: the Waasland canal (through the already existing but never used Beverentunnel), the River Schelde and the Kanaal dock. The rail link consists of 4.8km of embankment, 4.2km of open and covered trench, 1.2km of existing tunnel (re-opening of the already built but never used Beveren Tunnel) and almost 6km of double-bored tunnel with an internal diameter of 7.3m.

The two single-track tunnels roughly 5,970m long are being created by shield driving and an internal diameter of 7.3m, as well as several km of tunnels by cut-and-cover with deep diaphragm walls and cement-bentonite.

The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) made by Herrenknecht, are approximately 8.4m in diameter and have a conic tail skin.

The tunnelling installation including five trailers, is about 110m long. Both TBMs are fitted with an electric drive with an installed thrusting force of roughly 60,000kN and the operating pressure of the TBMs amounts to 4bar. The TBMs are equipped with a closed cutting wheel, which rotates in front of the shield.

Wiske is the name of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that, on 26 March 2010, began digging a tunnel shaft from the departure shaft on the Ploegweg on the Left bank in the direction of the reception shaft on the Kruisweg.

The first boring shield, Schanulleke, began boring the other tunnel shaft on 8 February 2010. Both boring tasks are running simultaneously so that the new rail link can be realised according to the planned timeframe. Work generally takes place continuously: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in shifts.

At the end of July 2011, Schanulleke (which has currently bored 4.5 km) will reach its end point on the Right Bank. This tunnel shaft will be the base for a number of additional tasks such as

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the construction of the evacuation shafts, the tunnel connection and a platform to facilitate the passage of the work trains (the ‘Menriders’). Both tunnel borings run parallel and follow the same path.

The two boring shields dig about 15 metres every day (the TBM also installs 1.8 m wide tunnel rings one after the other) and a top speed of 45 metres per day was recorded on 19 April 2011.

Both tunnels are bored separately using a 102 m long boring machine on steel rollers, proceeding with assistance from a highpressurised water hydromix shield. The complete boring task is computer and laser driven and takes place under the supervision of TUC RAIL, Infrabel’s rail technology consultancy.

A crucial phase during the task was boring to +/- 40 metres under ground level (ground floor) of the Scheldt and +/- 30 metres under the ground level of channel dock B1-B2. This was prepared in minute detail and executed by TUC RAIL and the building consortium THV LOCOBOUW so that shipping would not be inconvenienced.

In preparation for this, THV LOCOBOUW deposited approximately 30,000 m³ of concrete in the channel dock last year and then installed a 2 metre thick concrete plate on top.

This spectacular underwater operation took place from floating pontoons using divers. The aim was to realise an improvement to the base in order to guarantee the safety of the excavation works for the tunnel under the channel dock.

Along the tunnels there are 13 cross-passages and eight connections with evacuation shafts. Generally speaking the cross-passages and evacuation shafts are built alternately at approximately 300m gaps. Beneath the River Schelde five crosspassages at gaps of roughly 250m without any evacuation shafts located between them are being created.

The new link will enable trains to travel back and forth without having to leave the port area. In addition operating costs for the trains will be lower as the railway route between the larger locations on both banks will be reduced by roughly 22 km.

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Safety is an absolute priority. For instance, electromechanical installations are provided in the tunnels (smoke, heat and water vents), and access roads and shafts to the tunnels are being built for emergency services. A fire fighting system has also been installed.

When it comes to safety, the emergency services will be provided with access passages and shafts to the tunnels, there will also be 600 metres of evacuation shafts (14 in total) and cross passages (13 in total) at every 300 metres. The rail tunnel will be equipped with safeguards such as a fire detection system (including cameras), an evacuation system (including smoke and heat removal systems), an automatic foam extinguisher system and fire-resistant concrete. The Liefkenshoek rail link will also be fitted with the European train control system (ETCS).

Infrabel is integrating the rail infrastructure in the environment in a sustainable manner via the realisation of a 54 hectare natural compensation area (The Groot Rietveld in Kallo) which has already been completed. A range of sound buffers will also be installed in Kallo and several sound screens will be constructed in the surrounding area. During tunnel boring, Infrabel will also use a special 7,000 m² purification installation in Kallo that separates soil and bentonite (a mixture of water and clay that is used during building work).

In total, the project involves the use of 400,000 cubic metres of in situ concrete and 40,000 tonnes of reinforced steelwork.

By mid 2013, the building works will have been completed.

In the period 2012-2014 Infrabel will execute the works on tracks, signalling infrastructure and overhead wiring in several stages. Infrabel will integrate the new rail infrastructure into the surroundings in a sustainable way by building a compensation area at Groot Rietveld in Kallo, three noise buffers around Kallo, Verrebroek and Zuidelijke Groenzone and noise screens.

From the spring of 2014 onwards the rail infrastructure of the Liefkenshoek rail connection will be tested.

On account of the intensive use of the Port of Antwerp,

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especially on the left bank of the River Schelde where 7.5m containers are handled each year, a considerable increase in goods transportation by train is anticipated.

Smet Aannemingen is responsible for the transportation of all the excavated materials by TBM North and South on the project.

Three products are derived after washing and percolation; sand, clay and bentonite.

All products are re-used in other projects. Smet Aannemingen started in February 2010, and since then are we responsible for a continuous transport for all materials, twenty four hours per day, seven days a week. A well organized transportation network is important for the continuous flow of both TBM’s.

The sand is re-used in the elevation of a logistics park of sixty hectares, using track loaders and ground dumpers. Bentonite and clay are used in the construction of a sound barrier.

The machines used for transport have to perform well under all weather conditions (wet autumn-cold winter-dry summer) and they need to work well 24/24- 7-7.

The transport is done by 15m³ ground dumpers. These are qualified to perform well on public roads as on difficult accessible roads. With an average of 5 tractors each day working 24 hours per day, 7 days in a week, the company is capable of providing a well considered logistic solutions to dips and peaks in the supply of materials.

During the planning phase the road tunnel below the Schelde – an immersed tunnel – had to be taken into consideration. It was built in the 1980s and is located close to the new tunnel route.

Furthermore restrictions relating to gradients for railway tracks had to be observed, which are considerably flatter than those for roads.

The geology along the route consists of fill, quaternary sands (alluvium), several layers of tertiary sand with various formations

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(Kattendijk, Merksem, Berchem, Lilo, Kruisschans) with low proportions of clay and glauconite as well as Boomse Klei, a stiff, overconsolidated and fissured tertiary clay, which is located underneath in the form of a sealing layer.

By and large the tunnel route is located in tertiary sands; however, the clay only ranges upwards to a maximum of 40% of the tunnel cross-section.

Special attention has been accorded the riverbed of the Schelde with its silt deposits and thick layers of faulty sedimentary soil as well as the Canal Dock, where silt deposits also have to be given consideration. In the Canal Dock the silt is to be replaced by sand at the behest of the client.

In the course of the project a free groundwater level above the so-called “Polderkies” (clay) in the quaternary sands and 2 artesian groundwater levels above the Boomse Klei have to be taken into account, split up by Kruisschans sands, which are interstratified by clay lentils.

Furthermore the water levels along the banks of the Schelde are greatly dependent on the Schelde’s tides at the land side, which fluctuate.

Infrabel will carry out works on tracks, signalling infrastructure and the catenary system between 2012 and 2014. In spring 2014, the rail infrastructure of Liefkenshoek rail link will be tested.

After the required approvals, Infrabel will make this new rail link available to the railway operators in mid–2014.

The Liefkenshoek rail link fits into Infrabel’s strategy for a step-by-step capacity expansion of the rail infrastructure and an improvement of the traffic flows between the strategic Deurganckdok (the Waaslandhaven) and the marshalling yard Antwerpen-Noord on the Right Bank.

The Liefkenshoek rail link means that trains will no longer have to make a detour around the junctions (Kennedy rail tunnel and the rail axis Antwerpen-Berchem – Antwerpen-Schijnpoort) and this will, in turn, free up capacity on the surrounding lines for passenger travel.

With this rail link, Infrabel aims to provide progressive support to the growth of the port of Antwerp within the context of optimum intermodality between rail and water.

Even during the crisis, Infrabel has been proactive in terms of ongoing investments in rail infrastructure, to the benefit of its customers, in preparation for the current increase in freight transport. Infrabel would like to expand the share of rail traffic in the port of Antwerp from the current 10% to approximately 15% by 2020.

Infrabel is the public limited company responsible for the management, maintenance, renewal and development of the Belgian railway network.

The company is also responsible for the allocation of train paths to all Belgian and foreign operators. Infrabel’s specific shareholders structure guarantees complete independence.

The firm was established on 1 January 2005 following the split of the Belgian railways and is part of the SNCB Group. Today, the company employs some 12,500 people and generates revenues of approximately 1 billion.

Infrabel is a part of the SNCB group, with a stable financial basis. Headed by Infrabel’s CEO, Luc Lallemand, the company has three directorates, six general departments and an internal audit department.

The directorates consist of the Infrastructure Directorate which renovates and maintains the existing rail infrastructure; the Network Directorate organises and monitors the train traffic in real time, and the Rail Access Directorate allocates the railway network to different operators and invoices its use.

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What’s The Point?

2009 - The major players in the Heritage Sector of the construction industry challenged contractors to sign up for an initiative which would spell the end of unqualified, inappropriately skilled contractors working on national heritage sites.

For once making sure a job was done the right way was being made a priority over trying to get the job done for the cheapest price.

2010 - the members of the Lead Contractors Association (LCA) rose to that challenge and more than 300 signed up (at a cost) to be recognised as Heritage Skills Specialist Leadworkers and receive the newly conceived CSCS card, believing the major client base involved would be approving exclusive use of this carded workforce on heritage projects.

April 2011 - we are still waiting for a commitment to this quality standard initiative from the sector’s major client group – English Heritage.

Whilst all the right supportive noises have been made at various senior levels within EH, what has been the biggest push in recent times for meaningful recognition of the heritage specialist is in danger of failing because of prevarication by the organisation that stands to benefit the most.

The problems at English Heritage have been widely documented, with the national economic crisis requiring drastic cut backs in the public funding of EH budgets, threatening widespread redundancies at all levels.

Of course this is a painful and difficult time for many organisations and businesses, including English Heritage, but also including all those contractors, suppliers and manufacturers involved in UK construction.

The National Heritage Training Group has been supported by ConstructionSkills, UNITE the Union and the NHTG member craft organisations in rapidly developing the Heritage Skills CSCS card initiative.

Once again, specialist leadwork has been at the fore as the craft which has succeeded in rapidly achieving the required “critical mass” of qualified cardholders registered for heritage work and is now being used as a test case in challenging English Heritage to make their own commitment to quality standards.

The NHTG, flanked by UNITE and the Lead Contractors Association is seeking urgent talks with EH at the highest levels to persuade them to ACT NOW to announce a change in procurement policy to exclusively use Heritage Skills Specialist Leadwork CSCS cardholders on English Heritage projects and thereby: • Recognise the overall commitment of the craft sector to

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•

• •

maintaining quality standards Recognise the specific commitment of the specialist leadwork sector in rapidly achieving a critical mass of registered contractors Send a message to all craft trades that supporting this initiative will be a worthwhile and justified commitment Remove the threat of untrained, unqualified, inexperienced and insufficiently knowledgeable tradesmen from vulnerable heritage projects

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Prioritise historically correct working practices and long term value for money over short term, cut price expediency Protect and preserve today’s heritage for future generations Despite our frustrations, the LCA believe EH will eventually do the right thing, perhaps simply because any alternative course will put the integrity of the entire heritage sector at risk.

The ground is therefore already being prepared for those that did not register for the Heritage Skills card during the “grandfather rights” window which closed in September 2010, yet may have skilled and experienced craftsmen who will be prevented from working on heritage sites.

In conjunction with the Lead Sheet Association, the LCA are pressing Construction Skills to recognise an Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route to gaining a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification in Heritage Skills which would then enable contractors to apply for their Heritage Skills CSCS card.

As well as providing the EWPA assessment venue, Nigel Johnston at the LSA is also exploring the potential for providing an on site facility for the “Health & Safety – Working at Heights” test, thus providing a more convenient single venue to process applicants and minimise the time lost from site.

Once again the leadwork sector has taken the initiative, as we always will do when there is the opportunity to press others to recognise the level of quality standards which we have worked so hard to achieve and are determined to maintain.

The standards of the leadwork sector – our years of policing, quality control, comprehensive reference literature and technical support – are the envy of every other roofing trade, but it comes at a long term price, both financially and in terms of commitment.

There is a very real danger that if this craft skills initiative stalls, we risk the prospect of our built heritage being vandalised and iconic buildings such as the dome at St Pauls being covered in a lead sheet look-alike in the future because all the traditional lead craftsmen have disappeared.

There is also the danger that when English Heritage and others next seek support from contractors for future important “initiatives” they risk being met with a simple response.

“What’s the point?”

Arboricultural show a resounding success The biggest event of its kind in the UK, this year’s ARB show for the arboricultural industry, held in early June, was a resounding success at its new showground on the Bathurst Estate, in Cirencester.

The new venue offered a variety of superb trees to host the practical demonstrations and popular 3ATC tree climbing competition which so many visitors enjoy.

Run by the Arboricultural Association, the show’s fresh, inspiring and varied demonstration programme offered something for everyone from the absolute novice to the most experienced practitioner. And show visitors were also able to get advice on anything from climbing and work techniques to the latest products and climbing kit from over 70 trade stands.

The arbjobs.com sponsored 3ATC (Arboricultural Association Arborist Tree Challenge) - another popular attraction which ran this year. Open to all levels of competitor the 3ATC was divided

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three categories of competition from novice, through to expert and premier climber.

This year’s practical demonstration sessions included the safe configuration of rigging equipment, dismantling techniques, and work positioning on and aerial rescue from poles The workshop sessions included the design of arborists’

hardware, competent hand splicing, the ARB Approved Contractor scheme and exploring Borneo’s rainforest canopy.

Also of interest was the launch of the new Stihl MS201 T chainsaw and the Tree Climbers’ forum.

Another major event in the arboricultural world is the association’s 45th National Amenity ARB Conference 2011is being held on Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th September 2011 at the University of Warwick.

The largest and most established annual conference dedicated to arboriculture, this event is the focal gathering of amenity arboriculture managers in the UK, consultants, local government managers, contractors and educators.

With new regulations and standards directly relevant to arboriculture appearing more frequently, Arboricultural Association Conferences provide vital information to help those attending keep ahead, including formal lectures and seminars, plus networking and a great social environment.

• Investigating accidents caused by tree failure Services typically required of an arboricultural contractor are: • Tree maintenance (pruning, bracing or fertilising operations) to a relevant British Standard • Tree felling including dismantling of dangerous trees or trees in confined spaces.

• Pest and disease identification and control.

• Advice on the above.

For further details, see the Arboricultural Association’s web site: www.trees.org.uk

About the Arboricultural Association Since 1964, the Arboricultural Association has been the national body in the UK and Ireland for the amenity tree care professional in either civic or commercial employment at craft, technical, supervisory, managerial or consultancy level.

There are currently 2,000 members of the Arboricultural Association in a variety of membership classes. The objectives of the Arboricultural Association are to: advance the study of arboriculture; raise the standards of its practice; foster interest in trees through publications, exhibitions and the stimulation of research or experiment; assist in the training of students in disciplines where arboriculture is a major subject and to cooperate with other bodies having similar aims.

People able to care for trees are generally either consultants (tree advisors or arboriculturists) or contractors (tree surgeons or arborists).

Consultants provide specialist opinion on tree health, safety, preservation, trees and buildings, planning and other law.

Consultants use their training and experience to form opinions about arboricultural issues. Subjects on which arboricultural consultants will commonly advise include: • Assessing trees for hazard and where appropriate specifying remedial work • Investigating cases where trees are alleged to be involved in structural damage to buildings • Providing advice in relation to tree preservation law and where necessary, expert evidence to the planning inspectorate • Providing advice in relation to trees and development and when necessary, expert evidence to the planning inspectorate • Formulating tree and woodland management plans ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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School pupils take learning to the (green) roof 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 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

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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

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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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Apprentices needed as construction sector faces potential retirement time bomb Due to an ageing workforce and a limited injection of new blood, the construction industry now faces a potential retirement time bomb, says Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry.

“When you look at the age profile demographics across the whole construction industry, there is a tendency towards older employees - certainly a significant number are coming up to retirement age in the next five to ten years. Coming through behind them are fewer people - due to the recession in the early 1990s where the industry lost many people who never returned.

“Statistics indicate that in the next 10 years there will be around half a million fewer 16 - 24 year olds in the country as a whole, and this at a time where firms may start to fight hard for good quality young people in the shape of apprentices or undergraduates coming into their sectors. So the construction industry does have a fight on its hands to make sure that it accesses good quality people - and from a smaller pool of talent.

“The sectors ageing workforce will need replacing and hence one of our main focuses is on promoting the entry of new talent into the industry and trying to assist the industry is driving young people to us for training.”

To this end, CITB-ConstructionSkills have organised a series of events which have successfully driven a 47% increase in take-up of apprenticeships.

Sixty-five more savvy employers signed up to get their hands on the UK’s best young talent following these events run as part of the CITB-ConstructionSkills’ Positive Image campaign.

With over 200 employers now committed to offering apprenticeships in areas ranging from carpentry to craft masonry, CITB-ConstructionSkills, is calling on companies to follow suit and invest in the skills today that will drive future growth.

CITB-ConstructionSkills ran a programme of employer breakfast meetings, construction challenges, careers events, and oneto-ones with its staff and staff from the National Construction College (NCC) as part of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW).

The events brought employers face-to-face with over 600 young people interested in the sector.

Well over a quarter of the employers who attended an event have committed to take on apprenticeships, creating an initial 70 vacancies, for which there have already been 360 applications – giving employers the opportunity to pick the best candidates and take advantage of the wealth of young people the Positive Image campaign has attracted to the sector.

Martyn Price, from CMC Ltd, one of the employers attending the event, said: “I am delighted to be associated with National Apprenticeship Week to support the benefits that apprentices can bring to any business. The pledge demonstrates our ongoing commitment which in turn we anticipate will continue to benefit our business for many future years. The Positive Image campaign’s drive to recruit the brightest and best talent is really paying off”.

Tony Wren, Managing Director of Innovation On-Site Limited, said: “Innovation On-Site wholeheartedly supports National Apprentice Week. The training and development of our workforce is paramount to the foundations of our company. By encouraging our apprentices to grow we develop and retain a high calibre workforce which underpins our longevity.”

Mark Farrar added: “These events helped show employers the wealth of keen young people who are eager to work in the construction sector. We were delighted to see so many firms sign

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up to offer apprenticeships. However, there is an opportunity for many more employers to get involved and leave a lasting legacy for the construction industry. It’s only by investing in the workforce of tomorrow that we will survive.”

The CITB-ConstructionSkills Positive Image campaign works with employers and federations to attract enthusiastic new recruits to construction to help deliver the right skills both locally and nationally. CITB-ConstructionSkills is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) and Industry Training Board (ITB) for the construction industry.

Established as an SSC in 2003, the organisation works in partnership with CIC and CITB Northern Ireland, to support construction businesses and deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified UK construction workforce.

CITB-ConstructionSkills works closely with construction employers to deliver training, implement industry-led skills solutions, secure appropriate funding, produce labour market data, and develop standards and qualifications that meet the changing needs of employers. Every day CITB-ConstructionSkills delivers support to construction employers through a network of expert advisors working across Great Britain.

CITB-ConstructionSkills is a well-run and high performing

Sector Skills Council, supporting a sector which is central to the UK economy, generating over 8% of GDP and a turnover of more than £210bn a year. The organisation is helping construction employers during the downturn and working to maintain skills so the industry can respond when the upturn begins.

Conserving England’s green ‘thinking spaces’ Caring for England’s historic gardens and designed landscapes, The Association of Gardens Trusts (AGT) consists of 35 County Gardens Trusts (CGTs) from all over England, and is affiliated to the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust.

As a national charity, the association’s focus is on promoting the enjoyment of gardens and parks to the general public.

The association learns about garden heritage and designed landscapes, engages in conservation, planning and garden research, and encourages gardens in schools.

“Our England is a garden that is full of stately views, of borders, beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues, with statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by but the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye.”

Rudyard Kipling’s familiar verse is as good a starting point as any to convey the purpose of the Association of Gardens Trusts (AGT). The vision and strength of this unifying organisation comes together to conserve the country’s ‘thinking’ spaces.

The AGT is a national charity, underpinned by volunteers, working to prevent further loss or corrosion of specially designed green living spaces that imbue a sense of our past while we survey the present.

But the association feels that there has to be more than nurture and enjoyment - we have to think about the future. This far too crowded island is under ever-increasing pressure from building development and motorways.

Hence, since being founded in 1993, the AGT has been working closely in association with 10 branches of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, and in partnership and cross-fertilisation with a range of like-minded garden heritage groups, especially English Heritage, the National Trust, the Garden History Society, and the Garden Museum, but also Green Space, Historic Houses Association, CABE, NADFAS, the Heritage Alliance (formerly Heritage Link) and the Woodland Trust.

Gardens offer more than aesthetic pleasure, adding to the visually enjoyable and often scented experience by engaging the mind with a much-rewarding fourth dimension: understanding the context of a garden, landscape or park.

AGT President, Gilly Drummond is fond of pointing out: “Gardens are tellers of tales; the skills of the designer allow the tale to be heard.” If you are interested to learn about the design development

of gardens, she says, you may then begin to read them like a book, even if some of the pages are missing.

Recently, as a trustee for the Chiswick House and Park Trust seeking planning permission for a huge £12 million regeneration project, Gilly transported a group of Hounslow councillors by coach down to the outskirts of Swindon to view progress on the Lydiard Park project, to appreciate with their own eyes just what could be achieved.

Consequently, those councillors who visited Lydiard supported the Chiswick bid, including restoration of the walled garden. Those who had not taken the trip were noticeably ‘less enthusiastic’.

The AGT works to ‘make a difference’ in conservation: by organising friendly, enlightening annual conferences for county gardens trusts delegates to learn about and explore the wealthy mix of gardens and parks, and their designers, in diverse areas of the country; by emphasizing special events by suggesting issues and recommending speakers for major conferences, regional workshops and study days; by informing and advising county gardens trust committees and members with website, papers and e-newsletters, by forwarding planning applications and, lastly by arranging insurance cover with modest premiums.

The AGT responds to government initiatives, sometimes questions and challenges planning issues, but, perhaps above all, is committed to encouraging schemes to pass on valuable gardening skills and knowledge in schools and adult education and enable teachers and planners with local research.

Rather like the vine and its fruit-bearing branches, the AGT is only as good and as responsive as its committed volunteers.

The ongoing work of these impassioned county gardens trust members goes largely unsung like seeds sewn on the Solent wind carried to evergreen landscapes and gardens from Cornwall to Northumberland.

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Working at height?

You can count on the ATLAS safety net The Association of Technical Lighting and Access Specialists (ATLAS) has been supporting its member companies in the working at height industry since 1946. It has been continually striving to improve working practices, technical quality and accepted standards in the steeplejack and lightning protection sectors. The benefit is naturally felt by member companies, but also extends to clients of members who work within this specialist sector.

ATLAS was formed to promote the common interests of steeplejacking and lightning conductor engineering companies.

By working to maintain a high standard of conduct, combat unfair practices and encourage safety and efficiency, it offers its members access to the best industry knowledge and advice available.

ATLAS is governed by a council elected annually by the membership which meets four times a year. Meetings are open to all ATLAS members to participate in discussions on industry topics, to pose questions and to meet with other member companies to further both their own development and that of the industry.

Outside the quarterly meetings, work continues throughout the year in the form of committee activity, ensuring that ATLAS remains at the forefront of all industry developments, influencing decisions, improving standards and reporting back to its members.

Membership of ATLAS is carefully monitored and all companies are obliged to abide by the association’s constitution and code of conduct.

Association Objectives To ensure high standards of safety, both for management and operatives, through a comprehensive range of training and qualification • To protect others who may be affected by their operations • To maintain a high standard of professional conduct and ensure members comply with current regulations • To represent to clients a hallmark of quality and efficiency • To secure equitable forms of contract with clients and to discourage unfair and unsafe work practises

Leadership ATLAS is fronted by figures who have built up years, if not decades, of industry experience, and who all share a belief and willingness to work for the benefit and betterment of the industry.

The association’s presidency is currently held by Graeme Fisher. Graeme joined the established steeplejack and lightning protection company A.W. Elliott in 1974, and through the years held positions as contracts supervisor, contracts manager, contracts director, managing director, and company chairman until 2004, when the business assets were sold to Omega Red Group.

Graeme has been an active member of ATLAS since the 1980s, becoming heavily involved in lightning protection matters and representing ATLAS on BSI technical committees for lightning protection and earthing for over 20 years.

Find out more To find out how your company or organisation can benefit from ATLAS membership, visit www.atlas.org.uk

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Advising clients about Site Waste Management The introduction of the Site Waste Management Plan Regulations 2008 has brought to the fore a number of issues relating to Construction Waste Management, Site Waste Management and the UK sustainability agenda.

For some time clients have been demanding that their project teams consider, reduce and manage site waste, sometimes to reduce costs of waste to landfill and sometimes to secure ratings or compliance with schemes that necessitate consideration of Site Waste Management – indeed there are now consultants who have made this arena their specialisation. But now the new regulations in England (and Best Practice Guidance in other parts of the United Kingdom) have made it necessary for many more clients, who may have differing perspectives on sustainability and Site Waste Management, to grapple with demands made of them by these regulations and Best Practice Guidance. The Site Waste Management Regulations 2008 do not, however, offer any guidance or assistance for clients. Clients are therefore asking their project consultants to tell them what is required of them – and asking for help in dealing with the regulations.

Whilst there is no requirement in the regulations for anyone to advise clients, (or anybody else involved in a project), about Site Waste Management, there is clearly a need for this to happen and a clear business opportunity for someone to provide such a service.

A consultant’s guide to the provision of services relating to the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 and Best Practice Guidance has now been published by the Association for Project Safety and is available for those who wish to offer the additional service of ‘Site Waste Management Plan Client Adviser’ to their clients or who wish to know more about the whole subject of Site Waste Management.

“Advising clients about Site Waste Management” provides consultants with information and procedures that they can use to help clients and design teams meet the challenges of effective site waste management on projects. The guide: • Gives a concise background to Site Waste Management • Outlines the costs of site waste and the environmental benefits of Site Waste Management Plans and planning to increase recovery, recycling, and re-use of materials and to reduce site waste • Provides an overview of the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 and Best Practice Guidance • Explains the implications of the Regulations and Best Practice Guidance • Outlines “who does what” in different parts of the United Kingdom • Suggests services that consultants can provide to help clients and design teams deal with their Site Waste • Management obligations • Demonstrates the synergies between these services and CDM processes and requirements • Provides a step-by-step guide to working as a client adviser dealing with Site Waste Management Plan issues This ‘Advise and Assist’ process often parallels the duties of the CDM co-ordinator under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. The Association for Project Safety, which has in-depth knowledge and experience of CDM co-ordination practice, has used its experience to help develop this ‘step-by-step’ guide so that this additional service to clients can be offered by CDM co-ordinators, as well as other consultants. They will then be acting as an adviser to clients on Site Waste Management - a ‘Site Waste Management Plan Client Adviser’ - a clumsy term but it says exactly what is in the tin!

Because the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations and Best Practice Guidance also directly, or indirectly, require clients to make sure that others carry out certain duties, clients will expect assistance from designers and certainly designers will need to consider their obligations in supplying the information required in the Regulations. It is clear that in many instances clients will need a specific adviser to ensure that their duties are properly discharged and that all parties work together to comply with these new Regulations (in England) or the Best Practice recommended in other parts of the United Kingdom. The CDM co-ordinator, who, for most construction projects valued at £300,000 or more will already have been appointed, is in an admirable position to provide efficient and targeted advice to the client on all of these matters and this is the basic premise upon which this guidance is based. On the other hand consultants who wish to provide a separate advice service to clients will also find that this guide helps them deliver that service consistently and effectively.

“Advising Clients about Site Waste Management” shows that there are simple ways of harnessing the benefits of the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 (and Site Waste Management Best Practice) that will help clients with their obligations and duties, assist them in reducing the costs of project waste and enable them to maximise environmental gains – all of which can be compelling concerns in contemporary project realisation.

Copies of the Guide, priced at £34.00 incl P&P for members and £44.00 incl P&P for non-members, can be obtained by contacting the Association for Project Safety, Stanhope House, 12 Stanhope Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5HH, T: 08456 121 290, E: info@aps.org.uk, www.aps.org.uk ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Lightning Conductors & Lightning Protection Systems SLPTG (Steeplejack & Lightning Protection Training Group) can provide clients or customers with all the necessary information on specialist lightning protection companies regarding training, qualifications and experience to ensure that any contractor or sub-contractor they are considering working with can demonstrate that they and their workforce are competent and have the correct qualifications, knowledge and experience to carry out tasks on their lightning conductors or lightning protection systems.

Under the HASAW Act you have to provide a ‘Duty of Care’ and to ensure that operatives can provide proof of competence and demonstrate experience & knowledge to carry out a task, a Photo ID CSCS Smartcard is a direct but simple and very effective way to check that someone working on or testing your lightning conductor or lightning protection system can prove this, check the card matches the operative and on the rear of the card it clearly states that they are either NVQ II or NVQ III Lightning Conductor Engineers, if they cannot provide this do not let them

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continue until they or the company can demonstrate competency to your satisfaction, if something were to happen it may eventually come back to you and this simple but very effective measure is there to assist.

We are seeing throughout the UK at this moment that other professions are completing Two Day lightning protection test & inspection courses available through accredited learning centres and including this facility to their range of services, this is only one of many official training units/certificates that is required for a lightning protection engineer to gain their specialist NVQ qualification, this unit/certificate does not provide the operative with the experience & knowledge, it is a certificate of training. Do not accept this as proof of competence on its own, as detailed above the minimum you should be looking for is that the operative holds an in date Photo ID CSCS Smartcard stating clearly on the rear they are NVQ II or NVQ III Lightning Conductor Engineers, do not let them continue until they or the company can demonstrate competency to your satisfaction.

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A s s o c i ati o n s Protect yourself – Check the photo ID CSCS smartcard Working closely with ATLAS (the Industry Federation), National Specialist Accredited Centre (NSAC), CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and Construction Skills at the National Construction College (NCC, Bircham Newton, Norfolk), the SLPTG has formulated and developed the lightning conductor engineer national apprenticeship scheme along with adult learning and continues to expand training availability for this very 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 and to also provide our clients with the confidence that the training, experience and skills given to our operatives can demonstrate the competence required to allow then to carry out their tasks”.

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”.

Alan Ritchie, several secretary of the Construction Union, says, “A fully carded workforce is a safer and better trained workforce”.

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 them 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

Taking Measures to protect you from asbestos Employers of building maintenance and repair workers are required to carry out a risk assessment before undertaking any work which exposes, or is liable to expose, employees to asbestos. They must take the appropriate steps required by the Asbestos Regulations to prevent or reduce these risks.

However, in many cases, the employers and their workers have little or no information about the premises where they are going to undertake work, and are not aware of asbestos containing materials are present. Consequently, it is difficult for them to consider the risks, or if precautions may be needed.

A duty to manage the risk from asbestos in non-domestic premises was therefore added to the Control of Asbestos at work Regulations in 2002 to address this. These requirements have since been brought forward unchanged in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 as Regulation 4.

Those who own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for premises that may contain asbestos, will either have: • A legal duty to manage the risk from asbestos material; or • A legal duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk They will be required to manage the risk from asbestos by: • Finding out if there is asbestos in the premises, its extent and what condition it is in; • Presuming the materials contain asbestos, unless you have strong evidence that they do not;

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• Making and keeping up to date a record of the location and condition of the ACM’s or presumed ACM’s in their premises; • Assessing the risk from the material • Preparing a plan that sets out in detail how they are going to manage the risk from this material • Taking the steps needed to put their plan into action • Reviewing and monitoring their plan and the arrangements made to put it in place; and • Providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work or disturb it.

In the United Kingdom, work on asbestos has by law to be carried out by a contractor who holds a licence under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, although there are exceptions.

Normally, non-licensed work includes work on asbestoscontaining textured coatings, asbestos cement and certain work of short duration on asbestos insulating board.

The duties imposed by regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 supplement the provisions of some of the duties imposed by other sets of regulations, in particular the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 which require the

client to provide designers and contractors who may be bidding for the work or who they intend to engage, with the project’s specific health and safety information needed to identify hazards and risks associated with the design and construction work.

Asbestos awareness training is a legal requirement for most employees and supervisors working in the construction industry.

In addition to initial training, the Approved Code of Practice which accompanies the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 also states that refresher training should be given at least every year. Therefore, there is an ongoing annual legal requirement for refresher training to be carried out for the identified employees.

ARCA is the leading supplier of asbestos awareness training aimed at building and maintenance workers. To find out more or to arrange a no obligation meeting to discuss your employees asbestos awareness training needs please contact ARCA on 01283 531126.

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