Premier Construction 16-7

Roma Publications

Volume 16 - Issue 7

Aloft London Excel Hotel

Northern Ireland Housing Profile

Belgium Solar Tunnel Renewable UK 2011

Contents PREMIER CONSTRUCTION

Volume 16 • Issue 7

Dear readers, Big news on the home front is one main area of focus this month, as Premier Construction reveals the very latest developments in Northern Ireland’s social housing sector - including an exclusive interview with Nelson Mc Causland, Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development.

With emphasis on improving both the quality and quantity of social housing provision, he reveals how this impacts on the construction sector with a dramatic increase in both new build and refurbishment projects. “Whilst private house building has slowed down in recent years, I am pleased that the increased provision of social housing here has gone some way to supporting our construction industry through difficult times. .....

Over the next four years, despite what remains a very challenging economic backdrop, I plan to invest £460million to deliver 6,000 new homes.....This funding will help protect jobs across the construction industry and wider supply chain, as well of course, as helping those in greatest need with a home to call their own.”

Following on from such key statements, Premier Construction goes on to investigate their practical effects by profiling construction schemes underway for Clanmil Housing Association, Apex Housing Group and Trinity Housing.

On a completely different theme, we visit London, looking skywards at the finishing touches now being put to the new Aloft London Excel Hotel, near Canary Wharf. We take time out to chat to the site manager responsible for the construction of this impressive 250-bedroom scheme to discover the challenges overcome in bringing this major development from drawing board to reality.

Science is also in the spotlight as we look in on the construction of a multi million pound major new flagship home for the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) next to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The building will enable world class researchers to establish new links, working together in translating important research.

On the ‘green’ scene, we’re off to take a look at the £29 million Kilbraur wind farm extension, just being completed in Sutherland, which will boost the overall wind farm up to a total installed capacity of 67MWM, producing approximately 200GWh per year and cutting annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 86,000 tons per year.

And still on the eco-friendly theme, we see how a spark of inspiration from one individual led to the establishment of an international “milestone” - in the form of a massive array comprising 16,000 photo-voltaic panels installed on the 50,000m2 of flat space on top of a 3.4km high-speed rail tunnel on the Brussels Amsterdam line in Belgium.

Managing Director: Marcus Howarth Editor:

Lesley Coward

Production Manager: Kelsie Howarth Advert Co-ordinator: Nicola Owen Contributors:

Rebecca Chamberlin, Phoebe Kemp

Charlotte Brazier

Published by:

Roma Publications Ltd.

t: 01706 719 972 f: 0845 458 4446 e: admin@romauk.net Graphic Design by:

www.marcusmacaulay.co.uk

That’s it for now on our big build-up to this month’s issue. Why not take time out this month and every month and let Premier Construction keep you informed of all the major national and international news throughout the construction sector.

North West MediaCityUk Development................................................................................8 Saica Paper Mill................................................................................................10

North East & Yorkshire Harrogate Cricket Club.....................................................................................14

Midlands & East Anglia Priory Academy..................................................................................................18 South Northants Decent Homes.....................................................................25

South West Lizard Lifeboat Station.....................................................................................30 Trefullock Solar farm........................................................................................32

London & South East Yarmouth harbour.............................................................................................45 Aloft London Excel Hotel..................................................................................47

Wales Western Solar Park...........................................................................................75

Scotland Kilbraur Wind Farm...........................................................................................83 St Andrews House.............................................................................................91

Ireland Northern Ireland Housing Profile.....................................................................92 Belfast harbour................................................................................................103

Overseas Belgian Solar Tunnel........................................................................................110

Heritage English Heritage...............................................................................................116 Construction Skills..........................................................................................122

Associations Renewableuk 2011..........................................................................................126

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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Construction film archive now online A fascinating collection of civil engineering documentaries has been discovered in the basement of Halcrow’s old headquarters in Vineyard House, Hammersmith, and is now available to view on Halcrow’s website.

The short films examine some of the firm’s projects from the last fifty years, covering a huge range of construction works carried out across the globe from England to the Middle East. Though scratched and faded, the films are now restored using digital technology, to offer an insight into the construction works of some major landmarks and exciting innovations which we now see as commonplace.

One film is the first of a five-part series by British Transport Film. ‘Over and Under’ is an episode which looks at the planning stages of Oxford Circus, following operations from 1962-1964. It describes the problems encountered and overcome by the team, as the Victoria Line is first constructed.

Then there is a reel by the National Film Board of South Africa, examining the Orange Fish Tunnel as a paradigm for the construction of tunnels using concrete.

Four films also document Halcrow’s part in the rapid growth of the Gulf states, in particular their role in the development of three crucial ports; Port Rashid, the Port of Jeddah and Jebel Ali Port which is seen being opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

Future of 2012 Olympic Village in safe hands Following an advertisement for longterm Olympic Village managers, the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) have announced that property groups Delancey and Qatari Diar have signed a £557 million deal to take over the site at the end of London 2012.

Nearly three thousand homes will be created on the site, forming a new district of East London. Triathlon Homes have already been purchased to become affordable housing, in a joint venture with Triathlon Homes.

Quatari and Delancey will now acquire the remainder for private housing, along with six adjacent plots on which the groups could potentially develop two thousand further homes. Most of the one thousand four hundred and thirty-nine homes which Qatari and Delancey will own on the existing site will be let, rather than sold.

Bristol Rovers announces new stadium plans Bristol Rovers FC have announced plans to build an impressive new 20,000 seat stadium which will reflect the aspirations of the club.

The football club’s new home would be built on land adjoining the University of West England campus and known as the UWE Stadium in recognition of the agreement between the two organisations. Since the site is on a gradient, the proposals envisage a lowprofile structure which will cut into the land rather than stand up out of it, in a graceful and economical design.

Planning permission will be applied for in Autumn this year, but feedback from the community and local authorities has so far been positive.

The combined plans to build the new stadium and to redevelop the site of the current Bristol Rovers Memorial Stadium represent an investment worth

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around £60 million, which would greatly benefit the local area in various ways.

Sainsbury’s have agreed to buy the old site to build a supermarket and housing development, and the UWE Stadium will open up further opportunities for work between Bristol Rovers and the university.

Students on relevant courses will study the construction process, and work with the football club on marketing and event management. They will also have future access to many of the facilities on offer in the stadium to help with their study and be able to apply for jobs and internships in the new ground.

BRFC Chairman Nick Higgs said: “This is a development of regional significance to South Gloucestershire, Bristol and the wider community. We feel that we have developed a design that is sympathetic to the area and utilises the topography of the land to good effect.”

ODA chief executive Dennis Hone said: “This deal will deliver a significant return to the public purse and a first-class owner for the Olympic Village. It secures two leading property investors with the experience and expertise needed to make the Village one of the strongest legacies from the Games. The Village will deliver the best of city living all in one place with high-quality new homes, education and healthcare facilities, new parklands, great transport links, public squares and open space.”

Mohammed bin Ali Al Hedfa, Group CEO of Qatari Diar said that the firm was “delighted” with the deal, and committed to creating “a positive cultural, environmental and sustainable footprint.”

Meanwhile Delancey’s Chief Executive, Jamie Ritblat was enthusiastic about what he termed “the first truly great residential investment opportunity in the UK.”

Introducing the latest addition to the Canary Wharf Skyline Dubbed ‘The Cheese Grater’ because of its distinctive tapering form, preparation work began for the Leadenhall Building in January 2011, and in August the foundations and initial basement works were nearly complete. This was announced at the same time as the developers, British land in partnership with Oxford Properties, signed the deal with Lang O’Rourke, who are now main contractors, beating heavyweight competitors such as Skanska in the tender process.

Roger Robinson is Chief Executive at the Europe Hub of Lang O’ Rourke. He said, “We are delighted to have been awarded this unique project in the City of London.

It is a complex build programme which will require exceptional engineering capabilities to successfully deliver the landmark scheme that our clients are expecting from us.”

Severfield-Rowan are Steelworks subcontractors.

The Cheese Grater is a £340 million development and was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners. Over its forty-seven storeys the building will include office space, retail and dining facilities, entered from a half-acre of landscaped grounds.

Standing at 736 feet, this will be one of the tallest buildings in the City of London, joining such landmarks as The Shard and The Gherkin in this eye-catching district.

The lower floors will offer up to 21,000 square feet of office space, and the floor space will decrease up until the top floor, which offers 6,000 square feet. So far a preliminary non-binding agreement has been entered with Aon Ltd to let 191,000 square feet, with the possibility of expanding this.

“We can’t carry on as we are” with the Private Finance Initiative A Treasury select committee has reported that the PFI is an ‘extremely inefficient’ method of funding infrastructure projects and states that there should be tighter guidelines on its use.

The Private Finance initiative has proven extremely popular, because it allows government and public bodies to make heavy capital investments without committing to large up-front payments.

Andrew Tyrie MP chaired the committee and described the use of the programme thus: “PFI means getting something now and paying later. Any Whitehall department could be excused for becoming addicted to that.”

However the rise in borrowing costs since the credit crunch means that there is now no substantial evidence that savings and efficiencies during the lifetime of PFI projects offset the significantly higher cost of finance. The report suggests that the current Value For Money appraisal system used to access the legitimacy of such schemes is biased in favour of PFIs,

ignoring several problems with the ways in which they operate.

The committee has highlighted specific problem, including that the PFI should not be used to circumvent departmental budget restrictions and that risk associated with PFI projects should be evidently transferred to the private sector. They also point out that investment could increase in the future if government capital investment were used instead of PFI.

£72 million facelift for Lister Hospital The largest health-related capital project in the East of England has been given the go-ahead

by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

The redevelopment work will form the fourth and final stage in a £150 million overhaul of hospital services in Hertfordshire, and will see Lister Hospital in Stevenage become the main A and E and inpatient hospital for the North And East Hertfordshire NHS Trust. As such, certain services will be closed down elsewhere, as acute services will be concentrated in The Lister.

At the Stevenage site works will be carried out to extend the emergency department and build brand new facililities in two new blocks, one housing wards, and one comprising operating theatres and endoscopy clinics. Refurbishment of the hospital tower building is also included in the scheme.

Works will be procured under the NHS’ ProCure 21+ arrangements which were introduced in 2010. This system allows NHS trusts to choose from six approved main contractors to carry out capital projects, in order to avoid forcing Trusts to follow the lengthy and complex EU procurement process.

Mr Lansley has stressed how important these works are for the continuing high quality of care in Hertfordshire, saying, “The urgent need for this project has been apparent for many years now and I applaud the hard work of those who have brought us to this point. This is the fourth and final phase of the reconfiguration of services in east and north Hertfordshire and it will help deliver high quality and sustainable care for patients for many years to come.”

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Embracing a media future away from London:

MediaCityUK development to lead industry The creation of MediaCityUK in Salford Quays marks the innovative concept of embracing a future that isn’t London-centric, according to BBC North director Peter Salmon.

The vision of the scheme is to create a globally significant new media city that will be capable of competing with similar emerging locations in places such as Copenhagen, Seoul and Singapore. The intention is to create a modern digital city for the UK, where creative talent is drawn by the quality and excitement of the environment and the range and mix of people.

A new headquarters for BBC North will be established, encompassing: BBC Sport, Children’s, Radio 5 Live, Learning and parts of Future Media and Technology. Some of the BBC’s most iconic shows, including Match of the Day, Blue Peter, Dragon’s Den and Question of Sport will now be broadcast from MediaCityUK. ITV Granada will move to Media City in 2012. A new production centre for Coronation Street is being built on Trafford Wharf, next to Imperial War Museum North. Dedicated officers have also been earmarked within MediaCityUK’s Orange Tower, which will house ITV Studios’ production and management teams and ITV regional news.

The £650m project – owned and managed by The Peel Group, one of the UK’s leading infrastructure, real estate and investment enterprises – will see the relocation of 1,500 BBC staff from London or the BBC’s existing North West headquarters in Manchester. This includes the 25% of Marketing, Communications & Audiences and 33% of Connect & Create staff that are prepared to relocate. The BBC said that in total, 55% of the staff affected by the move have now agreed to relocate, including volunteers from outside those departments going to Salford.

The move from London reflects the growing opinion that media

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giants such as the BBC and ITV need to widen their scope and develop exciting new media outside of London. In 2007, Sir Michael Lyons, who heads the BBC Trust, told the Royal Television Society that the loyalty of viewers outside of London was dwindling as a result of their perception that the BBC failed to reflect their communities or interests.

Manchester is certainly an excellent place to relocate: it is acknowledged as a leader in the creative and digital industries, and is home to the second largest cluster in Europe, consisting of more than 20,000 companies and almost 150,000 employees.

It was reported that between 2002 and 2007, there was an 88.5% increase in productivity (Source: NWDA).

The project has engaged with numerous public sector bodies, including Northwest Regional Development Agency, Salford City Council and the Salford Urban Regeneration Company. So far, 2,000 people have been involved in construction, and 7.3 million man hours have been spent on-site. The intention is to establish MediaCityUK on approximately 220ha of land in and around Salford Quays and Trafford Wharfside, with the 14.8ha Quays Point site at its core. The area covered is bounded by Eccles New Road, Trafford Road, Ordsall Lane, Manchester Ship Canal and Trafford Park Road.

Phase One of the development – which is spread over 36 acres, with the potential to develop up to 200 acres over the coming years – has included: 780, 870 sq ft of commercial office accommodation spread across 6 buildings, 60 000 sq ft of retail, a 250,000 sq ft studio complex, 378 apartments across 2 buildings, a 218 bed Holiday Inn hotel, a 2 300 space multi storey car park, a 5-acre piazza including a hard standing area for events, The Greenhouse (office accommodation) and The Pie Factory (sound stages and office accommodation).

MediaCityUK is a long-term development and there is no rigid

timetable for Phase Two, so expansion will be dependent on demand.

MediaCityUK is the first scheme in the world to become a BREEAM-approved sustainable community, by incorporating leading-edge design into the individual buildings and elsewhere across the campus. The tri-generation power plant helps to minimise CO² emissions by centralising heating and cooling equipment for the buildings. It utilises water from the Manchester Ship Canal before returning it cleaner than before.

The project has also developed strong links to the neighbouring community. Salford University is creating a new higher education centre at MediaCity UK, designed to accommodate 1,700 students and staff and offering 40 courses from journalism, animation and TV documentary-making, to technology-based programmes. It has also recently signed a sponsorship deal with the Salford City Reds: their logo will be the main sponsor on the kit from the start of the 2012 season, providing additional branding for the media complex throughout the new £26m Salford Community Stadium. MD for MediaCityUk has said that he is “thrilled” with the deal.

MediaCityUK has already played host to a range of events, including the Manchester International Festival, Rugby League World Cup Launch and the BBC Philharmonic Presents festival.

Those involved on the project have hit back at criticism levelled at MediaCityUK – the striking architectural design has been put forward for a Carbuncle Cup, an award for the ‘worst new building of the year’, whilst documents drawn up by BBC managers express the concern that ‘the move north ‘could turn out to be an £877m white elephant responsible for a decline in programme quality’. Peter Salmon has urged the critics to: “take a step back and look at the bigger picture, to stop their hectoring and begin to embrace a future that isn’t London-centric.”

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Spanish firm build £290 million eco-friendly paper mill in Trafford A new recycled paper mill is currently under construction for paper and packaging world-leader Saica, as they bring their green credentials and expertise to the UK. Saica is a family-run business founded in 1943. Of the three divisions comprising the company, it is the PAPER division for whom the plant, known as Paper Machine 11, is being built by main contractors Christal Management.

Saica PAPER specialises in the manufacture of recycled containerboard paper, for use in the manufacture of corrugated cardboard boxes, and this development in Partington will be most advanced recycled paper facility in the world, allowing waste paper to be pulped, cleaned and turned into new recycled containerboard paper reels.

The mill is being built on a site which has a long history of industrial use, situated on the Partington Wharfside in Trafford.

In the past the 15 hectare site has been used as a petrochemical storage site, and since then has been classified as brownfield.

Saica’s project is bringing a significant investment to the area: eight hundred people are at work on the site at the moment.

Saica has used UK companies for all civil works and also for mechanical and electrical installations and supplies, which represents an investment of around £100 million in the local economy.

Several individual buildings comprise the mill, including the main paper mill, automated warehouses for storage and distribution, plus energy generation and effluent treatment plants. At the heart of operations is the main process building, housing the paper making machinery, where bales of recovered paper will be pulped and re-formed into new paper which will be dried by steam-filled cylinders. This large hall will be 271.5m long, up to 37m wide and 25m high, incorporating two floors accommodating different elements of the equipment. When complete, around 420,000 tonnes of 100% recycled paper will be produced in this production hall every year.

The main buildings are all constructed on steel framework, with pre-cast concrete floors, and will be finished in aluminiumclad pre-cast concrete.

Various facilities incorporated into the plant will contribute to making this project a truly eco-friendly structure.

Paper is not the only resource which will be recycled at the mill: a water-retention basin is being constructed on the site, which will fill with rain water for use in the paper recycling process.

An agreement with the council means that any unused, cleaned and treated water will be pumped into the adjacent ship canal.

A Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP) is also being constructed to cater for the paper mill’s full energy requirements and also export any surplus energy into the national grid.

Generating heat and electricity simultaneously on the site, this plant has an efficiency rating of around 80%, more than

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Picture: aerial shot of progress on site, taken in April 2011. double the average 30% efficiency of a standard power station.

The plant also has Quality Certification under the CHP Quality Assurance Programme by the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Outside the main building work, there are also extensive soft landscaping works being undertaken, including maintained and non-maintained pasture and woodlands. The idea behind this is also based in being ecologically responsible. To the South of the main development a habitat creation zone is being developed, in an effort which will restore natural beauty to a site long overtaken by industrialisation.

This development is flying the flag for a company with a strong base in environmental concern. Another division of Saica, ‘NATUR’, runs 43 paper collection and recycling points in mainland Europe.

Saica NATUR has taken over two recycling businesses in the UK - a Wiltshire-based recycling company (Futur) and Cutts Recycling - to guarantee the supply of UK-based recovered paper to the mill. The opening of the Partington Wharf paper mill in 2012 will open a new chapter in the firm’s history, as they establish themselves in the UK and lead the way in terms of eco-friendly industry.

From ‘eyesore’ flats to ideal homes A £1.3 million housing scheme that will replace ‘eyesore’ flats on Blackpool’s Grange Park estate is under construction in a project for Muir Group Housing Association being carried out by Main Contractors RP Tyson Construction Ltd. Planning consent was given in January 2011 for the 26 two and three-bedroom houses on land between Forshaw Avenue and Gateside Drive and work began towards the end of March 2011 and is expected to be complete in spring 2012.

The modern homes, which will feature an array of renewable technologies to lower carbon emissions, have been designed

by Croft Goode Architects.

It will be the third phase of development in the area, with building work nearing completion on 17 new houses to replace dilapidated maisonettes in nearby Draycot Avenue and work is also in progress on 13 homes in Gateside Drive.

The homes, which will be available under shared ownership and affordable rent, will meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and will feature renewable technologies, such as solar thermal panels and passive ventilation, to boost environmental

performance.

The development, which is being funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, will also provide a new access road to the homes, improved street lighting and landscaping.

Mick Goode, a director of Croft Goode Architects, said: “As always, we have consulted closely with local residents to ensure these homes provide the right kind of housing for the local area and also that they meet the highest standards of design and environmental performance.”

David Robinson, director of development for Muir Group Housing, said: “We are delighted the HCA have made this award which will help us as an organisation to continue to deliver new affordable homes in Blackpool. We have once again chosen to work with Croft Goode Architects, and we’re committed to building high-quality affordable homes which offer additional benefits such as built-in energy saving technologies as well as homes which people are proud to live in.”

Muir Group Housing Association’s aim is to provide quality, affordable housing for those in housing need.

The association pride themselves on excellent service to all their customers, be they residents, local authorities and other partners, staff, developers or contractors.

The association works closely with all these groups to deliver housing solutions that create communities in which people want to live.

Formed in 1949, R P Tyson Construction Ltd has over 50 years of experience serving the construction needs of the North West. Founded on a philosophy of total quality, Tyson offers a professional service, quality workmanship and value for money.

Today the company’s project base ranges from residential refurbishment and new build to bespoke commercial projects.

Their continued selection as a preferred partner for local authority and housing association projects demonstrates their commitment to the delivery of a quality service on time and on budget.

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You can put your Trust in Yorkshire’s healthcare: £318m NHS hospitals completed

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Two new hospitals that were established in the wake of the Prince’s Foundation and NHS Estate ‘Building a better patient environment’ initiative have opened in Yorkshire.

With a capital cost of £318 million, the construction of acute in-patient facilities at Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield and a new Diagnostic and Treatment Centre at Pontefract General Infirmary is Yorkshire’s biggest PFI (Private Finance Initiative) to date. The facilities are designed to provide care for around half a million people living in the Wakefield and North Kirklees areas, but will also provide treatment for patients from surrounding areas, including South Leeds, North Yorkshire, Barnsley and Doncaster.

This news will no doubt be welcomed by both residents and those in the medical profession, as there was a long overdue need for investment in the existing hospitals. 74% of Pinderfields hospital was built before 1948, with 80% of the buildings housing clinical services now in need of major repair or replacement. At Pontefract General Infirmary, more than half of the buildings are rated as being impossible to improve without replacing them.

Ed Balls, Labour MP for Morley and Outwood spoke of the need for new facilities, saying: “For too long, people in our district have had to put up with outdated buildings.”

The new inpatient hospital includes 46 departments, 708 beds (of which 50% are en-suite rooms), 1,839 car park spaces and a stand-alone new build pathology building. Each of the outpatient services in the new Pinderfields Hospital offers much improved modern facilities, including larger, purpose-built consulting and treatment rooms, dedicated waiting areas and receptions along with the latest equipment and technology to support patient care and rehabilitation. Patients staying overnight now have access to more en-suite accommodation and single rooms to enhance privacy and dignity, whilst there are also a number of day rooms and dining areas to aid in their recovery.

The hospital has a relaxing environment with bright courtyards and landscaped garden areas, as well as the new ‘In Cafe’ for dining and refreshments.

The massive development programme was completed for Mid Yorkshire NHS Hospital Trust by Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd, who invested some £15 million of equity into the project.

They were responsible for all of the construction, building services and physical facilities management. Balfour Beatty has a history of excellence; in 2009 they won the Constructing Excellence Leadership in People Development Award, the RoSPA Gold Award for Occupational Health & Safety and the Considerate Constructors Silver Award.

Julia Squire, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “What we are providing for patients in the new Pinderfields

Hospital is first class care and now first class facilities. Patients can expect to receive their treatment in an environment designed around them.”

Pinderfields Hospital opened its doors to its first patients in June 14th 2010, less than 3 years after the contracts were signed. The Children’s Centre has all outpatient services for children in one place, along with the rehabilitation department for physiotherapy and occupational therapy, neurology outpatients, orthotics and clinical psychology. To mark the occasion, local MPs Mary Creagh and Ed Balls visited the new facilities, where they met staff and patients.

Since then the other departments, including: oncology/ haematology, mammography, neurophysiology, cardio respiratory, ophthalmology and maternity have opened. In April 2011, the Trust expanded to provide community health services for the Wakefield District, including Adult Community Nursing, Children’s Health Services, Podiatry Care, Epilepsy Care and many others.

Physiotherapist Laura Lightfoot said: “It’s absolutely fantastic.

We have got so much more space and the rooms we have got are amazing. I think it is really going to enhance patient care.”

Many different companies worked on the 86,000 sq m site.

These included: Safety Net Services, who installed safety netting to the underside of all the floors and the underside of the roof; Prater Roofing Ltd. and Richard Lees Steel Decking; BDK Architects; and aluminium glazing specialist, Technal who, in partnership with Quest solutions, provided around 1,500 new windows for the £250 million Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

Crown Trade provided around 70,000 litres of paint for the scheme.

The scheme was not without its challenges. Because Pinderfields was completed in phases, many of the facilities became operational whilst contractors were still hard at work.

Proprietor Simon Magill said: “We all had to be extra vigilant as we were working next to hospital staff, patients and members of the public. This obviously put extra restrictions on when we could get work completed, but we still managed to meet all our schedules.”

In one day, 500 people attend the hospital’s Emergency Departments, they carry out over 235 planned procedures including operations, see around 1,850 people in their Outpatient departments, 2,700 meals are served to hospital patients and District Nurses make over 500 patient visits. In addition, around 18 babies are delivered in their maternity units and their Health Visitors see over 8 new babies.

It is hoped that the new hospitals will provide the medical support that the community has lacked for so long; delivering not only babies, but first class healthcare.

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

Call our news team on 01706 719972

New £10m Campsmount Technology College progressing well

Work on the new Campsmount Technology College began in March 2011. Wates Construction will undertake the building work and the new school should be completed in February 2012.

Andy Sprakes, Headteacher of Campsmount Technology College and Conference Chairman, said: “Excitement is growing as the building is rapidly taking shape. The new school will provide a wonderful learning environment for our young people and will further enhance our reputation as a fantastic school.”

The original school building was substantially damaged when an electrical fault led to a major fire in December 2009 and the school had been in temporary accommodation since March last year. In September 2010, the

Government announced that Campsmount would be rebuilt and would go forward as a pilot scheme to test some of the areas being explored as part of the Department of Education’s (DfE) ongoing Capital Review.

Working closely with Partnerships for Schools (PfS), the school rebuilding team has undertaken new procurement procedures that speed up and simplify the process and ultimately save the taxpayer money. This meant that work on site began within six months of the scheme being given the green light – half the previous time allowed of twelve months.

Tony Hancox, Academies Director for Wates Construction, commented: “Against a backdrop of reduced funding, and with student numbers reaching near-critical levels in the UK, there is an urgent need for a more efficient and cost-effective way to deliver school places.

“Wates Construction has recently launched Adapt School Solutions in partnership with Capita Symonds, a school building model shaped by our work with Doncaster Council on Campsmount Technology College. Adapt can reduce the construction process of a new school to approximately 36 weeks rather than the 60 weeks typically expected. Furthermore, this will

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empower local authorities to meet their cost-cutting objectives through efficient procurement.”

The Review of Education Capital conference in London on Thursday 7th July used the Campsmount project to showcase how the Sebastian James’ Education Capital Review proposals are being implemented through this pilot government project. Over 100 delegates from the public and private sectors attended the event to hear about the Campsmount success story.

Wates has submitted proposals to the council for a further two academies in Doncaster under the Future Schools Agreement: The Outwood Academy Adwick (a £16m project) and the De Warenne Academy (a £10m project).

For more information, visit: www.doncaster. gov.uk/schoolrebuilding

Club is bowled over by new pavilion England and Yorkshire seam bowler Tim Bresnan, together with members of the England Women’s team, opened the newly constructed flagship Harrogate Cricket Club Pavilion in August 2011.

The project, which was jointly commissioned by Harrogate Cricket Club and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), was carried out by Main Contractors Houseman & Falshaw. Project architects were Seven Architects.

In developing the scheme, Seven reviewed a number of options, assessing the relationships with access, sightlines and changing facilities in line with Sport England requirements and ECB guidelines. In doing so, layouts and visuals were prepared to support numerous public consultation events to support the planning consultation process, which resulted in Detailed Planning Approval in August 2010.

The new building, which provides spectators with excellent views over cricket pitches on either side, replaces the 112 year old pavilion, which was badly damaged by fire three years ago.

In addition to being used by the club, the pavilion also acts as a Centre of Excellence for Ladies Cricket within Yorkshire, with the ultimate aim of supporting Ladies Test Cricket. The multifunctional spaces and large function area closely relate to the two existing pitches and create an attractive venue for the wider

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Harrogate community.

The pavilion cost £825,000 and well over half the money (£500k) was provided by the ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board) in partnership with Sport England via a grant.

The club’s members raised the rest of the money.

The new two-storey building incorporates four changing rooms for players and two for umpires, with associated showers and toilets, scorers’ rooms, a function room, two bars - one with a catering kitchen, and storage facilities.

The lower and upper external elevations of the building are visually split, with the lower storey in rendered masonry and the upper storey being a structural steel framework featuring timber columns and cladding, full length balconies, floor to ceiling glazing and a single membrane flat roof.

External works included landscaping.

Chairman of Harrogate Cricket Club, Steven Culleton said “The large function room, kitchen and meeting rooms are fantastic facilities for the teams and spectators on match days and are available for community use at other times.”

He expressed his warm gratitude to the ECB and Sport England for their generous support and acknowledged that the club couldn’t have built such a prestigious pavilion from its own resources. He also thanked the club’s members for their role in

raising the residual funds.

Charles Johnson, Sport England’s Director of Property, said that the award was part of the ECB’s strategy to invest in sustainable and high-quality facilities, as this would help to develop up-and-coming cricketing talent and to attract new participants to the game.

The National Funding and Facilities Manager for the ECB, Bruce Cruse, added, “The ECB is pleased to support this development at Harrogate CC which will give a boost to grass roots cricket in the area and to the development of women’s and girls’ cricket in Yorkshire. I am confident as the investment matures cricket locally will go from strength to strength and the facilities will benefit the wider community.”

Houseman and Falshaw have a passion for construction and to deliver the highest quality projects.

The company offers a range of services, including design and build, construction, steel fabrication, civil engineering and plant hire.

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Birmingham City University to be at the forefront of Art and Design as plans for £61m contract are approved In the first phase of Birmingham City University’s £180m plan to build a new campus at Eastside in the city centre, Willmott Dixon will build a 18,310 square metre home for the university’s Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD).

Plans for the five-storey building, which is adjacent to Cardigan Street, were approved by Birmingham City Council in April.

Work on phase one is now scheduled to start in autumn 2011 and will be ready for occupation in September 2013. The project is designed by Associated Architects and will feature a range of facilities, including TV, radio and photographic studios for the university’s media production courses.

The new campus will benefit from being located next to Millenium Point, which is already home to the University’s Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment (TEE) and the Birmingham School of Acting. The new building will be linked by a double height connecting structure.

It is possible that further development will take place on nearby land at Eastside due to an agreement made in June that involved the University and joint venture partners Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands.

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Willmott Dixon midlands managing director Peter Owen said: “Our role with Birmingham City University places us at the heart of creating Birmingham’s bright future. We will make sure the local community benefits from our work, which includes spending around 80% of our budget on companies within 30 miles, using local subcontractors, trades people and suppliers.”

Professor David Tidmarsh, vice chancellor of Birmingham City University, has expressed his delight to be working with Willmott Dixon. He said: “This is another milestone in our ambition to build a city centre campus to create a learning quarter in the heart of Birmingham. This will be a significant investment by the university to provide a major boost for the city and surrounding region because this landmark facility will attract a new generation of ambitious students who are keen to become part of a highly skilled workforce.”

Birmingham City University achieved university status in 1992, changing its name from the University of Central England to Birmingham City University in 2007. Alongside their commitment to educating their students for creative and professional careers, they have a strongly developing research base with a number of Centres of Research Excellence which received formal

recognition in the national Research Assessment Exercise 2008.

One of the major universities in the UK, with around 25,000 students, they work with organisations as diverse as the BBC, CISCO, Microsoft, Advantage West Midlands, Arts Council England, Jaguar Land Rover, Jewsons, the Law Society and the NHS. Research funding has doubled, with HEFCE awarding the University almost £1.8m of quality-related funding, and this year the university was ranked 16th out of 121 universities for the most students in graduate-level jobs (Sunday Times University Guide 2011).

There are currently a range of Art & Design related courses available at both graduate and postgraduate level. These include: Animation, Architecture, Art& Design, Fashion Design, Fine Art, Interior Design, Textile Design and Theatre, Performance and Event Design.

The university’s Art & Design department hit the headlines recently when pop star Lady Gaga was photographed wearing a dress created by fashion design student Becky Short. Gaga posted a photograph of herself wearing the dress to her Twitpics and on her Facebook wall on July 7th 2011. Dave McKean – a cult comic artist and illustrator who worked on the third Harry Potter smash-hit, the Prisoner of Azkaban – generously supported Birmingham City University at a recent awards ceremony, whilst BAFTA award winning Animation Director Jonathan Hodgson shared his experiences of creating animated documentary films with the students.

The new £61m, state-of-the-art facility will mark the start to the university’s plan to provide a creative new environment that meets the modern learning needs of graduates, enabling them to build invaluable links with national and international employers. The investment reflects the University’s aspiration to become one of the UK’s biggest providers of talent to the creative industries, an important driver of the West Midlands economy and beyond.

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Expansion for prestigious car showroom An approximately £1 million project to extend and refurbish a BMW car showroom has just been successfully completed at Papyrus Road, Werrington, Peterborough.

The project was carried out for Sycamore (Peterboro) Ltd by Main Contractors Adonis Construction. Architects were Motor Design Group Ltd. The 169 sq m two-storey extension with solid concrete floors features large areas of glazing externally.

The project commenced in early February 2011 and was completed in August.

Sycamore BMW in Peterborough is among Cambridgeshire and East Anglia's premier prestige car dealerships, conveniently located for Peterborough, Cambridge and Oakham. As an Authorised BMW Dealer, the company offer servicing and repairs as well as an extensive range of new BMWs, nearly new models, or

BMW used cars.

The company pride themselves on having the values, tradition and customer service of a family-owned business.

Serving a large community from their Werrington dealership, the company’s reach extends across Cambridgeshire and into Lincolnshire, Rutland, Norfolk and Leicestershire to name but a few.

Founded by Managing Director, Neville Clements, in 1978 in the West Midlands, Adonis Construction is now one of the region’s most successful privately owned businesses The company directly employs nearly 100 people in the region, with a further 250 to 500 specialists on site at any one time. Current turnover is approximately £40 million per year.

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Adonis Construction is renowned for being very competitive generally, and particularly in their specialist market sectors. This is achieved primarily by engaging specialist sub-contractors from their dedicated supply chain. Furthermore, the company is able to draw upon the many years of market sector experience in-house to deliver innovative solutions and best value.

Contractors in big build-up to massive academy project One of the largest academy projects in the country, The Lincolnshire Priory Federation of Academies comprises the amalgamation of five schools into three new first class academies - where extensive construction works have recently been completed.

The project was carried out for Lincolnshire County Council

by Balfour Beatty Construction, who are carrying out the developments in three design and build sub contracts. The works are being carried out at Priory Witham Academy (£23 million), Priory City of Lincoln (£9.5 million) and the Priory LSST (£9.5 million) - all located in Lincoln.

The Witham Academy will educate children up to the age of 18 and will provide outstanding facilities and specialise in performing arts and business. This will be the first all-age school to be built in the country.

Six buildings make up the Priory City of Lincoln Academy; a main two-storey building and five single-storey teaching pods.

The construction works are being carried out in two phases, with the main building and two pods built in phase one, and the remaining three pods following on after demolition of the existing buildings. The academy, which specialises in engineering and sports, will house 11-18 year old students from the City of Lincoln Community College.

At the Priory LSST, the works comprise building a boarding house for children from military families and pupils travelling from afar. The three-floor boarding house block will include 60 ensuite bedrooms and catering and common room facilities, and will have separate floors for boys' and girls' rooms.

Other works include the construction of a massive sports complex and the construction of a Faraday building which will house a planetarium and stables for 10 horses.

Work on the overall scheme started in September 2009 and was completed in August 2011.

The Priory Federation Trust places great emphasis on the physical environment including design, art, sculptures and gardens. The Trust aims to continue the ‘campus’ concept to

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the new buildings, which comprise of single storey buildings linked by walkways and gardens.

Lincolnshire County Council spokesman Ian Jones said:"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students in the Lincoln area. They will have access to new schools with outstanding modern facilities.”

The building of The Priory Witham Academy has been completed within budget for opening this September. The first phase of The Priory City of Lincoln Academy build has been completed on time and within budget and the second phase is due to be completed on time and in budget by September 2012.

The current work on the Priory Academy LSST sports hall and dining facilities is also just being completed on time and within budget.

Balfour Beatty is a world-class infrastructure services business operating across the infrastructure lifecycle with strong positions in major markets.

The company has four market-leading businesses in professional services, construction services, support services

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and infrastructure investments.

Balfour Beatty deliver services essential to the creation and care of infrastructure assets including investment, project design, financing and management, engineering and construction, and facilities management service. Their services can be brought together in any combination to provide an integrated capability.

The company work for customers principally in the UK, Europe, the US, South-East Asia, Australia and the Middle East, who value the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise.

Balfour Beatty entered the UK building market during the 1970s as a natural development from its traditional worldwide civil engineering skills and delivers its national building and refurbishment services from a number of offices spread throughout the U.K. From this network of offices, the company is as equally committed to traditional, design and build and partnering contracting as they are to the more recent government inspired procurement routes such as the PPP, Prime, Building Schools for the Future, LIFT and Procure 21.

The company also operates Balfour Beatty Refurbishment, a specialist company dedicated to refurbishment works for both public and private sector clients throughout the Greater London area.

Balfour Beatty works in partnership with customers in public, regulated and private sectors. As assets grow in scale and complexity, infrastructure owners increasingly want to work with a trusted partner who can deliver more complete solutions.

From inception to handover: the company design, create and deliver projects that directly improve lives and communities from hospitals to schools, from offices to factories, from new build to refurbishment.

The range and depth of the company’s built portfolio and expertise is becoming an increasingly important element in the company’s achievement of safe, sustainable and innovative construction solutions.

Balfour Beatty Construction has an extensive scholastic portfolio including PFI/PPP and Building Schools for the Future.

Their principal objective is to construct learning environments which inspire pupils and allow teaching staff to focus fully on the delivery of education.

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They do this by promoting educationally driven designs and developing strong, lasting relationships with local education authorities, teachers, pupils and the wider community.

£24m Warwickshire Maintenance Works Contract Warwickshire County Council has begun a £24m measured term contract for minor works and planned maintenance, at the value of £6 million per year over four years. Work is planned to take place in the following categories: courts, civic centres, town halls, libraries, museums, art galleries, state primary schools and state secondary schools.

The 48-month project began in the first half of 2008 and is expected to be complete in the first half of 2012.

Projects that have already taken place include the refurbishment of Lillington library, which comprised the installation of two new state-of-the-art service machines that will give customers the opportunity to borrow, return and renew books themselves. In addition, both Market Hall and the Islington Town Hall Auditorium have been refurbished. At Market Hall, the maintenance scheme included internal refurbishment; the ground floor was opened up, whilst the stairs and landing areas were re-painted. The scheme also included the upgrading of partitions and heating and electrical systems to bring them up to modern standards.

In January 2010, a new two-storey extension at St Benedict’s RC High School was built, which has provided additional reception and staff accommodation, plus a new library and community facility. The design included natural ventilation via Monodraught roof terminals plus under floor heating via gas fired boilers. The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent and has incorporated automatically controlled natural ventilation

systems, plus additional LZC technology such as a biomass boiler that uses wood pellets.

Planned work includes refurbishment to Lapworth CE Primary School on Station Lane, which comprises the complete replacement of windows and also structural repair in the form of structural wall correction works and associated reinstatement works. There will also be provision of FM Relocation and open plan office refurbishment to the second floor, and associated M&E works, including major repairs to roof lights.

At Warwick Park View Home for Elderly People on Priory Road, the replacement of floor and wall coverings and the hydro therapy room and alterations to the shower room will take place, whilst at The Dassett CE Primary School on Memorial Toad, there will be the replacement of the asbestos kitchen canopy and associated stone wall and roofing repairs, along with the complete replacement of units and flooring in the practical area.

At the Southam Library& Information Centre on High Street, the complete replacement of the suspended ceiling and lighting will take place.

There are many other developments planned.

As a ‘tier 1’ council, Warwickshire County Council covers the area of five ‘tier 2’ district councils, including Warwick District Council. The main services provided by the county council include Education, Social Services, Libraries, Transport and Trading Standards. Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council work in partnership on many projects.

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Crich Medical Practice opens door to public The new state-of-the-art Crich Medical Centre, located behind the Glebe Field Centre in Matlock, Derbyshire, was officially opened on Monday 22nd August by Dr Malcolm Ward.

Primary Property Horizons worked in partnership with Southern Derbyshire LIFTCo on the £3m project, which will now provide health care services for 6,000 patients.

Steve Maleham, Managing Director for Primary Property Horizons remarked that work had progressed well throughout the project.

The new two-storey medical centre – built to BREEAM ‘Very Good’ specification – provides a net internal area of 800m², which includes a 100m² pharmacy providing retail space. It houses expanded GP consulting rooms and nurse treatment rooms, which will enable the practice to treat more patients in the future. It also offers accommodation for podiatry and minor surgery, a treatment wing, office accommodation and space for future expansion. It will be the office base for the area’s district nurse and has enabled closer links between GPs and the Glebe Centre, which offers a number of community facilities. The centre includes the core service providers: general practitioners, practice nurses, district nurses, health visitors, midwives, healthcare assistants, all the necessary reception and managerial staff, and provision for medical and healthcare students.

The commitment to the new build for Crich Medical Centre was agreed by Amber Valley PCT six years ago in recognition of the savings that would be made for the PCT when the two practices agreed to amalgamate with consequential closure of the Dimple Head surgery premises.

The new build was not without its challenges, as Steve Maleham explained: “It’s a steep, sloping site so the design had to accommodate the fact that we effectively built into a hill. To accommodate that, we built a ramp up to a car park at the top of the site. Patients now come in at first floor level, which is the clinical space. All the admin space is on the ground floor. It’s upside down in a sense.”

Adequate car parking - including spaces for less mobile persons - was created, and Primary Property Horizons also had to re-provide an allotment. The main materials used were brick and tile.

Design Buro were the architects for the project.

Tim Walker, Managing Director for main contractor Wildgoose Construction Ltd., said: “We are delighted to have completed this state-of-the-art medical centre for Primary Horizons and the residents of Crich.

“We’re pleased to have worked successfully with the cli-

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ent’s team, who have designed a building which is not only fit for purpose but will be enjoyed and admired by users.”

Primary Property Horizons specialise in delivering 21st century facilities and support services for the healthcare sector.

They are a developer, project manager and consultant – designing and building new buildings and refurbishing, extending and modernising existing premises. Primary Property Horizons work in partnership with General Practitioners (GPs), Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), Local Authorities (LAs), Local Improvement Finance Trust Companies (LIFTCos), Pharmacists , Care Home operators and other healthcare professionals to provide local communities across the United Kingdom with individually tailored, modern and accessible health and social care facilities.

For more information on Primary Property Horizons, visit http://www.primarypropertyhorizons.co.uk/

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£3m 100 Vaughan Way project reaches completion A £3m scheme that will provide accommodation for 79 students is almost complete, with a practical completion date of 6th September 2011.

The 52-week project, which began in September 2010, comprised the development of almost eighty student bedrooms within comfortable 2 and 4 bedroom flats. 150m² of retail/leisure space was also developed, creating a cafe bar and a shop on the ground floor of the seven-storey new build.

Main contractor for the project was Winvic Build Ltd., whilst Harborough London Ltd. was the project manager, Regent Park the QS/ EA, Boden Associated Ltd. the architects and Farrow Walsh Consulting Ltd were the civil and structural surveyor on the project.

The build was constructed on a very restricted city centre site, with public access on three sides. The site was previously occupied by an old factory, which had to be demolished before the new build could take place. The project employed a two stage procurement scheme, which ensured that the construction period was not jeopardised and it was completed on time for the students to let the rooms.

The main structure was constructed using hot rolled steelwork with rendering and brickwork to the elevations and concrete piled foundations including cantilevered caps to overcome the adjoining building’s foundations. The development was designed around clusters of 2 and 4 bedrooms to allow conversion to an apartment scheme should the market change at a future date. As the development will house students, several security measures have been put in place, such as detection

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& alarm systems, door entry systems, and both temporary and permanent fencing. There are also several facilities available, such as bike storage and an on-site laundry. Internally, 24 separate gas boilers have reduced the overall running costs, creating flexibility for the client – Knightsone Properties Ltd. – to change the scheme into apartments in future.

Caroline SimpsonWatkinson, the project manager for Harborough London Ltd., noted that the development has several interesting design features, pointing to the innovative front to the development, which is formed from a teal metal solution and protrudes from the building. Multicoloured metal panels were also installed, which has made the building both interesting architecturally and pleasing to the eye.

The development, which was funded by Bank of Cyprus Ltd, should prove to be a popular source of accommodation from neighbouring universities Leicester and De Montfort; indeed it is only a 10-15 minute walk from De Montfort University. It is also situated next to the £300m High Cross shopping complex.

As the project narrowly missed out on the deadline for ProCon Leicestershire Awards 2011, it will be entered next year.

South Northants to provide Decent Homes for all South Northants Homes are almost half way through The Major Works Programme, which is a five-year plan designed to bring all their properties across South Northamptonshire up to the Decent Homes Standard set by the government, whilst also delivering against their Offer Document promises made when they completed their stock transfer from council to housing association.

way through the programme of work and it’s coming along nicely. We have a customer committee and an improvement forum, the members of which are all tenants of our homes. We like to demonstrate to them that we’re doing a good job.”

South Northants Homes (SNH) is a social housing provider that is governed by a Board of Management and managed by a Senior Management Team. The budget for The Major Works Programme is around £3.5m a year, or £12-14m in total. 1100 homes are now complete, with a further 1,200 in the pipeline.

Mears Group are carrying out the internal modernisation of the homes. Damon Ellis from Mears Projects described how the company has worked very closely with the occupants in order to make sure that they are fully satisfied with the developments taking place in their homes. Their work – which has included installing new kitchens and bathrooms, along with upgrading boilers – is the result of both a strong working partnership with South Northants Homes and consultation with the tenants.

Initially, surveys are carried out within the homes to determine the work needed. Mears Projects then provide each tenant with a detailed explanation of the works that will be carried out in their home. This is then followed by a 7-day cooling off period, in which the tenant can change their mind with regards to any of the design aspects. The tenants are kept informed throughout the refurbishment as a Customer Care officer is on site daily, as are site management.

The most recent satisfaction survey indicates that 98% of tenants are satisfied with the programme – a score of ‘Excellent.’

The majority of tenants have been able to remain in their homes whilst works have taken place.

In addition, an Environmental Improvements Programme has been put in place. This has improved parking for tenants – a key issue raised in a survey 18 months previously – in the form of driveways and parking schemes. There is also an external works contract, which has involved the replacement of footpaths and fencing.

The scheme started in October 2008 and is expected to be complete in October 2013.

Mark Griffiths from South Northants Homes said: “We’re half ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Contract caters for special needs A £3.7 million contract to construct a 12 bedroom residential school designed to meet the latest requirements for children with special needs, together with associated works, is progressing towards completion at Chinley Peak School in High Peak, Derbyshire, for Derbyshire County Council.

The project is being carried out because the existing residential accommodation, although structurally sound, has an institutional appearance and does not meet the latest residential requirements determined by OFSTED. The project is being carried out by Main Contractors Mansell Construction.

The single storey 1,279 sq m residential building will have 12 bedrooms for long term residential use and short break care, communal and education rooms, staffing areas and ancillary facilities.

The gable ends of the building are constructed from natural sandstone, with the flanks in brickwork with a rendered finish, interspersed

with glazed panels. The rendered sections of the building are finished in a variety of colours including white, cream, blue and green, with the roof in natural slate incorporating roof glazing.

The new building incorporates a number of renewable technologies including solar glazing, solar water heating and rainwater harvesting.

This phased contract also comprises refurbishment of an existing accommodation building which will be used as a training facility, and the reconfiguration of a local garden centre and allotments to make way for a new access road to the new school facilities. The road is being created off the site’s existing access road system. In addition, existing on-site car parking is being reconfigured and new car parking areas are being created to the north and west of the residential building to provide an additional 49

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car parking spaces.

The scheme also includes extensive landscaping, including the creation of a new playing field and the relocation of an existing pond, with flora and fauna transplanted to the new location. Trees and hedges will be protected throughout the project and a number of bird and barn owl boxes will be provided to ensure the existing wildlife remains undisturbed.

Completion is expected in November 2011.

Flagship £200 million lab will be at the cutting edge of medical research A major new flagship home for the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is under construction in a £115 million project on a site next to Addenbrooke’s Hospital on the newly established Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge.

The £200 million building, which replaces an older facility, is being constructed for the medical research council. Architects are RMJM Architects, and Main Contractors are BAM Construction.

Also playing a major role in the project are KJ Tait Engineers, who formed a joint design venture with the American firm of specialist lab designers, RMF Engineering, to undertake this commission.

Discoveries and inventions developed at the LMB, such as DNA sequencing and methods to determine the structure of proteins, have revolutionised all areas of biology.

The new site will enable world class researchers at the LMB and at the University's Clinical School and Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to establish new links to work together in translating basic fundamental research.

The role of the LMB is to understand biological processes at the molecular level through the application of a wide range of methods based on physics, chemistry and genetics. This involves the study of the structure of proteins, nucleic acids and membranes and how they interact to form macromolecular assemblies, organelles and viruses. The aim is to understand the mechanisms and control gene expression, the three-dimensional organisation of cells, and how basic biological processes are integrated in whole organisms.

Initial site works included the enlargement of an existing roundabout and the construction of a new length of carriageway with

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footways; all to facilitate the erection of the principal laboratory building and an attendant Energy Centre.

The footprint of the main building is approximately 165m long and 67m wide. The three floors of main work-space, with associated interstitial floors, rise to a height of 19m. The height further increases to accommodate the central atrium and rooftop restaurant at 23m. Rising above the main bulk of the building, the plant towers and associated flues reach a maximum height of 35.5m.

Externally, the work-space and interstitial floors feature a layer of single glazing, behind which is another layer of double glazing for the work space and metal panel cladding to the interstitial floors. The layered nature of the glazing creates a void that acts as a thermal flue, providing insulation in the winter and the casting of shadow through a series of louvres and an escape for hot air in the summer. The plant towers are to be finished in a metal shingle.

The energy centre is 95m long on its northern side and at its widest 27m. It rises to a height of 13m and is finished with a mixture of pre-cast concrete panels and metal grilles.

At ground floor level the main entrance is located to the east (front) of the building. The first floor includes the addition of a lecture theatre at front of the building. The second floor mimics the basic layout of the floors below.

The workspace on each of the floors is arranged in parallel blocks that twist at opposing ends to create an ‘x’ chromosome shaped footprint on an east-west axis. The workspaces are separated by a central atrium that is bridged internally and acts as communal circulation space. A restaurant and coffee shop in the southwestern corner of the building comprises the third

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floor. This includes a terrace that runs along the southern and western edges of the roof.

Over each occupied floor is an interstitial floor. An interstitial floor is a floor level that specifically provides servicing and ventilation for the work-spaces below. This facilitates the majority of maintenance outside scientific areas and increases the building’s adaptability.

These floors in turn feed to a series of four external plant towers that supply and extract air. The advantage of this arrangement is that it avoids the stacking of plant on the roof and minimises vibration on the research space. An additional four plant towers are located centrally at the top of the building which provide secondary and specialist air handling.

To the north of the building, separated by a servicing yard, is an energy centre, accommodating heavy plant that will generate and distribute energy for the building. The physical separation of the energy centre from the main building simplifies maintenance, avoids disruption and helps minimise vibration.

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus provides exciting opportunities for expansion in new clinical services and research activities. Collectively this will put Cambridge at the forefront of

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initiatives to integrate prevention and treatment of disease with the development of new therapies and diagnostic techniques of the future.

S o u th We s t

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Life-saving crew stands by for launch of new station Construction of the new RNLI lifeboat station at The Lizard in Kilcobben Cove, Cornwall is progressing well and nearing completion, on budget, in a project providing a superb new state of the art facility to house the new Tamar class all-weather lifeboat that will be stationed there.

The Lizard Lifeboat Station is in one of the most remote and rugged settings in the whole of Great Britain: it sits at the foot of a 140ft (45 metre) cliff less than a mile from England’s most southerly point.

The previous lifeboat station was built in 1961 at a cost of £90,000 and was demolished to make way for the new facility. This new station is being constructed on a concrete base founded on the rock head, in the biggest build project carried out by the RNLI this year.

The largest space within the new two storey lifeboat station will incorporate a range of facilities including a two storey height boat room to house the lifeboat which will be constantly maintained with the engines and electronic systems ready to launch.

The boat room will also incorporate a fuel tank, a winch and a tipping cradle, as well an access platform for the boat crews and a viewing gallery for visiting members of the public.

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timber, with skimmed plasterboard internally, timber framed windows and a curved insulated roof covered in sheet copper.

Challenges overcome during the project include the fact that the cliff face to the south of the station was too close to the new extended concrete base of the lifeboat station and had to be knocked away to make room for the new building. The resulting plinth is almost double the width of the old base.

It was also noticed that the cliff face on both sides of the station was unstable, as a small landslide had occurred. A team of contractors had to be employed to secure wire netting all round, from top to bottom, to ensure no loose rock could be dislodged and cause any damage to the station.

Currently the second fix joinery, mechanical and electrical works are underway, together with painting and decorating. A recent trial run of the newly installed equipment proved highly successful.

“The RNLI trains all of its volunteers and staff in-house and the new station will allow this with a lot more ease than previously.

We will also have ideal conditions for storing all our kit” said Mr Adam Littlejohn of the RNLI.

Other facilities include a lifeboat operations manager’s office, a crew room and changing area, a mechanics workshop, toilets, training rooms, a store room and a generator room.

Phillip Burgess, RNLI Coxswain at The Lizard, says he and his volunteer crew are delighted: “The project shows the RNLI’s commitment to providing safety cover around The Lizard for many years to come.

The building is a timber framed glulam-type insulated structure, curved in form, with external walls in Trespa cladding-covered

“Over 149 years lifeboats have launched on 581 emergency call outs from various stations around The Lizard, and saved

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1,140 lives. We cover England’s most southerly point and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. More than 400 ships a day move up and down the channel and past Lizard Point and it’s important that we maintain key lifeboat stations along this stretch of coastline.”

Completion is expected in October 2011, followed by a one month fit out being undertaken by the RNLI. Lizard Point has been a navigation marker for seafarers since prehistoric times and is mentioned as early as 250 BC. Countless ships and lives have been lost in its treacherous waters; but in the last 150 years, many have also been saved by successive Lizard lifeboats.

There have been RNLI lifeboats at The Lizard since 1859. From 1867 until 1963 there was also a lifeboat at Cadgwith, a couple of miles east along the coast.

The first lifeboat station was at the most southerly point, Polpeor, and in 1885 another station was built at nearby Church Cove, a mile or so to the east. That station closed in 1899 but the Polpeor station continued right through until 1961. Meanwhile a Cadgwith station was opened in 1867 and remained in action until 1963.

UK ‘first’ for solar power is a resounding success Currently exceeding expectations in its performance, the country’s first owner occupied solar farm has recently been completed in an extremely fast track and highly successful project at Manor Farm, Somerset.

The solar farm will generate around 739 MWh of renewable electricity every year, enough for over 220 homes.

This was the first project for the Developer and Manor Farm landowner, who set up his own company, Solar Power Generation Ltd, with a view to building solar parks. He has plans for two further developments, with the Manor Farm scheme being the smallest of the three.

When the current boathouse at Kilcobben opened in 1961, the station became known as The Lizard Cadgwith Lifeboat Station.

The name was officially changed in 1987 to its present The Lizard Lifeboat Station.

The medium-sized farm is made up of 3,320 x LDK 230 W solar panels on 166 tables, each containing 26 panels, with the tables tilting the panels to face the sun. The farm is split into two halves - an eastern array and a western array, divided by a central avenue.

Initially the site contained a crop of oilseed rape ready for harvesting. Once this was done and the site cleared, than a large amount of cross site cabling was buried, feeding into a central plant room which was also constructed.

The plant room contains two rooms - one for all the control equipment needed (such as control panels, meters and CCTV equipment) required to run the solar farm, and the other containing two KACO New Energy XP350-TL central inverters, which convert the DC electricity generated by the panels into AC electricity used by the grid. The site also has its own dedicated transformer, located just outside the central building in a fenced off compound on the same plinth. The inverters output at 290 volts, which is taken up to 11,000 volts by the transformer.

Works were underway on site by June 2011 and the whole system was completed and generating by mid July 2011.

Cvil Contractors for the scheme were local firm GA Doble; Main Electrical Contractors were Ecofirst, and Screwfast Foundations were responsible for the erection of the farms solar panel tables.

Ecofirst provided a complete design and build package for the electrical works, starting with the production of a fully engineered system design, right through from the panels to the 11,000 volt grid connection.

“The project went amazingly well - considering the very short time which we had to plan and execute it. In addition the solar farm is currently performing even better than we predicted” said Mr Aidan Morris of Ecofirst.

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Trefullock Moor is the new beacon for UK solar energy At Trefullock Moor in Cornwall, one of the UK’s first large-scale solar farms has recently been completed by German solar energy specialists hep capital.

Now 21,272 solar panels stand on the 19 hectare site near Summercourt. This vast energy plant have a capacity of 5MW and is expected to generate 5 million KWh per year, which is enough to power around 3,000 homes. The site, around 10K South East of Newquay, has similar radiation levels to Southern Germany.

Work was begun in May 2011 and was carried out by main contractors Bosch Solar Energy AG.Bosch are now also managing the plant for SmartestEnergy, which is the UK’s leading purchaser of independently generated electricity and a provider of Power Purchase Agreements. The photo-voltaic panels are Bosch’s c-Si M 60 monocrystalline model and the plant is fitted with Bosch alarm systems.

When work began in May the Director of hep capital, Thorsten Eitle, stated that the company were very happy to have secured such an illustrious partner to deliver the project.

Peter Schneidewind, Sales Director at Bosch Solar Energy AG, expressed Bosch’s pleasure at being chosen for the Trefullock development: “We are delighted that we have had this opportunity to demonstrate what we can do,” he said, “particularly in the UK solar market which is still relatively young. Photovoltaics are becoming increasingly important here. We’ll be seeing more and more solar systems in the future, particularly on the roofs of UK houses.”

The plant is already producing energy, having been connected

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on the final Friday of July, in time to qualify for the Government’s reduced Feed-in Tariff, which was introduced for all large-scale solar plants commissioned and approved prior to August 2011.

Christian Hamann, Director of the Board at hep capital, told Premier Construction that the installation of the photo-voltaic panels had generally been a straightforward process. “We

have a lot of experience in this,” he said, “so from a technical perspective it was not that hard.” hep capital have built many large-scale solar farms in mainland Europe and were able to bring their expertise to England to get the job done quickly and to a high standard.

It was also a reasonable simple site to build on, as Mr Hamann explained: “The ground was almost ready for us to begin installation,” he told us, “although one part of the site is a flood-risk, so we did have to build a trenage.” This will provide drainage to

protect the site against the threat of flooding.

Mr Hamann explained that actually the most challenging part of the process had been liasing with the British authorities to gain planning permission in time to secure the reduced Feed in Tariff.

Murrell Ashworth, South West specialists in corporate and renewable energy law, consulted with hep capital in the planning stages of the project.

Weymouth Transport Package: Games 2012.

The Weymouth Transport Package for the 2012 Games is a series of long-term public transport improvements that will provide a transport legacy for Weymouth and Portland after the Games.

County council engineers have put together the transport package to improve public transport and to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and reduce congestion.

The package aims to: ease the impact of congestion, particularly for buses, along King Street and Boot Hill; improve the quality of public transport by using newer buses and improving bus stops; modernise the bus network by introducing real time passenger information (RTPI) on buses and at bus stops; make it easier for people to use the bus and train by developing an interchange at the railway station and improve air quality and pedestrian safety.

The Dorset County Council scheme was given funding approval by the Department for Transport in March 2010, and work started on the town centre junction improvements on 7th June 2010. Construction of the scheme has finished with the last junction being switched on during Tuesday 26th July 2011.

Monitoring of the scheme will continue to ensure the system is working as efficiently as possible.

As part of the scheme, improvements took place at King St. and Boot Hill junctions, with the aim being to improve the flow of traffic through Weymouth by making junctions more efficient.

The improvements included active traffic management at key junctions including the introduction of traffic signals, to reduce congestion; and introducing cameras and detection equipment to provide information on traffic flows to a central control room, which can alter traffic signals to help break up traffic queues and give buses priority where possible; and modernising the bus fleet.

Regional government has endorsed £14m for the package, whilst the county council will add a further £1.5m Work on the Weymouth Showcase element of the scheme is continuing. Funding for this part of the transport package was brought forward so that the county council could buy the equipment needed, install it and test it before 2012. The bus stops on the Portland-Weymouth-Dorchester corridor will be improved, with Dorset Works Organisation starting at stops on Portland and working north towards Dorchester. There will be 50 refurbished bus stops, 30 additional shelters and around 130 stops will be equipped with real time passenger. There will also be a bus/rail interchange at Weymouth railway station, which includes improving signals at King Street junction with Queen

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S o u th We s t Street, and providing a setting down point for buses. Electronic signs will be installed around the borough guiding motorists to available car parking space; these will be complemented with real time ‘flag’ signs at the relevant car parks: Swannery, Park Street, Melcombe Regis, Harbourside, the multi-storey and Cosens Quay.

Hanson Contracting is the main contractor for the project, whilst the contract for supplying the real time passenger information system has been awarded to ACIS.

Project delivers new hotel for delighted client A brand new 33-bedroom hotel linked to the County Arms Public House in Highertown Truro, Cornwall, has just been completed for delighted clients St Austell Brewery Ltd. The project was carried out by Main Contractors Midas Construction. Lead Consultants and Project Managers were 5 Consulting and Architects were Barrie Simon & Associates.

The new two storey building which has a basement to one end, was constructed on a sloping site which was previously a car

park (the car park was re-located to a site which was formerly occupied by a petrol filling station).

External elevations of the new building are in through-coloured render incorporating Trebarwith local stone features and the pitched roof is covered with slate tiles. The building incorporates a number of eco-friendly features including rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic panels, solar thermal pre-heating for water and Nordan thermally broken triple glazed windows with a U value of 0.7. The rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic panel systems were supplied by Micro Generation.

All of the bedrooms are double or twin ensuites, with some being interlinked.

The project also provided a valuable learning curve for Matt Murphy, a 15 year-old Year 10 student at the Richard Lander School in Truro, who spent a week with Midas where he was introduced to management and learned how the business works at the company's offices, before undertaking a number of site visits - including one to the County Arms Hotel site.

"At the County Arms I had a full sub-contractors induction and Paul Gendall, the Senior Site Manager, showed me over the whole site and explained the different stages of the project.

"I have been interested in the construction industry for some time and the combination of talking to the Midas management and the site visits has made me think that I should be looking for a course in business and construction studies when I'm ready to go on to college or university" he said.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t

London Mayor’s ‘cycling revolution’ powers ahead Strongly backed by the Mayor of London and following on from the success of two earlier pilot routes, a further Barclays Cycle Superhighway (Route eight from Wandsworth to Westminster), has just been completed in a project carried out by Carillon.

Route eight is approximately 7 km long and runs via Old York Road, Wandsworth Bridge roundabout, York Road, Battersea Park Road, Queenstown Road, Chelsea Bridge, Grosvenor Road and Millbank.

Constructed for Transport for London (TfL), Barclays Cycle Superhighways are cycle routes running from outer London into central London and providing cyclists with safer, faster and more direct journeys into the city. These Superhighways are geared to improving cycling conditions for people who already commute by bike, and to encourage new cyclists. This will help cut congestion, relieve overcrowding on public transport and reduce emissions.

The Cycle Superhighways project is one of TfL and the Mayor's main ways of bringing about a London cycling revolution, aimed at increasing cycling in London by 400 per cent by 2025 (compared to 2000 levels).

These clearly marked blue routes will greatly improve conditions for people who already commute by bike and encourage those who don't to take to two wheels. The 12 new routes will help ease London's congestion, relieve overcrowding on public transport and reduce polluting emissions.

The works involved in creating Route eight involved making various changes to the road network along the route to make journeys easier for cyclists. These included major civil engineering including the substantial reconfiguration of junctions, the alteration of signage, the reconfiguration of underground services such as gas, electricity and water, the re-distribution of carriageway space to accommodate the cycle lane and the laying of the distinctive new blue cycle lane surface off the main carriageway. The blue surfacing is in three types - a high friction surface used at junction approaches; standard surfacing used along the general route, and Street Paint surfacing typically used for off-road cycle tracks.

Lanes are at least 1.5m wide and continue through junctions.

Advanced stop lines at traffic lights help cyclists get ahead of traffic, and changed junction layouts give them more space Numerous considerations have been taken into account during the construction of the project. The phasing of works was planned with the aim of minimising disruption to local residents and road users during the works.

TfL and the contractor worked closely with the local boroughs to agree working hours for noisy works, and local stakeholders were notified in advance of works planned in their area.

Works were scheduled to avoid clashing with events and special occasions such as The Royal Wedding and Chelsea Flow Show. All traffic management plans were consulted with stakeholders including buses and the police.

“The pilot routes are doing well and we have seen a significant increase in the volume of people now cycling as a result of these and we are hoping for the same result from the new routes” said Mr Robert Semple of TfL. In total there are 12 Cycle Superhighways for the capital. The first two were launched in 2010, and a further two (route eight

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and route two from Bow to Aldgate which has been constructed

by Skanska), were completed recently.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London says: “The Barclays Cycle Superhighways are a key part of my aim to make London a cycling friendly city, offering fast, direct and safer routes into central London.

“Not only is cycling a great way of keeping fit, but it can save you money too and with these blue cycle routes it’s easier than ever to cycle to work or to simply enjoy the sights of the city.

“I’m looking forward to seeing many more cyclists benefiting from this scheme.”

Eight further Barclays Cycle Superhighways will be introduced by 2015. The remaining proposed routes will be delivered as part of a rolling programme and will link residential areas across the capital to inner London. TfL will work closely with the boroughs and other interested groups where the routes will run to help define and develop detailed plans for the scheme.

Contractor commended for flats refurbishment A major external refurbishment project, costing approximately £1million and now nearing completion, has involved upgrading approximately 70 flats across two six storey blocks at Sandstone Road, Lee, London SE12, in a scheme being carried out for the London and Quadrant Housing Association.

The works to the two 1960s built ‘T’ shaped blocks, occupied by both tenants and leaseholders, are being carried out by Main Contractors Breyer Group. Contract Administrators and CDM Co-ordinators are Faithorn Farrell Timms,and scaffolding services are provided by Formark Scaffolding.

progress via regular newsletters from the contractor.

The project is due for completion in August 2011.

London and Quadrant is one of 2,000 housing associations that work in the UK. Their main purpose is to provide high quality, affordable homes.

London and Quadrant residents are varied. Most families are on low incomes and usually come to the association from the local council lists of those who need housing.

London and Quadrant recently acquired the blocks as part of a housing stock transfer. “The blocks had become fairly run down and significant concrete repairs were needed, which is a major part of the project. So it was decided to carry out further works to improve the properties at the same time” said Hannah Perry of Faithorn Farrell Timms. “The client has been pleased with Breyer’s performance. They have done a good job,” she added.

In addition to the concrete repairs, other works include the replacement of balcony railings (previously in broken, Georgian wired glass), with frosted glazing panels; the addition of a nonslip coating to asphalt balcony walkways and internal stairways; replacing damaged gas meter cupboard doors and renewing fascias, soffits and guttering.

Further works include the installation of a door entry system to improve security. Prior to the project, it was possible for anyone to access the core stairways and communal balconies, so security improvements were essential.

New bin stores have been constructed at the front of the blocks (the old bin stores were previously located to the rear and were no longer accessible for refuse collection). Landscaping, including the installation of picket fencing and new planting is also being carried out to the ground floor apartments in each block and the main entrances to the blocks have been enhanced with white render surfaces and stainless steel lettering. In addition, a coloured uplighter is being installed at the front of each block, to illuminate the premises at night.

Another element of the scheme is the closing off of resident loft hatch access to communal loft spaces in order to improve security. New vertical ladder accessed openings to allow landlord access to the lofts for maintenance purposes have been formed at either end of each of the buildings.

The works have been carried out in close consultation with the residents, who have been kept updated on the scheme’s

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t The association manage over 66,000 homes and although most are in Greater London, they also work in the South East of England.

Breyer Group is a forward thinking construction contractor which is continuing to establish itself as an industry leader.

Recent diversification into emerging markets has included the incorporation of responsive repairs, renewable energy, retrofit technology and client focused ICT Integration within the company’s projects.

Breyer Group offer a full range of design, refurbishment and construction services, which actively improve the fabric of the local communities in which they live and work.

Primary school projects provide more child places A total of nine primary schools in Kingston upon Thames are undergoing expansion in building projects being carried out as part of the borough’s strategy to increase school places.

The schemes are being carried out for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council.

The nine current primary school projects are being carried out by two main contractors. Kier are carrying out the projects at Burlington Infant and Junior Schools, Latchmere Primary School and Fern Hill Primary School; whilst Wilmott Dixon are undertaking projects at Alexandra Infant School, Grand Avenue Primary, St Pauls C of E Junior School, Ellingham Primary School St

Mathews C of E Primary School, and Surbiton Primary School.

All of the projects are challenging in that they are being carried out on very tight, equivalent of inner city sites - yet all the schemes are progressing well and on budget.

Adding a further form of entry at Burlington Infant and Junior Schools is a project combining refurbishment and new build, involving the addition of new classrooms, a joint sports hall and kitchen/dining facilities, as well as a new library and offices for the Infant School.

Six classrooms and a new hall within a new wing are being added at Latchmere Primary School, in a scheme which also involves refurbishment of the original school.

Fernhill Primary School will benefit from a new build sports hall and classrooms, as well as the conversion of a former sports hall into a two storey classroom block.

Being totally refurbished, reconfigured and extended to accommodate an additional form of entry, is Alexandra Infant School. The extensions are being carried out to individual rooms and the majority of the school is being refurbished.

The construction of an extension containing three new classrooms, together with the refurbishment of an original 1950s built block is upgrading facilities at Grand Avenue Primary School.

A particularly complex project is providing an additional form of entry at the 1960s-built St Pauls C of E Junior School, in a project which presents design and construction challenges in that the school’s award-winning design incorporates octagonal shaped classrooms and the new construction must follow the same shape. The scheme involves the addition of new classrooms and complete internal refurbishment.

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Ellingham Primary school is being completely rebuilt on a larger scale to accommodate an additional form of entry. This is a particularly complicated phased build as the site is very constrained.

At St Mathews C of E Primary School, the need to add a half form of entry has resulted in a project involving the demolition and replacement of a previously poorly built 1950s/60s constructed extension which accommodated around half of the school.

A ground-breaking project at the former Surbiton Hospital site involves collaboration with the NHS, who are constructing a new medical centre, and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames who are constructing a new two form entry primary school on the site.

KPS

Contractors Ltd

KPS Contractors Ltd worked with Willmott Dixon on the various sites covered by this project providing our professional arboriculture services – including tree felling, tree pruning, stump grinding and the clearance of any site green waste – which we were able to remove and recycle at our KPS Composting sites.

Working closely with the site managers we were able to deliver the required results within the tight timing schedules that they had to adhere to. KPS Contractors have an extensive team of highly qualified and experienced tree surgeons and equipment which enable projects such as these to be managed and executed with little disruption to the overall project.

RIBA accolade for challenging project One of London’s Grade II listed buildings, lovingly brought back to life with a modern, chic new look as a new 98-room luxury hotel, has achieved one of the country’s most prestigious architectural awards. The Royal Institute of British Architects announced the Town Hall Hotel as one of the winners of the 2011 RIBA Awards.

Architects Rare, a partnership between Michel da Costa Gonçalves and Nathalie Rozencwajg, were tasked with designing the luxury hotel, while also being sensitive to the existing building.

Their brief was also to restore the building and add to its volume with an extension. Rare saw the project as an opportunity to reinvent and restore a forgotten architectural treasure of the East End.

The design and build project was undertaken by MP Brothers Ltd, who brought the architectural designs from the drawing board to reality in this complex and challenging scheme.

Nathalie Rozencwajg said: “Opportunities like this arrive very seldom: a beautiful, stately building; a visionary owner. A project like this is more than simply work, it has taken over our imaginations and it will take pride of place on our books for years to come.”

Michel da Costa Gonçalves added: “We have been involved at every stage of the process, from planning out the generous space for each apartment to reflecting the traditional craftsmanship of the first builders in cutting-edge techniques for wood and metal-work.

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“The building plays with the division and connection between old and new and is a reinvention as well as a restoration – one which we hope will become a treasured landmark for East London.”

Despite the building being on the at-risk register, Rare’s considered approach to the project, a guiding concept of the development and use of traditional techniques and motifs within contemporary cutting edge design and manufacturing technologies, won the approval of English Heritage and planning permission was granted by Tower Hamlets.

The extension to the building, a new wing that stands behind the original 1910 structure and an additional floor that sits atop the flat roof of the 1937 extension, provides a further 1500 square metres of accommodation.

Wrapped entirely by a laser cut powder coated aluminium skin, no windows or doors are externally visible, allowing it to create a striking abstract backdrop to the original structure, while simultaneously making a definite statement as new architecture.

The pattern cut into the skin was taken from a pattern book Rare developed for the project. The effect of the pattern cut into the skin is performative, allowing natural light into the rooms behind it, while also preserving the privacy of those both inside and out.

The dimensions of each of the 98 rooms are different, something dictated by the nature of the building and its listed status, therefore allowing it to provide 98 unique layouts.

The reinvention and restoration of the existing building was driven by Rare’s intensive research of the town hall’s archive of original design elements and realised by numerous highly skilled craftspeople; bringing the building back to its former glorious grandeur, breathing new life into marble floors, ornate

moulded ceilings, Edwardian and Art Deco detailing.

Unrivalled craftsmanship in the fine art of ornate plasterwork Ornate plasterwork specialist craftsmen Plasterite carried out two phases of work at the Town Hotel, comprising restoration and new design plasterwork.

The majority of the restoration work was undertaken in the building’s large listed ballroom on the first floor, which in the past had been partially converted to another use, resulting in the fact that half of the ballroom’s original intricate and ornate plasterwork ceiling was missing and needed to be restored.

The works involved re-making the missing half of the ceiling to match the existing half. “This was a very, very ornate barrel ceiling, with every square metre covered in ornate plasterwork” said Mr Allen Paterson of Plasterite.

Other work included single repairs where sections of plasterwork, including ornate cornices, had fallen away and needed to be re-cast from the original and replaced seamlessly.

Sevenoaks-based Plasterite is headed by Mr Paterson, who has been a master of his trade having started work as a plasterer in the City of London in 1959, before establishing Plasterite in 1972. More recently, his three sons have joined the business.

“We tend to get contracts through people such as conservation officers who know that we have been in business for a long time and have the experience and expertise to do a good job” said Mr Paterson.

Prestigious plasterwork projects carried out by the firm include schemes at Leeds Castle, Merryworth Castle, Hever Castle and Penthurst Place.

“Good news all round”: major improvements for Southend-On-Sea Spring 2011 saw the completion of four projects which formed the Better Southend Scheme, designed to give a boost to the town as it heads out of the recession.

The £25 million Scheme was largely funded by a central government grant, which was provided with the condition that all

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works should be completed by March 2011.

Paul Mathieson spoke to Premier Construction on behalf of the Southend-On-Sea Council: “The Better Southend scheme comprised four projects which were all linked by the aim of regeneration and better access to the town.”

The projects included two major infrastructure improvements at road junctions. These were carried out at the A127 Arterial Road/Progress Road junction and at the A127/A1159 Cuckoo Corner roundabout. The works tackled the problem of delays into the town centre, improving access into and through the town, while also improving cycle provision and pedestrian facilities.

Progress Road is the first traffic-signal junction on the A127 approach to Southend. It is the main access road into the town from London and links directly with the Progress Business Park.

On both sides of the approach an additional lane was added that widened the highway to three lanes, and an extra right-turn lane was also constructed to accommodate access to a smaller side-road.

Mr Mathieson explained that although there was space for the road to be widened easily, it was a more complicated process because the A127 had to remain open at all times during the day and carries anywhere between fifty and sixty thousand vehicles daily.

The improvements at Progress Road have been recognised in the Local Government New Street Design Awards, winning the Highways category. “What the judges liked,” explained Mr Mathieson, “was that the value of the highway works are only around £5 million, but the value in terms of journey-time saving is in the order of fifteen to twenty minutes for people travelling into Southend. It was judged to be outstanding for providing high benefit for a relatively low cost.”

The Cuckoo Corner project involved adding traffic signals into the junction alongside the original roundabout, working within land constraints to add some local widening to reduce congestion and add new pedestrian crossings.

Innovation is a major theme of the Better Southend scheme, which aims to bring new ideas, materials and technologies into the town improvements. Paul Mathieson described some of these innovations:

“All the traffic signals now use low-voltage LEDs which means that they run on about as much power as an electric kettle, while the signals at Cuckoo Corner use technology which automatically runs signals to balance the flow of traffic and control the pedestrian crossings, so it’s quite innovative in terms of the way that the traffic signals are combined with retaining the roundabout.”

The two junction improvements have been carried out by main contractor Birse.

In the town centre, major changes were made to the existing roundabout junction at Victoria Gateway, with the intention of improving the traffic flow and the appearance of the town for visitors. The fifty year old roundabout in front of the station was replaced with traffic signals, and extensive hard and soft landscaping works were carried out to improve the appearance of the area. New trees and paved areas create a new public space where the roundabout used to stand. Better access to the railways station, integration with buses and direct access to the High Street are key features of the scheme, which also includes shared space concepts.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t On the seafront at City Beach, further major landscaping works were undertaken to improve the tourist hotspot. This saw the installation of state-of-the-art digital lighting columns. These provide a centrepiece to the attractive area, and bring the seafront alive at night. The scheme replaced the old dual carriageway with a single road and widened promenade and footways and an exciting area of water fountains.

Heading into the heat of Summer, Mr Mathieson said it was hoped that the town would start to see the benefits brought in by the investments. It was also recently announced that Easyjet would start flying from London Southend airport, and that a £10 million hotel would be built at the airport in time for the 2012 Olympics. These will be further, welcome steps to bring a business boost to the town.

With the improved access and appearance of the town, Southend is set to become a revitalised tourist destination.

Award-winning housing scheme makes good progress

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An award-winning new build, mixed-use development at Nightingale Grove in Hither Green, Lewisham, is making good progress in a project which will provide 62 apartments and six commercial units for developers, housing association L&Q (London and Quadrant).

all of the self-drive plant.

The scheme is being completed by Main Contractors Quadrant Construction – L&Q’s in house construction company. The project won architects Emoli Petroschka a CABE Design Award in 2008. Brendan Flynn Construction Ltd has provided the full carpentry package to the project and Fork Rent have provided

The four storey development is split into three buildings, with a long block to the rear and two further blocks at the front.

The scheme will include will 38 one bedroom apartments, 20 two bedroom, and four three bedroom apartments. Of these, 14 will be for affordable rent, six for shared ownership and the

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“This project in Lewisham is an example of L&Q’s on-going commitment to building high quality affordable new homes in London. We are delighted by how well this project is going” said Mr Jashim Ali, Project Manager at L&Q.

remaining 42 available under London & Quadrant’s ‘Up to You’ scheme. This scheme allows occupiers the opportunity to live in an apartment for a trial period at a reduced rent (the rent savings can then be put towards a deposit if the occupiers decide to purchase the apartment at the end of the trial period).

All of the properties are being constructed to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards and all will have a 12 year NHBC Warranty.

The building is of concrete frame structure with external elevations mostly in brick, incorporating cladding elements and other features. Windows are aluminium framed and the building has a flat roof.

External works include the creation of a 12 space car park, as well as landscaping.

The scheme is now two thirds complete, with overall completion scheduled for February 2012. Currently all the external elements of the building, including the windows and the roofing, have been completed and work is progressing on the installation of internal partitioning and the mechanical and electrical first fix.

One of the UK's largest housing associations, L&Q works with more than 90 local authorities in London and the South East and manages over 67,000 homes.

The association opened in 1963 and its first office was in St Mary Magdalane Church in Woolwich. Its head office is now based at Osborn House, Osborn Terrace, London. L&Q works with 70 specialist agencies in the supported housing sector and employs more than 1,000 staff in 20 locations. The association was ranked at number 39 in The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For. ‘Creating places where people want to live’ is more than a corporate vision for L&Q. It is a passion that drives the association to work together with a common focus, satisfying the need from so many people for a place to call home.

Environment Agency tackles weir safety issues The Environment Agency is spending almost £10 million on a series of upgrades on the rivers Thames and Kennet. The project involves works to four weirs on the Thames and one on the Kennet. The aim of the project is to replace these five ‘paddle and rymer’ weirs with modern structures, in order to remove the inherent long term health and operational risks associated with their manual operation.

The five weirs that are the subject of this phase of works are: • Radcot Weir (River Thames, Oxfordshire) • Northmoor Weir (River Thames, Oxfordshire) • Mapledurham Weir (River Thames, Oxfordshire) • Blakes Weir (River Kennet, Reading) • Molesey Weir (River Thames, Surrey) The Environment Agency’s project manager, Paul Fraser, spoke to Premier Construction, explaining the need to replace the weirs. He said, “These weirs, when operated manually, pose a risk to the operator. We calculated that the lifting involved subjected the operator to around three times the recommended forces and could lead to both short and long-term injuries. This can be avoided by replacing the paddle and rymer weirs with electrically operated modern gates meaning we are better able to respond to changes in river conditions and with a finer level of control”.

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JT Mackley have completed the replacement of the weir at the Molesey site, and are also contracted to work on the Northmoor Weir, on which works are due to start soon, having been delayed by opposition from the local community.

Tom Caldecourt was Site Agent for the Molesey project with JT Mackley, and told us about the work replacing the old weir and the complexities of the process.

“We laid around 150 bulk bags containing gravel using divers, placing thick polythene sheeting between the bags to dam off the river flow while we were working. It’s a slightly more unconventional method but in this case it was nice and quiet, so as not to disturb residents, and cost-effective compared with piling. However we could not completely stop the water coming through but using the knowledge within the team, mainly from Paul Flowers the foreman for the job, we sectioned areas and using small pumps and silt curtains we managed to get round most tricky problems.”

The team also installed a new eel-pass. While fish passes, allowing fish and kayakers to by-pass the weir through a channel running around the structure, are commonplace, eel-passes are now required by environmental agency regulations. These enable eels, now an endangered species in British rivers, to wriggle through a channel on a bed of bristles, to the other side of the weir.

Meanwhile, Jackson Civils are undertaking works at three sites: the complete weir replacement in two phases at Radcot, and also smaller-scale works at Mapledurham and Blakes.

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Thames Link Marine Ltd "Thames Link Marine Ltd are privileged to be invited to work for the Environment Agency and Mackleys on the Molesey Lock contract. At Thames Link Marine we have been working on the Upper Reaches of the River Thames since 1986. We have seen many changes and look forward to an exciting future on the River Thames" Thames Link Marine Ltd have supplied a safety boat and marine equipment on the project.

Yarmouth to harbour great memories after improvement of visitor facilities reaches completion Phase One of a £1.4 million project at Yarmouth Harbour, Isle of Wight, has now been completed.

During the first phase of the 4 phase project, facilities were improved in order to reflect the demands of customers, who encompass both residents and visitors. These improvements included the creation of more walk-ashore pontooning and the upgrade of the fuel system to a floating fuel system, which has created better access and allows the harbour to deal with more customers at any one time. A safer area for commercial users has also been created.

Phase One was completed before Easter, and three more phases are to follow. The second phase is to put in a new quay on the south-west corner of the harbour, which will cost in the region of £500,000 to £600,000. The commissioners have stated that the phase will not take place this winter, as they wish to review the success of the first phase before committing to the second, third and fourth.

The harbour is unlike many others, in that approximately half of the space is dedicated to the visitors. Chief Executive and Harbour Master Chris Lisher explained: “In a year we have 15,000 overnight visiting boats, plus another 4000 short term (lunch time) visitors. Overall, we’re bringing in excess of 80,000 visitors into Yarmouth and the west of the Isle of Wight, based on four people per boat.”

Chris Lisher commented that the project ran smoothly and that there were no particular challenges other than completing the project before Easter, which is a peak time for the harbour. He was keen to describe some of innovative aspects of the project: “We’ve used a new product called kebony for the decking rather than the normal hardwood, which is Balau. Kebony is a treated softwood that I think we all want to give a try, to see if it’s as long lasting and durable as the hardwoods, as we are aware of the environmental impact of hardwoods and they are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of.”

convenience, power, water and the ability to get off their boat into the town whenever they want, rather than having to be on a buoy or a distant pontoon and hire a harbour taxi or a dingy.”

The Isle of Wight is separated from the mainland by the Solent, a 3-4 mile stretch of water which is protected from the prevailing South Westerly wind, making it the premier area for boating in the UK. At the west of the island, there is a car ferry that runs from Yarmouth to Lymington in the New Forest. This runs every ¾ of an hour, carrying 60 to 70 cars (around 200 to 300 people) and generates around 40% of the income. There are also around 25 commercial vessels, such as small fishing boats and training boats.

A popular visitor destination, the harbour has a great range of facilities. These include: waste disposal, showers, slipways, fuel, electricity, internet access, a launderette, disabled facilities, cranage and a dinghy park. The harbour is also home to a range of exciting events such as the Yarmouth Carnival & Regatta, which was held from the 13th until the 20th of August this year, and the Old Gaffers Festival in early June.

Yarmouth itself is rich with nature and culture. The West Wight is renowned for its wonderful scenery – most of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – and it is home to numerous attractions, such as the Brighstone Village Museum in Calbourne and the Hill Farm Stables Riding School and Pony Club in Freshwater. There is also a range of activities available, such as walking, cycling and riding.

Walcon Marine installed the piling and pontooning, whilst Taylor Fuel Controls constructed the fuel pontoon. Marina Projects were the consultants for the whole project. The improvements were made after a lengthy consultation with the harbour’s users – including resident mooring holders, visitors and residents of the town.

Chris Lisher explained the main aims of the project. He said: “We want to increase revenue for the harbour and also put in better facilities for customers. More and more customers want ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Padworth Sidings Waste Management Facility to open in autumn Work on the Padworth Sidings Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) in West Berkshire is progressing well: the construction of the external buildings has now been completed, and works on the inside are running to schedule.

The facility has been designed to significantly improve recycling and composting rates in West Berkshire and improve the management of waste. It will not only contribute to the successful and sustainable management of household waste – for instance through an in-vessel composting facility for the recycling of garden and food waste into a useful product, and the mini household waste recycling centre – but it will also divert waste away from landfill.

The Padworth Sidings site was identified by West Berkshire Council as the best location in the district for the new IWMF. It is a brownfield site, with access to the main transport network and sufficient space to accommodate the facility.

Equipment being installed inside the building includes the processing machinery for the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and the In-Vessel Composting Facility. The MRF will process the district’s recyclable waste (paper, card, plastic bottles and cans) to prepare it for processing into new packaging materials.

Commissioning is currently being undertaken in order to ensure that the equipment and machinery are reliable and work correctly.

Planners of the facility cooperated with the public so that their views and concerns were taken into account. The Padworth Liaison Group met numerous times, with an additional meeting held for residents to discuss landscaping issues with West Berkshire Council. The liaison group were also able to view and comment upon the draft permit for the site. The Section 73 planning application was submitted to the local planning authority.

The development at Padworth will also include mitigation of the impacts of the facility, including traffic, air quality and ecological aspects. Following a public consultation, the Environment Agency issued an environmental permit, EPR/KP3694VW, for the site. The environmental permit lists the activities that are allowed to take place on the site, the waste materials that can be handled and the limits (upon noise and odour, for instance) within which the site must operate.

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Berkshire Council’s roadwork subcontractors have allowed some of the larger machinery deliveries to access the site via the railway bridge, to help minimise disruption along the diversion route for local traffic. There have been concerns that there may be a need to close Padworth Lane for short periods of time, although it was stated that, wherever possible, these closures would be at night, and advance notice of the closure periods would be given. West Berkshire Councils highways department also undertook temporary repairs to the diversion route as they became necessary, and later this year more extensive permanent repairs will be undertaken in the area, including drainage improvements to Rag Hill. In addition, the Council has considered a controlled crossing north of the railway bridge after a 150-signature petition and the death of an 82 year old pedestrian on the dual carriageway on the A4 Bath Road. It has been decided that proposals for the crossing will wait until the scheme has been completed.

The new facility will include an education centre where schools and community groups can learn more about how the facility can manage their waste sustainably in the district. There is also a visitor and administration block, to allow people to see the technology and processes used to manage the waste responsibly.

New hotel rises on the London Docks Due to open in October 2011, the finishing touches are now being put to the new Aloft London Excel Hotel, which is situated adjacent to the ExCel Arena and is just ten minutes by tube from Canary Wharf.

Built by main contractors McAleer and Rushe for international chain Starwood Hotels, the Aloft Hotel will boast two hundred and fifty-two bedrooms, including twelve classy suites and a full range of modern leisure facilities. All the bedrooms feature contemporary designs, from signature platform beds to 42” LCD televisions and the convenience of wireless internet access throughout.

The ground floor comprises the ‘xyz bar’ and a gym, swimming pool and spa facility which was installed by specialists Cheshire Wellness. A glass wall next to the pool creates continuity with a cascade water feature just outside, while innovative designs by Morris Brill Lighting Design have been realised to incorporate LED lighting into the pool.

Meeting rooms and staff areas are found on the first floor, including five ‘Tactic’ working rooms, each at 25m2 and seating eight. Bedrooms are situated on the floors above.

Conor Feeney is Site Manager for McAleer and Rushe and has been working on the site, which McAleer and Rushe took charge of in June 2010. Works commenced in the first week of June. He told Premier Construction that it had been “a very interesting site to work on,” and explained the stages of the build, which has been run on an impressive sixty-eight week schedule.

Morgan Syndall carried out the initial operation of installing piles on the site in July 2010. This was followed by the erection of the concrete framework, which was completed in mid-November.

The facade is made up of pre-fabricated panels, manufactured

by German firm Metallbau Fruh. Once these arrived on site they were fixed to brackets already installed in the frame.

The involvement of Metalbau Fruh is notable given that the majority of the contractors on the programme are from the UK,

an indication of how great an investment this hotel has been for the home economy.

Work continued to progress at a pace, and a bedroom interior mock-up was ready for inspection by early June 2011. With the Starwood Hotel’s seal of approval for the mock-up it was clear that nothing was being compromised on quality in the sixtyeight week build.

Conor Feeney told us that he was confident that the Aloft would be finished to as high a quality as any well-established centralLondon hotel, pointing out that many of the subcontractors on site are firms who worked on the W Hotels in Leicester Square, which were also designed and built by McAleer and Rushe.

Although the site was clear for McAleer and Rushe to begin building, extensive groundworks have also been carried out, particularly to create the necessary drainage for the site. This comprises the basin of the site being filled with layers of clean stone, then 50mm of core and 100mm of tarmac to allow water to soak through the ground to the perforated pipes below.

Mr Feeney explained that this was a fairly easy process to carry out, but that the groundworks did limit space on the site, making it trickier to work on.

The site is ideally situated for many business and leisure links, but the nature of nearby facilities has meant that careful consultation with various neighbours of the project has been necessary throughout the project. Ongoing negotiation with City Airport regarding height restrictions was required when two tower-cranes were present on the site through June-July 2010.

Events at the ExCel centre have also necessitated the erection of extra hoarding around the site, and thoughtful communication between the sites.

However, the busy site is an example of the good management that McAleer and Rushe are recognised for. The Aloft London Excel Hotel site is part of the Considerate Constructors scheme and the company are ISO 14001 accredited.

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Bookings are being taken from the 31st of October at the Aloft Hotel as a smooth and successful build draws to a close. Conor Feeney commented, “All being well in a couple of months we’ll be packing our bags and moving off the site.”

One of the world's largest hotel and leisure companies, Starwood Hotels conduct their hotel and leisure business both directly and through their subsidiaries. The chain’s brand names include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points, and Element(SM).

Through their brands, Starwood Hotels are well represented in most major markets around the world. Their operations are reported in two business segments, hotels and vacation ownership and residential operations.

The hotel business emphasises the global operation of hotels and resorts primarily in the luxury and upscale segment of the lodging industry. The company seek to acquire interests in, or management or franchise rights with respect to properties in this segment. At December 31, 2010, their hotel portfolio included owned, leased, managed and franchised hotels totaling 1,027, with approximately 302,000 rooms in approximately 100 countries, and is comprised of 62 hotels that the company own or lease or in which they have a majority equity interest, 463 hotels managed by the company on behalf of third-party owners, and 502 hotels for which they receive franchise fees.

and glass. Having all functions carried out in house ensures strict quality control and also assists in the timely completion of projects. The success of this policy is demonstrated by the fact that much of the company’s work comes from repeat business and recommendation.

No matter what type of construction, materials or geometry, be it stick or modularised systems, frameless glass facades or any other bespoke construction, Metallbau Früh can provide technical solutions and stunning aesthetics using their specialised knowledge, skills and expertise.

The company have been active in the UK market for over 25 years, having completed many prestigious projects including recent schemes such as the headquarters for NM Rothschilds Bank in London, the Titanic signature building in Belfast and the ‘W’ Hotel in Leicester Square (for Starwood Hotels - the same client as the project at the Aloft London Excel Hotel).

The McAleer & Rushe Group is a privately owned award winning property development, investment and construction firm with in excess of 40 years experience in the acquisition, design, development and construction of property.

Based in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, the company has operated throughout Ireland and the UK having undertaken projects in London, Belfast, Dublin and most regional cities.

The activities of the company are principally focused on the development and construction of high density city centre schemes, often as mixed use projects or as stand-alone buildings.

The company are specialists in the hotel and office sectors having completed in excess of 10,000 bedrooms for 12 national branded operators over 40 projects and 1.25m sqft office accommodation. City centre apartment and suburban housing schemes are also undertaken by the company.

Metallbau Früh Bespoke building envelope experts German-based Metallbau Früh are just completing the installation of the external facades at the Aloft London Excel Hotel.

The 8,000 sq m bespoke external facades are designed as a modular cladding system, one half with silicone structural bonded glass and the other half featuring coloured stainless steel shingles. Both have been specially designed and manufactured by the company and installed by their own expert teams.

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Vulnerable and older people to benefit from two housing schemes Two projects comprising the construction of new homes for vulnerable and older people are being constructed

by Wilmott Dixon for Housing 21.

Beeches Manor in Wokingham town centre will be for people with dementia and learning difficulties, and Waring Court in Thatcham will provide extra care housing for elderly people.

The £3.8 million Beeches Manor development comprises the construction of eighteen apartments in Wokingham town centre for people with dementia, and eight apartments for people with learning difficulties on the site, as well as staff accommodation and two guest rooms.

Designed by Quattro Design Architects, the apartments for people with dementia will be on the ground floor and built around two courtyards with a communal lounge, kitchens and activity rooms.

This component of the project is modelled on the American ‘Greenhouse’ model and consists of two clusters of nine selfcontained, ground floor one-bedroom flats. Each cluster is arranged around an open plan communal kitchen, dining and lounge area with a hearth at its centre. The clusters also have their own private courtyard with access to shared landscaped and woodland garden areas. This is a relatively new model of care for the UK, departing as it does from the usual en-suite bedrooms typical of most dementia units.

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The apartments for people with learning disabilities will be on the first floor, where the guest rooms will also be located.

Extensive consultation with neighbours and the planning department has ensured that the rich wildlife habitat on the woodland site is respected with access offered to local people.

The one bedroom flats for people with learning disabilities will provide residents with separate independent apartments with lift access and both private and communal balconies as well as a communal garden area.

David Williams, head of research and development for Housing 21, said: “It’s important that people with dementia and those with learning disabilities can continue to lead rewarding and independent lives. The use of proven building and assistive technology solutions at Beeches Manor will ensure that this happens.”

Wokingham Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner said: “This is a great opportunity for vulnerable people to live an independent life in a modern, quality home. Beeches Manor will provide safe accommodation with secure gardens but is also close enough to Wokingham town centre so that residents will be able to use all of facilities on offer in the town.”

Councillor Bob Wyatt, Deputy Borough Mayor, said: “Beeches Manor will be much more than just bricks and mortar, it will

provide vulnerable people with modern, high quality homes in a safe environment, close to the facilities on offer in the town centre.”

David Williams, head of research and development for Housing 21, said: “It’s important that people with dementia and those with learning disabilities can continue to lead rewarding and independent lives.

“The use of proven building and assistive technology solutions at Beeches Manor will ensure that this happens.”

The development is due to be completed in March 2012.Waring Court in Bluecoats, Thatcham, will comprise 51 apartments specifically designed to meet the needs of residents aged over 55. The scheme has been designed by Hunters Architects.The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) provided more than £3m to enable the development.

David Ashworth, Head of area at the HCA, said: ''In Thatcham, we hope we can continue to support our partners and the community in creating affordable and sustainable places that people want to live in.”

39 of the homes will be available for social rent and the scheme will also include 12 New Build HomeBuy properties – providing affordable homes with the extra care required for elderly residents.

The site will house 25 one-bedroom and 26 two-bedroom selfcontained flats, and will include communal facilities, including a restaurant and hair salon which will be available for members of the wider community to use as well. All of the flats will be wheelchair accessible and the building will meet high environmental and sustainability standards by achieving BREEAM Excellent.

Siobhan Moore, Head of programme delivery from Housing 21, said: “The grant from the HCA will allow older people to live independently in a purpose-built scheme with support on hand should they need it. Developments such as this are also a real asset for the local community who can access the on-site facilities, such as the hairdressing salon and restaurant.”

Joe Mooney, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Community Care said: “Waring Court is an important part of our plans to change the way care for the elderly is delivered in West Berkshire. This approach will ensure our older residents have the support they need to live independently, secure in the knowledge that help is on hand if required.”

Construction is due to be complete in October 2011.

New court served well at Wimbledon Championships The latest in a series of improvements and developments at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon, the new Court 3 was recently completed and opened for use at the 2011 Wimbledon Open Championships by the Duke of Kent.

The project has been designed by architects Populous and has been built by Galliford Try, who has been carrying out projects at the venue for the last 25 years. Works on this specific programme involved the amalgamation of the original Courts 2 and 3 areas and the provision of new facilities within a new stand.

Located on the western side of the site, south of Centre Court and adjacent to the Millennium building, the new Court 3 has a footprint of approximately 1060m2 and 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.

ticket-holders with the intimacy of the arena. Moreover, old and new players alike have expressed amused relief at the demolition of the old Court Number 2, over which the new has been built. Known as ‘the graveyard’ and an ill omen for competitors, players are looking forward to making their names on the new Court 3.

Landmark developments ongoing at Wimbledon Populous, working with Galliford Try, have been involved in the redevelopment of a number of key areas at the All England Lawn

The eastern side of the stand, which incorporates a series of columns spaced at approximately 3 metre intervals, is cantilevered over a walkway which connects with the centre court and court number 2.

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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.”

WestMuckett Hawkes 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 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

Structural consulting engineers WestMuckett Hawkes Ltd. have played an important role in the 25-year master plan to make Wimbledon the singular most important tennis event in the world. Whilst associated with Building Design Partnership (BDP), they participated in the master planning and Stage 1 structural design. Their first task was to create a model of the existing structure and site constraints. John Westmuckett, director of Westmuckett Hawkes Ltd., said: “As the design progressed and the trade contractors became involved, their production models were incorporated and checked against this base model. This ensured full coordination and understanding of these key interfaces. Whilst Westmuckett Hawkes Ltd. was originally employed as the project director for the main structural consultant Capita Symonds, they were also involved in all subsequent stages of the redevelopment project, including conducting design coordination sessions for multiple contrac-

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t tors and disciplines and encouraging both individual and collaborative innovation by communicating with stakeholders.

Hubbard Architectural Metalwork Simon Watts from Hubbard Architectural Metalwork said: “We’ve been working on the site with Galliford Try for a number of years. We provided the external glass infill balustrades for the centre court, and also the balustrades to the access stairs in each wing. We then moved onto courts two, and three and did just about all the metalwork on these which comprised of glass infill balustrades to the perimeters, handrails, structural glass barriers, along with the large TV screen support structures.

“We like to think we’ve provided a professional service, and have developed a relationship that has proved invaluable throughout the three projects.”

Camatic Pty Ltd After the recommendations of the designers on the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club project, Camatic Pty Ltd were elected to provide and install all new Camatic Quantum seats in the newly refurbished Centre Court and the new Court 2; a total of approximately 19,000 seats. The seats were trialled on site against competitor seating during the 2007 Championships and were well received by a 15,000 crowd at the Test Event for the new retractable roof in 2009.

Gary Mayle, AELTC Long Term Planning Projects Manager said: “The input from Camatic from start to finish has been second to none; from first commercial discussions, through sampling and trials, shipping, and technical support to final installation team on site, the service has been first class.”

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£800,000 Gumboots Community Nursery extension project now complete

kitchen was designed using a new high-efficiency A-rated combination boiler with gas safety installation and a new ventilation system. Landscaping was limited to the area immediately surrounding the buildings and extensions. Mature trees had to be retained on the site, which influenced the choice of screw pile foundations for the new extensions so as not to disturb tree roots.

Main Contractor for the project, Lengard, has announced that the extension of the Southwark nursery under the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative is now complete.

JK Roofing

The fundamental idea in the design of the extension to the existing building was to form independent new structures linked to the existing building without causing major interference to the existing framework and its surrounding gardens. Three separately identifiable extensions were constructed in order to double the intake capacity of children and provide the necessary support facilities.

The existing building measured 210 m² and was formed by a modular timber frame chalet style building using a 3m x 9m (3m x 3m) grid with a pitched roof and roof trusses spanning across the 9m overall width. Including the new building, the site now measures 458m².

The extension and refurbishment included external cladding to walls, consisting of a rain screen using 100mm wool or natural wood insulation between treated sw battens, followed by breathing paper and cross battens supporting stained Larch wood cladding. Aluminium clad timber windows were installed using a standard range of propriety manufacture in a pre-coated paint finish with opening casements and ventilation ‘flaps’ for natural ventilation.

Gary Bird was keen to point out the benefit in the use of the prefabricated composite structural timber panel construction.

The works undertaken by JK Roofing at gumboots nursery involved three new mono pitched slate roofs being built from ground level surrounding the existing nursery building, with the mono pitches being covered with a Marley fiber cement slate and a dry mono ridge system this giving the new buildings a sleek and modern style. With the existing building, skylights were installed to provide some wonderful natural lighting and all necessary repair works carried out to a high standard. At JK roofing we take great pride in works carried out at Gumboots nursery with all works being carried out to highest of standards and no reportable accidents whilst on site. We look forward to working closely together with Lengard Ltd on any future projects.

ScrewFast Foundations “ScrewFast Foundations designed, supplied and installed 59 helical piles to support the extension of the school library and external canopy.

Helical piles were chosen for the speed of installation, and to avoid damage to the surrounding tree roots. Minimal plant requirements meant that the restricted site access was not an issue.”

New kitchen spaces and lavatories were constructed. The

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Havant Public Service Village nears completion of first phase.

The refurbishment of the Havant Civic Offices, which will create the Public Service Plaza, is near the completion of its first phrase.

way we work, adopting smarter working practices and more efficient use of our buildings, we can make important savings at a time when the public purse is facing increasing pressure.”

The building work started in October 2010 by contractors Morgan Sindall and architectural group Hampshire County Council.

The Public Service Plaza will contain rooms that the public can book for community events, computers with internet access, and knowledgeable staff to help answer any questions.

September 2011 will see the first phase of construction work opened to the public, including a new atrium and reception area. The second phase of the refurbishment will be completed in summer 2012.

The building will also become even more energy efficient; it is expected to achieve a 35-40% reduction in energy consumption per meter squared of floor, which ensures reduced running costs and a lower carbon footprint. Both Councils will additionally save money by reducing the amount of office space they occupy.

After refurbishment, the building will relocate over 250 social care staff and other front line staff from Hampshire County Council, in addition to the 420 Havant Borough Council staff.

The £13 million project, which includes a £5.1 million Government grant, aims to house a range of services in a single location. These services include public services from Havant Borough and Hampshire County Councils as well as voluntary services from a range of organisations.

Havant Borough Council expects that bringing public and voluntary services together will save money and transform service delivery. The longer term effects of the project include attracting investment to the wider civic site and helping to regenerate the town.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, called the project “a major milestone in transforming services for people in Havant.” He said: “Not only will customers be provided with enhanced facilities but by changing the

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A panel of representatives from the local community, Portsmouth Evening News, Havant Borough and Hampshire County Councils recently considered 150 names for the building, which were submitted by staff and members of the public.

From the panel’s shortlist of 4 names, the public voted for Public Service Plaza, which won with more than 16,000 votes out of 30,554; over 2,000 votes ahead of its rival, Waterhaven.

Leader of Havant Borough Council, Councillor Tony Briggs, said, “It has been a long held ambition of Havant Borough Council to bring together the service providers to deliver quality services to our customers from one location, and [I] look forward to the opening of the completed PSV in September 2011.”

Clapham praises £5.5m Deeper Christian Life Ministry project at St John’s Hill Director for Main Contractor Cameron Black, Stuart Johnson, has commented that work on the project – which has comprised the refurbishment and conversion of the former Granada Cinema at St. John’s Hill, Clapham – has progressed well, with a practical completion date of August 31st.

The 1930s Grade II star listed former Granada Cinema has been modernised, refurbished and adapted whilst repairing and retaining many of the existing features of the original prewar cinema. The building had been empty since December 1997 and was on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk list before Assael Architecture secured planning permission in 2005.

The 60-week project began in June 2010. The main contractor was Cameron Black, whilst TMD were the architects, DSA the Mechanical and Electrical consultant and Price and Meyers the Structural consultant. Elite Electrical and Pace Interiors Ltd were also involved in the project.

The work has comprised: a stage extension to incorporate a walk in baptistery pool; the refurbishment of original balcony seating; restoration of fibrous plaster ceiling; removal of asbestos; restoration of terrazzo and mosaic floor to the foyer; refurbishment of 11 original chandeliers, full mechanical and electrical services including 4 major plant rooms and full audio

visual equipment. In addition, 3 bespoke kitchens have been installed, along with 15 toilet blocks and lift and toilet access for mobile impaired persons. The auditorium is 34, 600 sq ft, and has the capacity for 2,500 attendees. Elite Electrical Contracting carried out the electrical installation works on this project including Fire Alarm works, Data & IT works and Security and CCTV works.

Stuart Johnson said that the restoration of the fibrous ceiling to the Main Auditorium and Foyers was the key aspect of the scheme as all original ornate features had to be maintained and restored to their original condition inclusive of colour schemes. Access was via a full boarded Birdcage Scaffolding.

He noted: “The scaffolding that we had up six months ago was more than I’ve ever seen.”

As 59 new Henley Homes Lumiere apartments had recently been built above the project, noise reduction was an important consideration when adapting the space. Through a range of acoustic treatments, such as the installation of acoustic breaks and floor coverings, NR 35DB was achieved. The scheme therefore required successful coordination between Cameron Black, the design team, the client and the landlord.

Located approximately 300m from Clapham Junction station, the new Deeper Christian Life Ministry is surrounded by a lively

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mix of bars, restaurants, cafes and shops on Battersea Rise, St John’s Hill, Lavender Hill and Northcote Road. Several bus routes operate along St. John’s Hill. The A025 (South Circular Road) and A3 are both nearby, which in turn offers access to the M4, M25 and M3.

The original cinema was opened as the Granada Theatre by the Duchess of Kent on 8th November 1937. The building has a prominent corner entrance on St. John’s Hill and Plough Road, and the facade is in an Art Deco style. The lavish interior was designed by Theodore Komisarjevsky in an Italian Renaissance style, including a deeply coffered ceiling and the decoration of side-walls with pilasters, paintings and fibrous plaster. From June 1973, the theatre was tripled with 935 seats in the original balcony (using the proscenium and stage) and two small screens with 191 and 197 seats located in the rear stalls under the balcony. The Granada Theatre closed in 1980 before being reopened in May 1991 as a Gala Bingo Club, which closed in December 1997.

The Deeper Christian Life Ministry project has run to schedule and Cameron Black is pleased with the project as it reaches near-completion. As Stuart Johnson succinctly concluded, “It looks great, and it is very different.”

Cameron Black is experienced in all fit out and refurbishment procurement routes and they are specialists in commercial, retail and private healthcare sectors. Established in 1999, they have near-on 100% levels of repeat business and all four directors – Stuart Johnson, Simon Black, Rupert Shaw and Bob Thompson – have extensive experience in both the traditional and design and build market and are actively involved in the management of day-to-day activities, including overseeing projects. Their clients range from private individuals to blue chip corporations and their external design teams, and they are both a member of the British Safety Council and CHAS

Exor & Safe Contractor accredited. Cameron Black base their success on two things: “the passionate approach we take in delivering our service and our willingness to truly integrate with our clients and supply chain on every product.”

The Deeper Christian Life Ministry has a singular mission to proclaim the simple, saving Gospel of Jesus Christ in its purest form. Their purpose is to lead many to salvation through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, to build them up as steadfast believers, and to engage them in His work. Their foundation is the bible: they believe in taking the Word of God at face value, teaching it with diligence and building their entire life and affairs on it. Their preaching is simple, scriptural and serious; holiness of life is their highest aim in Christian service, and it is their objective to promote this in all they do and teach. They believe the old-fashioned message is as relevant today as it was to the initial audience: ‘Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.’ (Hebrews 13:8)

Evertaut Evertaut are an established name in the theatre seating industry working closely with clients, architects, main contractors and designers.

Our Policy of listen, advise and create worked exceptionally well with the instructions from Cameron Black who required a full refurbishment service to fetch the existing seating back up to the standard of .when they were first installed in 1937, this included replicating the original cast iron metal work in small quantities.

Other Evertaut projects includes work with English Heritage and include the Crucible Theatre Sheffield, The Former Granada Cinema Clapham, Buxton Opera house and the Savoy Theatre to name but a few.

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Iconic new London landmark rises to become Britain’s tallest building The Shard in Southwark’s London Bridge Quarter soars skyward, pinpointing the location of this mixed use development, which is being carried out as part of the area’s £22m regeneration programme.

The Sellar Property Group - which is developing the scheme on behalf of LBQ Ltd - are working with architects Renzo Piano Building Workshop in collaboration with Adamson Associates and principal contractors Mace.

Renzo Piano, the architect, described the design as a ‘shard of crystal’. He explained that the sophisticated use of glazing and expressive facades of angled panes are intended to reflect light and the changing patterns of the sky - the form of the building will therefore change according to the weather and seasons.

When taken to the 244 metre level recently, Boris Johnson said: "If you want a symbol of how London is powering its way out of the global recession, the Shard is it, rising confidently up to the heavens. Once complete, this huge engineering feat will be the tallest building in Europe, and is destined to become as iconic a landmark on London's cherished skyline as the Gherkin, St Paul's or Big Ben”.

The variable size of the floor plates is ideal for a mixed use development. At the bottom, the large deep floor plates are for offices; the middle floors incorporate an apartment hotel and the top floors comprise apartments. The building will incorporate: 595,000 sq ft of office space, a collection of high quality restaurants and bars occupying three floors at the mid levels, a five star de-luxe Shangri-La hotel and spa, exclusive residences and a high level viewing gallery. Conceived like a small vertical town in which ten thousand people will work and more will commute to and from, the tower is a holistic response to the sustainable development of the European city.

The building will be 310 metres tall with a total floor area of 90,000 square metres and it will have 72 floors, plus 15 further radiator floors in the roof.

Each facet of the building forms a shard - a plane of glass gently inclined inwards - rising towards the top. The corners

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are open and the shards do not touch, allowing the building to ‘breathe’. In turn the glass surface visually fragments as it rises, and the tower appears to dissolve into the sky.

The central core is now complete. April 2011 saw steady progress in construction and cladding had enveloped half of the building’s exterior. Pouring of the concrete floors had reached level 50 and progress on the towers cladding had picked up pace once again with cladding reaching level 38.

Stephen Pycroft, chairman and CEO of Mace commented: "There is a lot of hard work to do, but the speed with which the Shard has risen out of the ground and the quality of the construction is testimony to the determination, innovation and team spirit of all those working on the project.”

Completion of the entire London Bridge Quarter development is anticipated during the first quarter of 2013.

Rock Complete Waterproofing Chiswick-based Rock Complete Waterproofing are making excellent progress carrying out a £1.4 million package of works on The Shard project. The works comprises of both waterproofing and internal cladding to the entire building from the basement to the very top of the 310 metre high building.

The waterproofing works commenced with basement level tanking and will progress to the podium and on upwards incorporating exposed structures such as the ‘backpack’ area and BMU garages. Internal cladding is being carried out at various levels. This is one of many projects Rock are involved in which will impact the City skyline.

The company, which has been established for over 40 years as an asphalting specialist, has recently opened another office in Scotland and operates nationwide with a capacity to carry out all commercial waterproofing solutions and associated disciplines as well as tunnel waterproofing, both in the UK and overseas. The changing profile of the firm over the last five years reflects its expanded capability to take on diverse and prestigious projects such as The Shard.

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£300,000 extension to The Rowan’s Hospice nears completion.

A new £300,000 extension to The Rowan’s Hospice in Waterlooville, Hampshire is almost complete, with a practical completion date set for just a few weeks time.

The Rowan’s Hospice is a local charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with cancer and other terminal illnesses by providing palliative care. Opened in 1994 by HRH Princess Alexandra, they have helped more than 5,000 patients and families across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire. Their range of services include: community and hospital care, day care, in-patient care, spiritual care, bereavement services, family services, psychological services, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

HMDW Architects were awarded the £291,000 contract to design the extension, and worked with main contractor EA Chiverton Ltd. to deliver the project on the 1.5848 Ha site.

Funding came from a capital grant issued by the Department of Health.

The scheme includes: an extension to the front elevation of the building to create a covered ambulance entrance, along with a lobby and reception at ground level and additional office space in the roofspace. A particularly interesting aspect of the project was the installation of mezzanine flooring, whilst the scheme also included pitched roofing, brickwork, the installation of both a gas heating system and an electric heating system and wall tiling. In addition, road access for ambulances was improved. External work included the general maintenance of existing features.

The expected completion date is 2nd September 2011.

Terry Roberts from HMDW Architects noted that the project had to consider the existing residents of the hospice. He said: “The hospice had to remain open throughout the project. It was therefore necessary to ensure, particularly with regards to the ambulance entrance, that patients could still come in without being disturbed.”

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HMDW Architects have a wide ranging and rigorous expertise in conservation and restoration, drawing on experience from developments of grade I, II and II* listed buildings. They are also consistently involved in other smaller projects, such as minor redevelopments and landscaping, and have worked with budgets up to £5 million. Their schemes meet the demands of the client, whilst engaging positively with English Heritage, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and other amenity groups. The Principal and Directors each have decades of experience within the field and are AABC registered (Architects Accredited in Building Conservation), and they personally oversee and manage all projects from conception to completion.

The Rowan’s Hospice has previously undergone development. In 2003, the in-patient care was enhanced by a new physiotherapy suite and in 2006 a new hospice Chapel was completed. In 2008, a newly refurbished Southwick suite opened, significantly enhancing their therapeutic environment and providing a stunning facility to support Day Care, The Heath Centre and Bereavement Services – this was funded by a Department of Health grant.

Their philosophy of care is underpinned by the World Health Organisation’s statement that palliative care is: “the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment...The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best possible quality of life for patients and their families.”

Palliative care provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms whilst maintaining the dignity of the patient. It integrates the medical, psychological, spiritual and social aspects of care and provides a support system to live as fully and as actively as possible until death. The Rowan’s Hospice aims to deliver the very best in specialist palliative care to hospice and hospital in-patients, to those living at home, and to those who would benefit from their numerous services.

Innovative 195-205 Richmond Road project nearing completion An innovative construction project at 195-205 Richmond Road in Hackney, London, is expected to be complete soon. The scheme, named The Arthaus, includes the construction of luxury apartments based around an atrium, which itself houses an art gallery.

The Arthaus building is a multi-use platform that includes both commercial and residential spaces for rental usage. In total, there are 97 apartments and 25 social units over the ground floor and five further storeys. Private flats are based around the atrium, which itself is six storeys high. There is a mixture of duplex, one two and three-bedroom flats, along with a communal terrace for the residents.

The 27-month project, which began in May 2009, is almost complete. Workers are currently completing the last stage, for which they have recently gained planning permission.

The original planning permission was granted by the Planning Committee of the London Borough of Hackney at their SubCommittee in March 2010. The scheme was submitted by Lynas Architecture and DP9 Planning Consultants on behalf of Findon Urban Lofts. Sheldon Construction was the main contractor, having taken over the project after Lancsville Construction went into administration prior to Christmas 2009.

Roc Electrical provided the electrical installation.

For the second phase of the project, Engel Construction were appointed to carry out the Groundworks, substructure and superstructure work to form 23 private luxury apartments which are combined with ground floor commercial space. The superstructure consists of an RC frame that is made up of a

ground floor and 6 floors above this.

At 199 Richmond Road, the development consists of 26 social and rented apartments, 3 luxury townhouses and 45 private apartments combined with commercial space on the ground floor. The project comprised of site clearance, soil investigations, demolition and facade retention to allow for the construction of the residential apartments. There are 74 individual units with common areas and stairs and lifts. Blocks A and B consist of a traditional RC frame, whilst block C consists of a hybrid RC frame and external/internal concrete block work supporting timber joints. The cladding is mainly red brick, with zinc to the rear and top floors. Windows are staggered and vary in size as the use behind varies - these are broken up by recessed balconies. The top floor provides views south over London, and there is a range of facilities available, including a communal TV and entertainment that residents can either rent out or use socially and 24 hour concierge.

There has also been a small amount of landscaping to the front of the facade and the entrances to the commercial and residential units.

Michael Lynas from Lynas Architecture described how the development had managed to combine the traditional with the modern. He said: “There was an old Victorian warehouse facade and old steel windows that we had to keep due to planning permissions. The new design had to accommodate these features.�

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the design is the way that the apartments have been built around the atrium. Indeed,

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t if one was to enter the building, they would actually enter the atrium and the art gallery. The atrium spans five floors and encompasses 250m², allowing for natural light and large-scale works. It houses Galerie8, a contemporary art gallery.

Richmond Road is home to a fascinating history. In 1903, the Richmond House was built as a commercial laundry house, before the second floor of the building was converted to a concert and theatre venue – named Rebecca Seymour Hall – in 1935. After the building was abandoned in 2002, the space became an environment for individual artists and groups to inhabit and use for experimentation.

By combining modern architecture with the existing traditional features, Lynas Architecture has created a unique building that will stand the test of time.

Lynas Architecture is a small architectural practice dealing with large and small projects throughout London. The studio currently works on several schemes of 60-100 apartment buildings, whilst simultaneously designing extensions and new homes for private clients.

Belgraves Hotel opening in 2011 on Chesham Place, SW1 The opening of Belgraves Hotel will mark the end of the refurbishment of 20 Chesham Place, London, and the transatlantic expansion of Thompson Hotels, an elite collection of service and design-driven hotels in major urban centres. Formerly known as the Sheraton Belgravia Hotel, which closed at the end of 2009, the project involves a two-storey frameless glass extension and major internal refurbishment of the building.

The £12 million project is being carried out under contractors Overbury, developed as a joint venture with the Hong Kongbased Harilela Group. EPR Architects are the architects. The company is best known for its modern approach to building design, incorporating sustainable and environmental practises, which have made a significant impact in London and elsewhere.

20 Chesham Place is located in London’s affluent and internationally recognised Belgravia neighbourhood, just minutes from the city’s renowned shops and historic Sloane Square.

Blending traditional British hospitality with an American bohemian attitude, the 85-room Belgraves will interpret the Thompson luxury experience in London. Business and leisure travellers will delight in Belgraves’ attention to privacy, personalised amenities and thoughtful design.

Progressive interior architect and designer, Tara Bernerd, commented: “Belgraves is iconic for location alone. Combining this with the opportunity of working with the forward-thinking and design-savvy Thompson Hotels has magnified the appeal of the project, and allows us all as a team to create a very

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seductive hotel. We intend on creating a rich, eclectic and tactile design that combines traditional elegance with a modern architectural language.”

The building at 20 Chesham Place has an outer stone skeleton frame, which is used as a mechanism to unite a modern language with the classical residential and embassy properties that form its tight urban setting. The inner mass is a glass structure which, at high level, fragments into a series of vertical glass fins that diffuse light and merge the boundaries between the physical mass and the sky.

“Thompson Hotels has a style that London is calling for,” said Dr. Aron Harilela. “There is a niche in the market that is waiting to be filled and I believe we have found the perfect match. I am confident that bringing Thompson Hotels to the heart of Belgravia in creating Belgraves, we will reinvigorate the area, giving Londoners what they have been looking for and international travellers a slice of the new London.”

The Belgraves hotel will feature 85 guestrooms, an 80-seat signature restaurant, an intimate library bar, and state-of-theart fitness centre, making it a traveller’s intimate oasis amidst a bustling Central London. The chic and eclectic lobby is set to become a second home for both hotel guests and London's glitterati alike.

The hotel will join ten others within the Thompson portfolio – five in New York, two in LA, and one each in Washington DC, Chicago and Toronto. Belgraves will be the group's first hotel in Europe and is part of the company's expansion plans to create a portfolio of small, elite hotels in gateway cities around

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t the world. After London, Seoul will be the next international destination for the launch of a Thompson hotel.

Stephen Brandman, co-owner of Thompson Hotels, said: “Thompson Hotels is known for offering unique experiences and first-rate service in stylish, urban areas. I am delighted to extend this reputation to the European market. Whether staying at Thompson LES or Smyth in NY, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in LA or Belgraves in London, guests will rest assured that they will receive the same high level of service that defines the Thompson brand.”

Jason Pomeranc, co-owner of Thompson Hotels, said: “Our first hotel, 60 Thompson in NY, was ideologically based on the intimacy of British hotels. They have always been an inspiration to our brand, particularly those of London, and the British traveller has been very supportive of our US hotels. London is a natural transition for the Thompson brand. The opening of Belgraves brings us full circle.”

Silvan Floors Ltd. Silvan Floors have over 20 years experience in the supply and installation of high quality hardwood floors.

company is the huge widths and lengths that we are able to produce. We can develop our floors to specifically meet a client’s request – the width, length, thickness, and finishing oils used – all details can be taken care of.”

They installed 154m² of hardwood flooring for the ground floor – a 24mm board with an 8mm oak top layer, in a distressed irregular cafe noir crème finish, in random widths of 302mm, 252mm and 202mm and lengths from 2,000mm to 5,000mm.

This has produced a very unique finish. On the first floor, they installed around 165m² of irregular flooring in a chevron pattern, in widths of 80mm and lengths of 1200mm, with a border to the perimeter.

James Iliffe said: “We have completed the flooring for several hotels in the communal areas now. We are very happy to have been involved with the project and the client, who will add to our long list of high-end clients that we work with.”

Silvan Floors are dedicated to their environmental responsibilities and ensure that all wood is sourced responsibly; only mature trees are used for their hardwood flooring and have a full chain of custody.

James Iliffe from Silvan Floors said: “We specialise in bespoke hardwood timber flooring. The unique point about our

New pavilion and football pitches for Palatine Park A £1.4m project that will provide a new pavilion and eight football pitches is underway at Palatine Park in Worthing, West Sussex.

When the scheme is complete, the park will have a total of eight pitches of varying sizes and include three mini-soccer pitches, three junior pitches and two adult pitches. The variations in size will ensure that age groups will be able to play on pitches matching the FA recommended dimensions.

The site is owned by Worthing Borough Council and currently used by Worthing Town Football Club as a base for the Junior Football Club, which currently has approximately 450 members in 31 teams.

Works began at the end of June, and construction has progressed to the first floor level of the two-storey pavilion.

Pitch works including new drainage are in progress and being carried out by Speedcut Contractors Ltd. The original 1960s pavilion which was subject to vandalism and did not provide adequate facilities has been demolished and is being replaced by the new building which has been sited on a more accessible area of the park. The ground floor will house changing rooms, toilets and a kitchen and on the first floor, there will be a social club, meeting rooms and a balcony that overlooks the football pitches. The pavilion could be used for several functions unrelated to football, such as: community groups, after-school clubs, children’s parties and fundraising events.

The building will be leased to and operated by Worthing Town Football Club.

The pavilion designed by HSSP Architects, is of traditional construction with external brickwork & timber cladding panels.

Sustainable technologies have been included such as green roofs & PV panels to heat hot water.

The scheme has been jointly funded by £450,000 from the Football Foundation, £35,000 from Viridor Credits and £20,000 from Worthing Town Football Club, with the remaining £900,000 contribution coming from Worthing Borough Council.

Morgan Sindall (Construction) Plc Brighton Office are the main contractors, with Howard Ward Associates appointed as structural engineer, and GPB Construction Limited acting as both the groundworks and foundations subcontractor.

Helen Buck, Surveying & Design Services Manager for

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Worthing Borough Council said “This is an exciting, long awaited project which is a great success story for everyone involved and will benefit all the local community.”

Stuart Lamb, FA Regional Facilities and Investment Manager for the South East was also pleased with the development. He said: “I am delighted for both Worthing Town Youth FC and Worthing Borough Council in successfully attracting funding to develop facilities at Palatine Park. The new changing rooms and improved grass pitches will prove an enormous benefit to Worthing Town Youth FC and the whole community in general.”

The expected completion date for all the works is December 2011 with all pitches being fully in use by Summer 2012.

£350m Clapham Park Estate Regeneration project underway Clapham Park Homes have stated: ‘Our purpose is to regenerate the Clapham Park estates – refurbishing, demolishing and rebuilding homes where needed, as well as providing support for residents in need.’ Their vision is to provide Clapham Park tenants with high quality, well maintained homes at affordable rents in an area that has been revitalised by a network of new parks and open spaces, clean and safe streets, better transport, good schools and a wide range of community facilities, services and local jobs.

Resident surveys documented that the majority of the previous housing stock suffered from substandard heating, lack of thermal insulation and sound separation between dwellings, old kitchens and bathrooms, and electrical wire that needed replacing.

The Clapham Park area covers approximately 150 acres on a site between Brixton, Streatham, Balham and Clapham in the London Borough of Lambeth.

There are currently approximately 2,000 homes on site. Of these, 1,000 will be demolished and 1,000 will be refurbished.

In place of the 1,000 demolished houses, 2,400 new homes will be created. These will comprise of a range of mixed tenure housing – approximately half rented and half affordable – from apartments, to one, two, three and four-bedroom terraced houses.

Work has already begun on site; refurbishment has taken place over the last three years, and is expected to be complete in the next few years. The first block of 85 apartments has

been completed, whilst in the next month, 133 new apartments will be complete. In addition, a 50-bed Old Person’s home will be created. Next year, there will be 200 apartments built on site. In addition, there will be new nurseries and a gym, along with healthcare facilities. An area of the site has also been allocated for the local authority to build a new school. Retail and commercial space is also in the pipelines. The next phase is due to begin in the latter part of next year. As of yet, there is no particular fixed plan for developments.

The new and refurbished dwellings on the proposed scheme would achieve Eco-Homes ‘very good’ standards. The project is the result of mixed funding: ACA and New Deal for Communities have both funded the scheme, whilst the costs will be subsidised by private investors.

A framework of contractors was used for the scheme, whilst Durkan Contractors Ltd. acted as the main contractor, Ian Sayers the architect and Tully De’Ath the structural engineer.

Alistair Russell from Ian Sayer said that each building should be considered on its own merit. The homes, which have been built within 37 individual blocks and range from 3 to 10 storeys, have each been individually designed and are interspersed with the existing buildings. He said: “Each building is a challenge in its own right.”

DC Welding DC Welding is a Canadian Welding Bureau certified metal fabrication company. They specialise in sheet, plate, struc-

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t tural and pipe fabrications utilising modern welding, bending, shearing and cutting equipment and procedures.

For the Clapham Park project, they provided:

A complete steel galvanized structural painted frame to form walkways to each floor with glass balustrade with timber handrails.

A full set of in house drawings for supply and fit of the structural steel to the roof area of building.

Fully designed powder coated balcony frames with powder coated glass balustrade complete with frosted privacy screens.

A full set of drawing designs for metal staircases with a complete set of stair balustrade to all the stair cores of the buildings, supplied and fitted.

For more information on DC Welding, visit www.dcwelding. com

£371 million tunnel is UK’s longest The £371 million Hindhead Tunnel - the longest underground tunnel in the UK - opened to A3 traffic recently, bringing more than four years of construction and decades of campaigning to a welcome end.

The project to construct the tunnel under the Devil's Punch Bowl in Surrey was completed on time and on budget by Main Contractors Balfour Beatty for the Highways Agency.

The 1.8 km underground tunnel diverts four miles of the existing A3 road and passes underneath the Devil's Punchbowl,

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meeting up with it again at the Haslemere junction.

Commuters driving through Hindhead now benefit from the fact that the tunnel - which has won an award for being ‘the best of its type in the world’ at the New Civil Engineer International Tunneling Awards in 2010 - features cross-passages at every 100m and state of the art safety and communications systems, including CCTV surveillance and radio-interrupt systems to convey information to drivers.

The scheme started in January 2007 when crews began clear-

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t ing the ground, reducing the A3 carriageway through Hindhead down to one lane either way for the duration of the works. But its opening brings to an end a 30-year campaign for improvements to the bottleneck at the Hindhead traffic lights, which was supported by former MP Baroness Virginia Bottomley and South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt, among others.

Following the official opening by transport secretary Philip Hammond, which for health and safety reasons was not open to the public, the first traffic was escorted through the southbound tunnel by a police escort. The second northbound tunnel opened to traffic a few days later.

Speaking at the event, Mr Hammond said: "This is another one of the 'missing links' in Britain's trunk road network now put in place.

"For years traffic has been held up at the Hindhead crossroads, hampering the flow of goods and services along this vital artery and blighting the lives of people living in and around Hindhead.

"No longer. This new road will transform journeys on the A3, improving journey times by around 20 minutes or more at busy periods, and will deliver a threefold return on investment for the economy."

Mr Hammond was joined for the opening ceremony by culture secretary and South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt, who was one of the first people to walk through the tunnel in May. He addressed the gathered guests first, paying tribute to the work of his predecessor, Baroness Virginia Bottomley, and her husband Peter Bottomley, a former transport minister, who together campaigned for better roads around Hindhead for over 20 years.

He praised the "tenacity" of the neighbouring communities, attributing the project's success to their "patience, tolerance and understanding" during the long period of building work.

Andrew McNaughton, chief operating officer at Balfour Beatty, who won the tender for the project in 2000, thanked his team and that of the Highways Agency.

It is hoped that the tunnel will cut the number of rush-hour traffic jams, and restore tranquility to the area, the Devil's Punchbowl,

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recognised as being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a conservation area for wild birds. Previously, traffic would be backed-up for several miles, polluting the surrounding environment with both noise and exhaust fumes.

Work is now underway to return the old A3 to nature, reuniting the Devil's Punchbowl with Hindhead Common for the first time in almost 200 years.

Wa l e s

Work on £35m Porthmadog bypass progressing well Work on one of the largest construction projects currently underway is progressing well.

The £35m Tremadog, Porthmadog and Minffordd bypass is being built for the Welsh Assembly Government under a joint venture partnership of Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros (Civil Engineering). The new section of the A487 carriageway will improve journey times, ease congestion and enable current through traffic. The route will start at the western end of Tremadog, not far from Ysbyty Alltwen, and then follow a line passing south of Tremadog Village and north of Porthmadog.

and Jones Brothers took possession of the Ffestiniog railway in order to complete the construction of the new bridge. The tacks had been previously removed by the rail company and the removal of the underlying earth was allowed to proceed, followed quickly by the construction of the concrete abutments for the steel bridge. The bridge itself was built on trestles on site in advance of it being slid into its final position on Monday 7th February 2011. Finishing works were then completed before handing back to the rail company on schedule the following Monday.

A temporary bridge was also built across the track at Minffordd, which allowed the road construction team to transport approximately 10,000m³ of excavated material from the Minffordd section straight onto the bypass site without the need for heavy wagons to traverse the local roads.

Other work includes essential road work between Penmorfa and Tremadog.

When complete, it will be 5.3km long and 7.3km wide, plus hard shoulder and verges. It will involve three roundabouts, three junctions and eight bridges, including a landmark threespan viaduct over the Glaslyn Estuary.

Deputy First Minister leuan Wyn Jones hailed the £35m bypass project during a visit to the site on Thursday 31st March. He said: “I am extremely pleased to be here today to see firsthand just how much has been achieved so far.

“While local residence will be eagerly awaiting news of its completion, I am sure they will be extremely happy with this impressive scheme and welcome the reduced levels of congestion as well as carbon emissions.

“This bypass will be good news for the local economy and the regeneration of the wider area – it is another example of our commitment to improving transport links in every part of Wales.

In early January, the joint venture between Balfour Beatty

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Top award for builder of college’s state of the art learning centre A state of the art educational building in Wales has won a top award for a major local builder.

Built by Anwyl Construction, the ground-breaking new Learning Centre at Deeside College’s Northop site is North Wales’s best new education building and a special slate plaque has been presented to the college to mark the accolade.

The £2.1 million centre has a range of eco-friendly features including full ground source heating, solar-powered ventilation systems, sun-pipe illumination, rainwater harvesting and a lighting system which automatically reacts to the levels of natural light and the activity in the building.

The building was voted the best new educational building for 2011 by the people whose job it is to supervise all building work: local authority building control officers from across North Wales.

It has also received a big ‘thumbs up’ from Deeside College Principal David Jones who said, “It’s a brilliant building. The work we’ve done with Anwyls to design and build it has really led to something that we’re very proud of.

“It has transformed the entrance to the college site and provides an excellent learning environment for the students that come here to Northop.

“It’s a flexible building and we’re able to make really good use of it because it also lends itself to events. We hosted a meeting of CBI Wales here and businesspeople from right across the country were really impressed by it.

“Its environmental credentials are second to none – it’s very cost efficient and it’s working for us. It’s got to be the way forward for building.

“This is a gorgeous site with so much potential and the developments we have made with Anwyls are a big part of realising our vision for it. The simple test is that people are always wowed by what they see when they come onto the site and when they go into the building.”

Anwyls Director Tom Anwyl said: “We’re very pleased with how the work has gone and are delighted to have provided such an iconic building for the college.

“We have a long established relationship with Deeside College

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and we’re very well used to working with each other and we have previously provided specialist teaching and student facilities at Deeside College as well as the new building studies complex.

“It is very exciting to be involved in such ground-breaking work in the use of renewable technology in building but we do have considerable experience working in this field.

“We are also used to working in ecologically sensitive environments and have the range of competencies which enable us to do such high specification work.

“What we feel is really important though is that these contracts have gone to a North Wales firm so that the money will stay in the area and help consolidate jobs and the local economy.”

Project Manager for the Northop site has been Charlie Shaw and he said: “A lot of the work we have done here is very advanced, particularly in relation to the provision of renewable energy such as ground source and air source heating and buildings such as the new Learning Centre are of excellent standard.

“We had to cope with extremely cold weather when we began work which involved drilling 14 100-metre shafts for the ground source heating but it’s worked perfectly because last winter was the coldest for a long time and the heating worked perfectly.”

The building, which houses a learning zone and library as well as a cafeteria and lecture rooms, even boasts an Eco-Warrior system which gives an on-screen display of how the renewable elements of the system are performing.

Site Manager Ed Wild, from Blacon, Chester, who learned his trade as a bricklayer at Deeside College where he was Apprentice of the Year, said: “We’ve had a really good relationship on site with the College and they’ve been excellent to work with.

“It’s been very interesting work to be involved with and it has been ongoing so it has been great to see the building taking shape and then to see it in use and doing what it was built for.”

The project is one of a number of major contracts which Anwyl has been engaged in at some of North Wales’s most prestigious learning establishments, including Glyndwr University in Wrexham, Coleg Menai, Llangefni, and Llandrillo College, Rhos on Sea.

The spotlight’s on sustainability at Western Solar Park Wales’ first large-scale solar farm is now harvesting energy in North Pembrokeshire to power arts programmes in the local area.

Glen Peters is managing the solar farm for Western Solar Ltd, the owners and operators of the new park. Speaking to Premier Construction, he explained that the vision in building the park was “to create a solar park which would create an income-stream for the arts centre.” Profits generated from the solar farm will be put towards supporting the Oak Hall venue in Rhosygilwen, itself an eco-friendly building, with the aim of encouraging the arts to thrive as a means of regeneration for the rural community.

The site at Rhosygilwen is now home to ten thousand solar panels with a 1MW capacity, enough to power three hundred homes.

Bringing up-to-the-minute technology into a traditionally rural location, the word ‘futuristic’ springs to mind. The panels were procured from Californian manufacturers MiaSolé, who are pioneers in thin-film photovoltaic technology. Their copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) model is now established as one of the highest-efficiency, lowest-cost solar energy solutions, and proved ideal for this venture.

then everything was shipped to site and constructed here, and we used local labour for all the civils works.”

When the solar farm is eventually decommissioned, it will be a simple process to remove the panels, which are themselves recyclable, being made of glass, and return the original use. In fact, the land can still be used as grazing land, since the panels have been orientated to allow rain-water fall between the arrays, meaning that grass growth is only inhibited by around 15%.

Contrasting with its low impact environmental credentials, the solar park is set to have a high impact on the surrounding community, who have so far been highly supportive of the development. Rhosgyliwen has enjoyed a summer of arts celebrations, including the 2011 festival over the August bank holiday weekend at which the theme was ‘art from recycled resources’, and residents are looking forward to many more years of cultural and economic growth.

Western Solar have employed the very best from around the world, including Czech firm Fitcraft who were EPC Contractor and using Danish inverters, before combining all the prefabricated part on site.

But this project is also completely focused on the immediate community. Glen Peters explained how the solar park had been installed so as not to compromise on the rural heritage of the area: “Planning required that it was all completely recyclable, so that the site can be returned back to its agricultural state. We didn’t use any concrete in the foundations: we used ground screws and aluminium frames. We prefabricated everything off-site and ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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£5m Deeside Leisure Centre refurbishment on track Phase 2 of the £5m refurbishment project underway at Deeside Leisure Centre in West Queensferry, Flintshire, was completed on 23rd August 2011.

The phase, which had a contract value of £1,500,000 and began in March 2011, included the internal refurbishment of the centre. This comprised the conversion of the old first floor nightclub into an 80-station fitness suite that features free weights, Technogym resistance and cardiovascular equipment as well as an interactive area suitable for both youth and adults alike.

There are also two new aerobic studios and a Shapemaster Feel Good toning salon, which features both Powertone tables and Easytone chairs. Changing rooms have also been built to accommodate the customers of the new facilities. The facilities are designed to appeal to all ages, including people with disabilities, mobility and stability issues, as well as those recovering from an injury or simply wanting to lose weight.

Alliance Leisure, the appointed Flintshire County Council framework partner, have financed and delivered the project and engaged with Salford-based ISG Regions for the construction and Pozzoni for architectural services.

The phase was part of a £5m investment in the centre by Flintshire County Council, who have formed a five-year Leisure Strategy that provides a vision with strategic framework to guide and drive the development and improvement of Leisure provision within Flintshire. The strategy recognises the need for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to be part of an active community, whilst noting the key role that leisure plays in making positive contributions to education, economic development, physical and mental health, active lifestyles and reducing antisocial behaviour. Flintshire’s key partners in delivering the strategy include, amongst many: Communities First, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Sports Council for Wales and the Welsh Assembly.

The Welsh Assembly Government has also published a Cultural Strategy for Wales, which states: ‘Sport is both an inseparable part of any country’s cultural identity and a vital element in pro-

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moting health, individual fulfilment and social interaction.’

Councillor Dennis Hutchinson, Flintshire’s executive member for leisure, said: “Our aim is to encourage more people to take part in regular sport and physical activity to ensure wide-ranging health and social benefits throughout Flintshire.

“People are in for a real treat this month; our new facilities are welcoming, inspiring and a pleasure to visit.

“Despite the current financial climate affecting local authorities, the council has worked hard to inspire its local community with future proof leisure provision. In these difficult financial times, when all the talk is of public sector budget cuts, partnering with a private sector company has allowed us to make facility and service improvements for the benefit of our community.”

Phase 1 of the project comprised the creation of six floodlit 5-a-side pitches, catering for both adult and junior football.

Phase 3, which is scheduled for completion around Christmas time, will comprise the conversion of the venue’s ‘Arena’ – into a new extreme sports facility. It will feature a 1,452m² (15,629 ft²) indoor wooden ramp area for skateboarders, skaters and BMXers; a high ropes course; a climbing tower; and a bouldering facility. It will be the largest indoor wheel sport facility in the country. In addition, Wales’ first public sector day spa will be created, along with a soft play area for children. This phase is expected to cost £2.8mm.

The designs for the new facilities are sympathetic to the local environment and ensure that water, energy and materials are used efficiently and effectively. For example, as the project was short on substation electricity, additional power-saving methods were put in place; this included the use of T5s instead of light bulbs and gas air conditioning instead of electrical as well as installed solar panels to the roof.

Mike Welch, Arena manager for the Deeside Leisure Centre project noted that the project was going well. He recognised the significance of this exciting project, saying: “We’re going to have the first public spa in Wales, and one of the largest skate parks in the UK.”

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Leading the field: catching up with preparations for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games In 2007 Glasgow became the third Scottish city awarded the honour of hosting the Commonwealth Games. Work on the new facilities may be advancing quietly behind the smokescreen of London 2012, but Glasgow is getting ready to take the world by storm.

energy-efficient homes. 700 riverside homes will be created in time for the Games, with a further 750 to be constructed after the event, in a drive to create a highly desirable new residential district, which will also include a 120 bed care home and feature a waterfront beach.

The Athletes’ Village

A variety of energy-efficient features will reduce carbon emissions in the homes by 60%, and they are also built from lowcarbon materials, as part of the drive for a ‘green’ Games.

At the beginning of June the City Legacy Consortium set to work on the £150 million housing development to be used as the Athletes’ Village. The City Legacy Consortium is a collaboration between CCG, Cruden, Mactaggart & Mickel and W H Malcolm, who beat off fierce competition to win the contract. This project offers a real boost to the construction industry in the area, with the Consortium stating that they will employ 620 people on the site, including 84 apprentices.

The site in Dalmarnock covers 38.5 hectares and will comprise accommodation for up to 8,000 competitors in low-rise,

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Delivery of the Athletes’ Village is currently running on track and on budget, with all involved parties recognising that impressive and welcoming accommodation will be key to the success of the games. However, this is also an investment in the longterm future of the community, creating homes, jobs and training opportunities.

The Venues The city’s strong bid for the Games was supported by the fact

current playing surface by 1.5 metres and installing a running track, warm up track and field-events facilities.

Exciting new additions to the venues currently available in the city include the National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) and velodrome which, like almost all of the venues, are well within 20k of the Athletes’ Village. Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd are building the facilities over 10.5 hectare site in Glasgow’s East End, and these will form one of the largest indoor sports centres in Europe.

Named after the man who became a Scottish hero in the Beijing Olympics, the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will be the country’s first indoor velodrome, featuring a 250m track with a target of 4,000 seat capacity during the Games. Meanwhile the NISA will host the badminton tournament at the Games, and will also become the national training centre for a range of sports. The two venues will share athlete training and conditioning facilities.

that 70% of the facilities needed were already in place, and would only need up-grades and temporary additions to make them suitable sites for various events.

One such tried-and-tested site is Strathclyde Park, which already boasts the world-class Scottish Rowing Centre, and is also a regular host of triathlon events. A series of works will be carried out at the park, which will be equipped with seating for 2,000 spectators in 2014, and may also benefit from transport upgrades. Temporary facilities will be installed to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Games Federation and the International Federation of Triathlon, but at the end of the events Strathclyde Park will be left in a position to provide quality training grounds and host further major events.

Hampden Park is another landmark that will receive a major makeover for the Commonwealth Games, where it will host athletics events. One motive behind converting the stadium rather than building one from scratch is the comparative ecofriendliness of a conversion. The works will include raising the

Other facilities built on the site will include a community sports centre with provision for a range of sports, health and fitness suite, and the use of the high-spec, sprung-floored NISA sports halls.

Overall the construction of the new venue offers employment for 200 workers, including opportunities for 20 new apprenticeships.

At a ceremony marking the commencement of works on the site, Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: “The beginning of the construction of the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is another landmark towards the creation of a world-class sporting complex for Glasgow.”He went on to say that he expected further international events to be staged there in the future, saying: “This will undoubtedly be a fantastic asset to Glasgow and Scotland.”

Working closely with the Glasgow 2014 Bid Team and architects RMJM, UK firm DesignHive created stunning CGIs and animations of the proposed venues, which proved to be an invaluable component of the bid campaign. Now these dreams are becoming a reality, and Glasgow looks forward to welcoming the world.

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Scotland taking Stepps to connect its roads Transport Scotland, an agency of the Scottish government, has been handed the responsibility of delivering an upgrade of the A80 Glasgow to Stirling Trunk Road between Stepps and Haggs to motorway standard.

The DBFO contract is between the Scottish ministers and the appointed consortium, HMC (Highway Management Construction), which is a joint venture between John Graham Ltd, Farrans Ltd, and Bilfinger Berger AG civil. The company has employed BEAR to take on the operation and maintenance; the project is currently being site managed by Jacobs Engineering.

The upgrade will see approximately 8km of new motorway constructed through green field sites, and 10km of upgrade work on the existing A80. The Stepps and Haggs route will connect via the Auchenkilns grade separated junction, an existing section of road that was built prior to the new contract and opened in 2006. The junction was designed under a separate design and build contract and has served to mitigate the traffic disruption caused by the current work. Isis Total Cleaning Solutions are pleased to be involved with the M80 upgrade project, cleaning all the offices, houses, portacabins and welfare cabins for the workers on site.

The M80 contract is valued at approximately £320 million, which includes a 30 year road maintenance plan.

Progress so far Development of the A80 road upgrades has made significant progress in the past three months with a spokesperson from Transport Scotland stating, “The scheme is progressing well and works are on target to be completed on time.”

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The Hornshill Junction (Stepps) to Mollinsburn was completed in November 2010. Following suit with regards to completion are: the new Hornshill Junction over-bridge, Lindsaybeg road over-bridge, the Auchengeich road over-bridge, the Mollinsburn to Gartferry link road over-bridge and the North road over-bridge to name a few. All were completed in the second half of 2010, meeting their assessed schedules, and are now open to traffic.

Significant progress has been made at the Mollinsburn Interchange in the last few months. This is the most complex stage of the project, providing accessto the M73 and other local access roads, but so far the old M73 road bridge has been demolished and a new roundabout has been constructed. Further works will continue into the Autumn to complete roundabouts and slip roads connecting up the M80 a and local road networks with the M73. An altered traffic layout will be implemented to ensure safety in the continuing works.

Refurbishment and widening works have also been completed recently, to three existing under road bridges: Dullatur Road, Old Inns and Forest Road. This is on the stretch of the new road between Auchenkilns and Haggs, where final carriage works are now underway.

Elsewhere, a new bridge to carry the realigned Castlecary Road through an arch of the existing Castlecary viaduct, and works to protect the viaduct piers at four different points have been completed.

Several parts of the overall project are expected to be completed soon, including the Auchengeich road bridge. Road works to the southern approach of the North Road bridge and construction of the Kilsyth road over bridge are on target to be finished in the Summer 2011.

Construction News

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Jim Martin raises the roof

The Miller Homes Site Manager for the Regents Park development in Crossgates, Fife, has been commended for the work produced by Jim Martin and his team.

Jim said it was a really good feeling to have won his second NHBC award, telling Premier Construction that the competition becomes tougher each year: “Once you’ve won a Pride In The Job award you’ve got to show the improvement to get your second,” he explained.

“You’ve got to add that bit more detail.”

In particular, Jim said that the team have tried to raise the standard of roofing within the housing development. “It’s something the NHBC have particularly honed in on recently in Scotland and England. They’ve had a lot of people making claims, so it was something that we especially tried to focus on.”

The on-site team have done him proud this time. “I’ve had the same team for the last year and a half. It has seemed a lot harder this year, but we’ve produced that bit more detail that won us our second award.”

It certainly hasn’t been an easy project, requiring expert management on Jim’s part and a team who are right behind him.

Stepping on from the original plan of building three, four and five- bedroom homes on the site, the team is now working on three individual sites on the development; they have taken on work from another contractor so are now also building one and two-bedroom homes. Taking over unfinished work has also involved re-grouting the units which had already been built over a twelve-week period.

“It’s been tough trying to keep on top of everything, managing that process as well as your original programme. It’s been a hard year, put it that way!”

They are delaying partying on the site until they get their NHBC flag, but Jim assured us that there will certainly be celebrations then.

Currently they are working on twenty-eight

NHBC inspectors impressed by West Windygoul development Ian Ireland has recently won his third NHBC Pride In The Job Award for his work on the Walker Group development West Windygoul in Tranent, Scotland.

The Site Manager told Premier Construction that it was “absolutely wonderful” to have won the award, saying that he was thoroughly pleased with the work that his team had put in. All the team were congratulated when the director visited the site after the awards had been announced. The team are also looking forward to celebrating their success together, with Ian saying he expected that they’d go out for a few drinks.

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units, and Jim expects to be working on the site for another year and a half to complete a further forty units.

Already there are customers moving into the existing housing, which presents further challenges: “You’ve got to make sure that the clients living there are happy with operations on-site. It should be like we’re not even there, it’s so clean and tidy,” Jim said.

Having got into the industry at the age of fifteen through his father’s building firm and working his way up the ranks through different companies, Jim hopes that he can keep raising his game and will no doubt prove a tough competitor in the awards next year.

before they start looking round and showing a real interest – and that does slow the market.”

West Windygoul comprises forty-nine houses in a mixture of styles - including detached, semis and terraced housing. The NHBC site now demonstrates that difficult sales are by no means a reflection of the quality and desirability of the development.

Ian started out in the construction industry as an apprentice joiner at the age of seventeen. He joined the Walker Group twelve years later as an Assistant Manager, and for the last few years has been a Senior Site Manager.

He won his previous two NHBC Awards in 2008 and 2009 for The Elms at Meadowparks, another development in Tranent that incorporated a very wide range of sizes and styles of family homes in many new and green designs. The development borders on open countryside and the layout is designed to be family-orientated. Ian is glad to have continued his success this year and hopes to add to his collection of awards in the future.

When asked what it was that he thought had impressed the NHBC inspectors so much, Ian said: “I think it’s the sharpness of the houses, the general tidiness of the site and the attention to detail when they actually go into the houses and see the quality inside.”

This award has been an especial encouragement in a time when selling houses is tough, Ian commented: “It’s absolutely wonderful to have won this time, particularly with the climate in the industry at the moment.” Work on the NHBC site continues, with construction around halfway through. Ian described how the site was slowing down due to the tentative nature of prospective buyers. “We’re building to demand now, but people are cautious about buying – they want to sell their own houses ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Raising the community spirit in Stonehouse

A new £6.525 million multi-use community centre is under construction for Stonehouse, in East Kilbride, replacing the existing Stonehouse Institute and Public Hall.

The project is being carried out for South Lanarkshire Council

by Main Contractors Gilbert Ash. Responding to the wider needs of the local community, and scheduled to be completed by winter 2011, the centre will include a new community hall with kitchen and bar facilities, sound and lighting systems and can be sub-divided to allow different sized group activities.

The centre will also have a community café area with meals and snacks on offer as well as a range of meeting rooms for local groups and visiting services from the council and its partner organisations for housing surgeries, benefits enquiries and health activities.

Specialist facilities for adult day care including group rooms, a cinema room, arts and crafts room, multi sensory room and a quiet room will also be available for community use out with office hours.

The centre will also include a landscaped garden area at the back of the building.

Councillor Gerry Convery, the chair of the council's Community Resources Committee, said: "This facility which is fully funded by the council, will be a great facility for the people of Stonehouse and is another in the line of very successful integrated community facilities throughout South Lanarkshire.

"I am sure the people of Stonehouse and the surrounding area will be delighted with their new facility."

Raymond Gilroy, the contract director for Gilbert Ash NI Ltd,

Coca-Cola toasts success of latest expansion project A project to construct a new pre assembly building, as well as to carry out other improvements, has recently been successfully completed at Coca-Cola Enterprises, 52 Milton Road, College Milton Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, Glasgow.

The project was carried out by Main Contractors Marshall Construction, with CRGP Ltd as Project Architects.

The works included demolition of an existing loading canopy and construction of the pre-assembly building, as well as the construction of a new loading canopy incorporating an extension to the yard area. Other works comprised alterations to the parking layout, relocation of an FLT wash/recycling point and external alterations.

The new single storey 1,385 sq m building is structured around a steel frame with concrete flooring and external elevations in profiled metal cladding, incorporating roller shutter doors, aluminium framed windows and a profiled sheeting roof. The building has an electric heating system, a fire detection, fire alarm and sprinkler system, and security features including a door entry system and CCTV. Coca Cola Enterprises, Inc. is the world's third largest independent Coca Cola bottler. In the UK, Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) employs around 4,500 people across England, Scotland and Wales at manufacturing sites, regional offices and depots.

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said: "We are delighted to be constructing the new facility and to be working with the council to complete an outstanding quality project.”

The history of Coca-Cola started in Atlanta in 1899 when Pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton first produced Coca Cola syrup for sale in fountain drinks. That same year two Chattanooga businessmen secured exclusive rights to bottle and sell Coca Cola for most of the United States and the first franchise began operations began in 1901.

Marshall Construction has built a reputation as one of Scotland’s foremost independent building contractors through its policy of astute business, top quality workmanship, competitive tendering and reliability.

For over 20 years, the company’s success in the industrial, commercial and residential new build, maintenance and refurbishment markets has been achieved through the commitment, knowledge and expertise of their directly employed multi-skilled workforce, together with a corporate philosophy dedicated to customer care and quality of product.

New Carluke Tesco store to open doors to customers this month Tesco is to open another multimillion pound supermarket on the old site of the Loch Park Stadium in Carluke, Strathclyde and Glasgow.

from Glasgow, Edinburgh and other parts of Lanarkshire.

The Loch Park site was zoned for food retail development in South Lanarkshire Council's 2007 draft Local Plan in an attempt to address the shortfall of retail floor space in areas such as Carluke. In 2008, Tesco revealed its controversial proposal to build the store on the 4000sqm site. South Lanarkshire Council approved plans to redevelop Loch Park Stadium for retailing and in April 2011 bulldozers arrived on the site for demolition. In May 2011, CAB Civil and Environmental Engineering won a new contract to carry out enabling works in preparation for the new store for Advance Construction Scotland, who were awarded the groundworks package by Barr Retail.

The new supermarket is due to open its doors on September 19th 2011.

Opening hours will be from 6am-midnight Monday to Saturday and 8am-10pm on Sunday.

The project involved the provision of earthworks, bulk modification, a stabilised vibro piling platform and capping replacement at Carluke’s former Loch Park Stadium site. The Carluke store is constructed from sustainable materials, using a timberframe structure and timber cladding and finishes. Other features include re-use of ‘grey’ water and roof lights to minimise solar heat gain and cold air retrieval. Parking space for over 250 cars has been created.

The site was previously used by football teams, including Carluke Rovers, and also by local athletes. Under the deal, South Lanarkshire will use an estimated £3.75m to build a new football field and running track on a site next to Carluke High.

Tesco insists that the new supermarket would sit comfortably within the surrounding area without having an adverse impact on residential amenity, road or traffic issues and protected species.

The scheme has created around 200 store jobs. When these were advertised recently, more than 800 people applied. A management team from Tesco liaised closely with the local Jobcentre and held their recruitment base at the community hall in Carluke, which resulted in a large proportion of new jobs being given to residents of the town.

Tesco has outlined measures aimed at reducing car use by Carluke customers including making home shopping available, having a free in store telephone to arrange a taxi home, and putting a notice board at the entrance showing bus, train and cycle routes. The development may lead to an increase in the number of commuters using existing train and bus services to Carluke

Sutherland blown away by £29m Kilbraur wind farm extension The extension to the Kilbraur wind farm, located in Strath Brora, Sutherland, adjacent to Kilbraur Hill and Ben Horn (approximately 10km northwest of Golspie) is now reaching completion. Ken Hardie, Project Manager for Falck Renewables Wind Ltd., who are carrying out the scheme, commented that the time targets specified have been met.

The original project in 2008 consisted of nineteen 2.5MW wind turbines. The turbines are N90 Nordex turbines: they are 70m in height, with 45m blades or a 90m diameter. In 2009, planning permission was granted for an extension to the wind farm to add an additional 8 turbines. These turbines are identical in performance to the original, apart from the detail that the new turbines have an 80m tower instead of 70m.

Erection of the new turbines began in March of this year, after civil works which began in October 2010. The project has cre-

ated around 30 construction jobs and final commissioning is in progress. It is expected to be fully operational in September 2011.

The construction of the 20MW extension to the existing site brings the Kilbraur project up to a total installed capacity of 67MWM, which will produce approximately 200GWh per year, cutting annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 86,000 tons per year. The wind farm generates clean, green electricity to thousands of homes and helps to reduce reliance on the existing less sustainable energy resources.

Any proposal to construct or operate a power generation scheme with a capacity in excess of 50MW requires Scottish Ministers’ consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

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turbines and watching briefs to safeguard local archaeology; an archaeological clerk of works was employed accordingly.

Falck Renewables had to consider the environmental impacts of the extension to the wind farm, as the Sutherland coast is an environmentally sensitive area. The project had to comply with Schedule 9 of the 1989 Electricity Act, which imposes upon the developer the responsibility to “have a regard to the desirability of preserving the natural beauty of the countryside, of conserving flora, fauna and geological and physiological features of special interest and of protecting sites, buildings and objects of architectural, historic or archaeological interest.”

The wind farm is owned by Kilbraur Wind Energy Limited (KWEL), which is a subsidiary of Falck Renewables Wind Ltd. The project was developed with RDC Scotland in association with West Coast Energy Limited. Royal Bank of Scotland plc (RBS) provided a loan to fund the project alongside Falck’s equity.

In order to meet the requirements of the Schedule, the project had to be compatible with service provision and demonstrate sensitive siting and high quality design that is in keeping with the local character and historical natural environment by making use of appropriate materials.

Ken Hardie said: “As part of our initial preparation for the project back in 2005, we prepared environmental impact assessments, which identified the environmental issues on site that needed to be mitigated against. The planning associated with each phase of development incorporated a number of conditions to ensure environmental protection. Additionally a wide ranging habitat management plan has been adopted by Falck, which will run for the life of the wind farm with the aim of improving the habitat quality through management practices.”

Ornithological concerns were voiced at the conception stage of the project but detailed observations of breeding and flight activity as part of the EIA process suggested minimal impacts on the native moorland species. Monitoring of raptor and diver breeding activity is ongoing as part of the habitat management plan objectives. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (LRA) needed to be complied with during construction as Access Rights applied to the site. On site, there was a regularly updated site plan showing alternative routes for walkers. The Council Archaeology Unit also requested mitigation on micro-siting of

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Mr Piero Manzoni, CEO of Falck Renewables, stated: “The Kilbraur project is consistent with our business plan, focusing on high wind speed locations and, where possible, to steadily increase the installed capacity of existing projects.”

Schools Modernisation Programme rolls out across Lanarkshire new homes which are planned for the town.

Kier Construction are delivering approximately twelve schools in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council.

Cairns Primary School At Cairns Primary School in Cambuslang, a £7.1 million new build is also being carried out by Kier, who will create new classrooms, a nursery and associated facilities over two storeys. The external works include the installation of a multi-use games area and a sixty-three space car park, as well as improving both pedestrian and road access onto the site.

South Lanarkshire Council is investing £812 million in upgrading facilities at all the primary schools in the region. The programme is around 50% of the way through so far, with fifty new schools built and three refurbishments now complete. Several secondary schools are also being upgraded in a similar scheme.

Two schools which are being worked on this year are Woodhead Primary School and Cairns Primary School, where pupils are able to watch their new classrooms and facilities rise before their very eyes.

Woodhead Primary Pupils at Woodhead Primary School have been looking on as their new £6.5 million school is built in close proximity to the existing buildings.

Construction of the new school began in January 2011, when main contractors Kier Construction moved onto the site. Pupils and teachers gathered around their old playground to watch the ‘ground breaking’ ceremony taking place on the 23rd and released biodegradable Chinese lanterns to celebrate the occasion.

The new Woodhead Primary is being constructed in two phases, with the first of these due for completion in early 2012.

Phase One is a three-storey building which will incorporate several different facilities. There will be fourteen classrooms, a gym hall, a canteen and associated facilities such as open learning and small group work areas. Outside, a Multi-Use Games Area all-weather pitch will be erected.

In the second phase of the build, another block comprising additional classrooms and a nursery will be constructed to complete the wide range of new facilities from which pupils will soon benefit.

It is a challenging site to build on as there will be many children in close proximity for much of the process. The reduced playground area also means that the school has introduced phased play times. However, this building project could prove an inspiration to a new generation of young builders as the children watch their school take shape.

The old school buildings have stood on the site for thirty-three years, and comprise thirteen classrooms, a hall and two activity areas in a semi open-plan layout. The building work currently underway will take the school into a new era, and looks further ahead, creating the potential for more extension works which would allow the school to take on children from two thousand ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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S c otl a n d As with Woodhead Primary, it is expected that the works will be completed within a year, and the children are remaining in the existing building while construction progresses.

Kier Construction have already undertaken the construction work for a number of schools in the area, delivering the most

recent – Auchinraith Primary School in Blantyre – two weeks ahead of schedule. Besides Woodhead and Cairns Primary Schools, the firm have also been given the contract for the replacement of Hunter Primary School in East Kilbride.

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 Irvine-Meadowhead 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

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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.

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 IrvineMeadowhead 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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Final phase of waste water network upgrade progresses towards completion

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

The first four previous phases of improvements to the network were designed to increase the pumping capacity from Kinloch Park Pumping

Station to Slaty Farlan Waste Water Treatment Works and extend the outfall at the pumping station.

The final phase of the work is being carried out

by Black & Veatch, which will improve the pumping station and provide storm treatment at the WWTW and increased foul treatment. Part of the work includes improvements to the sewer network and increased capacity in the Main Street, McCallum Street and St John Street area of the town centre.

The current fifth phase involves an investment of about £10 million and will take Scottish Water’s investment in all phases of the improvement work to about £23 million.

Mr Eddie Burns, the project manager, said: “This phase is a key stage of our programme of work on the long-term solution for Campbeltown’s waste water network and will

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build on the good work already carried out.

“The completed improvement work has reduced the frequency of discharges of storm water in storm conditions to Campbeltown Loch in compliance with existing consents from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.”

Mrs Jane McKenzie, Scottish Water’s regional community manager, said: “Scottish Water has worked with the local community, Argyll & Bute Council and SEPA during the delivery of the all phases of our work.”

Heriot-Watt University’s new student villages: Edinburgh Campus and Scottish Borders Campus In spring 2011 work started on a £26m parallel project at HeriotWatt University’s Edinburgh and Scottish Borders Campus to develop new student villages. Both projects are due for completion in summer 2012.

Contractor Morgan Sindall is responsible for handling the Edinburgh Campus construction, whilst the Scottish Borders Campus is under contractor Miller Construction; both contractors having been awarded the turnkey contract following a competitive tendering exercise. Capita are the Contact Administrators and Engineers; RMJM is sub-contracted to Capita as architects.

Self-funded by Heriot-Watt University, the Scottish Borders Campus project is valued at £13m and the Edinburgh Campus project at £12M. The project is the latest investment by the university to reinforce its commitment to the “student experience” and to ensure that the Heriot-Watt students have access to generous living space and facilities which are at the leading edge of market expectations.

Both of the new Edinburgh and Scottish Borders Campus residences developments will replace ageing provisions with modern, attractive and welcoming accommodation. Some of the existing residences, which were built in the early 1970s and are reaching the end of their useful life, will be demolished on completion of the new-build. Once completed, the new buildings will contain: multi-purpose rooms, conference facility, de-

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luxe rooms, single study rooms, shared kitchens and lounges, 5 bedroom ‘cluster’ flats and study lounges.

Both projects are being developed on campus and the construction contracts include exterior landscaping. The Edinburgh site was previously a Greenfield site and the Borders site is where the existing residences are situated. This poses Health and Safety challenges in terms of the building process; the Boarders site involves constructing new-build around existing operational residences, which requires significant Health and Safety provision to safeguard existing users.

The Edinburgh Campus buildings, which will have 273 bed

spaces, are being built on the west side of the University’s attractive, landscaped campus as a further expansion of the West Student Village. The buildings are planned as a contemporary re-interpretation of the traditional ‘university quad’ courtyard plan, surrounding an outdoor ‘social space’, designed to be used as an extension of the indoor space living space, Edinburgh weather permitting.

In Galashiels the new buildings will be developed in phases, following the recently completed major re-development of the academic facilities at the Scottish Borders Campus. The initial phase will provide 218 bed spaces, with additional 4-5 storey accommodation blocks, each containing 60 bed spaces to be considered and scheduled as later phases.

The University’s Principal, Professor Steve Chapman and Alison Harley, the Head of Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles and Design, were invited to cut the first piece of turf by Miller Construction’s Scottish Operations Director, Liam Hanlon.

Liam Hanlon, said: “We are delighted to be working with HeriotWatt University. Miller Construction has a reputation for the delivery of first-class student residencies and I am confident that this new accommodation will further enhance the University’s offer for learners, and contribute to the overall experience of those who choose to stay and study at the Galashiels campus.

“We are pleased to have marked the commencement of works with the Principal and look forward to working with the HeriotWatt team over the coming months.”

Traditional build and structure design will be used for both projects, and facing brick, curtain walling and aluminium profile roof will complete the exterior finish of the building. The buildings will achieve BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Environmental Performance ‘Excellent’ status and will be built under Considerate Constructors. Taplanes Ltd manufactured and supplied the en suite pods for the student bedrooms at Heriot Watt University. Subsequently the pre-fabricated bathrooms were delivered to site and craned directly into position.

Peter Kerr, Director of Estates, said of the buildings: “They are designed and produced to last forty or fifty years, utilising high quality materials and specifications selected for their durability and reduced whole life costs.

“The designs have been created in consultation with not only

experts in architecture, construction and energy/environmental management, but also with the staff who will operate and maintain them and, crucially, with students.”

Having considerably improved its position to 29th out of 120 UK universities in the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS), up from 47th last year, Heriot-Watt University’s new student villages will support a promising future for the University.

New concrete plant is first phase in firm’s expansion The successful completion of the construction of a new concrete batching plant, to produce ready mixed concrete for Grange Quarry Ltd, on a site at Kirkburn Industrial Estate in Lockerbie, has assisted in the company’s expansion.

The new plant, which was completed on programme and was up and running by June 2011, is the first phase of development for the company, with future plans including the construction of workshops, offices and sales areas.

Murray.

Grange Quarry Ltd. was founded in 2000 and has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of high quality aggregates and ready mixed concrete in Dumfriesshire and North Cumbria.

The company is a family run business supplying a wide range of customers; from the largest construction companies to the

The new plant was constructed on a 3.5 acre site purchased by the company, with the aim of the development being to increase capacity to supply larger projects and also to benefit from sales from passing trade in Lockerbie (the company’s current quarry base is around 10 miles from the town).

The new plant, which comprises a production line of equipment including hoppers, silos, bins, and other equipment required for the manufacture of concrete, measures a total of approximately 17m high, 60 m long and 20m wide, and was installed on top of a specially constructed concrete slab. The concrete slab was laid by David Hardie and the plant was supplied and erected

by Steelfields, who took a month to complete the assembly.

Levelling of the site was carried out by Scott Young, plans for the scheme were produced by Ashwood Design Associates and a large steel palisade around the new plant was erected by WJ ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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general public. They also run a fleet of their own tippers; ensuring prompt, professional deliveries.

For high quality aggregates, the company operates their own crushing and screening plants which allows them to make products specific to customers’ requirements.

Products include sub bases, crushed rock to appropriate gradings; general fill and capping materials and washed sand and gravels Steelfields Limited is Britain's leading manufacturer of concrete batching and concrete mixing plant for the production of high quality wet mix, half wet mix, dry mix, slurry batch and mortar.

Plant is constructed in modules, enabling the company to supply many units separately, including turbo pan mixers, counterflow planetary mixers, paddle mixers, drum mixers, cement/ powder storage silos, aggregate storage hoppers, screw and belt conveyors.

Three pre-lets already secured at £9m retail warehouse redevelopment at Faraday Retail Park Legal & General Property (LGP) has announced that, on behalf of the Life Fund, it has pre-let three of four retail warehouse units on the site of a former Tesco supermarket at Faraday Retail Park, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.

The demolition of the existing building commenced in January of this year.

The site of the former Tesco unit had been vacant since 2005, when LGP relocated the supermarket to a larger 103,000 sq ft anchor unit within the retail park. LGP successfully gained planning consent for the redevelopment of the existing unit to provide four new retail warehouse units totalling circa 41,000 sq ft, along with additional mezzanine floorspace.

3D Reid (Architects) Limited designed the scheme, CBA acted as the quantity surveyor (QS) and Beattie Watkinson as the consultant. Bowmer & Kirkland Limited appointed Deans Civil Engineering for the works, which included: earthworks, substructures, roads, concrete yards and a substantial drainage network inclusive of an attenuation system and an 11m deep manhole, which will be built over an existing culvert.

The development, which is expected to create around 50 new jobs, began in mid February 2011 and is intended to finish in mid February 2012.

The site is highly accessible; it is situated on the edge of the town adjacent to the South Circular Ring Road (A89) with second access from Coatbank Street (A725), providing easy access to Glasgow’s suburbs.

The retail units, which range in size from 9,500 sq ft to 14,000 sq ft, have been pre-let to Currys, Mothercare and Arcadia (trading as Outfit) on 10-year leases. The lettings have taken place at

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rents in the region of £19-20 psf, further driving rental levels on the park. The remaining unit will provide 7,180 sq ft and there is good demand for this accommodation. Current occupiers include: Matalan, Argos, Pets at Home, Next, Brantano, Comet, Instore and Carpetright. There are 1138 parking spaces available for approximately 57,000 weekly visitors (Source: Footfall Interactive).

James Whitehill, Senior Fund Manager at Legal & General Property, commented: “The development of these four new retail units at Faraday Retail Park is in line with the Fund’s strategy of driving asset management activities to underpin outperformance.

“This new development immediately adds value to the park whilst providing opportunities to further enhance rental levels over the medium to long term. The new tenant line-up re-positions the park and adds to its already strong retail offer, which should in turn attract additional occupiers to the scheme. The new units also provide an opportunity to re-invigorate the already open A1dominated tenant mix, which will further add to the overall appeal of the park to its shoppers.”

St Andrew House, Glasgow, redeveloped from office block to Premier Inn Hotel Work is progressing on a £27.5 million project that sees the existing seventeen-story office building, St Andrew House, redeveloped into a Premier Inn Hotel.

The joint venture by Regent capital plc and ING is under the construction management of Mansell Construction Services Ltd, who are working alongside Ryder Architects.

St Andrew’s House in West Nile Street was built in the 1960s and is a prominent landmark within Glasgow city centre.

Whitbread, who own the Premier Inn Hotel brand, is investing the money on the tower, which will be the company’s fourth budget hotel in Glasgow.

Work started on the decayed structure in October 2010 and the refurbished 210-bed hotel is intended to open in August 2012, creating about 50 jobs.

The contract involves the re-cladding of the outside of the twostorey retail podium, which will remain occupied throughout the project. Empty units on the second floor will be converted into a reception area and restaurant for hotel guests.

In April 2011 works to strip concrete cladding from the existing tower block were proceeding apace thanks to the addition of mastclimbers, which made short order of a prefabricated façade on the derelict office tower. This top-down stripping will turn the tower see-through for a brief spell.

The process will then see the concrete panels replaced with a unitised glazing system as the development approaches its 2012 completion date. A layering treatment will be adopted in the modern façade, which features irregular strips of recessed

windows for vertical emphasis.

Callum Leslie, Mansell’s commercial director for Central Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have secured this contract, which highlights the company’s ability to secure high level projects in the Central Belt. St Andrew’s House has been a major feature of the Glasgow city centre skyline for almost five decades and we are looking forward to playing our role in renovating it. I am sure the building will play a key role in the area for many years to come.”

This contract is the first office-block-to-hotel conversion project in Scotland to benefit from the Business Premises Renovation Allowances Scheme – a government initiative to encourage the conversion and renovation of empty properties in key areas.

Whitbread bosses abandoned plans for a fourth Glasgow budget hotel two years ago because banks were not prepared to release funds due to the recession. However, the multi-million pound makeover was resurrected when Whitbread linked up with Dutch-based global financial company ING to agree a £42m package for nine new inns to be built across Scotland by the end of 2012. The West Nile Street project on St Andrew House is the largest and most expensive of these projects.

Britain’s biggest hotel and restaurant group also has Premier Inns in Argyle Street, George Square and Charing Cross. The latest work will add another major hotel to Glasgow’s increasing total. There are now 150 hotels, rating from two to five star, with a total capacity of more than 11,000 rooms.

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Northern Ireland Housing Profile A message from Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development

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Nelson McCausland has been a member of Northern Ireland’s Legislative Assembly since 2003, and now holds the office of Minister for Social Development. This month he talks Premier Construction through developments in the Northern Ireland social housing sector: “In just a few short months as Minister for Social Development, it is already clear to me that housing will be a central theme for my Department in the coming years as we seek to tackle disadvantage and build stronger, more sustainable communities.

“I have already identified that we must do more to increase the quality of housing, not just the quantity. I have visited a number of inner city housing schemes in Londonderry and Belfast in the past weeks to see for myself what needs to be done to increase the standard of our homes. Whilst we have undoubtedly made significant progress reducing unfitness levels in recent years, it is clear that more needs to be done.

“We must not let empty homes destabilise and blight communities by attracting anti-social behaviour as opposed to prospective new tenants. We are already bringing more than 50 empty homes in Antrim back into use and I want to see this replicated in other communities where we must be more imaginative in how we address the issue of empty homes.

“In terms of refurbishing existing homes, I am pleased to see that a community in Londonderry has already been imaginative in seeking to have much needed improvement work on their homes carried out by a new landlord. Fifty five homes in the Creggan Estate will transfer from Housing Executive ownership to a locally based Housing Association who will improve the homes with their own private finance, saving the public purse an estimated £2.5m that would otherwise have been needed for the Housing Executive to fund the work themselves.

“Whilst private house building has slowed down in recent years, I am pleased that the increased provision of social housing here has gone some way to supporting our construction industry through difficult times. I recently visited a new site in Lisburn where we are building 147 new homes. In Newcastle we have just started another scheme to deliver 130 new homes

and the investment in these two sites alone represents a significant boost for the economy here as we seek to once again build our economy. These projects will both sustain existing jobs and offer new opportunities.

“Over the next four years, despite what remains a very challenging economic backdrop, I plan to invest £460m to deliver 6,000 new homes. We will continue to press down on grant rates to make Housing Associations use their own resources much more than ever before. This funding will help protect jobs across the construction industry and wider supply chain, as well of course as helping those in greatest need with a home to call their own. But in supporting those in need, we must be aware that need changes and we must change with it, to make sure our resources are always properly targeted.

“For example, our population continues to grow and the number of households will also grow by 12% between 2008 / 2018.

During this same period, the number of people aged 75 and over will increase substantially by 43%. By 2023, 34% of all households will be single person. These changing demographics underline the need not simply for more housing, but for better design and innovation in our housing.

“So, as we slowly emerge from what has been a very difficult period for all those involved in construction, the outlook is more encouraging and the continuing need for well designed, good quality housing remains high. I will do all I can in the coming years to make sure we are best placed to meet that challenge head on.”

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Trinity Housing: The Sustainable Housing Association Trinity Housing Ltd has been registered with the Department for Social Development since 1977, and is a well-trusted developer providing Social Housing for the Elderly, General Needs Family Housing and Supported Accommodation. It also works closely with other organisations such as Health and Social Care Trusts to meet the needs of clients who require a higher level of support.

Trinity is also one of the founders of Apex Procurement NI Ltd, a firm established in 2009, for delivering Social Housing in accordance with the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development Procurement Strategy.

Having secured a reputation as a Housing Association offering expertise and a keen desire to communicate clearly with tenants, Trinity Housing Association is constantly reviewing their schemes with regard to providing innovative developments.

The Tudor Phase 4 project in Belfast is also in the pipelines, with a completion date of March 2012. The development is set over three sites: Agnes Street, Tudor Place and the Crumlin Road. When complete, the Agnes Street site will consist of: 2 x 5 people 4 bedroom general needs houses, 2 x 7 people 4 bedroom general needs houses and 1 x 6 person 4 bedroom wheelchair home. The Tudor Place site will comprise 2 x 5 per-

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son 3 bedroom general needs houses, whilst the Crumlin Road site will consist of 1 x 6 person 4 bedroom general needs house and 1 x 5 person 4 bedroom general needs house.

Bridge Street, Downpatrick Recently, Trinity Housing Association has collaborated with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and the Dementia Services Development Centre to create Supported Housing for those left more vulnerable with the illness.

Located on Bridge Street, Downpatrick, they have built a new Supported Housing Project comprising: twelve x three-person, two-bedroom apartments for the frail elderly with mild dementia; two x two-person, two-bedroom apartments and ten x one-person, one-bedroom apartments, for those suffering with moderate dementia. All built to wheelchair standard.

The scheme will be assessed under the Dementia Audit Tool, and aims to achieve ‘Gold Standard’ for the Best Practise, maximising funding to provide the highest standard of accommodation for the client group.

In order to minimise the environmental impact of the building, the scheme was designed to Code for Sustainable Homes Code Level 3 Standard, decreasing CO2 emissions as far as possible

by reducing heat loss and making use of a renewable energy resource with the inclusion of a Biomass Heating System.

In terms of land use, the building was specifically tailored to the site to maximise the site potential, yet also respect the historic significance of its location. The building groups together a series of self-contained units around landscaped gardens and terraces. This promotes outdoor leisure and recreational activities by providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment, while meeting all requirements of the Secured By Design programme.

(SUB) Grove Street (END SUB) Trinity’s concern for sustainability is carried through to all their recent developments, including a building project in Grove Street East, Belfast, which will be Northern Ireland’s very first Housing Association Scheme meeting Code for Sustainable

Home Code Level 4 requirements.

This project involves the construction of seventeen x two- and three-bedroom houses for general needs accommodation, and incorporates several ecologically-friendly features, to reduce CO2 emissions by 44%. These features include solar panels, low-energy technology, improved insulation and air-tightness, combined with air-source heating system and whole-house heat recovery and ventilation.

The use of these technologies grows out of Trinity’s sense of responsibility, a care for the environment and for those who will occupy the new accommodation. While these houses boast great ‘green’ credentials, such features will reduce fuel and water costs, another benefit to future tenants, helping to create sustainable homes for the future.

New build social housing provision peaks with Apex Under construction as part of a larger government scheme to boost the provision of social housing in Northern Ireland, are five general needs housing developments - all reported to be making good progress - being carried out for Apex Housing Association.

The schemes are being carried out as part of the Social Housing Development Programme funded by the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development.

“Although impending budget cuts will result in a decrease in the number of new build social housing schemes that we can deliver, we still have a large ongoing programme of housing developments that will be progressing over the next two or three years” said My Ray Forbes of Apex Housing Group.

Amongst the schemes currently underway are developments at Blighs Lane, Londonderry; Castlewellan Road, Newcastle, County Down; Martin’s Lane and Derrybeg Villas in Newry, County Down, and a rural development known as Rural Phase 8 in Counties Londonderry and Tyrone. “All the contractors are doing well and we are generally pleased with the progress of these schemes, which we anticipate will be completed on time” said Mr Forbes.

and three bedroom properties include mainly terraced and semi detached houses, together with a smaller number of apartments. This is the first social housing scheme in Newcastle for 30 years and, due to the high demand for this type of accommodation in the area, the project is a particularly welcome and significant development.

The scheme is being built on an empty site where initial operations included standard enabling works. “This development will go a long way in meeting the high demand for social housing in the Newcastle area” said Mr Forbes.

Two smaller schemes underway in Newry, County Down are at Martin’s Lane and Derrybeg Villas. Both are being carried out by Main Contractors O’Hanlon & Farrell. The Martin’s Lane development is a small scheme of six houses and the Derrybeg

At Blighs Lane, Londonderry, 61 two and three bedroom homes, including terraced and semi detached properties, are under construction. The homes, which are being built by Main Contractors O’Hare & McGovern, are being constructed on the former location of a factory, where enabling works were required due to the sloping nature of the site. The project, which has been on site for 12 months, will be handed over in phases, commencing November 2011.

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Villas scheme involves the construction of a single detached house to accommodate a large family. Both schemes are due for completion within the next two months.

The Rural Phase 8 scheme comprises the construction of four cottages in four seperate locations in Counties Londonderry and Tyrone. These homes, being constructed by Lowry Brothers Ltd, will replace properties which were no longer fit for purpose, and are due for completion in the next four weeks.

The accommodation and services which Apex Housing Association provides includes: general needs accommodation for families and single persons; purpose built accommodation for the elderly; supported housing for people with disabilities; support services for vulnerable groups; resource centres under the management of local communities, and mixed tenure developments to provide low cost home ownership options.

Apex Housing Association provides housing and support at affordable costs for those in need. The association recognises the particular requirements of families and individuals through the provision of accommodation and associated services for general needs, young people, active and frail older people and for those with mental health difficulties, learning difficulties and those requiring emergency shelter.

During 2010/11 Apex received government approval for the delivery of approximately 700 new dwellings. This was their largest development programme ever (299 in 2009/10) and has been achieved through committed effort and team working across the Development, Finance, Property Services and Housing Departments within the group’s head office. This equates to an investment of around £70 million of which £27 million is from private borrowing.

The association provides a range of dwelling types and support services to meet housing need identified in those local communities within which it operates.

This has been a huge achievement which had an immediate benefit for those working within the construction industry and eventually for those on the housing waiting list.

46 new homes to be built by Clanmil Housing at Sunnydale Gardens Nelson McCausland, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Social Development, has officially started a £7million family housing development in Ballysillan, Belfast.

The £7m scheme will comprise 38 houses and 8 apartments, all of which will be built to Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards, which will ensure added security for tenants and flexibility of adaptation if required at a later date. The houses, built by main contractor Hugh J O’Boyle, range from two to three and four bedrooms. Six of the apartments have been specifically designed to meet the needs of independent older people.

The superstructures comprise red facing brick with concrete tiled roofing and hardwood windows. In addition, the scheme

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has incorporated sidewalks and drainage.

Minister McCausland said: “These 46 new homes will be a welcome addition in an area that continues to have a high housing need. This significant investment will not only help to reduce waiting lists, but will bring new life back to this part of Belfast.

“These new modern homes have been designed to meet the needs of the local community. It is particularly pleasing to hear that residents who previously lived in the maisonettes that stood on this site in years gone by wish to stay in the area and will be allocated new homes in the scheme.”

He went on to say: “I’d like to thank the Housing Executive for their help in facilitating the new build alongside their existing properties and acknowledge the support of Joan Totten

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from North Belfast Alternatives, who has worked along with Sunningdale Community Centre and Clanmil to help ensure the scheme delivers for the local community.”

DSD funding £4.7m through the Housing Executive and Clanmil Housing funding £2.7m through private financing.

Clare McCarthy, Chief Executive of Clanmil Housing said: “Clanmil is committed to providing high quality homes for rent in areas of high housing need and we are delighted to see work start on the construction of these much needed new homes for North Belfast.

Hugh J O’Boyle has been established in the construction industry for over 60 years, constructing a range of buildings from social housing and schools to health and community centres.

Their management team has a combined experience of over 80 years.

“We have worked closely with local community and political representatives to get the scheme to this stage and very much appreciate their help and support. We look forward to welcoming our tenants to their new homes towards the end of next year and to continuing to work with the local community to ensure the future success of this scheme.”

Declan McCormick from Hugh J O’Boyle said: “We have been involved with Clanmil Housing Association for a number of years now and we have developed a great working relationship with them. We were extremely pleased to have been awarded the contract to build social housing and to be working with Clanmil Housing Association once again.”

Works are scheduled for completion in December 2012.

The total cost of the scheme is expcted to be £7.4m, with the

Project gives Belfast’s built heritage a new lease of life A Grade B listed former primary school is being transformed into an impressive £5 million residential development comprising 30 stylish apartments for social housing, in a challenging project at Mersey Street, Belfast.

Now nearing completion, the project is being carried out for Connswater Homes by Main Contractors Connolly Fee, and will result in the creation of 28 two bedroom apartments and two one bedroom apartments.

The project has presented a number of challenges in that the entire site is grade B listed and located in one of the development control zones in relation to the George Best Belfast City Airport.

safe and secure. All apartments are built to Eco Homes specification with high levels of energy efficiency.

Given the nature of the building, many of the other original features have been retained, including the assembly hall, which was converted partially into offices for Connswater Homes, with the remaining area forming community space.

The works include the replacement of the windows in the style of the originals, the refurbishment of the original slate roof, the installation of all new building services and apartment fixtures and fittings, and complete re-decoration.

External works include the creation of a new road to serve the building, together with the creation of two parking bays and the extensive landscaping of the building’s courtyard to provide an

The association and its design team liaised with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA—Historic Buildings) and the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society to develop a sensitive design solution that resulted in minimal intervention to the historic character and fabric, ensuring that all the main elevations remained intact.

The design of the project allows most of the old classrooms to be directly converted into apartments with minimal internal reconfiguration. Agreement with NIEA Historic Buildings allowed the development of the existing roof space of the building to accommodate apartment bedrooms on a mezzanine level, which fronts into an internal courtyard, thus allowing the original historical façade to be retained.

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The scheme is excellent news for the people of East Belfast - an area of high housing need - and will deliver a housing solution that will give this part of Belfast’s built heritage a new lease of life.

Connswater Homes has served the housing needs of the residents of East Belfast since 1976 providing quality homes at affordable rents. They have continued to grow over the years and their services now expand much further than their roots in the East of the city.

The history of Connswater Homes started on 4 April 1976, when, following a meeting in the local community centre, a committee was formed to examine the possibility of regenerating the Connswater area of East Belfast. A chairman was elected and Connswater Housing Association was subsequently formed and registered in 1977.

The Association was allocated an Action Area and the initial task was to turn the derelict houses into homes once again.

The first new build scheme did not materialise until 1983 but this was quickly followed by additional schemes including the building of the Association’s office in Severn Street in 1994.

1997 saw changes in the way social housing including its provision and maintenance would be managed in Northern Ireland. The regime required a remodelling of internal structures and greater emphasis on accountability and efficiency. The Association appointed its first Chief Executive in 1999 and the organisation under the governance of a committed board of management continued to go from strength to strength.

With much of the local regeneration now completed, the Association in 2003 made the decision to move outside its traditional boundaries and actively seek development opportunities province wide.

In recognition of this wider area of operation Connswater Housing Association re-branded to Connswater Homes and relocated to a more prominent and accessible location in 2006.

Construction News

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High quality office development spearheads major regeneration Leading a major regeneration scheme, construction of a brand new three storey office development is reported to be progressing ‘extremely well’ on part of the old Clondermot School site in Irish Street, Londonderry, as part of a larger regeneration scheme on the site which is set to provide a massive boost for the area.

The £1.2 million office development is being carried out for Waterside Development Trust by Main Contractors P & K McKaigue, with RPP Architects as Project Architects.

“The contractors are doing an excellent job.

The scheme is progressing extremely well and is currently around two weeks ahead of schedule” said Mr Bill McBride of Waterside Development Trust.

Th 15,000sq ft high quality, high specification office development is geared to benefitting the local social economy market (accommodating training establishments and council activities, for example).

All the office areas will initially be open plan for maximum flexibility, with individual fit-outs being carried out later, to accommodate the needs of particular occupants. The specification includes a high standard interior including suspended ceilings, Category 5 electrics, natural

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gas heating, and carpeting.

The steel framed building features external elevations in brick and render, incorporating uPVC framed windows and a flat roof.

Externally, a new car park is being constructed and landscaping will be carried out.

Currently the first fit out of the building is underway. The project commenced in February 2011 and is due for completion in November 2011.

The overall development at the Clondermot High School site is being overseen by the Waterside Development Trust and is expected to include a number of other agencies bringing vital educational and health services to the area.

The site became empty after the school moved to a new site at the Crescent Link under a new name, Lisneal College.

Damien McIlroy, from Top of the Hill 2010, which has been closely involved in the consultation process for the scheme, said the Clondermot site development had massive potential for the area, and would entice more young people into further education.

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“It is a massive development for Top of the Hill and has massive potential. We want to try and get rid of the image of the Waterside and to try and improve it and this project offers so much potential for what we want. We have to ensure there is access for both communities.”

Local Councillor Lynn Fleming said the development would bring economic benefits for both communities and would be a huge boost in education for the area.

P & K McKaigue Ltd have over 40 years experience in construction industry. Over the years the company has completed a wide range of construction projects including jobs for the public, private, commercial, heritage and residential sectors.

New horizons at Belfast Harbour In August Farrans Construction was awarded a £51 million contract to build a new 480 metre deep-water berth and quay wall in the Port of Belfast. This move the latest in series of large-scale initiatives to redevelop the harbour in preparation for an economic boom - will specifically enable the port to accommodate the largest ships.

A statement from Farrans said that the firm are “delighted to be associated with the Belfast Harbour Commissioners and look forward to working with them on this prestigious Project in the Port of Belfast.”

This scheme is just one of several that are currently being implemented by the Board who run the harbour. In their 2011-2013 Corporate Plan, they pledged to invest £92 million in capital projects over the three years in order to ensure that the port offers ‘leading edge marine and estate facilities’.

Forming 20% of the city, Belfast Harbour’s 2000 acre estate is a prime location for investment. It is part of a fast-growing city that offers world-class educational, cultural and commercial opportunities just a short drive from areas of outstanding natural beauty. Developments are taking place across a wide range of sectors - from wind energy projects to investments in the arts - with aims of benefiting the local community and the whole of Ireland.

Belfast Harbour’s role in Irish history cannot be ignored, and 400 years since its establishment, one scheme in the wider regeneration of the port taps into maritime history, preserving heritage for generations to come. Currently under construction, the Titanic Signature Building will be a museum celebrating boat-building in Ireland and, of course, telling the story of the infamous RMS Titanic. Designed by Todd Architects and Planning in collaboration with Civic Arts, the structure pays homage to the recognisable shape of the liner’s prows, jutting out on all four sides of the central column of the building. Likely to become a major tourist and educational hotspot, it is intended that the building will open in 2012, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the ship leaving Belfast.

The museum will form the centrepiece for the Titanic Quarter, a 185 acre district on the banks of the lagan, which is now a mixed-use redevelopment. There is space for 7,500 apartments, and 900,000 square metres of commercial, education and leisure space. It is operated by Belfast Harbour, in a LandlordTenant agreement with the Harcourt group.

Another venture by Belfast Harbour is the 90-acre Sydenham Business Park, a low-rise business park with many units already occupied by world-famous names such as Virgin Media and Fujitsu. The business park is ideally located for the George Belfast City Airport and motorway network, and the final 20 acres which are yet to be developed are likely to be in high demand.

The third region of the harbour for which there are specific plans regarding regeneration, is the area known as City Quays, where there will be £250 million mixed-use development. This will mainly be a commercial, office-led development, but residential, retail and leisure space will also be constructed. One of the very first works in the pipeline is the construction of a 4* hotel along the waterfront of the River Lagan.

City Quays is being branded as a ‘leading edge sustainable development’, with the focus on both the environmental credentials of the buildings themselves and the creation of a community which will function in the long-term, benefitting from suitable transport links.

‘Long-term’ is a crucial phrase in the regeneration of the harbour and the wider city of Belfast. An undertaking of this scale will last for decades rather than years, as the Belfast Harbour Corporate Plan warns. But because of this the plans breathe excitement for the long-term future of the people of Belfast and Ireland. The redevelopments will offer opportunities for the construction industry for many years to come, and allow for reassessment of the vision at each stage.

Such planning, preparation and implementation could set the city up to ride the crest of anticipated economic growth and put it in a position to attract further investment from around the globe so that the economy continues to surge far into the future.

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Buyers are sold on Montenegro’s visionary new multi-million pound marina village Porto Montenegro is a visionary marina village and yacht home port under construction in Montenegro and currently attracting intense local which is international interest. One of the scheme’s latest apartment developments is 60 per cent sold before construction is out of the ground - and all boat slips currently constructed have also been sold.

The scheme is designed to cater to the advanced needs of all yachts up to 110 metres, their owners, guests and crew, with additional infrastructure being provided for the largest yachts.

It will eventually feature 600 berths for yachts, including the largest super-yachts, and will provide the highest level of service and amenities for vessels of all sizes.

On-site duty-free fuelling, 24-hour marina concierge and Porto Montenegro Sports Club will be complemented by a nearby super-yacht refit and repair facility. Other onsite facilities include a Sunseeker office and Freedom Maritime chandlery.

The development, being carried out for Adriatic Marinas

by Main Contractors Strabag is located on a former AustroHungarian naval base within the coastal town of Tivat in the sheltered Bay of Kotor – a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In addition to the marina, a vibrant village community is being created incorporating retail and commercial elements which will combine with public facilities. The waterfront will feature wide promenades, a five star hotel, restaurants and cafes plus a 200 square metre Marina Club. In time, the development will also grow to include a casino and sports complex.

The Bay of Kotor is the deepest natural harbour in southern Europe, located on the southern end of the Dalmatian coast with direct access to the Adriatic.

The first three residential buildings - ‘Teuta’, ‘Ozana’ and ‘Zeta’ - have been completed. The third building, ”Zeta”, incorporates 22 residences.

Porto Montenegro’s state-of-the-art marina utilises the existing infrastructure of the former Yugoslav naval facility upon which it is built.

189 boat slips (all sold) have been constructed in the marina, which will eventually comprise around 600 berths when complete.

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In addition, a new single storey building incorporating a Lido pool, a large restaurant, cafe and four bars has been constructed. A former sawmill building on the site has also been refurbished and converted into a museum containing artifacts which celebrate the history of the former naval yard which previously occupied the site.

Also recently constructed are a garden entrance to one side of the development and a car park.

The next two apartment blocks - one containing 48 units and the other containing 57 units - are currently under construction, and development of a 100 unit apart hotel is expected to commence at the end of the year, with opening expected in 2013.

Marina Projects Ltd The focus of the Porto Montenegro development is very much on the superyacht market with the stated intention of delivering marina facilities and services of the highest calibre that truly meet the expectations of superyacht owners, crew and guests.

Marina Projects Ltd is the appointed marina consultant to the project and has provided a range of specialist services that have helped to achieve these goals and firmly establish Porto Montenegro as a maritime destination of choice.

Marina Projects played an active role through the concept design stages including market testing and business plan analysis and following selection of the preferred scheme provided pro-

fessional guidance linked to the delivery and operation of the marine related elements of the project.

In marina and waterfront design terms there have been two driving factors; firstly to ensure that the marina is brought forward in sympathy with the overall Porto Montenegro development plan with particular attention to the architectural character and integrated landscape design and secondly to be satisfied that from a functional and technical perspective the berthing and servicing requirements of modern day superyachts are fully satisfied.

The operational demands of superyachts are significant in terms of the depths of water and manoeuvring areas required and the site infrastructure must accommodate the scale of demand placed on support services and supplies including fuel, waste disposal, water and electricity. Linked to deep water berthing the Porto Montenegro development has seen the reconstruction of nearly 1,000m of fixed jetties and quay walls with particular attention to spatial planning at each superyacht berth and the provision of access, security measures and services.

As Porto Montenegro moves forward into subsequent phases of development the marina will be enhanced still further with jetties extended and the construction of a major 800m outer breakwater to accommodate an increased number of marina berths.

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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.

Kanaal dock. The rail link consists of 4.8km of embankment, 4.2km of open and covered trench, 1.2km of existing tunnel (reopening 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 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 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.

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.

Both tunnels are bored separately using a 102 m long boring machine on steel rollers, proceeding with assistance from a high-pressurised 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.

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.

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.

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 water bodies: the Waasland canal (through the already existing but never used Beverentunnel), the River Schelde and the

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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

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O ve r s e a s 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 cross-passages 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.

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).

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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, espe-

cially 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.

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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Belgian Solar Tunnel is an international “milestone” In 2005 Infrabel, the firm responsible for building and maintenance of the Belgian rail network, embarked on a major initiative to build a 3.4km high-speed rail tunnel on the Brussels Amsterdam line. Crossing through swathes of dense forest, running past residential areas and alongside a highway, it was necessary to construct a tunnel around the track in order to protect people and wildlife, safeguard the railway from falling tress and to reduce noise pollution.

But when the structure was completed in 2009, it was not the end of the journey, as a spark of inspiration struck Luc Martens of Solar Power Systems (SPS), leading to an innovative project carried out on a grand scale: the Solar Tunnel was born.

He described the moment a thought flashed through his mind, as he took he daily commute through the tunnel: “Having watched the construction of the tunnel, creating 50,000m2 of flat space, a light bulb of inspiration switched on: why could the tunnel not be used to create green energy?”

Though it was originally his idea, Mr Martens also credits Richard Marcelis of Infrabel with “the commitment, knowledge and drive” which took the idea through to realisation, saying “I have the highest esteem and gratitude for him.”

Chloé van Driessche, spokeswoman for Infrabel, explained to Premier Construction how the project progressed.

Once the contacts between SPS and Infrabel had been established by the end of 2008, Infrabel undertook the necessary

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feasibility studies regarding the ecological impact of the project and the financial situation. When it was confirmed that the solar tunnel could become a reality, the partnership was cemented by the creation of the company SPS Fin. SPS Fin is an incorporation of Infrabel, Enfinity and the financial departments of the communities of Schoten and Brasschaat where the tunnel is located. Enfinity are a large Belgian-based, international firm who provided a large portion of the finance, as well as design, engineering, site-co-ordination and now maintenance services.

Heading into 2010 the necessary ‘green certificates’ were procured, along with finance, from the government, and work commenced in September 2010.

The works involved the installation of 16,000 photo-voltaic panels, each at a 245W capacity, over a total surface area of 50,000m2. It is estimated that the panels will generate a combined total of 3,300Mwh, equal to the average electricity consumption of nine hundred and fifty households.

Despite the scale of the works, Chloé Van Driessche told us that the installation process was relatively straight-forward, as shown by the remarkably quick progress made.

“The installation was quite easy because there is just one flat platform to work on. Actually, we stood on the roof at a press event in September 2010 and the workers were progressing so quickly that we were asked to move because we were in the way.”

By December, installation was complete and the solar farm

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operational and connected. However, at this point it was only wired up to the rail infrastructure services, meaning that the energy was only used to power lighting, screen displays, heating and signaling. It was in June 2011 that a new connection was created so that the energy was powering trains, both standard and high-speed.

The energy is now distributed and managed by Infrabel, who buy all the generated electricity and then sell it on to the companies who use it. In Belgium there are three companies who run the railway networks: Infrabel, who are responsible for the infrastructure; SNBC who operate the train services; and SNBC Holdings who run the main stations and manage the administration for all three companies. Miss Van Driessche explained that each of these firms required the generated energy for their operations.

She also said that using the solar energy to actually power the trains was a momentous step forward: “This is a milestone for Belgium and for the whole of Europe,” she said. “People have talked about the possibility of solar-powered trains for years, but with the idea of putting solar panels on the train. Now we have solar trains but without having to do any work on the actual trains, which is a big advantage. Also, the trains can run on a normal electricity supply at night.

“When people get on a train they are travelling in an ecologically friendly way because they are using public transport, but it does still use a lot of energy so we hope to continue in making that energy-use greener.”

She said that the Solar Tunnel had received great support from the local communities in the municipalities of Schoten and Brasschaat, but said that Infrabel hoped the enthusiasm for green energy would spread further within the Belgian rail network and internationally.

“We are considering carrying out other similar projects,” she

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said, “but we can’t comment on them now because we still have lots of feasibility studies to do. There is no other site which offers such a great opportunity as the tunnel, but there are many other projects that we are looking into.”

Other types of green practices that Infrabel are looking into include wind power, better insulation and also the way that they recycle materials when carrying out repairs.

Furthermore, the Solar Tunnel has received great interest from the international community, and Miss Van Driessche said that Infrabel are hoping to see authorities in many more countries exploring similar possibilities.

“This is a very interesting story,” she said, “and a project that progresses very quickly. Obviously you have to look at the individual situation in each country, but we hope that this will generate other ideas.”

“Solar is a relatively new technology on this scale”, said head of Enfinity UK Bart van adding that it still needs some incentives. “However, photovoltaic generating costs have fallen by 30% to 40% in the past three years, and it is hoped that more large scale developments will bring further cost reductions so subsidies are not required for similar projects by 2015-16; according to van Renterghem, parity has already been achieved in southern Italy, where there is more sun” he added.

Infrabel is responsible for the management, maintenance, renewal and development of the Belgian railway network. The company is also responsible for train routes allocation for all Belgian and foreign operators. Infrabel was established on 1 January 2005, when Belgian Railways was broken up, and is part of the SNCB Group. The company now employs some 12,500 people with a turnover of approximately 1 billion euro (2009).

The company’s mission is to provide railway operators with a competitive railway infrastructure, which is well adapted to both

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current and future demands.

It aims at making an active contribution to provide lasting mobility within the European railway network, thus benefiting the economic and social development in Belgium.

In order to make Belgium the hub of Europe, Infrabel aspires to: Introduce optimal reliability and accessibility across the network; develop high performance technology and ensure the highest possible level of integration with other transport modes.

Enfinity is an established leader in renewable energy. Enfinity develops, finances, constructs and operates photovoltaic solar and wind energy plants. Besides its own project development, Enfinity sells integrated solar installations to companies and individuals and acts as an EPC contractor. Founded in Belgium, Enfinity has operations and projects across Europe and has expanded into North America and Asia-Pacific.

Enfinity has 5 business divisions: Develop, Invest, Technics, Trade & Power Enfinity Develop is an important international player in developing renewable energy projects including photovoltaic energy (PV systems) and wind energy. Enfinity Develop has evolved a very strong competence in sustainable approaches for renewable energies implementation.

Enfinity Invest has developed a leading international position in financing solar and wind energy projects. Its extensive experience, strong international network and good reputation with financial institutions and investors make Enfinity Invest a reliable and professional player in the renewable energy industry.

Enfinity Technics delivers and installs large solar power installations for the business market and has a broad knowledge of and extensive experience in various technologies in the field of solar power installations.

Enfinity Trade delivers ready-made solar energy plants for the residential and business market.

Inspired Energy: Solar Power Systems

Solar Power Systems was incorporated by Luc Martens in 2008, and after just three years now turn over €21 million as they pursue what Mr Martens calls their “mission”, to install PV panels on everything from domestic and commercial buildings to vast projects like the solar tunnel, where they adopt a holistic approach.

Currently, Solar Power Systems install solar panels on five homes in an average day and on one business’s buildings a month. However they report a significant increase in interest since their involvement on the solar tunnel, with lots of customers seeking them out a reliable partner for their PV investments, which many see as the prize possession on their property.

Mr Martens says that the high-profile solar tunnel has impacted dramatically on the importance that Belgians ascribed to green energy, saying is has also “raised awareness of the importance of qualified suppliers and where to find them.”

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Solar Power Systems have certainly proven their credentials as a driver behind the solar tunnel. They prepared the functional, technical and organisation road books as well as filing for the available subsidies necessary for the work to take place.

Now their innovation and experience is spreading the inspiration through the Belgian population and marking them out as the foremost supplier in the industry.

Luc Martens says that the firm is eager to continue to push both its own growth and the increase in renewable energy in Europe: “We are analysing further collaboration with the partners of this beautiful project,” he says, adding, “SPS is constantly looking for partners to continue our exponential growth and to ensure the future of generations to come.”

E-Morrow E-morrow is primarily a construction company that is currently focused on Belgium; however it aims to expand outside of Europe. They install a wide range of solar panels, including monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous solar panels.

Jurgen Himschoot from E-morrow said: “We will be an EPC contractor, we will do engineering procurement, and we will construct complete renewable energy packages – wind energy, biomass installation, solar panels, you name it.”

E-morrow played a very important role in the Solar Tunnel project. They executed the DC connection for the project, installing 16,000 modules on the tunnel roof over a length measuring 3.5km. These solar cells will supply enough energy for 4,000 trains a year.

Jurgen Himschoot said: “We are an organised and flexible company. We do the thinking together with the customer, and want to share our knowledge with our clients.

E morrow is a company of healthy contrasts: we have tons of experience, but our ideas are always fresh and innovative. We are a young company, yet pioneers in our profession. We have a solid foundation, but are always in search of greater efficiency.

In short: we’re always on the move - for your business and your customers.

Together, we’re heading for a bright future.”

For more information on e-morrow, visit www.e-morrow.com

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Heritage

Ensuring a bright future for the past English Heritage exists to protect and promote England’s spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood.

toric 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 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).

English Heritage is currently running a five-year investment programme for its properties. Based on an audit of all the organisation’s properties, £30m is being targeted at those sites with the most commercial potential, in order to make as many sites as possible self-financing. Projects range from major refurbishment and restoration works at Kenilworth Castle to relatively small but significant improvements to exhibitions and interpretation, catering and retail facilities.

The powers and responsibilities of English Heritage are set out in the National Heritage Act (1983) and today they report to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Although sponsored by DCMS, English Heritage works with a range of government departments, notably CLG and Defra, to help realise the potential of the historic environment.

English Heritage is funded in part by the government, and is also part funded from revenue earned from their historic properties and other services. In 2008/09 the organisation’s public funding was worth £132.7m, and income from other sources was £48.1m.

English Heritage works in partnership with central government departments, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the private sector to conserve and enhance the historic environment, broaden public access to the heritage and increase people’s understanding of the past.

The organisation meets these responsibilities by: acting as a national and international champion for the heritage; giving grants for the conservation of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; maintaining registers of England’s most significant historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; and advising on the preservation of the historic environment.

English Heritage also encourages broader public involvement with the heritage, promotes heritage-related education and research, cares for Stonehenge and over 400 other his-

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In the construction sector, English Heritage has joined forces with ConstructionSkills to call for concerted action across the construction industry, the built heritage sector, educational establishments, careers organisations, funding bodies and government departments to tackle the continued shortage of heritage building skills.

English Heritage has also published research demonstrating the shortage of craft skills across the country and a Skills Action Plan which they are now implementing. This includes raising the profile of vocational training and the built heritage construction sector and attracting more young people to pursue careers within it.

The plan is also geared towards encouraging the use of suitably skilled and qualified people, and developing qualifications to ensure that traditional building knowledge and skills can be attained from GCSE to Master Craft level.

Find out more at www.english-heritage.org.uk

Meet the conservation specialists Mike and Gary Simpson, a father and son team, run a specialist conservation firm called Heritage Consolidation from their base in Northumberland. Their specialities include stonemasonry and lime-based mortars, plastering and render, and recent

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Heritage years have seen them take the admirable and, some would say, bold decision to focus entirely on heritage restoration work.

The duo have done restoration work with both English Heritage and Natural England, experiences which helped them to come to the conclusion that not only is a conservation-focused business an extremely viable enterprise, but also that their traditional skills are lacking across the UK. And that’s without mentioning their love for the work.

Gary told Premier Construction, “I just love restoring old buildings. I love working with stone and, although the work can be difficult and requires a lot of patience, nothing gives me more satisfaction than knowing that, thanks to our work, the buildings will still be around for the foreseeable future for others to enjoy too.

Gary and Mike started off doing barn conversions before moving in to heritage restoration. They bought Blenkinsopp Castle, which is on the Hadrian’s Wall site and dates from the 14th century. As the castle is listed, they became involved with English Heritage, who paid to top up their historic trade skills and advised them on the restoration project. Mike now proudly calls part of the restored castle his home.

As Gary puts it, “When English Heritage told us the work on Blenkinsopp needed to be done and that we’d have to get someone in to do it, my father told them he’d do it himself. In the end, we both spent 18 months on the job with funding from English Heritage, who gave us a project on Hadrian’s Wall just after that.

That’s when we realised our skills were rare and that there were other offers coming in, so we began doing it full time”.

Since then, the pair have won awards for their work and taken on four employees. Recognising that their knowledge could be passed on to a wider audience, they have become involved with the Heritage Skills Initiative and conducted training days, as well as regularly visiting the Scottish Lime Centre to exchange know-how.

Gary said, “In our business, young lads we take on often start off with two year apprenticeships which are an ideal start but aren’t always enough. I still feel it takes five years of practice, especially with lime, before you can claim to be fully confident.

That’s why teaching and learning is something we look to make the most of”.

Much of the firm’s work involves removing cement pointing and replacing it with lime. Gary explained, “People are realising that cement is not a material that will help the building last. It doesn’t allow moisture to escape and encourages damp, which is particularly damaging to sandstone and basically causes it to rot. That’s why there is plenty of work for people with our skills, even if you take away restoration work”.

If you’ve visited an historic building in the area, you’ve more than likely seen Mike’s work. The majority of it, he says, has been carried out the way it was always done. According to the restoration expert, who began learning his trade in 1963, “The thing about traditional skills is that my generation has no risk of being obsolete as new technology comes in. In fact, some of the manuals that Scottish Lime uses are almost identical to

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ones from the 1950s that I remember using. It definitely helps to add in a lot of the new qualifications and knowledge that Gary has, though!”

Case study – Shittleheugh Bastle Shittleheugh Bastle is one of several ancient fortified farms around the border between Scotland and England. The word ‘bastle’ is thought to have descended from the French word ‘bastille’, meaning ‘fortified castle’ or ‘fortress’. Shittleheugh Bastle and its like served to protect the interests of farmers in the region from cross-border raiding parties. Many still stand and, like Shittleheugh, many have fallen into ruin.

Gary and Mike’s work at Shittleheugh involved protection and maintenance of the remaining structure, which was re-pointed and galletted using 3.5NHL lime mortar. Since work was carried out during one of the coldest recorded winters, the structure had to be covered with hessian sheeting (a ‘sock’, as Gary calls it) to keep the worst of the chill off while the lime cured.

Work also included re-bedding loose stone. Gary says, “Some of the stones are huge – as big as a fridge freezer and weighing tonnes – and the photos don’t always get that across. The remaining walls are also three scaffold lifts high as well, so it’s a bigger job than you’d imagine.

“In keeping with the conservation aspect of the work, everything was done very carefully. For example, the work schedule was made to fit the breeding cycle of bats in the area and we alternated our route up to the bastle to avoid scarring the moor with pathways”.

The bastle, which was previously on the 'at risk' register with English Heritage, has now been safeguarded for the foreseeable future.

Find out more about Gary and Mike at www.heritageconsolidation.co.uk and visit www.english-heritage.org.uk to find out about dozens more successful conservation projects

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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 the popular 3ATC tree climbing competition that so many visitors enjoy.

Run by the Arboricultural Association, the show’s fresh, inspiring and varied demonstration program offered something for everyone - from the absolute novice to the most experienced practitioner. 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 that ran this year. Open to all levels of competitor, the 3ATC was divided into 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 pole.

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 2011, which is 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.

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

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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

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 Construction Skills, 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 quickly succeeded in 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

•

• •

Providing advice in relation to trees and development and when necessary, expert evidence to the planning inspectorate Formulating tree and woodland management plans 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

Leadwork CSCS cardholders on English Heritage projects and thereby: Recognise the overall commitment of the craft sector to 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.

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 their 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 many are 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.

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Heritage Once again the leadwork sector has taken the initiative to press others to recognise the level of quality standards which they have worked so hard to achieve and are determined to maintain.

The standards of the leadwork sector – their 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?”

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 10 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 one-to-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.

Martyn Price, from CMC Ltd, one of the employers attending the event, said: “I am delighted to be associated with National Apprenticeship

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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”.

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 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.”

In July, further research indicated again that employers feel there are significant gaps in their employee’s skills, which could seriously limit the potential for growth in the industry in the coming years. In a CITB survey of 1450 employers in the sector, specific skills gaps identified included understanding the implications of green issues (43%), identifying potential new business (39%) and not having sufficient IT skills (43%). A further 32% also stated that their management team’s ability to identify the training needs of staff was an area that needed improvement.

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Affordable housing high on the agenda at the CIH Conference and Exhibition: Harrogate 2011 The annual conference and exhibition run by the Chartered Institute of Housing took place from the 21st to the 22nd of June. It is an opportunity for businesses and politicians to discuss UK housing needs and how the industry, in its current state, can best address these requirements. Premier Construction attended to gauge the opinions of politicians and home-builders’ representatives.

An information sheet accompanying a session on the second day of the conference put the current situation in blunt terms, reading: The UK is facing a crisis in housing supply. Projections from 2008 forecast an average annual increase of 232,000 households for the period between 2008 and 2033, significantly more than the number of new homes than have been built over recent years. As a result, housing has become expensive and ... affordable housing in particular is in short supply. Now the government is challenging house providers to consider radical changes to the way that new homes are funded, to enable continued development in an era of reduced public funding.

This statement highlights many of the key issues which were discussed in the speeches and debates of politicians and decision-makers, including the housing shortfall, especially in the affordable and social housing markets, and the financial restraints on the industry.

An up-beat opening to the first day of the conference included an address from the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister. This was followed by a presentation concerning ‘The New Economic Climate’, delivered by Dennis Turner, Chief Economist of the HSBC. Mr Turner gave a broadly positive take on the state of the economy, and was confident enough to state that, based on identifiable trends in his data, “the recession is over”. Naturally, this came with the standard economist’s disclaimer that there could be other, more pessimistic ways of interpreting the figures.

During a panel discussion immediately after these speeches, Dennis Turner was asked to offer an assessment of the banking sector’s role in the recession. His response pointed out that banks had lent money based on trends of rising income and house prices, and that the way to control the housing market is by balancing supply and demand.

Mr Turner observed that at the moment, the UK is failing to satisfy the demand for housing, building around 15,000 too few homes each year.

This prompted David Cowan, Group Chief Executive of Places For People, to look more closely at the problems of building social housing at a low cost. He stated that the way we build houses in the UK is by no means the cheapest, quickest or most efficient way.

Amongst other things discussed further in the panel debate, the Chief Executive of Shelter, Campbell Robb, and the Chair of the National Federation of ALMO’s stressed the problem of homelessness in the UK. Mr Robb said that the effects of the recession are still evident in that thousands of people threatened with eviction orders approach Shelter for help every day.

At the end of these first day discussions, the main themes of concern for the conference were clear: that more needs to be done to meet the UK’s housing needs, particularly the demand for affordable and social housing; and that solutions must be found to achieve this more efficiently, in line with lower budgets.

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In The Exhibition Hall The sentiments voiced by the executives in the conference room were shared by many in the exhibition hall, where several representatives pointed out continuing evidence of difficult times for the house-building industry.

Representatives from Galliford Try, one of whom’s specialism’s is in affordable housing, said they were increasingly seeing a focus on reducing cost in the sector. Scott Parker, Business Manager at Hawdens, agreed that social housing organisations were under ever-growing pressure to come up with ways of producing quality housing on a reduced budget.

These observations were made against a backdrop which, it was pointed out, betrayed some symptoms of the impact that the recession has had on the house-building industry. Cathy Clarke of Keepmoat, noted that the conference was much quieter than at other CIH exhibitions, while the Marketing Manager for Kier, Trudy Stripp, pointed to a vacant stand and remarked that this would never have occurred in previous years.

Elsewhere, Bullock Construction explained that their business plan to increase revenue over the next three years would mean focussing on the non-housing sector.

However, plenty of companies present are taking action and looking forward. Representatives of numerous companies were demonstrating that some businesses in the industry are already pushing themselves to find practical solutions to the challenges facing the sector.

Glasgow Housing Association are one of the largest landlords in the UK, with the mission statement ‘cleaner, greener, safer’.

They have launched a training academy which is the largest centre for CIH accreditation in the UK. This aims to tackle the skills deficit of which the industry has been repeatedly warned, and has the intention of professionalising the social housing sector, starting with GHA’s own employees, and to instil the value of customer-focus in the market. GHA currently have the highest customer satisfaction rating in the UK and aim to increase this whilst building 300 new homes this year.

One company coming up with the sorts of innovative solutions which could prove to be what is needed to enable social housing builders to increase quality, as well as quantity, is the Mears Group. The Mears group were promoting their modular home design at the event, showing pictures via a webcam from a live show home, and laying on shuttle-busses for guided tours of the example home.

Mears think that the modular home is the ideal solution to the problems of inefficiency and expense identified by David Cowen in the conference. They are very quick to construct and simple to maintain, and Mears even offer a maintenance package to landlords who are not in a position to carry out maintenance themselves.

The housing sector’s need to ‘get more for less’, is also benefiting certain companies offering non-core services. James Threapleton of Sovereign Business Integration, which deliver managed IT services and IT consultancy, explained that the housing sector provides around 30% of the company’s revenue.

Their success in the sector stems partly from the noticeable need for housing companies to outsource non-core operations such as IT services.

Similarly, Lagan Software reported that the housing market is a significant growth area for them. The company supply customer relationship software to Housing Associations, helping them, to improve customer experiences.

Meanwhile, it became very clear that the renewable energy business is thriving. Mitie, Mansell and Lovell all told Premier Construction that this market offers many opportunities, especially in the growing trend for photo-voltaic (solar panel) installation schemes. Carillion Energy Serrvices are currently investing in two particular schemes, installing PV cells, and supplying insulation to low-income households.

Although the evidence of the damage done to business by the recession cannot be denied, it is only fair to equally emphasise the positive opportunities that the market is now offering, as proven by companies which can be adaptive and innovative in the race to provide solutions to the so-called ‘housing crisis’.

The 2011 Housing Pact For the CIH, a significant outcome of the 2011 Harrogate Conference is the 2011 ‘Housing Pact’, a document presented to the Housing Minister Grant Shapps on the final day of the conference.

The Housing Pact was first developed at the 2010 conference, based on the discussions of contemporary housing issues by industry experts. The idea is to collate the current needs of the housing sector, and along with the industry’s requests of the government as well as the housing sector’s offers to the government.

At the 2011 Conference a survey was conducted, to find out how well those in the industry thought that the challenges set out in the 2010 Pact had been tackled. There was also a survey to develop ideas for the 2011 Pact.

The resulting document is structured under four broad themes: ‘The Housing Advantage’; ‘New Ways of Working’; ‘Setting Our Own Course’ and, rather predictably, ‘Money’.

At the presentation of the 2011 Housing Pact, Sarah Webb, CIH Chief Executive, gave an address largely aimed at Mr Shapps.

It outlined the content of the Housing Pact in more detail, and reporting back on the progress made since the hand-over of the 2010 Pact.

“You won’t be surprised to hear that some people have concerns about your government’s deliver,” she began, “but it is only fair to point out that the pact was our set of asks and not your policy statement.” She proceeded to announce a new venture with Shelter and the National Housing Federation, to monitor and report back on the delivery of stated government policy commitments. This she described as “a constructive way to check on the impact of a far-reaching overhaul of policy, and an opportunity to flag up problems whilst there is still time to resolve them .”

On the previous day a lengthy speech by Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, had detailed intended policy reforms in

the welfare system and how these would supposedly help the housing industry. In particular, he seemed keen on promoting the widely criticised ‘Work Programme’ which he claimed would offer many opportunities to construction firms.

Ms Webb proceeded to outline ‘four of this year’s most important asks and offers’, calling for: a push to create sustainable, diverse communities; a willingness to invest in social housing, working with the housing sector; a commitment to quality at a time of cost-cutting and greater governmental trust of the housing industry.

Speaking of the government-industry relationship she said, “Minister, you’ve been absolutely clear that you don’t think our sector is up to scratch. We’ve pushed back against this, and we’ve felt justified in doing so. I know that the people in this room transform lives and I will argue this point with you forever.”

She especially spoke of her own heart-felt drive to build improved, high-quality social housing which would not be branded and stigmatised as something which held people back in the cycle of the welfare system. Ms Webb said that she had been inspired in this on seeing slums in Glasgow in twenty years ago, and asking herself “surely we can do better than this?”. The Chief Executive said that she took “personal responsibility for all of us being brilliant all of the time.”

The speech was rounded off with three key ‘asks’ aimed at Mr Shapps.

“Firstly,” she said, “we must have a different level of debate about housing,” stressing the importance of addressing the big broad issues, such as the “demographic timebomb” she identified earlier in the speech.

Secondly, she called on the Minister to make the government understand the importance of good housing, and the impact that that can have on individual lives and communities, adding “And by the way Minister, can you tell David Cameron that you met loads of committed and forward-thinking housing people during your time here?”

She concluded by asking him “to engage with us all a bit more”.

Sarah Webb is clearly a woman committed to getting the best out of the housing sector at all times, unafraid to challenge the government to give proper support to the sector, and all those in the industry will be hoping that the government rises to the challenges offered by the 2011 Pact.

In the meantime, the gritty determination in her rhetoric is matched by the many innovative companies who will provide the down-to-earth, necessary solutions to building enough good-quality, sustainable and affordable housing, as efficiently as possible, to meet the current needs of the sector.

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On the edge of a renewable energy explosion?

The RenewableUK 2011 Offshore Wind Conference The past few months have seen several landmark events for the renewable energy industry in the UK, including the introductions of key government proposals and initiatives. But with binding international agreements demanding serious reductions in UK carbon emissions by 2050, how exactly will the country reach its challenging targets?

Over the past few months, the government’s climate change targets, including reductions in carbon emissions and increases in the proportion of the UK’s energy to be produces by renewable methods, have been repeatedly revised. The major longterm target is to reduce carbon emissions by 80% on the 1990 figures by 2050, with a binding international agreement to make a cut of 34% by 2020. The latter of these targets will only be achieved if a minimum of 15% of the UK’s energy is generated from renewable resources.

These targets essentially demand the growth of an entire, fledgling business sector in the economy to produce the means for generating renewable energy. The construction industry will of course have to play the leading role, as the UK currently does not have the facilities to produce the amount of ‘green’ energy that these agreements will require.

Some of these effects are already being seen: on June 23rd the Energy Secretary Chris Huhne named eight sites around which the government will build nuclear power plants. At some of these sites, such as Sellafield in Cumbria, contracts have already been undertaken to demolish old facilities and begin pre-

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paring the areas for the construction of the new reactor plants.

The UK construction industry has the practise and expertise to deliver nuclear plants, but what about building the facilities to generate power from other sources such as wind, wave and tidal power?

The Theory Recently, delegates from the world-wide renewable energy industry attended the RenewableUK 2011 Offshore Wind Exhibition and Conference in Liverpool. Premier Construction went along to find out what those at the forefront of renewable energy construction thought about the future growth and success of the industry.

Day two of the 2011 Offshore Wind Conference, June 29th, opened with speeches by RenewableUK Chief Executive Maria McCafferey, Shadow Secretary for Energy and Climate Change Meg Hillier and the Director of Poyry Energy Consulting, Richard Slark. Taking into account the UK’s targets for producing renewable energy, Miss Hillier MP and Mr Slark outlined the recent progress and setbacks of the relatively young industry, whilst Miss Hillier MP offered the Labour point of view on future growth.

Government investment in renewable energy was top of the agenda, with Meg Hillier pointing to Labour’s 2010 competition as an example of a successful initiative to encourage construction activity. Alastair Darling’s spring budget had included an invitation to bid for £60 million worth of funding to build renewable energy plants. Meg Hillier said that sustained incentives

were needed to encourage more businesses to move into the sector, suggesting that if the current government pass their Fourth Carbon Budget and introduce their proposed ‘Green Investment Bank’, it will be a huge boost to the industry.

Richard Slark added that the UK renewable energy market would need an injection of approximately £35 billion investment in order to achieve the 2020 15% renewable energy target, and a further £50-100 billion for the 2030 target.

Meg Hillier also spoke on the five main themes of Labour’s policy regarding change in the energy sector. In brief, the ideas were as follows: the market should be powered by ‘home grown’ businesses; progress should be ‘market led’ by ‘innovative’ developments in technology; the market should be ‘fair’, rather than dominated by the Big Six; and government investment should be ‘permanent’ rather than short-term.

The second day of the Conference also saw RenewableUK’s announcement of a report into the overall cost of generating electricity from offshore wind in the next ten years. The report, ‘Offshore Wind – Forecasts of Future Costs and Benefits?’, was compiled by BVG Associates. It studied the ‘whole-life cost’ of offshore wind farms, including capital expenditure, operational costs and the energy yield.

Taking into account technological advances, the larger-scale of wind farms and the increasing use of sites with better wind resources further offshore, the report predicts that the wholelife cost of energy from UK offshore wind projects could be driven down by more than 15% in real terms between 2011 and 2022, under standard market conditions. Under more favourable conditions this fall could be as much as 33%.

Naturally the report came with a warning that this scale of reduction would require significant and successful government stimulation and investment in the industry. With this support, the offshore wind sector could support 45,000 long-term jobs until 2020 - representing an injection of around £60 million in the economy and carbon emission savings of 800 million tonnes.

Since the 2011 Offshore Wind Conference, changes and proposed changes to government legislation in the renewable energy sector have been welcomed by RenewableUK as steps forward, and address some of the themes on which Meg Hillier spoke. The white paper on Energy Market Reform and the government’s ‘UK Renewable Energy Roadmap’ were published on July 12th, proposing that up to 18GW of offshore wind capacity be built by 2020. The ‘Big Six’ (Npower, British Gas, Southern Electric, Scottish Power, E.on, EDF) acknowledged that the plans would drive forward investment in low-carbon energy, although it would cost both them and the consumer.

Mr Jonat’s feelings were echoed by many. Project Manager Casper Toft spoke for Danish company Vestas, and was very encouraged by the number of good contacts that the firm had made. He also saw some issues with the supply chain - including pricing - but felt that these would prove surmountable problems if the right relationships and dialogues were created with the right people.

Many of the companies present are giants on the continent, some globally, who are prepared to bring all their experience to the UK. However they have been slowed down by the current lack of connections throughout the sector.

Several representatives also identified that the Crown Estates Round Three programme is set to have a major impact on the renewables construction industry over the coming decades.

The Crown Estate, which controls the UK’s offshore territory, announced in 2008 that it would take a more prominent role in its third round of offshore wind farm leasing. It pledged to co-invest with developers, combining the technical experience of the offshore wind industry with efficiencies generated

by The Crown Estate’s access to resources and stakeholders.

This suggests the promise of sustained investment combined with expertise which has the potential to really get large-scale construction of wind turbines of the ground.

Amongst all of the discussion, it must be noted that one of the most striking things about the exhibition hall was the not just the variety of companies present aside from the ‘Big Six’, but the high representation of specialists from mainland Europe.

Warnings to home-grown industry not to fall behind If the keen foreign interest in investing in renewables in the UK is utilised efficiently, it will prove a great asset in reaching the UK’s mandatory 2030 targets for carbon consumption. However, some industry experts have taken a different stance on the issue, warning that the UK industry should not hold back on

The Practise Moving from the conference room to the exhibition hall, one thing was clear: there are many energy and construction companies who see the immense potential of the UK renewables sector and are eager to carve out their share of the market and get building.

However, seeing and speaking to those running the exhibition stands raised further questions about the UK renewable industry, on top of those discussed by Hillier, Slark and McCafferey.

Some of the problems raised by those in the business emerged as more pressing hindrances to the development of UK renewable energy plants.

One of the main trends was that companies found major difficulties with contacts and the supply chain in the UK, as the industry - still so young - lacks centralised co-ordination and information sources.

Alexander Jonat, Head of Communications for the German firm Areva (core sponsor of the event), expressed surprise that the main focus of the Offshore Wind convention had been in the exhibition hall rather than the conference. He said that Areva were there to create a buzz about their decision to enter the UK market, and that they had experienced great success in building up a contact-base with suppliers and technicians in a short period of time.

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A s s o c i ati o n s RenewableUK RenewableUK is the largest trade association that represents the interests of the marine energy in the country. With 676 company members, including small firms to the largest international corporations, RenewableUK plays a vital part in initiating discussion within the industry and then providing a collective voice speaking out for change.

investment, with new figures indicating the potential value of the UK’s wind and marine energy sectors between now and 2021.

The findings of the report by RenewableUK and Energy & Utility Skills were published in early July. It included models for three potential growth scenarios in the sector, claiming that the lowest growth scenario - defined as up to 25.7GW capacity from offshore wind and marine energy - would lead to the creation of 44,000 jobs. A high growth scenario would mean 51.8GW production capacity and the creation of 115,000 full-time jobs through the supporting sectors, including raw material suppliers and manufacturers.

The study also suggests that the UK skills system is currently failing to ensure that an adequate supply of newly-qualified recruits is entering the UK labour market. It warns that if this is not rectified then more jobs will be moved abroad, or will be carried out in Britain by non-UK companies and workers. Certainly the range of overseas companies represented at the 2011 Offshore Wind Conference seems to confirm this theory. Foreign investors are clearly aware of the opportunity to offer their experience in a country that is lacking in renewable energy construction specialists.

RenewableUK and Energy & Utility Skills say that the messages for employers and the government are clear: employers must step out and invest in their current and future workforces, and the government must also show a willingness to invest, and establish stable policies and frameworks for renewable energy, with clear incentives for all parties to invest.

Maria McCafferey spoke for RenewableUK: ”This report shows the enormous potential that exists within the renewable energy industries to provide tens of thousands of permanent, well-paid jobs for the engineers, scientists, technicians and economists of the future – building on the enormous successes we have achieved already. However, we must ensure that the right training is available to ensure that the workforce has the appropriate skills to serve this dynamic sector, as it continues to expand at an extraordinary rate.”

Meanwhile Tim Balcon, Chief Executive for Energy & Utility Skills suggested, amongst other things, that the government has a responsibility to continue to back national initiatives to boost the industry. He said: “This research provides clear and compelling evidence for the need for government, employers and the providers of skills to work in collaboration to meet the skills needs of this rapidly growing sector of the UK economy.

No one organisation can achieve this on their own. Both EU Skills and the national Skills Academy for Power are working hard to make sure that the UK skills system is aware of the scale of the challenges ahead and are capable of meeting employers’ needs going forward.”

July also heralded the announcement of a bid by the Technology Strategy Board to establish an Offshore Renewable Energy Technology and Innovation Centre.

Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable said: “An offshore renewable energy technology and innovation centre is the next step towards fulfilling the Government’s commitment to creating a greener economy.”

The industry may be wondering, however, whether -if the idea is given the green light -the centre will prove to be the deliverance of the UK industry, equipping the country with home-

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Established in 1978 as the British Wind Energy Association, the name was changed in 2004, and since then wind power has been the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy.

The name change reflected the broadening horizons of the association, as they aimed to steer wave and tidal energy technologies in the same direction of growth and commercialisation as the wind sector.

The association’s primary aim is to promote the use of wind, wave and tidal power throughout the UK, acting as a central body which performs various roles to ensure the continual growth of the industry.

Communication is central to the operations of RenewableUK: it is a mouthpiece between the government, the industry and the general public. The organisation commissions and publishes research and statistics, notifies the industry of relevant government legislation and provides a forum for those in the industry to discuss current issues. The information available on their website and in their quarterly journal, Real Power, is always an up-to-the-minute, comprehensive overview of the industry.

But it is by no means all talk: RenewableUk always initiates research and discussion with a focus on finding solutions to current issues. The result is a trusted voice of authority who lobbies for the promotion of wind, wave and tidal energy to the government, media and public - acting as a catalyst for policy change to support the maximum deployment of these technologies in the shortest possible time.

The RenewableUK Conferences are must-attend events on the industry calendar.

Looking ahead to the annual conference in Manchester in October 2010, RenewableUK’s Head of Brand and Marketing described the conference as the company’s “biggest event of the year”, and said that every year saw an increase in the number of exhibiting companies.

“We are expecting up to three hundred companies in total,” he said of the Manchester 2011 conference. “More than five thousand delegates are expected to attend.” He commented that the conference has had to extend into new facilities in order to meet the demand for exhibition space.

He concluded by pointing out that the conference is of benefit to those from all aspects of the marine energy sector, saying: “Overall, it is a great opportunity for manufacturers, developers, suppliers, financiers and research institutes to find out about the latest developments in the fast-growing wind, wave and tidal sectors.” grown workers with the skills to drive the sector without such great reliance on foreign investment.

Moving on from a series of landmarks and debates in the history of the UK’s renewable energy industry, challenging targets lie ahead, and rapid growth is required to meet them.

The impression given by the Offshore Wind Exhibition was that if foreign construction firms are welcomed on board and provided with better information about suppliers, then that growth will not be difficult to achieve: the components simply need combining efficiently.

But in addition to that, if the home-grown construction industry can work with national organisations to equip workers with the skills to take on these building projects, then it could also see a sudden boom.

The board is set; there is no doubt about the potential. Perhaps the remaining question is simply, who will monopolise first?

‘Massive’ new multi million pound market for UK construction companies emerges Construction companies throughout the UK can now capitalise on a ‘massive’ new multi-million pound market, according to Lord Rupert Redesdale, Chairman of the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA).

proportion of the works involved in developing new plants is likely to be groundworks, building infrastructure and laying pipework “Similar to the sort of thing construction companies do every day of the week,” he said.

“To give an indication of the size of the UK industry, we are

“We’re looking at the construction of 1000 anaerobic digestion and biogas plants over the next 10 years - a massive opportunity for the building industry. It really is the next big thing. We are looking at anything between a £2 billion and £5 billion building programme, depending on the type of technology used. We reckon that there will be around 35,000 people employed in the industry” he said.

What’s more, the main obstacles to the development of plants in the UK are now being overcome. He added, “What has been holding us back is the subsidy regime needed to get the industry off the ground which previously didn’t really make anaerobic digestion economic. However the massive rise in gas prices and the introduction of two new subsidies - the Feed in Tariff and the Renewable Heat Incentive - means that now there are a large number of companies looking to build plants throughout the country.”

In addition, specialist construction experience of anaerobic digestion and biogas plants is not always necessary, as a large

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looking at the availability of something approach 100 million tonnes of organic feedstock, everything from sewage to slurry and food waste, which could be utilised by the new plants” said Lord Redesdale.

He says that the main reason for the anticipated massive growth in the development of biogas plants is the fact that whereas biogas is now turned into electricity by combined heat and power engines, in the future it is more likely to be cleaned and pumped straight into the gas grid. In fact, a small number of plants are doing this already. “The value of the gas going into the grid is extremely high and it is also a low-carbon fuel. Most people think that the majority of energy used in this country is electricity, but in fact two thirds of the energy used is gas based.”

Regarding the extent to which construction companies are likely to benefit from this major new market, Lord Redesdale says: “That depends on how much construction firms are prepared to understand the industry to ensure that they are providing the type of services required.

“The trouble is that people hear about anaerobic digestion and equate it to the chicken manure engine scenario in ‘The Good Life’ TV series, whereas at the top end we’re talking about large plants processing between 50,000 and 80,000 tonnes of waste per annum, which is currently going to landfill.”

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“Anaerobic digestion is linked into recycling, waste disposal, energy production - and even more important, the digestate (which is the residue), is a form of bio fertilizer which can replace carbon-intensive artificial fertilisers to make British agriculture more sustainable in the future.”

The ADBA is the main trade body for the industry in the UK, with around 250 members, including many household names such as British Gas, E.ON, Bioerdgas GmbH, Waitrose, Morrisons, United Utilities and Coca Cola.

The development of anaerobic digestion is fundamental to the UK achieving both its renewable energy targets and a carbon free future says ADBA. At a cost of just £5 billion and with the potential to produce £1.7 billion worth of gas each year at today's prices, developing anaerobic digestion would be a valuable investment.

The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) has been established to represent all businesses involved in the anaerobic digestion and biogas industry, to help remove the barriers they face and to support its members to grow their businesses. Its principal aim is to enable and facilitate the development of a mature anaerobic digestion industry in the UK within 10 years.

For further information, see: www.adbiogas.co.uk