Premier Construction Issue 17-5

Roma Publications

Volume 17 - Issue 5

Sushi with a smile

YO! Sushi Camden opens its doors

Giraffe serves up another success

There’s no stopping family-friendly restaurant chain

New hostel has the X-Factor

Joe McElderry opens new Centrepoint hostel

Bringing hope back to the hard-of-hearing Deaf Village Project will create vital facilities for the deaf community

Contents PREMIER CONSTRUCTION

Volume 17 • Issue 5

Lead Focus YO! Sushi.............................................................................................................8 Carluccio’s........................................................................................................16 Jamie’s Italian...................................................................................................24 Giraffe...............................................................................................................33 Hawksmoor.......................................................................................................40

Dear readers, This month our magazine focuses on the stylish new restaurants that are shaping our towns and cities.

With fine-dining eateries providing a welcoming place for people to recharge and relax after a hard day’s work, the restaurant industry is rapidly becoming a key ingredient for our future success. This month we look at how Jamie’s Italian, Hawksmoor, YO! Sushi, Carluccio’s and Giraffe continue this success through the opening of their latest sites.

Located on Finchley Road, Camden the 60th YO! Sushi restaurant has opened its doors. The £550,000 two-storey building comprises a 67-cover restaurant and brings additional Tokyo-style dining to the UK. YO! Sushi Camden is a unique site that reflects the ever-evolving design aesthetic that has become synonymous with the brand, whilst the layout complements the location perfectly.

Hawksmoor is a lavish steakhouse and cocktail bar that continues to impress diners with its distinctly British flavour. The chain currently has three restaurants in the UK, with its latest – Guildhall – offering diners a unique eating experience. Hawksmoor Guildhall takes references from many iconic and nostalgic buildings of the past, which is reflected throughout the site’s lavish layout.

Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s has opened a brand new restaurant in Liverpool. The one-storey development has retained the building’s original stone cladding whilst a new frontage leads out into the pedestrian area of the city’s vibrant Metquarter.

Other exciting projects include the state-of-the-art Centrepoint hostel on Dundas Street in Sunderland. The £1.3 million hostel was launched by X-Factor star Joe McElderry and will provide muchneeded support for vulnerable young people in the North East.

In Great Yarmouth, the popular Caister Holiday Park is celebrating a modern new ShowBar. Boasting a sleek and colourful design, the steel-frame ShowBar boasts a range of exciting features such as a live lounge with stage bars and seating for up to 750 people. In the height of summer, the ShowBar will boast a variety of world-class acts including Eastenders’ Shane Ritchie, Stavros Flatley and Ray Lewis.

We now invite you, readers, to join us as we serve up more successful developments.

Managing Director: Marcus Howarth Editor: Charlotte Emily Brazier Assistant Editor: Alex Wiggan Production Manager: Nicola Owen Customer Manager: Joanne Murphy

Published by: Roma Publications Ltd. t: 01706 719 972 f: 0845 458 4446 e: admin@romauk.net w: www.romauk.net Graphic Design by:

www.marcusmacaulay.co.uk

North West Walney Offshore Wind Farm............................................................................48

North East & Yorkshire Housesteads Roman Fort Museum................................................................50 Stewart Park......................................................................................................51 National Media Museum..................................................................................54

Midlands & East Anglia Caister Holiday Park.........................................................................................60 The Cookhouse.................................................................................................63

South West Weymouth SEA LIFE Tower..............................................................................66 Puriton West and Summerway Drove Solar Parks.........................................67

London & South East One Eton Street................................................................................................68 Hanwell Locks...................................................................................................68 Heathrow Terminal 2.........................................................................................78

Scotland Loch Ryan.........................................................................................................86 Dundas Castle....................................................................................................91 Gargieston Primary School..............................................................................93 Camster Wind Farm..........................................................................................97

Ireland Deaf Village.......................................................................................................98

Wales The Grove Hotel................................................................................................99

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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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Dishing up YO! Sushi When YO! Sushi first opened in 1997, the British restaurant chain unveiled a very unique eating experience – delicious Japanese food served via a central conveyor belt.

The innovative concept allowed customers to pick and choose their meals from a mouthwatering selection as it passed by their tables at 8cm per second. The concept brought a slice of urban Tokyo living to the UK and with the opening of its 60th restaurant, YO! Sushi has certainly changed Britain’s view of raw fish.

Located on Finchley Road just two minutes from Camden Town tube station, YO! Sushi Camden opened its doors in March 2012. The £550,000 restaurant is the latest site to be opened by owners Quilvest and the YO! Sushi management team and is just as dynamic as the 59 that came before it.

Work began on YO! Sushi Camden in December 2011. The main contractor on the project was Matrix IDC Ltd and Philip Watts Design was the interior design architect. Philip Watts Design has worked on more than half of the YO! Sushi restaurants and manufactures and installs many of the bespoke features that can be seen within each site.

Set within a two-storey building, YO! Sushi Camden comprises a 67-cover ground floor restaurant along with first floor washroom facilities, staff areas and associated areas. The site has a fully glazed shop front and features associated YO! Sushi signage.

Inside the restaurant, the decor takes inspiration from its surroundings and combines a rough edgy interior with a hip urban vibe. The walls and columns are covered in Corten cladding to give the impression of a rusty and weathered setting, whilst

towards the rear of the site there is a graffiti mural that depicts the Tokyo skyline.

To add to the restaurant’s vibrant theme, concrete-effect wallpaper runs up the stairway, whilst inside the washrooms bright yellow urinals and sinks offer a quirky surprise for diners who are freshening up.

Additional features include a bright orange light fixture, printed upholstery on the seats and a glamorous mirror that juxtaposes the striking interior.

YO! Sushi Camden is a very unique site that reflects the everevolving design aesthetic that has become synonymous with the brand. The layout complements the location perfectly, whilst the restaurant has maintained the tried and tested formula that has made the chain so successful.

Philip Watts Design Managing Director, Philip Watts, said: “We’ve been providing design consultancy for YO! Sushi since 2005 and over the last seven years we’ve had to meet some very unique requests from the YO! Sushi team. From a designer’s point of view YO! Sushi is all about innovation, so every single restaurant has to be different.

“What we tend to do is look at the site’s location, work out the type of customer that it is likely to attract and then calculate how this will affect the layout. Once this is all weighed up, we adapt the site to meet these requirements.

“The brand has standard components that go into each restaurant - such as the belt and the signage - but beyond this everything else changes. Once we’ve found a design format that works, we use it for that particular restaurant then throw it away

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when we start on the next.

“YO! Sushi’s can be placed anywhere as they’re highly adaptable, however they need to maintain their functionality. If we were installing a restaurant in an airport or train station we’d include more stools, but if it was in the centre of a town we’d incorporate more booths.

“This way of working can be very challenging as we are unable to reuse the layout for the next restaurant; however, it allows us to develop the type of service that we provide.”

Phillip Watts added: “Everything ran very smoothly on the site and we completed our work a week earlier than was scheduled, which was very satisfying for the YO! Sushi team and ourselves.

“We’re now looking at four new sites for YO! Sushi in Windsor, Guilford, York and Leeds. The sites couldn’t be more different if they tried and range from period buildings and existing restaurants to a site that isn’t even built yet.”

As the YO! Sushi brand continues to push forward with new and exciting developments, the company continues to maintain strong working relationships with its contractors and suppliers.

This relationship has resulted in some truly unique design work and it’s a formula that has proven to suit the individuality of the brand.

Ewan Dryburgh, Dryburgh Gillian Associates Ltd, said: “We’ve worked with YO! Sushi for 10 years and they’re a fantastic bunch of people to be involved with.

“We got started with the fourth YO! Sushi restaurant in the chain and over the years we’ve witnessed the design continue to evolve into something truly unique.

“The site in Oxford Circus is one that really stands out for me as it was designed after we came back from spending a week in Tokyo. We were on a fact finding mission to absorb the culture of the city and the site’s design was a direct result of this journey.

“YO! Sushi is a flexible concept that can be weaved into any area and all of the sites perfectly demonstrate what the brand has to offer.”

(SUB) YO! Sushi Stratford (END SUB) Located on the first floor of the Westfield shopping centre,

YO! Sushi Stratford opened in October 2011. The restaurant is extremely stylish and features oak and copper walls with marble counter tops to create a stunning place to eat. YO! Sushi Stratford includes a mixture of both stool and booth seating and is therefore capable of catering for both busy shoppers and diners with a little more time on their hands.

Philip Watts Design Managing Director, Philip Watts, said: “YO! Sushi Stratford is located within one of Europe’s biggest shopping centres, so what we wanted to do was to reflect the hustle and bustle of the location in order to create a feature that is very unique and memorable for customers.

“We took a thousand sushi plates, placed a steel rod on the rear of each and then positioned them at different heights to form a quantum cloud of utensils. The sculpture is easily noticeable to all who dine within YO! Sushi Stratford and has created a great talking point for customers.”

YO! Sushi Festival Hall YO! Sushi Festival Hall opened in the summer of 2011 and is instantly recognisable to diners for the external conveyor belt that is located outside the restaurant.

Philip Watts Design Managing Director, Philip Watts, said: “When we provide outside seating, the relationship to the conveyor belt is usually a secondary consideration. However, we had a different way of thinking at Festival Hall: we made it more of a feature by fitting an external belt alongside umbrellas and heaters. This has in turn provided the restaurant with a very interesting feature.”

Although many customers would agree that the external belt is a highlight of the restaurant, it is not the site’s only interesting feature. Inside the site is an internal ‘s’ shaped conveyor belt, whilst timber ceiling rafts and a large light fitting give diners many reasons to stay indoors.

YO! Sushi Norwich YO! Sushi Norwich opened in September 2011 and continues to prove a very successful site for the chain. The interior features textured stone mosaic, timber walls with wicker ceiling rafts and a snaking steel gantry.

Philip Watts Design Managing Director, Philip Watts, said: “YO! Sushi Norwich is another fantastic restaurant that is doing great business in Norwich. Seeing a site in full swing is always great and it fills us with a fantastic sense of achievement to know that we have been involved in something so successful.”

YO! Sushi Liverpool Located within another shopping centre, YO! Sushi Liverpool opened in 2008 in the city’s prestigious Liverpool One. Once again the site offers a very imaginative interior with camouflage wall paper and a hexagonal lighting raft that is reminiscent of the game board on the classic TV show, Blockbusters.

Philip Watts Design Managing Director, Philip Watts, said: “Like with any of the sites we work on, YO! Sushi Liverpool offered up challenges. However, it opened on time and was a great site to be involved with.”

YO! Sushi Brighton When it opened in 2005, YO! Sushi Brighton was the first YO! Sushi restaurant to be built outside of London.

Philip Watts Design Managing Director, Philip Watts, said: “Not only was Brighton the first YO! Sushi outside of the capital, it was also the first of their restaurants that we were involved with. The brand was already established in London and so the site had to introduce its own unique flavour outside of this location.

“The takeaway area in the restaurant was made up of half an ice cream van, whilst the ceiling was painted to look like the sky and the floor was covered in fake grass. There are even little gnomes on the tables. The restaurant is very different and yet very much in keeping with Brighton.”

He added: “There’s something about the YO! Sushi brand and the service that we provide that has resulted in a very natural working relationship that continues to grow.

“We were very flattered to be asked to work with YO! Sushi all those years ago on the Brighton site and we are still flattered that they keep asking us.”

VincentStokes Ltd VincentStokes Ltd is a Principle Contractor that specialises in fit-out and new build works, primarily within the health, fitness and retail sectors.

The company’s wealth of experience in design and construction enables Vincent Stokes Ltd to build long-term relationships with its clients, working on £40,000 refits right through to £5 million projects.

As well as Yo! Sushi, clients include Reebok, Nuffield Health and Wellbeing, Virgin, Spire Hospitals, NHS and Sports & Leisure Management Ltd along with a large number of local authorities.

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VincentStokes Ltd has been the main contractor on more than 20 YO! Sushi restaurants including Norwich, Blue Water, Bath and Royal Festival Hall.

Working for YO! Sushi, the company provides buildability advice and is involved with design development from the initial stages right through to completion. Through careful consultation with its clients, VincentStokes Ltd is able to implement techniques and processes that deliver a product that everyone can be proud of.

VincentStokes Ltd Financial Director, Rob Deans, said: “We are proud to be part of the Yo! Sushi delivery team. We have a hands on approach to working with our clients, suppliers and contractors which allows us to provide a single team approach to fast track, and often logistically difficult, schemes.

“It is great being part of such a dynamic roll out and realising some really great, vibrant designs.”

IVC Signs Ltd IVC Signs Ltd manufactures and installs all of YO! Sushi’s building signage, hoarding graphics, architectural signage, light boxes, wallpaper murals and lighting gantries. Over the last five years, IVC Signs Ltd has developed a successful working relationship with YO! Sushi to provide signage and graphics for more than 20 of its restaurants.

IVC Signs Ltd Partner, Phil Stratten, said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of such creative and diverse projects. We like to push the boundaries of modern sign making and are very excited to be working with such a professional and dynamic company as Yo! Sushi.”

“At IVC Signs Ltd we have specialised in the building signs corporate sector for over 20 years. We offer a comprehensive nationwide service encompassing full surveys, design, manufacture and installation services on retail building signage for restaurants, shops, offices, schools, hospitals, airports and local authorities.”

Phillips Decorators Ltd Phillips Decorators Ltd is an experienced commercial decorat-

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ing company that provides decorating services to industrial and retail sectors throughout the UK. The company completes work

in a prompt and professional manner and offers competitive quotes.

On 11 YO Sushi! restaurants Phillips Decorators Ltd has provided specialist interior decoration works for both front and back of house areas.

Phillips Decorators Ltd Contracts Manager, Ian Rabbetts, said: “YO! Sushi are great sites to work on. For front of house operations we use acrylic emulsion to cover walls and we use oil paints to cover any finished woodwork. For the back of house we cover ceilings in mat emulsion.”

“At Phillips Decorators Ltd we provide a first class finish, first time, every time.”

PHCC Ltd PHCC Ltd is a specialist designer and supplier of commercial catering equipment to the whole foods service industry within the UK. The company design, supply, project manage and install commercial kitchens, counters and bars for many well-known businesses from fast food restaurants to Michelin star establishments.

PHCC Ltd also supply light equipment, refrigeration units, furniture and exhaust hood systems. With an expert team of experienced staff, PHCC Ltd provides a full consultancy service to its clients whether they are opening a new kitchen or remodelling an existing unit.

PHCC Limited has worked with Yo! Sushi for over six years, manufacturing bespoke equipment to over 45 new restaurants.

The company designs kitchen and catering equipment to reflect the interior layout of each restaurant.

PHCC Ltd Managing Director, Steve Hammond, said: “PHCC Ltd is a small, yet professional company where a lot of work comes from repeat business due to the excellent service that we provide.

“We have a fantastic reputation throughout the UK for our attention to detail and we pride ourselves on meeting the needs of our customers.”

Matrix IDC Limited Matrix IDC Limited specialises in medium-sized commercial design and build development throughout the UK. The company offers an unrivalled service to their long term clients and together with their joinery arm – Premier Joinery – Matrix IDC Limited’s independent specialisation in high speed shopfitting, barfitting and bespoke joinery leads the way for many clients throughout the UK and overseas.

Matrix IDC Limited and Premier Joinery offer the ‘full one stop shop’ service to their clients, covering all aspects of in-house construction and specialist joinery from pre-tender advice to the finished article.

Matrix IDC Limited are very pleased to be associated with the YO! Sushi brand and are particularly proud to have been chosen to work on: YO! Sushi - Camden YO! Sushi- Stratford City YO! Sushi - Arndale Manchester YO! Sushi - Selfridges Manchester YO! Sushi - Poland Street, London YO! Sushi - Reading YO! Sushi - Aberdeen YO! Sushi - Glasgow YO! Sushi - St Paul’s London YO! Sushi - Oslo Norway YO! Sushi – Plymouth YO! Sushi – Solihull YO! Sushi - Norwich “We are delighted to be part of this international iconic success and to work with YO! Sushi’s highly dedicated professional team.”

“Working on the YO! Sushi projects often demands high standards of workmanship coupled with demanding timescales. We have continued to excel in both of these respects in order to meet the client’s satisfaction.”

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Carluccio’s cooks up a storm The popular Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s has opened another restaurant in Liverpool’s vibrant Metquarter.

As one of the most successful restaurant chains in the UK, Carluccio’s celebrates an enthusiastic following of eager eaters who are keen to get their hands on some authentic Italian food. The first Carluccio’s cafe opened in 1999 at Market Place, London and since then the chain has expanded to encompass over 50 restaurants in locations including Milton Keynes, Leicester, Bicester, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Founder Antonio Carluccio was born in 1937 in Vietri sul Mare in the province of Salerno. After moving to the UK in 1975, he became the manager and eventual owner of Terence Conran’s Neal Street Restaurant in Covent Garden. The author of thirteen books, Antonio Carluccio appeared in the BBC series ‘Two Greedy Italians’ and was awarded an honorary OBE in January 2007.

After ten years spent developing the Carluccio’s chain alongside Priscilla Carluccio, Antonio continues to work with the Carluccio’s team on menu development and chef training.

One of the most important aspects of the Carluccio’s chain is the use of fresh and authentic ingredients, and those who opt to dine at the restaurant will enjoy a menu that boasts everything from hand-made pasta to seasonal fish, meat and vegetarian dishes. Each restaurant also celebrates a warm and friendly atmosphere, which remains constant although the location may change.

Another constant factor in the development of Carluccio’s is leading shop fitting contractor Ecsec, who have completed over 40 projects for Carluccio’s over the last ten years.

For the Liverpool project, Ecsec converted an existing retail unit into a Carluccio’s restaurant in just nine weeks. The onestorey development has retained the original stone cladding, however the floor levels had to be adjusted with a new raised floor, a new drainage system installed to suit the layout and a new frontage with the main entrance was formed leading out into the pedestrian area in front of the Metquarter.

The project began in January 2012 and the restaurant opened to the public on 23rd March 2012.

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Simon Kossoff, CEO at Carluccio’s, said: “We have been looking to open a Carluccio’s in Liverpool for some time now. We are delighted to have found a site in the fantastic Metquarter development.”

Carluccio’s Liverpool features a large central marble bar where customers can relax and have a drink or pre-dinner aperitivo with anti-pasti. The deli counter displays cheeses, olives and cured meats along with sandwiches, tarts and desserts.

Customers who would like to take a slice of authentic Italy home with them will find the Carluccio’s food shop bursting with delicious ingredients all year long.

Chris Farthing, Managing Director of Ecsec, said: “We have worked with Carluccio’s for a long time and have a strong working relationship with the company, who we view as a valued and loyal customer. We are particularly pleased to have worked on the Liverpool project, which has created a welcome new addition to the Carluccio’s chain.

“This was a challenging project due to a tight programme and city centre location, which had time-controlled deliveries within a pedestrian area and back of house corridors that were unsuitable for large deliveries. As a result, we had to carefully organise the construction schedule around these factors.

“One of the most enjoyable aspects of this project is the excellent feedback that we have received. In fact, the centre manager told the client that they have never had a contractor on site that is so organised and easy to deal with and we are welcome back any time!”

The exciting thing about Carluccio’s is that it continues to develop and adapt to suit the needs of its customers.

In November 2011 the chain announced the launch of a new bar format, which has been designed to attract after-work clientele.

The Aperitivo Bar concept will replace the fresh food deli and barista bar area of each site every evening, offering customers an exciting Italian bar experience.

The bars feature soft lighting, upholstered seating and hightopped tables and barstools. All of the drinks on offer are exclusively Italian and include beer on draught, bottled beer, regional wines and contemporary cocktails.

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Simon Kossoff said: “We have always traded well at traditional mealtimes such as breakfast, lunch and supper as well as during the day. The new Aperitivo Bar offer has been designed specifically to attract an after-work early evening clientele, increasing traffic between the quieter hours of 5pm and 7pm whilst offering our guests the same great value and genuine Italian experience that they have come to expect.”

On 23rd November 2011, Carluccio’s opened their first outlet north of the borders. The 417 square metre outlet in Glasgow city’s West Nile Street is based in a former branch of the HSBC bank and brings Carluccio’s trademark restaurant, food shop and delicatessen together under one roof.

Scottish contractor Dimensions was commissioned to complete the refit, which was valued at around £750,000. The restaurant has a total of 130 covers and employs 47 people.

Simon Kossoff commented that Carluccio’s had intended to establish a restaurant in Scotland for around eighteen months.

He said: “I do think of the Scottish cities that Glasgow’s the best in terms of potential, but we would have opened in Edinburgh or Aberdeen if a site had come up first. I’m hoping we’ll have Carluccio’s in Aberdeen and I don’t rule out the possibility of having more than one store in these cities.

“The design has moved on from anything we’ve got anywhere else – we’ve got much more of a split bar and shop offer, so people can really come here and have a glass of beer or wine after work or before eating.”

Carluccio’s is also dedicated to ensuring that their developments are as sustainable as possible. Last year the company recycled 78.3% of their waste, which is the equivalent of 3,400 tonnes of waste or 1,000 fully loaded double decker buses.

The chain also concluded an agreement with Convert2Green that will see all of their waste cooking oil converted into bio fuel.

Under the deal, Convert2Green will collect used oil from the 54 branches of the chain across the UK. This will then be turned into bio fuel to power delivery trucks, slashing CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent compared to conventional fuel.

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Steve Kaddish, Development Manager at Carluccio’s, said: “Our aim in the first 12 months was to save 92.7 tonnes of carbon through recycling our waste oil – a big step in our overall aim to recycle in the region of 78 percent of waste.”

Further sustainable efforts include Carluccio’s Cycle to Work scheme, which was launched in April 2011 and encourages salaried members of staff to ride their bicycle to work.

Carluccio’s restaurants are built in a range of exciting locations and each one is unique, as Chris Farthing explained: “Each of the projects that we have completed for Carluccio’s has been different, and there has been a range of new build and refurbishment projects.

“For example, we recently completed the refurbishment of an existing two-storey restaurant. Whilst the Carluccio’s restaurants normally have quite a modern, clean ambiance the Paddington Street London scheme was designed to be more individual with a calm, clean and orderly space contrasted with worn and found materials.

“Although the design may differ slightly, some design elements remain constant. For instance, Carluccio’s use quite a lot of marble for the bar areas and oak timber for the flooring.

Working with the interior designers we endeavour to make sure that the aesthetics are complimented by practicality, low maintenance and longevity. Our ultimate aim is to deliver a restaurant that will stand the test of time and not cost a fortune.”

Ecsec are one of the leading restaurant and bar, retail design, commercial and office fit out contractors in the UK. Boasting over 50 years of experience, the company has carefully built a reputation for delivering high-quality projects within budget and on time.

The company is action orientated and their ‘can do’ approach allows them to realise their clients’ restaurant, bar, retail, commercial or office vision.

Chris Farthing commented: “Most of our customers are repeat customers – people keep coming back to us time after time, so we must be doing something right. We’re not contractual, we like to take ownership and get involved. As a company we are very hands on and we like to

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think that we’re not just a contractor, but a partner that people can work with.

“We have a will to succeed and the drive to bring the project to a conclusion, as the majority of our business is from recommendation or repeat customers, I think this speaks volumes about the way that we do business.”

The innovative work of Ecsec has not gone unnoticed, and several of the Carluccio’s developments have received nods from award bodies.

One such project is the Carluccio’s restaurant in Cardiff, which was a contender in the 2011 UK Restaurant and Bar Design Awards. The cafe is in the library building of St. David’s Centre and faces onto Mill Lane, which is the restaurant quarter of central Cardiff. Just a short walk from the main train station and situated opposite the prestigious Marriott Hotel, the restaurant has a beautiful outside seating area where guests can enjoy fresh Italian food in the sunshine.

Chris Farthing said: “One thing I have learned in this business is that you must never become complacent, you’re only as good as your last job, so we treat every job we do as if it is our first. We continue to learn from any challenges and strive to offer Carluccio’s the best value for money service that we possibly can.

“Although each Carluccio’s project has been interesting in its own right, I do have my own personal favourites. One of these is the Tunbridge Wells project, for which we converted an old bank and restored it to its former glory. In fact, Ecsec and Carluccio’s even won a conservation award for this project.

“It’s great working with Carluccio’s because they are very professional, switched on guys and know exactly what they want.

They understand the process and pressures we work under and make decisions early, which gives the team the chance to get the job done properly.”

One of the latest offerings from Carluccio’s is the new Dorchester restaurant. The 3,264 sq ft unit is located in the Bonded Stores building as part of the town’s £100 million Brewery Square development.

A number of restaurants have been confirmed for the town re-

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generation plan, including: Wagamama, Zizzi, Cafe Rouge and Pizza Express.

Andrew Wadsworth, Director of project developers Waterhouse, said: “The iconic Italian restaurant Carluccio’s coming to Brewery Square is great news for Dorchester. Carluccio’s will form an important part of the great evening offer at Brewery Square, transforming Dorchester with a new cultural and leisure hub in the West Country.”

Steve Hill, Chief Executive Officer of Carluccio’s, added: “We are delighted to have secured such a fantastic building in Brewery Square and look forward to opening Carluccio’s delicatessen and restaurant this year.”

With more Carluccio’s in the pipeline, the chain will surely continue to provide eager customers with delicious coffee and fresh Italian food for years to come.

Breezefree Ltd Breezefree Ltd is a specialist supplier of alfresco equipment to bars, restaurants and public houses throughout the UK. The company prides itself in providing its clients with a full range of services and this includes a fixed range of products right through to bespoke solutions.

Breezefree Ltd has supplied external equipment – including awnings, parasols and screens – to many Carluccio’s restaurants and it’s a working relationship that Breezefree Ltd values.

Breezefree Ltd Marketing Manager, Paul King, said: “Many of our clients – including Carluccio’s – use our service because they know that we provide a reliable and informative service. We assign a project manager to each site so our clients know that they can deal with a member of our team that knows their account intimately.

“We always deliver what we say we can deliver and essentially it’s this level of service that sets us apart from our competitors.”

Bowling Garrard Electrical Ltd Family-run business Bowling Garrard Electrical Ltd is an electrical contractor for the commercial, industrial and domestic sec-

tors. The company undertakes all types of electrical work but specialises in the inspection and testing of installations including emergency lighting, fire alarms and portable appliances.

Previous projects that Bowling Garrard Electrical Ltd has been involved with include Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich, Colchester United FC’s football stadium and the Howard Theatre in Cambridge. The company is also affiliated to the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) and is registered to ISO 9000.

Bowling Garrard Electrical Ltd has provided electrical services on over 50 Carluccio’s restaurants, which includes installing lighting and kitchen power, emergency lighting, fire alarm systems and external lighting.

Bowling Garrard Electrical Ltd Company Secretary, Aaron Stokes, said: “At Bowling Garrard Electrical Ltd we always ensure we complete a project on time and within budget and we’ve never missed a deadline. We have a team of trained professionals ready to provide a high quality service, to a very high standard.”

Sparks Security Systems Ltd For 26 years Sparks Security Systems Ltd has installed intruder alarm systems for use in the domestic and commercial sector.

The company specialises in providing security systems to retail outlets and restaurants and has a long-standing relationship with Carluccio’s that dates back to 1999.

Sparks Security Systems Ltd has worked on almost every Carluccio’s restaurant, fitting monitoring and intruder alarm systems.

Sparks Security Systems Ltd Managing Director, Malcolm Sparks, said: “We’re a small, family-run business but we cover a very wide area. We offer a reliable, cost-effective service and we only fit security systems that are to a high-standard. We never cut corners.”

JSB Interiors JSB Interiors specialise in the manufacture and installation of bespoke fixed and free-standing furniture for bars, restaurants, airports and leisure facilities. With over 65 years combined experience in the trade, JSB Interiors comprises a close knit team of skilled professionals including a number of in-house upholsterers and joiners.

JSB Interiors supplies furniture and upholstery services to a wide range of clients across the UK including: Harrods, Yo Sushi, Giraffe, Marks & Spencer and Panasonic. For Carluccio’s JSB Interiors provides the restaurant with fixed and free-standing seating.

JSB Interiors Company Partner, Scott Borrows, said: “We’ve worked on more than ten Carluccio’s and once they’re completed they look quite uniformed and very classy. All of the work we deliver is completed to the highest standard – with no corners being cut – so that each restaurant looks stunning and is instantly recognisable.”

Etchells Signs & Display Solutions For over 50 years, family-run business Etchells Signs & Display Solutions has specialised in the manufacture and installation of signage and printed graphics. The company provides signage to many high-profile companies with the majority of its work being completed in the retail and restaurant sectors.

Etchells Signs & Display Solutions has provided more than thirty Carluccio’s restaurants with internal and external signage, which includes many bespoke printed wall graphics that are used within each site.

Etchells Signs & Display Solutions Managing Director, Phil Etchells, said: “Carluccio’s is a very successful business with new outlets opening all of the time, so it’s great to be involved with such a high-profile chain of restaurants. We’re involved with each project during the initial stages of development and this helps us to make the right decisions to provide the best possible results.

“At Etchells Signs & Display Solutions we’re innovative, we can respond to the needs and requirements of all of our clients and we love taking on a new challenge.”

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Jamie’s Italian branches out A brand new £1.5 million restaurant for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has opened in the Maltings Shopping Centre in St Albans.

Jamie’s Italian opened on 6th February and replaces the 18th century Bell Public House. It is the 25th Jamie’s Italian to open in the UK and the first to open in Hertfordshire and is the latest addition to works that are currently underway to revitalise the Chequer Street area of the city.

Jamie Oliver said: “We’ve opened in what was the Bell Public House on Chequer Street – a building that’s steeped in local history and an important part of the city’s heritage. It’s certainly not our biggest restaurant, but with room for 150 guests it still really packs a punch.

“Since I was a teenager I’ve been totally besotted by the love, passion and verve for food, family and life itself that just about all Italian people have, no matter where they’re from or how rich or poor they may be. And that’s what I’m passionate about – good food for everyone, no matter what.”

Jamie Oliver Restaurants Group Managing Director, Simon Blagden, added: “Opening our first Hertfordshire Jamie’s Italian is an exciting new venture for us. The Maltings is the ideal location for the restaurant as it is located centrally and offers guests a place to enjoy great food and a relaxing atmosphere after a long day of shopping.”

Works began in October 2011, with Tekne Shopfitting Ltd as the main contractor and Martin Brudnizki Design Studio as the architect.

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The 12-week contract saw the two-storey building undergo a stunning makeover. As with all Jamie’s Italian restaurants, substantial efforts were made to retain the existing features. This included leaving the existing fireplaces and exposed brickwork untouched.

Additional improvements included the installation of flagstone slate and reclaimed timber flooring, along with bench seating, marble counter tops and Moroccan handmade ceramic tiles for the bar fronts.

An impressive glazed walkway has also been installed, subsequently linking into the Maltings shopping centre in order to create synergy between the two buildings. As the restaurant is located within the shopping centre, busy shoppers can take a well-earned break from spending without even having to leave the building.

The Maltings Centre Manager, Phil Corrigan, said: “The Maltings is extremely proud to open a Jamie’s Italian as it promises to be a fantastic asset to the shopping centre and to St Albans itself.”

The project was officially handed over in January 2012 in time for the grand opening, although some additional work will take place in the coming months. Planning permission is currently being negotiated to extend the restaurant’s dining space through an external seating area at the rear of the building. This phase is likely to be completed in the summer of 2012.

Tekne Shop Fitting Ltd Contracts Director, Phil Mansbridge, said: “We’ve worked on nine of the Jamie’s Italian restaurants so far and the St Albans site was just as varied and challenging as the previous eight.

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“What makes these projects so interesting is that we get to do something at each site that is very different to the next, so diners are offered a unique experience at each restaurant. This is achieved by taking on themes and iconic imagery associated with that particular location and incorporating them within the building where possible.

“Of course that’s not to say that there are no similarities between the sites, because a general theme does run through each of the restaurants. Diners who visit other Jamie’s Italians will notice the Thomas Crapper toilets and the blackened steelwork that runs throughout the buildings - this is something that helps to retain the brand for Jamie Oliver.”

He added: “This Jamie’s Italian has benefited from great organisation. The work ran to schedule and from our point of view it was what we would call a low-hassle project. It’s great to see another completed restaurant and it is also very important for us to be able to continue this successful working relationship with Jamie.”

Tekne Shopfitting Ltd is a traditional shop fitting specialist with over 30 years of experience in the industry and in addition to contract management the company manufactures all of the joinery at its factory in Poole, Dorset. The company has worked on nine Jamie’s Italian restaurants so far including: Guilford, Reading, Leeds, Glasgow, Bath, Bristol, Portsmouth and The Angel, Islington.

Phil Mansbridge said: “The Jamie’s Italian we worked on in Leeds was a former bank, whilst the site in Guildford had been a record shop. Our next site will be Jamie’s Italian in York and then we’ll be looking forward to seeing what other sites are on the horizon.

“We’re also getting involved with the latest line of eateries from Jamie Oliver – Union Jacks. This is a new chain that is built around wood-fired cooking methods.

“Having completed the flagship Union Jacks at Holborn we are now involved with the roll-out of Union Jack venues in Winchester, Bluewater and Covent Garden.”

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Jamie’s Italian Islington Jamie’s Italian Islington opened its doors in August 2011 at the intersection between Islington Upper Street, City Road, Pentonville Road and St John Street. The diner boasts 250 covers with outside seating and has a coffee van conveniently parked outside the front door to dispense refreshments throughout the day.

The restaurant is also located close to Fifteen, the first-ever restaurant opened by Jamie Oliver.

Jamie Oliver said: “Islington’s such a foodie part of London so it was just perfect for Jamie’s Italian where our gorgeous, affordable Italian food in a stunning setting, really does have something for everyone.”

Jamie’s Italian Guildford Like the St Albans site and the Jamie’s Italians in Bath and Reading, the Guildford site is housed within a shopping complex. The two-storey building was constructed using reinforced concrete and features a brick facade, ground-to-first floor windows and ample space for up to 160 diners.

The building operated as both a bank and a record store before it became a Jamie’s Italian. One of the most noticeable features is the circular shape, which gives this particular Jamie’s Italian a very unique layout.

Inside the restaurant, the interior features reclaimed timber and marble, whilst the furniture is a mixture of steel chairs and purpose-made booths. In order to make the steel and timber roof visible, ceilings and partitions were removed during the redevelopment works.

Split over two floors, the building boasts two very distinct levels. The ground floor features exposed services, marble counter tops and a polished concrete floor, whilst the first floor showcases purpose-made floor tiles.

Suspended meats create the impression of real home cooking and the wood-burning ovens create appetising aromas, whilst the view of the kitchen allows diners to see all of the hard work in action.

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Jamie’s Italian Leeds Housed within a former bank, Jamie’s Italian Leeds opened in 2010 and became the first northern branch to open in the UK. The restaurant has retained several original elements, including large Roman pillars and a grand staircase. A large open kitchen dominates the ground floor, whilst exposed brickwork and vibrant tiles create an exciting mixture of Italian and English styles.

Jamie Oliver said: “We converted a grand old bank into our first restaurant to open in the north of England and it was a real beauty.

“We were inspired by the wonderful old ceiling downstairs and stayed as close to the original as we could. Upstairs a bank of windows ensures that it’s always light and airy and the effect is gorgeous!”

Jamie’s Italian Glasgow The 250-cover Jamie’s Italian Glasgow opened in May 2010 on George Square in the city’s General Post Office (GPO) building.

Prior to the creation of the new restaurant, the building had sat empty for ten years just waiting to be brought back to life.

Jamie’s Italian Glasgow is housed on the ground and lowerground levels of the building and features an open plan interior with a mixture of glass, leather, timber and exposed brick features.

Jamie Oliver said: “This was the first Jamie’s Italian in Scotland and what an amazing start! We got ourselves one of Glasgow’s top spots – the old GPO building on George Square – and thanks to the ability of our designers to brilliantly blend classic architecture with rustic Italy and a twist of Jamie’s own contemporary style, Jamie’s Italian has really created a stir.”

Jamie’s Italian Reading Jamie’s Italian Reading opened in March 2010 at The Oracle Shopping Centre. The Reading site was designed as a relaxed eatery aimed at hungry workers on the go, yet offers diners everything they’ve come to expect from the Jamie’s brand.

Jamie Oliver said: “We really came up trumps with our site in Reading; a cracking building overlooking the river. The centrepiece is the whopping bubble-shaped chandelier which – especially at night – really sets the whole place off a treat.”

Thomasons Ltd Thomasons is one of the country’s leading civil and structural engineering consultancies, offering a nationwide service from seven offices across the country. Having worked with many high profile clients – many within the retail and leisure sectors – Thomasons has recently been involved in the structural design and implementation of 15 Jamie’s Italian restaurants across the UK. Thomasons’ Senior Project Engineer, Darren Williams, said: “Working with Jamie’s Italian has been a fascinating opportunity. Usually the complexities and engineering challenges are solved and then hidden within the fabric of the building, but at Jamie’s Italian the concept of the interior architecture is to expose it all.

“At Westfield Stratford City, we designed a bespoke wraparound staircase which forms a stunning focal point for the double-height restaurant. “ Now in its 65th year of delivering civil and structural engineering consultancy, Thomasons continues to produce practical, innovative and bespoke solutions for its expanding client base.

South Coast Stone South Coast Stone specialises in the supply and installation of all types of natural and engineered stone including marble, granite, slate, limestone and quartz.

The well-established stone masonry company has substantial experience in completing commercial projects for clients includ-

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ing the Jamie Oliver and Pizza Express restaurant chains. Whilst South Coast Stone Ltd mainly completes kitchen work, they are also adept at bathroom stonework and all types of tiling.

South Coast Stone source materials from around the world and import slabs from China, Turkey, Italy, Belgium and France.

The company uses the latest CNC machinery that works from CAD drawings to assist the manufacturer.

South Coast Stone Managing Director, Andy Croce, said: “We have over 60 years combined experience in our industry and we have been involved in many large projects within the UK working directly for main contractors.

“These projects have involved paving, cladding and tiling a wide range of stone products and recently included the importation and installation of granite cladding with a flamed textured finish for Willmott Dixon Construction at the ex RAF Hendon airbase.

“A factor that has contributed to the success of our Company is having control of our supply chain. We select and import our stone directly from our overseas suppliers and then design and manufacture the finished products in our factory using the latest CNC machinery.

“This ensures we are able to control all aspects of product quality and make cost savings which we are able to pass on to our customers.”

Clear Structures For over ten years Clear Structures has been a market leader in structural glass design, providing bespoke glazing solutions

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for projects in the UK and overseas. From its head office in Southend-on-Sea, the company works with architects, specialist contractors and glass manufacturers to provide glass solutions to the construction industry.

Previous projects include Highbury Square, various projects at the Olympic Park and a number of Westfield shopping centres.

Clear Structures has also worked on three Jamie’s Italian restaurants, providing facades, bespoke curtain walling systems, associated support frames and glass fins.

Clear Structures Associate, Rob Parsell, said: “Jamie’s Italian is such an interesting project to work on. Each restaurant is engineered to create a stunning visual experience for its customers.”

Decorative Treatments Unlimited Decorative Treatments Unlimited is a specialist painting and decorating contractor with over 30 years of experience in the industry. The company works on projects over many sectors and has a long-standing relationship with shopfitting contractors.

Decorative Treatments Unlimited has been associated with Tekne for over 25 years and has worked on all of the Jamie Italian restaurants that Tekne Shopfitting Limited has completed to date.

Decorative Treatments Unlimited Company Director, Allan Joyce, said: “We’re a long established company that is able to deliver what the client requires, to the standard that they require and within the timescale.”

SDS London For over twenty-five years SDS London has supplied architectural ironmongery to the construction industry. The company provides bespoke and standard ironmongery for use in projects across the UK, Europe and overseas and offers a free and fully comprehensive scheduling service in line with all relevant legislation and best practices. SDS London is also a long-standing member of the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers.

The company has provided architectural ironmongery for many high-profile projects including the recent restoration of Rise Hall – a renovation project for Sarah Beeny and Channel 4.

SDS London has provided architectural ironmongery for many Jamie’s Italian restaurants including sites in Kent, Manchester, Covent Garden, Birmingham, Cheltenham and Milton Keynes.

SDS London Head Estimator, Simon Ayers, said: “A lot of the work we provide for Jamie’s Italian is quite specialist so we have to organise something a little bit beyond the norm. Most of the back of house fixtures and equipment are set in stainless steel.

“With every Jamie’s Italian there are bespoke elements which we have to consider when planning. The ironmongery in every Jamie’s Italian is different and it’s great to be involved with such a dynamic brand.”

Real Flooring Solutions Ltd Real Flooring Solutions Ltd is a contract floor specialist that provides soft and timber floor finishes for commercial interiors.

The company offers a competitive and cost-effective product that meets the needs of its clients.

Real Flooring Solutions Ltd has previously provided flooring solutions for a number of high-profile projects including McDonald’s restaurants and Gant and Coach retail stores.

Presently Real Flooring Solutions Ltd is delivering timber floor finishes for Urban Outfitters.

Working with Tekne Ltd, Real Flooring Solutions Ltd has been involved with six Jamie’s Italian restaurants, providing both soft and timber floor coverings for front and back of house areas.

As well as providing floor coverings for new installations, the company also restored and renovated an existing timber plank floor at the Leeds site.

Real Flooring Solutions Ltd Company Director, Mark Thompson, said:

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“We provide a personal service from conception to completion and we are always aware of our clients’ requirements.”

Warings Furniture Ltd Established in 1986, Warings Furniture Ltd is a manufacturer and distributor of bespoke furniture, supplying directly to contractors within the construction industry. The majority of Warings Furniture Ltd’s products are produced to order and the company works on many high-profile projects including: J D Wetherspoon, BHS, The Restaurant Group, Pret a Manger, Hilton Hotels, Travelodge and Center Parcs.

The company has also expanded into the retail market with the recent opening of its first outlet, selling furniture directly to the domestic sector.

Warings Furniture Ltd has supplied bespoke furniture to 25 Jamie’s Italian and Union Jacks restaurants and continues to maintain a long-lasting working relationship with the brand.

Warings Furniture Ltd Company Director, Stuart Smith, said: “Manufacturing and supplying furniture to Jamie’s Italian and Union Jacks requires a lot of individual tailoring to meet the specific needs of our clients. We’ll meet with the designers to get a clear understanding of what they want and then we’ll make the necessary adjustments so that the furniture can become operational.

Stuart Smith added: “At Warings Furniture Ltd we’re very passionate about what we do and with over 25 years of experience we take great pride in offering the highest level of service to all of our customers.”

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L.A. Husbands Ltd As the UK’s only high-volume producer of small service and goods lifts in the UK, L.A. Husbands Ltd has a reputation for providing a unique, quality service to its clients. L.A. Husbands Ltd works with both the largest and smallest contractors throughout the UK and has installed lifts in some the UK’s most prestigious buildings.

The company provides lifts to a very wide cross section of industry sectors including restaurants, hotels, libraries, banks, manufacturing and distribution companies and universities, schools and other public organisations.

L.A. Husbands Ltd has been involved with over 20 Jamie’s Italians so far, manufacturing and installing service lifts for the transportation of food within each restaurant.

L.A. Husbands Ltd Managing Director, Keith Holmes, said: “We pride ourselves on the ability to manufacture standard or bespoke lifts and to give on-time, quality installations.

“L.A. Husbands Ltd has been in business since 1963 and we have lifts still in operation 30 years after we originally installed them. Our clients can be sure of the longevity of our lifts and the quality of our service.”

MRFS Group For the Jamie’s Italian projects, MRFS Group was contracted to design, supply and install HD CCTV and Intruder Alarm systems.

Tony Bygraves Chief Executive, MRFS Group, said: “We are very proud to have been involved with Jamie Oliver and his exciting projects. Jamie’s Italian is a very big brand, it is a privilege to work so closely with them so to ensure we surpass their needs and expectations.”

“What is particularly pleasing for us is the way that this fast growing chain of restaurants has acknowledged the potential

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use of CCTV, not just for security, but for other aspects too.

For instance, in the case of Jamie’s Italian, with high definition mega –pixel CCTV technology they are able to monitor the quality of food dispatched from their kitchens at each restaurant, remotely by the Executive Chefs at Head Office, and shortly ‘on the move’ with ipad technology.”

“They can use the system as a training tool, observing staff behaviours and performance plus key features are theft deterrents and use with health and safety issues. Jamie’s are constantly looking for new ways of improving their own Customer service and management of a growing portfolio with the use of high definition mega-pixel CCTV.” “CCTV can be a powerful tool and has much broader horizons than people realise, which is an idea that we are trying get out there.”

MRFS Group was incorporated in 1983, originally as MR Security and through its growth have become one of the largest independent Company’s in the United Kingdom offering consultation, design, supply, installation and maintenance for Audio Visual, Fire & Security Systems within the residential, commercial and industrial sectors including: Architects*Building Contractors*Colleges*Commercial *Consultants* Developers *Electrical Contractors*Estate Agent*Housing Associations Trusts*HM Government* Hospitals*Hotels*Interior Designers*Local Authorities*M & E Contractors*Managing Agents* Residential*Restaurants*Retail* Schools* Surveyors*Universities They comply with the Highest Industry Standards; the Company are NSI (National Security Inspectorate) Gold installers for Access Control, Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Fire Alarms together with BS EN ISO 9001:2008, and also are BAFE ( British Approval for Fire Equipment) certified. Members of the BSIA (British Security Association) and FSA (Fire Security Association), we are also accredited by Achilles, Constructionline, CHAS and Safe Contractor and are recognised by all leading Insurance Companies and Police Constabularies nationwide.

Their multi-discipline skill set encompasses the following systems: *Access control*Audio Visual & Automation*Burglar Alarms*CCTV*Data Cabling & Infrastructure*Door Entry*Fire Alarms*Fire Appliances*Gates and Gate Automation*Grilles & Collapsible Gates*Home Cinema*HD-CCTV*Information Technology*Integrated Reception Systems*Lighting control*Locks*Monitoring services*Perimeter Security*Public Address*Security Doors*Security Lighting*Safes* Telecommunications For more information on MRFS Group and more information on our Company’s services please visit www.mrfsgroup.com or call us FREE on 0500 288 999.

Dining in style with Giraffe Family-friendly restaurant chain Giraffe has a reputation for providing high quality, delicious food in a vibrant and modern setting.

Giraffe is the brainchild of Russel Joffe and his wife Juliette, who had previously operated the popular Bistroquet and Café Flo establishments in Camden and together with life-long friend Andrew Jacobs set up their first site in Hampstead. The restaurants are now located all across the UK, with locations in Aberdeen and Manchester, all the way through to Portsmouth and Bristol.

Director of Giraffe Concepts Ltd, Andrew Jacobs, said: “Giraffe is a collaborative concept that was first conceived in 1998 by Russel, Juliette and myself. We were sat on the beach talking about businesses that we would like to create and came up with Giraffe – a quirky, family-friendly restaurant that pro-

vides fresh and delicious food from all around the world.

“The original idea behind the chain was to offer food from all over the world with music from all over the world. We believed that this would create both a vibrant atmosphere and facilitate the informal yet professional service, together with freshlycooked food and competitive prices, marking Giraffe out from all of the other restaurants.

“It is an innovative concept that is constantly adapting to ensure that everyone can enjoy the Giraffe experience. For instance, our decision to implement all day dining – breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week – was virtually unheard of in 1998.

“Although we have an excellent reputation as a family based restaurant, Giraffe is also keen to attract an evening clientele.

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ment projects in order to attract a more mature market – for instance those visiting after work or who are on a big night out.

“We provide our diners with a delicious, healthy menu and there truly is something there for everyone, from coffee to salad to a three-course meal. Most importantly, the service is always delivered with a smile.”

There are currently 46 Giraffe restaurants in the UK, each offering one of five unique dining experiences to suit the local market: Giraffe, Giraffe Bar & Grill, The Giraffe Café, Giraffe Stop and Giraffe Burgers & Cocktails.

In July 2011, the original Giraffe restaurant in Hampstead was refurbished in order to make it more appealing for the cosmopolitan adult market and was transformed into The Giraffe Café.

The group’s trademark orange branding was toned down and replaced with a more natural and earthy design which features original brickwork and maps of the world, whilst the food offering was updated to include a more sophisticated all-day menu.

Another very recent addition to the ever-evolving Giraffe chain is their first quick-service restaurant – Giraffe Stop – at King’s Cross Station’s new concourse, which opened on 19th March 2012. The new brand extension serves takeaway food on-thego including burgers, hot-dogs and soup whilst also featuring some seating for eating in.

Leading commercial interior shopfitters Interiors UK have enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Giraffe chain since 2009.The company works predominantly within the restaurant, retail and leisure industry and their clients include: The Restaurant Group, Gondola Group, Jamie Oliver, Rocket, Yo Sushi and AB Hotels.

Angus Gregory of Interiors UK, the main contractor for Giraffe Stop said: “Every Giraffe restaurant is different, depending on the location. For instance, the aim of the King’s Cross Station project was to create a restaurant that catered for a quick turnaround – people come here to buy food and take it out. However, for

other projects – including the recently-completed Giraffe Bar & Grill in Leeds – we have created restaurants or a restaurant bar and grill, which are more evening-based or focused around an all-day offer. This has enabled the Giraffe chain to tap into both the more mature and the stop-and-go markets.

“The King’s Cross project was particularly challenging because it was an environment in which we were a small element within a very large construction project. We therefore had to work around a number of obstacles, particularly with regards to security and deliveries – which had to be booked in advance, arrive at exactly the right time and be unloaded into the unit at the right time. However, despite these challenges the project progressed well and we are very pleased with what we have managed to achieve.

“We have a lot of experience in completing fit-outs for restaurants. So far all of the projects that we have completed for Giraffe have been very interesting and each one is special in its own right. One of my personal favourites is the Giraffe in Bath, which has a very up-to-the-minute design and a lot of exciting finishes.

For instance, there is a first-floor mezzanine level that gives the restaurant a much greater feeling of space. Interestingly, there are also different views of the restaurant from different areas of the restaurant.

“Another quirky site is the Giraffe Bar & Grill in Soho, which features a warm and inviting environment with lots of reclaimed finishes. Whilst some features remain constant throughout the Giraffe developments – for instance the striking signage, funky music and delicious food – the wide array of different finishes keeps each Giraffe establishment unique. For us, that’s what makes working on the Giraffe projects so enjoyable.”

Interiors UK works closely with architects Harrison Design to ensure that each project meets the high standards set out by Giraffe, as Angus Gregory explained: “We begin every project with the aim of maximising the effect whilst minimising the cost. When working with Harrison Design,

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we spend a lot of time value engineering: we formulate an ideal scheme, then work backwards from this to create a programme that incurs the correct budget whilst maintaining as much of the original scheme as possible.

“We create the maximum ‘wow’ effect for the best possible value.”

Kevin Grima of Harrison Design added: “We are extremely pleased to be involved with the Giraffe chain, as they have a very different way of doing things. As a company we enjoy working with people that are very passionate and Giraffe are certainly passionate about what they do.

“One project that Harrison Design has recently been involved with is the Giraffe in Sheffield, which is located in The Oasis Food Court within the Meadowhall Shopping Centre.

“The development is split on two levels, with a bar on the ground floor and a restaurant on the first floor, and features a retro 60’s vibe with a mixture of industrial and raw materials. The wide pallet of materials includes: blackened steel, oak, plied wood, mosaic tiles and sandblasted reclaimed timbers.

“This was an extremely challenging project as the restaurant is split over two levels: the concourse is in one half of the unit, whilst the other half goes down by 900mm. Usually units are on one level, so trying to achieve a visual link between the two areas was a challenge.

“As with all Giraffe restaurants, the graphics are very strong

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and the materials are vibrant and fresh. We are extremely pleased with the end product.”

The latest edition to the restaurant chains portfolio is Giraffe Bar & Grill which opened in Leeds on 31st March 2012. Located in the heart of the dining district on Greek Street, the restaurant is spread over two floors and will serve up delicious breakfasts through to dinner, whilst boasting an extensive wine and cocktail menu.

Angus Gregory explained why their relationship with Giraffe works so well, adding: “I think we understand what they want to achieve and what is important to them, and we work very hard to make sure that we deliver.

“As a company we are very excited to work with a client that understands their market. Giraffe are also very passionate about design, which is the element that we are most interested in. The chain has an endless supply of fresh designs and ideas, which we are more than happy to develop and realise.

“One of the most enjoyable things about working with Giraffe is their respect for the hard work that we put in. They don’t suffer fools, but they are the first people to be there thanking you when you’ve done a good job – which for us is everything.”

Catering Projects Catering Projects specialise in the design, supply and installa-

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tion of commercial kitchens for many high street eateries and clients include Nando’s, Giraffe, Byron Burgers, TRG, Butlins and YO! Sushi.

Catering Projects also specialise in fast track work and can install a full commercial kitchen within 4 weeks. The company undertakes special attendances in airports and railways and has a projected turnover of £5 million.

Working from its modern offices in Barlborough, they employ a staff of 14, have a 3D CAD kitchen designer amongst its team and invests in 3D Inventor drawing.

Most of the company’s work is generated from word of mouth and Catering Projects takes pride in the relationships that it builds up with its clients.

Phillips Decorators Ltd Phillips Decorators Ltd are an experienced commercial decorating company that provides decorating services to industrial and retail sectors throughout the UK. The company completes work in a prompt and professional manner and offers competitive quotes.

For Giraffe, Phillips Decorators Ltd provides specialist interior decoration works.

Phillips Decorators Ltd Contracts Manager, Ian Rabbetts, said: “Our works completed on over 24 Giraffe restaurants include spraying, emulsion work to ceilings and walls and installing decorative murals. We love working on Giraffe restaurants. They are a well known brand with a very high profile and to be associated with them is something that we take very seriously.”

K & K Commercial Plumbers K & K Commercial Plumbers are a plumbing and gas specialist with over 25 years in the restaurant industry. The company provides services to many high-profile eateries including Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito, Garfunkel’s, Nando’s and La Tasca.

K & K Commercial Plumbers has completed first-fix and plumbing services in four Giraffe restaurants. This also includes installing sanitary equipment and waste facilities at each site.

K & K Commercial Plumbers Managing Director, Keith Sellars, said: “We’re very reliable and we always complete our work on time and within budget.”

APT Security Ltd APT Security Ltd is a leading security provider that specialise in electronic security systems. The company is NSI Approved and designs, supplies and installs an extensive range of security products including intruder alarms, CCTV, fire alarms and access control systems.

Working for Giraffe, APT Security Ltd has designed, installed and commissioned their fire alarms, CCTV and intruder alarm systems. The company also handles the ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the systems.

APT Security Ltd has worked with Giraffe ever since it opened its second site in 1999 and is proud of its long-standing working relationship with the restaurant chain.

APT Security Ltd Director, Gary Carter, said: “Working with Giraffe is very important to us. We work on several restaurants each year and it’s always a pleasure to be involved with their next site. At APT Security Ltd, we offer a one-stop shop for security solutions. We provide high-quality installations along with an excellent after-sales service, which is why our customers remain with us for years.”

JSB Interiors JSB Interiors specialise in the manufacture and installation of bespoke fixed and free-standing furniture for bars, restaurants, airports and leisure facilities. With over 65 years combined experience in the trade JSB Interiors comprises a close knit team of skilled professionals including a number of in-house upholsterers and joiners.

JSB Interiors supplies furniture and upholstery services to a wide range of clients across the UK including: Harrods, Yo Sushi, Carluccio’s, Marks & Spencer and Panasonic. For Giraffe JSB Interiors provides the restaurant with fixed and free-standing seating.

JSB Interiors Company Partner Scott Borrows, said: “Our clients are always after specialist furniture so when customers walk into one of their restaurants they know exactly where they are. Giraffe is no different and with a very vibrant style we’re very proud to be associated with the restaurant chain.

“Our work is second to none and we are confident that we complete each project to the highest standard.”

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Hawksmoor spreads its wings Hawksmoor is a British steakhouse and cocktail bar that combines high-end dining with a distinctly British flavour. The chain currently has three restaurants in the UK, all of which are located in London, and with ambitious expansion plans to take restaurants across Europe and further afield, Hawksmoor is a name that is flying high.

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Located next to the Bank of England in the heart of the capital, the £2 million Hawksmoor Guildhall is the chain’s latest offering and celebrates a unique eating experience for diners.

The restaurant opened its doors in October 2011 after a 12week redevelopment operation that saw the former basement transformed into a luxurious eating establishment. Visually the site takes references from many iconic and nostalgic buildings of the past, which is reflected throughout the lavish layout.

Main contractor for the Hawksmoor Guildhall project was du Boulay Contracts Ltd, whilst Macaulay Sinclair was the interior architect. Chapman Ventilation was the mechanical engineer and the structural engineer was Hemsley Orrell Partnership (HOP).

A key element of the Guildhall redevelopment was the extensive use of reclaimed materials, which has given the building a unique sense of character. When diners sit down to eat, they will instantly feel a certain sense of familiarity within their surroundings and this is a key theme that Hawksmoor’s owners are keen to push.

Hawksmoor Company Owner, Will Beckett, said: “Working on the interior was a really detailed process. We trawled salvage yards to pick up the right lights and fittings – the specimen cabinet doors are from the Natural History museum, whilst the glass doors are from a university arts building.

Authenticity was so important.”

Hawksmoor Company Owner, Huw Gott, added: “It’s always important to us to stay relevant to the building. We definitely shared an aesthetic of how we wanted the design to reflect the heritage of the space and I love our private room at Guildhall – it’s like an old bank boardroom.”

Macaulay Sinclair Company Director, Mike Sinclair, said: “From a design point of view, the interior work certainly offers many challenges. Essentially what we are doing is picking up something that is already hugely successful and then tweaking it in just the right way so that it remains equally as successful

whilst at the same time being visually different.

“We want the customer to have a completely new experience at every location and we want to create a real sense of authenticity to the building. Although it’s a fairly new site, we wanted Guildhall to look as if it has always been a restaurant.”

Work began on transforming Hawksmoor Guildhall in September 2011. The site boasts 257 covers and comprises a restaurant, a private dining room and a bar.

Prior to the redevelopment taking place the 6,000 sq ft site was an empty shell that comprised concrete floors and breeze block walls. However, after just twelve weeks the site was radically transformed in order to create a true melting pot of styles.

The once dull and lifeless shell was given a new lease of life with glazed brick tiles and teak parquet flooring, whilst timber panelling – sourced from reclaimed cabinet doors – covers the walls to create a style reminiscent of the Victorian era.

A brand new ceiling was installed using ornate plaster, whilst Portland stone and cast iron banisters have transformed the staircase.

All of the doors in the building were fitted using reclaimed mahogany, whilst the bar was sourced from a bank in the Netherlands. Additional features include a walk-in wine room, art deco light fittings and leather upholstery.

The external facade of the building has also undergone a fabulous makeover with the installation of a brand new entrance that features solid timber doors and glazed panels. Copper signage and menu displays were also fitted to the front of the building.

Mike Sinclair said: “It is fantastic to be involved with Hawksmoor as every project we undertake is different. Will Beckett and Huw Gott are very passionate about what they do and they employ like-minded people, which allows us to be hugely creative when it comes to the design of the restaurant.

“We’re very hands on with each restaurant and there isn’t much that we don’t get involved with. We provide bespoke de-

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signs for the light fittings and furniture, we procure items and we bring all of the right people together to make sure that we have a strong team on site. We also make sure that we use traditional building methods that incorporate a very British sensibility to the finished design.

“Moving forward, we have another UK site in the pipeline.

Every Hawksmoor restaurant will also retain its individuality, so the next site that we are involved with will be nothing like Guildhall, in the same way that Guildhall was nothing like the previous site.”

Will Beckett & Huw Gott, said: “When we started out we had a simple plan – to open the best steak restaurant in London.

“We travelled the world, from steakhouse to steakhouse, searching for the perfect steak. However, we discovered that beef from traditional breeds reared the old fashioned way right here in Britain and cooked simply over real charcoal packed more flavour than anything we tried on our travels.

“Although we’ve had plenty of ‘best steak in London’ plaudits, we’re not resting on our laurels. We want diners to have a fantastic meal and most of all to enjoy themselves whilst they are with us.”

Hawksmoor Seven Dials Seven Dials is Hawksmoor’s second site and is located within the former Watney-Combe brewery. The restaurant is conveniently located just a three minute walk from Covent Garden station and just like Guildhall, the eatery offers high-end dining in a very unique setting.

The £1.5 million restaurant opened in November 2010 and merges many of the building’s original features with the stunning glitz and glamour of London’s West End. Seven Dials caters for 128 diners in the main restaurant with an additional 50 covers in the cocktail bar.

Interior details include reclaimed parquet flooring, oak panelling, exposed brick work, Victorian cast iron columns and a brick barrel-vaulted ceiling. The tiles are sourced from the London Underground and the tables are built from reclaimed timber.

Mike Sinclair said: “Seven Dials is very different from Guildhall and the first

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Hawksmoor site, Spitalfields. When we worked on the site we had quite a lot of existing features to work with and this allowed us to introduce new elements that could really make the old building shine.

“Seven Dials is very reflective of its location and incorporates many elements that diners would expect to find in the West End, including lots of crystal glass and pewter. Just like with every other site, we incorporated an element of its surroundings to effectively hang its coat on.”

Hawksmoor Spitalfields Located on Commercial Street, just a short walk from Liverpool Station, Spitalfields opened in 2006 to become the first Hawksmoor restaurant.

The menu offers belly-rumbling British meat cooked on a real charcoal grill, alongside a varied selection of wines, locally brewed beers and enticing cocktails.

Hawksmoor Spitalfields is where the brand first made a name for itself and the site has recently undergone a number of improvements.

The refurbishment works included expanding the site downwards to introduce an exclusive cocktail bar in the basement of the building. The bar incorporates copper and brass to give it a 1920s edge, whilst one wall makes use of a set of lift doors that were formerly used in the Unilever House in Embankment.

Hawksmoor Company Owners, Will Beckett & Huw Gott, said: “The bar has a little more old-school glamour than anything we’ve done before. No chi-chi cocktail bar food though, instead we’ve put together a menu of things we like to eat with a few drinks when we’re not in a big steak kind of mood.”

Macaulay Sinclair Company Director, Mike Sinclair, added: “Spitalfields traded for four years before Seven Dials opened in 2010 and in that time the restaurant gained a great reputation for its great food and unique design, however more recently there has been a number of incremental refurbishment works to update the site.

“We’re slowly introducing some of the design elements that were used in Guildhall and Seven Dials to infuse the site with a slightly new vibe and it’s proving just as successful as ever.”

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Dawnvale Ltd Dawnvale is one of the country’s leading names and provides interior fit out services for bars, hotels, restaurants and clubs.

The company has built an enviable reputation working with some of the UK’s leading designers and operators.

Dawnvale prides itself in offering more than the norm, tending to work with clients from the hospitality and nightlife scene who want to create exceptional environments. Clients include Inamo, Eclectic Hotels, Living Ventures and Mere Golf Resort & Spa. Dawnvale Ltd is currently working on a number of mixed projects, including a Heritage development, luxury boutique hotels, a private members bar and working with a leading restaurateur.

Since its conception Dawnvale has been associated with Hawksmoor restaurants by providing a range of bespoke services including the manufacture of furniture that is exclusive to Hawksmoor. The bespoke furniture range is carefully designed and finished throughout the group’s UK and Europe based facilities.

A Dawnvale spokesperson said: “We initially established ourselves nearly 20 years ago by providing tailored commercial kitchens, before we moved into producing bespoke bars and refrigeration. From there we took on more diverse projects and this helped us to build up a full service with specialist in-house divisions.

“Within the company we have a number of experts including metal fabrication, bespoke joinery and technical design specialists, a contract fit out team, and a contract furniture division. We also have a 20,000 sq ft design centre and working showroom which is a truly unique trade facility.

“Created as a project resource centre, the showrooms house specialist areas for designers and clients to see exactly what we can produce. With hotel bedrooms, bars, kitchens and meeting lounges, the centre offers first class services for new project

meetings and project support with an extensive sample and fabric library.

“At Dawnvale Ltd we find tailored solutions for our clients.”

Amthal Security Ltd For over 12 years Amthal Security Ltd has specialised in the design, installation and maintenance of electronic fire and security systems in the residential, retail and commercial sector.

The company provides services to hospitals, schools and restaurants and clients include the NHS, Arsenal Football Club, Honda (UK), Toyota, Jollyes Pet Superstores, the London Probation Service and Wates.

Amthal Security Ltd provides the design, installation and maintenance of the intruder alarms, CCTV and fire alarm systems on all of the Hawksmoor sites.

Amthal Security Ltd Sales Director, Paul Rosenthal, said: “We have worked with Hawksmoor since their very first restaurant opened over 6 years ago. We have built a fantastic rapport with them, which is testament to the level of service that Amthal Security delivers.”

Middlesex Sound & Lighting Middlesex Sound and Lighting is an ISO9001 Quality Assured company with over 28 years experience in the supply and installation of audio, effects lighting and AV equipment.

The company is involved with a diverse range of projects which includes providing solutions for bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, schools and churches. Existing clients include Mitchells and Butlers, Ministry of Sound Group, Stonegate Pub Company and Hilton Hotels.

Middlesex Sound & Lighting has worked on all three Hawksmoor restaurants, designing and installing multi-zone

background music systems. At the Guildhall site, Middlesex Sound & Lighting also provided a full AV solution in the private dining room.

Most recently MSL completed work on the Spitalfields bar, installing a new digitally controlled audio system along with remedial works to integrate the existing system in the upstairs restaurant.

Middlesex Sound & Lighting Special Projects Manager, Darrel Olivier, said: “Music plays an important part in adding to the atmosphere in each of the Hawksmoor sites. It’s great to be associated with the team at Hawksmoor and I wish them all the best for the future.”

NCR Ltd NCR Ltd specialise in the supply of award-winning Aloha Point of Sale software and hardware to the hospitality industry.

The company has a long standing relationship with the team at Hawksmoor and every restaurant is equipped with an Aloha Point of Sale solution. The Aloha Point of Sale solution is tailored to a client’s requirements and provides a streamlined customer dining experience that tracks and captures critical business information.

A spokesman for NCR Ltd said: “Throughout the UK, many high profile customers choose Radiant Systems – recently acquired by NCR – and our Aloha point of sale software.

“For further details, contact Craig Francis on 07713 307703 to see what Aloha can do for your operation.”

Chapman Ventilation Ltd Starting life as a general ventilation company in 1967, familyrun business Chapman Ventilation Ltd. has since become an industry-leading supplier of kitchen ventilation systems for the leisure and fine-dining industries.

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High-profile clients include Nando’s, Frankie and Benny’s, Byron and Jamie’s Italian.

Chapman Ventilation Ltd. has over forty years experience designing, manufacturing and installing odour control, grease and smoke removal, and kitchen ventilation solutions for a wide range of clients. The company is committed to using the most sustainable products that they can find, partnering with market leaders and sourcing from companies that have a good reputation for sustainability.

David Chapman, Chapman Ventilation Ltd. Project Manager, said: “We were involved from the initial feasibility study with the client through to gaining the landlord’s consent and planning permission. Following this, we manufactured and installed all of the ventilation and air conditioning systems. We are very pleased to have worked on the Hawksmoor scheme, which was a very exciting project with a demanding process.”

N o r th We s t

Walney Offshore Wind Farm nears completion The second phase of one of the world’s largest wind farms is almost complete.

Walney 2 is the second phase of the Walney Offshore Wind Farm project, which has already seen the construction of one wind farm in the Irish Sea, 15km off Walney Island in Cumbria.

Both of the wind farms will comprise 51 Siemens turbines and the development will have a combined capacity of 367.2MW. When the second phase is complete, the 73km² Walney Offshore Wind Farm will provide energy to power 320,000 homes.

The scheme has been implemented through a combined partnership of DONG Energy, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and OPW, with DONG Energy acting as the leading construction and operations partner.

A 3-month installation operation for foundations and cabling took place in April 2011, closely followed by a 3-month installation for offshore substations and a 6-month installation operation for the 51 turbines in May 2011.

Whilst Walney 1 took a year to complete, Walney 2 was scheduled for completion in around half the time due to an overlapping construction schedule that was specifically designed to speed up the construction process.

Crane barges, tugs and jack-up vessels worked out of ports in the East Irish Sea during the early construction period, whilst a number of smaller support vessels provided personnel transfer services and conducted environmental monitoring.

DONG Energy CEO, Anders Eldrup, said: “Walney 2 is the world’s fastest installation of an offshore wind farm and underlines DONG Energy’s position as a strong market leader within offshore wind. We’ve developed our techniques for faster and more cost efficient installation methods and this is an important step in the continuing drive to reduce the construction costs of offshore wind farms.”

On 1st November 2011 Walney 2 began delivering CO2-free electricity via turbine F14, the first of its completed turbines.

Power was supplied to the national grid via the Stanah 132kV onshore substation near Blackpool and a further ten turbines began operation shortly afterwards.

SSE Chief Operating Officer, Colin Hood, said: “This was a major milestone in the development of the Walney Offshore Wind Farm and it demonstrated the excellent progress that is being made on the project.

“As the UK’s leading generator of electricity from renewable sources, SSE is committed to helping increase the amount of renewable electricity generation in the UK and the export of electricity at Walney is a step towards achieving this.”

Commission work was temporarily delayed in December 2011 when difficult weather conditions made site access impossible.

Although wind turbines are specifically installed in areas where they can benefit from high winds, if weather conditions deteriorate, work must be placed on hold for health and safety reasons.

Prior to the change in weather, array cables that connect the Walney 2 substation to the shore were successfully laid on the seabed. However, one cable still needed to be terminated once conditions improved.

Approximately 70,000 tonnes of stone has been supplied and delivered from the Stainton Quarry to provide scour protection for the turbine foundations. The stones will be placed along a 15 metre radius around the monopole in order to reduce sand and material erosion caused by the current.

DONG Site Manager, Lars Alber, said: “The first phase of the works went well and we are now looking forward to completing the second phase with the same success.”

Walney 1 Offshore Wind Farm was completed in 2010 and

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began generating power on 13th January 2011. In October 2011, Walney Windfarms Limited completed the sale of transmission assets of Walney 1 to Blue Transmission Walney 1 Limited for £105 million. Power for Walney 1 is supplied to the national grid through the onshore transformer station in Heysham, with an approximate annual net energy of 663GWh. With a power capacity set to increase to 600MW upon the completion of Walney 2, Walney Offshore Wind Farm will make a substantial contribution to the UK’s production of renewable energy in 2012.

Batt At Sea Ltd Batt At Sea Ltd is a specialist in wind farm support vessels.

It uses marine vehicles to transport technicians to off-shore turbine towers and to carry out diving support operations.

The company is also involved in Marine Mammal Observation (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) services to monitor wildlife in areas that surround wind farms. Batt At Sea Ltd is an equal opportunities employer, with as many female members of staff to male.

On the Walney Offshore Wind Farm project Batt At Sea Ltd provides a crew transfer service. Originally this involved transporting crews to the site for cabling works, but now Batt At Sea is the main transport vessel for each crew change. It has worked on the wind farm at Walney for 18 months.

Batt At Sea Ltd Managing Director, Terry Batt, said: “At Batt At Sea Ltd we like to view ourselves as the official guardian of the sea and our boats burn approximately a tenth of the fuel of any wind farm vessel in existence today.

“This means our fuel consumption is considerably less than any other wind farm support vessel and as the whole concept of wind farms is to offer a reduced carbon footprint through low emissions, we’re proud that our service fits in perfectly with this operation.”

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

Housesteads Roman Fort Museum reopens Phase One of a £1 million scheme to upgrade and modernise Housesteads Roman Fort Museum is now complete.

The first phase of the project – located alongside Hadrian’s Wall – was completed in March 2012 by English Heritage. Works comprised the restructuring of the internal layout, the installation of a brand new audio visual exhibition and improvements to the gable entrance.

Access to the site was also improved through the creation of DDA compliant external pathways, including a new path that connects the museum to the south gate of the fort.

The museum was closed to visitors whilst construction work took place, however the building reopened to the public on 31st March 2012 following the completion of Phase One. Phase Two of the project is due to take place towards the end of 2012 and will see the National Trust visitor centre remodelled, alongside improvements to the cafe, gift shop, toilets and staff accommodation.

As part of the project the car park will also receive a makeover to provide 40 additional visitor parking spaces at the site.

Main contractor for the project is MGM Ltd, whilst the architect is historic building consultants Spence & Dower LLP and the project manager is Steve Garland of English Heritage. The mechanical and electrical consultant is Ian Carswell Associates and the structural consultant is Alan Wood & Partners.

Phase One began in October 2011 and included the removal of two internal brick wall partitions in order to open up internal areas of the building. Two side entryways were also removed from the building, whilst the gable entrance was reinstated to

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create just one access point for visitors.

English Heritage Project Manager, Steve Garland, said: “The gable was reconstructed to its original configuration and now includes stunning stone arches that really have transformed the entrance to the building.

“In addition to the work within the museum, we’ve also recreated an external pathway that allows entry from the museum into the Fort via the south gate.

“We wanted to improve the tourist attraction for visitors to the site and one way that we thought of doing that was to have people enter the building the same way that the Romans would have originally entered.”

Many of the improvements to the museum were implemented in order to return the building back to its original layout. This included the installation of two brand new steel roof trusses that were designed to match the existing trusses.

In addition to the restoration work, all of the electrical services in the building were completely removed and a brand new heating system was installed. The system uses gas and warm-air to provide a more efficient form of heating.

MGM Ltd Joint Managing Director, Brian Young, said: “We’re proud to be associated with the refurbishment of such an important building on such an important and historic site.

“As a company we are very diverse. However my side of the business is heritage work, so I get a great deal of joy from being part of a project like this one.

“When visitors see the improvements - including the magnificent gable back to its original condition - it will make all of the

hard work really worthwhile.”

During the refurbishment, work sculptures and altars were carefully removed from the site before being cleaned and scanned. The data collected from the Roman stonework will

now be used to create bespoke plinths to support the fragile artefacts.

For more information on the new museum at Housesteads visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/housesteads

A £6.4 million restoration project to restore Stewart Park back to its former glory is nearing completion.

The Stewart Park Parks for People Lottery project was implemented by Middlesbrough Council in order to restore and improve facilities at the historic parkland in Marton. The project includes the restoration of four Victorian Grade II listed stable yard buildings and the construction of a brand new visitor centre, alongside a number of major landscape improvements to lakes, paths and woodland areas.

Lumsden and Carroll – part of the Esh Group – is the main

contractor for the stable yard contract, whilst Hellens is the main contractor for the Park’s contract. Both works are running concurrently.

Brand new facilities at the park will include a cafe, a ranger’s station, an interpretation base, public toilets, a designated events areas and new vocational training facilities.

All of the facilities will be DDA compliant and designated disabled car parking space will be provided. An existing car park on the site is being upgraded, whilst hard landscaped areas will benefit from external lighting that will brighten up areas of the

The restoration of Stewart Park

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re park during the evening.

Additional landscaping work – being undertaken by civil contractor Hellens – includes the creation of new footpaths; restoration work to a temple, colonnade and commemorative vase and a number of new planting schemes around the park.

It is estimated that approximately 400,000 annual visitors will benefit from the works at Stewart Park.

Napper Architects Limited is the architect and Southern Green Limited is the landscape architect on the project. The mechanical and electrical consultant is URS Scott Wilson, the structural consultant is WSP Group and the quantity surveyor is Faithful + Gould.

The project has been funded by Trustees of Stewart Park, Heritage Lottery and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).

Work commenced on the project in March 2011 with Mouchel as the project manager. Although structural alterations to the stable yard Victorian buildings have been kept to a minimum, a wall and chimney were removed from one of the buildings to increase room size. Meanwhile a section of the first floor was removed in the new cafe to provide a double-height space and expose the original roof beams.

Restoration improvements have included re-pointing walls, refitting roofs with original slates and painting refaced internal brickwork. In addition, decayed timber has been replaced and stone flags in the kitchen and toilet areas have been lifted and replaced. Services have also been altered to allow underfloor heating and the cafe has been refitted with commercial catering equipment and sinks.

Every effort has been made to carefully restore and preserve the features of the heritage buildings. An archaeologist was onsite during the early stages of construction to offer advice and record findings, whilst bat slates and a dedicated loft have been fitted to protect the bats that nest on the site.

The new visitor centre, which will be an extension of one of

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the existing buildings, has been designed in a contemporary manner to juxtapose the 1864 Victorian scale and detail of the existing buildings. The extension has been constructed using a laminated timber glulam frame with double glazed windows, oak cladding and a zinc roof.

Once construction is complete, the facilities will all be fitted out with furniture including foldaway tables, chairs and desks.

All of the buildings will also be fully fitted with CCTV, smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers.

During the restoration and redevelopment works, the park and offices outside of the construction sites have remained open to the public.

Napper Architects Company Director, John Curtis, said: “The majority of the architectural work that has been undertaken concentrates on restoring the Grade II listed buildings,

however we are also adapting them accordingly to meet our brief. We respect the history of the buildings and so all efforts are being made to conserve the structures as best as we can whilst giving them a new lease of life.

“As a conservation architect, it is wonderful to be involved with a project like this. We have used traditional building techniques and materials in order to recognise and respect the heritage values.

“Everyone involved with the project is really positive and that’s a very important aspect of working on any development.

Middlesbrough Council has also been a wonderfully informed client throughout the project and has fully recognised the need to restore the buildings.”

The Stewart Park Parks for People Lottery project will be completed in April 2012.

Designing the future A state-of-the-art business centre which boasts a gaming lounge, superfast broadband and free parking is opening in Gateshead.

Northern Design Centre is a four-storey development that is located in the town’s Baltic Business Quarter on Gateshead Quays. The building provides office space for new and expanding businesses, along with designated exhibition areas and bespoke conference facilities.

Additional features include 24-hour site access, fixed rental rates for 36 months and flexible terms for start-up businesses.

Work began on the £9.9m centre in November 2010. Terrace Hill Group was the developer, Tolent Construction Limited was the main contractor and Redboxdesigngroup was the architect.

The 60,000 sq ft building features a curved stainless steel

mesh exterior, whilst the oval windows are nestled between gold copper panelling. The interior is mostly neutral and provides a blank canvas for the businesses that reside within the building.

American mobile application design and development agency Fueled is the latest company to have taken space in the centre after signing a three-year deal to take 452 sq ft of space.

Peter Thompson, Head of Economic Development at Gateshead Council, said: “The Baltic Business Quarter is an emerging district for innovative and knowledge-driven businesses at the heart of the Newcastle Gateshead urban core. Boasting superfast broadband, it is set to be one of the most commercially desirable business locations in the UK. “There is considerable unmet demand within the region from

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N o r th E a s t & Yo r ks h i re small and medium sized businesses that are looking for larger and better premises – especially within the creative and design sectors.

“We believe that the Northern Design Centre building provides exactly the workspace that local knowledge-based companies are crying out for.”

A Terrace Hill Group spokesman said: “The Design Centre is an important addition which will turn the Baltic Business Quarter into a vibrant and diverse business community with everything that local companies crave to make their business a success.”

The project has been awarded £4.95 million from the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, in addition to Single Programme Funding. The ERDF programme is bringing over

£300 million into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.

Tolent Construction Limited Since 1983 Tolent Construction Limited has conducted a range of building and civil engineering works throughout the public and private sector. The company has offices in Yorkshire, Manchester, London, Tyneside and Teeside and handles contracts ranging from £1,000 up to £60 million.

Tolent Construction Limited prides itself on its large workforce and sees this as a major factor in maintaining its excellent safety record whilst working across projects in the industrial, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, commercial, leisure and waste sectors.

Tolent Construction Limited is a subsidiary of Tolent Plc. Support across the region.

National Media Museum project goes live On 30th March 2012, the first permanent gallery dedicated to exploring the social, technological and cultural impact of the internet and web opened at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Life Online will trace the history of the internet and explore an invaluable public archive of society’s relationship with the internet and the web in the 21st century. The gallery covers two spaces within the museum: a permanent exhibition space in the foyer and a changing temporary exhibition space.

Sarah Crowther, Life Online Content Curator, said: “The Life Online temporary exhibition gallery has been created to enable the museum to explore the key issues around the internet and its impact on our lives.

“The first exhibition celebrates the open source culture of sharing and collaborating online and examines the threats to net neutrality that could change the climate of the open internet as we know it. We hope that the exhibition will enable visitors to enjoy the artworks whilst engaging with the key concepts around our life online.”

The project has included the introduction of a gallery space within the glazed entrance foyer of the museum. In order to provide a calm and neutral environment in which visitors can self-navigate, the alignment and positioning of walls, interactive and object displays has been carefully designed to maximise the available space.

Freestanding displays were designed to fit between the planar glazing structures of the glass cladding to the front of the museum, and the use of materials throughout the space is clean, simple and timeless. The space features a white backdrop with black and white glass surface, stainless steel trims and large format 600x600 charcoal tiles. RGBA LEDs have been used within sections of the gallery and are linked by colour code to the mood of Twitter.

As the use of high quality materials was specified, the attention to detail was critical. Specialist materials on this project included everything from structural glazed flooring, specialist lighting, edge lit acrylics, GRP and stretch ceilings to glass and metalwork on top of the bespoke cabinets, furniture and fittings.

In addition, the floor was levelled through in order to form an object display trench that depicts a timeline of personal computers from the 1970s to the present day. In addition, interactive terminals that allow access to the internet are positioned below large-scale overhead projection units, allowing visitors to browse the web and immerse themselves in a rich multi-media content archive.

Challenges included erecting a leaning 11-metre high wall and suspending the projection units from the structure.

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Main contractor for the project is TTS Interiors and the architect is NRN Design.

Steve Greaves, TTS Interiors, said: “We knew from the outset that this was a unique project with both construction challenges as well as environmental, as we would be constructing an exhibition in the entrance atrium of a museum whilst the museum remained open for business.

“It was an extremely interesting and bespoke design that included everything from object displays to large amounts of technology, and from the outset we worked in close partnership with both the designers at NRN Design and the client to ensure we achieved both the effect and the quality they were after, whilst maintaining programme. Within a space initially without walls and with no two surfaces at 90 degrees to each other, the design managed to work around this to still provide the practical approach we offer in building and installing the exhibition.

“We are extremely proud of the end result and the team we have worked with on it.

Tom Woolley, Curator of New Media at the National Media Museum, added: “Although other galleries tell the story of the internet, no other gallery in the world links that ever-evolving history with the impact the internet has on our lives and we are very excited to house the world’s first gallery of its kind in the world here in Bradford.”

Life Online is funded by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and the DCMS Wolfson Museums and Galleries and Improvement Fund. The project also has a number of corporate supporters, including: Virgin Media, Brass and Start JudgeGill.

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New hostel has the X-Factor Music superstar Joe McElderry has launched an exciting new Centrepoint hostel on Dundas Street in Sunderland.

After winning the X-Factor in 2009, South Shields-born Joe McElderry went on to win first place in the ITV series Pop Star to Opera Star. In an illustration of his commitment to his home city of Newcastle, Joe joined a healthy eating workshop in the training kitchen of the Dundas Street site, which was officially opened by members of Sunderland City Council.

Joe McElderry said: “The Dundas Street hostel is an incredible environment for these young people. They have the independence you need when you’re 16-25 but the support is there for them 24-hours a day too, and that’s so important.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had an amazing upbringing, but I really relate to these guys. In different circumstances it could have been me needing Centrepoint’s support.”

The £1.3 million hostel has incorporated 18 apartments with self-contained wet rooms and shared kitchens. Additional features include computer rooms, interview rooms and a ground floor training kitchen and reception area.

A state-of-the-art multimedia suite will help some of the most vulnerable people from across the region to access education and employment, enabling them to learn essential skills that will prepare them for independent living.

External works have included the creation of a 7-space car park and landscaping to the rear.

Peter Elliott, Gentoo Construction, said: “This was a challenging project as we were working on a threestorey building on a very tight, self-contained site. Indeed, there was a bus lane running next to us and a Chinese church located on the site. As a result, we had to adapt the site to incorporate the forklifts and cantilever the scaffolding so that the construction phase did not disrupt the surrounding land.

“However, despite this challenge the project progressed extremely well and it was completed on programme. This was due in no small part to the excellent working relationship that

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we formed with the client, who was helpful and cooperative throughout the project.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work on this project.

The new hostel has created high quality, safe living spaces for young people in need, which is immensely rewarding. Seeing the youngsters’ faces was icing on the cake and made all of the hard work worthwhile.”

Centrepoint is the leading charity for homeless young people aged 16-25 and the organisation works with over 1,200 young people in the north east and London every year. The new hostel is Centrepoint’s first purpose-built service in the north east and replaces the charity’s previous hostel on Mowbray Road, which had become dilapidated and had limited facilities.

Martin Gill, Centrepoint’s North East Regional Manager, said: “The young people were absolutely astonished after seeing it for the first time. Dundas Street is so well designed that after being at the old service for the last three years, there is no comparison. It’s tremendous for the learning environment that we’re looking to promote.”

‘Leading the way across the world’: UK’s first carbon capture plant opens The UK’s largest carbon capture plant has opened at SSE’s Ferrybridge Power Station in West Yorkshire.

The exciting development was designed by Doosan Power Systems and is the result of a collaboration between SSE, UK based Doosan Power Systems and Vattenfall. Supported by the Technology Strategy Board, DECC and Northern Way, it is the first carbon capture plant of its size to be integrated into a live power plant in the UK. Each day, the plant will capture 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the equivalent five megawatts (MW) of coal-fired power generating capacity.

Jean-Michel Aubertin, Chief Executive Officer at Doosan Power Systems, explained: “The CCPiolot100+ plant which we have designed, built and commissioned using our advanced amine scrubbing technology is an essential step in the optimisation and proving of post-combustion capture of CO2, and will be the most significant project of its kind in the UK.” Mark Bryant, Director of Carbon Capture for Doosan Power Systems, added: “I am very proud that we have been able to complete a project of this nature – the first of this kind – at the scale that we have. It is a major step forward for carbon capture and I think that whilst everyone who has been involved has recognised that it has been a difficult project, it is one that we are all very proud to see in operation. We see this exciting project as a stepping stone for larger, commercial-scale projects in the future.”

The plant represents a major step forward in proving that carbon capture technology is viable on a commercial scale, bridging the gap between various ongoing pilot-scale trials and the commercial-scale demonstrations envisaged by the UK government.

SSE Chief Executive, Ian Merchant, commented: “The development of viable carbon capture technology is central to the UK’s climate change and energy security objectives. We believe projects such as this will be absolutely crucial in establishing when and how the technology can be developed. What we have here today at Ferrybridge will provide an invaluable source of reference and learning for the industry as a whole.

“This pilot project is all about carbon capture on coal; however, if we are to be successful in reaching our carbon reduction targets, we also need it on gas, which is why SSE is seeking to develop a larger, commercial scale demonstration at our Peterhead gas-fired station.”

Industry regulators including the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive will also be able to learn from the project, enabling the UK to move closer to widespread deployment of CCS. MP Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “This flagship test programme at Ferrybridge represents an important milestone in the UK’s plans to develop CCS and provides a critical bridge to meeting our long term aim of cost competitive CCS deployment by the 2020s.

“This is the first operating carbon capture plant attached to a power station at this scale in the UK and has benefitted from more than £6 million in public money. This investment will be invaluable to the wider commercial scale deployment of CCS by reducing uncertainty, driving down costs and developing the UK supply chain and skills.”

Local MP, Yvette Cooper, added: “This is a pioneering project supporting high skilled jobs here at Ferrybridge. Developing carbon capture is critical to cutting carbon emissions and this plant, supported by £6m announced by the last government, could lead the way across the world. This state-of-the-art technology is a vital opportunity for protecting the environment and for developing British science and technology.”

The original concept for the project was created in 2008 and the project formally started on 1st January 2009.

Doosan Power Systems designed, constructed and commissioned the plant and are now completing the final tests of the process performance. The EPC power company provides both after-market and new build service for the power industry, supplying a full range of products from boilers to air quality control systems and turbines.

Midlands & East Anglia

State-of-the-art Cromer Hospital opens its doors The new Cromer and District Hospital has opened its doors to patients for the first time.

Cromer and District Hospital is run by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Under the project, a new state-of-the-art hospital has replaced the original hospital on Mill Road, which opened in 1932.

After the new hospital was completed in early 2011, the existing Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) was relocated along with the imaging department and administration room. This was followed by the ophthalmology department, day procedure room and treatment bays. Last to move were the out-patient areas and audiology department between the 17th and 18th of March 2012.

The phased construction programme began in the autumn of 2010 and is scheduled for completion in 2013. Further work to be completed includes the demolition of the old hospital buildings and the landscaping of the grounds.

Mansell Construction is the main contractor and the architect is Purcell Miller Tritton & Partners.

The £ 15 million development was made possible by two generous legacies. Sagle Bernstein left £11.4 million to Cromer and District Hospital, whilst Phyllis Cox left £1.3 million.

Although the design of the new hospital was restricted by the small site and the essential continuation of hospital services, Purcell Miller Tritton & Partners were able to design a dynamic two-storey solution. The new hospital features a range of materials that have been chosen for their proven lifespan on coastal sites, including zinc roofing and highly insulated render walling.

Set to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, the hospital boasts a range of sustainable features such as photovoltaic cells and ground source heat pumps.

At 8am on Saturday 3rd March, the MIU reopened in the new building. In the days leading up to the move, a range of new medical equipment – including imaging equipment and a ceiling-mounted microscope for the ophthalmology theatre – was installed and commissioned.

Any items that could not be transferred to the new hospital were donated to Aid for Hospitals Worldwide.

Helen Lloyd, Operational Manager for Cromer Hospital, said: “We planned the move to minimise disruption for both patients and staff. However, until the old buildings have been completely demolished and the grounds are landscaped this is still a construction site. We are working closely with the main contractor, Mansell, to help reduce the inevitable impact and to ensure that our patients are guided safely through the site.”

Access will be limited in the coming weeks. Motorists bringing patients with mobility problems have been advised to use a drop-off area near the entrance before parking at the football ground opposite the hospital. Wheelchairs will be available on

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the ground floor, whilst meet-and-greet volunteers will be on hand to guide patients to where they need to go.

One of the latest facilities available at Cromer and District Hospital is abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening.

Approximately 8,000 men who turn 65 during 2012/13 are being invited to have the ultrasound examination at various centres in the Norfolk and Waveney Area.

Other new services will include a weekly eye casualty clinic and specialist orthopaedic procedures. In June the list of diagnostic procedures will be increased to include dexa (bone) scanning and a year-round mammography service that will replace the existing mobile mammography unit.

Construction News

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Updating education at the Kettering Academies Two of Kettering’s academies are being transformed in a £55 million project that will revolutionise the provision of education in Northamptonshire.

The project will see the replacement of the Kettering Science Academy on Windmill Avenue and the Kettering Buccleuch Academy on Weekley Glebe Road. Main contractor for the project is Willmott Dixon Construction and the architect is Nicholas Hare Architects.

Works for the new Kettering Science Academy began in October 2010 and are scheduled for completion in September 2012. Following this, the existing buildings will be demolished and the external works will commence. The expected final completion date is March 2013.

Chris Borderick, Northamptonshire County Council, said: “The new building will replace the ISE Community College, which is a typical ‘60s build that was designed for 600 pupils.

“Over the years the school was extended several times with no particular thought to an overall master plan. Not only was the school insufficiently equipped to cope with the pupil numbers and modern day curriculum, but it had been built with a 30-year lifespan and therefore had already reached the end of its economic life.

“A further concern was the amount of asbestos discovered on the site, which will subsequently require some very careful soft strip demolition in order to remove it. It has been estimated that this operation will reach a six-figure sum.”

The new Kettering Science Academy has been designed to cater for 1350 students, including 1100 11-16 year-olds and 250 sixth-form students.

Featuring a classic design with brick and curtain walling, the predominantly two-storey building has also incorporated a small third storey which contains a boardroom and other accommodation.

Sustainable features include ground source heat pumps. When operational, the building will save approximately £200,000 per annum compared to traditionally heated buildings.

One of the most important aspects of the design is the concept of visibility, which can be noted in the large circular courtyard. In addition, one wall of every classroom is entirely glazed, which will help to implement passive supervision and behavioural management.

Chris Borderick said: “The project is progressing very well, as it is both on time and on budget – which is exactly what you want for a well-delivered construction project. I am confident that we will deliver a very high-quality building that will allow teaching and learning to advance significantly.”

Unlike the Kettering Science Academy, the Kettering Buccleauch Academy has also incorporated a primary phase. In total, the school will provide for 420 primary school

New football stadium is almost ready to score The new Holywell Park Stadium on the Loughborough University Campus is set to become one of the best university stadiums in the UK when it opens in May 2012.

Funded by Loughborough University with a grant from the Football Foundation, the £2.8 million project has seen the creation of a brand new stadium with floodlighting, perimeter fencing and seating for up to 300 spectators.

Facilities include a two-storey clubhouse with clubrooms and changing facilities. The building features split faced architectural block work on the lower floor and larch cladding on the upper floor, along with an aluminium standing seam roof. Built to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, the development has incorporated several sustainable features, including photovoltaic cells on the roof.

Main contractor for the project is Herbert Baggaley Construction Ltd and the architect is Watson Batty Architects Ltd. Peter Upton, Loughborough University Project Manager, commented: “This is a much-need facility for our First XI football team, who have progressed rapidly through the football leagues. At the level they are playing the current facility simply wasn’t good enough, and this new stadium will cater for their needs.

“Although the project has progressed well, there have been

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children, 1100 11-16 year-olds and 250 sixth-form students.

The £24.5 million development includes a three-storey school building and the existing high-quality sports hall.

Chris Borderick explained: “We are actually building on land that was a former football pitch owned by Kettering Borough Council, which we have subsequently taken a very long lease for in order to develop the land. In return we will be providing a floodlit all-weather pitch and a replacement changing pavilion which can be used for public use.”

Speaking about both of the projects, he added: “We are extremely pleased with the general attitude of Willmott Dixon towards moving the project forward and their genuine partnership approach. All issues have been dealt with on a team basis, which has encouraged a fast and easy resolution.”

some challenges – particularly with regards to planning. As the site is located in close proximity of a number of hedgerows, the planners were concerned about the possible effects on wildlife in the area. This has meant that external lighting has had to be carefully designed to avoid light pollution to the hedgerow areas.

“This is a very significant development for us which, as well as providing new facilities for the First XI team, has provided changing rooms to other pitches in the area and created a new focus for outdoor sport on the campus.

“The new Holywell Park Stadium will provide a magnificent new venue for sport at Loughborough which will be the envy of many other universities.”

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Caister Holiday Park is ready to put on a show A new state-of-the-art ShowBar at the Caister Holiday Park is set to revolutionise the provision of entertainment for budget savvy holidaymakers.

Founded in 1906, Caister Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk is officially Britain’s longest-running holiday park. The park is part of the Haven Holidays chain and boasts a great location with direct access to the beach. Located between the lively resort of Great Yarmouth and the tranquil setting of the Norfolk Broads, the park is perfect for long walks and basking in the sun.

Caister Holiday Park has recently undergone a major upgrade ahead of the new tourist season. The heated indoor swimming pool has been completely overhauled and a new spectator’s area and changing facility has been added, whilst further improvements include the replacement of the old carousel clubroom with a brand new play facility.

One of the most exciting changes is the replacement of the popular Neptune’s Palace nightclub with a brand new ShowBar. The project to construct the new ShowBar began in November 2011 and was completed in March 2012. Under the project, the outdated nightclub was demolished along with the remaining undeveloped former Broadlands restaurant and Cottage Inn in order to create a modern, stylish ShowBar. Main contractor for the £2.2 million project was ELM Contracts and the architectural consultant was the Paul Robinson Partnership, who act as partnering consultant to Bourne Leisure nationwide as well as providing CDM coordination role via sister company ARM Ltd. Boasting a sleek and colourful design, the steel-frame ShowBar celebrates a range of exciting features including a live lounge bar with stage bars and seating for up to 750 people. A fully functional bar will serve alcohol and soft drinks throughout the day and night, whilst the clever tiered floor system will allow all of the audience a clear view of the thrilling acts taking place on stage.

Stuart Clarke, Paul Robinson Partnership, said: “The main constraints faced were the interface between the new ShowBar complex and the existing building and avoiding the need to relocate existing substations. Following an established ShowBar design guide, we created a 750-seat, 900-capacity tiered ShowBar with associated ancillary areas and a performance area with state-of-the-art visual, audio and lighting facilities.

“In order to satisfy the increasingly stringent building regulations – particularly with regards to the carbon emissions and the client’s desire to create a highly efficient building – we designed a highly insulated venue complete with low energy and efficiently controlled mechanical and electrical installations.

“In addition, we have included sun tubes that have reduced the amount of artificial lighting required whilst the venue is used for daytime entertainment. These sun tubes can then be closed using dampers in order to provide the right ambience for late afternoon and evening events.”

In the height of summer, the ShowBar will boast a variety of world-class acts including X-Factor’s Chico, Eastenders’ Shane Ritchie and Same Difference, Sonia, Stavros Flatley and Ray Lewis.

Further facilities include a retail outlet, male/female disabled toilets and a disabled lift.

Michael Fleming, ELM Contracts, said: “This was a great project for us to be involved with as we have already done a lot of work with Bourne Leisure. Although the project was extremely challenging due to the tight time schedule and number of people involved, we managed to pull it off in time for the opening party.

“The new ShowBar format looks fantastic and will be a central feature for the park for years to come.”

Caister Holiday Park is one of the most popular Haven Holidays resorts. Visitors can choose from two or-three bedroom holiday homes, or the more spacious 12ft wide model that celebrates a

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Midlands & East Anglia can be an extremely stressful experience and at times many families feel isolated. This experience was very different!

Everyone made us feel welcome, it was very accessible and the caravans were great. We loved the entertainment – for many children it was the first time they’d watched live stage shows and smiles were abundant. We’re all looking forward to another Haven break in 2012.”

ELM Contracts

large veranda with fantastic views. The park also offers adapted caravan-style homes with wheelchair access for disabled visitors, whilst the chalet accommodation is great for large and extended families. With a homely and comfortable layout, most of the homes are on one level; however, some have stairs to bedrooms on an upper level.

Visitors may also elect to bring their own accommodation, as a result of the amazing camping and touring facilities on offer.

In total the park boasts 46 touring pitches, all of which have a reinforced grass base, grass awning and adjacent car parking space. There is a heated shower block with 9 toilets, 8 showers and a baby changing unit, shaving point and hairdryer in addition to a separate shower and toilet for disabled guests. All of the pitches are within a two minute walk of the park facilities, and dogs are welcome all year round.

As part of the Haven Holiday Parks chain, the Caister Holiday Park is guaranteed to provide sustainable, accessible fun.

Haven is Britain’s greenest holiday park operator. All of their parks hold David Bellamy Conservation Awards, with 33 reaching ‘Gold’ standard and 30 holding ‘Excellence’ awards in recognition of more than five years at gold standard.

Moreover, 33 parks have achieved the stringent requirements of Green Tourism for Business Awards, with 4 at Gold standard.

In addition, eight of the parks have a full time Park Ranger or Green Team Leader to help manage the environment and encourage guests to discover more about the local area.

All of the parks have a free ‘Wildlife Detective’ activity devised in conjunction with the local Wildlife Trust and 21 parks are members of their local Wildlife Trust.

Haven is also committed to ensuring that their accommodation and activities are accessible for everyone and has therefore implemented adapted holiday homes and disabled access for the facilities.

Sandra Jennings of Special Smiles, a club for families and special needs children, said: “For families of disabled children like ours, having a holiday

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Established in 1994, ELM Contracts offers a wide range of products and services to all sectors, including leisure and retail.

The company has a long-standing working relationship with architects and suppliers, which ensures top quality competitiveness and reliability. As a result, ELM Contracts is widely recognised for their ability to deliver high quality projects on time and within budget.

ELM Contracts can provide expertise, knowledge and understanding from their specialist management and design teams.

The company works with clients to provide a market responsive solution that will meet the highest standards or latest trends.

The company has the necessary equipment and facilities, including a construction yard and joinery shop equipped with qualified joiners to produce top quality, bespoke products.

For more information on ELM Contracts, visit: www.elmcontracts.com

Paul Robinson Partnership (UK) LLP PRP provide a multidisciplinary service including architectural design on a national basis. Having been established for almost 40 years, the practice is driven by finding value engineered design solutions and offering good value for money. Taking opportunities to incorporate sustainable design on projects, PRP are quality assured to ISO14001 Environmental Management standard which compliments their ISO9001 standard.

For more information visit www.paulrobinsonpartnership.co.uk

Creating the Cookhouse A high-quality food production facility is currently under development at the Suffolk Food Hall in Ipswich.

The Cookhouse will extend facilities and create new and exciting areas for consumers and artisan producers alike. The project involves the redevelopment of a former cattle building into a state-of-the-art food and drink centre that will include ten commercial kitchens, associated function rooms and educational facilities.

Additional dining space is also being created in order to extend the amount of covers at the site’s existing mezzanine-level Samford Restaurant from 160 to 250.

Once the Cookhouse is complete, the ten commercial kitchens will provide production workspaces whilst a smaller food production area with a linked garden will provide a demonstration area for school children.

The project has been funded by the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).

Work began on transforming the former cattle building in November 2011 with the complete strip-out of the structure.

Following this, a crane then re-levelled the building to correct the position and a steel portal frame was constructed around the original frame in order to create a steel exoskeleton.

Whilst the steel frame was installed to provide the building with support, it is also required for the creation of a first floor level.

The first floor will offer exceptional views overlooking the River Orwell and two sides of the upper level will therefore be fully glazed.

A weatherboard finish will be fitted to the exterior of the building; whilst a new entrance and paths, paving and external lighting will also be created in order to connect the Cookhouse with

the main Food Hall.

Additional features include aluminium windows and doors, an engineered oak floor finish in the restaurant and Kingspan pantile sheets on the roof. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and air source heat pumps will also be installed to provide internal heating.

Main contractor for the Cookhouse is Bury Developments Limited, whilst the architect is Ashton Design Co Ltd and Toby Willis is the project manager. MLM is providing mechanical

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Midlands & East Anglia and electrical services along with structural consultancy and Todhunter Earle is responsible for all of the interior design work.

Suffolk Food Hall Limited Director, Oliver Paul, said: “We do a lot of artisan food production onsite already at Suffolk Food Hall, but the development of the Cookhouse will allow further businesses to expand the offering.

“Within the Cookhouse we will have a smokehouse and a microbrewery along with a variety of specialist food producers.

Essentially what we are trying to create is something similar to the original Covent Garden market, which comprised a series of boutiques all set along a central promenade. This way people can see exactly what is being produced and it will be a place where visitors can engage with producers.

“The independent food and drink sector has a really strong trading history and despite the current economic climate we’re seeing locally produced food undergo a great resurgence.”

“Suffolk Food Hall is a great place for people to spend the day and with the addition of the Cookhouse we will be able to offer a unique facility where visitors can learn all about food and then take some home to make their own meals.”

Bury Developments Ltd Managing Director, Austin Cornish, said: “The Suffolk Food Hall is a business that is continuing to develop, so to be involved with a project like the Cookhouse is fantastic. We’re making a name for ourselves as specialist

contractors within the food industry, so a project like this fits into our client base perfectly.”

Suffolk Food Hall is located on the site of a 4th generation working farm. The site brings together food and drink specialists all under one roof and includes a butcher, baker, fish monger, delicatessen, wine merchant, café, restaurant, garden centre and more.

The Cookhouse is scheduled for completion in July 2012.

Updating education at Ormiston Bushfield Academy A £20 million project to design and build new premises for the Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough is well underway.

Initial enabling works included re-routing a cycle way, the part construction of a new all-weather sports pitch and the construction of a new maintenance depot. Construction works began in March 2011 and included the removal of the existing all-weather pitch.

The new two-storey Ormiston Bushfield Academy covers 9,713 square metres of space and will accommodate 950 students, an increase from the current number of 730. It features a curved double height fully-glazed entrance that will open onto a public plaza with a colonnade link to the sports centre, whilst additional facilities include a library and centres that will cater for young people and early years.

The project will also include a small extension to Bushfield sports centre and the refurbishment of the changing room pavilion. Once the new premises are completed in the summer of 2012, the existing 8,500 sq metre buildings will be demolished.

Main contractor for the project is Kier Eastern.

Councillor John Holdich, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for education, skills and university, said: “Completion of these projects will mean that all our secondary school pupils benefit from some of the best learning environments in the country. These new state-of-the-art buildings will enable the schools to attract the best teaching talent to the city.

“In addition to this massive investment in new buildings, we are working with schools on a far-reaching ‘strategy for change’ that focuses on helping pupils achieve improved academic results.”

Kier Education Principal Director, Neil Pates, added: “The educational facilities will become beacons of learning.

The student-centred designs will ensure that the pupils of Peterborough gain maximum benefit from the combined commitment of the local authority, sponsors and Kier to deliver the

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very best learning environment for the community they serve.”

Ormiston Bushfield Academy is recognised as one of the fastest improving Academies in the country. In January 2012, the school became the first Academy in the UK to receive the prestigious Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) quality mark in more than one subject area.

The new Ormiston Bushfield Academy will open to pupils in September 2012.

Naturalight Systems Ltd Established for over 12 years and based in the north east of England, Naturalight Systems Ltd are at the forefront of the rooflight industry.

The company boasts a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, powder coating plant and recently built office extension housing the expertise and knowledge to deliver the requirements of various projects nationwide.

For the Ormiston Road Academy project, Naturalight Systems Ltd implemented the design, supply and installation of daylight solutions at roof level. This involved the use of modular polycarbonate rooflights, access hatches and bespoke glass rooflights over occupied areas.

Naturalight Systems Ltd has developed a strategy that enables all aspects of roof glazing to be catered for. This strategy has allowed Naturalight Systems to become a key supplier for Schools for the Future, the MOJ and Tesco supermarket stores to name but a few.

Naturalight Systems Ltd are able to provide modular rooflights, canopies and walkways, major roof glazing, smoke ventilation and roof access solutions. The company recognises the requirements of current legislation and environmental impact and can provide unrivalled quality, experience and cutting edge design for your next project.

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S o u th We s t

Successful project delivery is on the horizon for TG Cruse An exciting new observation tower is under construction in Weymouth.

Once completed in July 2012, the £3.5 million Weymouth SEA LIFE Tower will lift passengers above the Festival Pier to enjoy dramatic views of the Jurassic Coast and the Olympic sailing arena.

The tower will stand on the corner of the Pier, soaring fifty-three metres above the ferry terminal. Interestingly, the entrance to the observational tower will be decorated with trivia and posters about the Jurassic coastline to draw attention to Weymouth’s Jurassic history.

Turning through a full 360 degrees, the glass-fronted observation pod will offer an incredible panoramic view of the West Dorset Countryside. The viewing platform has a 70-seat capacity and will ascend gradually along the central column to a height of 50 metres. It will revolve on its axis and guests will be able to stay up there for 15-20 minutes to enjoy the stunning views.

In November 2011, the teams began preparing the groundworks for the new Weymouth SEA LIFE Tower. Works involved sinking concrete piles to a depth of 17 metres on Weymouth Pier in order to provide a circular watertight curtain for the main excavation works.

An official groundbreaking ceremony was held in January 2012, when a huge mechanical digger began the seven-metre deep hole for the Tower’s foundations.

The observation tower boasts an impressive weight of 130 metric tonnes and a central column with a 2.5 metre diameter.

It has been constructed and shipped to the UK in sections by German company Huss.

Main contractor for the project is TG Cruse and the architect is Ocean Designs Limited.

SEA LIFE General Manager, Craig Dunkerley, said: “We’ve been really encouraged by the very warm reception the Tower plans have received from the local population, but we also anticipate significant custom from the crowds flocking to see the Olympic sailing events.

“There should be some fairly dramatic transformations every couple of days from Monday onwards, and it’s going to be really exciting to see.”

Operated by Poole-based leisure giant Merlin Entertainments, the tower will form a sister attraction for the company’s popular Weymouth SEA LIFE Park.

Sea Life Tower celebrates some early visitors In February 2012, brothers Charlie and Harry were whisked off to Germany and Hungary to meet the Tower designers and see it being built.

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The mission was organised by Tower operators Merlin and suppliers Huss. Charlie and Harry made the exciting journey with their parents and met the Huss design team in Bremen before flying to Budapest, where they saw the massive steel sections of the Tower’s central column under construction.

Craig Dunkerley said: “Their grandmother – retired nursing home matron Janet Carter – regularly took them down to the development site and got them hooked on the whole project.”

Strengthening the market with solar energy Two solar parks – Puriton West and Summerway Drove – have been sold to funds managed by alternative asset manager, Foresight Group.

The sale of the Somerset solar parks was finalised in February 2012 and the Foresight Group will now manage and supply enough green electricity to meet the energy requirements of 1,300 households Element Power and BNRG Renewables were the developers on both the Puriton and Summerway Drove projects and together they constructed and commissioned the projects under the UK Government’s Feed-in-Tariff legislation.

Foresight Investment Manager, Ricardo Piñeiro, said: “We are delighted to have strengthened our UK portfolio with this latest acquisition which achieves economies of scale across our UK and European portfolio.

“Having raised more than £65m for the Foresight Solar VCT and Foresight Solar EIS in the past 15 months we will continue to add quality ground based PV assets to our portfolio.”

Element Power President and CEO, Mike O’Neil, said: “We are delighted to finalise the sale of these two projects. It is clear testimony to Element Power Solar’s capital strength, deep knowledge of the photovoltaic market and ability to identify and establish high-class partnerships that we have succeeded when so many other projects failed because of legislative uncertainty.”

BNRG Renewables Director, David Maguire, added: “Unlike many companies within the UK solar sector we have overcome various unforeseen challenges during the last 12 months.

“BNRG’s partnership with Element Power Solar has left us as one of a small number of developers to successfully commission commercial-scale projects in the UK.” Puriton and Summerway Drove were officially commissioned following a 3-month construction period. Initially a 12-month development timeframe was planned for both projects; however this was dramatically reduced as a result of changes to the UK’s Feed-in-Tariff in 2011.

Solarwatt and Electricity Solutions were the main contractors on the project and Landmark Practice provided environmental consultancy work for the projects.

During construction concrete foundations were installed for the transformers on the site. Steel and aluminium mounting systems were piled 1.5metres into the ground which meant that no concrete was required for the erection of the mounting system. Solarwatt photovoltaic panels were used on site along with SMA inverters fixed.

Once completed, Summerway Drove’s capacity was commissioned to 1.8MW, whilst the power capacity of Puriton was just under 4MW.

A habitat management plan ran alongside the project, which ensured that the local environment was protected at all times.

As part of the plan badger gates were installed on security fences, a reptile habitat was developed and mixed seed planting will take place.

The Landmark Practice Environmental Consultant, Bernice Roberts, said: “There is always a risk that ecological and environmental considerations can get lost in the pursuit of meeting such dramatically reduced timescales.

“The developers worked closely with us, from the beginning of the consenting process through to development. This ensured that the environmental considerations at these sites remained a priority throughout.”

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

Call our news team on 01706 719972

Eton Street takes shape A new five-storey mixed-use development is currently under construction to bring office and retail space to the town of Richmond.

One Eton Street is being built on Eton Street and Lower George Street on the site of a former retail and office block that was demolished in 2010. Dutch property investor Wereldhave is funding the £14 million project, which will comprise 40,000 sq ft of office space and 26,000 sq ft of retail space. The office space will cover the top three floors, whilst the retail space will be located on the ground and basement floors.

Natural and organic food retailer Whole Foods Markets will lease the retail element of the building.

BAM Nuttall is the main contractor, whilst Garnett & Partners is the architect and Drivers Jonas Deloitte is the commercial property consultant for the project.

Work began on One Eton Street in September 2010, when the existing building on the site was demolished. This was followed by the construction of a concrete frame for the first three floors of the new building.

At the moment, work is focused on the steel-frame construction of the top two storeys of the building.

Once the superstructure is in place, windows will then be installed using a mixture of timber and metal frames in order to make the building wind and water tight. The internal fit-out of the building will then include the installation of the main electrical services, lighting and ceilings. The exterior of the

building will feature a brick and reconstituted stone facade.

One Eton Street is working towards a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ on both the retail and office areas of the building. In order to achieve this, a variable refrigerant volume (VRV) air conditioning system will be installed. The VRV system is an efficient air conditioning system that will allow greater control of the heating and cooling apparatus in order to reduce energy waste.

In addition to the VRV system, energy efficient lighting will also be installed in the building to establish a lighting system that is capable of turning itself off when not in use.

The future tenants of the building will also be expected to adhere to energy efficiency guidelines to ensure that One Eton Street will continue to remain as sustainable as possible.

Drivers Jonas Deloitte Assistant Director, Christopher Husband, said: “When we started working on the development, our first concern was how to divide up the retail space on the ground and basement levels.

At first we considered splitting the space vertically into two so that we could create two separate units that would provide potential

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retailers with both a ground and first floor level. As it turned out, we didn’t need to do this as we were soon approached by Whole Foods Markets who expressed an interest in taking all of the retail space across both floors.

“This worked well for the development of the building and has really helped us to construct a structure that residents and visitors to Richmond will be proud of for years to come.

“Early indications suggest that the building will meet the BREEAM standard that we are trying to achieve. In addition, BAM Nuttall has been awarded high marks under the Considerate Contractors Scheme for the work they have conducted so far.

“It is fantastic to see One Eton Street come together and we’re immensely proud to be involved with this project.”

One Eton Street is scheduled for completion in September 2012

Completing Hanwell Locks Phase Two of a brand new housing scheme that will bring luxury accommodation to Hanwell is almost complete.

The last finishing touches are now being made to the second phase of the Hanwell Locks project, which is being carried out on behalf of property developer Frendcastle. The £ 3 million Hanwell Locks project comprises the construction of twelve private houses on the site of a former factory.

Phase One – 6 Saddleback Lane – comprised the construction of six 3-bedroom houses and was completed at the end of 2011.

All of the houses are now occupied by new owners.

Phase Two of the project – 6 Jessop Place – has seen the construction of six 4-bedroom houses and is scheduled for completion in May 2012. Four of the six units are now reserved for new owners.

Hanwell Locks is located in the midst of West London and is just a short walk away from Hanwell Flight of Locks and Hanwell town centre. The site is surrounded by Elthorne Park and the National Trust’s Osterley Park and offers direct access to M4 motorway links, along with a number of railway stations.

Work began in March 2011, with Andrew Towns-Wadey (Builders) Ltd as the main contractor and Edward Hill of Hill Mitchell Berry Architects as the Architect. R & G Electrical Contractors Ltd is the electrical contractor on the scheme and is responsible for installing lighting and telecommunications for all of the units on the site.

Decorative work is currently underway on each of the units at Jessop Place, whilst a number of external landscaping works are being carried out including the construction of pathways to improve access to the nearby Grand Union Canal.

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Andrew Towns-Wadey (Builders) Ltd Project Manager, Gary Matterface, said: “We take pride in our work and it’s great to see a project like this take shape. We’re very close to completion on Phase Two

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t of Hanwell Locks and the work that we’ve conducted here has really transformed the site.”

Frendcastle Developer, Bill Bailey, added: “We are delighted to be working with Andrew Towns Wadey Builders and the professional team, with whom we have done many projects in the past. The project has gone well, everything is approached with a positive attitude and the attention to detail is superb.

“The development demonstrates that high quality new build family houses with generous room sizes and a good specification continue to sell well.”

The six units at Jessop Place have all been constructed around a private courtyard. All of the houses have been built using a timber frame with a brick clad external facade and each unit includes double glazed aluminium windows and roofs decked out in natural Spanish slate.

Each unit includes a number of stunning features, such as en-suite bedrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows and grand master bedrooms.

On the ground floor of each property, the entrance hall includes a cloakroom and under stair cupboard, whilst the living room features oak wood floors. The kitchens have been custom designed with quartz worktops, stainless steel and chrome fittings, whilst floors are finished with heated porcelain tiles. Brand new appliances have also been installed and these include a gas hob, an integrated multifunction oven, a dishwasher and a combination washer dryer.

On the first floor, new owners will be treated to two double bedrooms and a large bathroom with a bath and high-pressure wall mounted shower and a storage area. The bathrooms also include built-in medicine cabinets and colour backed glass splashbacks, whilst bedrooms include LED lit bed bulkheads and built-in wardrobes. The second floor of each unit also includes another two bedrooms and an additional bathroom.

Both the first and second floors are carpeted throughout.

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Additional features include: TV/FM and cable points, virgin cable TV and radio services, wiring for broadband connections, mood dimmer switches and under cabinet lighting. Bi-fold doors open out onto timber-decked external areas, which also include a lawn and shed.

An additional landscaped communal garden with a play area is also included on the site.

Security features include intruder alarms with room sensors, panic alarm buttons with internal and external sounders, and high-security door locks.

Gas fired boilers provide the units with heating and have been installed by PGS Plumbing & Heating Ltd. The company is involved with all of the plumbing and heating on the site, which includes underfloor heating on the ground floors of each unit. Wall mounted slim panel radiators will provide the upper floors with heating and heated towel rails will be installed in the bathrooms.

PGS Plumbing & Heating Ltd Managing Director, Peter Howes, said: “Work has run very smoothly on the project and one of the benefits of working on a project like this is the fact that they are all quite similar in design. Once work on one house is completed, we know what we need to do for the next one – which has made each unit easier to complete.

For my team, we were able to just flow through the work with ease and it really has helped to bring this project in on time and to schedule.”

R & G Electrical Contractors Ltd Managing Director, Mark Richards, said: “Working on a project like Hanwell Locks is very important to us as it has allowed us to demonstrate our expertise in electrical installations. We look forward to seeing the completed scheme being put to use by its new owners and that’s what makes working on a project like this so worthwhile.”

All of the dwellings on the scheme have been built to achieve Code 4 Sustainable Homes and sustainable resources have been used on both phases of the project where possible.

Hanwell Locks is scheduled for completion in May 2012.

Howard Park and Gardens will bloom in the spring The world’s first garden city, Letchworth Garden City, opened in 1911 as part of the vision created by social reformer Sir Ebenezer Howard.

Boasting a wealth of stunning gardens, leisure facilities and activity centres, the garden city celebrates a range of attractions to suit all. One such attraction is Howard Park and Gardens, which has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment programme to update and renew the existing facilities.

The £2.7 million project was made possible thanks to a £1.84 million award from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund through the Parks for People programme, and an investment of £700,000 by North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC).

Works included the refurbishment of a 100-metre paddling pool and combined cafe/toilet block with an associated pool disinfection and filtration system. In addition, new water features were installed and trees were replanted.

Main Contractor for the prestigious project is UPM Tillhill and the architect is Paul Bancroft Architects.

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t have retained the existing features, the park has also seen some significant improvements.

“In addition to changing the levels of water so that it can be properly filtered and disinfected, the site has also been made more accessible. This will ensure that the park remains exciting, interesting and safe for years to come.

“The park is a central part of the community and a prominent feature in the memories of the local people. Generations of families have spent their leisure time here and enjoyed the spectacular surroundings.

“As a result, the project has provoked a significant amount of interest within the local community. Several groups have been established to support the project, whilst volunteers have completed many important tasks including hedge-laying. We hope to continue this level of support with an innovative audience development plan and an active community programme over the summer.”

Several efforts have been made to ensure that the project is as sympathetic to the local environment as possible. UPM Tillhill has supplied timber for thirty bat and bird boxes and is working closely with NHDC, community group Groundwork Hertfordshire and local school children to improve the habitat for the creatures and provide homes where they can breed safely.

John Robinson commented:

“Like all projects, there were certain issues that had to be addressed. As we were dealing with an important heritage site, it was important to meet all of the necessary planning regulations.

Furthermore, we were working with water, which posed the obvious health and safety issues.

“However, all of the relevant teams have been superb and the project is on track to be delivered before the summer holidays, as we had always intended. This is a critical facility for the community and we are absolutely delighted with the workmanship and craftsmanship that we have witnessed.”

A grand opening for Howard Park and Gardens will be held in May 2012.

Lots of TLC for Cooperscroft Care Home A replacement Cooperscroft Care Home will allow TLC Group to bring ‘Truth, Love and Compassion’ to Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

Whilst the existing care home was designed to provide residential care, the new facility will be split between residential, nursing and dementia care.

The £4.3 million project began in July 2011 and was originally

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scheduled for completion in July 2012, however early design issues have pushed the completion date back to September.

Main contractor for the project is Castleoak Care and the architect is Carless & Adams Partnership.

Covering four storeys, the 60-bed care home is a traditional build that has incorporated precast concrete, asphalt block to the lower floors and a brick-built finish to the upper floors. The

development has also been built to BREEAM ‘Good’ standard as part of the planning conditions.

With regards to the interior design, a country house theme has been selected in order to give the property a warm and homely feel. There are fireplaces in the communal areas, whilst the furniture and furnishes have been designed to be comfortable and unimposing.

In addition to spacious rooms for the residents, the development features a large communal living room, a hairdressers and a bar and coffee shop in the reception area. There is also a cinema and a bespoke gym/activities room, along with a clinical room in the basement.

Onsite staff accommodation has also been provided in order to attract a high-calibre of staff.

One of the most striking aspects of the development is the garden, which has been specifically designed for dementia sufferers. Innovative features include the mapping of the garden and circular routes, which will ultimately facilitate the safe return of the residents. In addition, there is a dedicated garden area and a large pond that overlooks the fields and the surrounding countryside.

Nick Watson, Development Manager of TLC Group, said: “This has been a particularly interesting project as we have really increased the specification of the work undertaken. It is the

first project we have done with Castleoak so we are benefitting from the wealth of knowledge that they have.

“We are very pleased with the quality of the work that has been carried out so far and are looking forward to delivering this important project to the community.”

TLC Group TLC Group was formed in 2007 in order to operate high-quality services within the care and hospital field. Their ethos – Truth, Love and Compassion – enables the company to proactively drive their business in a direction that allows them to provide excellent customer service and make a difference.

TLC Group currently owns and operates six care facilities in London and Cambridge along with a branded limited service hotel in Stratford, East London. In addition to the operational arm of TLC Group, the business is also involved with a number of developments throughout South East England.

The company is also able to offer a range of management contract services and has a proven track record in development management, operational management and personnel management.

TLC Group is managed by a dynamic team of individuals with extensive management experience in the care, hospitality and construction industries.

VINCI wins starring role in Connaught Tunnel project Main contractor VINCI Construction UK Limited has been awarded the contract for the refurbishment of the Connaught Tunnel.

With a history that dates back to 1878, the Connaught Tunnel allowed the railway to be diverted under the Connaught Passage,

a water link which connected the Royal Victoria Dock and Royal Albert Dock. The tunnel came under the spotlight in 2008, when it was featured in Guy Ritchie’s film ‘RocknRolla’.

Unfortunately, the central sections of the Connaught Tunnel became weaker after the Royal Victoria Dock was deepened in

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Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t 1935 in order to allow larger ships to enter the dock. As part of the works, the central section of the Connaught Tunnel was narrowed, the brickwork was removed and cast iron segments were installed. This resulted in the roof of the Connaught Tunnel below the dock being exposed.

The prestigious project will include enlarging the existing tunnel so that it can accommodate Crossrail trains and overhead line equipment. As sections of the existing tunnel are in poor structural condition, approximately 100 metres of tunnel wall will be removed and replaced with a new tunnel lining. In addition, the existing brick arches and part of the tunnel approaches will be retained and repaired.

Crossroads Project Manager, Linda Miller, said: “In 20 years of digging tunnels, this is the most fun and fantastic opportunity. It presents all sorts of problems but that’s what I love.

“There are some beautiful arches and the original plan was to take them away, to cut them out and to replace them with the modern equivalent but I’m happy to say that a decision was taken by Crossrail to preserve them and clean them up to bring them back to the way they looked 150 years ago.”

One of the first phases of work to be carried out is the reinforcement of the central section of the Connaught Tunnel, which lies at the bottom of the Royal Victoria Dock at the border with the Royal Albert Dock.

The reinforcement stage will include the installation of a large concrete base, which will in turn ensure the safety and stability of the tunnel. A wide passageway will be dredged between the Royal Albert Dock and Royal Victoria Dock and then a 1 metre thick reinforced concrete protection slab (measuring 100m³) will be installed on the bed of the passageway, which is located just west of the Connaught Road Bridge. This slab will be placed using marine pontoons and a team of specialist divers.

Following this phase, the cast iron linings in the Connaught Tunnel will be removed in stages. In order to ensure the integrity of the existing tunnel, the remainder of the brick-lined tunnel will be grouted and filled with a low strength foam concrete. These tunnels will subsequently be enlarged by boring through the foam to create binocular tunnels which are large enough to allow Crossrail trains to pass. Precast concrete tunnel segments will then be installed in this section of the tunnel.

Piling and concrete works to construct the track slab at the west end are expected to be completed in July 2012, followed by the same process at the east end. The refurbishment of the tunnel itself will commence after July 2012 and is expected to be completed in October 2013.

SolData Limited SolData is the world leader in geotechnical instrumentation and structural monitoring services, providing expertise to clients around the world.

The company designs, implements and interprets monitoring systems that measure structural, geotechnical and environmental parameters. Using these systems, the client is able to efficiently develop their project knowing that all risks are being managed.

On many of the major Crossrail packages and interrelated projects, SolData’s presence is pivotal to the delivery of a successful project. Working at Bond Street, Connaught Tunnel, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road, Whitechapel and Woolwich Arsenal the major contracts are benefiting from the extensive knowledge that the company has built up over decades through the monitoring of metro projects in the UK and around the world. The continued development of in-house software allows extensive data management, extensive real time data interrogation and is intuitive for presentational purposes.

SolData Limited’s Commercial Manager, Aidan Laimbeer said: “Our aim is to assist our clients to understand, quantify and manage the structural, geotechnical and environmental issues associated with construction on the complex and demanding Crossrail sites.

“By exceeding our client’s expectations in providing this service with detection and monitoring solutions – designed specifically to their requirements – we ensure the successful completion of the project and therefore strengthen ties with our clients for the long term success of our company.”

Pudding Mill Lane Portal takes shape Morgan Sindall Plc continues to work towards the completion of the next stage of the exciting Crossrail project at the Pudding Mill Lane Portal.

The Pudding Mill Lane Portal project comprises the construction of a 300-metre long tunnel, a 120-metre long approach ramp, two brand new bridges over the City Mill River and an an access point for local bus services.

In addition, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is also being relocated from its current location to a new site between the River Lea and City Mill River.

In July 2011, Newham’s Strategic Development Committee approved plans for the replacement Docklands Light Railway station at Pudding Mill Lane and construction commenced in the second half of 2011.

The purpose-built station has been designed by Weston Williamson and will accommodate three-car DLR trains, which are larger than the trains previously in operation at the station.

Morgan Sindall Plc was awarded the £50 million contract in 2011 alongside contracts for the Crossrail Whitechapel and Liverpool Street Station Tunnels projects.

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Morgan Sindall Group Plc Chief Executive, Paul Smith, said: “We were delighted to secure our second Crossrail project.

The work is highly complex and technically challenging and our appointment further confirms our position as the UK’s marketleading tunnel engineering business.”

Morgan Sindall Group Plc Managing Director of Infrastructure, Jag Paddam, added: “We are delighted to be working with Crossrail on Europe’s largest infrastructure project. This contract further strengthens our position in the rail sector and once again allows us to demonstrate our expertise and capabilities working on complex and technically challenging works.”

Due to the site’s close proximity to Olympic Park, work will be suspended on Pudding Mill Lane Portal during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Following the short break for the event, work will reconvene on the site in the autumn of 2012.

Once the Pudding Mill Lane Portal becomes fully operational, tunnel boring machines (TBM) will arrive at the site in early 2014 in order to create tunnels to Stepney Green. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015.

itmsoil Instrumentation from itmsoil is being used at Pudding Mill Lane as work progresses on one of five tunnel portals on the Crossrail project. The instrumentation used includes geotechnical monitoring which is crucial process that will ensure the portal performs within set design tolerances.

Instrumentation includes pile duct inclinometers in the diaphragm wall lining and standpipe piezometers to monitor the excavation’s water table. Vibrating wire strain gauges are also being used to monitor the strain on the supporting props. 3D geodetic prisms fixed to the diaphragm wall will provide additional information on performance. itmsoil C701 Project Manager, Brendon Oram, said: “itmsoil has a long-standing and successful track record in geotechnical monitoring projects involving this type of instrumentation. We’ve completed a lot of similar work and we’ve delivered consistently good results.” itmsoil was awarded the instrumentation contract by Morgan Sindall (C350). The company is also involved with an additional Crossrail contract (C701). In total 17 Leica TM30 Robotic Total Stations – complete with 1400 geodetic mini-prisms – have been installed to monitor nearby Network Rail and Dockland Light Railway assets throughout the Pudding Mill Lane area.

Southdowns Environmental Consultants Ltd Established in 1996 Southdowns Environmental Consultants Ltd operates in a number of industry sectors providing specialist consultancy services on acoustics, noise and vibration.

On the Crossrail project Southdowns is providing a range of technical support services associated with construction noise vibration management. This includes the preparation of consent applications under Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and the monitoring of noise and vibration compliance once works are underway. Southdowns is supporting a number of major civil contractors across the footprint of the project.

Southdowns Environmental Consultants Ltd Director, Rick Methold, said: “Southdowns has vast experience working alongside some of the world’s largest civil engineering contractors, so we understand the specific needs of our clients and can tailor our services accordingly.

“We are dealing with some challenging acoustical issues on this project ranging from the provision of giant enclosures around large worksites – operating 24/7 – to the deployment of monitoring equipment powered solely by hydrogen fuel cell technology.”

Tottenham Court Road transforms Tottenham Court Road Tube station is currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment programme that will dramatically reduce congestion and provide vital links to Crossrail services.

The £500 million redevelopment of the Tube station will create a huge amount of new underground space, with stunning new entrances, step-free access to all platforms and a direct interchange with Crossrail services when they arrive at the station in 2018.

When Tottenham Court Road station was built over a century ago, it was not designed to cope with the 147,000 people that currently use it every day. As one of the most important stations in the heart of London, the station serves the Central and Northern lines that bisect the city. To combat increasing levels of congestion, an intensive upgrade programme is now underway.

Preparation work began back in 2007, when a three-year programme of utility diversions, strengthening and replacement commenced. This work effectively created the space below Charing Cross Road for the new ticket hall to be constructed and culminated in the strengthening of old cast iron trunk utilities below Oxford Street to protect them from the potential effects of settlement.

The main works contract to build the station got underway at the start of 2010. London Underground appointed a joint venture of Taylor Woodrow BAM Nuttall (TWBN) to deliver the works over a seven-year construction programme.

London Underground Programme Manager, Les Hamilton, said: “Anyone who has visited the area recently will recognise that construction of the station is a huge logistical challenge.

“Our site is surrounded on all sides by busy streets, offices, shops and homes, not to mention a Grade II* listed church.

“Space on site is at a premium so co-ordinating the works efficiently is hugely important – our contractor simply has to make the most of every inch of space.”

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The site includes the northern end of Charing Cross Road which now diverts around Centre Point. Multiple works have been carried out simultaneously including the construction of the new ticket hall, an entrance from Oxford Street, a new emergency escape shaft, new tunnels to the Central and Northern line and a deep shaft that will link the new ticket hall with Crossrail below Goslett Yard.

Taylor Woodrow BAM Nuttall’s Project Director, Jez Haskins,

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said: “London Underground’s new ticket hall is a huge double basement excavated within a secant piled box.

“The new ticket hall will be nearly six times bigger than the existing station which will ease congestion once it’s built, but for now the challenge is civil engineering – during 2012 we will excavate around 30,000 cubic metres and pour around 20,000 cubic metres of concrete.

“The engineering challenges posed by the project could hardly be greater. The design required the Northern line platform tunnels to be reshaped during an 8 month platform closure in 2011.

We had to create space between the tunnels to install new lifts and staircases to platform level.”

Jez Haskins added: “Over the 8 months our tunnel gangs removed around 800 tonnes of old cast iron segments and installed around 1000 tonnes of new steel props. This was all done in the narrow worksite down the length of the platforms in very difficult conditions.

“All materials and plant were lowered down to platform via a 4.5 metre diameter shaft that will ultimately be fitted out for passengers to access services step-free – and vitally for London Underground we handed back on time as planned.”

While the majority of the Tottenham Court Road improvement scheme focuses on providing better facilities for passengers, external areas will also be transformed as part of the project.

London Underground’s project team, including architects Gillespies, have been working with Camden and Westminster councils to develop a brand new urban environment. This centres on a large new piazza which includes glass station entrances at the foot of Centre Point.

Reinstating the urban realm in this way will help improve pedestrian routes to Soho, Covent Garden, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and of course, Europe’s busiest shopping street – Oxford Street.

Capital Programmes Director, David Waboso, said: “The upgrade of Tottenham Court Road station is underway.

The station is currently operating with heavy congestion, which

is why it is essential to upgrade the station. The new ticket hall will be 6 times that of the current ticket hall and the station will also have step-free access along with new lifts.

“While the entire Crossrail project will be the biggest construction project in Europe, no-one should underestimate the scale and extent of the work that will take place at Tottenham Court Road. This will be one of the biggest station redevelopment projects ever undertaken in central London.

“By 2018, Tottenham Court Road station will be one of the most important stations in the West End, serving both London Underground and Crossrail. The expanded tube station will be integrated with the new Crossrail station to form a major interchange.”

Making homes affordable with The Oakwood Group As a professional construction and development company, The Oakwood Group works alongside the leading housing associations and landowners to successfully regenerate parts of the nation’s capital and transform areas into vibrant communities.

The Oakwood Group is presently involved in a series of development schemes, for which they procure 100% of the development costs. In addition, the company plays a major role in the delivery of affordable housing.

With over twenty years experience in the housing market, the current management structure enables the company to broaden their range of services and establish an enviable reputation for the delivery of high quality residential and mixed-use development projects.

One of The Oakwood Group’s flagship schemes was the construction of Victoria Works in Feltham, which was completed in March 2010. The project involved the construction of 73 one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a mixture of tenures, delivered in conjunction with a housing association partner.

The Oakwood Group has a number of exciting projects planned for 2012. The company has recently commenced construction on a scheme of 20 apartments in Sanderstead, which should be coming to market in spring 2013.

The company’s planning pipeline is diverse and this year will also see the transformation of a former car dealership site in Coulsdon Town Centre to provide 94 residential units with basement parking and retail and office space. Additional projects to follow include the regeneration of a disused warehouse site in Lamberth comprising 68 flats together with commercial space, along with a scheme in Merton comprising 14 four-bedroom houses.

The Oakwood Group Managing Director, John Fleetwood, said: “Our main strength is our capability and expertise in manag-

ing a wide range of multi-disciplinary projects and our unique selling point is that we are not put off by any particular location.

We are backed by a broad range of skills and resources and our core business areas of design, planning and construction are interwoven to provide a cohesive framework for developing individual site solutions.”

He added: “Over the years our staff levels have grown and we have retained a very good core of people. Within the last eight years our turnover has increased threefold, notwithstanding the challenging economic climate.

“We take a huge amount of pride in what we do, particularly as we’re so heavily involved in the design and planning process.

With so many of our developments being constructed close to our headquarters, it’s fundamental that we deliver an exemplary quality built environment that is capable of standing the test of time.”

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Transforming Terminal 2 Phase One of a £2.3 billion programme to construct a brand new Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport is underway.

Once complete, the terminal will cater for up to 20 million passengers a year.

Terminal 2 will replace a former terminal and is the latest stage in a five-year programme of works to transform the airport. The construction of Terminal 2 has been funded entirely by BAA, making it the largest privately funded construction project in the UK. Phase One of the Terminal 2 project includes the construction of a brand new main terminal building, a new satellite pier and a new energy centre. A new cooling station will also be constructed, along with new baggage and control systems.

Check-in desks will be expanded in order to accommodate 3,000 passengers per hour, whilst up to 60 self-service kiosks will be installed to improve efficiency at the airport.

Additional changes are being made to the road systems around the airport. A brand new multi-storey car park – with associated roads and ramps – will also be built to accommodate up to 1,300 vehicles.

In order to allow planes to move more efficiently throughout the airport’s runways, 28 fully serviced aircraft stands will also be installed. The new aircraft stands will help to reduce ground level emissions, improve air quality and supply the aircrafts with electricity and preconditioned air.

Phase One of Terminal 2 will comprise a total of nineteen individual projects that are all being implemented concurrently to make the terminal fully operational by the time it reopens to passengers.

Heathrow Limited’s Terminal 2 Programme Director, Joanne White, said: “The work underway on Terminal 2 is one of the most important initiatives that Heathrow has at the moment and it is central to the transformation of the airport.

“The original Terminal 2 was designed for a capacity of 1.2 million passengers a year, however towards the end of its life it was handling up to 8 million. We decided that this was just not acceptable and a new terminal was required in order to provide a far superior service.

“For us Terminal 2 is a major investment that will improve the passenger experience for the next 30 years through a more efficient service. The terminal will be light and modern and will look fantastic when it is completed.

“The work that has taken place so far on Terminal 2 has already changed the skyline of Heathrow and it is a wonderful project to be involved with.”

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The original Terminal 2 building officially opened its doors on April 1, 1955. When it opened the terminal was known as Europa Building, however the facility underwent a name change in 1966 following the opening of Terminal 1.

For more than 50 years Terminal 2 saw an impressive array of celebrities – including Marilyn Monroe and The Beatles – pass through its arrival lounge. However, after 54 years of service Terminal 2 officially closed to passengers in 2009 and in 2010 the building was demolished to make way for the new terminal.

Main contractor for Phase One of Terminal 2 is HETCo, a joint venture between Ferrovial Agroman and Laing O’Rourke.

Spanish company Luis Vidal is the architect, whilst the conceptual architect for the project is Foster + Partners.

Main contractor for the satellite pier is Balfour Beatty, whilst Laing O’Rourke is the main contractor for the car park construction.

BAA Capital Director, Steven Morgan, said: “Laing O’Rourke was awarded the contract following a competitive bid which demonstrated that they fully understood BAA’s intelligent client approach and could deliver a car park and associated infrastructure safely, innovatively and to the highest standards of quality.

“To date, they have successfully worked as one half of the HETCo joint venture responsible for delivering the main terminal building. We now look forward to continuing this relationship on the multi-storey car park.”

Approximately one third of the work on Phase One of Terminal 2 is complete, which includes the construction of just under half of the main terminal building. Once complete the terminal will span five storeys high and measure 200,000 square metres.

Approximately 27,000 tonnes of steel work will be used during construction, along with 30,000 square metres of glass.

The main terminal will be fully glazed and has been designed to match the design of all of the existing terminals at the airport.

Several environmentally friendly practices have been implemented throughout the construction of Terminal 2 in order to ensure that the project makes use of as many sustainable materials as possible. Over 95% of the original terminal is being recycled, whilst the extensive glazing in the main terminal building will help to reduce energy usage through the inclusion of solar control glass and angled louvres.

Additional features include 1000 square metres of photovoltaic (PV) panels on the building’s canopy and the installation of a sophisticated lighting system that will reduce energy consumption by switching off lights when they are not in use.

A 12MW biomass boiler heater will also be installed in the en-

Lo n d o n & S o u th E a s t ergy centre in order to provide hot water for the building. The boiler will be powered using FSC approved timber and once Phase One of Terminal 2 is complete, the building will save around 13,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. Additional schemes to increase the levels of recycling in the main terminal building will be put into place once the building opens.

As Heathrow is a live airport, the construction of materials offsite has been maximised wherever possible in order to reduce congestion at the airport and speed up the project’s efficiency.

The steel work for Terminal 2 is being manufactured by Watson’s Steel Structures Limited at their factories in Thirsk and Bolton, whilst mechanical and electrical modules are being developed by CHt Manufacturing in Wolverhampton. Meanwhile, major structural components – including bridge beams – will be precast at Laing O’Rourke’s Explore Industrial Park in Steetley.

All completed materials are transported to the site to be installed where required.

During the peak of construction, approximately 6,000 people will be working on the site. Throughout the life of the project it is estimated that up to 35,000 people will be involved in the Terminal 2 project.

BAA Chief Executive, Colin Matthews, said: “The completion of structural work on Terminal 2 puts us within touching distance of a future where Heathrow has some of the best passenger facilities in Europe.

“There’s a lot still to do, but the opening of Terminal 2 could move Heathrow into pole position among European hub airports and allow us to set our sights on elite airports such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Incheon in Seoul.”

Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, added: “For tens of millions of people each year Heathrow is their first impression of the UK, which is why it is so important that it is a positive one. We have been clear that we want to improve the experience of those travelling through our airports, and this new terminal will do just that.

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“This is also a success story for the country’s construction industry, with British-made steel, electronics and engineering responsible for a state-of-the-art facility.”

Once work is completed on the first phase of Terminal 2, the airport facility will become the home of the Star Alliance group of airlines. For the first time all 25 Star Alliance airlines will operate from one terminal, which will also help to improve the airport’s environmental performance by reducing the amount of transfers across the airport.

During the construction of Terminal 2, Star Alliance member carriers are operating from Terminals 1 and 3.

Star Alliance Vice President of Products & Services, Lee Hock Lye, said: “The Star Alliance member carriers are looking forward to moving into our new home here at Terminal 2, Heathrow. Being located under one roof will enable our airlines to deliver seamless alliance travel to our passengers, further enhancing the current airport customer experience.

“Star Alliance is the world’s leading airline network. The Alliance’s 27 airlines operate over 4000 aircraft, offering more than 21,000 daily flights to 1,290 destinations and carrying over 600 million passengers a year.

“The redevelopment of Terminal 2 will reinforce Heathrow’s position as one of the leading global aviation hubs. From our new home at Heathrow, Star Alliance will be able to compete on an equal footing in the alliance arena, something we have been waiting for ever since the opening of Terminal 5 (in 2008).”

Following the completion of Phase One of Terminal 2, a second phase will extend facilities northwards onto the existing Terminal 1 site. Phase Two will largely concentrate on increasing the airport’s capacity to 30 million passengers and will also include the construction of a second satellite building.

A start date for Phase Two is currently unscheduled, however once Phase Two is complete Terminal 1 will officially close to the public.

Heathrow Airport is owned and operated by BAA Limited, who own and operate five airports across the UK. The airport comprises 5 terminals and 2 runways and is used by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and BMI. In 2006 Heathrow was rated as one of the worst major airports in Europe. However, after the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 along with refurbishment works to Terminals 1, 3 and 4, Heathrow is currently rated ahead of all but one of its major rivals. The work conducted on Terminal 2 is expected to put it on equal footing amongst its European rivals.

Phase One of Terminal 2 is scheduled for completion in 2013 and the terminal will reopen to passengers in 2014.

Waterwise Technology Ltd Established in 1990 Waterwise Technology Ltd is a UK-based company which develops and manufactures innovative water treatment systems through the use of environmentally-friendly technologies.

Waterwise Technology Ltd comprises a team of professionals – including mechanical and electrical engineers, chemists and water treatment specialists – and pioneers the use of ozone and water recycling in cooling water systems and a variety of other applications.

The company proudly boasts a range of high profile clients including, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter and Gamble, Gatwick Airport, National History Museum, Bernard Matthews, Morrisons, Coop Logistics, Canary Wharf Construction, Ministry of Defence, and is presently involved with The Shard and 122 Leadenhall projects in London.

Presently Waterwise Technology Ltd is providing all of the equipment to Heathrow Terminal 2 for water treatment, purification and re-use. Waterwise Technology Ltd has a long-standing working relationship with BAA at Heathrow which dates back to 1999 and over the course of 13 years the company has invested a considerable amount of time to improve sustainability at the airport.

Utilising state-of-the-art e-Soft water softeners with reduced water and salt consumption in conjunction with Filtex Ozone Treatment systems Waterwise has effectively reduced the water consumption of the cooling towers at Terminal 2 by almost 20%. In addition, once the new terminal is fully operational, the Waterwise Oasis unit will recycle 75 tonnes of waste cooling water per day. Moreover, the cooling water system and treatment plant is also designed to operate on a borehole water supply with minimal primary treatment.

Waterwise Technology Ltd Managing Director, Jon Fielder, said: “At Waterwise our main focus is on sustainability and the environment. In terms of technology, we choose to use our Filtex Ozone non chemical systems as a primary method of treatment which reduces water consumption and minimises discharges to the environment.

“Having been involved with BAA for a number of years we are proud of their confidence in our equipment and pleased to have been given the opportunity to work with them in meeting their sustainability and carbon reduction commitments. Our new recycling units are proving a popular and useful option for this.

“Cooling towers serving air conditioning systems are frequently the largest water user in a commercial office building or a terminal such as this. Therefore the ability to make savings in the water consumption of the cooling towers will substantially reduce the overall water consumption and waste discharges of the building.

“Such savings contribute significantly to any new building’s environmental IPPC assessment rating as well as a company’s commitment to reduce water consumption and waste – not to mention the cost savings too.”

Jon Fielder added: “Being involved in a project like Heathrow Terminal 2 is very important to us. With the exception of Terminal 5 we work on all of the terminals at Heathrow and so to be involved with a client like BAA –and on one of the biggest projects in the UK – is great!”

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Transforming London’s West End London’s world famous West End is currently undergoing a spectacular makeover in anticipation of an increase in visitors during the London 2012 Olympics.

New West End Company, Heart of London Business Alliance and Central London Business Improvement Districts are behind the £1 billion project. The programme will see the development of a casino, a number of brand new hotels and improved retail facilities for the area. In addition, the scheme will also see public areas in the West End benefit from the face-lift.

Main contractor for the prestigious project is SIAC. The first phase of the project was completed in September 2011 with the £22 million redevelopment of Leicester Square’s Hippodrome. The site is seen as a key investment in the project and has witnessed the Hippodrome transform into a leisure casino, complete with bars, entertainment and dining facilities.

Further investment is being injected into the West End’s hotel sector in order to accommodate the expected influx of visitors to the capital, estimated to reach an additional one million people. This includes a £200 million development project to bring the UK’s first W Hotel to Leicester Square.

W Hotel is a ten-storey 194-room hotel that has been designed by architects Jestico + Whiles. A significant design feature of the hotel will be its translucent glass ‘movie screen’ exterior that has been inspired by the glitz and glamour of Piccadilly Circus’ film and theatre culture.

Additional hotel developments include the £6.5 million refurbishment of St John’s Restaurant Hotel and the redevelopment of a new Grosvenor Hotel at 8 Balderton Street. The Grosvenor Hotel is being developed by Corbin & King Hotels Limited (CKHL) and will include 75 bedrooms, a spa, bar and restaurant. In total 820 brand new hotel beds will be ready and waiting when visitors arrive in London during summer 2012.

Heart of London Business Alliance CEO, Sarah Porter, said: “The investments in the hotel and leisure offering in London’s West End – typified by the innovative W Hotel development – will extend visitors’ Olympic experience.

“Visitors to London will enjoy a huge choice of world-class entertainment sites and accommodation from the world renowned Hippodrome, to the new boutique St John’s Hotel.”

To complete the transformation project, retailers and property owners in the West End are investing £430 million to improve retail units, whilst public areas are to receive £100 million via a union between Westminster City Council and Transport for London (TfL) and partners. As part of the retail improvements, the first M&M’s World store to trade outside of the US has already opened in Leicester Square.

Westminster City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Built Environment, Councillor Robert Davis, said: “The West End is undergoing a huge transformation which will ensure it acts as a showcase for the country and is fitting for its status as a world class destination.”

New West End Company CEO, Richard Dickinson, added: “London’s West End is the shop window to the world, and will be under particular scrutiny during the Olympic Games. These far-reaching multi-million pound refurbishments will ensure that the world’s most famous shopping district looks great when the eyes of the world are on London.”

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CSB Environmental Ltd

CSB Environmental Ltd provides surface cleaning services for a range of industrial and commercial sectors. The company has worked on projects ranging from brand new constructions through to town centre maintenance operations and previous clients include Balfour Beatty & Skanska.

On the Leicester Square Redevelopment project CBS Environment Ltd was involved in cleaning sections of Chinese granite that had been laid at the site. This required the use of mobile hot water pressure units and will be completed with a CYCLONE ride-on pressure washer that cleans and recycles water.

CSB Environmental Ltd Director Simon Bailey said: “We offer our clients a reliable and top quality service and with over 13 years of experience our clients know that if they have any cleaning needs they can come straight to us.”

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Clyde Gateway Development gets underway Phase One of the £14 million Clyde Gateway East Business Park project is now underway.

Work began at the end of January 2012 and will see the construction of three office buildings covering a total area of 57,500 sq ft on the Glasgow site. The buildings will offer modern, flexible business accommodation and will comprise three individual units measuring 22,200 sq ft, 19,200 sq ft and 16,100 sq ft respectively.

The units will be ideal for future tenants who want to rent a building that is suitable for both the production and distribution arms of their business.

Each unit will incorporate Smart Grid technology, which is a system that gathers and distributes the building’s energy to improve efficiency levels. The use of Smart Grid technology will allow prospective tenants to manage their energy usage more effectively and potentially provide tenants with the option to sell their self-generated power back to the grid.

SCOT Sheridan is the developer for Phase One, whilst RJ McLeod is the main contractor.

SCOT Sheridan Director, David MacLachlan, said: “We’ve already had a tremendous amount of interest in these speculatively-built units due to the combination of a superb business location with modern, flexible buildings that put the needs of today’s business firmly at the heart of their design.

“The impressive levels of interest to date confirm our strong

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belief in the potential of Clyde Gateway East, which looks set to attract muchneeded jobs to the area in the near future.”

Clyde Gateway East Business Park is owned

by UK business estate operator MEPC and urban regeneration company Clyde Gateway. It is the first major new-build industrial development scheme to be undertaken in Glasgow for over three years.

MPEC is providing funding for the entire project and once work is complete the 14.6 hectare site will support approximately 700 jobs and provide up to 430,000 sq ft of business space to let.

The site is conveniently located within close proximity of Junction 2a of the M74 motorway, just four miles from Glasgow city centre.

Clyde Gateway Executive Director of Development, Steve Pritchard, added: “This investment is another great demonstration of the willingness of the private sector to commit to Clyde Gateway.

“This particular location takes advantage of unrivalled road connections through its proximity to the recent completion of the M74 and is a huge vote of confidence by SCOT Sheridan and MEPC in our ongoing activities to fully transform the fortunes of our communities.”

Phase One of the Clyde Gateway Development is scheduled for completion in June 2012.

Construction News

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Gold star for Castle Primary School refurbishment project Castle Primary School in New Cumnock is currently undergoing a £9.6 million makeover to improve facilities for staff and pupils.

The school will be completely upgraded in order to ensure that the facility meets the educational requirements of the 21st century.

A new linked nursery is also being constructed to accompany the refurbished school.

The project is just one of a number of similar projects under East Ayrshire Council’s plans to regenerate New Cumnock.

Graham Short, Executive Director of Educational and Social Services, said: “The structure of the new nursery school now emerging beside the significant refurbishment of the Castle Primary School building is a very visible sign of our commitment to investing in our communities.

“The primary school has a rich history, but time has moved on and I am pleased that the building is being completely renovated. The school and nursery will be fully fitted and

equipped for learning in the 21st century and that is what children in New Cumnock deserve.”

Works began in August 2011 and has included structural alterations to the layout. An evacuation lift and a gym will also be constructed onsite.

Graham Short added: “Construction has made great progress in a very short time. This is an important new chapter - not only in the life of the school and nursery, but also of New Cumnock itself.

“I am very much looking forward to visiting in the future and seeing all the young people, their teachers and families enjoying an excellent new learning environment.”

Barr Construction Project Manager, Andy Hutchinson, added: “The redevelopment of the existing building is

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progressing well, with the high level roofing complete and internal wall linings in place throughout the upper floor.

“The new-build nursery frame is now in position, installed on steel piles since the old river bed lies below the new construction.

Building and modernisation works are on track for completion in late 2012 as programmed.”

David Livingstone Memorial Primary School The £6.6 million David Livingstone Memorial Primary School in Blantyre will launch a new generation of children who are eager to explore the exciting world of education.

As part of South Lanarkshire Council’s flagship school programme, the project will see the demolition of the existing Morven Avenue and the construction of a replacement building that will incorporate nursery accommodation on the site.

Accommodation will be provided mainly over one floor and will include thirteen classrooms, a gym/assembly hall, staffrooms, cloakrooms and toilets. In addition, there will be a kitchen and office and storage facilities.

A David Livingstone Additional Support Needs (ASN) base will also be incorporated as part of the new build, which will incorporate playground areas and a MUGA pitch located from the central courtyard out towards Morven Avenue and beyond.

The main vehicle access for staff and services has continued to be taken from Lime Grove, whilst there is also additional access for cars and pedestrians and a drop-off area and visitor car park.

Work began onsite in April 2011 and is expected to be completed in June 2012.

South Lanarkshire Council’s £850 million flagship programme will refurbish or rebuild every primary school in the area by 2016.

Although there were fears that the project would have to be put on hold, an amended programme was approved at the Council’s Executive Committee on 26th January 2011.

In total, 50 brand new primaries and 3 refurbishments have been completed and around 50 percent of school children are now enjoying school life in modern and bright surroundings.

A further 12 establishments are currently under construction, including Milton Primary School, Newfield Primary School and High Mill Primary School.

Councillor Eddie McAvoy said: “It is a busy time for education in South Lanarkshire and the fact that all of our Primary Schools will be rebuilt or refurbished over the next few years – despite the tough financial climate – is testament to the importance we place on our young people.

“These new and refurbished buildings provide ideal environ-

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S c otl a n d ments for our young people to prosper and grow. The buildings will inspire youngsters to learn and will give teachers the very best modern surroundings in which to teach.

“The first-class sports facilities at these schools will benefit local areas too, as they can be used by the public in the evenings and weekends and will see schools regain their focus at the hub of local communities.”

Councillor Graham Scott, Chair of the Planning Committee, added: “The Council is currently in the process of reviewing the Primary Schools Modernisation Programme to carefully consider how best to deliver the project, given the tough financial climate we face.

“Nonetheless, today’s decision marks another step forward in a project which has already put more than 10,000 primary

school aged children – more than 40% – in state-of-the-art learning environments, and is to be warmly welcomed.”

About David Livingstone David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. Born in Blantyre, he was one of the first Europeans to explore the central and southern parts of Africa and is credited with the discovery of Lake Nyasa in 1858, the Chilwa River in 1859 and the Nile River.

As a result of his travels, David Livingstone learned more about African customs, geography and the slave trade than any other European in history. His expeditions helped to teach the world about the continent of Africa.

£25 million water improvements bring clear benefits to Scottish Loch Scottish Water’s £25 million Loch Ryan project is now at an advanced stage, bringing a modern waste water treatment system to Stranraer, Leswalt, Kirkcolm and Cairnryan.

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

The project involves the demolition of the existing waste water treatment works (WWTW) at Port Rodie and the retirement of three WWTWs at Cairnryan, Leswalt and Kirkcolm. New facilities replacing the old treatment works include a new pumping station being built at Port Rodie which serves Stranraer. From Port Rodie, the flows will be pumped to another new treatment works being constructed at Smithy Hill near Leswalt, after which the flows will undergo secondary biological treatment before being pumped to Larbrax Bay to be discharged into the Irish Sea. The secondary treatment works includes an inlet works with screening, screening handling and grit removal processes,

primary settlement; a plastic structured media biofilter; sludge management comprising holding tanks and thickening processes; final settlement facilities and a pumping station to discharge treated effluent.

Stephen Hepburn, Construction Manager, Scottish Water, said: “This is great news for the area. After years of studies and surveys to assess the best option for an extremely difficult civil engineering challenge, Scottish Water is removing the permanent discharge of waste water to Loch Ryan.

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

Work at the Port Rodie site to construct a new pumping station is entering the next phase now that the large excavation for the station is completed and covered.

The pumping station building will be constructed on top of this and has been designed in consultation with local planners to be in harmony with other buildings in the area.

Work on the new treatment works near Leswalt is also well

advanced. Major excavation works have been completed for the new tanks which will process the waste water from Stranraer and the surrounding villages of Kirkcolm and Leswalt.

Construction of the new Cairnryan Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), a joint project with Stena, was completed in October. The original plan was to construct a pumping station to carry Cairnryan’s waste to the new Loch Ryan WWTW, but the ongoing energy costs and maintenance made the option of a shared facility with the ferry terminal a preferable option.

This facility will offer a three-tier level of water treatment that will protect and enhance the natural environment in Loch Ryan.

The next stage of this improvement programme involves laying a new section of sewer from the Pumping Station at Port Rodie to the new works at Smithy Hill near Leswalt.

Stephen Hepburn said: “For this work we will be using the traditional open trench method which involves excavating the entire length of the sewer from ground level to the full depth required.

“In order to ensure overall safety temporary road restrictions will need to be put in place. This will include local control by temporary traffic lights, restriction of on-street parking and in some areas temporary road closures.

“Part of this work is located on Seabank Road, Sheuchan Street, Foreland Place, Leswalt High Road and Spring Bank Road.”

Stephen continued: “Our Loch Ryan project will provide the first ever modern waste water treatment solution for Stranraer and surrounding villages.”

The project is expected to be complete in late 2012.

Huber Technology For over 20 years Huber Technology has provided state-of-theart stainless steel equipment for municipal and industrial waste water treatment. This includes supplying water companies with inlet screens, sludge screens, thickeners and dewaterers and

tertiary treatment along with a comprehensive line of stainless steel equipment.

Huber Technology works closely with all of the major water companies, as well as their main contractors and consultants.

Along with the current longstanding frameworks that they hold with the water companies, Huber Technology has just been awarded a further two frameworks for the supply of sludge thickeners and dewaterers.

On Loch Ryan Huber Technology UK supplied sludge thickeners and control panels to suit the requirements of Scottish Water.

Huber Technology Marketing Co-ordinator Hannah Ryan, said: “We have a great reputation within the industry and supply high quality products for all of the industry’s water treatment needs.

“It’s very important for us to be involved in projects like Loch Ryan. We have a large range of products suitable for a variety of applications and we have a lot of experience in working with Scottish Water and the water industry.”

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Built for the community, by the community A very special new community centre is under construction in Lochgelly, Fife.

The new Benarty Community Centre is more than just a community centre. The new facility will incorporate: a library, council services office space, a 200-capacity function suite with bar facilities and a sports hall and gymnasium with shower and changing facilities. In addition, there will be a youth room, child care and crèche facilities, exhibition space, a café and a local police centre.

Joe McGuinness, Fife Council, explained: “It’s a community centre and more. The council are looking at reducing the number of buildings that they occupy and investing in buildings where need is greatest. The new Nen Benarty Community Centre will replace three existing community centres, a separate library, a local council office and a police station.

“All council services will move into the new centre, which will also provide all of the activities you would expect from a community centre, such as adult learning classes, youth activities, leisure and recreational opportunities and out of school childcare provision.”

The £3.81 million building has been designed in consultation with the existing members of the community centre. The project has involved rigorous consultation with members of the community, along with existing users of the facilities and the staff that will move into the new centre.

The single-storey building features a steel frame with timber panel infill and a masonry external skin. The roof is a combination of full pitched standing seam roofing, sheet roofing and flat roof membrane, whilst the floors consist of concrete beams and block work and feature under-floor heating. The external finish is a mixture of facing brick and facing block work with smooth rendered panels and a selection of contrasting textures. The centre has been built to BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standards.

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Exterior landscaping will include car parking space, shrub beds and tree planting. In addition, the existing football pitch has been preserved and Fife Council plans to develop outdoor sports facilities at a later date.

Joe McGuinness said: “This is a community-led project and it is the first community centre to be built by Fife Council in 30 years. It is a radical project in the sense of what we’re trying to do, which is make all of the local services available and accessible under one roof.

“We have been working with the local community throughout the project and have developed a real partnership, with the community taking the lead all of the way. What we’re creating is something that the community already has ownership of.”

Construction began in summer 2011 and is expected to be complete in July 2012.

Construction News

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£86 million Elgin flood alleviation scheme will protect hundreds of homes Work is well underway on Elgin’s long-awaited flood alleviation scheme, which will prevent any recurrence of the flooding that caused devastation across the region in 1997, 2002 and 2009.

The Elgin scheme will alleviate flooding by recreating the flood plain and constructing flood defences. Works will involve creating a sustainable flood corridor along the River Lossie, which will allow high flows of water to pass through the town using a combination of embankments, walls and lowered flood plains.

The scheme joins on the back of successful flood schemes in Llhanbryde, Forres and Rothes.

Construction began onsite in April 2011 and has seen demolition work take place in the Grampian Road and Kingsmills areas, along with the diversion of services and utilities and the construction of retaining walls at Lesmurdie and Chanonry.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the banks or the river at Pansport to mark the start of the project and was attended by Moray councillors, representatives of main

contractors Morrison Construction and the council’s flood scheme consultants, Royal Haskoning.

Moray Council Convenor, George McIntyre, said: “The people of Elgin, and particularly those most at risk of flooding from the river, have been extremely patient.

“Some have suffered damage to their homes and businesses three times in the space of 12 years. Despite this, they have remained resilient.

“Today represents an important milestone in the development of this scheme and we all look forward to work progressing well and to the completion of a project that will remove the ever-present threat of flooding for the people of Elgin.”

Councillor John Russel, chairman of the council’s flood alleviation subcommittee, said: “We have confidence that we can deliver, on time and on budget, an effective flood

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alleviation scheme that will transform Elgin socially, economically and environmentally.

“It is important to keep in mind the human misery that flooding, and the fear of flooding, can cause. Every day that can be saved in delivering this scheme will be one less day of worry for many people.”

The Elgin flood alleviation scheme is scheduled for completion in May 2015.

Glencorse project is flowing smoothly The new Glencorse Water Treatment Works will soon deliver clear, fresh drinking water to approximately 450,000 customers across Edinburgh and parts of Midlothian.

Minister for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “I am delighted that the residents of Edinburgh and visitors to the city will soon be enjoying some of the highest quality drinking water in Scotland from this state-of-the-art treatment works at Glencorse. The new works uses the latest technology and will be more resilient and better able to cope with changes in the quality of the source water.

“I have been impressed by the efforts made by Scottish Water to minimise disruption to local residents during construction.

Great care has also been taken to ensure the works will blend in with the surroundings and have as small a carbon footprint as possible. This is truly a treatment works for the 21st century.”

The state-of-the-art Glencorse Water Treatment Works will replace Scottish Water’s ageing facilities at Fairmilehead and Alnwickhill, which have now reached the end of their operational lives.

A site in the Pentland Hills was selected following the largest consultation exercise in Scottish Water’s history. The works have been carefully designed to have a minimal impact on the landscape and measures have included modifying the route in order to avoid sites of archaeological interest and the habitats of protected species such as badgers. In addition, Scottish Water has minimised tree-felling and damage to hedgerows by taking the pipeline through existing gaps or areas of sparse vegetation ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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S c otl a n d The route of the pipeline has taken several important issues into account. Water flows through the pipes using gravity, which has avoided the need for expensive pumping. In addition, a third of the energy required will be supplied by a sustainable onsite hydro turbine.

Disruption to the public has been another key factor and this has been minimised by sighting the pipeline in agricultural land and tunnelling it under the City of Edinburgh Bypass.

The construction project has already won a number of awards, including the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management’s prestigious ‘World of Difference’ prize.

Not only will Glencorse supply clearer, fresher drinking water to thousands of local families, but it will also quench the thirst of visitors to Scotland’s capital – in the process supporting the growth and development of the city and benefiting Edinburgh’s £2 billion hotel and tourism industry.

Main contractor for the project is Black & Veatch. where possible.

Under the project, 15 kilometres of new pipelines will be installed. The twin pipeline will take the fresh drinking water from Glencorse into the existing water supply network in Edinburgh.

Interestingly, a mobile pipe production plant was set up adjacent to the pipeline working area. This unique approach meant that the pipes could be manufactured at significantly longer lengths – up to 22 metres, as opposed to the maximum length of 13.5 metres that can be transported by a standard lorry. Longer pipes will ultimately lead to fewer joints and a significant reduction in the construction period.

The addition of the plant also reduced lorry journeys to and from the site by up to 75 percent, which has helped to minimise the carbon footprint of the project.

CEEQUAL praises Glencourse project Scottish Water’s flagship project has picked up an impressive CEEQUAL rating.

CEEQUAL is the assessment and awards scheme for improving sustainability in civil engineering and aims to demonstrate the commitment within the civil engineering industry to put environmental quality and community support at the heart of a project.

Since the CEEQUAL scheme was launched in 2003, more than 60 final and 20 interim CEEQUAL Awards have been given. Glencorse is amongst the most impressive, having been awarded a rating of 84% - well above the minimum for the top banding.

Whiskey bond conversion is a work of art A former whiskey bond is set to become the new home of the Glasgow Sculpture Studio.

The 100,000 sq ft, seven-storey building will be transformed from warehouse space into a gallery, creative workshop facilities and affordable office space. Also included in the £2.5 million scheme is a waterside sculpture space that will showcase the Studio’s work.

The exciting new space will join the growing creative neighbourhood around Glasgow’s canal, including the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Scottish Opera and The Glue Factory.

David Watt, Director of Glasgow Sculpture Studio, said: “The move to Speirs Locks marks an important development for Glasgow Sculpture Studios. As well as being a permanent base, the new premises will enable us to increase the number of studios and improve our production facilities.

“The new galleries, which will be launched with our 2012 GI Show, will offer greater flexibility for presentation of work created at GSS, and the improved education facilities will enable us to expand this important aspect of our work.”

Construction works began in August 2011 and have included the installation of new windows, the creation of a new lift and stairwell and the installation of a new roof membrane. Internal works have included the installation of tile and ceramic flooring and the renewal of the existing mechanical and electrical services.

Architect for the project is Five Architecture and the main contractor is Luddon Construction.

Douglas Currie, Luddon Construction, said: “The challenge was to form a stairwell and lift within an existing structure, which has posed some difficulties. However, working with an existing building is always interesting and this has been an exciting project to work on.

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“This was in no small part due to the excellent relationship that we have formed with the client, who has been a pleasure to work with. If any issues have arisen during the project, they have been dealt with as a team and resolved quickly – which has in turn facilitated the steady progression of the construction phase.”

The new Glasgow Sculpture Studio is set to open in May 2012.

Baker Decor Ltd Baker Decor Ltd is a painting and decorating contractor that has operated since 2005. The company has a wide client base of commercial builders, social landlords and housing associations, hotel and entertainment venues and also domestic customers.

For the Bond Building project, Baker Decor Ltd delivered all aspects of painting and decorating works throughout the building.

A spokesperson for Baker Decor Ltd said: “We pride ourselves on our quality workmanship and high lev-

els of customer service and customer focus. We offer a personal customer experience regardless of the size of the contract.

“We at Baker Decor Ltd have welcomed the challenge of being involved in the rebirth of the Bond Building. We have worked

closely with Luddon Construction to deliver all aspects of painting, decoration and Ames Taping works.

“This has been a very exciting project that we are very proud to be a part of.”

Restoring Dundas Castle Phase Two of an £800,000 project to restore the courtyard at Dundas Castle in Edinburgh is well underway.

The Grade A-listed, 19th century Victorian castle is currently undergoing the second phase of restoration work, which will comprise the resurfacing of the courtyard, the construction of an artist’s studio and the redevelopment of two en-suite bedrooms and associated areas.

Electric, water and drainage services are also receiving an overhaul, whilst a brand new energy saving heating system is also being installed.

Restoration work will take place in three phases. Phase One was completed in December 2011 and involved major restorations to the structure of the building. Additional repair works were completed for the roof and chimneys, whilst windows were also replaced. Phase Three will commence in spring 2013 and will concentrate on the completion of 4 additional en-suite bedrooms.

The third phase will conclude the restoration work and is scheduled for completion in autumn 2013.

KJ Archibald Joinery is the main contractor for Phase Two and Three of the project, whilst the main contractor for Phase

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S c otl a n d One was Hadden Construction Ltd. The architect is Nicholas Groves-Raines Architects Ltd. Dundas Castle is an important historic building that is used for weddings and corporate events in Edinburgh. In 1992 a major programme of restoration works were set in motion to repair and improve the site. The restoration of the courtyard marks the final stage in the programme and once this is complete, Dundas Castle will be restored to its former glory.

Dundas Castle Estate Factor, David Seed, said: “Last year we completed all of the stonework repairs and replaced the roofing on the courtyard at Dundas Castle. We are now bringing together the next stage of the restoration works.

The roof is back on and we’ve corrected several problems that had occurred over time. To see it all coming together makes a huge difference for everyone involved with the project.

“We’re working with Historic Scotland to ensure that we preserve the building, and a lot of care and attention has gone into this project. We’re also modernising the way the castle is heated and we are even looking at extending this heating system to eight cottages located around the site.

“A lot of work has taken place over the last 20 years and when the castle is finally finished it will be an amazing achievement.”

KJ Archibald Joinery Company Owner, Ken Archibald, said: “To be involved in a project like this is an absolute privilege.

There’s a great bunch of people involved with the restoration work at Dundas Castle and it really has been a team effort all the way.

“When I become involved with a project like this I like to look at the long-term value of the work we’re conducting so that we are not just repairing the building, we’re maintaining the life of the castle for generations to come.”

East End project is on the route to success The new East End Regeneration Route in Glasgow will open up greater access to the East End by creating a route from the M74 in the south to the M8/M80 in the north.

Main contractors for Phase Two of the project are Farrans and IH Brown.

The route has been constructed in sections and works have included the construction of a four-lane single carriageway distributor road with contiguous footways, 10 new junctions and the refurbishment of existing roads.

Additional works include the reconfiguration of Rutherglen Bridge, the alteration and relining of carriage and roadway markings, and landscaping and mitigation works. Earthworks have included the treatment of contaminated land and the demolition of vacant properties.

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Phase Two of the East End Regeneration Route began in March 2010 and runs from Rutherglen Bridge to the Glasgow/ Motherwell railway line at Dalmarnock Road before running due north to London Road and passing through Calmachie to connect with the Parkhead Bypass at the Gallowgate junction.

Planning permission for the road was granted in 2005, following a public consultation exercise that included the provision of plans in council premises, local facilities and libraries.

Benefits of the £90 million scheme include: the regeneration of derelict land, improved pedestrian routes, improved vehicular access and parking to the Forge shopping centre, a reduction in traffic congestion and improved road safety.

It is hoped that the project will encourage economic regeneration in the East End by attracting new businesses and creating greater employment opportunities for the local people.

Phase Two is expected to be delivered in the spring of 2012, whilst Phase Three will be procured after the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Construction News

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Building a future for the children of East Ayrshire A brand new state-of-the-art primary school is under construction in Kilmarnock.

Gargieston Primary School and Nursery is being built on Dundonald Road and will replace the former Gargieston learning facility on the site. Construction began on the multi-million pound project in May 2011 and the project is currently on target to reach completion in summer 2012, just in time for the new term in August.

Main contractor Dawn Construction has already completed extensive grouting works and is now installing windows and external doors. The next stage of the project will see the installation of sheeting for internal walls and partitions.

External landscaping will include provision for outdoor activities.

East Ayrshire Council Leader, Douglas Reid, said: “The Gargieston project is proceeding according to programme and the contractors are working well with both the council and the community to deliver a successful outcome.

“We will see a well planned and sustainable modern school, with facilities that address all of the issues that were of concern to the Gargieston School community in the previous building. The East Ayrshire project is jointly funded by the Scottish Government with the Scottish Futures Trust as advisors and facilitators, and it is the first such project of its kind for the council.”

During the construction process, pupils have been moved to nearby sites at Grange Campus, Shortlees, Bellfield and Crosshouse in order to continue their schooling. However, students have been kept up to date with the construction programme and a number of pupils and their head teacher have visited the site to see how work is progressing. Two pupils were also involved in the burial of an on-site time capsule that contained mementos from the former school.

The Council’s Lifelong Learning Spokesperson, Councillor Hugh Ross, said: “I wish to pay particular tribute to Gargieston staff, parents and children for their support.

This would not have been possible without the very positive attitude that has prevailed throughout this project and it won’t be long now till they are able to enjoy their new

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school!”

Dawn Group Chairman, Alan Macdonald, added: “The construction of this multi-million pound state-of-the-art school is coming along well and the team is on budget and on schedule to complete it this summer, as planned.

“With our reputation as one of Scotland’s leading independent construction specialists, we are proud to be involved in delivering this brand new facility alongside our partners. This will provide a fantastic learning hub for those who will attend over the years.”

In addition to working on the Gargieston Primary School and Nursery Class project, Dawn Construction has worked on a number of other projects in Ayrshire, including new student accommodation for the University of the West of Scotland and the North Ayrshire Community Hospital in Irvine.

Improving Scotland’s water

Upgrade operations are currently underway at three waste water treatment works (WWTW) in Scotland to improve services for over a million people.

Scottish Water is investing more than £15 million into projects at Shieldhall and Dalmarnock WWTWs in Glasgow and Laighpark WWTW in Paisley. The upgrade works include a major overhaul of site infrastructure in order to improve operability and to ensure that the facilities continue to protect the River Clyde.

Scottish Water’s investment is being divided between each of the three sites, with £6.5 million being spent on Shieldhall WWTW and £5.5 million at Laighpark WWTW. The work at Shieldhall WWTW is largely focused on ensuring that the water discharge operation continues to meet ministerial and Scottish Environment Protection Agency requirements.

This work includes the replacements of screens, the refurbishment of the sludge pumping station’s main switchboard and the replacement and refurbishment of pumps.

Meanwhile, work at Laighpark WWTW will see the provision of new screening alongside additional improvements to associated equipment.

The remaining £3 million of the investment is being split at Dalmarnock WWTW. A £1 million operation is taking place to upgrade mechanical works including screens and hydraulic pump valve actuators, whilst £2 million is being spent on tackling an odour issue at the facility.

MWH Treatment Limited is the main contractor for each of the projects and is working on behalf of Scottish Water Solutions, a joint venture partnership between Scottish Water and a number of the world’s leading construction, engineering and water

companies.

Executive Member for Development and Regeneration Services at Glasgow City Council, Bailie Liz Cameron, said: “Scottish Water is investing a significant amount in improvements to these key waste water treatment works that serve so many people in Glasgow. I think that many of us take these facilities for granted but they provide such an important service for every one of us – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Councillor Bailie Barker, Glasgow City Council, added: “Glasgow councillors take a keen interest in these facilities and we are delighted to hear that this new investment will help protect and enhance the natural environment on the River Clyde. ”Historically our city council forefathers have had a long association with the provision of water and waste water services to Glasgow’s citizens and we are delighted to see what Scottish Water is doing to improve key waste water treatment works in the 21st century.”

Over the next five years, Scottish Water Solutions and its delivery partners will complete hundreds of regeneration projects across Scotland as part of a £2.5 billion investment programme

by Scottish Water. The work being undertaken at Shieldhall, Laighpark and Dalmarnock will benefit over a million residents living in Paisley, Newton Mearns, Renfrew and the north east and south areas of Glasgow.

Scottish Water’s Waste Water Operations Manager, Steven Fraser, said: “Scottish Water is delighted to have started this major investment in the capital maintenance of three of the most important waste water treatment works in the Glasgow and Paisley area.

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“Shieldhall, Dalmarnock and Laighpark WWTWs play a very important role in providing waste water services to about a million customers in parts of the Glasgow area and this new investment will ensure that they continue to provide a first-class service and help to protect the natural environment of the River Clyde for years to come.

“We are committed to supporting the regeneration of the Glasgow area and to improving our infrastructure in the city as it prepares for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and other major events.”

The Shieldhall, Laighpark and Dalmarnock projects are due to be completed by summer 2013.

MWH Treatment Limited MWH Treatment Limited is part of the MWH organisation, a global leader in wet infrastructure operations. The company has been in operation for over a hundred years and provides expert services for water environment engineering, water systems investment and management, along with wastewater products.

MWH Treatment Limited pride themselves on their comprehensive array of in-house services to treat and control all grades of water and wastewater, whilst the company works closely with all of their clients to achieve high quality standards throughout all of their operations.

Historic building is restored An exciting project to restore the stunning Penicuik House in Midlothian has entered its fifth year.

Built in 1761, the Category A listed building has survived as a ruin since it was destroyed by a major fire in 1888. Under the £3.3 million project, the building will be restored to its former glory and made available for the public to enjoy.

The project is being carried out by the Penicuik House Preservation Trust, in partnership with the Scottish Lime Centre Trust. Funding has been provided by a wide range of sources, including: the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, The Architectural Heritage Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage and LEADER European funding.

Main contractor for the project is Graeme Brown Stonemasonry Ltd and the architect is Simpson and Brown Architects.

Consolidation work includes masonry repairs, stone replacement, lime pointing work and wall head capping with a mixture of turf and lead toppings. Interestingly some remains of the interior finishes survived the ruin, including small patches of traditional lath and plaster and some sash and case window frames.

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Where possible, these will be conserved.

Additional works include improvements to the path network of the Penicuik Estate and the creation of a new car park for visitors that features direct access for disabled badge holders.

In addition, a new training centre was created within the ruin for the delivery of traditional skills training and the educational programme.

Work has been carried out in phases and began with the creation of the training centre. As most of the work involves stone consolidation

using traditional lime, the site is closed during the winter months because lime mortars cannot be used below certain temperatures.

One of the most important aspects of the project is the training element, which has been designed to encourage traditional building skills. The project has encouraged stonemasonry apprenticeships and adult trainee opportunities, both of which have served to increase the pool of available skills and create opportunities for employment.

The Scottish Lime Centre Trust has provided the training and education element of the project and their expertise in traditional building repair, particularly with regards to stone and traditional mortars, has proved invaluable to the project.

The training and education programme has enabled prearranged visits to the ruin for a wide range of stakeholders – including primary schools and community groups – and over 600 people each year will have the opportunity to take part in the training activities on site.

Penicuik House sits within an important and early example of a designed landscape and features a range of follies, bridges and other historically important structures. It is therefore hoped that the project may continue with a second stage that will undertake repair work for these structures.

Although the Clerk family (who built Penicuik House) gave the ruin over to the ownership of the Penicuik House Preservation Trust, the family continue to live on the estate and have been extremely supportive throughout the project. Indeed, the family committed an endowment of ÂŁ2.5 million to the project, the interest of which will be used to fund the consolidation works.

Once this is completed, it will be used for future repair and maintenance works as required.

The Penicuik House project is scheduled for completion in 2013.

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Burying waste with Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd An exciting project will see the safe disposal of 175,000 cubic metres of low-level radioactive waste.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is investing £100 million to clear the redundant Dounreay site of the potentially harmful waste. It is the first facility of its type to be built in Scotland since the 1950s and is the first ever to be granted planning permission.

Stewart Henderson, Senior Project Manager at Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd, said: “Cleaning out and knocking down a redundant site like Dounreay generates significant quantities of radioactive waste.

This facility provides us with a safe disposal site for much of that waste.

“It is the culmination of a decade of work to identify the best option for looking after this type of waste and obtain the necessary planning consents.

“Nuclear decommissioning worldwide is a huge potential market for British expertise. The profile of this project provides UK companies with a platform to showcase how sound engineering combined with competitive pricing is delivering real benefits for nuclear cleanup in this country.”

Construction works will include the creation of a series of underground concrete vaults that will receive up to 240,000 tonnes of low-level radioactive waste from the demolition of the site.

Each vault is 20 metres deep and covers an area the size of a football pitch. An agricultural-style building will be constructed over each vault to provide cover during the operation, before each is backfilled with grout and sealed.

Subject to regulatory consent, the first boxes of waste will be

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moved into the vaults in 2014. The last disposals are expected to occur within the next decade.

Following capping, the waste will be monitored for up to 300 years, by which time 95 percent of the radioactivity will have decayed.

Nigel Lowe, NDA’s Director for Dounreay, said: “Dounreay was at the forefront of the country’s reactor programme when it was first built. Today, as the site opens a new chapter in its history, it is again at the forefront – as exemplified by this low-level waste construction project.

“This facility will ensure the material is safely and securely looked after well into the future, utilising modern standards and technologies.”

Low-level waste typically consists of debris such as metal, plastics and rags that have been contaminated during the clean-out and demolition of facilities where radioactive materials have been handled. Although it represents 80 percent of all of the radioactive waste generated by Dounreay’s demolition, it represents less than 0.001 percent of the radiological hazard material.

Main Contractor for the project is GRAHAM Construction.

Leo Martin, Director of GRAHAM, said: “The decommissioning of Dounreay is a massive undertaking and we are tremendously proud to be playing our part in making it safe for future generations.

“GRAHAM has gained a wealth of civil engineering experience during its long history and we will be bringing all of this knowledge to bear on this project to construct the underground vaults at Dounreay.

“We look forward to delivering this project in a way which benefits both the client and the local community.”

Camster Wind Farm takes off Phase Two of the Camster Wind Farm project is currently underway.

Camster Wind Farm is a 25 turbine wind farm that is under construction in Caithness. The project has been funded by E.ON, whilst Morrison Construction Limited is the main contractor and Murform is completing the formworks, concrete and reinforcement works for the project.

Once operational, Camster Wind Farm will be capable of generating up to 50MW of electricity to provide power for up to 35,000 homes.

Work began on Phase Two in January 2012, following the completion of Phase One in late 2011. Phase One involved the removal of trees and vegetation from the site, along with a number of additional site preparation works.

Phase Two comprises the construction of a temporary compound, the installation of turbine foundations and the erection of a permanent met mast. The first turbine is set to arrive on site in September 2012 and a grid connection is scheduled for October 2012.

Also included in the phase is the construction of seven kilometres of roads and pathways to improve access to the site.

E.ON Construction Project Manager, Dean Guy, said: “This is a major development for us. The Camster site is an excellent place for a wind farm and this next stage of construction marks a significant step towards completing the project, which we hope will be fully operational by mid 2013.”

E.ON is a leading power and gas supplier within the UK and is part of the E.ON Group, one of the largest investor owned power and gas companies in the world. Throughout the operational lifetime of Camster Wind Farm, E.ON will also invest £150,000 per year in community benefit funds to support local projects in Caithness.

Camster Wind Farm is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Murform Limited Murform Limited is a family run company, specialising in formwork, rebar and concrete, with offices located in England, Scotland and Ireland.

We are delighted to be subcontractors for Morrison Construction, constructing 25 reinforced concrete turbine bases on the Camster Wind Farm.

Murform is currently working on various projects throughout the United Kingdom. We have the experience and resources necessary to undertake formwork projects of any size or nature. Our scope of work includes: • Bridge structures, • Water treatment plants, • Water towers and reservoirs, • Concrete frame buildings, • Wind Farm FRC works, • Pharmaceutical plants, • Coastal protection and marine works, • Basements and builders works.

Murform has been awarded OHSAS 18001:2007 certification and ensures health and safety is a priority on every project. We operate under an ISO 9001:2008 certified quality management system with all contracts audited in line with the standards’ requirements.

We are committed to improving our environmental impact and our environmental management system is certified under ISO 14001:2004.

Murform’s directors take an active role in the delivery of every project. Our flexible, agile management structure, professional approach, and conscientious staff ensure a positive working relationship with all our clients, where we consistently meet their requirements. At Murform, we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations and become a value adding asset to their business.

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Deaf Village will bring hope back to the deaf and hard-of-hearing An innovative project in Cabra, Dublin will transform the lives of deaf people in Ireland.

The £14 million Deaf Village Project is a collaborative community development initiative that has been promoted by the Catholic Institute for Deaf People (CIDP) in partnership with the main deaf organisations in Ireland.

The Catholic Institute for Deaf People was established in 1845 to provide educational, residential and pastoral care for deaf children. The objective of the Deaf Village project is to create an environment where deaf people can relax, play and worship in a centre that will support the interaction of deaf people as a community and within the wider Irish society.

Major deaf organisations that are involved with the project include: DeafHear.ie, Irish Deaf Society, Deaf Sports Association and the Irish Deaf Youth Association amongst others.

Included in the scheme is the construction of a new administration centre and Lifelong Learning centre and the provision of social amenities. In addition, there will be a sports centre with a 25-metre swimming pool, children’s pool, gym, sports hall and all-weather football pitches.

All of the buildings have been designed with the need to communicate in mind. As a result, the buildings are spacious and feature minimum blockage in order to enable sign language usage.

Liam O’Dwyer, Catholic Institute for Deaf People, said: “This project will ensure that the deaf community in Ireland has a place of its own, along with a community and social centre. It is very much a community development project, and one that once complete will be managed by the deaf community itself.”

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The Deaf Village project will bring considerable benefits to the deaf community through access to new sports, recreational and community amenities. Although the facilities have been designed with the deaf community in mind, the Village will also share the amenities with the local community.

Phase One of the project comprises the construction of the village, whilst Phase Two and Three will include the amalgamation of the deaf schools and the relocation of St Josephs Home for the elderly deaf from Stillorgan.

Main contractor for the project is John Sisk & Son and the architect is O’Mahony Pike Architects.

The project is scheduled for completion in July 2012.

Wa l e s

Restoring The Grove Since 2007 extensive restoration works have taken place at The Grove in Pembrokeshire in order to transform and improve dilapidated areas of the site.

The Grove is located in the heart of the Welsh countryside and comprises a small luxury hotel, an award-winning restaurant and four stone cottages. The site is surrounded by a beautiful landscape and provides the ideal getaway for guests and holiday makers.

Prior to the work taking place, The Grove was a derelict country house that had been left empty for 8 years. The grounds at The Grove had overgrown, rot had set in around the windows and doors and the roof was in desperate need of repair. Outbuildings were also in need of restoration.

In order to return The Grove back to its former glory an ongoing scheme of restoration works was implemented which included extensive internal and external redevelopment works alongside major landscaping.

One of the most recent works on the site has been the construction of an extension to the main hotel. The extension has been built to provide eight additional en-suite guest rooms and features concrete retaining walls, Sedum roofing and brickwork cladding. Improvements have also been made to the kitchen and dining areas to improve facilities, whilst the lounge, bar and associated storage areas have also been overhauled.

Additional work to the main hotel building has included the restoration of numerous fireplaces, extensive decoration works and the installation of new paving to the front terrace. Thirtyfive reclaimed radiators have also been repainted and plumbing works have taken place in the building.

Outside of the hotel, improvement works have taken place on the outbuildings, including the redevelopment of the Longhouse building. Excessive vegetation was stripped back from the Longhouse and the roof and sections of wall were removed before the structure was rebuilt.

Throughout the ongoing redevelopment of the site The Grove is the project manager and main contractor, whilst Acanthus Holden is the architect. The Grove is also working with many local tradesmen and craftwork specialists.

The Grove is one of Wales’ most luxurious venues and is set within 26 acres of grounds. The site combines a relaxing and welcoming stay with high-quality dining and is the ideal venue for weddings, meetings and those wanting to escape the rat race.

The hotel boasts 12 stunning guest rooms within the main building, whilst four traditional stone cottages located within the grounds also offer a place for guests to rest their heads. Each cottage features traditional oak beams, wood burning stoves and country oak kitchens and all of them are furnished with local artwork and luxurious Zoffany and Melin Tregwynt furnishings.

Bathrooms include cast-iron baths and underfloor heating.

The Grove’s restaurant – the Orangery – is listed in the Good Food Guide 2011 and has won a number of national awards, including AA Rosettes and Wales Tourism Awards. The restaurant serves modern British food sourced locally from fresh produce and provides guests with an intimate dining experience. The Orangery is surrounded by wildflower meadows and offers a magnificent picturesque setting.

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Stewart & Hutchinson sees the light Stained glass and leadlight specialist Stewart & Hutchinson has restored a historic piece of artwork to its former glory.

The company painstakingly restored four irreplaceable stained glass windows at St Cardoc’s Church in Glynneath after two of the window lancets were identified as requiring urgent attention.

The work was completed in January 2012 and has helped to revitalise an important area of the church.

Each window lancet measures 9ft high and contains two medieval stained glass panes surrounded by a section of Victorian glass. The medieval panes were painted in the 16th century and feature images of abbots, monks and saints. Previous attempts to repair the windows had left the historic glazing showing visible signs of wear and tear so specialised restoration work was therefore required to protect the artwork from further damage.

Stewart & Hutchinson removed all of the glass panels from the lancet in order to enable conservator Bryony Benwell to clean, repair and restore the medieval panes. To ensure that the hard work will continue to payoff for future generations, Stewart & Hutchinson then employed a technique called Isothermal Glazing to help preserve the life of the windows.

The Isothermal Glazing process involved repositioning the medieval panes so that they sit 30mm in front of the background glass. A sheet of plain glass was then placed in front of the medieval panes to create a space within the lancets where air could comfortably circulate around the frame. The external face of the medieval glass is now protected from acid erosion and other external damage.

Stewart & Hutchinson Managing Director, Gordon Stewart, said: “Once we had completed the project I really couldn’t believe the difference that we had made by restoring the windows.

“This was the perfect job and we couldn’t have completed it any better if we had tried. The work was finished on time, within budget and to a very professional standard.

“At Stewart & Hutchinson we really enjoy being involved in work of this nature. Projects like this come up only once every so often, so we were very lucky to be a part of the restoration of such an important piece of history.”

Ensuring a bright future for the past English Heritage exists to protect and promote England’s spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood.

English Heritage is the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. Officially known as the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, English Heritage is an executive non-departmental public body that is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The powers and responsibilities of English Heritage are set out in the National Heritage Act (1983) and today they report

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to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Although sponsored by DCMS, English Heritage works with a range of government departments, notably CLG and Defra, to help realise the potential of the historic environment.

English Heritage is funded in part by the government, and is also part funded from revenue earned from their historic properties and other services. In 2008/09 the organisation’s public funding was worth £132.7m, and income from other sources was £48.1m.

English Heritage works in partnership with central government departments, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the private sector to conserve and enhance the historic environment, broaden public access to the heritage and increase people’s understanding of the past.

The organisation meets these responsibilities by: acting as a national and international champion for the heritage; giving grants for the conservation of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; maintaining registers of England’s most significant historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; and advising on the preservation of the historic environment.

English Heritage also encourages broader public involvement with the heritage, promotes heritage-related education and research, cares for Stonehenge and over 400 other historic properties on behalf of the nation, maintains the National Monuments Record as the public archive of the heritage and generates income for the benefit of the historic environment.

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

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.

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

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, along with plastering and render. Recent years have seen them take the admirable and, some would say, bold decision to focus entirely on heritage restoration work.

The duo has completed restoration work for both English Heritage and Natural England. Their experiences have helped them to reach the conclusion that not only is a conservationfocused business an extremely viable enterprise, but their traditional skills are lacking across the UK. And that’s without mentioning their love for the work.

Scotcourt Ltd Scotcourt Ltd is proud to have completed numerous traditional masonry contracts, both as principal contractor for masonry projects and as sub contractor for traditional lime works. This work includes re-pointing, lime repairs and masonry restorative cleaning along with replacement operations using traditional methods and techniques of conservation.

All work is carried out by trained operatives which ensures that our built environment continue to be in safe hands.

A spokesman for Scotcourt said: “Your building’s past is our future.” www.scotcourt-stonemasonsltd.co.uk

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Restoration and conservation mortars

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

All too often, buildings are repaired with inappropriate materials and poor skills. Many are the subject of interventions that in time lead to their total loss. Others are simply changed out of all recognition.

In most cases, the mortar used for repairs, restoration or conservation contains cement. In these buildings, the use of cement mortars promote condensation build up, salt reactions and, generally, drastically affects the long term survival of the building.

St. Astier natural hydraulic lime mortars provide a valid alternative to cement mortars or cement/lime mixes and, if applied properly, they will have a much longer life. Environmentally, they offer far greater efficiency than cementicious mortars by re-absorbing CO2 and not compromising the recyclability of the building materials.

We work with what we call the ‘ten commandments’ when judging the suitability of mortar: Compatibility Low capillarity and shrinkage Adequate Ca(OH)2 or free lime content Resistance to frost

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Resistance to salts Vapour permeability (breathability) & good sands Early setting, good elasticity/workability/re-workability Suitable compressive and bonding strength Environmental considerations Correct working and site practice

Rule 1: Compatibility We prefer to look at compatible mortars rather than like for like.

The reason for this is that today in most cases, it is not possible to reproduce exactly the mortars of the past.

The binders are different; the sands might not be the same. In the EU, a lot of sand pits have closed and some of the historic pits no longer exist. Compatibility should be both chemical and mechanical..

Mortars introduced into existing structures must not react chemically with existing mortars and surrounding masonry by introducing soluble salts such as sulphate (gypsum) or aluminates causing sulphate attack; or alkalis (potassium and sodium) causing a reaction with the sand (alkali-silica reaction).

In mechanical terms, mortars should not be too dense to impede breathability or have poor elasticity resulting in cracks that will allow water/moisture penetration.

Rule 2: Look for low capillarity and shrinkage These are both properties affecting the durability of the mortar.

High capillarity allows moisture penetration and, if a mortar has poor breathability (such as cementicious mortars), there will be condensation and associated problems.

The main causes of high capillarity are poor sands and void structure and high quantity of free lime in the binder. Free lime crystallises in the voids, reducing their size and therefore increasing their capillary action.

Poor building details and drainage increases the amount of water in touch with the masonry which can be absorbed by capillary action.

High shrinkage is also a source of cracking and it is to be avoided.

Shrinkage is caused by: Inadequate suction control of the masonry units. If suction is not controlled by adequate wetting or dampening of the masonry, water in the mortar will be sucked into the masonry. The mortar is therefore deprived of the water necessary for hydration and the mortar becomes friable as its matrix has not formed properly.

High free lime content. This is because free lime is very fine and demands more water at the moment of mixing the mortar.

The evaporation of this water leaves micro cracks in the mortar (shrinkage).

Wrong dosage in the mortar mix. Commonly occurring when too much binder is used. Over-binding produces a heave effect, causing cracks.

Poor mixing of the mortar can cause over-binding in certain areas and low binding in other with cracks as a result.

Poor protection from drying wind, direct sun, driving rain and frost when the mortar is still fresh will also cause cracking and shrinkage. So will poor curing: mortars, especially lime mortars, need time to cure. So, depending on the weather conditions, mortar needs to be dampened for few days in warm weather or in the presence of drying wind.

In cold rainy weather and when frost is expected, fresh mortars have to be covered to prevent damage. This is normally done with hessian sheeting.

with the result that you have a different mortar in the structure from the one specified.

Free lime, because of its fineness, increases water demand in the mortar. This is one of the causes of shrinkage, as already discussed.

It also increases capillarity by crystallising in the voids, reducing breathability.

The reduction of the void size affects also the frost resistance, as we will shortly see.

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

Rule 4: Resistance to frost The reduction in void size - by free lime crystallisation or a poor void structure caused by poor sands and the slow carbonation of free lime - makes the mortar more susceptible to frost damage.

Frost starts always from the surface and goes inward. Frozen water particles in the surface voids push the water in the voids behind further in and so on. If there is a good void structure accommodating the water movement, this process will not generate a pressure and the mortar will resist frost.

The size of the voids is also important: ice has a volume of 8% greater than water so it will exercise pressure if the voids cannot contain more that the water they already contain. This is the case in saturated mortars where the water absorbed during rain before frost occurs is occupying all the voids.

Hardened mortars with a good void structure will resist frost.

St. Astier NHL Mortars have been successfully used in areas of extreme cold such as Canada, Alaska, Norway, Finland, Denmark and wet/cold areas as part of Ireland and UK.

Rule 3: Adequate Ca(OH)2 or free lime content Free lime, high calcium lime, available lime, air lime, hydrated lime, portlandite, fat lime and slaked lime are basically all the same and consist of calcium hydroxide - Ca(OH)2.

The trade uses all these denominations and sometimes people do not know that they all refer to the same element. They are classified in BS/EN 459 Standard as CL (calcium limes) and are differentiated by the percentage of Ca(OH)2 content.

Free lime makes mortars more workable and this is liked by the mason. However, free lime affects a number of important properties in mortars such as: Setting and hardening time: an early set and a relatively quick hardening are important to be able to build with some speed.

Initial setting of a hydraulic mortar is within one or two hours; the final set is within 24 hours. The final set determines the moment when the mortar cannot be re-worked.

Hardening takes longer. It is the time that the calcium silicates and other hydraulic components in a mortar take to become insoluble. In the European norms, both properties are taken into consideration and the definition of NHL 2, NHL 3.5 and NHL 5 is based on the hardened strength at 28 days expressed in Newton per mm2.

Free lime is not hydraulic and needs contact with air to reabsorb CO2 and reconstitute itself to CaCO3 or limestone. This process called carbonation may take a very long time. Damp environment, rain, and the location of the mortar (exposure to air) contribute to slowing and in some cases even stopping carbonation. The result is that the mortar does not harden.

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Heritage The basic principle is to avoid saturation of the mortar when still fresh, so protection at this stage is of extreme importance.

Rule 5: Resistance to salts The same mortar will also resist the outward migration of salts contained in the masonry. A macro void structure in the mortar will accommodate the pressure exercised by salts when moving or crystallising.

When structures contain salts, it is almost impossible to control them if they become unstable. Their behaviour is linked to the relative humidity which is typical to each salt. A lower RH will cause crystallisation; a higher RH will cause the salt to go into a solution and migrate.

If the void space is sufficient, these phenomena will not cause a damaging pressure. If crystallisation occurs, they stay in the wall and if there is no space in the voids the pressure can be great enough to crack the mortar. If they go into solution, they will eventually come out and can be cleaned off the wall.

Lime is hygroscopic: it attracts water and by doing so a new lime mortar used for re-pointing or rendering might attract moisture contained in the structure and therefore change the RH of the wall in which the salts are contained, causing their movement. So a high free lime mortar will absorb salts. This is fine if we are using a lime mortar to diminish the salts content in the wall. Once the lime mortar is saturated with salts, it can be removed and the salts with it. It is not so good if we wish to keep the mortar. In this case, a NHL mortar with less free lime and a good void structure will obtain the required result.

The same type of mortar will not suffer from salts ingress promoted by external agents such as is common in marine environments.

The re-pointing of the harbour wall in 2000 at Atlantic College in Wales is still in perfect condition 10 years later. The mortar is an NHL 5 with very coarse sharp sand (pictured).

Rule 6: Vapour permeability (breathability) and good sands A breathable mortar is essential in the control of condensation.

No damp; no rot; a much better living environment.

It also helps in consuming less energy in heating. If a room is damp, a lot of the heating will go in drying out the damp before heating the room.

Hardened mortars with good breathability will dry faster than dense mortar. Saturation of the mortar is well reduced and so is the risk of frost damage. St. Astier NHL mortars if compared to cement/lime mortars have a better breathability by 200%.

The two main factors in achieving good breathability are: A relatively low free lime content in the binder to avoid too much crystallisation in the mortar voids and the use of well graded sands in the mortar.

The choice of good well graded sand is of paramount importance in obtaining a breathable mortar.

Rule 7: Good setting, elasticity and workability Setting and hardening determine the work rate. They are also related to the mortar dosage, the water addition and the weather conditions during execution of the work. Protection and curing methods are directly connected with setting, hardening and curing mortars.

Therefore, it is important to have a good idea of the setting and hardening properties of mortar to be able to determine whether it will be suitable for the work, what particular precautions to use and for how long.

Elasticity determines the amounts of movement that the mortar will take before cracking. It is also relevant in calculating the positioning of joints. A good elasticity will help in accepting thermal movements.

Workability of a mortar is in many cases left to the mason executing the work and, almost invariably, this results in excessive water addition to obtain the “plasticity” that masons like. This is wrong as too much (or too little) water can have serious effects

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on setting time, shrinkage, capillarity and so on.

Information on the correct water addition should be given to the mason and supervisors should check that the instructions are followed.

Rule 8: Suitable compressive and bonding strength It is no good to look just at quick setting and hardening. A very hard mortar, especially when made with cement, is not the solution to all requirements.

Quick setting and strong hardening have become synonymous with “a good mortar” since the advent of cement but in restoration and conservation, setting and hardening should be only part of the evaluation to be made on the most suitable mortar for the job.

Of course we need setting and hardening, especially in adverse climatic conditions and seasonal work. But this should never be to the exclusion of all other considerations made up to now such as compatibility, breathability, elasticity and so on.

In restoration and conservation, St. Astier NHL mortars comply with all requirements.

They set and harden faster and stronger than lime putty or hydrated lime without the use of pozzolans ( a “dear” word to many but essentially a poorly known subject, open to uncertain results) or cement.

Many producers state that their product contains “pozzolanic” additions. This is in most cases cement. Just ask the question about re-working the mortar within 24 hours. If the answer is no, the mortar most likely has a cement content.

The compatibility and other properties of NHL mortars ensure that performance and durability are achieved without the use of cement. They represent a logical and natural choice in the restoration and preservation of our built heritage.

Rule 9: Consider the environment Lime mortars re-absorb CO2. St, Astier NHL mortars will reabsorb between 38% and 49% of the CO2 emitted in production. NHL mortars are also non toxic and, once hardened, they will not increase the water pH. Cementicious mortars can contain chromium VI (directly related to skin allergies) and, depending on the type of cement used, components like pulverised fly ash (PFA), granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) and others that contain a number of dangerous elements such as heavy metals and many other toxic elements.

NHL mortars will also be easily removed from masonry units, allowing them to be re-cycled.

The breathability of St. Astier NHL mortars eliminates condensation and contributes to a better living environment for people with breathing difficulties (asthma, for example).

Rule 10: Correct working and site practice Good materials can become useless if the correct site practices are not followed. Good workmanship and supervision are essential.

If mortars are not dosed or mixed properly, if they are not cured and protected correctly, if they are applied badly, if the application surfaces are not properly prepared, if suction is not controlled, if salt movements are not taken into consideration and so on, the result will be a failure.

Architects, engineers – specifiers in general – should work with the contractor to ensure that he has the necessary comprehension and skills to apply the mortars and follow the necessary site practice.

It is, however, the responsibility of the mortar manufacturer to give specifiers all the information they require for the evaluation of the mortar to be adopted. St. Astier Limes not only provide this information but also, when required, the technical staff actively work with the specifier giving technical advice to establish the most appropriate mortar for the proposed intervention.

For more information, clarification or for any query please contact: technical@stastier.co.uk Or ugo.spano@btinternet.com

Hidden cost of lead thefts threatening our heritage Ray Robertson, Secretary, Lead Contractors Association Stealing lead from a church roof is no longer the victimless crime traditionally portrayed. Record metal prices have resulted in regional / national organised gangs that methodically strip vulnerable sites, with the lead easily distributed through the UK network of metals reclamation merchants.

Increasing demand world wide for lead acid batteries has also spawned large scale thefts by the container load to be shipped directly abroad from UK ports.

More often than not the ‘vulnerable sites’ are church properties in remote locations where access is open and visitors are encouraged. This has meant the repeat targeting of some churches with the thieves simply waiting for the lead sheet to be replaced before stripping it off again.

Although perhaps involving relatively few people directly, the damage caused to the external building structure and internal decoration, as well as its precious, often irreplaceable contents is heartbreaking to those locals affected.

It is reported that between January and August 2011, the cost of lead stripped from ecclesiastical properties had exceeded £3.5M - more then the whole of 2010. More than 5,000 churches in the UK have now suffered from a theft of lead and this is not a problem which is going away.

Although lead thefts have been escalating chronically over the past three or four years, it affects relatively few. Ironically it has been the recent increase in the theft of copper cable and resulting massive inconvenience to thousands of rail commuters and cost to transport, power and communication companies (and their insurers) which has dramatically raised the public aware-

ness of ‘metal thefts’ and led to demands for action.

Now there are investigations into security systems, alarms, lighting and lead theft deterrents such as Smartwater and Led-Lok. Neighbourhood watch schemes such as Church Care and National Church Watch have quickly become a focal point for the community. The entire UK metals reclamation network (colloquially “scrap metal merchants”) has come under the microscope, with calls for changes to legislation, stricter regulation, licensing, banning of cash scales, improved identification procedures, record keeping, Certificates of Origin, etc.

Demands for the skills of the experienced lead craftsmen increased to the extent where LCA members undertook to work to an agreed schedule of rates and an organised system approved

by Ecclesiastical Insurance which meant the rapid response by a leadwork specialist when a theft occurred. It also meant an installation carried out in accordance with the UK Code of Practice (BS6915) and which was sympathetic with the demands of the original roof design.

In the hands of a skilled and experienced craftsman, lead sheet can be shaped by hand to fit the most complex and ornate details which are found on our historic properties, in order to provide comprehensive and maintenance free weather protection that (untouched) will consistently perform for more than 100 years.

Because it is a soft metal, lead sheet reacts to temperature changes by expanding and contracting. The specialist leadworker knows exactly how to allow for this thermal movement in the sizing and fixing of each individual detail. However also because it is a soft metal which moves, lead cannot be sealed

Heritage down on all sides and still perform, so increasing its vulnerability to theft.

Installing lead sheet properly is therefore a specialist craft that requires a degree of skill and knowledge which the general roofing contractor is unlikely to have, regardless of their competence in other materials.

When a lead theft occurs there is an increasing temptation to change materials. Even when lead sheet is re-installed, there is the mistaken belief that money can be saved by using a non specialist.

These two consequences of lead theft have resulted in a sharp fall in demand for the services of the specialist leadworker, at a time when the entire UK construction industry continues to suffer from the economic downturn.

When metal prices ease (as they will), when lead thefts decline (as they will), when demand for lead sheet revives (as it undoubtedly will because of its unrivalled long term maintenance free performance), where will the specialists be to make sure it is fitted with the skill, knowledge and careful attention to detail it deserves?

For more information on the Lead Contractors Association: www.lca.gb.com

Associated Leadmills Ltd Associated Leadmills Ltd is one of the largest lead and hard metals distributors in the UK. The company supplies materials to both trade and domestic customers and lists SIG Construction Accessories and Travis Perkins Builders Merchants amongst its clients.

Presently Associated Leadmills Ltd is supplying hard metals for a brand new Tesco that is under construction in Woolwich.

Once completed the Woolwich branch will be the world’s largest site for the supermarket giant.

Associated Leadmills Ltd is ISO9001 accredited and also

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manufactures bespoke lead pipes and rolled lead for the roofing industry.

Associated Leadmills Ltd Business Development Manager, Andy Denham, said: “At Associated Leadmills Ltd we have two sides to our business. The first is the distribution of lead which we sell directly to merchants, whilst the second is hard metal which we sell to the public, merchants and fabricators. Amongst our hard metals we supply copper, zinc, stainless steel and all ancillary products.

“If any member of the public requires lead we can also put them in contact with a relevant merchant within our vast network.”

Andy Denham added: “At Associated Leadmills Ltd we offer a trusted and reliable service to meet the requirements of all our customers. Our staff are fully trained and with a wealth of experience we provide a high-quality distribution service that is well respected within the construction industry.”

A s s o c i ati o n s

Expo strikes back The world’s largest event for sustainable design and construction returned to the UK for a seventh year when Ecobuild 2012 took place at London’s ExCel from Tuesday 20th March to Thursday 22nd March The event showcased the largest selection of sustainable construction products in the world. Over 1,500 suppliers exhibited at the event, with leading names such as BASF Construction Chemicals, Saint-Gobain, Kingspan and Worcester Bosch in attendance.

There was an expansive seminar and conference programme running throughout the three-day event, as well as a number of additional special interest features and attractions. In addition, the world’s largest green building was also exhibited.

During the course of the event, Ecobuild’s seminar programme conducted over 130 sessions covering such hot topics as Energy & Innovation in Buildings, Future Energy and Sustainable

by Design.

A session on the 2012 Olympics was also part of the programme and was hosted by the Construction Products Association and BRE. This session focused on the lessons that have been learnt from the delivery of the Olympic Park and how they can be put to use in other developments. The Olympics’ lasting legacy was also discussed, including how it will increase the UK’s reputation for sustainable design and construction.

Highlights of Ecobuild 2012 included a three-day, three-stream conference sponsored by the UK Green Building Council, with commentary from the likes of Janet Street Porter, Greg Dyke and Sir John Beddington. The riveting Renewable Heat Focus showcased the latest working models for solar thermal energy, biomass and heat pumps alongside daily talks on how to benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

On the exhibition floor, Renew provided practical advice on

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achieving an air-tight, highly insulated and energy efficient building, with demonstrations focusing on how to upgrade cavity walls and insulate internal walls, lofts and floors. One of the UK’s leading testing bodies, Chiltern Dynamics, was also on hand to promote the impact that Approved Document L (ADL) has had on air tightness requirements for all new buildings.

In addition, Chiltern Dynamics discussed additional services including pre-completion sound testing, thermal modelling and energy assessments - including SAP, BREEAM, EPC, SBEM and Code for Sustainable Homes.

The Ecobuild event also had a Solar Hub in order to demonstrate how the installation of PV can still offer attractive rates of return via the UK Feed-in Tariff, despite adjustments to the Government’s incentive scheme. Here visitors received practical guidance on how to choose the most appropriate system for the best results, whilst learning how to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate rising energy costs and maximise return on investment.

Additional highlights included demonstrations for cob wall building, carpentry techniques and straw bale construction.

Experts were also on hand to conduct daily talks, provide oneto-one advice and demonstrate the latest technology in action.

What is the Ecobuild conference?

The Ecobuild conference focuses on new thinking and challenging ideas, along with pressing issues affecting Government policy and the construction sector – including how to keep the industry profitable, remain committed to a low carbon built environment and manage the country’s economy through a low growth period with record levels of public debt.

Engaging in big-picture debates on international cooperation, the role of science and technology and the psychology of climate change, the conference also tackles more tangible

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A s s o c i ati o n s issues such the way in which the UK construction sector needs to change, the impact of the Energy and Localism Acts and the implications of the proposed NPPF. Ecobuild has introduced a three-stream format that includes: Beyond Construction: achieving a sustainable future; Making Sustainable Construction Happen and Design, Architecture & Sustainability.

Beyond Construction: achieving a sustainable future This session took place in Platinum suite 2 and included: Tuesday 20th March • Geo-engineering: can we affect the climate change conundrum?

• Climate change – whose responsibility is it anyway?

• A flavour of the future: food security and justice in a resource constrained world • Green and clean: the great future energy debate Wednesday 21st March • Collaborative Consumption: the future of building strong communities • People and the planet • Rio 2012: 20 years on – what have we achieved since Rio 1992 (‘The Earth Summit’)?

• ‘The Incredible Human Journey’: 195,000 years out of Africa – but where to next?

Thursday 22nd March • Growing out of trouble – how social enterprise can help restore society • The Biodiversity Crisis: can we end the economic invisibility of nature?

• Who predicted a riot? How to rebuild more sustainable communities

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Making Sustainable Construction Happen This session took place in Platinum suite 1 and included: Tuesday 20th March • All build is Ecobuild: mainstreaming low carbon construction • Green expectations: is the Green Deal the real deal?

• Creating an energy efficient property sector • The road to zero carbon: the future for house building Wednesday 21st March • The greenest games and the greatest learning • Green construction: turning the strategy into reality • One home every minute – the great refurbishment challenge • Don’t generate, insulate: changing our relationship with energy • Smart technology for a smarter planet

Thursday 22nd March • Solving the housing crisis: towards a sustainable housing strategy • From megawatts to negawatts: taking the energy out of buildings in use Making renewable generation happen: getting the scale right

Design, Architecture & Sustainability This session took place in Mezzanine level – 5, 6 & 7 and included: Tuesday 20th March • The City After Now • London 2012: the greenest Olympics ever • Architects and architecture in straitened times • How green is tall?

Wednesday 21st March • The future of design and the role of architects as localism gains teeth through the NPPF • SENSEable Cities: living environments of the future • Designing buildings for the next century • A Stirling Prize for retrofit?

Thursday 22nd March • Architects, planners and the post riot city • From earth to water – the sustainability of floating habitats • The place of art in sustainable architecture

Ecobuild seminars Ecobuild’s renowned seminar programme offers over 130 sessions and covers the most pressing and important issues for built environment professionals.

With an emphasis on delivering practical and applied information, each seminar is structured to provide key learning points – supported by case studies, analysis and examples of best practice.

The seminars are split into 13 categories: • Sustainable self build & renovation • Energy and innovation in buildings • Better through BIM

• • • • • • • • • •

Standards, guides and regulations Designing & building with Passivhaus principles Buildings in use Olympics learning legacy InstallerConnect Refurbishing Britain Future energy Sustainable by design Sustainable architecture & design Sustainability and the city

Thinking outside the box: Ecobuild offer a huge choice of events Ecobuild’s exhibitors and partners offer a huge choice of events outside the official programme. Here are a few of the highlights: • Trada Timber Tours • RIBA CPD sessions • Building on the Olympics • BREEAM Awards • Landscape Architecture – inspiring great places • Wood Awards showcase • European B2B matchmaking event • UKTI focus on international opportunities • UBM open-house • UK-GBC ‘big tent’ • RIBA village

Why Ecobuild?

Ecobuild is the most effective marketing platform for suppliers of sustainable and innovative construction products and services. The event is attended by the most influential individuals and organisations within the design and construction industries.

Since the programme launched in 2005, Ecobuild has almost doubled in size every year to become the biggest event in the world for sustainable design, construction and the built environment.

Over 1,300 suppliers of sustainable and innovative construction products will showcase their goods at the event, which will boast more than 100 conference and seminar sessions that will be delivered by 750 expert speakers. With dozens of interactive and educational attractions, Ecobuild is a compelling proposition for exhibitors and visitors alike.

The event ensures a trusted source of high quality contracts and access to the most valuable projects across the UK and further afield. Indeed, 55,039 design and construction professionals attended Ecobuild 2011.

Daniel Nevitt, Group Marketing Director of Armourcoat, said: “The 2011 show went very well, we met with great architects and designers looking at live projects and it was a tremendous springboard for our new product launch. Ecobuild is now a regular – and important – part of our UK exhibition programme.

There is a real focus on design to the event, which is a great fit for Armourcoat and our expanding product range.”

Alison Hopkinson, Marketing Manager for Bona Limited, said: “Over the three days we’ve spoken to all types of specifiers and made some valuable contacts. The show has been consistently busy and there’s a great buzz surrounding the whole event. It was definitely the right decision for us to return this year.”

Mike Lomax, Marketing Communications Manager for Lafarge Cement UK, said: “Ecobuild has once again proved its worth to us as the UK’s premier event for the construction sector. The move to ExCeL added to the sheer scale of this year’s show. Our presence with all three Lafarge divisions on display proved very successful both in terms of the quality and quantity of the leads we generated and customer reaction to our stand concepts.”

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Apprentices needed as construction sector faces potential retirement time bomb It has been announced that problems could arise in the construction industry due to an ageing workforce and a ‘limited injection of new blood’.

Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, said: “When you look at the age profile demographics across the whole construction industry, there is a tendency towards older employees. Indeed, a significant number are coming up to retirement age in the next five to ten years.

“Fewer people are coming through behind them because of the recession in the early 1990s. During this difficult time, 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 when firms are starting to fight hard for young apprentices or undergraduates to come into their sectors. As a result, the construction industry does have a fight on its hands; it has to make sure that it accesses good quality people from a significantly smaller pooler of talent.”

He added: “The sectors’ ageing workforce will need replacing; therefore one of our main focuses is promoting the entry of new talent into the industry and driving young people to us for training.”

CITB-ConstructionSkills has organised a series of events which have successfully increased the take-up of apprentices by 47%.

The events were run as part of the CITB-ConstructionSkills Positive Image campaign and led to 65 employers signing up to get their hands on the UK’s best young talent.

With over 200 employers now committed to offering apprenticeships in areas ranging from carpentry to craft masonry, CITB-ConstructionSkills calls on companies to follow suit and invest in the skills today that will drive future growth.

CITB-ConstructionSkills ran a programme of employer breakfast meetings, construction challenges, careers events and oneto-ones with its staff and staff from the National Construction College (NCC) as part of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW).

The event 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 committed to take on apprenticeships.

One employer who attended the event, CMC Ltd’s Martyn Price, said: “I was delighted to be associated with National Apprenticeship Week to support the benefits that apprentices can bring to any business. The pledge demonstrated our ongoing commitment which 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 has really paid off.”

CITB-ConstructionSkills’ Mark Farrar added: “The events helped show employers the wealth of keen young people who were eager to work in the construction sector. We were delighted to see so many firms sign up to offer apprenticeships.

“However, there was 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 2011 research indicated that employers felt there were significant gaps in their employees’ skills, which seriously limited the potential for growth in the industry. In a CITB survey of 1450 employers in the sector, specific gaps in skills that were 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.

Sustainabilitylive!

leading shows united at the UK’s premier energy, water and environmental event Under the banner of ‘leading the way for a sustainable future’, Sustainabilitylive! is once again at the NEC in Birmingham, from 22nd to 24th May 2012.

The distinctive individual shows - covering the energy, water, land and sustainability sectors - each give leading companies a chance to showcase their latest products and services and do business.

Not only will there be hundreds of exhibitors with something to offer, each show will also be running a FREE three-day conference and seminar programme where a panel of experts will put the spotlight on the big issues, latest advice and groundbreaking innovations.

All of the shows also offer free admission, so visitors looking for joined-up thinking to solve a problem across any environmental sector, will find everything they need is to hand.

And this year, Environmental Technology will be represented through a busy seminar programme discussing a wide range of issues, including waste management, zero waste, energy from waste, and driving resource efficiency in supply chains. The

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programme will sit within the Environmental and Land Remediation theatre and will run on Days 2 and 3 of the show.

Get the latest on saving energy at the National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX) NEMEX 2012 will feature the latest advances in renewable energy products, energy management services and energy-efficient technologies.

In the last two years the UK’s leading event for energy management has seen a 37 per cent rise in visitors and it will keep up the momentum in 2012 by marking its 30th anniversary with an

A s s o c i ati o n s additional high-level conference programme.

Main sessions on the new stage will cover energy policy, EMR - Electricity Market Reform, REMIT, energy saving, carbon reduction, renewables, RHI, smart meters, PV/Solar, CRC and behavioural change. Utility Week will run sessions for its readers, as will the MEUC – the Major Energy Users Council.

The International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX) highlights a new wave of innovation at the 2012 show IWEX is the UK’s leading water industry event with its unrivalled combination of showcasing the brightest ideas, and offering a rich seminar programme with up-to-the-minute insights and advice.

The 2012 event will once again bring together companies representing the whole spectrum of invention, from small businesses to larger product and service providers, all with the common aim of developing better ways to be more water-efficient.

Leading the way in brownfield regeneration Brownfield Expo (BEX)

BEX is well established as the UK’s main event for all those looking to redevelop brownfield sites and attracts civil engineers,

house builders, environmental health professionals, manufacturing and service industries, procurement managers and many others from across both the private and public sectors.

BEX 2012 will once again feature some of the biggest names in the sector including Regenesis, Adventus Europe, PA Geotechnical, Derwentside Environmental Testing, Landmark, Ashtead Technology Ltd and Ground-Gas Solutions.

Exploring corporate sustainability at Sustainable Business (SB) - The Event Sustainable Business - The Event, offers a unique platform for industry experts to showcase the products and services that are helping to create more sustainable businesses.

It attracts high-calibre visitors and environmental decisionmakers across the full range of private and public sector organisations, all of whom have a commitment to respond to the sustainability challenge and find out how minimising environmental impact can maximise profit.

For up-to-date exhibitor news, seminar programmes, information on how to exhibit or how to register for free attendance visit www.sustainabilitylive.com or call +44 (0)20 8651 7120.

Lightning Conductors & Lightning Protection Systems SLPTG (Steeplejack & Lightning Protection Training Group) can provide clients or customers with all the necessary information on specialist lightning protection companies regarding training, qualifications and experience.

This will ensure that any contractor or sub-contractor they are considering working with can demonstrate that they and their workforce are competent and have the correct qualifications, knowledge and experience to carry out tasks on their lightning conductors or lightning protection systems.

Under the HASAW Act you have to provide a ‘Duty of Care’.

In order to ensure that operatives can provide proof of competence and demonstrate the experience and knowledge required to carry out a task, a Photo ID CSCS Smartcard is a simple yet very effective way to check that someone working on or testing your lightning conductor or lightning protection system is fully qualified.

To prove this, check the card matches the operative; on the rear of the card it clearly states that they are either NVQ II or NVQ III Lightning Conductor Engineers. If they cannot provide this, do not let them continue until they or the company can demonstrate competency to your satisfaction - after all, if something were to happen it may eventually come back to you. This simple but very effective measure is there to assist.

Throughout 2009 and 2010, there were Two Day lightning protection test and inspection courses available through accredited learning centres. Certain companies have used this to include the testing and inspection of lightning conductors to their range of services, and this is only one of many official training units or certificates that are required for a lightning protection engineer to gain their specialist NVQ qualification.

Indeed, this unit/certificate does not provide the operative with the experience and knowledge, it is merely a certificate of training. Do not accept this as proof of competence on its own, as the minimum requirements you should be looking for is an in date Photo ID CSCS Smartcard that states clearly on the rear they are NVQ II or NVQ III Lightning Conductor Engineers.

Protect yourself and check the Photo ID CSCS Smartcard.

Understanding training Working closely with National Specialist Accredited Centre (NSAC) and the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and

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Construction Skills at the National Construction College (NCC, Bircham Newton, Norfolk), the SLPTG has formulated and developed the lightning conductor engineer national apprenticeship scheme, along with adult learning opportunities.

Colin Sanders, SLPTG, said: “The SLPTG demonstrates that we fully understand the commitment and consequent investment that is required for training because adaptable, skilled people are vital to the success of our industry. We also aim to provide our clients with the confidence that the training, experience and skills given to our operatives can demonstrate the competence required to enable them to carry out their tasks.”

Richard Diment, Director General of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “The FMB, as the leading trade association representing SMEs in the British construction sector, supports and promotes all aspects of craft management and health and safety training. It recognises CSCS as a vital means by which its members can record and provide proof of the skills and competency of their workforce and sub-contractors.”

Julia Evans, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders, said: “CSCS provides a base line standard which is broadly accepted by the majority of the construction industry.

It enables workers to demonstrate important proficiencies and companies to demonstrate a commitment to safe and efficient working.”

Alan Ritchie, Construction Union, said: “A fully carded workforce is a safer and better trained workforce”.

Full information on the on the above statements and the CSCS Card Scheme can be found at www.cscs.uk.com The SLPTG needs to continue to develop training for our industry by working closely with clients and customers, main contractors, training providers and members in order to ensure that the training delivered to our workers is improving the quality of our workforce in all areas. This will require the introduction of more dynamic forms of training, which will serve to elevate the industry.

Please remember: if an operative cannot provide a CSCS card which states their NVQ II or NVQ III qualifications for on the rear, do not let them carry out the works!

For further information, contact Lynne Fletcher (GTO) on 01625 664500, e-mail info@slptraininggroup.org.uk or visit the website at www.slptraininggroup.org.uk

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