Premier Construction Magazine Issue 17-9 by PHIL AINLEY

Roma Publications

Volume 17 - Issue 9

CitizenM

Transforming overnight accommodation

JW Marriott Absheron Opening a luxurious 23-storey hotel in Baku

NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2012

Celebrating the very best in construction excellence

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New courses at TUCA

As work on the Crossrail project intensifies, the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA) is launching an expanded curriculum. The new scheme includes new courses and brand new training facilities including a high-tech concrete testing lab. TUCA will train nearly 3,500 people in key construction skills over the lifetime of the Crossrail project as well as providing training for other construction projects. It has already set industry standards by creating the Tunnel Safety Card qualification – now an industry requirement for those working in a tunnelling environment. The Academy offers a range of training programmes which provide nationally-recognised qualifications to up-skill those

already working in the industry. The Academy also helps students to gain employment on Crossrail and other major projects and has played a key role in getting unemployed Londoners back to work. Claire Parry, Head of Skills and Employment at Crossrail, said: “The Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy has been a huge success since opening less than a year ago. Over 1,000 people have now been trained to work on Crossrail and other construction projects. “The Academy is the only purpose-built facility for training people in tunnelling and underground construction with an unrivalled range of specialist plant and equipment.”

Double win for Coleman & Company Demolition specialist Coleman & Company has won two awards at the recent National Grid Land Regeneration Awards 2012. Coleman & Company won Best SHE Performance 2012 and the Best Project Documentation at the awards, narrowly missing awards for Most Efficient Project of the Year 2012 and Most Innovative Project of the Year. The Best SHE Performance accolade was awarded to the Jackson Street project, whilst Best Project Documentation was awarded to Technical Manager Chris Holland. Coleman & Company Managing Director, Mark Coleman, said: “Health and safety lies at the heart of everything we do. To win the Best SHE Performance Award is a real achievement and personally very rewarding as we continuously look to improve our health and safety. Chris’ work is always of the highest standard in terms of technical detail and professionalism. This award is recognition of that. I’m delighted for him.” Coleman & Company Technical Manager, Chris Holland, said: “I take a real pride in the documentation I provide to our clients. It’s very important that all our documentation is of the highest order due to the increasingly complex nature of the projects we complete. It’s a real privilege to receive the Best Documentation Award.”

Intelligent heating

A revolutionary new heating system that offers a remote, wireless controlled radiator in each and every room of the house has been launched in the UK. Intelli Heat’s thermo-dynamic, fluid-filled electric radiators are perfect for garden rooms and conservatories and offer straight-forward installation, responsive heat delivery and economic running costs. The radiators are perfect as independent heaters and brilliant when installed in one or more rooms of a property – all they require is a fused, five to 13 amp, wall socket and a wall bracket, which is supplied with the product. The radiators are particularly suited to homeowners looking for something a little different and can run for 12 hours off just three hours of electricity input. With Intelli Heat, users can programme three temperature settings at a time and they can monitor how much energy each radiator is using. Intelli Heat UK Managing Director, Salvatore Cirasuolo, said: “Not only is the system quick and easy to fit, it is easy to use and surprisingly affordable and environmentally friendly. “Our technology means that only the exact energy required is used. Efficiency is greatly increased when a home is divided into zones, which means Intelli Heat is ‘greener’ than other heating sources and can reduce energy bills. “For anyone who is environmentally aware it really is a hugely innovative and exciting product and has been featured on the brand new series of 60 Minute Makeover on ITV1.” For more information on Intelli Heat please visit www.intelligentheat.co.uk.

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Dear readers, This month’s edition of Premier Construction celebrates the impressive work that is being achieved throughout the construction industry. Located within Broadgate West, close to London’s financial district, Chrysan is the latest restaurant from fine dining experts the Hakkasan Group. The restaurant is set to open in September 2012 and will offer innovative and experiential cuisine, within an exquisite setting. Chrysan is a 130-cover restaurant comprising a dining area – including a chef’s table and private dining room – and NeNe, a stunning 30-seat cocktail bar. Feng Sushi is rapidly making a name for itself in Central London as a leading brand in fresh and ethically sourced sushi. With eight restaurants situated around the nation’s capital, the latest site to open is Feng Sushi Hampstead. Situated on West End Lane, the 52-cover restaurant is located within a four-storey building and comprises 36-internal covers, 16-external covers and a dedicated take-away service. La Tasca is a Spanish tapas bar and kitchen specialising in freshly prepared food and as a result of customer feedback a number of La Tasca restaurants have recently received a makeover. The new La Tasca design incorporates bar dining – something which is very popular in Spain – along with an improved menu and a full Spanish wine list. This month’s issue of Premier Construction also includes extensive coverage of the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2012. Pride in the Job is the only UK-wide competition recognising site managers who achieve the highest level of standards in housebuilding. All site managers registered for NHBC warranty are automatically entered into the competition and to date a Pride in the Job Award is the highest industry accolade a site manager can achieve. On June 22 NHBC announced the names of over 400 top achieving site managers who were recognised in the first round of the Pride in the Job Awards 2012. Names were shortlisted from over 13,000 UK site managers who have all excelled in their field over the past 12 months. Park Wood Place award-winner, Geoff Ashton said: “The award is absolutely fantastic, I was surprised to be awarded it, but I’m really, really pleased about achieving this recognition. I worked for the NHBC for 14 years as an NHBC inspector, so I think that knowledge has definitely helped me as a site manager.” We now invite you, readers, to join us as we praise the people who are developing our future.

Managing Director: Marcus Howarth Editor: Charlotte Emily Brazier Assistant Editor: Alex Wiggan and Siân Davies Contributor: Matthew Crinion 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

Volume 17 • Issue 9

The Shard.............................................................................................................8 JW Marriott Absheron.......................................................................................23 Chrysan.............................................................................................................28 Tapas Revolution...............................................................................................41 Feng Sushi..........................................................................................................44 Revolucion de Cuba.........................................................................................48 Chaophraya Glasgow.......................................................................................51

NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2012 Icon....................................................................................................................58 Gin Pit................................................................................................................59 Imperial Green...................................................................................................61 Coopers Mill.....................................................................................................64 Woodlands Park...............................................................................................73 Rowes Meadow..................................................................................................79

North West Stamford Park....................................................................................................8 5 Satellite Information Services.........................................................................88

North East Harrogate Police Station..................................................................................94

Midlands & East Anglia Caister Holiday Park.......................................................................................101 Dune House......................................................................................................102

London & South East Ampersand Hotel.............................................................................................107 Lacoste London................................................................................................110

Scotland Aberdeenshire Design Awards........................................................................112 Dumfries House................................................................................................118

Wales A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement.................................................122

Ireland Hill of the O’Neill.............................................................................................123

Isle of Man Ramsey Park Hotel..........................................................................................124

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

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Blazing a trail for Rochdale On 3rd August 2012, thrilled spectators gathered at Abbey Architectural Ironmongers Ltd in Rochdale to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch. Torchbearer Andy O’Donnell visited the Lomax Street site in order to raise money for Cancer Research UK, in an event that managing director of Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Ltd, Paul Bleackley, described as ‘very exciting’. Visitors were given the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the torch and make a donation to Cancer Research UK, whilst refreshments were also provided by Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Ltd. Established in 1986, Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Ltd supplies builders and joiners with door furniture, ironmongery, fixings and sealants. Along with a wide range of building products – including joist hangers and PVA bonding agents – the company also supplies power tools, signage and clothing & footwear. Paul Bleackley, Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Ltd, said: “We are a local company with a busy trade counter and friendly, helpful staff. We are also the only company in Rochdale to have Guild of Architectural Ironmongery trained staff, and we are both an ABS Elite Centre and an official Trend Routing Centre. “Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Ltd moved to its Lomax Street premises three years ago, which due to the economic climate was a relatively risky move. However, we have been able to maintain both our customer base and our turnover, and hopefully as the country comes out of the recession we will continue to expand.” Another Rochdale company that continues to burn brightly is architectural hardware manufacturer Steve Graham Sales Ltd, which has seen its annual turnover increase by almost 200% in the last four years. The company design and manufacture an exclusive range of aluminium, brass and stainless steel hardware to compliment any project. Their wide range of products includes: pull handles, lever furniture, finger plates, kick plates, ventilators and architectural plates – along with a complete range of accessories. The company is currently working on a variety of exciting projects

for the Ministry of Defence and the automotive, medical, education and technology sectors. Dan Graham, Steve Graham Sales Ltd, said: “We supply to architectural ironmongers, builders merchants and timber merchants throughout the UK and Ireland. We are also expanding our services to international clients, and we are beginning to both import and export products – with many new products in the pipelines for the New Year. “Steve Graham Sales Ltd is a fast, reliable and ambitious family business. Our focus is on quality and making sure that our clients’ specifications are met every time. Most of our business is repeat business, and over the last four years we have seen our annual turnover rise from £750,000 to £2 million. Our ultimate aim is to increase working hours to 24 hours in order to meet the expectations of our growing customer base. “Any customers are welcome to call us on 01706 370 931, or visit www.stevegrahamsales.com, where our friendly and efficient staff are willing to assist you with any query that you may have.” As the country continues to fight off the recession, it is companies such as these that are allowing the construction industry to shine. Through consistently meeting client demand and engaging with the community, companies like Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Ltd and Steve Graham Sales Ltd are putting Rochdale on the map. Paul Bleackley, Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Ltd, added: “We are really pleased to have been involved with the event, which will hopefully raise money for Cancer Research UK. Andy has been a family friend for many years and it was an honour to have him visit our site with the Olympic Torch.” For more information on Abbey Architectural Ironmongery, visit www.abbeyarchitectural.co.uk or call 01706 644880. To make a donation to Cancer Research UK, please visit: www. cancerresearchuk.org/GiveToday

Talented student wins Shanghai internship A Nottingham Trent University student has won an internship in Shanghai with leading independent international property consultancy Knight Frank. Will Buttery, a second-year undergraduate in real estate, was awarded the two-week fully expensed placement through the 2012 Sociable Surveyors Global Internship Scheme. Sponsored by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Sociable Surveyors provides surveying internships at industry leading firms, helping students and recent graduates to widen their professional experience in global offices. Will was awarded the placement after uploading a two-minute video CV that demonstrated his passion for the industry. He said: “The graduate jobs market is highly competitive at the moment, and you need to set yourself apart from the crowd. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call, and I still have to pinch myself when I think about it. “Shanghai is the largest city in the world, and is rapidly growing. To be able to experience this international market first-hand is an invaluable opportunity, particularly at this stage of my career.” Keith Agar, senior lecturer in real estate at Nottingham Trent University, said: “Will is a gifted student who has recently finished a year-long placement with the estates department of McDonalds Restaurants in London. The placement with Knight Frank will give yet another dimension to his CV and make him even more employable after graduation.” The property student will now complete his internship in Shanghai in September, before completing his final year at Nottingham Trent University.

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The Shard: London’s latest landmark Located on the South Bank, London, The Shard is Europe’s tallest building and forms the centrepiece of London Bridge Quarter – a 2m sq ft urban regeneration scheme currently underway in London. The Shard is being developed by Sellar Property, has been designed by international architect Renzo Piano and is situated adjacent to the transport hub of London Bridge Station. The Shard stretches 310 metres (1,106 ft) in height and is best described as a vertical town due to the impressive array of shops and facilities housed within the structure. The 95-storey building comprises a mix of 600,000 sq ft of office space, three floors of restaurants, ten residences, a number of retail units and the five-star 200-bed Shangri-La Hotel and Spa. The restaurants housed in The Shard will be situated on Levels 31 – 33, whilst the ten residences will be located on Levels 53 – 65. Floor spaces for the residences range from 1,372 sq m (14,770 sq ft) to 2,926 sq m (31,492 sq ft) and will provide tenants with maximum flexibility to meet their individual needs. The Shard will also include a number of commercial office spaces, all designed to set a new standard in high-quality business provisions for London. Offices will be spread out over 25 floors of the building, will range in floor sizes starting from 14,500 sq ft (1,362) and will offer some of the best views in the city. As The Shard is also perfectly located within close proximity to many significant transport interchanges the building will become the perfect place for thriving businesses to grow. The impressive building will also house The View – London’s highest public viewing gallery – which will provide guests with a 360˚ view of the city. The View will be located on Level’s 68 – 72 and will officially open to the public in February 2013. The Shard has been designed to offer visitors and guests with

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a multitude of event, meeting and leisure spaces all housed within a stylish building that is naturally ventilated and will draw in a considerable amount of natural daylight. Once construction is complete, The Shard will have incorporated 11,000 panels of glass, 44 lifts – comprising a mix of single and double lifts – and 306 flights of stairs. The building will also have a triple skin facade with automatic blinds, a 4 pipe fan coil air conditioning system, 150mm of raised floors and a 1.5m planning module. 95% of the construction materials used in creating The Shard is being sourced from recycled materials, whilst 20% of all steelwork is being obtained from recycled sources. The building will also boast reduced energy consumption by using 740m² of photovoltaic panels which will supplement power throughout the whole building. Additional features include 155 bicycle spaces, 48 car parking spaces, showers and lockers and a 6.25m height ceiling to floor entrance hall. All of the work being conducted on The Shard has been designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “The Shard is more than just an amazing feat of engineering, it is a towering illustration of London’s determination to beat the recession and spur economic growth. This iconic, sparkling new addition to the capital’s skyline will act as a huge commercial magnet, pulling in scores of new businesses and offering vital employment opportunities for thousands of people.” The Shard derives its name from architect Renzo Piano who described the development during the early planning stages as a large shard of glass. The sculptured design of The Shard comprises a number of inward inclining glass facets, which allow the building to ‘breathe’ as it stretches up to the sky. Once The Shard is fully operational the mixed-use building will create approximately 12,000 jobs and will also be linked to The Place – a sister development connected to London Bridge Station – via a new central plaza, bus station and train station concourse. Mace is the main contractor on the Shard, whilst Renzo Piano Building Workshop is providing all architectural services on the site. Turner & Townsend is the project manager, Davis Langdon is the quantity surveyor and WSP Cantor Seinuk is the structural engineer. Ove Arup and Partners is the service engineer on The Shard and Knight Frank and Jones Lang LaSalle are the commercial agents. The Shard is owned by LBQ Limited – comprising the State of Qatar and Sellar Property – with additional non-equity funding provided by Qatar National Bank. The State of Qatar is also a majority holder of the London Bridge Quarter and started investing in The Shard in 2009 so that it could become an integral development within its larger scheme. The development forms part of the State of Qatar’s significant investment in a number of London landmarks. Irvine Sellar, Chairman of Sellar Property, said:

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“While The Shard will offer high quality commercial and public spaces, and give the public the best views of London, first and foremost it will become a new symbol for the city and something Londoners can be proud of. The Shard is fast becoming one of the most recognisable London skyline silhouettes. “The Shard is the highly visible face of London’s newest commercial quarter, London Bridge Quarter, and a key part of the continuing regeneration of the South Bank. It is the result of a shared vision between The State of Qatar, Sellar Property Group and Renzo Piano to create a new landmark building for London.” Sheikh Abdullah Bin Saoud Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Shard Funding Limited and London Bridge Quarter, said: “The Shard is the newest London landmark and a beacon of the city of London’s resilience and expansion, even during tough economic times. It is a symbol of Qatar’s belief and commitment to London both today and in the future. We have a long heritage and continued commitment to invest and build in the UK for the long term and The Shard highlights this close relationship. “Standing at almost 310 metres, The Shard will be one of the tallest buildings in Western Europe. For me however, the height of The Shard is only secondary. What is special is the solid and continuing relationship between two nations – Qatar and Britain – which has been an important factor in completing this project. “The Shard has already become an important symbol for London – a symbol of our close relationship – rooted in the foundations of economic growth, social development and mutual trust and goodwill.” Ali Shareef Al-Emadi, QNB Group Chief Executive Officer and

realised. For us The Shard and all it represents, is a symbol for Qatari investment here in London.” The Shard will officially open to the public in 2013. For more information please visit www.the-shard.com.

Celebrating The Shard’s inauguration

Board Member of The Shard Funding Limited, added: “Qatar National Bank and The State of Qatar have backed London Bridge Quarter since 2009, after other banks withdrew from funding in the wake of credit crunch. This is because we strongly believed in its potential as a key regeneration project on London’s South Bank and wanted to see this landmark project

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July 2012 became a key date within the development of The Shard as it marked the physical completion of the exterior of the building. To celebrate the event a spectacular show took place on 5th July. The event represented the culmination of 12 years of hard work to build London’s newest landmark. The inauguration event saw Central London lit up by a stunning light and laser show which combined 30 search lights with 12 lasers. The event took place at 10:15pm (BST) and saw coloured lasers stretch out from the 95-storey building across to many London Landmarks, including Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, BT Tower, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. In addition to the many Londoners who attended the event, HRH Prince Andrew the Duke of York, and Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani were also in attendance. Irvine Sellar, Chairman of Sellar Property and Partner of LBQ Limited, said: “The Shard is an iconic addition to the capital’s skyline and will be one that all of London can access and enjoy. It will become as essential a part of a visit to London as going to the top of the Empire State building is for visitors on a trip to New York. “The physical completion of The Shard is a major step towards the ultimate realisation of our vision for London Bridge Quarter – a new dynamic district for our city with The Shard at its centrepiece. “The lightshow was available live on the web, but as we marked the building’s external completion on the London skyline we hoped Londoners would watch the show from vantage points across the capital and be a part of the wonderful celebration.” The impressive light display was co-ordinated by two pieces of famous classical music; Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and the Finale from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite which was performed live by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). As

the music reached its dramatic finale, the laser show culminated in the illumination of The Shard itself, lit from all sides by powerful searchlights rising high into the evening sky. The event was also streamed live to The Shard’s official website and Facebook page, where Londoners and visitors alike were encouraged to upload images taken at the event. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Saoud Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Shard Funding Limited and London Bridge Quarter, said: “The Shard is the newest London landmark and a beacon of the city of London’s resilience and expansion, even during tough economic times. The lightshow marked a key moment for The Shard and one that people in London – and around the world – could enjoy.” Timothy Walker, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, added: “The London Philharmonic Orchestra, central to London’s cultural life for 80 years, was delighted to welcome its new neighbour by being part of The Shard’s opening celebrations.”

The View from The Shard As well as a very extensive selection of shops and restaurants, a key draw to The Shard for tourists will be The View from The Shard – a premium visitor experience that will offer unparalleled views of London. Located 244m (800ft) above the city The View from The Shard offers the highest vantage point of any building in Western Europe and provides visitors with view that will stretch 64km (40 miles) across the city. Renzo Piano, of Renzo Piano Building Workshop has been personally involved in the developing The View, working in collaboration with Event Communications. Upon arrival at The Shard, visitors will travel up to The View via two high-speed kaleidoscopic lifts which will drop them off at Level 68. From Level 68 visitors will make their way up one more floor to Level 69, where they can marvel at the breath taking sights that await them. In addition to the stunning views on Level 69, visitors will also be able to make use of multimedia displays and high-tech digital telescopes that will be installed into The View. For those not put off by the magnificent height of Level 69, visitors can also opt to ascend to Level 72 – the highest public level of The Shard – to get an even closer look at the shards of glass that form the top

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of the building. Although The View doesn’t open to the public until February 2013, tickets went on sale in July 2012 – following The Shard’s inauguration event – and over 17,500 people have already registered their interest in attending the attraction. The View will open daily, from 9am to 10pm with the entrance located on Joiner Street. For more information on The View please visit www.theviewfromtheshard.com or call the box office hotline on +44 (0)844 499 7111.

Shangri-La Hotel and Spa Located between Level’s 34 and 52 of The Shard, Shangri-La Hotel and Spa is a luxurious 200-bedroom hotel. The hotel marks the first Shangri-La site to open in the UK from leading hotel group Asia Pacific and boasts meeting spaces, fine dining, health and leisure facilities and a double-height lobby. John Sisk & Son is delivering the fit-out works on the hotel, including all work on the 200-guest rooms and suites that are spread out across the 18 floors. Sweet Group is providing contract administration and support services on the hotel. Paul Wilson, Managing Director of John Sisk & Son, said: “Working together with Shangri-La to deliver their unique hospitality experience in London is a project we are very excited about. Shangri-La offers a distinctive and luxurious style of service, and The Shard will complement this experience with its breath-taking views. “Working on The Shard, at such a height and with restricted access and storage space, requires exceptional project management and logistical organisation from our team to elevate the materials and fittings to the hotel and operate efficiency alongside other contractors working on the rest of the building. Hotel construction is one of our key areas of excellence and we are delighted to be working with Shangri-La on such a landmark project.” Paul Nash, Operations Director and Global Head of Hospitality at Sweett Group, said: “We were delighted to have been selected by the Shangri-La Hotels Group to support them with the delivery of their first hotel in London. We are proud to be part of the team Shangri-La has assembled from across the UK and China to ensure that their vision for this landmark building is realised.” Dean Webster, Sweett Group Chief Executive Officer, added:

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“Having already delivered a number of projects for Shangri-La in China this is a testament to the group’s global expertise and capability in servicing global clients from across our network of offices.” The guest rooms at Shangri-La will be amongst the largest in London, with a number of suites incorporating glass-enclosed balconies dubbed winter gardens. Each room will cover an average area 42 m Sq and many rooms will include the Shangri-La Bed – a high-quality bed featuring patented body-contouring. Additional features in guest rooms include LCD TVs, hi-fi equipment and a comprehensive selection of business and communication features. In addition to stunning guest rooms, Shangri-La also boasts a signature luxury spa, a fully equipped fitness facility and The Bar – a stunning drinks bar. Amongst the leisure facilities will be an indoor infinity swimming pool, a whirlpool, steam room and sauna. All of the leisure facilities are perfectly placed to offer guests panoramic views of the London skyline. The bottom two floors of the hotel (Levels 34 & 35 of The Shard) will house the Hotel’s restaurant, along with a food theatre cafe, bars and function rooms capable of accommodating 300 people. Food and drinks outlets will offer a range of cuisines, combining a number of international dishes, whilst multiple cooking stations will showcase live cooking experiences. To round off facilities at Shangri-La Hotel, a number of premium meeting spaces will also be available to provide convenient meeting venues in the heart of the city. The Hotel’s Business Centre will include boardrooms, a selection of PCs, secretarial support services and office equipment. All office floors in the building will be serviced by two goods lifts, each capable of transporting a 3,500Kg capacity. In keeping with all Shangri-La Hotel’s the site housed within The Shard will offer guests a warm and hospitable experience backed by a professional and caring team of staff. The core values of the hotel group – helpfulness, courtesy, sincerity and humility – will form the cornerstone of working practices at the Shangri-La Hotel when it opens in 2013. Anthony Draper, Senior Project Manager at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, said: “This project is not only about delivering a premier hotel – this

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is a landmark project for Shangri-La and our first hotel venture in the UK. This appointment is the result of an intensive procurement process, extensive research and competitive tendering to find a trusted partner who clearly demonstrated a proven capability of delivering the standards synonymous with the Shangri-La brand. “As a result of their extensive five-star building experience, together with being able to deal with the logistical constraints that working in the Capital can bring, John Sisk & Son give us the assurances we are seeking. In addition their understanding of hotel pre-opening activities gives us confidence that their focus is on quality and service delivery.”

Chadwell Based in London, Chadwell is a building contractor providing flexible and affordable solutions to the construction industry. Formed in 1984 the company specialises in a number of design and building solutions, from maintenance through to the installation of mechanical and electrical works. Chadwell services a range of clients, from home renovations to large commercial projects and its clients include WH Smith, JD Sports, KFH, Gordons & Co and Norwood’s. The company also has a large staff of skilled and experienced professionals, who have helped Chadwell’s to grow into a trusted all round property contractor. As a reliable ISO9001 contractor Chadwell adheres to a number of its own mission statements, including meeting and exceeding clients’ expectations, by completing all works on time and free of defects. Chadwell’s also works hard to ensure that its carbon footprint is kept to a minimum. On The Shard, Chadwell was proud to be working within the retail fit-out, which was completed on time and within budget.

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The Shard was a particularly important project for A1 Flue Systems and involved the manufacture of seven flues. The flues were installed inside a purpose built shaft that ran from the sub basement through 19 floors of the building. A1 Flue Systems began work on the project in mid-2010 and completed work in February 2012. The Senior Managers at A1 Flue Systems, said: “At A1 Flue Systems we are most proud of the fact that we are specialist flue manufacturers and not stockists. All of our work is tailor made and made to order. “We are market leaders and our portfolio of work covers all aspects of the commercial sector, from water treatment works and prisons, to schools, universities and hospitals.”

Soldata On the Shard, Soldata’s unique experience in structural and rail monitoring was called upon to provide a real time monitoring and reporting solution.

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The monitoring system was designed to provide automatic data during the unloading caused from the demolition of the 25 storey Southwark Towers, construction of a three level deep basement and the subsequent surcharge associated from the construction of the Shard. All of this work occurred above one of the busiest rail terminals in London. With London Underground, Network Rail, Guy’s Hospital and numerous commercial properties being interested parties the system required robust engineering and monitoring. The designed system pivoted around Soldata’s Cyclops technology (robotic total stations working in groups) monitoring absolute structural movements at ½ hourly intervals 24/7. This was supplemented with ground instrumentation and classical movement sensors providing corroborative data where required. All of the data from the automated instruments was wirelessly collected, stored and processed within Soldata’s Geoscope software. Geoscope is GIS based, capable of combining information from a variety of sources, manual survey, geological logs,

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construction parameters, compensation grouting and TBM parameters (although not used in this case). Interested parties can view the data remotely via the web or carryout more in depth analysis on software enabled computers. Predetermined trigger breaches notify key personnel so that prompt mitigating action can be started, if required.

HCE For over 25 years, HCE has specialised in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of commercial catering kitchens. During this time, the company has grown to become one of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial kitchens and also provides an extensive after sales service. HCE has worked on many high profile projects including Ascot Racecourse, The Savoy, Bvlgari Hotel, Hilton Heathrow Terminal 5, Eurostar and other diverse installations such as The Pier at Weston-Super-Mare and most recently a new fast-food outlet at Paultons Park, Romsey. HCE Director, Steve Holley, said: “This is the first Shangri-La Hotel to be based in the UK, so securing the catering and bar facilities project was particularly important to HCE, being such a high-profile job which will be carried out very much within the public eye. It goes without saying, of course, that this is a very prestigious, unique and uncompromisingly prominent landmark building in Central London so, naturally, we are particularly keen to ensure the project ranks up amongst our best work.” Steve Holley added: “A key element of our success is the unwavering commitment of our very own in-house Project Managers, who constantly strive to ensure a smooth, hassle-free installation, therein fulfilling our customers’ dreams and leaving them wanting to come back to us for more. “Ultimately, our goal is to become the catering equipment company of choice throughout the UK for all Kitchen projects.” Find out much more about HCE’s services on the firm’s extensive website: www.hce-catering.co.uk.

Platt & Reilly Platt & Reilly is a large partition & ceiling company specialising in high specification projects. Current projects include ShangriLa Hotel in the Shard, The International Broadcasting Centre at Olympic Park, Google Headquarters in Dublin and Phase One of World One in Mumbai, the tallest residential building in the world. Platt & Reilly is a forward thinking, dynamic company ever striving to be the best. Many features of the company’s business model are unique to the Platt & Reilly and give the business a competitive edge. One simple example of this is the company’s investment in handheld tablet devices for its directors, contracts managers, quantity surveyors, safety officers and supervisors on site. Drawings are always at the fingertips of the entire team. Documents such as method statements can be signed and recorded electronically. Emails can be generated with combinations of pictures, extracts from drawings and notes in seconds. This allows queries to be addressed promptly and accurately. Handheld tablet devices, used in conjunction

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with handscanner hardware, allow supervisors to view online in real-time how many employees have scanned in through the hand scanning system, thus improving efficiency, timekeeping, improving response time to emergency situations etc. Reducing the companies waste has become a key priority. Partition & ceiling installation by its nature produces the most waste of any internal trade, particularly on residential and hotel developments. Traditionally each component is bought oversized and cut to size on site however, with proper planning at the outset all materials can be manufactured to size. This has many benefits including but not limited to: the virtual elimination of waste both at point of production and on site by 8%, reduction of demand on site cranes/hoists etc, minimisation of labour demands, improvement of installation, reduction in carbon footprint, elimination of horizontal joints in plasterboard. Platt & Reilly strives to be the best and constantly changes and improves. Every team member contributes to this ethic and makes it happen. Platt & Reilly Director, Pat Reilly, said: “The Shard is a fantastic building and we are proud to be involved. The building obviously brings its own unique challenges but we have a can do attitude and are enjoying the experience. “We work well with Sisk and believe that both companies compliment each other. We have a strong and experienced team who ensure the fundamentals, along with new technologies, are embraced when completing projects.”

Rovac Contracts Rovac Contracts is a finishing specialist renowned for its knowledge, expertise and quality in the processes, formulations and application of finishing for buildings and fabrications. Rovac Contracts operate a policy of combining the best solutions, the highest quality and the strongest value for their customers and services include specialist paintings and coatings, building façade repair and maintenance. Rovac Contracts was formed in 2000 however the company’s management team has more than forty years-experience in the field of specialist paints and coatings, working with many of the major paint manufacturers and painting equipment suppliers. In addition, Rovac Contracts works with many leading main contractors and curtain wall contractors. Rovac Contracts Managing Director, Robert Owens, said: “We are proud to have worked for Mace & Scheldebouw on The Shard. We work throughout the UK and have been involved with many of the UK’s most prestigious projects including Ascot Racecourse, Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Olympic Park, Heron Tower, Canary Wharf and 1 Hyde Park. “This project was important for us because The Shard is an iconic building. It was of great interest and presented a challenge to all those concerns. Now that construction is complete we can look at The Shard and be proud of our involvement with the project.” Robert Owens added: “Rovac prides itself in being able to provide a high quality service to its customers having the ability to consistently deliver in terms of quality, cost and time.”

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Image by Farid Khayrulin

JW Marriott Absheron arrives in Baku The luxurious JW Marriott Absheron Hotel has opened in Baku. JW Marriott Absheron is a 23-storey hotel housed within a stunning mixed-use development. The Pasha Inshaat developed building comprises 16 floors of private residences and serviced apartments, a number of retail and office spaces, and the new hotel. A single level basement car park is also located below the building. The external face of the impressive new building is approximately 50% glass, which has been coated and triple glazed for energy efficiency. Perforated trusses were introduced at podium level of the building to stabilise the fascia against Baku’s high winds. The perfect balance of horizontal and vertical elements in the building’s design creates a unique rhythm to the structure, whilst cast stone panels and frameless glazed elements create simplicity to the building’s appearance. Features of JW Marriott Absheron include 243 large guestrooms and suites – ranging upwards of 40 sq meters – and a rooftop pool hall and spa as well as a 1200 sq metre pillar-less ballroom which provides the perfect venue for weddings. A variety of guest rooms are on offer at the hotel, from executive premier rooms, to deluxe king rooms and presidential suites. All of the rooms at JW Marriott Absheron include a spacious desk, laptop safe, luxurious bedding, flat screen TV, Wi-Fi and a mini-bar. The hotel also includes a reception and concierge on ground level as wells as restaurants on the first floor which benefit from uninterrupted views of the Caspian Sea. The restaurants include the Fireworks Oriental Kitchen serving Asian cuisine, OroNero Bar & Ristorante offering up Italian delights, Razzmatazz

Cocktail Bar & Lounge and Zest Lifestyle Cafe. During the day Razzmatazz Cocktail Bar & Lounge will serve traditional teas as well as coffees and snacks, whilst during the evening the bar will offer up a delicious array of cocktails. Zest Lifestyle Cafe meanwhile comprises a mix of shopping, tasting and meeting space and is a brand new lifestyle concept for Baku. Additional features of JW Marriott Absheron include a barber/ beauty shop, a florist, a game room, on-site laundry facilities, valet dry-cleaning and a gift/newsstand. 24-hour room service is also in operation at the hotel. The new building also incorporates a landscaped area which was designed to create an oasis-style environment within the site. The outdoor area provides a tiered seating space where guests can watch festivals and events that take place within the nearby Azadliq Square. Meanwhile public areas have been designed to seamlessly link together lobbies, pre-function areas and the restaurants and bars. As the brand new building is situated adjacent to Government House and overlooks Azadliq Square, the design brief called for a prominent landmark that could perfectly sit alongside the existing square. A principle objective was also to provide one of the most sought-after food and beverage offerings in the city, which has certainly been achieved. In order to construct the new hotel, the previous Absheron Hotel was demolished so that the new building could be constructed on the approximate footprint as the former structure. German-based construction company Strabag AG was the main contractor on JW Marriott Absheron Hotel, whilst ReardonSmith Architects provided architectural services on the project. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

ReardonSmith Managing Director, Conrad Smith, said: “The completion of the JW Marriott Absheron marks a very special moment in the evolution of ReardonSmith. We are wellknown for award-winning hotel restoration and refurbishment projects and now this hotel, designed to compete with the best in the world, demonstrates that we also deliver modern new buildings fit for leading international hotel brands.”

ReardonSmith Architects ReardonSmith Architects is an award-winning global leader in hotel and resort design. The practice has an unrivalled track record in the restoration and rebuilding of luxury hotels in London as well as an enviable reputation for creating new European and African destinations. ReardonSmith Architects’ current and recent projects include: The Savoy, Four Seasons and The Beaumont in London; two new ski resort hotels in Azerbaijan; a luxury hotel scheme for Tbilisi and the new Four Seasons in Baku. For more information on ReardonSmith please visit www.reardonsmith.com.

Strabag AG Strabag AG is a one of Europe’s leading construction groups, employing approximately 76,900 members of staff. The company’s core markets are Austria and Germany and its services cover all areas of the construction industry including building construction and transport infrastructure construction. Previous projects include Vrmac Tunnel in Montenegro, Sofia Airport Second Terminal and Limerick Tunnel, whilst current projects include Niagara Third Hydro Tunnel, in Canada. Strabag AG’s aim is to become Europe’s leading pure construction service provider. For more information on Strabag AG please visit www.strabag.

com.

AUTECH CONSTRUCTION Ltd. Co AUTECH CONSTRUCTION is a general contractor specialised in the provision of “turnkey solutions” for industrial, retail and residential sectors. AUTECH works from the ground level throughout the final stages of a project, including design and all related engineering works. AUTECH CONSTRUCTION has operated as a general contractor since the foundation of the Russian Federation and has already concluded a variety of first class project with many well known international clients. On behalf of the JW Marriott Hotel in Baku, AUTECH was invited to the project in order to complete the electrical works including all aspects of electrics and lighting for the whole building. AUTECH’s Business Development Director, said: “The JW Marriott Hotel in Baku was a very interesting and challenging project for us to be a part of. We were brought in during the final eight months of the project as a subcontractor and remained on the project until the end. “The job included a lot of custom tailored works as there were many unique details in the construction process that we had to incorporate. Needless to say that we had to engage our most experienced project managers and workers to comply with the quality requirements and needs of the client.”

TerraStruc TerraStruc is a general small-works and multi-service contractor specialising in internal partition & ceiling systems, general fit-out and finishes, hard & soft landscaping, general builders’ work and service installations. TerraStruc has been in operation since 1998 and active in the CIS region since early-2010. In Azerbaijan, TerraStruc’s clients include Pasha ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Construction, Mace International, Strabag SE, Codest International S.r.l., AIKON, The International Women’s Club, Depa and Pino Meroni. TerraStruc also has an enviable portfolio of projects that includes the JW Marriott Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel, Fashion Avenue at Port Baku Towers and the 28 May Shopping Centre. In addition TerraStruc is actively involved in various charitable community and social development programmes. As TerraStruc’s first major project in Azerbaijan, the JW Marriott development provided the company with the perfect opportunity to establish a reliable local supply chain, develop local management and administrative staff, and train and expand a skilled labour base. The project provided a unique opportunity to showcase TerraStruc’s capabilities to local developers, internationally renowned contractors and architects operating in the CIS region. Gasan Veliyev, TerraStruc’s Managing Director in Baku, said: “The JW Marriott is a first-of-its-kind in the region and we are proud to be associated with establishing a level of quality that the local players can benchmark against and aspire to in the rapidly expanding construction sector throughout the CIS region. “We pride ourselves on a pro-active attitude. Our team is enthusiastic, energetic, committed to efficiency and quality, and focussed on client satisfaction.” For more information visit www.TerraStruc.com or contact baku.projects@terrastruc.com.

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La Tasca: Bringing a Spanish flavour to the UK La Tasca is a Spanish tapas bar and kitchen specialising in freshly prepared food served in an authentically designed restaurant. La Tasca first opened its doors in 1993 in Manchester City Centre and has since grown to become a leading name in Spanish cuisine. Currently there are more than 65 La Tasca restaurants located across the UK, with five sites located in the US. La Tasca’s UK sites cover such varied locations as Glasgow, Derby, Liverpool and Norwich as well as eight different sites located throughout London. Each La Tasca restaurant has been expertly designed to provide diners with an eating destination that boasts its own unique character amongst all of the delicious dishes that have become synonymous with the La Tasca brand. Features of each site include striking ceramics, vibrant wall prints and rustic cookware and all are used to create the impression of traditional Spanish dining. Despite the unpredictable nature of the UK weather a number of sites also provide diners with the option to dine al fresco via the inclusion of outdoor seating areas. As a forward thinking company La Tasca is always aware of the need to continually improve its restaurants in order to meet the demands of its customers. As a result of customer feedback some of the restaurants across the La Tasca portfolio have recently received a makeover to ensure that they are as authentic to Spanish dining as possible. The new La Tasca design incorporates an all Spanish wine list as well as the opportunity to dine at the bar – something which

is very popular in Spain – via new seating provisions. The menu also received a makeover after tasting trials for an improved selection of dishes took place in 2011. La Tasca Leeds is one of the sites to have benefitted from the new La Tasca design, following on from the successful launch of the new concept in Windsor in August 2011. La Tasca Leeds General Manager, Declan Woodward, said: “Anyone visiting La Tasca will be stunned by the changes we’ve made. This was an entirely new concept, spanning the whole customer experience. Our aim was to deliver a sincere tapas experience in Leeds. “We introduced dining at the bar, a fresh, quality breakfast and a number of daily value-added offers, all of which combine with a new, radical contemporary interior design style to create a unique experience for customers throughout the day.” La Tasca CEO, Simon Wilkinson, added: “On the back of the successful menu trial in the new La Tasca Kitchen sites at the end of 2011, we have now launched the new menu across the whole estate. We carried out extensive guest research where the overwhelming feedback was incredibly positive around the freshness and quality of the new menu. “However we have taken the opportunity to tweak and refresh some of the dishes on the back of this feedback, prior to the launch we also simultaneously made the decision to change our whole food supply chain. This was a very exciting move for La Tasca and another step on our journey to cementing the brand at the top of the casual dining market.”

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Chrysan: Culinary delights from a Japanese master Located within Broadgate West, close to London’s financial district, Chrysan is the latest restaurant from fine dining experts the Hakkasan Group. The restaurant is set to open in September 2012 – through a partnership with highly respected Michelin star chef Yoshihiro Murata – and will offer innovative and experiential cuisine, within an exquisite setting. Working closely with Hakkasan, Chef Murata has created a Japanese inspired concept with his protégé Daisuke Hayashi, where local chefs and Japanese chefs alike will work with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to create exciting Japanese inspired fare. Ahead of the launch, Chef Murata spent several weeks scouring The British Isles to locate the very best suppliers in order to create the perfect dining experience for his guests. From an in-depth analysis of the UK supply chain, the expert chef was able to source the best products that the country has to offer, from the best ceramics in Wales to the freshest fish along the West Coast of Scotland. Chef Murata, commented: “I visited Scotland and tried the local salmon, both native and farmed lobsters and crab, and I was impressed by the amazing quality. The salmon was even better than in Japan! I also met a producer of Angus beef who insisted that the ageing process has to be 45 days, not 60 days. “Meeting such passionate producers is wonderful. English pork is very good too. There are so many high quality, superb ingredients in the UK so what is the point of sending food from Japan over to London?”

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Chrysan is a 130-cover restaurant comprising a dining room – including a chef’s table and private dining room – and NeNe, a stunning 30-seat cocktail bar. The restaurant takes its name from the flower Chrysanthemum and the bar was named after a Japanese princess. Chrysan is situated within walking distance from both Liverpool Street Station and Spitalfields Market and is perfectly located to reach a wide cross section of the public. The restaurant follows in the footsteps of a number of high profile eating establishments which have opened in London’s East End over the past three years, including sites for top chefs Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver. Chrysan will serve the traditional obanzai home cooking style of Kyoto, which is best described as simple yet delicious cuisine. In addition, Chrysan will offer an extensive à la carte menu, along with a tasting menu and set lunch menu which will include a bento box option. NeNe will also offer its own menu, comprising a bespoke cocktail list and a selection of light dishes. In keeping with the high standards of excellence and innovation established by Hakkasan Group, the service style at Chrysan will be less formal than traditional Japanese dining, but will still maintain the appropriate degree of sophistication associated with such a high profile site. Goodman Hitchens Plc was the main contractor on the project, whilst world-renowned master craftsman Yoshiaki Nakamura provided the interior design work on the restaurant. In addition to Chrysan, the Hakkasan Group has restaurants in New York, Abu Dhabi, Miami, Mumbai and Dubai as well as two Hakkasan outlets in London.

Chef Yoshihiro Murata Chef Murata is an internationally acclaimed master of kaiseki – a style of cooking akin to Western haute cuisine. He is the third generation chef patron of a traditional Ryotei restaurant in Kyoto which holds three Michelin stars. Early into his career, Chef Murata broke away from tradition to train in France and upon his return to Japan he introduced new techniques and influences which redefined the classic approach to kaiseki cuisine. Developing his skills Chef Murata then opened two new restaurants in Kyoto and Tokyo. In addition to his accomplishments in changing the face of Japanese cuisine, Chef Murata is the Chairman of The Japanese Culinary Academy, which has inspired such high profile chefs as Ferran Adria and Heston Blumenthal. Chrysan marks Chef Murata’s first international partnership with a restaurant group.

Spot On Tiling & Assessing Ltd Spot On Tiling & Assessing Ltd was formed by Dean & Alison Davis to provide the ultimate professional wall & floor tiling contractors, specialising in supply and fix of ceramics, terrazzo, limestone, & marble to high profile clients throughout the UK. Spot On Tiling & Assessing Ltd is recognised for the highest levels of standards, performance and pro active approach to problem-solving. The company is actively involved with the programming of projects to ensure that adequate time management is allowed to achieve the successful installation. Spot On Tiling & Assessing Ltd has been operational for over 7 years and has acquired a growing customer base among leading companies and high street names, based upon our reputation for quality and service. Naturally, the company only takes on work that it can guarantee 100% service. Some of the contracts Spot On Tiling & Assessing Ltd has successfully completed include Hakkasan Mayfair, Hakkasan Hanway Place, Canali on New Bond Street, Coach, Aspinals of London and River Island.

Becher Joinery Ltd For over 30 years Becher Joinery Ltd has provided bespoke joinery and cabinet making services for use in all areas of the construction industry and in particular the high-end housing and restaurant market. Previous clients include Victoria’s Secrets, Burberry and Aspinal of London as well as Chrysan. For Chrysan, Becher Joinery Ltd is providing screens, decorative ceilings, panelling and entrance and washroom doors. Becher Joinery Ltd Director, Richard Becher, said: “Working on Chrysan is very important to us. The type of finish that Chrysan is working towards is in keeping with the type of service that we provide and so it’s a perfect working relationship.

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“At Becher Joinery Ltd what we are most proud of is the quality of our work and our attention to detail.”

Insitu Fabrications Insitu Fabrications specialise in producing stainless steel fabricated kitchen equipment and server counter units for the catering and food processing industry. In addition to fabricating the units, the company also assembles equipment complete with appliances in-situ at the customer’s premises. All work is conducted by skilled tradesmen with vast experience in the industry. Insitu Fabrications has adopted the ethos of the traditional ‘family business’ with an open-minded egalitarian approach that has helped carve their enviable reputation as specialist stainless steel fabricators. It is through this combination of good employee relations, a traditional approach to craftsmanship and an ability to forecast trends that have proven to be the recipe for the company’s success. Over the past fifteen years Insitu Fabrications has had the privilege of working on many prestigious contracts in partnership with foodservice consultancies. This has included work undertaken for such customers as Hakkasan Restaurant, Busaba Restaurant and The Garrick Club, in London, RBS, Gogarburn, and The Kitchin in Edinburgh and the Armani Hotel in Milan. Diane Cooper, Insitu Fabrications, said: “We have been a principal kitchen manufacturer for Hakkasan since their inception and are presently working on their new Chrysan Restaurant. Having worked with Hakkasan on many of their restaurants we were excited to be involved in their new venture.”

Sidney Cubbage Ltd Formed in 1927, Sidney Cubbage Ltd is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialist, providing mechanical service systems for use in the commercial sector. The company has installed systems for use in a variety of sectors, from the retail and leisure industries to hospitals and schools. Previous clients include Armani, Harrods, Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Selfridges. On The Chrysan project, Sidney Cubbage Ltd is supplying and installing all of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing and drainage systems for use in the restaurant, kitchen and bar areas. Sidney Cubbage Ltd Contracts Manager, Paul Maidment, said: “Being involved with Chrysan is very important to us. This is a very high profile site that showcases the quality of our workmanship. “At Sidney Cubbage Ltd we are most proud of the high level of service that we provide to our clients, as well as our ability to deliver on programme.”

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CitizenM: Affordable luxury for the modern traveller Since opening its doors in 2008, CitizenM has transformed overnight accommodation for the modern traveller. The brand’s target demographic is the mid-week business person who seeks luxurious yet affordable accommodation, and this is precisely what has encouraged CitizenM to open up new hotels in some of the world’s most vibrant cities. To date, CitizenM has opened four hotels, including two sites in the UK – London and Glasgow –and two sites in Amsterdam. CitizenM Bankside London is the latest of the four sites to open and made its debut on 4th July 2012. The 192-bedroom hotel is located in Bankside –London’s new business and cultural district – and is just a few minutes from the Tate Modern Museum, Millennium Bridge and the Globe Theatre. Derbyshire based contractor Bowmer and Kirkland was the main contractor on CitizenM Bankside London, whilst AXIS architects was the architect. Ramboll’s was the structural engineer and Battle McCarthy was the mechanical and electrical engineer. Polcom provided bespoke furniture for all of the guest rooms. CitizenM Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Robin Chadha, said: “CitizenM is a Dutch hotel group. We invest in a site, transform it into a brand new hotel and then we take ownership as the operator. “CitizenM is an entirely new hotel that is very different to any of the existing hotels on the market. We have reinvented the traditional model in every possible way, yet we have maintained the best level of quality for our guests. “Our partners come from a mix of backgrounds, including the hospitality and fashion industries. All of us have travelled exten-

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sively, so we know what we like from good hotels and what we dislike from bad hotels. The sticking point for us was that the hotel industry had never reinvented itself; there was no Apple of hotels. “So we began with a blank piece of paper and then over a two-year period, we worked out what our challenges would be and how to best design the hotel. From there we came up with a design which we have kept as the DNA for each site, and this has in turn helped us create each new CitizenM hotel.” Upon entering any CitizenM hotel in the world, guests are greeted by an ambassador – a member of the hotel personnel trained in all aspects of the hotel’s daily requirements. Each ambassador will attend to guests’ requirements, from dealing with any queries to mixing cocktails in the bar. Guests then check in, using state-of-the-art automated kiosks that allow guests to register their stay swiftly and smoothly. The entire check in process takes approximately one minute and check out is even quicker, with just a 30-second departure time. Another very unique aspect of the CitizenM brand is that there is only one type of room available to guests. There are no double rooms or suites: everyone who stays in a CitizenM hotel is an equal. Each luxurious room covers an area of 15 sq metres and includes wall-to-wall windows, en-suite facilities – including a power shower – and a 2x2 metre bed. An ambient server is also housed within each room and is connected to a touch screen tablet that controls window blinds and lighting and even allows guests to stream movies. A morning alarm system is also programmed into each room, offering guests the option of a gentle audio message or a rather loud and abrupt wake-up call.

Despite the attractive features of the guest bedrooms, the CitizenM philosophy is that guests do not spend a great deal of time in their rooms, so break-out areas are therefore conveniently placed around the hotel to offer alternative rest spots. On the ground floor, a large lobby is divided into several small areas dubbed living rooms. The rooms are designed in cooperation with the Vitra furniture collection and offer a place for guests to eat, watch television or just relax. Also located on the ground floor is CanteenM, a 24/7 refreshment zone providing a selection of hot meals and cold snacks. Designed as a mixture between a coffee bar and a walk-in kitchen, CanteenM provides guests with a place where they can eat and drink at any time throughout the day. With the ground floor offering a relaxation zone for guests, the first floor is reserved for the more businesses-minded. Comprising seven creative suites and SocietyM – a private meeting room – the dedicated business zone includes audio and visual equipment, white boards and climate control. Corridors on the first floor are fully glazed and each room includes a bespoke cabinet filled with inspirational items and books. To complete the hotel, an atrium runs through the centre of the building to draw in natural daylight. Robin Chadha said: “All CitizenM hotels are similar and although we make slight changes to fit in line with technological advances, our key drives remain the same; a great bed, great service, great technology and great design. “Our tagline is ‘affordable luxury’, which seems like a cliché, but this is exactly what CitizenM offers. We have removed the hidden costs, so for example all Wi-Fi and on-demand movies are included as part of a guests’ booking and we have automated check-in processes to speed up arrivals.” “At CitizenM we always put ourselves in the shoes of the consumer and we focus on the key metropolises of the world. Our aim is to have multiple hotels in locations where business

travel will always be present. We now have seven new sites in the pipeline, including three additional hotels in London, two in New York – including one in Times Square – one in Paris and one in Rotterdam. “Our target audience is travelling to these locations, so we want to ensure that we have a presence when they arrive. The opening of our latest hotel in London was a great achievement and we are now ready to get started on our site in New York.”

Battle McCarthy Created in 1993 in response to the UN Rio Agenda 21 Sustainable Conference, Battle McCarthy specialise in the design and delivery of sustainable solutions for the built environment. Services include research & development, sustainable master planning, and structural mechanical, electrical and public health services engineering, amongst others. Battle McCarthy has worked on a wide range of projects, covering all building types and disciplines, and has undertaken work for many predigest clients including, but not limited to, the British Government (Home Office, UK, London), King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia (King Abdulaziz’s City for Science and Technology), and CitizenM. On CitizenM, Battle McCarthy has utilized their in-house knowhow and expertise in modern methods of construction to create with the team a pre-engineered modular hotel system for the brand. The success of the collaboration with CitizenM has resulted in providing affordable, environmental quality hotel facilities in the heart of London. A spokesperson for Battle McCarthy, said: “We believe that environmental sustainable design should be economically viable and provide social well-being. We will always endeavor to find and recommend the solution that provides the best value to the client in terms of life cycle and capital costs. We also have a proven track record of identifying international grant funding that will aid in the delivery of more

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innovative sustainable demonstration projects. “Sustainability is a journey of continuous efficiency improvement through innovative design and applied scientific achievement to achieve more with fewer resources. “Battle McCarthy’s success has grown out of our ability to foster and synergise this unique range of skills and experience within the practice. This, in tandem with our passion for delivering solutions that not only meet the client’s objectives and budget expectations but are also sustainable, forms the foundation of our constructive collaboration with stake holders. All members OK the design and this approach still holds true today. As a consequence of this approach, we have established a world renowned reputation for breaking boundaries and producing award winning results.”

Catering Projects Ltd Catering Projects Ltd specialises in the design, supply and installation of commercial kitchens, with a particularly focus on the casual dining markets and leisure industry sectors. The company’s clients include: Las Iguanas, Chipotle, Nando’s, Giraffe, Byron (Gondola Group), The Restaurant Group, Butlins, SSP, Goodman, Odeon and YO! Sushi, amongst others. Operating from the company’s new modern premises at Barlbrough Catering Projects has a turnover of around £5 million with a team of 14 experienced and highly motivated people. Catering Projects Ltd has recently invested in a new look web site along with a 3D Inventor drawing package which will eventually enable all of its clients’ proposals to be presented in 3D. Most of Catering Project’s work has been self-generated from word of mouth and with the constant drive to complete projects to the satisfaction of its clients expectations, generating repeat business has been a huge success to its growth over the past seven years. Catering Projects Ltd Group MD, Mark Barnes, said:

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“We were approached 18 months ago by Citizen M Hotels to design, supply and install their pantry kitchen and front of house areas for their exciting new project at Bankside, London. After our initial meeting in Amsterdam we immediately identified our high fabrication detail and forward thinking equipment technology would be greatly appreciated. “After a successful handover at Bankside the hotel is now operational and we are very proud to be part of the development and hope to be involved in further opportunities both here in the UK and Europe to support their rapid expansion.” Mark Barnes added: “At Catering Projects Ltd we pride ourselves in our ‘account management’ approach to our customers and how we drive our installations to the highest standards. With a great eye for detail during the installation and a strong passion of aftercare service our team works on the principle that ‘you are only as good as your last job!’”

Red Hot World Buffet fights off the competition As the fastest-growing buffet restaurant chain in the UK, Red Hot World Buffet celebrates an unrivalled reputation for providing eager customers with a range of cuisines from all over the world. Offering 300 freshly made dishes from across the globe, the chain celebrates an extensive menu that boasts a huge list of cuisines, including: Italian, Cajun Mediterranean, Thai, Tex Mex, Chinese, English and Japanese. With restaurants in prime locations such as Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Nottingham, the Red Hot World Buffet chain enjoys a constant stream of both loyal and new visitors who are keen to sample the scrumptious food on offer. The first Red Hot World Buffet restaurant opened in Nottingham in May 2004 to an unprecedented public response, which would ultimately see the opening of a second restaurant in Northampton in 2006. Following this, restaurants began to spring up in locations across the UK – including Milton Keynes in 2008, Liverpool in 2009, Leeds in 2010 and Manchester in 2011. Dan Brown has been with the brand from the start and is part of the senior management team, offering a range of services including project management, interior design and post-construction supervision. In an exclusive interview with Premier Construction Magazine, he discussed the phenomenal growth of Red Hot World Buffet: “International buffet cuisine is an exciting concept as it allows an interaction between all of the different types of food. Unlike other competitors that offer multi-cuisine, we have individual live stations for each of the different cuisines; even the dessert

counter is alive with ice cream and pastry kitchens. “We have experienced a huge surge in visitors over the last few years as restaurant-goers are becoming more and more eager to sample foods from all over the world at a competitive price. In fact, the restaurants have become so popular that we have even had to go back and expand some of our existing developments.” One such development is the Manchester restaurant, which has recently undergone an extension project in order to expand the existing restaurant across two floors. An additional 150 seats have been added, along with another bar and waiting area. Furthermore, a unique concept named ‘Red Hot Rooms’ has created themed booth rooms for hired parties and large groups. Before the existing restaurant was constructed in 2011, the development required a complete strip-out back to the shell before the conversion phase could take place. Dan Brown commented: “The Manchester project has been very challenging, as it was an old office block and was therefore not designed to welcome thousands and thousands of visitors a week through its doors. As a result, we had to alter the low office ceilings and configure the substation so it was capable of powering large catering equipment. “Other features include glossed ceilings to give the illusion of double-height space, and the trimming of openings to get rid of the claustrophobic office feel. In addition, we have used cutting edge materials throughout the development and incorporated a range of sustainable features. “For example, all of the lighting is LED based, whilst the heating and cooling systems are as energy efficient as possible. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Furthermore, we have also incorporated motion-sensitive lighting, recycled materials and reclaimed goods. “We are delighted to have opened this restaurant in the heart of the city, and Manchester is set to become one of our flagship developments. The need for additional floor is a mark of how popular the restaurant has become, which, in my opinion, is an excellent thing.” One of the main factors behind the chain’s immense success is the welcoming atmosphere that each restaurant exudes. The restaurants celebrate a broad customer base, as Dan Brown explained: “All of our customers are completely different. They may be someone finishing at the gym and coming for food in their casual clothes, they could be coming in for a business meeting or they might be on a date or with their family. Our restaurants aren’t pretentious and we try hard to make sure that each one of our customers feels relaxed and comfortable.” As their impressive portfolio continues to expand, Red Hot World Buffet is fast establishing a distinctive brand design that is as flexible as their menu. The colour scheme remains the same throughout their restaurants – a striking palette of red and black – however each restaurant celebrates features that make each Red Hot World Buffet experience unique.

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Dan Brown explained: “The venue of each restaurant is different, and each restaurant therefore slightly deviates from the distinctive Red Hot World Buffet concept. For instance, at the Manchester restaurant we created an airport check-in desk and different feature zones for the different cuisines, whilst the Cardiff restaurant has a very contemporary feel as a result of a low, mirrored ceiling and mezzanine floor. “We always endeavour to make the customer experience completely unique, at every restaurant, every time. Our aim is to ensure that every time a customer chooses to visit, they will see something that they haven’t seen before or try a dish that they haven’t seen before. “Our interiors are like our cuisine: there is so much variety and choice, and different world influences are all merged together under one roof. Here at Red Hot World Buffet, we like to say that we provide a visual feast along with an actual feast.” Lucky customers will soon be helped to an extra portion, as the original Nottingham restaurant is set to be expanded to become the largest Red Hot World Buffet restaurant in the UK. Opened in 2004, the Nottingham restaurant was Red Hot World Buffet’s first entry into the world of buffet cuisine and comprised just 5,000 square feet. The restaurant is currently

its materials from all over the globe and cultivates up to 75,000 sq. metres of Mother of Pearl per year. Shellshock Designs Ltd has worked with Red Hot World Buffet for over three years, supplying the restaurant chain with many high-end niche materials that are otherwise unavailable in the UK. Shellshock Designs Ltd CEO, Jonathan Kern, said: “We have a factory in China and we have an association with 15 like-minded companies all working to the same standards of quality. “Whether it is glass mosaics, translucent stone or semiprecious stone slabs we are world leaders in sourcing these materials and we can offer our clients direct factory prices by cutting out the middle man. Jonathan Kern added: “At Shellshock Designs Ltd we have access to facilities that no one else has and we constantly explore new materials to provide our clients with new and unusual high-quality finishes.”

CK Direct Ltd

undergoing an exciting extension programme that will see the restaurant increase in size to a colossal 30,000 square feet, with a capacity of up to 650 customers. Dan Brown said: “We are hugely excited to be carrying out this extension project. The Nottingham restaurant will collate all of the materials that we have implemented over our previous projects, truly creating the ‘wow factor’ for customers. “Featuring multiple levels with ceilings of up to eight metres in height, the restaurant will incorporate a stunning bar area and a huge buffet with all of the live counters. The uniform look that we have developed across the brand will be piloted at the Nottingham restaurant, taking the brand forwards into the future. “It is set to be our largest restaurant yet – and the best part is that we’re back to Nottingham, where it all began.” For more information on Red Hot World Buffet or to find the nearest restaurant to you, visit www.redhot-worldbuffet.com

Shellshock Designs Ltd Shellshock Designs is the world’s largest manufacturer of opulent Mother of Pearl tiling and mosaics for use in hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars and private residences. The company sources

Peterborough based company Commercial Kitchens Direct supply and install bespoke extraction canopy and ventilation systems for schools, hotels, government buildings and brewery chains. Amongst its many services this includes the installation of commercial extraction hoods and canopies, bespoke kitchen ventilation and extraction systems, stainless steel wall cladding, UV odour control systems and replacement fans and filters. CK Direct Ltd has become a well established and leading supplier of commercial kitchen extraction systems and the team invests heavily in fabrication machinery and its skilled work force to reduce prices. The CK Direct team believe in identifying their customers’ requirements and carrying them out to the highest order, making them fully qualified to give the best service possible. In just nine years CK Direct has achieved multiple accreditations including: CHAS Registration, Safe Contractor Registered, ISO 9001, City and Guilds NVQ Level 3, Duct Hygiene Operative Grade 1, Corgi Air and Ventilation Accredited and HVCA Membership. All of CK Direct Ltd’s staff is fully trained in health and safety and all operatives and duct fitters are trained to skill card level. When setting up a new kitchen, the canopy and extraction system is a key aspect and a large part of a customers’ investment. CK Direct Ltd has a very comprehensive range of products and services, with canopies available at the lowest possible prices in the highest possible quality. All canopies are made with 304/430 grade stainless steel and include a full installation of all types of fans and speed controllers along with all relevant spiral or rectangular ducting. Call Now for a Free Quotation 0808 1780001 ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Tapas Revolution: Revolutionary cuisine Devised by top Spanish Chef Omar Allibhoy, Tapas Revolution is a brand new concept in eating which brings traditional tapas dining to high-profile destinations. To date, Tapas Revolution has two sites – Westfield and Bluewater – both situated conveniently in shopping centres and both are proving very popular with customers. DG Professional was the main contractor on both sites, whilst Brighton-based design company Design LSM provided all of the design work for the restaurants. DG Professional Interiors Company Director, Alan Masters, said: “Tapas Revolution is a new concept in dining from Omar Allibhoy and launched in 2010 with Tapas Revolution Westfield. The first site opened to great success so the concept was then quickly replicated a year later with Tapas Revolution Bluewater. “With both sites proving very popular Tapas Revolution is now looking at additional sites in other shopping centres to expand upon this success.” Omar Allbhoy added: “The idea for a ‘neighbourhood Spanish tapas restaurant and bar was born out of my dream to bring a taste of the casual, convivial style of a Spanish all day bar to London; in other words, to share the everyday, authentic eating habits of my life in Madrid. “Our tapas, vino and cervezas are typical of those you will find in any barrio in my hometown. From the aged Jamon de bellota with a glass of Rioja, to a simple bocadillo; our fayre is meant to be shared, at any time of the day and any occasion.” The £500,000 Tapas Revolution Westfield site opened in December 2010. The site comprises a central kiosk and seating for 48 customers. The main materials of the bar include an oak facia with a polished pewter top, and steel lighting gantries and Tapas Revolution signage situated on top of the bar.

DG Professional Interiors produced CAD drawings for the site and constructed the bar off-site at their factory based in Nottingham. The bar was then transported in sections which were reassembled in-situ, with the pewter top seamlessly joined together before signage and lighting was installed. The kitchen area is situated behind the scenes and was fitted with full amenities including gas, water, drainage and associated mechanical works. Alan Masters said: “As we were working within the confines of a shopping centre all of the deliveries were made out of hours and we worked behind hoardings to shield the work from the public. “Although the time allocation was extremely tight with design decisions being adapted and changed as the need arose, DG Professional Interiors met the challenge and the project was implemented within the designated timescales.” Following the success of the Tapas Revolution Westfield, DG Professional Interiors was once again appointed main contractor on Tapas Revolution Bluewater. The 48-cover Tapas Revolution Bluewater site opened in December 2011 and comprises a large kiosk with seating located around the outside. Tapas Revolution Bluewater includes a remote kitchen – where all of the food is freshly prepared – and includes a stunning display case highlighting the brand’s impressive array of hams. Whilst the Bluewater site is very similar to the site in Westfield, Tapas Revolution Bluewater also includes booth seating which was a new idea incorporated into the site’s design. Alan Masters said: “We have worked with Design LSM for quite some time and due to this long running working relationship it was Design LSM who put us forward for Tapas Revolution Westfield. This allowed ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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us to be involved from the early stages of the restaurant’s development. “We were very pleased to be involved with Tapas Revolution as they are an exciting brand and we look forward to being a part of their future success.” Tapas Revolution co-creator Omar Allibhoy is a 27-year old Spanish chef, trained by Ferran Adria of El Bulli. Upon arrival in the UK Omar transformed the El Pirata Detapas into one of London’s best tapas restaurants before being shortlisted in 2010 for the OFM Young Chef of the Year Awards. Omar has appeared on Chef Gordon Ramsay’s television programme Ramsay’s Best Restaurant and is also a familiar face on Spanish TV.

client, large or small, with an outstanding service at a very competitive rate.”

MDB Plumbing (Nottm) Ltd MDB Plumbing (Nottm) Ltd is a nationwide company specialising in commercial plumbing and heating systems and gas works. The company has a wealth of experience garnered over many years from working on projects including various outlets at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, Harrods Food Court, Costa Coffee shops, Lacoste Flagship store, KFC and we provide both responsive and contract works for various local authorities. For Tapas Revolution, MDB Plumbing (Nottm) Ltd successfully installed the commercial gas -complete with cook safe system in the kitchen, making it fit for catering purposes including pressure testing and purging of all pipe work, hot and cold water systems and hot water cylinder. The water systems were cleaned and chlorinated before practical completion, giving the client confidence of a healthy water system. Nick Belshaw, MDB Plumbing (Nottm), said: “I am extremely proud of the level of growth we have achieved over the last few years, which is due to the outstanding service we provide. This, coupled with competitive rates and our dedicated work force, ensures our reputation as an efficient and reliable company will continue to grow. “At MDB Plumbing (Nottm) Ltd, we endeavour to provide every ROMA PUBLICATIONS

East meets West at Feng Sushi Feng Sushi is rapidly making a name for itself in Central London, as a leading brand in fresh and ethically sourced sushi. With eight restaurants situated around the nation’s capital, including Borough Market, Chalk Farm, Fulham Road, High Street Kensington, Notting Hill Gate and Royal Festival Hall, Feng Suhi is continuing to expand to meet customer demand. The latest site to open is Feng Sushi Hampstead which made its debut in June 2012. Situated on West End Lane, the 52-cover restaurant is located within a four-storey building and comprises 36-internal covers, 16-external covers and a dedicated take-away service. Work began on the site in April 2012. Design and fit-out specialists ECSEC was the main contractor on the restaurant and Stiff+Trevillion was the architect. Prior to work taking place on Feng Sushi Hampstead the site previously housed a restaurant, so work was conducted to extend and reconfigure existing kitchen areas. Whilst the kitchen received important modifications, the 1000 sq ft site also underwent a complete makeover to transform it into a fully functioning Feng Sushi restaurant. ECSEC Contracts Director Brian Trundle, said: “Feng Sushi Hampstead comprises a split-level floor with a staircase into the kitchen and a staircase down to the back of house areas. When we first started work on the site we decided

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to extend the kitchen to make it more efficient and then we undertook work to transform the rest of the restaurant so that it was in keeping with what customers would expect from the Feng Sushi brand. “As the site had previously been a restaurant we didn’t have to undertake much work to the exterior of the building. We gave the site a few cosmetic enhancements, re-branded the shop front with new signage and put in a seating area, but mostly we aimed to keep exterior work to a minimum.” Stiff+Trevillion Architectural Assistant Yukiko Kondo, added: “When we began on Feng Sushi Hampstead our brief was to improve upon the existing design layout that had been used in the previous sites. “As Feng Sushi already had an established design scheme we didn’t want to detract from this as it is something which customers will have become accustomed to. Our aim was to create a new design that would highlight and expand upon the already established features whilst at the same time offer something very new and unique. “We looked at the original colour scheme which we then enhanced so that it looked different, yet at the same time still maintained the characteristics of the Feng Sushi brand. “The idea was to incorporate traditional Japanese culture through a design that could mix well with Western styles. The site is now a perfect example of East meeting West in both mod-

ern and traditional styles.” Yukiko Kondo, added: “We crafted two distinct walls on both sides of a three dimensional module. This was inspired by a folding origami concept. We also redeveloped Feng Sushi’s original Kimono idea into new wall paper. “Stiff+Trevillion work on a range of restaurants, including a number of Japanese restaurants. The feedback we’ve had from Feng Sushi has been very positive.” Feng Sushi Hampstead is located on the ground floor of a four-storey building below two levels of residential units. The arrangement of the layout was crucial to maintaining a warm, comforting atmosphere by zoning the restaurant to keep deliveries and diners separate. Upon entry into the restaurant diners make their way into the lobby where a sales counter is located along with Feng Sushi’s legendary fish tank – a feature which has become synonymous with the brand. Delivery drivers are directed to an alternative area to avoid customers, keeping their dining experience calm and relaxed. The lobby leads into the main dining area, whilst customer toilets and back of house operations are located on the basement level. Additional features of the Feng Sushi Hampstead include banquet seating and a striking feature wall. All of the food served in Feng Sushi Hampstead is prepared fresh on site and a dedicated takeaway service is also available for customers. In addition to Feng Sushi Hampstead, main contractor ECSEC has also worked on the majority of sites within the Feng Sushi portfolio including Borough Market, Chalk Farm, High Street Kensington and Fulham. ECSEC also completed work on a Feng Sushi prep-kitchen and takeaway outlet located within Billingsgate Market. The company designed, built and transformed an existing freezer into the new prep-kitchen, creating something quite unique for the brand.

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company as they know they can trust us. We always complete our work to the highest standard.”

BCC Mechanical Services Ltd

Brian Trundle, said: “At ECSEC we build partnerships with a company and to date this is our fifth completed restaurant for Feng Sushi. “We were won the tender to become the company’s preferred contractor and our work either entails constructing brand new sites or reworking existing restaurants.” ECSEC started work on Feng Sushi Fulham in early 2011. Similar to Feng Sushi Hampstead, the Fulham site was formerly a restaurant so the company removed all existing features and reworked the building to match the requirements of the Feng Sushi brand. Work on Feng Sushi Fulham also included the upgrade of services. Brian Trundle, said: “Feng Sushi Fulham was a tight site so there were a few challenges in terms of space but we combated this by working within a manageable timeframe that allowed site teams to complete each operation in turn. “Whilst working on Feng Sushi Fulham we also worked concurrently on additional sites including Borough Market, Chalk Farm and High Street Kensington. Our role on these restaurants was to give each restaurant a cosmetic lift and a lot of the work took place at night. “Most recently we moved onto the South Bank Centre site where we have installed a new back-bar feature. The feature incorporates lighting and a floral pattern and is in keeping with the evolution of the Feng Sushi brand.” Brian Trundle, added: “All of the work that we have completed for Feng Sushi has been won at tender however we like to believe that we partner with the brand to offer the best service possible. “Our skills and workmanship help us to grow alongside all of the companies that we complete work for and we are always interested in building lasting relationships with our clients. “We have a team of staff who specifically work on Feng Sushi restaurants and this means that we can offer comfort to the

BCC Mechanical Services Ltd specialises in the design, supply and installation of air conditioning and ventilation systems for use in the commercial, leisure and retail sectors. The company also carries out all planned maintenance services. BCC Mechanical Services Ltd has been in operation for six years and has completed work for Giraffe, Wasabi and Hamleys Toy Shop in London. On Feng Sushi, BCC Mechanical Services Ltd design, supply and install air conditioning and ventilation systems, including specialist kitchen ventilation and odour control systems. To date, BCC Mechanical Services Ltd has worked on three Feng Sushi sites including Fulham Road, Billingsgate Market and West End Lane. BCC Mechanical Services Ltd Managing Director, Craig Ballantyne, said: “We love getting involved with a brand during the early stages of its development and this really helps us to build a long running working relationship with our client. “Our aim is to develop our business alongside the Feng Sushi brand and this is something that we try to achieve with each of our clients.”

MJL Ltd Morris Joint-Line Ltd. has been providing the best in commercial decorative finishes for over 20 years, working on a variety of exciting projects all over the country. MJL were delighted to be invited to be part of the team creating the Feng Sushi restaurant in Hampstead, North London. Colin Smith, MJL Ltd, said: “It was most rewarding to work on the interior and exterior of such a popular and growing brand, and we look forward to future collaborations with Escec and Feng Sushi, as they continue to expand.” This project has been another very successful appointment for Morris Joint-Line, as the company prides itself on its professional approach to moving a project forward. Colin Smith also expressed pride in his company’s ethos of nurturing a firm relationship with their client and believes that MJL’s working practices, account, in part, for their consistent repeat business and growth of their client base. This commitment and flexibility, along with MJL’s understanding of what qualifies as a superb standard of work, has led to the company’s involvement in many high profile commercial projects. In recent months, Morris Joint-Line has applied its recognised, high quality finishes to developments for Burberry, Selfridges, H&M, Ralph Lauren, Nespresso and Apex Hotels. The work of this forward thinking decorating contractor can also be seen in flagship stores at the new Westfield Shopping Centre at the Olympic site. MJL delivered the finishes to Forever 21, The Sting, Zara, Bershka and Pull & Bear; a great showcase for a dynamic decorating company. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

Flagship Revolucion de Cuba to open in Manchester 48

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A £1.5 million flagship restaurant for renowned brand Revolucion de Cuba is under construction on Peter Street in Manchester. Boasting a Cuban-style menu, the restaurant will offer customers a range of delicious dishes, including roasted chorizo, Cajun cream mushrooms, burritos and paella. Along with a ‘Rum Store’ with a collection of 50 of the finest rums from the Caribbean and Latin America, the bar will serve a range of homemade rums and delicious cocktails including Mai Tais and the notoriously intoxicating ‘Zombie’. Owned and operated by Inventive Leisure, the restaurant will be the fifteenth Revolucion de Cuba site to open in the last 12 months. Other locations include: Leeds, Sheffield, York, Cardiff, Blackpool, Norwich and Liverpool. Inventive Leisure was established in 1991 and opened their first Revolution Vodka Bar in 1996. Last year, the company decided to expand their portfolio using an entirely new concept, as Godfrey Russell from Inventive Leisure explained: “We have specialised in vodka for over ten years, and saw the opportunity to develop the Revolucion de Cuba concept with rum. As a result, we went out to Cuba and Miami to research Cuban culture, entertainment and drinks and subsequently adapted these influences for the UK market. “The concept is very much based around a 1930s Cuban feel, and we have incorporated a lot of pre and post revolution imagery, including sporting, dancing and film festivals from the 1940s and 1950s. We like to use a mixed palette that incorporates vibrant artwork with furniture in white, dark tan and brown, as we feel this reflects an authentic Cuban feel. “Sheffield was our first prototype and we were able to take some elements from this site and use them to inform our next projects. Despite similarities between the sites, such as furniture and furnishings, each of the projects is treated individually and we never just roll out the same design. We have retained

two designers – Mark Mason Design and Julian Taylor Design Associates – throughout the course of the projects and they have been instrumental in helping the design to evolve.” Work began on the Manchester site in June 2012, with the 12week project being carried out by main contractor Sanderson Construction. Situated within the former Squares bar, the project has seen the complete strip-out of the ground and lower ground floor. The light and airy ground floor covers approximately 4,000 sq ft and will cater for the food trade, whilst the basement covers around 3,000 sq ft and is designed to suit an evening clientele. In total, the restaurant will seat up to 130 people. A tasteful material palette will include white Carrera marble, reclaimed brick and glass. In addition, recycled vintage furniture will feature heavily throughout the bar. Godfrey Russell, Inventive Leisure, added: “This has been a challenging project as the new restaurant lies beneath existing offices and we therefore had to plan our works carefully. As a result, a lot of the work – for instance sandblasting – has been carried out at night. Although this has been difficult at times, we have been lucky to have a supportive landlord and we have been able to cooperate with our neighbours in order to minimise disruption. “Revolucion de Cuba (Manchester) will be something completely new. People know us for our vodka bars, but we are now hoping to attract an older clientele and focus more on food. For us, music and food are interlinked, so we have a lot of live music – which not many venues do these days. Rum is a fantastic drink and we also offer a wide range of beers and cocktails, so it’s well worth coming down and having a taste!” The restaurant will launch in mid September and the Macclesfield, Derby and Bournemouth sites will open thereafter. A further ten sites are scheduled to open throughout 2013.

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Pro Technical (UK) Ltd Pro Technical (UK) Ltd specialise in the installation of audio and visual equipment for the leisure and retail industry, including stadiums, nightclubs and bars. The company has been in operation since 1997 and has completed work for a number of Revolution Vodka Bars. On Revolucion de Cuba, Pro Technical (UK) Ltd installs sound systems, plasma displays and effects lighting. To date, Pro Technical (UK) Ltd has worked on eight Revolucion de Cuba sites. Pro Technical (UK) Ltd Company Director, Richard Anderson, said: “Working on Revolucion de Cuba sites is very important for us. We have a good working relationship with the brand – which came from working on 18 Revolution Vodka Bars – and it is great to continue this partnership. Richard Anderson added: “At Pro Technical (UK) Ltd we offer bespoke design and the effects lighting that we install is a very integral part of creating the correct atmosphere at each site.”

Corrie and Routh Ltd Sheffield based Corrie and Routh Ltd are plumbing, heating, air conditioning and ventilation engineers. For Revolucion de Cuba bar, Corrie and Routh Ltd conducted plumbing alterations and installed a new ventilation and air conditioning system. Corrie and Routh Ltd Director, Ian Cantrell, said: “Working on Revolucion de Cuba was challenging but rewarding. We worked on the site for 12 weeks, providing bespoke services and it was quite a big project for us. “We endeavor to provide a full mechanical service for all our clients and provide them with the personal attention that they deserve.”

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Europe’s largest Thai restaurant opens in Glasgow Founded in Leeds in 2004, Chaophraya Thai Restaurant & Palm Sugar Bar is committed to bringing authentic Thai cuisine to eager customers across the UK. The chain has since opened restaurants in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool, with their latest offering in Glasgow set to cement Chaophraya’s reputation for serving delicious Thai-style food in stunning surroundings. Named after the Chaophraya River, Thailand’s main waterway, the chain serves to infuse traditional Thai food and drink with a bustling atmosphere that is reminiscent of the streets of modern Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Their tantalising menu boasts a range of delicious treats, including pineapple fried rice and sea bass with lime and chilli. Each of the restaurants possesses its own unique character and reflects both the building and the city in which it resides, and the new Glasgow restaurant is certainly no exception. Housed within a Grade A listed building that dates back to the early 20th century, the restaurant stands approximately halfway along the busy thoroughfare of Buchannan Street in Glasgow town centre. Originally constructed as The Liberal Club of Glasgow in 1909, the building has also served as the College of Dramatic Art and the Royal Academy of Music. Chaophraya restaurateurs Martin Stead and Kim Atcharaporn Keawkraikhot recognised the potential of the site and engaged their long-term interior design consultants JMDA Ltd to work alongside main contractor G F Holding and architect Horsley

Townsend to transform the site into the largest Thai restaurant in the country. The 14-week project was completed in July 2012 at a cost of £2.1 million. Working in an existing building posed several challenges, as Managing Director of JMDA Ltd, Jonathon Morgan, explained: “As we were working with such a sensitive building, it was essential that the project team were involved from the start to ensure that the listed features were not disturbed. Due to the age of the building, there was a distinct lack of services such as gas, and the building therefore simply didn’t meet the client’s basic requirements for a comfortable environment, not to mention the essentials of state-of-the-art IT. By working closely with the Glasgow planning authorities, we were able to rise to the challenge and the end result provides ‘all mod cons’ in a discrete and sympathetic manner which everyone is proud of.” Upon entering the restaurant, customers are greeted by a grand marble floored entrance hall that has been enhanced using authentic Thai furniture and a juxtaposing contemporary chandelier. A chic bar to the right of the imposing lobby celebrates an illuminated onyx backfitting and a Carrera marble topped server, with access from Buchannan Street provided via a floor-to-ceiling glazed architectural feature ‘lozenge’ with specially imported Thai Buddhas. To the left of the lobby, there is a relaxing lounge and bar area with huge antique mirrors and fuschia-inspired light fittings. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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The ornate staircase features custom designed carpets, bejewelled elephants and Buddhas and bespoke pendant lights, and leads to the double-height, 140-cover restaurant. In order to retain the rich atmosphere, JMDA Ltd have cleverly incorporated a raised area that houses leather booth seating flanked on either side by 3.5m-high glass, chrome and timber wine walls. Brass chandeliers with LED lighting illuminate the restaurant, whilst further details include the application of gold leaf decoration to the ‘wedding cake’ plasterwork of the ceiling. An intimate arched hallway with original panelling leads guests into the main VIP areas, which comprise three separate screened-off rooms with the themes of ‘Authentic Thai’, ‘Cuisine’ and ‘Funky’. Each of the rooms boasts its own unique features – including 8ft-high carved Thai ‘thrones’, sunken seating, a padded TV wall and chrome display cases housing authentic Thai ingredients – whilst all of the rooms sit below an ornate coffered ceiling with gold paper detailing. In contrast to the sumptuous decoration of the VIP rooms, a dark and moody Champagne bar area situated to one end features a backlit onyx bar, pendant lights, illuminated champagne tables and chrome and mirrored backfitting displays. A further VIP room can be found off the arched hallway. This breathtaking room features moulded panelling, a feature fireplace and large casement windows, and it is painted in a heritage dark blue/grey with pure white feature timber work. A central curved ‘figure of 8’ enclosure may be used for a single party of 24 or be divided by brass inlaid sliding/folding screens to create two rooms of 12. Floating lanterns, richly stained timber divisions, brass inlays and candle stands feature heavily throughout the VIP room, whilst bespoke contemporary chandeliers emanate sparkle and ambience below the gold papered ceiling. Jonathon Morgan, JMDA Ltd, commented: “We only ever specify high-end materials for Chaophraya and

have incorporated marble and granite elements for the bars and toilets, along with chrome and glass for the wine cases and feature walls. In addition, we have incorporated rich warm timbers to reflect those used in Thailand as it was important to us to create the authentic Thai feel. “All of the carpets have been specially designed by Brinton Carpets in close collaboration with ourselves, whilst the bespoke light fittings were supplied by Chesterfield company Northern Lights and the furniture was created by Dawnvale of Oldham. We also imported some of the furniture from Thailand, which, along with the high class leathers and LED lighting has helped to create a truly stunning ambience. “JMDA Ltd has a dedicated team who are all very excited to have worked on this development, which is our 8th project for Chaophraya. It is an extremely interesting building architecturally and historically, and it is fantastic to see what we have managed to achieve in only a year from brief to handover, which is something of a miracle for a listed building of this size and complexity. The restaurant is breathtaking, and I think I can safely say that Chaophraya Glasgow is one of the most exciting restaurant/VIP/bars in the UK at the moment.” Oldham-based painting and decorating specialists Temple Somerville P&D Ltd completed both internal and external preparation and decoration works on Chaophraya Glasgow, which included the use of specialist wall coverings. Temple Somerville P&D Ltd Managing Director, Michael Keighery said: “The building is quite old and was an interesting structure to work on – in particular the main stairwell is very impressive. It used to be an open market hall and has some original cornices. It’s a lovely building. “We do a lot of out of hours work to accommodate clients who need a flexible service. We always prided ourselves on our reliability and excellent quality of work.” ROMA PUBLICATIONS

YCE Catering Equipment Ltd YCE Catering Equipment Ltd has been designing and supplying commercial catering equipment for kitchens and bars since 1980. During this time, the company has worked on a number

of impressive developments ranging from York Race Course, Four Seasons Health Care, Gatwick Airport, Sheffield Hallam University and The Salvation Army, amongst other prestigious clients. The Chaophraya restaurant in Glasgow was a particularly significant project for YCE Catering Equipment as it is the largest Thai restaurant in Europe. During the development they designed, project managed and installed the kitchen and bar area of the restaurant. The project marked the second occasion that YCE Catering Equipment Ltd had worked on a Chaophraya site, following the company’s involvement with the Liverpool site. YCE Equipment Ltd Project Manager, Wendy Highfield, said: “We are especially pleased to have been involved with this latest Chaophraya restaurant. It was a high-profile project and a well thought out development. “We are particularly proud of the high standard of work that we have achieved. We work in a confined area so we maximise the space available to produce the best possible solutions.”

JFA Contracts Ltd JFA Contracts Ltd provides artwork and decorative items for use in the leisure industry. The company offers its services for the refurbishment of hotels, restaurants and pubs and has been in operation since 1998. JFA Contracts Ltd has provided decorations for countless prominent clients such as Thistle Hotels, Hallmark Hotels and Indigo Hotels. Most recently, JFA Contracts Ltd has been involved with Chaophraya Glasgow, where their role involved providing bespoke decorations for the restaurant. These items included contributing striking Thai artefacts as well providing art work, mirrors, vases and a custom made metal floral display. JFA Contracts Ltd has previously worked on Chaophraya Liverpool. JFC Contracts Ltd Associate Director, Tracey Reeley, said: “Chaophraya Glasgow has been very important to the company and has been great to work on. “We take pride in the excellent service we provide our clients. Our directors are involved with every project from start to finish

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and our hands-on approach has garnered a reputation for great personal service.”

Brintons Carpets Limited Founded in 1783 and recently acquired by The Carlyle Group, one of the worlds’ largest global alternative asset managers – Brintons Carpets Limited specialises in the manufacture and supply of high quality bespoke and stock carpets. The company produces carpets to all sectors of the commercial market including hospitality, marine, casino gaming & leisure, airports and corporate. Brintons Carpets Limited also works with some of the world’s best architectural and design practices. Brintons Carpets Limited is the preferred supplier to many major international hotel groups and has worked extensively round the world with Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Hyatt to name a few. The company has also supplied products to a number of major airports including Delhi – which at the time was one of the largest carpet orders ever awarded to a single supplier – and has worked on many high profile cruise ships such as Queen Mary 2, QE2 and Balmoral.

Jane Bradley-Bain, Brintons Carpets Limited, said: “I have worked with JMDA on a number of interesting projects each with a unique ambitious and inspiring design concept which makes our job challenging, but also extremely fulfilling when we see the concept become a reality. It is always inspiring to work with creative architects such as JMDA on projects like Chaophraya.” Jane Bradley-Bain added: “We manufacture a high quality product and have built a strong reputation for quality that our clients trust. We invest heavily in design and technological innovation and we have real global reach having state of the art manufacturing plants in Portugal, the UK and India. “We are a design led company and strive very hard to listen to our clients needs; then we work to deliver them. We want to make the world a more beautiful place in what we do and working with creative people like JMDA on projects like Chaophraya goes some way to doing just that.”

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NHBC

NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2012 On June 22 NHBC announced the names of over 400 top achieving site managers who were recognised in the first round of the Pride in the Job Awards 2012. Names were shortlisted from over 13,000 UK site managers who have all excelled in their field over the past 12 months. Pride in the Job is the only UK-wide competition recognising site managers who achieve the highest level of standards in house-building. All site managers registered for NHBC warranty are automatically entered into the competition and to date A Pride in the Job Award is the highest industry accolade a site manager can achieve. For 32 years the award has been the driving force behind the production of top-quality homes in the UK.

Successful completion of CALA Homes’ Morningside development The completion of CALA Homes’ development at Morningside, Virginia Water has been met with praise by CALA Homes’ project manager and NHBC Award winner Terry Holmes. Morningside is an exclusive housing development in the highly desirable area of Virginia Water, Surrey. Comprising three large five-bedroom houses, construction was completed in July 2012. Discussing the completion of the project, Terry Holmes said:

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“Morningside was a genuine team effort and the completed work perfectly demonstrates the excellent teamwork that was employed by me, my team of sub contractors and CALA Homes head office. “From digging the first footing to putting the finishing touches of paint on the walls, the quality of the work that we have undertaken has been second to none and it can be seen in the finished product.” The luxury housing development was funded by CALA Homes – who also acted as the main contractor on the project – whilst Ashby Design Ltd was the architect. Work began on Morningside in August 2011. Prior to work taking place on the site an existing house was demolished to make way for the new development. The new homes were built using traditional construction methods of brick and block, with internal metal stud partition walls, UPVC windows and tiled roofs. Whilst each building is similar in design, the external facade of each property varies slightly and includes a mix of cladding, brick work and oak beams. Each new home features an elegant entrance hall, reception areas, a modern kitchen/breakfast room, a library, five bedrooms and en suite bathrooms. The kitchens include high-quality units, granite worktops, a built-in wine cooler and a number of state-

of-the-art appliances. En suite bathrooms include Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware, chrome and white finishes and thermostatically controlled Hansgrohe showers. Throughout the houses chrome electrical fittings have been installed at eye level, whilst white electrical fittings have been included at low level. Pre-wired TV/FM and satellite units have also been included in living rooms and master suites. These units are compatible with the popular Sky+ television system. Additional features at Morningside include an impressive staircase, subtle downlighters, solar heating, a conservatory incorporating a mix of heat reducing and self cleaning glass and electronic garage doors. Security alarm systems have also been fitted to each property to enhance security. An extensive landscaping and planting scheme was also included as part of the project and has helped to create stunning gardens with associated blocked paving for each property.

All three houses on the Morningside project were designed for the most discerning property owner and benefit from excellent transport links into London and a picture perfect setting. Terry Holmes, said: “In terms of the external appearance of each property there is a slight variation across all three houses, however the overall design remained the same and they all look fantastic. “Work on the project ran smoothly – without any major problems – and most importantly for us we finished this project on time and within budget. “Everyone is very delighted that the project has been recognised by an NHBC Award as it really is a great achievement after all of our hard work. “To win this award is important for CALA Homes, but it is also very important for me. This is the first time that I have won an award like this after coming close on a few occasions. This award is certainly one that I will remember.”

Transforming Newton Farm Newton Farm is a brand new housing development in Glasgow comprising a mix of two-bedroom semi-detached houses, three and four-bedroom detached houses and twelve flats. The development is currently under construction and is being built for Taylor Wimpey – who is also the main contractor on the project. Graham Oswald of Taylor Wimpey is the architect on Newton Farm. Once work on Newton Farm is complete there will be 73 new housing units built on the development. Work began on transforming the former farm land site in September 2009. Units are being constructed using traditional methods of brick and block, with a timber and tiled roof and a facing brick facade. UPVC windows are also being fitted to each building. In addition to the construction of each housing unit, a considerable amount of landscaping work will take place around each property to create front and back gardens, whilst additional landscaping on the site is being included to create a children’s play area. All of the external work on the project has been designed to tie each building into the next. Taylor Wimpey Site Manager, Tommy Stirling, said: “At present we have one more foundation to complete and then we will have constructed all of our units on Newton Farm. We are not that far away from having a finished development. “When I first came here the site needed a bit of work but our team turned things around quickly and we are confident that this is going to be a very successful site. “As work has progressed we haven’t encountered any new obstacles and because we are building close to similar housing

developments we have not had to worry too much about causing any major disruptions to the local area.” Tommy Stirling added: “It is great for Taylor Wimpey to be recognised by the NHBC Awards and the whole team is very proud of this achievement. “This is my first development as site manager for Taylor Wimpey so it is good to know that I am also achieving the highest standards that the industry has come to expect. “Everyone has put in a lot of hard work on this project and if it wasn’t for the whole team – including all of our subcontractors – we would never have achieved this important recognition.” Newton Farm is scheduled for completion in spring 2013.

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An Icon of our time: stylish development nears completion Situated in the picturesque town of Coventry, Icon is an attractive development of one, two and three-bedroom homes that have been constructed by Barratt & David Wilson Homes. The development lies just three miles from the city centre and offers easy access to the UK motorway network and regular main line rail services to Birmingham and London, with Birmingham International Airport just a short drive away. Other benefits include the West Orchards, Lower Precinct, GreyFriars Walk and Smithford Way shopping centres and the popular Kenilworth Castle. Work began onsite in January 2011 and included the demolition of old factory units on the site. Local suppliers and materials – including block, bricks and roof tiles – have been used where possible, whilst a percentage of the homes have been built to Code Level 3 and include Secured by Design doors. Ricki Hughes, Site Manager for Barratt & David Wilson Homes, commented: “The main challenge has been trying out different house types and designs, seeing how they work, and incorporating that onsite. The build has gone well and sales have been excellent so far. “I am delighted to have won another NHBC Award. Last year I won a Seal of Excellence Award and a Pride in the Job Award, and so far this year I’ve won a Pride in the Job Award and have been put forward for a Seal of Excellence Award and a regional award – but I won’t find out if I’ve won until October.

“It is fantastic to receive recognition for my work, and to be recognised not just by Barratt & David Wilson Homes, but by the NHBC as one of the leading site managers. It’s a good thing to have on your CV, and it also instills a sense of personal pride. “This has been an excellent development to work on; the subcontractors have been brilliant, and there is an excellent rapport onsite. Whilst the guys come here to earn money, by working together harmoniously we can make everyone’s lives a little easier.”

Building Leyton Gate Leyton Gate is a brand new housing development currently under construction on Common Lane, in the village of Wilmington, Dartford. The development is being built for Taylor Wimpey South East and comprises 14 detached houses, which includes 12 fivebedroom properties and 2 four-bedroom properties. Work began on the project in September 2011. Taylor Wimpey is the main contractor and F.C.S Architects is the architect. All of the properties on the site are being built from brick and block construction, with double glazed windows and tiled roofs. As the site is being constructed next to a number of existing buildings, each unit has been designed to match the surrounding structures and includes a rustic finish. Additional features of the site include double garages, fencing and paved areas. Landscaping on the project also includes front and rear gardens, with a number of properties also benefitting from side

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gardens. Taylor Wimpey South East Senior Site Manger, Nino Palitta, said: “From day one we have worked very hard on this site and everything has run according to programme, in fact I wish all my projects would run as smoothly as this. “We used Plot One as our bench mark for Leyton Gate and then we worked our way out from there. We have maintained the high standards as we have continued to construct each building and we would love to build more houses like this in Wilmington. Leyton Gate is going to be a great site once it is complete. “Of the 14 plots on the site, half are now complete and oc-

cupied and the remaining seven plots are at various stages of construction. Plot Six will be the next unit to be handed over and we are quite far along with Plots Seven, Eight and Nine.” Nino Palitta, said: “Being involved with the construction of Leyton Gate is proving to be a very enjoyable experience for everyone involved. We are very happy with the work we’ve completed and the recognition by NHBC is an added extra. “Our job satisfaction really is second to none and this project demonstrates exactly the high level of quality that we can achieve.” Leyton Gate is due to reach completion in November 2012.

Rewarding Gin Pit Village Phase Two Currently under construction in Astley is Gin Pit Village Phase Two. The development is being funded and constructed by Ben Bailey Homes who is also the main contractor and architect on the project. The second phase of the development – located near to Tyldesley – comprises a mix of three and four-bedroom detached properties, three-bedroom semi-detached houses and a number of muse houses. Work began on Gin Pit Village Phase Two in January 2011, following the successful completion of Gin Pit Village Phase One. Gin Pit Village Phase One began in 2008 and involved the construction of a mix of timber kit constructed apartments and three-storey muse houses. Gin Pit Village Phase Two was implemented due to the popularity of Phase One.

A unique aspect of Gin Pit Village Phase Two is that potential residents can purchase properties off plan, which allows new home owners the opportunity to provide design input into the build. This level of personalisation allows buyers to choose their desired kitchen units, lighting and tiling, along with a number of additional fixtures and fittings. Ben Bailey Homes Sales Manager, Wendy Wright, said: “We pride ourselves on designing homes to meet buyer needs and this is exactly what we have done at Gin Pit Village. Feedback suggested that more three and four bedroom homes were needed in the area so that is what the new phase will provide. “We anticipate the new phase at Gin Pit Village to be very popular. It is set in a beautiful location with brilliant amenities

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NHBC and transport links close by. The development offers a range of house sizes and styles, which is a fabulous base to create a thriving community.” All of the buildings on Phase Two of the development are being constructed from brick and block. All windows, soffits and doors are being finished in UPVC and the roof is being finished in grey slate. Fencing will be placed around each property and front and back gardens will also be installed. Most of the properties will benefit from double driveways and there will be extensive planting taking place throughout the site. Although a communal green is currently located on Gin Pit Village Phase One a brand new communal area will also be incorporated on Phase Two of the site. Once work has been completed on all of the houses on Phase Two a monument will also be installed on the site to mark the historic significance of the former Gin Pit site. Ben Bailey Homes Site Manager, Martin Sharkey, said: “There’s a small village located towards the top end of this development which comprises the original Gin Pit Village which was connected to a gin pit and industrial works. We have kept this name and expanded the community for this development. “Located nearby there is also a large club house with pitches for cricket, rugby and football. A lot of events take place each year on this site and we get involved with these events to help bring the developing community together. “This has been a really good, straight forward operation so far and currently we are up to Plot 86 of this second phase. To complete Gin Pit Village Phase Two we have approximately 40 additional units to construct and given the current economical climate this will take place over the next 18 months.” Martin Sharkey added: “On a personal note I’m ecstatic about winning a NHBC Award. This is the second award that I have won in 2012 – following

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a Local Authority Award earlier in the year – but my aim was always to achieve recognition through NHBC. “For Ben Bailey Homes winning a NHBC Award is also very significant. In the North West region we haven’t won an award for around 20 years, so moving forward it is a great starting point for us to keep achieving more awards. “Winning a NHBC Award is good recognition for the company as well as the region. The quality of this site is very important and this award perfectly highlights this.” Gin Pit Village Phase Two is scheduled to reach completion in late 2013.

Taylor Wimpey’s Mick Burgum takes Bridgewater View to the top A stunning development of two and three-bedroom homes is rapidly taking shape in Middlesbrough. Taylor Wimpey’s £15 million Bridgewater View project is situated on the former Longlands Campus site at Middlesbrough College and will offer a range of modern homes for savvy buyers. Taylor Wimpey (formerly Taylor Woodrow plc) was founded in 1921 by 16-year old Frank Taylor, who borrowed some money to build two houses in Blackpool. Since then, the company has continued to use their quick thinking and aptitude for building high quality homes to become one of the largest British based housebuilding companies. The company now looks set to establish this reputation further after one of their site managers was awarded a prestigious NHBC Pride in the Job Award for their work on the Bridgewater View site. Situated in the bustling town of Middlesbrough, Bridgewater View offers easy access to a wide selection of entertainment venues, along with numerous museums, parks and galleries. In addition to the close proximity of Middlesborough College and Teesside University, commuters can also benefit from easy access to the A66 and A19. Durham Tees Valley Airport is just a short drive away, whilst Middlesbrough train station offers services to York, Leeds and Manchester. In total the Bridgewater View site comprises 148 private dwellings and 6 sheltered housing units, with the two-storey homes featuring a traditional palette of materials that includes bricks, blocks, concrete slabs and roof tiles. The homes have also incorporated a range of sustainable features, including combined boilers and UPVC windows. One of the house types – The Ripley – is an attractive threebedroom semidetached property that boasts a spacious lounge and dining area and French doors that lead to an immaculate rear garden. The first floor has a master bedroom with en suite facilities, along with two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Further facilities include a downstairs cloakroom and allocated parking space. Mick Burgum, Site Manager for Taylor Wimpey, commented: “This has been a very enjoyable project. We’ve been on site for 18 months so far, and there’s another 18 months to go. It really is a lovely estate, and it is very pleasing on the eye – I am over the moon with the way it’s turning out and winning an NHBC Pride in the Job Award is just the icing on the cake.” This certainly isn’t the first time that Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire has won a prestigious NHBC Award. In 2011, three site managers – Paul McLachlan, Lee Dawson and Jeff Watson – scooped a coveted NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award for their work on the Bridgewater View, Mill Gardens and Scholars’

Rise developments. Paul McLachlan, winner of seven consecutive NHBC Pride in the Job Awards, said: “Since joining Taylor Wimpey 10 years ago, my team has remained the same and has continued to take great pride in what they do and work extremely hard to ensure the homes we build are completed to the highest possible standards.” Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire, Debbie Whittingham, added: “Our commitment to maintaining the highest levels of quality, service and customer care has ensured that we continue to be an NHBC award winning house builder year after year.”

Imperial Green impresses with NHBC The coast of South Kent is changing rapidly thanks to a luxury development of fashionable homes by GSE Construction. The £4.2m Imperial Green development comprises 75 stunning two, three and four bed-houses and apartments all located on Twiss Road in the serene seaside town of Hythe. The stylish structures boast a spa, gym and fitness centre and are part of an exciting development that also includes a new champagne bar – with scenic sea view – and the rejuvenation of the Imperial Hotel.

This new venture, which GSE Construction started in May 2011, was designed by GDM architects and the exciting project is set to be completed in three stages with the first phases of new townhouses and apartments completed in the summer of 2012. The first phase includes twelve homes comprising four detached townhouses with four bedrooms, two semi-detached houses with two bedrooms and finally six semi-detached houses with three bedrooms each. Imperial Green’s modern and unique townhouses are threestorey structures and include garages and utility rooms, kitchROMA PUBLICATIONS

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ens and living areas in addition to hardwood and stainless steel Juliet balconies and slate roofs. The houses also include terraces, landscaped front gardens and a patio to rear gardens. The houses are surrounded by greenery which is lined with granite strips coated with bonded shingle and there are communal areas set out across the development. Chris Easton, Imperial Green Site Manager, said: “GSE Construction built these homes with the intention of constructing contemporary homes that were sustainable. “The ground floor was built with cavity walls with steel fabrication on top and the two floors above are where the living area and kitchen are located. The townhouses are constructed with timber frames and the exterior finish of the building features both Sto render and Cedral cladding.” Chris has worked in the construction industry for 29 years after initially starting his career as a carpenter. He later returned to college where he did building studies and soon found a job at a house building company as an assistant manager. Chris became a site manager 18 years ago and in that time has overseen a wide range of projects from school extensions to theatre refurbishments. Chris has worked for GSE construction for sixteen months and

has enjoyed being involved with such a successful build in a difficult economic climate. Chris Easton commented: “I enjoy this work due to the excellent organisation – including running of the site and the storage of materials – as well as the high quality work produced by the site team.” Despite a few problems with weather in early 2012, Imperial Green is continuing to make good progress. Chris Easton added: “There were some initial difficulties with the building process including cold bridging and air test levels and it was crucial that the cold temperatures were not able to find a way through the steel work from the outside of the building. “Solving this problem required intricate detailing on the part of the architects and the use of various insulation materials. Since work on the project initially began the high air test levels have gradually declined through significant improvements to the internal air membrane of the structure and work is on programme.” In recent months around 2,000 people have visited the Imperial Green show houses and the project is already beginning to take deposits.

Breton Hall gets seal of approval The award winning Breton Hall is a thriving development situated in the heart of Lisburn. The development offers savvy buyers the opportunity to benefit from luxurious new homes courtesy of the JW & J Porter Company. Situated on the banks of the River Lagan, Breton Hall offers excellent transport links to Lisburn and Belfast and once complete will be a highly desirable housing development for buyers. The development has been modelled on an archetypal Georgian village and boasts an array of detached and semi-detached townhouses and apartments. All of the units on Breton Hall are new builds and in its entirety, the project consists of 135 units.

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Located near one of the biggest cities in Northern Ireland, Breton Hall comprises an assortment of traditional housing that has been designed and built by JW & J Porter Co. These Georgian inspired structures have been built with the most contemporary construction methods and materials available, whilst maintaining the ambiance of a conventional home, conveying a level of excellence – through intelligent design and outstanding craftsmanship – that others can only hope to achieve. The stunning structures on Breton Hall feature redstone blue brick and rendered exterior walls, with slate roofing and granite effect window sills. The front doors also include beautifully

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NHBC moulded aspects around the front doors and all of the units also include full kitchen fittings, sanitary ware and a fireplace. Plumbing and bathroom merchant Plumbrite Supplies is supplying all boilers, cylinders and plumbing equipment required on the development. Neville Warren, Plumbrite Supplies said: “It’s the first time I’ve been involved with an NHBC award winning project, it’s great to be involved with the redevelopment of Lisburn. It’s also quite a sizeable project for us so has been important in a number of ways. “We are celebrating our 20th year of business so we’d like to thank our customers for their loyalty. JW & J Porter Company was one of our very first customers. They know that we are reliable and have used us time and again over the last two decades.” All of the detached homes on the development also have the option where buyers can choose from a range of high specification fittings and sanitary ware, allowing them to put their own personal stamp on their properties. In addition, Breton Hall also features picturesque exterior landscaping and groundwork that contributes to the unique atmosphere that is so prevalent in this development, with the majority of homes overlooking green communal areas. The buildings were designed by JW & J Porter Co’s own inhouse architects with preliminary work beginning in 2007 and the build is expected to be completed by 2014. Work on the project has progress well and as there have been relatively few difficulties throughout the design process work is currently on programme and within budget. Jim Porter, director of JW & J Porter Company has been awarded the NHBC award on Breton Hall. Jim Porter previously

won the NHBC Seal of approval for Breton Hall in 2011, amongst other awards throughout his career. Jim Porter, said: “The award is important to JW & J Porter Company as it is the result of the high standards that we pride ourselves in. The company does everything with 100% commitment and doesn’t like to cut corners. The team were very pleased upon hearing they had won the award and it was thoroughly deserved due to the quality of the houses built.” Breton Hall already has 70 occupied units with demand already high for the remaining properties on the development.

Developing Coopers Mill

Located just off the Belfast-Newtownards dual carriageway, Coopers Mill is a brand new 450 unit mixed-housing development under construction in East Belfast. Coopers Mill comprises a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, two and three-bedroom semi-detached houses, two and three-bedroom town houses and three-bedroom detached houses. Two and three-bedroom bungalows are also being constructed on the site. The bungalows are very unique units and have the

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potential to be converted into much larger properties should the need arise in the future. The attic offers a simple conversion space, whilst the ground floor level provides enough space to accommodate stairs. All of the work on Coopers Mill is being conducted for McGinnis Group – who is also acting as the main contractor on the project – whilst leading architectural practice David Ferguson Architects is providing all architectural services on the site. Work began on constructing Coopers Mill in spring 2009 and

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NHBC is currently scheduled to reach completion in 2014. Work is currently being undertaken on Phase Four of the project and to date, Phases One, Two and Three have already been completed. Work will take place on Coopers Mill Phase Five in 2013. Although the work on Coopers Mill has been divided into eight phases not all of the phases are being completed in numerical order, instead work is being conducted to best facilitate the development of the site. McGinnis Group Site Manager, John Logue, explains: “Due to the arrangement of the site we have worked on the phases in a slightly different order than you might expect, so although we started with Phase One we didn’t automatically move on to Phase Two as our second phase. “Once Phase One was complete we moved on to Phase Three because it was effectively a continuation of the first phase and then we moved on to Phases Two and Four because these are better suited for expanding the development. Phase Five will be the next phase and then we will begin work on Phases Six, Seven and Eight to complete the project.” Houses constructed during the initial phases of the project were built using a timber frame construction. All of the houses on Phase Four are being built using brick and block and will include timber trussed roofs with a concrete tile finish, ivory coloured UPVC windows, timber front doors and UPVC back

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doors. All of the houses on the Coopers Mill development will boast a number of high-quality fixtures and finishes, including integrated appliances in kitchens and utility rooms, white sanitary ware and chrome fittings in bathrooms and carpets throughout. Additional features include Phoenix Natural gas fired central heating systems, smoke detectors, and moulded skirting and architraves. Each house has a front and back garden and will be fenced to the side and rear of the properties. Four open grassed areas are also being included on the site and will include walkways and plants. All of the houses on the Coopers Mill development will come with a ten year warranty. John Logue said: “Getting housing developments such as Coopers Mill off the ground is very important to the McGinnis Group. Not only does a development such as Coopers Mill give the housing market a big boost but it also helps to develop nearby businesses and communities. “Receiving an NHBC Award is a great achievement. The award demonstrates to the house buying market that we are building the homes with the correct materials and to the best standards. We are providing high-quality finishes and our level of workmanship speaks for itself.” John Logue added: “This is the seventh award that I have won, but each award is just as important as the first and it is just as important for my team members too. “Although I am the site manager I have a very good team working with me from the engineers through to the health and safety guys. Everyone on the team plays a key role in bringing these houses in on programme and they ensure that all of the work remains at the same level of quality throughout. “My name may be on the award, but Coopers Mill has received this recognition because of everyone involved.”

Montgomerie Brook Phase Two Work on Montgomerie Brook Phase Two continues to make excellent progress for housing developer Barratt David Wilson Homes. Montgomerie Brook Phase Two is the second of three construction phases currently being implemented to transform a former Greenfield site in Irvine, North Ayrshire into a 113 unit housing development. Each phase comprises the construction of 38 units and work on the development is currently scheduled to reach completion in early 2014. Montgomerie Brook comprises a mix of three, four and fivebedroom homes and first started to take shape in March 2010. The site is located on the rural edge of Irvine and is perfectly situated near to Crosshouse Hospital, a selection of supermarkets – including Tesco and ASDA – and a number of local schools. Barratt David Wilson Homes is funding the entire project and is also the main contractor on the site. An in-house architectural team from Barratt David Wilson Homes will be providing all of the architectural work on Montgomerie Brook. All of the houses on the development are being constructed using traditional methods of brick and block and are being built to meet the highest standards of quality. The external facade of each unit will comprise a mix of facing brick and roughcast, the buildings will include UPVC windows and roofs will be completed with tiles. Each unit on the site will also include a garden and associated paving and every house at Montgomerie Brook has been arranged to create an attractive street scene set against a countryside backdrop. To complete the community feel, a village green is located adjacent to Montgomerie Brook, whilst a focal square has been incorporated into the site to act as a welcoming point for the visitors. Barratt David Wilson Homes Project Manager, Matt McLaughlin, said: “Once Montgomerie Brook is completed growing families will be able to move into a very exclusive development within a green, yet urban area of Scotland. “Montgomerie Brook is situated close to a number of local amenities and is really the start of creating a brand new community for Ayrshire. “For Barratt David Wilson Homes it is great to see a development such as Montgomerie Brook under way as it is important for both the industry and the local community. “The site is currently on programme and everything is continuing to progress well. We are 30% complete and the development is really beginning to take shape.” Matt McLaughlin added: “Being recognised with an NHBC award is wonderful. The award encapsulates all of the hard work and all of the extra hours that the team has put into this project. “This is the third time that I have been awarded an NHBC but the achievement still means the same to me as it did the first and second time I received the award. The award also identifies all of the unsung team members that we have on the project such as the plumbers and our team members who work on the road side sewers. We have a team of skilled and dedicated professionals on board each project but sometimes some of

the team get overlooked, so to recognise this fact through this award is fantastic.”

Barratt Developments Plc For more than 50 years Barratt Developments Plc – owner of both Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes – has been constructing modern and affordable living spaces in highly desirable locations. Over the course of time the company has grown to become one of the country’s largest house builders, employing 4,000 direct employees across 25 divisions. Barratt Developments Plc builds developments throughout the UK and provides the home buying industry with high quality housing that offers value for money and an investment for the future. The company is also a leading name in the development of Brownfield sites and urban regeneration schemes. As well as the Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes brands, Barratt Developments Plc’s portfolio includes Ward Homes – which operates on sites in the South East and Kent – and Wilson Bowden Developments – a commercial property developer. Wilson Bowden Developments concentrates on the creation of retail, industrial and leisure schemes.

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NHBC award for Calderpark Calderpark near Glasgow is set to see a big change as Bellway Homes continue to build around 300 new houses. The site has now gained industry recognition by making it into the top 30 for this year’s NHBC Awards. Located just seven miles from Glasgow city centre, The Avenues is a stunning new development that will feature approximately 300 three, four and five- bedroom detached houses. Work began in 2006 and the project is expected to be complete in around 12 months’ time. Bellway was founded in 1946 and has since accrued over 60 years of experience in this field, building over 100,000 homes in the process. This is the first time that Bellway Homes has received such significant recognition by the NHBC and it is fantastic news for the company as Site Manager, George Carty, explained: “This is a big project for us, probably double the size of the average site, and it has therefore been very exciting for Bellway Homes and the local community. Once complete, The Avenues will significantly benefit the community and to also to achieve an NHBC Award means a lot to both the company and myself.” The Avenues is close to Bothwell, a picturesque village in the centre of a conservation area. In addition to a range of restaurants, bars and shops, the village also boasts Scotland’s largest 13th century castle – making this a superb location for both city centre amenities and relaxing in the countryside. The Calderpark site is also well placed for transport links outside the city centre. There is easy access to the M73, M74 and M8 motorways, whilst Glasgow Airport is less than 20 miles away. Furthermore, the development is within 5 miles of a number of

world-famous golf courses including the courses at Bothwell Castle, Calderbraes Clubs, and Bellshill and Strathclyde Park Golf Clubs. The development has incorporated a range of different house designs, with the homes being finished in a mixture of brick, roughcast and feature Tudor stone. Interestingly, Bellway Homes is also giving residents the chance to choose the finishes for the inside of their property. The bespoke additions scheme gives buyers various options to upgrade a range of elements in their homes, depending on their needs. Options include additional kitchen features such as granite worktops, stainless steel appliances and an integrated double oven. There is also the option of an E-Life package, which can include a home cinema and surround sound system. Buyers may also choose to incorporate a conservatory or landscaped garden, adding a special touch to the home. Site Manager George Carty said: “This has been a steady build, as we have been working on similar sites for years and have the skills and experience needed to make the project as success. “This is a fantastic achievement and we are over the moon. NHBC inspectors visit every site in Scotland, and each inspector has 50 or 60 sites and nominates 5 or 10 site to be put forward. “I’ve been in my inspector’s top list twice before and this is something that I’ve always wanted to achieve – and now I have.” The Avenues is set to be completed in the summer of 2013. The awards ceremony will take place in October 2012 at the Hilton in Glasgow.

New Central: Woking’s awardwinning development New Central is a £55 million mixed-use housing and retail development currently taking shape in Woking. The project is being constructed in Woking Town Centre, Surrey and comprises the construction of ten multi-storey mixed-use buildings and six town houses. The mixed-use buildings are predominantly being used for accommodation purposes and include 450 apartments, along with ten retail units, an office block and a resident’s only gym. A below ground 350-space car park will also be installed in the development and will run throughout the entire footprint of the site. Midgard Ltd – part of the JRL Group – is the main contractor on the project and has worked closely with a number of JRL

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Group companies including: Miller Piling, J Reddington Ltd, Thames Reinforcement, London Concrete Pumping, London Tower Cranes, Stairmaster and UK Facades. The project architect is KDS Associates and the structural engineers are Walsh Associates. Grady Joinery is manufacturing and installing over 700 windows on the site and has been involved with the project for the past six months. MHD Group Ltd is working on all the internal sealants around kitchenware and bathware on the New Central project, as well as all the external sealant works. MHD Group Ltd Director, Anthony Betts, said: “It’s a massively important project for us and has led to a lot of

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work on future projects. We will also start on the next phase of the New Central project soon.” Funding for the project is being provided through a joint venture by Barratt Southern Counties and CCH. Work began on New Central in February 2010. The development is a completely new venture for Woking and replaces a former Brownfield site which previously occupied the land. New Central is split into ten individual buildings with eight of the structures reserved for housing. Building one is a 21-storey structure measuring 54,000 sq feet and comprising 80 apartments, whilst the second building on the development is 14-storeys high, measures 25,000 sq feet and comprises 34 apartments. The remaining six buildings include a ten-storey building housing 106 apartments, a seven-storey building housing 68 apartments, a six-storey building with 40 apartments, two five-storey buildings housing 38 and 52 apartments and a four-storey building comprising 25 apartments. The two remaining buildings on the New Central site will be kept for office and retail space. The office block measures 50,000 sq feet, whilst the retail building will measures 12,400 sq feet and is divided into ten individual units. Within the development a gym, cafe and concierge office will also be included. The multi-storey buildings are being constructed from a concrete frame with steel reinforcement and steel frame system. The exterior facade of the buildings will be completed with a mix of terracotta tiles, Environwall render and brickwork. A number of the apartments will also include solar panels. In addition to the ten main buildings on the site six townhouses will also be constructed and a mix of hard and soft landscaping will also be included. Landscape will incorporate a water feature and a sculpture commissioned by a local artist. Midgard Ltd Construction Manager, Joe Naughten, said: “Midgard Ltd has completed 140 apartments, the office block, eight retail units and 140 parking spaces. We have 310 apartments, 2400 sq feet of retail, a gym, concierge office and 210 parking spaces left to deliver before December 2013. “So far the development has been a huge success, running on schedule, on budget and with 95% of the properties offered for sale now sold. “Midgard Ltd works with Barratt Homes on a partnership basis rather than a traditional client/main contractor basis and this partnership is evident in the quality of the finished product as well as the aftercare service given to the purchasers.” Joe Naughten added: “For me personally the success of this project is very important. You have to put your life and soul into a project of this size and to see it come to fruition gives me enormous satisfaction. “This project will become an extension of Guildford Road high street and will offer a good source of affordable housing within

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commuter distance to London. New Central will provide more retail space to the high street and it will bring added vibrancy to the area once the development has reached full occupancy.” The construction of New Central marks a significant phase in the development of housing within Woking. The tallest building on the site – the 21-storey apartment block – will be Woking’s tallest building and its inclusion is in keeping with Woking Borough’s drive towards creating high-rise developments within Woking town centre. The development has been instrumental in helping Barratt Homes maintain its 5-Star Home Builders Federation status. New Central has also been designed to incorporate the highest standards in thermal and acoustic insulation. The extensive use of insulated render to the exterior of the block adds to the thermal quality of the building and the internal party wall construction is designed to offer the maximum acoustic protection between each apartment. Joe Naughten said: “This is a landmark development in the heart of Woking and I am proud to be a part of the delivery team. “Midgard Ltd has been awarded a Silver Award at the recently held Considerate Contractors Awards, we have achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating for the office block and we have had several external safety and quality audits which have been all very positive. Now we have received the Pride in the Job Quality Award.” Joe Naughten added: “To me, winning a Pride in the Job Quality Award is recognition, not only my hard work and effort put into producing the high quality product that Midgard Ltd is delivering to our client, but also that of the entire Midgard site team. A development of this scale cannot be delivered, to the high standard it so far has, without the hard work of many individuals.” Grady Joinery Director, Arthur Grady commented: “Grady Joinery is a window and door manufacturer with the capacity to produce approximately 3000 windows per week. The work we are completing on New Central is typical of the type of work that we conduct on developments of this size however we value being a part of such an important project as this. “We are currently in the final stages of window fitting, so we will be reaching completion of our part of the project very shortly. “It is very important for us at Grady Joinery to be involved with Midgard Ltd on this project. The company has developed a high level of quality on this project and to be a part of this is a good testament of our own working practices which we adhere to. “It’s great to know that we – along with all of the other contractors and subcontractors – have been a contributing element to the success of this project. There is a good team on site at New Central and it is proving to be very rewarding for all involved.” New Central is due to reach completion in December 2013.

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Constructing Orchard Gate Orchard Gate is a brand new development being built by Crest Nicholson South in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. The development, designed by architects Taylor Cox Associates, will comprise 198 housing units, mixing town houses with stunning apartments and is being built to meet Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 standards. 158 of the new build units at Orchard Gate are a mix of two, three and four-bedroom town houses and two-bedroom apartments, whilst the remaining 40 units are apartments housed in a refurbished Victorian building. Work began on Orchard Gate in July 2010. Prior to work commencing, the site was home to a number of disused medical facilities, including doctor’s quarters and a work house, which were demolished to make way for the new buildings. All of the new build units at Orchard Gate are being constructed from traditional brick and block and will incorporate a number of ecologically friendly features, including solar panels on the roofs and water butts to the exterior of the buildings. The new houses also incorporate eco-friendly cladding to the exterior and have been designed to blend with the existing Victorian building. To date 100 units have been completed on the site, with 98 remaining. Crest Nicholson South Project Manager, Paul Burnett, said: “There are a multitude of different environmentally friendly practices in place at Orchard Gate from bicycle storage provisions to bat boxes. Crest Nicholson South is a leading builder in this field and we are pushing ahead with our efforts to improve environmentally friendly standards in this area.” Paul Burnett added: “In well over 30 years no site has quite meant so much to me as Orchard Gate. Our team has not only put a lot of work into the site, we have also invested a lot of time in working with local community groups – including councillors, schools and churches – to ensure that they are briefed at all times on our work.

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“Before we began work at Orchard Gate the site was derelict so by the time we finish this development we will have enhanced the area and added value to a number of the houses in the surrounding area.” Paul recently won an NHBC Pride in the Job Award for his work at Orchard Gate. Paul commented: “Winning an NHBC Pride in the Job Award is very important to me. It’s my first industry award and it is a wonderful accolade to achieve. I could not have achieved this without the support of the entire team.” Orchard Gate is currently on programme and is scheduled for completion in January 2014.

NHBC Award for Abbotswood development The Abbotswood development in Hampshire is an attractive collection of stunning new homes located on the outskirts of the historic market town of Romsey. The housing development comprises a stunning assortment of properties ranging from quaint starter homes through to larger detached family homes. Once work is complete on Abbotswood, the superb selection of houses will create a community that combines modern living with awe-inspiring surroundings in a very desirable area of the UK. Abbotswood comprises a selection of two, three, four and fivebedroom properties which include a mix of spacious living areas with high specification fixtures and fittings. All of the houses on the Abbotswood development are being constructed using traditional methods and are being built to be as energy efficient as possible. The design of each unit and the materials that are being used during construction have been carefully selected to ensure sustainability for the foreseeable future. The stylish new development is being expertly designed and built by award-winning company Bovis Homes, one of the UK’s foremost house building companies. Design features of each unit include striking fully integrated kitchens with recessed down lighting, beautiful en-suite bedrooms and UPVC double glazed windows. In addition, glazed casement doors will be incorporated between the living and dining areas of each property. The exterior of the houses include painted doors with multi-

point security locking and vented French doors. Garages will be attached to each property and will be serviced with power and lighting. The Abbotswood development also includes turfing to the front gardens, whilst scenic landscaping will be incorporated throughout the site. Geoff Walker – site manager for Bovis Homes – has won an NHBC pride in the job award award for the Abbotswood development project. This achievement is an extension of the admirable reputation Bovis Homes has achieved in relation to building high-quality homes and demonstrates that all of the houses are being built to meet very high standards.

Expanding Woodlands Park Woodlands Park in Great Dunmow, Essex is a grand housing development, comprising a mix of one, two, three, four, five and six-bedroom properties. The site has been under development since 1995 and continues to expand each year to incorporate additional housing units. Woodlands Park is owned by Wickford Developments, whose current plan is to construct between 1700 and 1800 houses on the site. Due to the extensive nature of the building work construction of Woodlands Park is being split into sectors, which is then subsequently divided into phases. Currently work is taking place on Sector 2 Phases Three and Four of the site and it is this Sector which has won a Pride in the Job Award for site manager Aaron Parradine. Aaron Parradine, commented: “This is the first award that I have won in my career and it highlights the hard work that has been put into getting Woodlands Park Sector 2 off the ground. “I first realised that I had received the award when I noticed my name appear on the NHBC’s website. It was a very pleasant surprise for me, even though Woodlands Park has become well known in the local area for winning awards. “This type of recognition is also great for our team and it really helps to boost morale on the site.”

Before work began on Woodlands Park the site previously existed as farm land. With each new Sector taking place, the development expands into the existing land to incorporate additional units into the site. Aaron Parradine, said: “Woodlands has been up and running for over 15 years now, with houses being built to meet demand. We approach this work as an ongoing operation where we are creating approximately ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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30 to 50 new units each year. It is very likely that this project will continue for another 15 years. “I first started working on the project over two years ago and Sector 2 started around the same time that I came on board.” Like many of the award-winning developments that have received NHBC Awards, the houses on the Woodlands Park site are being constructed using traditional methods of brick and block, with timber joists, solid internal brick walls and facing brick exterior. The buildings also include UPVC windows, a Hallmark front door and front and back gardens. In addition to the landscaped areas included with each house, a number of open spaces have also been incorporated into the development to create green areas throughout the site. Aaron Parradine added: “Great Dunmow is a thriving little town in Essex and Woodlands Park has been instrumental in helping to expand the community. The site is perfectly located – with Stansted Airport just a short

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distance away – and for those wanting to commute to London, the development is ideal.” EJ Taylor & Sons is the main contractor on Woodlands Park Sector 2 Phases Three and Four, whilst John Finch Partnership is the architect. Tiling Ltd is providing all of the internal ceramic wall and floor tiles on the project, which will be used within all bathrooms and kitchens. Tiling Ltd has been involved with the Woodlands Park development from the beginning and will continue supplying tiles for the foreseeable future. Tiling Ltd Company Director, Paul Freeman, said: “We have been involved with this site since its inception and we have seen Woodlands Park win quite a number of awards in this time. “It is great to be involved once again with another awardwinning Sector on this development and we look forward to continuing our involvement with each new unit.” Specialist painters and decorators KD & Z Waller Painters &

Decorators has been involved with the Woodlands Park development for more than ten years. Since starting on the site the company has completed internal and external painting and decorating works on each housing unit. KD & Z Waller Painters & Decorators Company Director, Tom

Waller, said: “Woodlands Park is a great site to be involved with. Everything is expertly organised – which is refreshing to see – and we are proud to be a part of the team.”

Award-winning Woodilee Village Located on Woodilee Road in the heart of Lenzie, Woodilee Village is the first major housing development to take place in the area for over 20 years.

The exciting new project is under construction on a site previously occupied by Woodilee Hospital and once complete will provide stylish, contemporary accommodation in Lenzie and

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NHBC Kirkintilloch. Woodilee Village will offer a range of modern units from lavish apartments to spacious family homes. Green communal areas will also be incorporated into the site to encourage residents to take advantage of nearby woodland walks. The tree lined development will also include the refurbishment of two B Listed buildings and boast a new community shop, children’s play area, a crèche and a multi-purpose sports facility. The project has been designed and built by CALA Homes and will include a number of stunning fixtures and fittings. The attractive flagship development comprises 56 spacious, detached four and five-bedroom properties from CALA Homes’ new signature collection. The fashionable houses feature galleried landings, spacious bedrooms and high quality fittings with comfort being an essential requirement of the build. Internally, the properties will be furnished with pendant light fittings, oak veneered pass doors and pre-finished crafted timber stair balustrades and handrails. The kitchens have been individually studio designed with an emphasis on workspace and storage, with integrated appliances fitted throughout. Sanitaryware will be derived from the Laufen range and will be offset by Hansgrohe taps and fittings. Bathrooms will comprise shower enclosures with a silver finish and Hansgrohe shower valves and heads and baths will be served by a thermostatic combined bath filler and hand held spray set. The houses on Woodilee Village also incorporate a number of energy reduction features along with a substantial amount of insulation which will help to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the properties each year. The measures that CALA Homes is taking to reduce emissions exceed the regulations set in 2007. Externally, the project involves a substantial amount of landscaping and groundwork that will conform to the planned designs. The plots will consist of a garage with driveways that will

be monoblocked, along with front and rear gardens that will be graded, rough raked and renovated. The rear gardens will also be equipped with timber decking – located at the back of the garden – as well as rotary driers and a linked path. In addition, each plot will feature a 1.8 metre high palisade fence that will divide the rear gardens of each building and will be unit specific – with various service strips and walls included. Additional landscaping will include car parking. The site manager on the Woodilee Village development, Michael Carrigan of CALA Homes recently won the NHBC Pride in the Job award for the project. The award winning site offers striking properties that are a combination of design and comfort. CALA has created a vibrant and sustainable community that has been designed to look collectively stunning, to suit its surroundings and to maintain a high-level of quality over time.

NHBC win for Briars Chase development Heanor Road in the large market town of Ilkestone, Derbyshire is providing the perfect backdrop for Briars Chase – a brand new development that has been constructed by Taylor Wimpey. Situated in the stunning Derbyshire countryside, Briars Chase is nestled on the banks of the river Erewash, within commuting distance of both Derby and Nottingham and is close to the M1 and other major road networks. The project will take advantage of the surrounding area by providing prospective buyers with a wide range of homes to suit everyone’s requirements. Briars Chase comprises an array of one and two-bedroom apartments as well one, two, three and four-bedroom houses. All of the units on the site offer stunning open views of the surrounding area and are being developed by leading house builder Taylor Wimpey, who is also providing all architectural services on the site. As the development comprises a mix of property types the one-bedroom apartments offer contemporary open-plan living space along with an integral garage, whilst two-bedroom apartments boast an attractive and modern design with light and spacious full length windows. All of the townhouses include en-suite master bedrooms, family bathrooms and downstairs cloak rooms with the fourbedroom units also including a Juliet balcony situated off the first floor lounge area. Taylor Wimpey has a proud history in improving local commu-

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nities through the development of unused land. The company achieves this by creating sustainable housing that both expands and enhances neighborhoods to create new and thriving communities. Taylor Wimpey maintains a strong emphasis on excellence on all its work and sets a very high standard in the design and quality of their constructions as demonstrated by the project’s status as an NHBC award-winner. David Holland of Taylor Wimpey recently received the NHBC award for the Briars Chase development.

Craig West wins NHBC Award on his first development Craig West from Charles Church South East has won an NHBC Pride in the Job Award on his first project as site manager. The Wellington Gate housing development comprises of 80 two to five-bedroom homes in the village of Maresfield, East Sussex. Previously farmland, the development enjoys a picturesque countryside location between the North and South Downs, and Maresfield has excellent road and rail connections for Tunbridge, Brighton and London. The houses are timber framed and the site includes 24 Housing Association homes. Within the development there are a total of 26 different house types each with different finishes. The architect on the project was Banners Gate. Craig West, Site Manager and winner of an NHBC Pride in the Job Award said: “Sometimes you build quite similar house types which can be quite repetitive, but there’s a lot of variety here so it’s a nice job to work on. The different designs and finishes mean that the build is quite varied, and the end result will look really nice.” The project began in July 2011 and is around half way through. To date, 29 houses have been completed and another 29 are currently under construction. Craig found out about his NHBC Award in June and was very pleased to have been given this recognition for his work on the Wellington Gate project. Craig West said: “The award has helped me feel confident about the work I have done on the Wellington Gate site, considering that it is my first project as site manager.” Charles Church South East is part of Persimmon Plc, one of the UK’s leading house builders. Craig began working with the Persimmon Group as an apprentice carpenter when he was 18. After finishing college he remained with the group and was made an assistant site manager before becoming site manager a year later.

On his career development with the Persimmon Group, Craig said: “I’m really happy here. Persimmon has given me all the opportunities I could have wanted; they are really good to me.” Craig is looking forward to the upcoming NHBC Awards ceremony and the chance to represent the Persimmon Group in the South East. Craig added: “The awards ceremony is in Brighton in September. The Persimmon Group has won 20 awards throughout the country, but I am the only winner in the South East. I’m really pleased to have won and to be able to represent Persimmon in this way.” Cox Carpentry is completing all of the carpentry work on the development including the construction of timber frames, roofs and front and back doors and is also carrying out all first and second fixings and proofs. The company has been involved with the project from the beginning and will continue to provide carpentry services throughout the duration of the development. Cox Carpentry Ltd Director, Michael Ives, said: “To have the Cox Carpentry Ltd name recognised against an award-winning NHBC project is very important to us. The work on the site is being completed to a very high-standard and this demonstrates that our company is more than capable of achieving these level of quality craftsmanship.”

Wellington Park Phase Three Phase Three of Wellington Park housing development is currently underway in Northern Ireland. Although the site is still under construction the third phase of Wellington Park is already proving very successful with site manager Jason Moore of QTH Ltd receiving an NHBC Pride in the Job Award. QTH Ltd Site Manager, Jason Moore, said: “We really appreciate this recognition by NHBC for Wellington Park Phase Three. A lot of hard work is going into how we operate the site and an award like this perfectly demonstrates all of our effort in constructing a high-quality housing development in Northern Ireland. “Having the correct work force behind me is also important and my team are the ones that help me ensure the high levels of quality on a project such as this are maintained. For me this is what the NHBC Pride in the Job award really represents.” Wellington Park is a brand new housing development currently under construction in Lisburn. The development first got underROMA PUBLICATIONS

NHBC way in 2009 and is currently on its third phase of construction. Wellington Park Phase One comprised the construction of 15 houses and was followed in 2010 by Phase Two. Once the second phase was complete Phase Three got underway and is currently on programme with a completion date scheduled for summer 2013. There are seven different house types on offer at Wellington Park, ranging from small detached two-bedroom houses to large six-bedroom properties. The units are being built from traditional methods of brick and block, with a stone clad finish, UPVC windows and composite doors. All of the units on Wellington Park feature high-spec fixtures and fittings, with intricate design details on many of the finishes, including detailed lead work on all of the windows. Each unit also includes front and back gardens complete with plants, shrubs and associated paved areas. A central roundabout is also located on the site which not only connects up all the different phases on the development it also incorporates a beautiful flower bed which provides the development with a very decorative feature. Property development company QTH Ltd is the main contractor on Wellington Park, whilst Patterson DESIGN is the architect. Jason Moore, said: “With Wellington Park we are trying to create a housing development that is very different to what is being built on other sites. Each phase comprises approximately 20 - 25 houses and we are completing them approximately on a yearly basis. “Phase Three is located towards the rear of the development and this is very beneficial for reducing any noise and site disruption to residents already living on Wellington Park. Once people move into the development we always want to ensure that they don’t feel as if they are living on a construction site and so all work is completed with this in mind. “Currently all of our work on Wellington Park Phase Three is on programme and on budget.”

Quality Tailored Homes Ltd Quality Tailored Homes LTD (QTH Ltd) is a client focused property development company delivering bespoke luxury homes within community orientated environments. The company has 20 years of experience and promises value for money with excellent customer service in all of its developments. QTH Ltd strives to provide each client with the best service possible and allows clients the option of tailoring certain aspects of their homes to meet their needs. The QTH service includes

the ability to choose bespoke fireplace designs, to select their requirements from a variety of sound and vision solutions and to decide their bathroom/en-suite layouts and finishes. Clients even have the option of creating their own open plan spaces within a property. In addition to its focus on providing customers with the best service possible, QTH Ltd has always been based on the intention to support community development schemes. Other initiatives include supporting Fields of Life & E3, Storehouse Belfast and a local regeneration programme in Maghaberry.

Geoff Ashton scoops NHBC Award for Park Wood developments Shanly Homes has won an NHBC Award for the second year running, this time thanks to site manager Geoff Ashton. Geoff’s work on the Park Wood Place and Park Wood Mews developments in Banstead, Surrey has attracted the attention of the NHBC who grant awards to those developments displaying excellent quality and standards of work. The developments consist of 24 apartments and nine houses and have been a great sales success so far. The apartments are in three blocks of eight, while the houses are made up of three pairs of semi-detached houses and a set of three terraced houses. Shanly Homes worked with architect Mike Daubney on the project. The project has three phases, Phase One began in 2009 but due to planning issues, the next two phases were temporarily delayed. Phase Two began in July 2011 and is almost complete, with Phase Three expected to reach completion by October 2012. Park Wood Place is surrounded by landscaped gardens and is

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close to the village of Banstead. The village provides excellent amenities including a range of high-street shops, independent boutiques, bars and restaurants. The towns of Sutton, Epsom and Reigate are just a short drive away and the M25 is within easy reach, providing access to Gatwick and Heathrow airports and the rest of the motorway network. Banstead is also surrounded by green-belt land with the green fields of Banstead Woods, Epsom Downs and Box Hill nearby. The site’s location means that the development benefits from generous space and beautiful surroundings; there is a variety of homes and apartments to suit different needs and each is built to a high specification. Shanly Homes provides spacious kitchen and dining areas as well as contemporary kitchens and bathrooms designed for the needs of modern day living. Award winner Geoff Ashton said: “I have been with Shanly homes for around 5 and a half years.

I actually managed Phase One of the build but due to a few planning problems it got delayed and I moved projects. I have now returned to the site to complete the project. “The award is absolutely fantastic, I was surprised to be awarded it, but I’m really, really pleased about achieving this recognition. I worked for the NHBC for 14 years as an NHBC inspector, so I think that knowledge has definitely helped me as a Site Manager.” Geoff is keen to do the best possible job on the Park Wood project and believes this has been reflected through his award from the NHBC. Geoff Ashton added: “I’m really pleased to have finally achieved an award. It’s a national site manager award and it’s a great recognition of doing that little bit extra. I’m very pedantic with things like drawings and also Shanly are very particular about the layout of ceramic tiling in our bathrooms. I produce my own tiling layouts which I then issue to the plumbers and tilers. “Communication is king; it’s about doing that little bit extra that you don’t get elsewhere.” A spokesman for Shanly Homes said: “The NHBC Pride in the Job award is a prestigious award that is only granted to the top 100 developments in London and the South East. It requires tremendous effort and dedication on the part of the site manager and we are very proud to have achieved this. We would like to thank Geoff and his team for their hard work at Park Wood Place and congratulate him on a

great achievement.” Patrick Watson Carpentry Ltd provided the carpentry and site fix joinery across the whole of the site for the duration of the Park Wood Place project. Patrick Watson Carpentry Ltd Company Owner, Patrick Watson, said: “It’s important to be involved with award winning projects such as Park Wood Place. It’s the 16th time we’ve been involved with an NHBC award winning project which we’re really proud of.”

Linden South West’s Bob Mitchell wins an NHBC Award Site Manager, Bob Mitchell of Linden South West has won NHBC Pride in the Job Award thanks to his work on the Rowes Meadow development in Devon. Rowes Meadow is located on the edge of a quintessential English village of Stoke Gabriel and features a wide range of 43 new two to six-bedroom homes set in a wooded valley. The project is due to be completed in early 2013. With 31 different designs on the site, construction has had little room for repetition. As well as using materials unique to the village, buyers options for bespoke internal finishes on the development has made each house truly unique. Pride in the Job winners always have one thing in common meticulous and consistent attention to detail. To win, they must score highly for the quality of workmanship on their site at every stage of the build. They must also demonstrate excellent leadership, technical expertise and robust health and safety processes. Bob, having already achieved a string of building accolades ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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on other developments for design and building control during his 16 year career with Linden, is appreciated for these skills by his team. Assistant Site Manager, Jamie Rogerson said: “Bob is known for taking a lot of pride in every step he takes. He’s constantly thinking about details that we could add to properties which would make that home a little bit more comfortable and individual to residents needs.” Linden Homes is Galliford Try’s award-winning house building division and is the sixth largest residential developer in the UK, specialising in high quality, individually designed schemes across the country. Named as this year’s Housebuilder of the Year by Building

Magazine, the developer was commended for having an “incredibly focused team” and an individual design, approach to sustainability and outstanding customer service. Site managers have overall responsibility for the construction of new houses, therefore as a result of the award the Rowes Meadow site should include some of the best new homes in the UK. Winners of the next stage of the awards will be announced at ceremonies in the autumn, with successful individuals then progressing to the grand final in London in January. There winners will hope to be named as one of the best house-building site managers in the UK.

NHBC recognition for Craig Gilbert and David Wilson Homes Tavener Fields is a picturesque development located close to the village of Duston in Northamptonshire. Built by David Wilson Homes and using in-house architects, Tavener Fields has been recognised for its outstanding quality by the National House Building Council (NHBC) in the form of an award for site manager Craig Gilbert. Craig has been granted an NHBC Pride in the Job Award, which is awarded to the best Site Managers in the country. Tavener Fields offers a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses with approximately 190 homes on the site.

The build is currently on Phase Three, which is the last phase of the project. Around 140 houses have already been finished and the project is estimated to be completed by 2014. Homes on Tavener Fields are being built to different specifications and include a variety of internal finishes, making each property individual. The development is perfectly located on the edge of beautiful rolling countryside, yet it is still only 10 minutes drive from Northampton. Site Manager Craig Gilbert said: “I have been on the project for around 3 years and it is probably ROMA PUBLICATIONS

NHBC the second biggest site I have worked on. There was an old ballbearing factory on the site before, which had to be demolished to make way for the build. “There are a lot of open areas and greenery and we have put in various statues and artistic features. We have also built a football pitch. It’s possible that these aspects have helped towards getting the award but really it’s down to the quality of the build.” Award-winner Craig spoke very highly of his team and their recognition from the NHBC. “Its credit to the trades on site that we have been recognised in this way, obviously the site manager points them in the right direction, but they have worked with me for a long time so I feel like I have a very good team around me. “I was really pleased when I found out about the award. I have been with David Wilson Homes for 15 years and it’s great to be recognised in this way. I’m very proud of the site and very proud of the team.”

Doing Northern Ireland proud The attractive Leighinmohr Avenue site in Ballymena, County Antrim, has scooped a prestigious NHBC award. Project manager, Albert Britton, was awarded an elusive Pride in the Job Award for his work on the development, which comprises a mixture of modern two and threebedroom homes. Located within easy reach of Ballymena town centre, the development boasts easy access to Galgorm Road and several of Northern Ireland’s top attractions, including: Slemish Mountain, Bushmills Distillery, The Giant’s Causeway and the Nine Glens of Antrim. In total, main contractor Braidwater will oversee the construction of 48 private residential properties. Built using a modern timber frame with a concrete tiled roof and red brickwork, the two-storey homes will be arranged in blocks of 2, 4 and 6. All of the homes are heated using natural gas and are very well insulated. Landscaping has included the construction of a spine road and the planting of trees, whilst the site also includes a river and an adjacent football field. Albert Britton commented: “This has been a challenging project as we are working on a former factory site and therefore great efforts have been made to reduce contamination. An environmental engineer has been employed on site to report to the local building authority, and a monitoring system has been in place for over the three years.

“I am delighted to have won a Pride in the Job Award, but I believe that everybody who worked on the site – from the plumbers and electricians through to the management system – is also part of the award and deserves to be commended also.” Braidwater celebrates an outstanding reputation for their work within the private and social housing, commercial, office and healthcare sectors. The company is currently working on a range of projects in Liverpool, England – including Gilmartin Grove, LSEVEN, Poets Park and Paramount Business Park.

The sun is shining on Summers Field as Terry Brand wins an NHBC award Rural living and city access will be combined in a new development by award-winning David Wilson Homes. Site manager Terry Brand has now been recognised for the site’s success after winning a coveted NHBC Pride in the Job Award. The Summers Field development on Ermine Street is in the thriving village of Papworth Everard, just 12 miles from the beautiful city of Cambridge. In total David Wilson Homes will construct 365 new homes, comprising a mixture of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses. The project began onsite in April 2011 and is expected to last for around 3 years. Site manager and NHBC award winner, Terry Brand, commented: “This is a cracking project which is held in very high esteem. The location is ideal for commuters as it is only ten minutes away from a railway station, yet it is technically still in the countryside.

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We have had a lot of sales so far, and the range of houses allows the development to cater for anyone from first-time buyers to the executive market.” David Wilson Homes is keen to utilise the rural location and beautiful surroundings, and the homes are therefore situated within an attractive open space with wide roads and walkways. As a result, residents may enjoy village life whilst being within easy reach of Cambridge and London – with the nearby A1, A14 and M11 making travel easy and accessible. The company is a division of Barratt Homes, which was established in 1958. Barratt Homes is now recognised as the country’s best house builder, having won a host of industry awards in recent years. They were named ‘Housebuilder of the Year 2012’ at the industry’s most prestigious awards, which are organised by the Home Builders Federation and ‘Housebuilder’ – the UK’s

best-read housebuilding magazine. In their feedback, the judges recognised Barratt Homes as an “outstanding all-rounder” that is consistently “showing its prowess in the fields of zero carbon, regeneration, design and landscaping.” David Wilson Homes are putting this expertise into practice on the Summers Field site, as Terry Brand explained: “Although we have encountered a few minor challenges, the project has progressed well so far. An initial challenge was gaining planning permission – this took six years, so the project was in the pipeline for a while. In addition, we built a feature entrance that the council unfortunately requested that we removed. “To date, we have constructed just over 40 units and are laying the roads as we go. The rural location has made the project particularly interesting, and each of the challenges – including a brook that we will deal with later in the project – has just added to the interest of the project.” The Summers Field development is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2014.

Additional houses in Kilmarnock: Dunsmuir Park Phase 7 Dunsmuir Park Phase 7 is currently under construction in Kilmarnock, bringing 49 additional housing units to the existing Dunsmuir Park development. Dunsmuir Park Phase 7 comprises 49 housing units, consisting of a mix of detached and semi-detached properties. The houses on Dunsmuir Park are being funded by Taylor Wimpey who is also acting as the main contractor and architect on the project. Work began on Dunsmuir Park Phase 7 in February 2011 and although work is still ongoing it has already been recognised with an NHBC Pride in the Job Award. Site manager, Martyn Campbell was awarded the accolade, and this marks the fourth time that he has received recognition from NHBC. Taylor Wimpey Site Manager, Martyn Campbell, commented: “Although this is not my first NHBC Award, it is still an honour to be continually recognised for my work and the work of my team. At Taylor Wimpey we conduct high quality work so an award like this highlights the effort that we put into each job. It is also good for our customers as they can see that the houses that we are building are being constructed to a very high standard. “Every year we strive to get another NHBC Award, as once you have your first award you want to get another. This also helps us to continue to improve our work so that we are always delivering the best service possible.” The housing units on Dunsmuir Park Phase 7 are being built from brick and block and will include concrete tiles on the roofs and UPVC windows and doors. Gardens will be included on each plot, whilst additional green areas have also been incorporated across the site to create children’s play areas.

Martyn Campbell added: “To date, all of the work on Dunsmuir Park Phase 7 is on programme and so far we have completed 22 units with work on 27 units remaining. “Dunsmuir Park has been under construction for some time in Kilmarnock and it is good to see that as we continue with this seventh phase of the development it remains as popular as ever. Dunsmuir Park continues to remain popular for new homeowners and we look forward to seeing it continuing to grow.” Dunsmuir Park Phase 7 is due for completion in March 2013.

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Ambitious accommodation plans at Edge Hill A thrilling new development at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire is nearing completion. Chancellors Court will house residential accommodation and comprises 384 en-suite student rooms. The three-storey development will be divided into six separate blocks, and will include student bedrooms and shared kitchens. The new halls of residence will provide students with an array of facilities that will be made available to them in safe and secure surroundings and will be built to the east of an existing sports centre. The contemporary living areas will be environmentally friendly and are already regarded as some of the best student accommodation units in the sector.

Project Leader, Pro Vice-Chancellor Steve Igoe, said: “For those moving away from home for the first time, many want the security and ready-made social life of halls of residence. The on-campus bed spaces are always in popular demand so I’m delighted that we’re able to build additional accommodation in time for the influx of new students. “This is a remarkable achievement, constructing 380 bedrooms in 27 weeks, given the challenges presented by the wet conditions in April but our contractors are working round the clock to ensure the bed spaces are ready for the new term in September. “This project will see the commencement of the development of the eastern campus with this phase providing space for new student learning and living facilities. The University has ambitious plans to continue to invest in its student centered teaching and learning facilities and we believe that further investment is vital to sustain our attractiveness to prospective students albeit that the University is already recognized as having a campus that truly matches, in both quality and scale, the very best in the United Kingdom.” The contractors behind the scheme are John Turner and Sons who began work on the project in February 2012. ABW Architects is providing all architectural services on the site. Chancellors Court is set to reach completion in early September 2012 in time for the upcoming intake of new students. Built on a Greenfield site, the buildings consist of traditional

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masonry cavity wall construction with pre-cast concrete hollow rib floors. The exterior finish of the structure is made up of powder coated steel cladding and brickwork. The building is finished with an aluminium standing seam roof and has triple glazed windows with aluminium composite timber frames. Design features include solar thermal systems as well as a highly insulated envelope built to passiv haus standards with heat recovery in ventilation. A CHP unit will provide heating and hot water. In comparison to previous accommodation, improvements have been made in construction and performance, which have made this expansion more cost effective, whilst providing a bigger living space. Vice-Chancellor Dr John Cater, said: “This is excellent news for the University and the community, creating over 200 construction and 50 permanent jobs at a time of economic recession, part of our £55m of investment in the local area and providing international-class facilities for over 4,000 local users every week. “Once we received support from the Secretary of State, work started on site immediately. The end result will see the creation of the eastern campus and will provide space for new student learning and living facilities for many years to come, making it a campus that truly matches, in both quality and scale, the very best in the United Kingdom. “We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Borough Council as we strive to turn these ambitious plans into reality.”

Stamford Park restored An extensive programme of works to renovate Stamford Park has reached completion. Stamford Park is a Grade II listed site that is situated between the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge. The park dates back to 1873 and is regarded as a much loved scenic area within the local community. Throughout 2011 and into mid-2012, an extensive programme of works was undertaken to restore the Victorian heritage of the site whilst bringing the area up-to-date. Following a series of consultations with local residents, Tameside MBC developed plans to enhance the existing features of the park in order to attract a greater cross-section of the community. Work was completed in July 2012 and included the restoration of the children’s play area, floral gardens, duck pond, water feature, aviary, boating lake and bowling green. The Dingle – a popular walking area of the park – was also restored, and work was undertaken to repair the watercourses, rills and cascades, and stonework. The main footpath along the Dingle was also repaired in order to improve accessibility. In addition to the physical works on the site, Tameside MBC also worked hard to increase staffing levels in Stamford Park and improve the range and quality of events and activities that take place at the site. Casey Group was the main contractor for the refurbishment works, whilst LDA Design was the architect. The restoration of Stamford Park was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Tameside MBC. Work began in January 2011 and initial works included the erection of protection fencing around vulnerable trees, which

would remain in place throughout the duration of the works. In February 2011 Casey Group set up their own compound within Stamford Park, which included the erection of storage areas to house plant and materials. Throughout February work was also undertaken to open up areas of the Dingle in order for masonry specialists to begin preparing rock work on the site. Whilst work was undertaken on refurbishing Stamford Park, disruption was kept to a minimum –although some footpaths were closed. Where footpaths were out of use, temporary signage was installed to explain the ongoing works and to advise visitors of diversions. As part of the restoration works, a new pavilion building was constructed in the park. The pavilion provides a central meeting point for visitors and includes a café and information point, along with community rooms and public toilets. The Park Manager’s office is also located within the pavilion. The new pavilion was designed by OMI Architects and includes a number of energy-saving features such as a ground source heat pump and a green roof. The building features a brick and oak cladding exterior and includes glazed bespoke screens that double as an attractive feature and security measure. Another highlight of the Stamford Park restoration project is the aviary, which houses a collection of birds and small animals. Work aimed to improve conditions for the animals and to improve access for both staff and visitors. Stalybridge and Hyde MP, Jonathan Reynolds, said: “Stamford Park has played an important part in the lives of generations of people who lived in Tameside – and the refurbishment has made sure it can be enjoyed by generations to come.

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N o r th We s t “There are some fantastic facilities, including a new pavilion and a modern aviary, but I was particularly pleased to get the chance to see the Dingle. I’d never been there before and it really was like going into an undiscovered world. It was beautiful. “The Dingle was enjoyed by people taking a stroll more than 100 years ago, but now it has been restored I think it will be just as popular. “A 60-strong team worked on the restoration of the park. Many of those who worked on the park live locally – and you could tell they had been working with their hearts as well as their hands. This has clearly been a labour of love.”

Mad About Trees Ltd Mad About Trees is an Oldham based arboricultural business covering the North West area of the UK. With over 50 years combined experience the company specialise in all aspects of planned maintenance, preservation and conservation. Work includes inspections, planning applications, conservation, felling, site clearances, crown thinning/reduction, pruning, chipping, stump grinding and much more. All the work undertaken is carried out to the highest of standards by fully qualified arboriculturists following strict adherence to all legal requirements as stated in EC Directive BS 3998:2010 ‘Recommendations for Tree Work’. Mad About trees also offers a 24 Hour emergency call out service for both domestic and commercial clients. This 24 hour service is in place to help provide instant and effective relief for fallen trees that have caused damage or disruption to the local area. Alongside our tree care services we have also undertaken a number of site clearance contracts for a number of different clients from both the private and public sector such as The Forestry Commission, The National Trust, Highways Agency, Local water authorities, local councils, schools, church associations, private housing associations, Metrolink, GMPTE and

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many more. Mad About Trees is very conscientious about recycling the waste from its sites and this is why the company tries to make use of any waste it removes from its jobs, such as processing wood for log burners and chip for school play areas and farmyard animal bedding.

Eskdale Roofing Established in 1988, Eskdale Roofing specialise in the installation of hard metal roofing and cladding, using a variety of metals, including Zinc, Copper, Stainless Steel and Aluminium. Eskdale Roofing prides itself in the high quality of its work with the knowledge that each installed roof will remain fully functional for years to come. Eskdale Roofing undertakes work across the country, from as far north as the Isle of Skye and Aberdeen through to Bath and London. Although the company’s work is mostly based in the UK, Eskdale Roofing has completed work abroad, including the installation of copper roofing on the Caribbean island of Mustique. Eskdale Roofing has worked with many major construction companies and innovative architects and has completed an interesting range of projects, from a Victorian bandstand in Clydebank, to an organic farm building, a Buddhist Temple and The Robert Burns Mausoleum, to name but a few. Regarding Stamford Park, Gary Buckley, Managing Director of Eskdale Roofing, explains; “I was particularly keen to be involved with the project at Stamford Park. I am from Manchester, I know of the great history of the park, and I wanted to play a part in its rejuvenation.”

Utility Landscapes Ltd For over five years external works contractor Utility Landscapes Ltd has conducted work on many landscaping projects, includ-

ing such high profile operations as Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester Creative and Media Academy and the redevelopment of the Festival Gardens Site in Liverpool. On the Stamford Park project, Utility Landscapes Ltd installed resin aggregate surfacing. The decorative surface-finish was installed across a number of key areas within the park. Utility Landscapes Ltd Manager, Nick Davis, said: “We have been in business for five years so we are still a rela-

tively young company and working on projects such as Stamford Park is very important to us. Each job helps to raise our profile and although we encountered a few battles with the weather we persevered and completed the work to the highest standard. “At Utility Landscapes Ltd we always do a good job and we are proud of the fact that we complete all of our work on time and within budget.”

Rudheath Community Primary School is ready for the new term Work is fast reaching completion on a £2 million project to construct a new school for the children of Rudheath in Cheshire. Set in the heart of Vale Royal on the outskirts of Northwich, the co-education school is maintained by the Cheshire Education Authority and caters for approximately 360 children between the ages of 4 and 11. Headed by main contractor Kier Construction (Northern), the project has seen the phased demolition of the existing 1950s element and the construction of a state-of-the-art block that will house the non-teaching elements, including the dining hall and assembly hall. Additional facilities will include an IT suite, a learning resource centre, new kitchen facilities and associated ancillary facilities including administration offices and a staff room. Enabling works began onsite in November 2011 and construction began in January 2012, with the project currently on track to hit the target completion date of September 2012. Project Architect for Design Group Chester, Roger Latham, explained: “Unfortunately, the existing buildings were substandard. The

old building stock dated back to the late 1940s or early 1950s and interestingly was one of the first aluminium system builds. These builds were set up during the war to manufacture parts for the aviation, and following this they were adapted to form the first curtain wall system buildings. In its day, this was quite innovative – however, after many years the building began to lag behind in terms of thermal insulation and quality and it was looking rather tired. “Although the initial proposal was to demolish the entire site, eventually the decision was reached to retain the 1980s element of the school and replace only the 1950s element. This removed the need for temporary accommodation and allowed the project to be phased, which in turn minimised the disruption created by the project. The construction phase is now complete, and the remaining demolition works are currently being undertaken, which will in turn allow the children to just move in when they come back in September.” Constructed to achieve a BREEAM rating of Good, the building features an external facing clay brick exterior with internal cavity and blockwork partition walls, along with a metal deck roof with insulation and membrane. Further external works have included the planting of flowerbeds and the tidying of landscaped areas around the perimeter of the site. Roger Latham added: “It is always a challenge to have a construction site embedded within a school, and I think Kier Construction (Northern) have done very well in managing the circulation route, the traffic and the people coming and going on the site. The phased demolition has made a huge difference to what has been possible, helping to maintain the school in situ without too much disruption to the staff and children – which over the course of 9 months is very important.” ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Celebrating history at the Irish World Heritage Centre A new centre to celebrate the worldwide Irish community is under construction on Queens Road in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. The £4 million first phase of the project will

embrace an Irish global family of 70 million people through the creation of the Irish Diaspora Museum, which will boast collections, documents and exhibitions to present the history of Irish emigration and the development of the global Irish family. The main contractor for the project is Willmott Dixon Group and the architect is Ellis Williams Architects. Phase 1 began in October 2011 and is scheduled for completion in December 2012. Funding has been provided via grants from the Irish government and Manchester City Council, with further monies sourced from the sale of the existing centre and funding provided by The Cooperative Bank. Prior to the project, the site was a former domestic tip and Victorian brickworks. Comprising approximately 1,300 sq metres, the steel-frame building spans two storeys and includes a double-height entrance hall,

exhibition space and a bar, shop and kitchen. Additional facilities include a multipurpose hall, a business centre and an education centre. The building has incorporated timber cladding and glass curtain walling, whilst further features include a copper effect roof and elevations that have been constructed using natural stone sourced from County Donegal in Ireland. To date, the external envelope is complete and the building is now watertight. The stone cladding of the exterior is currently being erected, whilst the implementation of the services and internal finishes has also recently commenced. Paul Stanion, a consultant for Davis Langdon LLP, an AECOM company that is providing project management and CMDC consultant services on the project, commented: “This is an extremely interesting building as it tells the story of Irish emigration to the five continents of the world. The curved building features a 2-metre high natural stone wall that creates a large circular external area, in turn replicating an old Celtic ring fort design – which is something that is commonly found in Ireland. “As visitors come through the double-height

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entrance, they will walk over a stone floor that has incorporated the names of all of the Irish families who have travelled to the four corners of the Earth. The centre of the ring fort will house marquees for weddings, whilst visitors who walk outside will walk over a bridge over water, signifying the Irish travels over water to emigrate. “The new Irish World Heritage Centre will be an important facility for both the Irish community and many other ethnic communities in Greater Manchester, and the building is on track to achieve a BREEAM rating of Excellent. “Phase Two of the project is the next goal, and will see the construction of a new conference centre and restaurant complex. This phase will commence following a fundraising campaign.”

Television company moves to MediaCity UK Leading television company Satellite Information Services Ltd (SIS) has set up home in Salford Quays; moving its London based production and engineering operation to Media City UK. SIS, which has had an office at Media City UK since 2006, operates the largest fleet of satellite uplink and outside broadcast units in Europe. SIS provides television footage and other media services to the betting industry, including live commentary and the betting information shown on screen. The company provides a wide coverage of many major betting sports, such as UK and international horse racing and greyhound racing and also provides footage of football, including the exclusive rights to distribute official English and Scottish FA and FIFA football data. Due to the completion of work on their new offices in May 2012, SIS has been able to bring many more of their services to Salford Quays. The main contractor working on the project was international construction services company ISG, whose job it was to turn a bare shell fit building into a suitable area to house the office administration, technical and studio facilities. ISG recently completed construction work on the Velodrome for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Velodrome was completed on budget and ahead of schedule, making it the first venue to be completed on the Olympic Park.

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The main architect was Jenkins Design Services Ltd, situated in Bury, Greater Manchester Farebrother Ltd, a Manchester based firm who were voted Electrical & Mechanical Contractor of the Year for 2007 and 2008, carried out the design and installation of the electrical and mechanical building services. They also carried out the enhanced power and cooling infrastructure works to facilitate the SIS requirements directly for Peel Media Ltd. The SIS offices are spread across three floors in the South Tower at Media City UK; on levels eight, nine and ten. The tenth floor was converted into office space, whilst the eighth and ninth floors were fitted out to house SIS’s studios and electronic and transmission equipment. The project which began in November 2011 was completed in May 2012. Ralph Wilson, Contracts Manager at Farebrother Ltd said: “Before the start of the project, the South Tower at Media City UK was just a bare shell. In just over six months the three floors were completely transformed to provide both a quality work environment as well as a high resilience infrastructure to accommodate the high-tech requirements of SIS.” Farebrother’s Building Services division specialise in the complete electrical and mechanical services associated with high quality fit-out and technical space, so were pleased to be able to use their expertise to help SIS create their new head office. Ralph Wilson added: “Every project is important to us, whether it’s worth £10 or £10 million. We had to use specialised knowledge and innovation to work on the project for SIS at Media City UK in terms of the high specification requirements for the mechanical and electrical work involved. As always, we also worked within our company values of partnership, quality, value and trust. “We’ve been in business for over 50 years and have specialised in three separate divisions; building services, data technologies and process and environmental facilities. We have carved out an enviable reputation in all three areas and continue to provide a first class service within budget and on time.”

First phase of Royal Court Theatre refurbishment is complete Nobles Construction has completed the first phase of a £10.6 million project to refurbish Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre. The project began onsite in February 2012 and saw the complete redecoration of the 15-metre high auditorium. Cabaret-style seating has been remodeled, whilst lighting has been improved and new seating has been installed in the Grand Circle. Visitors will now be able to use the new bar and toilet facilities, whilst further works included the installation of a permanent ramp into the stalls area in order to improve access to the theatre. The first phase was made possible by a £867,800 Heritage Lottery Fund grant and more than £200,000 raised by eager theatergoers, with the theatre re-opening to the public in June 2012. Gillian Miller, founder and chief executive of the Royal Court Liverpool Trust, commented: “It has long been our aim to restore the theatre to its rightful place as the city’s premier performing arts destination and to create somewhere that the people of Liverpool can be truly proud of. It’s a great honour to be able to head up the campaign to renovate one of the city’s best-loved buildings. “The colour scheme before was a real mish-mash, but this new one is simple and classical and draws attention to the stage. Downstairs is our own design of what we had before but better in terms of sightlines, and the seats in the circle and balcony are

much more comfortable. We were going to simply refurbish the balcony seats, but all the mechanisms had gone so we replaced them. “We now need to make sure we get it right for all those who are served by the building – from the older members of our community who enjoy the Royal Variety Lunch Club to the young people who take part in our annual Access All Areas project and perform on the same stage as the Trust’s patron, Dame Judi Dench, who made her acting debut at the Royal Court in 1957.”

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Liverpool Central Station undergoes major improvement works Liverpool Central Station – the busiest station in the city – has been closed since April 2012 to allow work to take place on a £20 million project. The work consists of two phases, one to open up the upper concourse area of the station and the other to renew the finishes of the underground platforms and associated passageways. The first phase of the project, jointly funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Merseytravel, started in October 2011 on the upper concourse and is being managed by Merseyrail Electrics. The work on the lower levels of the station, managed by Network Rail, began in April 2012, and necessitated the closure of the station. Head of Property and Programme Management at Merseyrail, Simon Olorenshaw, explained the work involved on the upper concourse area of the station: “In Liverpool, we have five underground stations and Liverpool Central is the busiest of them, with 17.9 million passengers per year. The project which Merseytravel is delivering will open up the concourse to provide more space. “We will be improving access to the lift and re-aligning the gate lines for the ticket barriers to allow a smoother flow of passengers into and out of the station. We are also working to provide increased passenger facilities including new waiting areas, additional toilets, disabled access toilets, information screens supplemented by improved CCTV coverage. We will also be increasing the amount of natural light in the station.” Simon Olorenshaw added: “The second part of the project involves replacing materials

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underground on the platforms and in the passageways serving them. The current Liverpool Central station was built in the 1970’s and a lot of the materials that were used do not comply with the current sub-surface fire regulations. “Following the introduction of the sub-surface fire regulations we were required to change a lot of the materials when their life

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N o r th We s t expired. Network Rail is leading the lower-level project which is really replacing all non-compliant materials including platform surfaces, cladding and tunnel linings.” The main contractor for the concourse works is Strategic Team Group, and Morgan Sindall is the main contractor for the underground phase. On the upper level Serco Project Services managed the design, and they worked with various companies including Studio Mad for architectural services and JNP for structural engineering works. In terms of materials, on the lower levels and platforms a ceramic tile will be laid for the new floor surface and this will replace the old rubber flooring. A vitreous enamel panel is being used on the walls so that they are robust and vandal proof, and an aluminium-type panel is being used for the lining of the tunnels. Simon Olorenshaw said: “It’s a testament to the two teams – Network Rail and Merseytravel – that they are able to deliver such a large project in confined spaces and within a tight timescale. We were keen to see the station remain open for the Grand National in April and reopen for the Mathew Street Festival, a city centre wide music festival, on 26th and 27th August, to accommodate the large amount of passengers that pass through the station for these events. “The period when Liverpool Central is closed is probably the most disruptive phase of the overall project. Over the next two or three years there will be some disruption around the network as we improve the other five stations in central Liverpool, but the benefits of this work is going to be immense. In total the project is worth around £40 million and represents a major transformation for Liverpool.”

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Fighting crime with the new £18 million Harrogate Police Station Located on the outskirts of Harrogate, the new headquarters for North Yorkshire Police became fully operational on the 17th of May 2012. The station replaces the authority’s previous 1930s-built base in the town centre and accommodates around 200 officers and a 16-cell custody block. It was designed by McBains Cooper and constructed by GB Building Solutions, who delivered the 15-month project at £2.8 million below the original budget. Incorporating a range of renewable technologies – including air source heat pumps and photovoltaic cells – the building has been designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. Further sustainable measures include the use of new software to monitor the levels of CO2 emissions from the building and all traffic movements associated with the site, and the reuse of 20,000 cubic metres of soil removed during construction. The new Harrogate Police Station features three entrances – custodial staff and public – each of which has a very distinct look and feel. In addition to the custody suite, the building also boasts interview rooms, office space, two vehicle docks and staff accommodation with associated facilities. Several logistical challenges were posed by the tight and complicated site, including a class B aquifer and a perimeter of mature trees. However, by locating the custody element of the building below ground and within the landscape, the Police Authority was given a naturally secure environment in which to operate. Chief Constable, Grahame Maxwell, commented: “The need for a new station was identified many years ago, and

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I am delighted to see the project come to fruition. The completion of the build is the culmination of a lot of hard work and planning by a team of highly-motivated and professional staff. “Police officers and staff need the right tools for the job and a fitting working environment. The new facility will provide these essential basics for many years into the future, contributing to a first-class policing service for Harrogate communities while at

the same time helping to reduce the force’s carbon footprint.” Chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Authority (NYPA), Jane Kenyon, added: “This new state-of-the-art station will provide a fantastic base for officers and improve the working conditions of many staff. The project has come in well under budget – almost £3 million – and that is absolute testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone working on this build. “The gratitude of all the members of the North Yorkshire Police Authority is expressed not only to those involved, but also to the communities of the Harrogate Borough – who have worked with us to ensure that the project has been able to progress.”

UCS Renewables UCS Renewables is a key element of the UCS Group that was formed in 2002. Specialising in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems they are superbly positioned with a dedicated team of estimators, designers, project managers and engineers, and backed by industry accreditations and certifications such as MCS, REAL, ISO: 9001 and CHAS to name just a few. By working closely with existing clients such as Balfour Beatty

Engineering Services, Laing O’Rourke and Integral, UCS was able to quickly establish a varied portfolio of commercial PV projects. UCS Renewables has worked on a number of key projects in the North East as well as further afield, including Harrogate Police Station, a 50kWp solar PV system at Roseberry Park in Middlesbrough and two new schools in Newcastle. The Harrogate Police Station project was particularly important to UCS as the company played a vital role in designing the system as well as supplying the components and installing the equipment. UCS Renewables Sales Manager, Matt Hawkins, said: “The key to delivering the right solution for each individual project is through good communication and collaborative working with our clients. “We pride ourselves on approaching each job independently and managing the requirements and expectations of consultants, architects, contractors and clients to achieve the best outcome in each of our business areas.” For enquiries regarding both new build and retro-fit projects please contact UCS Renewables on 0845 9011144.

The Bay is the ‘best in the north’ Nestled amongst beautiful parkland on the Yorkshire coast, the award-winning The Bay, Filey is a prestigious development that has planning consent for almost 900 traditionally constructed holiday cottages and apartments, along with New England style beach houses. Along with the stunning holiday cottages, the £120 million development also boasts a luxury leisure complex with an indoor swimming pool, children’s pool, sauna, steam room and fitness suite. Outdoor facilities include fishing, mountain bike hire, beach activities and a tennis court. In November 2011, The Bay was awarded the ‘Best in the North’ award in the Relax and Explore category at the sixth annual Hoseasons gala awards dinner. The event showcased the achievements of Hoseasons’ 470 lodges and holiday parks throughout the UK, and also served to highlight the success of lodge and park holidays and park holidays in 2011. Laurence Corrigan, Director of developers Essential Vivendi Ltd, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Relax and Explore award. This award recognises the effort and hard work put in by every member of the team, all of whom are responsible for ensuring our customers have a great holiday experience. This award proves the hard work has paid off and we aim to continue to deliver great UK holidays in 2012.” Geoff Cowley, Managing Director of The Hoseasons

Group, added: “The Hoseasons Group is the largest self catering holiday company in the UK, so winning one of these awards means The Bay is one of the UK’s most popular and successful locations in our portfolio. Like many holiday companies, the business has built on the strong success of UK holidays in 2011, and we look forward to helping locations continue to develop and grow in 2012.” All of the properties at The Bay have been constructed to a very high standard. The brick-built homes, cottages and apartments have been built using traditionally crafted bricks and slate or clay tiled roofs, whilst all of the homes come with a full 10year NHBC guarantee and feature central heating and double glazing throughout. The New England style beach houses feature a floor construction made up of over 150mm of polyurethane insulation, which is twice the depth required under current building regulations. The wall construction is timber framed, fully filled internally with a .44 rock wool, and an Ecobrite internal insulation, non-permeable barrier to the internal envelope. In addition 65mm of polyurethane insulation was added to the whole external envelope of the building before constructing the external Marley Cedral Board skin, all of which gives a wall and roof U-Value of 0.18. ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Connecting the community with Manchester Road Bridge A project to install a brand new cycling and walking route in Bradford has reached completion.

Manchester Road Bridge was implemented by Bradford Council in partnership with charity Sustrans. Eric Wright Civil Engineering was the main contractor on the project. Construction of the new bridge was implemented as part of a nationwide project by Sustrans to provide new routes for walking and cycling throughout the UK. The organisation was awarded £50 million of funding by The Big Lottery Fund to get the scheme underway and the new bridge forms part of this project. In addition to Manchester Road Bridge, Bradford Council is working with Sustrans to create a new mountain biking hub at St Ives and will also conduct a number of improvement

works on the Canal Road corridor. Bike It Officer for Sustans, Emily Picken, said: “The bridge is going to make a real difference to how we all make our everyday journeys in Bradford, providing a safe walking and cycling route linking homes, schools, colleges, the university and St Luke’s Hospital and more.” Manchester Road Bridge stretches 210 metres in length and comprises 350 tonnes of steel. The bridge is supported by almost 100 piles that were buried deep into the ground and the central steel column reaches more than 17 metres above Manchester Road. At the peak of the bridge a number of coloured lights have been embedded into the structure and these will be used by Bradford Council to advertise events that take place in the city. Whilst work was undertaken on the new bridge, roads were closed to traffic between St Stephen’s Road and Ripley Street – with a few diversions taking place along Bowling Old Lane – however disruptions for road users were kept

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to a minimum. To mark the official opening of the new bridge in Bradford, a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on September 1st 2012. As the bridge has been designed for community use, Newby Primary School student Mohammed Hamzah will cut the ribbon, after winning the opportunity to be at the event in a competition. Mohammed Hamzah, commented: “At first I thought I wasn’t going to win. Now I know I’ve won I’m really happy and my parents are proud of me.” Manchester Road Bridge officially opens to the public on 1st September 2012.

Finley Structures – a firm on the up While many firms in the construction industry struggle, County Durham-based Finley Structures goes from strength-to-strength. With a turnover now approaching £12 million, the family-run outfit, based on Aycliffe Business Park, boasts a client base that includes major contractors such as Balfour Beatty, Howard Russell, Shepherd Construction, Carillion, Willmott Dixon and Sir Robert McAlpine. Managing director John Finley – pictured with Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, who led Hitachi’s campaign to bring its Intercity Express Programme to the North-East– says the company’s strength in the market can only be described as a testimonial to the hard work and dedication of his team, who continue to strive in order to be the best in the business. “We continue to build on our recent success with a string of contract wins and positive developments,” says Mr Finley, who last year supported his local Northern League football club, Newton Aycliffe, by erecting a new stand for the first division club. “This further underlines our strong position in the market, thanks largely to significant investments over the last two-tothree years. We are completing jobs within the agreed time scales and the majority of contracts within budget, this enhancing our reputation and giving our clients the confidence that we can deliver and providing us the opportunity to work on much larger contracts.” Finley Structures was formed by Mr Finley in August 2000. Whilst providing a wide range of structural solutions, the company specialises in the production of portals, trusses, beams

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and columns. They invested more than £1 million in their production facility in 2008, with a second saw and drill line and robotic coping line as well as an SA2.5 shot blast facility. The decision to invest by the board of directors has paid dividends – while some firms in the industry struggle to survive, Finley Structures hasn’t looked back. “It remains a very difficult and gloomy time for some people,” added Mr Finley. “We’re in a strong position, but the market is becoming increasingly competitive and we have to work even harder to win contracts. “We’re doing more than just keeping our head above water, and if we can do that during this current climate, then that can only bode well for the future.”

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More details about Finley Structures can be found at www. finleystructures.com

Award-winning Finley Structures has been awarded a Values Award by building corporation Carillion Plc for its community engagement. Carillion operations director David Kennedy praised the familyrun firm, saying: “More than 130 children have visited Finley Structures to see their schools being built and they make sure it’s a fantastic experience for the youngsters. We take the young people to see the steel being made and we’re also taking them to see the bricks being produced, so they get a real insight into how it all comes together, so when it’s completed they’ll feel they’ve been involved in it every step of the way.” John Finley added: “It’s a pleasure to see youngsters come to our factory to get an insight into the world of work as well as seeing their own new school being built almost from scratch. It’s always nice to involve young people wherever we can and it’s rewarding to see them come in and learn so much about our operations. Our door is always open.”

Innovative

Finley Structures has completed the steel framework for the Vertical Pier, due to open later this year as part of Redcar and Cleveland Council’s multi-million pound redevelopment programme. The company was selected to complete the steel fabrication and installation work by major construction firm Willmot Dixon Group. More than £290 million is being spent in the Borough to regenerate the area, while an estimated £4.5 billion of private investment is expected to create around 14,000 new jobs and 600 new businesses. A total of £40 million is being spent on Redcar seafront, including £30 million on new sea defences and enhanced landscaping, and £8.3 million on ‘The Hub’, a Creative Industries Centre on the site of the old Palace Theatre. Andy Braid, construction manager for Finleys, said: “It was a pleasure to work on an exciting project which will have PREMIER CONSTRUCTION

such an obvious impact on Redcar seafront. It’s also further testament to our versatility and the diverse range of projects we’re capable of delivering to high standards.

Refurbishing Durham Castle An extensive refurbishment project to upgrade and improve facilities at Durham Castle, home to Durham’s University College, is now complete. Main contractor for the £5 million project was Miller Construction and the project was completed in early 2012. Phase One began in July 2011 and was largely centred on improving the Great Hall, kitchen and dining facilities. As part of the project, the kitchen equipment was completely stripped out and the kitchen was upgraded to a commercial kitchen. Alterations and improvements were also made to the Castle’s keep and the junction between the keep and the Castle’s northern range of buildings, whilst additional work included the restoration of chandeliers, timber rafters, radiators and oak panelling. Phase Two involved the upgrading of student accommodation to include en suite facilities. The residential areas of the building were reconfigured to accommodate the new bathrooms, whilst new joinery mouldings and fittings were also incorporated. Thirty-six en suite pods were supplied by Taplanes Ltd. The pods incorporate a WC, washbasin, shower fitments, lighting and extraction units. Metal stud work and plasterboard were positioned around the pod to create a ‘built in’ appearance, with the en suite pod door matching the walnut bedroom furniture. Due to the building’s significant historical value, all of the original features were maintained and carefully protected during the refurbishment process. This included protecting doorways and entry points whilst materials were being brought onto the site and modelling all of the fixtures and fittings to match existing features. University College Bursar, Michelle Crawford, said: “We are delighted with the refurbishment and the Castle’s facilities have been transformed from 1-star to anticipated 4-star Visit England grading. The Great Hall, servery, kitchen and bedrooms look fantastic, and they provide both a great community setting for students to live in and a majestic venue for weddings.” Durham Castle was constructed as a Norman fortress and the Grade I listed building forms part of Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 11th century castle was home to the Bishops of Durham until 1837 when it was handed over to Durham University by Bishop Van Mildert, who founded the institution. It has been the home of Durham University’s University College ever since. University College currently provides educational services for 700 undergraduates and 150 post-graduates, whilst the Castle also provides term-time accommodation for 339 students. In addition, the development receives tens of thousands of visitors per year and is used for special events and functions including daily conferences. Regional Managing Director of Miller Construction, Ian Jubb, said: “We are delighted to have completed the student residences at Durham Castle on behalf of University College, Durham University. This was an extremely challenging yet exciting project for the team to work on in terms of surroundings and historical importance. The biggest challenge we faced was preserving the original, historical features of the building. “We worked very closely with Durham County Council Conservation Department throughout the project, which enabled us to fully understand the limitations and restrictions of working within a World Heritage Site. We are confident that the students will benefit from their newly refurbished facilities whilst still being able to enjoy and appreciate the original features of the Castle.”

V.N.C Cleaning Ltd V.N.C Cleaning Ltd provide specialist cleaning services for both new build and refurbishment projects. The company tailor their services to meet the individual requirements of their clients and have previously worked on projects including Durham University, Theatre Royal in Newcastle, Hartlepool College of Further Education and many other high profile projects. VNC Cleaning Ltd Managing Director, Victoria Madrell, said: “For Durham Castle and Library we provided ongoing cleaning services, with the final ‘sparkle work’ taking place during and after contractors had completed their work. Our involvement on the project culminated with the final handover being achieved on schedule. “Great care was taken during each operation and we are very privileged to be given the opportunity to be involved with these high profile projects. “Detail and commitment to the finished project is of utmost importance to both companies and we are very proud to provide our services to Miller Construction. V.N.C Cleaning Ltd operates in areas from Newcastle North to North Yorkshire. “Miller Construction is an excellent company to work with and their aim is always to exceed the expectations of their clients.”

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Suffolk’s new energy-from-waste plant will save the county up to £350 million Leading recycling and resource management company, SITA UK, is building an energy-from-waste facility on the site of the former highways depot on Lodge Lane, Great Blakenham. The £180 million plant will provide a cheaper, greener solution to disposing of the household waste left after recycling. In total, 269,000 tonnes of waste from Suffolk households and businesses will be processed annually, in turn reducing greenhouse gases by 75,000 tonnes per year. Approximately 250 jobs will be created during construction, whilst 43 permanent jobs will be formed once the facility opens in December 2014. The plant has been designed by architects Grimshaw, who also designed the Eden Project in Cornwall, and it is expected to achieve a BREEAM standard of ‘Excellent’. Main contractor Lagan Construction will deliver the project alongside their process partner, CNIM. Works began onsite in January 2012 and included site surveys, the demolition of existing buildings and the preparation of the site offices. To date, piling for the waste bunker is complete and the concrete base is now being installed. On 18th May 2012, an event was held to mark the start of the construction. David Palmer-Jones, Chief Executive of SITA UK, commented:

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“It was fantastic to be in Suffolk to mark this occasion. The construction project is progressing well and we are looking forward to seeing this landmark facility take shape. “In two-and-a-half years’ time, all of Suffolk’s residual household waste will put to good use generating electricity instead of being send to landfill. Suffolk County Council has demonstrated excellent leadership in taking charge of its waste problem and

finding a solution. “We are delighted to be delivering a world-class facility that will benefit council tax payers and cut carbon emissions for years to come.” The project supports both SITA UK’s aim to live in a society where there is no more waste and the council’s ambition to make Suffolk the greenest county. A government grant of approximately £200 million will help to cover the running costs of the energy-from-waste facility, whilst income from the sale of electricity to the National Grid will offset the costs further. Over the next 25 years, the facility is expected to reduce costs by up to £350 million. A number of local businesses have already won contracts to supply goods and services to the site, whilst the facility will also have a visitor centre that will be available for community use during the evenings. Funding for community groups based within a three-mile radius of the site is available through the SITA Trust.

Upgrading Caister Holiday Park 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 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. A new state-of-the-art ShowBar was also installed to help revolutionise the provision of entertainment at the Park. The ShowBar replaced the popular Neptune’s Palace nightclub that had previously existed on the site. 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. The main contractor for the £2.2 million project was ELM Contracts and the architectural consultant was the Paul Robinson Partnership. Architectural practice Paul Robinson Partnership also 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 serves alcohol and soft drinks throughout the day and night, whilst the clever tiered floor system provides the audience with a clear view of the thrilling acts taking place on stage. 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 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 addi-

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Midlands & East Anglia tion 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.

ELM Contracts 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

JVA and Mole Architects are onto a winner with the new Dune House Now fully booked until September 2013, the beautiful Dune House in Thorpeness, Suffolk, has proved a hit with holidaymakers and RIBA judges alike after scooping a ‘RIBA Regional Client of the Year Award’ at the 2012 awards. Describing the project as ‘conceptually bold’ and an ‘exploration in geometry’, RIBA judges praised the building’s play on local gables and sheds and its achievement of a 20% improvement in energy efficiency over current building regulations. The five-bedroom house is nestled among rolling dunes in an idyllic spot at the very edge of the sea. Constructed on the former site of a chalet bungalow - parts of which dated back to the early 1900s - the two-storey house covers approximately 200 sq metres and sleeps up to nine people. The first floor cross-laminated timber frame is built off a concrete floor slab that is supported by an exposed structural concrete core. The perimeter of the first floor is predominantly glazed, whilst below the glazing the building is sunk into the dunes.

The ground floor is predominantly open-plan, with the central structural core housing the daybed, en-suite shower room and cloak room. On the first floor there are four spacious bedrooms, each of which has an en-suite shower room. Visitors may walk out from the living room directly onto the beach, whilst the house also offers extraordinary panoramic views over the sea from the bedrooms, bathrooms and terraces on the upper floor. Norwegian based Jarmund Vigsnaes Architects (JVA) designed Dune House in partnership with Mole Architects in the UK. Main contractor for the project was Willow Builders, who have won two Manser Medals for their work on the Holly Barn and Hunsett Mill projects. The site was purchased by Living Architecture - a social enterprise set up to revolutionise both architecture and holiday

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rentals - in the winter of 2007, and the project was completed in 2010. Dune House was one of four projects in the East of England to win a RIBA Award, with Hertfordshire’s Royal Veterinary College student village, Cambridge’s Sainsbury Laboratory and Brentwood School’s sixth form centre and assembly hall also winning a prestigious award. Mole Architects has previously won numerous accolades for its Balancing Barn project in Thorington, Suffolk (designed in collaboration with MVRDV), whilst it also won a RIBA East Spirit of Ingenuity Award for another project in Cambridge. Commenting on their win for Dune House, Director of Mole Architects, Meredith Bowles, said: “The award is excellent news. The building is designed to be slightly provocative and draw inspiration from its surroundings. Both Dune House and the Balancing Barn are quite arresting buildings.”

Construction News

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Wing Yip Business Centre in Birmingham undergoes redevelopment The Wing Yip Centre on Nechells Park Road in Birmingham is being redeveloped in order to keep up with the growing demands of the business.

Wing Yip are importers and distributors of genuine Chinese and Pan-Asian produce. They are the UK’s leading Chinese and Oriental suppliers and supply to most of the Chinese restaurants and takeaways throughout the country. With over 40 years’ experience in the business, Wing Yip’s Head Office in Birmingham is now ready to expand. Work started on the site in February 2012, with A&H Construction and Developments PLC as the main contractor. The main cash and carry will remain open throughout the project, which is scheduled for completion in October 2012.

David Futter Associates Ltd are the architects, consulting engineers and quantity surveyors on the project. They enjoy a longstanding relationship with Wing Yip and have worked with them on both new and refurbishment projects since 1986. The £5 million project will include alterations, extensions and façade improvements to the existing cash and carry store, along with the erection of a new 3,000 sq m warehouse with ancillary offices on adjacent land. The cash and carry building has had several uses over the years, including a Marks & Spencer distribution warehouse and a GKN Nut & Bolt factory. The Wing Yip Centre currently includes a cash and carry supermarket, financial and professional services, restaurants, cafés and an office. The buildings are steel-framed and the façade is made up of facing brick plinths with either insulated flat panel cladding or profiled cladding above. The curved and featured tiled roofs punctuate parts of the building, whilst the curved roof of the new warehouse is composed of insulated profiled metal sheeting. The roof

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tiles have been made by Santoft and feature warped horns, finials and ball caps, and collared ridge tiles. The interior features include suspended ceilings in the small goods cash and carry area, along with Polyflor finishes and new lighting. The bulk goods area will have resin floors and specialist low key light fittings, whilst all of the buildings will incorporate security and fire protection, CCTV, secure access and alarm lockdown. Landscaping will include the planting of three trees, and the creation of car parking spaces. Wing Yip are proud of their heritage, as reflected in the design and quality of the build.

New Street Gateway on track Birmingham New Street Station is set to join the 21st century as it will be transformed into a world-class transport hub in Birmingham. The £600m New Street Gateway – complete with stunning façade – will be providing commuters all over the country with comfort and convenience as they travel. Once complete the station will set the standard for future train stations. The development, which is due to be completed in the summer of 2015, began preparatory work in late 2009. In April 2010 construction began, refurbishing the first platform and creating the new concourse whilst in summer 2011 work began on cladding the station in a reflective steel façade. The first half of the Station’s concourse is due to open in April 2013, whilst the entire project is expected to be completed during summer 2015. The site will remain fully operational throughout the redevelopment work. Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham City Council, Centro and Network Rail are responsible for this ambitious venture, with the aim of easing the pressure that has been placed on Birmingham New Street in recent years. The project has been jointly funded by a number of different organizations, with the Government providing £388m and the Department of Transport investing £288m. Mace is the delivery partner on the project.

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£128m of funding has come from Network Rail – Britain’s railway infrastructure operator – and both The Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Advantage West Midlands is providing £100m. All of this funding is in addition to £10m from Centro and further support from other private sector companies. Birmingham New Street has had relatively few modifications since its inception in the 1960s yet the station is now host to over 140,000 commuters each day – more than double the number of passengers it was originally intended to accommodate. Approximately 60% of all trains between London and the North of England pass through Birmingham New Street Station each week. These redevelopment works aim to return New Street to the pristine condition of its former years, and will reduce congestion for the next 40 years.

Specific Improvements The much needed makeover at Birmingham New Street Station will consist of additional space and improved facilities with greater ease of access for the public. Better access will be made possible with eight new entrances, 14 new lifts and 42 new escalators that will adorn the existing platforms. There will also be new entrances and public space as well as better links through the station and into the public space. As well as these necessary changes, the shopping centre located above the station will also be rejuvenated and the outer walls of the station will form a curved structure that will be clad with reflective metal sheets. The sleek new façade will only add to Birmingham’s already growing reputation for stunning design, adding a new center piece to the structure with an impressive concourse along with a 2,800m² atrium filled with natural light. The Façade will be complete with ultra-modern digital displays that will present train timetables and improve movement throughout the station whilst maintaining a clear and accessible entrance. The Gateway will also initiate a major commercial opportunity with two 30 storey towers to the southern aspect, all surrounded by pleasant new public spaces and squares. The new contemporary building also includes several environmentally friendly features such as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) that will help to prevent the sewers flooding. Surface water will be redirected, whilst rainwater will be reused for toilets. New green roofs will also aid the environment in abundance, soaking up storm water and air pollution while absorbing carbon dioxide and providing a valuable city centre wildlife habitat.

Recent milestones A crucial aspect of the redevelopment was the purchase of the Pallasades shopping centre which occupies the space above the station. This is integral to the notion of rejuvenating the entire area in this flagship scheme. Councilor Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council and

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chairman of the New Street Funders Board, said: “This is a significant development in the Gateway project and its speedy acquisition means that the momentum is building towards delivering a completely new rail station for Birmingham, the region and the UK. “The purchase of the Centre was an important component of the plan, and shows our commitment to the project and our determination to ensure Birmingham has a station fit for the future. “Network Rail is a key partner in our proposals and they will continue to undertake the day-to-day management of the Centre, through their current agents Savilles. So, it will be ‘business as usual’ for tenants, staff and shoppers alike – a New Start for New Street begins now.” Mick Laverty, Chief Executive at Advantage West Midlands, said: “This is an important and positive step forward for the Gateway project, particularly in such a challenging time for the economy. “Our £100 million investment is still the largest investment in a single regeneration project by any regional development agency in the country and shows our commitment to creating a worldclass rail hub for West Midlands. “During the downturn it is vital that government funding from Advantage West Midlands and partners in the public sector keep major physical developments moving forward, creating jobs and changing lives long after the global economy has picked itself up and brushed itself down.” Neil Thompson, Construction Director for Network Rail, said: “The commercial agreement is a significant development for the project. Network Rail has been working on detailed designs for the station, following the launch of visionary concepts last year, which will enable us to start on site as early as possible. “The public has made it absolutely clear they back our plans to transform New Street and this deal means passengers are one step closer to the station they deserve.”

A1 Flue Systems For almost 40 years, A1 Flue Systems has specialised in the manufacture of bespoke stainless steel flues and chimneys for the commercial sector. Over the years A1 Flue Systems has worked on a number of high-profile projects including the Gherkin, King’s Cross Station, St Pancras and HM Prison Belmarsh. Working on Birmingham New Street Station, A1 Flue Systems fitted a temporary fan dilution system within basement plant rooms. The system operated the boilers and helped to facilitate the construction work on the site. In total, A1 Flue Systems worked on Birmingham New Street Station for eight weeks. The Senior Managers of A1 Flue Systems, said: “At A1 Flue Systems we are most proud of the fact that we are specialist flue manufacturers and not stockists. All of our work is custom made to order. “We are market leaders and our portfolio of work covers all aspects of the commercial sector, from water treatment works and prisons, to schools, universities and hospitals.”

Mecanoo’s Momentous Library Designs for the new library of Birmingham were first unveiled in April 2009 when Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council announced that Dutch architects Mecanoo would design a structure that would create 250 new construction jobs and 25 apprenticeships. The plan was to replace Birmingham Central Library with an exciting new structure that would house one of the largest public libraries in Europe. Once complete the new building will transforming the public’s perception of the city, become a hub of enlightenment attracting visitors from across the city and will set the standard for modern libraries everywhere. Since Birmingham Central Library was founded in 1974 it has been home to extremely valuable archives, photography and rare printed books that have unfortunately deteriorated over time due to the less than ideal environment in which they are currently reside. Therefore, the new library will present safer conditions for the irreplaceable collection whilst providing easier access for visitors with purpose-built galleries and search rooms. The library will take the place of a former car park that was closed in July 2009 and will occupy the space between Baskerville House and The Reparatory Theatre on Centenary Square. Birmingham City Council has long planned to use the library as an exciting addition to the urban landscape and it will hopefully regenerate the city as well as become a landmark development in its own right. The innovative £93m project was first announced in October 2007 and construction began in January 2010. The scheme has been funded primarily by Birmingham City Council with other contributions coming from land sale, commercial sponsorship and private philanthropy. The new library will cover 31,000 square meters and comprise of ten floors. The library will boast a mezzanine at lower ground level that will link with the Birmingham Reparatory Theatre and will include a foyer, bars, restaurants and a new 300 seat studio theatre. The building will have a further four public levels with two cafes located on the first and third floors as well as a new exhibition space. The exhibition area will allow public access to the collections for the first time and will also include conference facilities.

In addition, a ‘golden box’ of secure archive storage will occupy two levels ornamented from gold coloured anodised aluminium panels and the metallic finish will change hue depending on the weather conditions.

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The public will be greeted by the large circular form of the entrance canopy and interior overlapping rotundas that reflect the city’s tradition of craftsmanship and industry. Visitors will travel through the building via escalators that will provide a continually changing perspective of a building whilst a viewing gallery will offer a superb view of the city. The project will also feature a large outdoor amphitheatre which can facilitate music, drama, poetry reading and storytelling performances. The concrete structure will be covered by a unique frieze and each section will be comprised of 5.4m diameter black rings and 1.8m diameter silver rings, which according to architects Mecanoo is ‘inspired by the gasometers, tunnels, canals and viaducts which fuelled Birmingham’s industrial growth’. Francine Houben, Mecanoo, said: “The circular pattern of the metal framework honours the city’s industrial heritage, in particular the craftsmanship in metal work. For me, the circles symbolise unity and relate well to the purpose of the metal frieze, unifying the different functions within the building with one gesture and expressing openness to the public.” One of the more appealing aspects of the new library is the use of two large outside terraces which will enable visitors to not only connect with the library but also the surrounding area promoting the building within the community. Brian Gambles, Project Director, explained: “One of the key messages that I gave to the design team was that I wanted the library to work very closely and effectively with the public realm. This is an extremely important public sector project and one of the largest cultural developments in this country, if not Europe. “The project has not been without its challenges. We are working on a very restricted site in terms of size and accessibility and as a result the construction team has had to be imaginative in their efforts. Fortunately the Repertory Theatre and the library have some services in common and we have been able to integrate the two buildings. In addition, the underground space has been used effectively and natural light can now flow into this space as a result of the creative use of heights.

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“Because we are in a very busy location in the city centre, Carillion has had to manage a large volume of vehicles that have brought materials to the site. Whilst this has resulted in partial road closure, the effects of construction have been minimised by close interaction with the local residents and businesses. It was very important that the construction team behaved as a considerate builder and I am pleased to say that Carillion have performed this role brilliantly. “It gives me great pride to report that the project is currently both on programme and under budget. This is an extremely important development for the city of Birmingham and will allow us to transform the image of the region through the promotion of culture. Although the area already celebrates a large number of visitors, it is hoped that the new library will bring even more people to this wonderful city.” The new Library of Birmingham is scheduled for completion in April 2013.

A1 Flue Systems For almost 40 years, A1 Flue Systems has specialised in the manufacture of bespoke stainless steel flues and chimneys for the commercial sector. Over the years A1 Flue Systems has worked on a number of high-profile projects including the Gherkin, King’s Cross Station, St Pancras and HM Prison Belmarsh. A1 Flue Systems first became involved with Birmingham Library in January 2011 and is currently installing a flue system for three boilers and one combined heat and power (CHP) unit. The system is being installed on a free standing chimney that will be mounted upon the roof of the library. The Senior Managers of A1 Flue Systems, said: “At A1 Flue Systems we are most proud of the fact that we are specialist flue manufacturers and not stockists. All of our work is tailor made and made to order. “We are market leaders and our portfolio of work covers all aspects of the commercial sector, from water treatment works and prisons, to schools, universities and hospitals.”

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Establishing the Ampersand Hotel Located within a Victorian building in South Kensington, Ampersand Hotel is a new five-star boutique hotel. The six-storey building comprises 111 bedrooms, the drawing rooms patisserie and lounge, Apero restaurant and bar, the library, a private dining room, two meeting and events spaces and a gym. The restaurant/bar, meeting rooms and gym are located on the lower ground floor, whilst the drawing rooms, lobby and bedrooms occupy the five remaining floors of the building. Work began onsite in October 2011 and involved the conversion of the former Grosvenor Hotel into the luxurious new Ampersand hotel. Due to the historic significance of the building, many of the site’s original features were retained – including the stunning ceilings – whilst replacements and modifications were conducted in keeping with the original design scheme. The original staircase was also restored and extended, whilst a new entrance was installed in order to provide street access to the restaurant. John Sisk and Son was the main contractor on the project, Dexter Moren Associates was the architect, Bradbrooks were the project managers and BSDA were the mechanical consultants. Goosebumps was responsible for all of the branding on the hotel. The Ampersand Hotel includes an impressive range of guest bedrooms from double and superior rooms to deluxe studios with free standing baths and suites with balconies. All of the bedroom furniture within the hotel has been individually designed by Dexter Moren Associates. The furniture and decor has been inspired by many of the landmark buildings located within the surrounding area, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal Albert Hall. Each of the rooms has its own unique design concept ranging from music, botany and astronomy to geometry and ornithol-

ogy. In addition, all rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi, tea/ coffee making facilities, a mini-bar, a media hub, laptop safe, air-conditioning and LCD TVs with movies on demand. Ampersand Hotel General Manager, Roberto Pajares, said: “The key was to be involved as early as possible to avoid any unnecessary and costly last-minute changes. “The furniture and finishes are all new, and the mechanical and electrical services have been replaced and updated to suit the modern requirements of our guests. All of the work that we have conducted has been implemented with great respect to the original building’s design.” “There are a number of independent and boutique hotels in the surrounding area, but in terms of design the Ampersand Hotel is very different. We have linked ourselves directly to the local area – specifically to South Kensington – and we are very much about providing a place that is reflective of the space that we inhabit. “Ampersand bridges the gap between the very small boutique hotels and some of the much larger hotels. There is a market out there which is very much music and fashion led, and that’s exactly what we are all about.”

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Brent Civic Centre will open in 2013 Dubbed the ‘greenest public building in the UK’, the new Brent Civic Centre will be the first UK building to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Outstanding’ when it opens in 2013. On 29th June 2012, a topping out ceremony was held to celebrate the first step towards completion. Brent Council Leader, Councillor Muhammed Butt, donned a hard hat during the ceremony, which was also attended by Paul Chandler, Executive Vice-President of main contractor, Skanska UK. The £100 million building has been designed by Hopkins Architects and will eventually house up to 2,000 Brent Council staff, along with event facilities for up to 1,000 people. In addition to a public garden with community art displays, the Civic Centre will incorporate a new library and learning resource centre, along with retail outlets and spaces to socialise. Further facilities will include a Registrar’s Office, Community Hall and Council Chamber. Car-parking and motorcycle-parking spaces will be available in the basement, whilst the site will also incorporate 250 bicycle-parking spaces and charging points for electronic cars. Managing Director of Hopkins Architects, Bill Taylor, commented: “This is a major new London project for us – a terrific opportunity to bring together administrative and civic functions in a new world-class building.” Situated on Engineers Way, opposite Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena, the new Brent Civic Centre is in the heart of the Wembley regeneration area. In addition to the nine-storey, 40,000 sq metre Civic Centre, Wembley City will also include a new Hilton Hotel, the largest cinema in Europe and the only designer retail outlet in London. It is estimated that modernising and centralising the council services and spaces from their current 14 sites will save approximately £2.5 million per year, whilst the Civic Centre will provide opportunities to generate an annual income of up to £9.7 million – which will in turn be spent on services in the borough. Civic Centre Programme Director at Brent Council, Aktar Choudhury, said: “This scheme will form an important part of one of the UK’s most exciting regeneration projects in a prominent setting opposite Wembley Stadium. We are seeking to create a community centrepiece in the heart of a modern development, and we are determined to build the UK’s greenest building.” Work began onsite in November 2010 and the building is expected to be open and fully operational by June 2013. During the course of construction, job and work experience opportunities are expected to be created for local people, whilst local

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business have also had the chance to bid for contracts. One of the most important aspects of the project is the incorporation of sustainable technologies. Brent Council’s current buildings are inefficient, expensive to maintain and unfit for purpose. The new Brent Civic Centre hopes to combat this through a combination of solar shading, natural ventilation, façade performance and combined cooling, heating and power using vegetable oil. Further sustainable approaches include water conservation, the monitoring of water run-off and the installation of flood defence systems. In addition, waste will be reduced and recycled, whilst sustainable and fairly traded products will be transported using environmentally friendly methods. As a result of the sustainable technologies, carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by 33%. Internationally renowned construction company Skanska UK was appointed to build the new Brent Civic Centre following a competitive tender process. The company celebrates an extensive portfolio that includes London landmarks such as 30 St Mary Axe (‘The Gherkin’) and the construction of Royal London Hospital. Skanska UK have won a number of awards for their commitment to sustainable construction, including an Area Based Regeneration Award in 2008 and the European Business Award for the Environment in 2010. In addition, the company was named ‘Industry Leader’ in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies Award 2010.

A1 Flue Systems For almost 40 years, A1 Flue Systems has specialised in the manufacture of bespoke stainless steel flues and chimneys for the commercial sector. Over the years A1 Flue Systems has worked on a number of high-profile projects including the Gherkin, King’s Cross Station, St Pancras and HM Prison Belmarsh. Working on the Brent Civic Centre project, A1 Flue Systems is supplying one flue for use in a combined heat and power (CHP) exhaust, located within the basement plant room. The Senior Managers of A1 Flue Systems, said: “At A1 Flue Systems we are most proud of the fact that we are specialist flue manufacturers and not stockists. All of our work is tailor made and made to order. “We are market leaders and our portfolio of work covers all aspects of the commercial sector, from water treatment works and prisons, to schools, universities and hospitals.”

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Europe’s largest Lacoste store opens in London Fashion and sportswear brand Lacoste has opened its flagship store in Knightsbridge. Lacoste London opened in July 2012 following a £1.4 million re-fit operation by Nottingham-based fit-out specialist DG Professional Interiors. Situated opposite Harrods, the brand new 6,500 sq ft store is the largest Lacoste store in Europe and boasts a Lacoste Lab – the brand’s new concept in shopping – along with a number of state-of-the-art features. In order to mark the debut of the new store, an official opening day took place in July and featured DJ sets and live music, with many A-List celebrities in attendance - including Will.I.Am, Eliza

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Doolittle, Filipe Oliveira Baptista and David Ginola. Work began onsite in April 2012. In order to meet the opening date deadlines the re-fit was condensed from a 14-week period to just 10 weeks, with site teams conducting work via two 24- hour shift patterns. DG Professional Interiors was the main contractor on the site, whilst Brighton-based practice Design LSM was the architect. DG Professional Interiors has completed new and existing Lacoste store fit-out works for over 12 years. The company has achieved such a long-standing relationship with the brand due to its ability to design and manufacture bespoke products at

their in-house workshop in Calverton. Richard Potzesny, Lacoste, commented: “DG Professional Interiors invested a lot of time to understand the new concepts by visiting some of our European stores. They then worked with us to transfer these ideas to the actual fit-out of our new flagship store. “We are delighted with the quality of the finished store, and the feedback from guests on the opening night was tremendous. It is very interesting to have people we know we can rely on to deliver our project on time and within budget with no unforeseen surprises along the way.” DG Professional Interiors Managing Director, Ian Coward, added: “Before we started work on the site, I travelled to Paris and Germany with Design LSM so that we could witness firsthand what European Lacoste stores looked like once they had received the new fit-out. “Upon our return we then manufactured some of the Lacoste fittings – with additional elements delivered from France – so that they were replicated in the same style as those that we had seen in Europe.” The three-storey Lacoste site comprises a first floor, ground floor and lower ground floor. The lower ground level is aimed at shoppers aged between 16 and 24, whilst the ground floor is reserved for menswear - including Lacoste’s L!VE collection and Lacoste Lab. Lacoste Lab is the first of its kind in the UK and allows customers to order a selection of large items including footballs, bicycle helmets and surfboards directly to the Lacoste store. The concept was conceived by Lacoste’s design director, Christophe Pillet. The remaining level of Lacoste London contains ladieswear and a children’s section. All of the work on the site was completed in June 2012. The transformation of the store involved the complete removal of all of the building’s existing features and the installation of a new staircase with LED lights in the base and a lift pit. With the pit in place, a new glass passenger lift was installed - subsequently providing access to all three levels of the building. On the lower ground floor all existing plumbing services were redirected to match the building’s new configuration, whilst a new sprinkler and air conditioning system was also installed in the building. The lower ground floor received new wood-effect flooring, whilst a £98,000 resin floor was installed on the ground floor.

To complete the fit-out works, the stock room was improved, whilst Wi-Fi was installed and security measures - including a full CCTV and security tagging system - were also fitted. New signage was then installed at each level of the building and a full programme of decoration works took place. No exterior work was conducted on the site. Additional features of the new Lacoste store include a heritage wall that showcases images which document the history of Lacoste. Visitors will also marvel at the Polo Fit wall and Polo Bar, where the brand’s iconic L.12.12 polo shirt is exhibited in all 65 colours and oak panel changing rooms. Ian Coward, said: “The transformation of the building was a challenge logistically because the store is located in a very popular area of London opposite Harrods, with offices situated above. GVA – the company that operate from the offices above – commented on how well we dealt with the works and I think this was testament to all of our hard on the site. “Prior to the opening of the flagship store Lacoste owned a smaller store nearby, however this is a completely new concept in shopping. Lacoste London is a boutique store with high-end finishes and a range of services from hotel delivery – allowing shoppers to have their items sent directly to their hotel – to multilingual staff who can help international shoppers. “With this new store Lacoste is offering a personal service unlike any other. It is a modern reworking of an established brand and has been designed to improve the customer experience. “DG Professional Interiors is the nominated shop fitter for all Lacoste stores in the UK. We have built up a great working relationship with Lacoste and the feedback for this store has already been very good, with suggestions that this is the best Lacoste site in the world. “Lacoste continually alters its design in order to offer its customers the best possible shopping experience. Indeed, some of the existing stores – including Birmingham and Leicester – are undergoing a few alteration works to bring them in line with the new flagship store. “Lacoste take the view that the world is always changing, so alterations allow them to be ready for any future developments. Lacoste has stores in Paris and New York and now is exactly the right time to have this flagship store in London.”

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Aberdeenshire Design Awards Held every two years, the Aberdeenshire Design Awards celebrate the most outstanding achievements in design innovation. The awards are split into seven categories, including: Housing, Business, Conservation, Rural Landscape Development, Sustainability, Craftsmanship and Public Art. The Aberdeenshire Design Awards aim to encourage the very best in environmental design and to improve the built environment in Aberdeenshire. By stimulating a deeper interest in the traditional and recent architecture, it is hoped that the awards will raise the profile and benefit of good architectural design within the local communities. The prestigious event takes place at the National Trust for Scotland’s Haddo House and attracts the best architects and developers in the region. With the original 106 designs now whittled down to just 28, the awards ceremony will be held on 6th September 2012. Councillor Peter Argyle is chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee and the Aberdeenshire Design Awards judging panel. Speaking of the importance of the awards, he commented: “Essentially what we’re looking for is good design, which means different things to different people. If I could choose one word, it would be respect – a respect of the built or natural environment, combined with a sense of place and a balanced design. This doesn’t necessarily mean the slavish copying of previous ages, as we value a modern design just as much as a sympathetically traditional design. “We also look at celebrating innovation in sustainability and craftsmanship. One of the most memorable projects for me is the restoration of a salmon bothy in Portsoy, which received both the highest award for Conservation (Distinction) and the new Ian Shepherd Award for the best project over the seven categories. This was an important community project, and the craftsmanship and design was simply outstanding. “Another striking project was the conversion of a small church into a family home. The church had been empty for many years, and the joiner that bought it did a beautiful job of restoring it. However, what impressed me the most was his innate enthusiasm for his work – he was so passionate about each element of the design. “The purpose of the Aberdeenshire Design Awards is to encourage good design across the construction industry. We have recently introduced a new local development plan for

Aberdeenshire that is very generous in both the allocation of land and the opportunity for development. As a result, we wish to see much better standards of design for the industry, particularly within the volume house building sector. The awards are therefore part of a wider agenda that aims to encourage good design in everything that is built in Aberdeenshire.”

Community spirit creates Lodge Restaurant An extensive refurbishment project which transformed a disused building in Strichen into a community restaurant has caught the attention of the Aberdeenshire Design Awards 2012. The £385,000 Lodge Restaurant in Strichen was completed in May 2011 and has been nominated for an accolade at the forthcoming awards ceremony. The project comprised the complete refurbishment of an existing building, along with the construction of a brand new extension and associated landscaping. Lovie Construction Ltd was the main contractor on the project, whilst Lachlan Macdonald was the architect. Although the Lodge Restaurant project has received a nomination at the Aberdeenshire Design Awards 2012, the building is part of a much larger redevelopment scheme that has transformed Strichen Community Park into a new community site. Strichen Community Park Comity Director, Hebbie Fowlie, explained:

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“Strichen Community Park is located just outside the village of Strichen, and had previously existed as a country estate before it was bought by Scottish Aggregates Ltd, who built a factory on the site. “When the factory closed, the buildings remained on the site but over time they deteriorated and became a bit of a blot on the landscape. Keen to do something with the land my father approached Scottish Aggregates Ltd to see if they would be willing to donate part of the site to the village so that we could revive this area. Scottish Aggregates Ltd agreed and after first donating 20 acres to the village we eventually managed to acquire the remainder of the site taking us up to 37 acres of land. “The Park Comity then started work on refurbishing the whole area, which included tidying up the lake and introducing picnic areas into the Park. The only area of the site that then remained untouched was an old gatehouse building which didn’t fit in with the redevelopment of the site. “There were plans in place to sell this building, however when I came on to the comity I objected and suggested that we turn it into something more useful. We then looked into funding, approached Lovie Construction and before long we started transforming the building into Lodge Restaurant.” Whilst the existing building underwent extensive refurbishment works, the original granite facade and external walls were kept

in place. Slate flooring was then installed throughout the building, whilst a modern kitchen, DDA compliant customer toilets and staff areas were also constructed. A driveway was then installed around the Lodge, alongside grassed areas and outdoor seating. Hebbie Fowlie said: “The work that has been conducted on Lodge Restaurant has really made a huge difference to the Park. The addition of the facility has raised awareness of the redevelopment work and it has really helped to revitalise the village. “Strichen Community Park has become an area where visitors can take their dog for a walk or go for a coffee and it has really brought the community together.” Hebbie Fowlie added: “Being nominated at the Aberdeenshire Design Awards 2012 is great as this is fantastic recognition for all of the hard work that has been put in by everyone involved, especially by all of our volunteers. “This site demonstrates what a small community can achieve when everyone gets behind each other. We have had some great support from Aberdeenshire Council who provided us with our first piece of funding and then additional funding from the Big Lottery Fund. We have been very lucky with all of the help that has made this project a reality.”

Innerleithen WTW project is flowing swiftly Scottish Water is making a significant investment in the Innerleithen area of the Scottish Borders. In January 2012, works to construct a new £3.6 million water treatment plant began. Designed to offer cleaner, fresher water to communities living throughout the Tweed Valley, the new Innerleithen WTW will comprise a membrane plant with chemical dosing facilities that will remove naturally occurring elements and any cryptosporidium organisms from the raw water supply. Following this, the existing storage tank will be used to hold the drinking water from the treatment works before it is supplied to the local community. Main contractors for the project are Ross-shire Engineering and the scheme has been designed by URS Scott Wilson. The single-storey building stands at 43 metres long by 13 metres wide and will be clad in profile sheeting. Internally, the building comprises a control room, welfare facilities, toilets, a small laboratory and a large plant room floor containing all of the process equipment. External landscaping will include tree planting, mounding and an open water course. In addition, the existing dry stone walls have been retained and mature planting will be kept around the perimeter of the site.

The project has proved challenging in terms of the design, as Malcolm Miller explained: “There have been some difficulties in terms of integrating the building into the landscape, as it is a fairly large building in an exposed location. With regards to the design, we have tried to create the impression of an agricultural building that blends into surrounding landscape. In simple terms, we have deliberately made it ‘uninteresting’ to look at. “The new plant complies with Scottish Water standards and has incorporated numerous environmental considerations. In particular, the building has a lower carbon footprint and we aim to minimise the amount of power used for pumping and process work. We have also met the operational and planning requirements to avoid excess clutter on the site.” Scottish Water provides 1.3 billion litres of drinking water every day and removes 840 million litres of waste water daily. The company is currently working on improvement projects across Scotland, including improvements at Loch Ryan, Seafield and Glencourse. Earlier this year, Scottish Water launched a new division that will export the impressive expertise that the company has built up over the last ten years. The contract in Canada will enable ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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Scottish Water to deliver training to operational staff in the water industry throughout Alberta. Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, said: “Scottish Water’s contract in Canada underlines that Scottish ingenuity and expertise is seen as a valuable global commodity. It shows that there is real potential for further contracts to be secured across the world, which is why Scottish Water’s decision to create a new international division is to be applauded.”

Pentair Pentair X-Flow develops and supplies membrane technology to the municipal and industrial markets. The UK sales and service operation for the group is based in Droitwich Worcs. In close partnership with Ross Shire Engineering Pentair’s involvement on the Innerleithen WTW project is providing the core Ultrafiltration technology and supporting ancillary equipment

which acts as a barrier for Cryptosporidium. Country Manager Steve Weston said: “We supply technologies, solutions and service to the water industry, both industrial and municipal. This includes drinking water, waste water and process water applications. As a technology leader in these markets our product range is now being extended to capillary nanofiltration” Steve added: “We have over 700 mega litres per day of installed UF capacity in the UK. More than 60 mega litres of this capacity is in Scotland where we have a number of sites commissioned providing drinking water to the local population.” Pentair Process Technology also supports the food and beverages industry with various forms of membrane solutions as well as hygienic valves under the Sudmo banner and CO2 recovery systems and instrumentation from Haffmans.

New wind farm is set to boost the Outer Hebrides’ economy An £11 million wind farm is currently under construction in the Isle of South Uist, by South Uist Renewable Energy (SURE), part of the Community land owners of the 93,00 acre South Uist Estate. Loch Carnan Community Wind Farm comprises three Enercon E70 turbines and forms part of the largest cluster of community wind farms in the UK. Once fully operational, the wind farm will be capable of producing 6.9MW of energy – with an annual electricity production of 25,000 MWh – and will generate a substantial income for the local community for the next 20 years. Work began on site on the Loch Carnan Community Wind Farm in March 2012. RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited is the main contractor on the site, providing roads, foundations and cable tracks. Meanwhile Green Cat Renewables – acting on behalf of SURE – is the technical advisor on the project. The key services provided by Green Cat Renewables include detailed design work, route access, technical procurement advice and construction project management. Funding for Loch Carnan Community Wind Farm is being provided through a combination of sources. Funding includes investment from the Co-op Bank and the Social investment Scotland as well as through £2.4 million of European Regional Development Fund support in recognition of the huge community benefit that will be realised through the future investment generated. Throughout the construction of the wind farm an ecological clerk of works is being conducted on the site to limit the impact that work will have on watercourses and rare European protected annex 1 species such as red throated divers. As the construction of the wind farm is a community based project great care is also being taken to ensure that costs are being kept to a minimum. When work began on the site an early design proposal included the use of floating roads for access tracks; however a more cost effective design was used to provide an alternative and more affordable solution. The new design sourced rock from the site to combined rock founded tracks with floating roads which saved both time and money. Additional work on the site will include the installation of reinforced concrete foundations, the construction of a 1.8km cable trench and the construction of a pre-fabricated substation. A 500 tonne crane will be used to lift the Enercon E70 turbines. Green Cat Renewables Principle Engineer, Andrew Aveyard, said: “The site was identified by SURE because of its location away from residential properties but with access to the electricity grid. After an extensive tender process Enercon were identified

as the preferred turbine supply. “Some turbines are prone to gearbox problems and can break down throughout the course of their life, but because the Enercon turbines are direct drive they do not gearboxes. In addition, Enercon have their own maintenance and servicing teams which is included as part of the warranty (EPK) package which means the risk of the turbine being unable to operate is minimised and if there are problems the service team will be on site within a guaranteed response time, all of provides a greater degree of comfort to SURE .” Andrew Aveyard, added:

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“Throughout 2012 Green Cat Renewables is involved with approximately 50MW of wind farm projects, all of which are very important to us. However it is the community based projects, such as this one at Loch Carnan, which highlight the hard work we put into developing local areas. “By constructing these wind farms we are helping communities to obtain a new source of power and income that will remain in place for the next 20 years. This source of income will help the local community to secure infrastructure improvements that will take place around the South Uist Estate area, such as employment, housing and tourism infrastructure. In turn this will provide the islands with much better foundations for moving forward and in light of the current economic climate will make a massive difference to all of the 2,900 residents. “Green Cat Renewables has been involved with a number of community schemes in Scotland and seeing these schemes fully operational and providing income is fantastic. We have established a great working relationship with these communities and that is something which is very rewarding for us.”

Loch Carnan Community Wind Farm is due for completion in late 2012.

Improving efficiency at Glasgow Royal Infirmary An extensive refurbishment scheme is currently underway to transform Glasgow Royal Infirmary University Tower. The £12.5 million project is being completed for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and comprises the refurbishment of the existing University Tower Block, along with the complete overhaul of existing services. The work is being undertaken to improve efficiency within the building and once work is complete on the project, University Tower will include state-of-the-art laboratory analysing equipment. A plant room will also be installed on the roof of the fivestorey building. To complete the transformation of University Tower, a new glazed vertical ‘eyebrow’ will be installed on the north elevation. From this point of the building staff will be able to enjoy views of the city at dedicated break-out zones. Work began on the project in January 2012. Balfour Beatty Scottish and Southern Ltd is the main contractor and Armitage Associates is the architect. Gerry Groome of NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde is the project manager, whilst Steve Russell is the senior project manager on the site. Davie & McCulloch is the mechanical and electrical consultant

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and WSP is the structural consultant. Norwood Partition Solutions Ltd put a wall lining around the interior of the building to make the towers suitable for use. As the towers will be used as laboratories, they had to give the space a clean feel. Peter Booth, Norwood Partition Solutions, said: “We have worked on University Tower since the conception of the project. This is a very important enterprise for both Glasgow Royal Infirmary and for Norwood. “Throughout the project we are utilising a new system which is bespoke, developed and manufactured for the University Tower project and as such perfectly demonstrates the capabilities and adaptability of Norwood Partition Solutions Limited.” To date University is the largest scheme that Armitage Associates has been involved with. A spokesperson for Armitage Associates said: “Working within a fully operational hospital environment is always a challenge. On this occasion these major refurbishment works are being undertaken with some occupants still on level one. The site’s main outpatient clinics and x-ray facilities directly below that have to remain fully functional throughout the project. “In today’s environment finances are particularly tight, necessitating exceptional project and budget control. This, along with the need to maintain a fully operational clinic environment which meets infection control and health and safety standards, requires substantial services co-ordination and communication between the contractor, client and general site occupants. “This project is the first time that University Tower has benefited from significant investment. The external fabric and structural frame is in good condition and this refurbishment will bring the building up to current standards, giving it a new lease of life.” Glasgow Royal Infirmary University Tower is due to reach completion in August 2013.

Upgrading Hamilton Bus Station A £5.5 million project to upgrade services at Hamilton Bus Station, Strathclyde is continuing to make great progress. Construction work on Phase One of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) upgrade work is now complete and is currently open to the public. Once work is completed on Phase Two the station will deliver a number of modern passenger facilities along with an improved interchange for rail station and taxi services. The work on Hamilton Bus Station is being phased in order to reduce disruption to both the bus services and the general operation of the station. An additional improvement on Hamilton Bus Station will include the installation of covered walkways which will link the state-ofthe-art station building to 17 local bus and coach access points. All waiting areas will also be enclosed and will include automatic doors and information screens providing passengers with important departure and arrival times. SPT Vice Chairman, Councillor Denis McKenna, said: “Over three million passengers use this bus station, making it a vital transport hub for the area. The significant investment by SPT is in no small part down to the tireless work of local councillors in the area. “The project has been a collaborative approach between SPT and South Lanarkshire Council and we’re delighted to be working with them to deliver a fantastic transport legacy for Hamilton, Lanarkshire and the wider Strathclyde area. Passengers will certainly notice a big difference when the new facility is complete.” The upgrade of Hamilton Bus Station is a joint venture between SPT and South Lanarkshire Council. SPT has provided £5 million of funding for the project, whilst the remaining £500,000 was provided by South Lanarkshire Council.

Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Chris Thompson, said: “People expect a certain standard of comfort and information when using major bus stations and this upgrade will certainly provide that. “We are delighted to be working in partnership with SPT on such a major project that will benefit so many people throughout South Lanarkshire and beyond.” Whilst work is taking place at Hamilton Bus Station, temporary bus stances have been provided for customers. The temporary provisions have been put in place along Brandon Street, to the west of the existing station, whilst coaches will be redirected to an old MFI car park located nearby. Bowmer and Kirkland is the main contractor on the Hamilton Bus Station project, whilst Austin-Smith: Lord is the architect.

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To date, Bowmer and Kirkland has completed approximately 70% of the project, which includes the new Travel Centre building, a coach stance waiting area and the enclosed bus stance area. Work is now taking place on the main site entrance and the remainder of the enclosed bus stances. SystemGlaze conducted work on the external facade of Hamilton Bus Station, which included installing the glazing, the curtain walling and automatic doors. In addition, SystemGlaze’s sister company BSW, worked on all of the shelters and waiting structures located outside of the station. SystemGlaze Commercial Director, Adam Elford, said: “We were involved on the upgrade works at Hamilton Bus Station for approximately three months. Although for us this is a reasonably small job in comparison to some of our other operations, it has been fantastic to be a part of this project. “Two of our companies – SystemGlaze and BSW – have been involved and this is has made the work very important to us as a group. Once work is complete this station will be very beneficial to local residents.” The upgrade works on Hamilton Bus Station are due to be completed in winter 2012.

Restoration of Dumfries House Built between 1754 and 1759, Dumfries House is a beautiful and historic stately home located in Ayrshire’s sprawling countryside. The house and its estate are currently undergoing an extensive series of restoration works to upgrade, improve and replace key services in order to create a new functionality for the estate. Prior to work taking place on Dumfries House, the building, its contents and the 200 acre estate were all set to be sold at auction, as Dumfries House Curator, Charlotte Rostek, explained: “In 2007, after 2 failed attempts to find an owner for Dumfries House it was decided that the house, the state and its unique collection of furniture would be put up for sale. The collection included all of the original 18th Century furniture – bought and commissioned specifically for Dumfries House –which had survived intact for over 250 years. “When, just three weeks before the sale at auction, the fundraising campaign had not managed to reach the asking price, HRH

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The Prince of Wales got involved by providing an investment of £20 million to save the house and its invaluable contents.” Dumfries House Estate Manager, Oliver Middlemiss, added: “At that point, The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries

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House Trust was set up and the process of restoring the building, the collection and the wider estate began. The focus on this restoration is about opening up the house and the wider estate to the public in what HRH The Prince of Wales has referred to as a ‘heritage led regeneration’. “At Dumfries House the whole focus is about welcoming people back on to the estate so that they can really enjoy this historic landmark. HRH The Prince of Wales hopes to use Dumfries House and the wider estate as a touching point for the regeneration of this part of Scotland.” Work began on the restoration of Dumfries House in September 2010. Taylor and Fraser Limited is the main contractor for the mechanical and electrical works on Dumfries House, whilst Keith Ross of Buccleuch Rural Design is the architect and McGowan Miller Partnership is the quantity surveyor and CDM co-ordinator. As part of the restoration of the house the services infrastructure, including plumbing, heating and lighting have all been renewed and carefully integrated. Kitchen facilities and visitor toilets also received a makeover, whilst plaster repairs, decoration and general maintenance work has also taken place. Due to the historic significance of the building, all work on Dumfries House is being conducted very sensitively, however as the fabric of the house is in very good condition external work is being kept to a minimum. Only the ageing formal steps at the front of the house have required significant repair, elsewhere a rigorous maintenance programme ensures that all areas are kept in good condition. With the bulk of the construction work on Dumfries House al-

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ready complete, a number of additional projects will continue to take place on the site and will be completed in the near future. These include a cook school, a residential outdoor activity centre, an education centre, traditional skills workshops and artist’s studios. Of those recently completed and on-going projects, Sam Templeton is involved with a number of the operations and is the main contractor on the refurbishment of estate bridges and the estate’s extensive walled garden. Hope Homes Scotland Ltd are heavily involved with a number of projects on the estate as well as building houses at Knockroon, a sustainable mixed-use development that will serve as a model community for Scotland. In addition, work completed on the Dumfries House estate includes the conversion of the coach house into a cafe, and the transformation of an old stable building into a bistro and conference facility. The old home farm steading buildings have recently been refurbished with conversion of the original farmhouse into a six-bedroom guest house in addition to improvements to existing holiday let cottages. Keith Ross was the architect on the guest house/holiday cottage project with Taylor and Fraser acting as principal contractor. Keith Ross, Buccleuch Rural Design, said: “Dumfries House Estate is a beautiful place to work, with the highest quality of craftsmanship evident in all the buildings that we work with. The work that we are undertaking will ensure that this level of craftsmanship is maintained whilst at the same time introducing the necessary improvements to enhance its beauty and extend its life. “

Caldermains flourishes with Lochay Homes An abandoned housing development in North Lanarkshire has been brought back to life by Lochay Homes. Lochay Homes bought the Caldermains site when a previous developer went into administration. Caldermains, located in the village of Cleland, is now being redeveloped by Lochay Homes to create 46 new houses. With rail links nearby providing travel to Glasgow in 30 minutes and Edinburgh in an hour, Caldermains is in an excellent location, while retaining the sense of community that comes with a village location. The village provides excellent local facilities including a range of shops, a primary school and secondary school. Golfers will appreciate the nearby Greenhill Country Estate, and those looking for alternative forms of relaxation can take advantage of being in close proximity to New Lanark Conservation Village and Strathclyde Country Park. Site Manager Jamie Thomson said: “There were 7 houses on the site when we first bought it. Externally they were finished but were not completed internally. We’ve gone back to planning and have created great new designs and new house types for the development, but remained true to what was already there.” Lochay Homes started work on the site at the end of 2011 to finish off the work which had been done by the previous developer. They began work on phase two of the project- their own new-build houses- in March 2012. The development will provide a variety of house types ranging between two, three and four-bedroom houses in different designs. Lochay Homes worked with locally based architect Walter Struthers of Dalziel Design on the development. All the houses are timber framed and well insulated. Solar PV panels have been fitted onto the roof of each home to generate electricity; an estimated 1250 kWh per year per house. Lochay Homes have also added other useful features to the homes on the Caldermains site. Each bedroom has fitted wardrobes and there is a number of safety features included, such as mains connected smoke detectors, heat detectors and C02 monitors. There are also a wide range of design features which make the homes attractive and individual. For example, buyers can choose from a range of kitchen units and worktops in the kitchen, which includes a stainless steel sink and stainless steel oven, hob and chimney hood. Buyers also have a choice of quality tiles in the bathroom and en suite. Jamie Thomson said: “It’s been an interesting project to work on. I’m relatively new to construction and this is the first project I have worked on from ground up, we have a really good team of highly experienced property professionals so as a second project it has been really good experience for me. We have seven new houses completed

so far. The show house is also open and people have begun to move in. “They are high spec good quality houses and they are great value for the location and house types. They are not the typical new build, for example every bedroom has built in wardrobes and the solar PV panels on the roofs mean that they are very economical to live in too with the solar systems expected to generate an energy saving of over £80 and a feed in tariff income of over £280 in the first year alone. “We had to work with the local planning office in terms of the look of the houses so that they remained in-keeping with what was already there. But it’s an excellent project to be involved in and as long as people want great value quality new homes we will do very well.”

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Hitting the road: A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement scheme begins A £56.7 million road improvement scheme designed to ease congestion and enhance road safety is currently underway in Carmarthenshire. The A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement scheme is being constructed for the Welsh Government by main contractor SRB Civil Engineering. The 9.3km road will bypass the villages of Llanddowror and Red Roses, across the River Hydfron and will pass through several environmentally sensitive areas. Once complete the scheme will improve journey times on the trunk road, will reduce severance and traffic pollution and will also help to improve air quality for people living close to the existing road. A new flood relief culvert will also be constructed west of Pont Newydd and improvements will be made to the footways and lighting between St Clears roundabout and Pont Newydd. Over the past two years the Welsh Government Project Team has undertaken extensive work to assess the impact that the road will have to the surrounding environment. Two public inquires also took place in 2011. To prepare the site for the implementation of the new scheme archaeological surveys were conducted around selected areas of the route, fencing was installed to create boundary points and a number of trees and hedges were removed.

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Construction work began on the project in February 2012. At the beginning of the improvement works Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones attended the site to emphasise the importance of improving Wales’ transport infrastructure. First Minister Carwyn Jones, said: “Over the past few months we have invested nearly £80 million in improving our country’s roads. Transport is vital to our everyday lives and is crucial to support the economic growth of Wales. That is the reason we’re putting considerable investment into schemes that will deliver our vision of a modern and sustainable transport system. “In addition the development of these schemes provides a direct boost to the local economy by providing local employment and training opportunities during construction.” The majority of the work on the A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement scheme will take place on new sections of road which are located away from the A477 route. With working taking place off the main route, disruption for road users will be kept to a minimum however there may be some traffic delays as the work connects back to the existing road. A477 St Clears to Red Roses Improvement scheme is scheduled to reach completion in January 2014.

I re l a n d

The Hill of the O’Neill will restore historic pride in Dungannon A major project to redevelop the Hill of the O’Neill (formerly known as Castle Hill) is well underway in the centre of Dungannon. The site celebrates a varied history, having served as the medieval stronghold of the O’Neill Lordships, the residence of the Plantation of Ulster Commissioner Sir Arthur Chichester, and the site of a Ministry of Defence security base. Now, thanks to a £2.24 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and a £500,000 contribution from the Northern Ireland Arts Council, the site will be redeveloped once more to become a publicly accessible park. The £5.5 million project began onsite in February 2011, with Patton as the main contractor and the Consarc Design Group (Belfast) as the architect. Works have included the redevelopment of disused parkland to create a public park, and the restoration of two landmark towers at the 18th century Knox Hannyngton House. In addition, the former Belfast Banking company premises – the Grade B+ listed Ranfurly House – has been fully refurbished and extended to provide exhibition space, interpretive galleries, a tourist information centre and much-needed community arts facilities. Speaking about the importance of the project to the community, Chair of Dungannon Traders’ Association, Stephen Mohan, commented: “The new name will evoke the town’s historic connection with the O’Neills and its strategic position as the centre of Ulster. On a clear day, you can see seven counties from the hill, and the site itself is redolent with history. We wanted to draw out the unique history of Dungannon and honour the town’s former position as the centre of Gaelic life in Ulster and Ireland.” Iain Frazer, Chief Executive of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, added: “The archaeology of the site has proved particularly interesting. To date, we have uncovered the remains of the old castle, the old gate lodge to the estate and the remains of human skeletons dating back to the mid 1600s. “As we’re dealing with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, who place restrictions on the development of historic buildings and monuments, it has been essential to retain the original character of the buildings – particularly with regards to the old Belfast Banking Company premises, which was built in the 1860s. “The concept was devised as part of the town regeneration strategy, and it is right in the middle of the urban business district and retail centre. Most regional town centre shopping is under tremendous pressure from online shopping or out of town shopping, and this was a project to try and encourage increased footfall through the provision of public services in the centre of the retail sector. “I am extremely pleased with the design, concept and functionality of the centre. It is going to be a major asset to the local community and visitors alike.”

The Hill of the O’Neill is scheduled for completion in August 2012.

Firesafe Protection Systems Ltd Firesafe Protection Systems Ltd specialise in the installation of fire stopping, air-tight and acoustic sealing. The company has worked on many flagship projects including Odyssey Arena, Lyric Theatre, and Obel Tower in Belfast, and has contracted work throughout the UK to counteract the local downturn. On the Hill of O’Neill project Firesafe Protection Systems Ltd sealed all service penetrations, wall and ceiling joints for fire, movement and acoustic measures all in compliance with current building and fire safety regulations. Colin Walker, Firesafe Protection Systems Ltd, said: “In addition to Firesafe Protection Systems Ltd continuing to service our broad construction client base, we continue to expand in to new opportunities in the green energy field.”

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Checking in at Ramsey Park Hotel A brand new £2 million hotel has opened in Ramsey to become the Isle of Man’s latest hospitality hotspot. Located on Park Road, Ramsey Park Hotel is a 30-bedroom hotel catering for up to 60 residents. The site is owned by Isle of Man resident Trevor Hemmings, and as well as becoming the latest site within the Classic Lodges Associate portfolio Ramsey Park Hotel is also the first hotel to be built on the Island for several years. Guests at Ramsey Park Hotel will be treated to stunning views from their bedrooms, with rooms overlooking either Mooragh Park, the lake or out to the sea. The hotel also includes Lake View Restaurant – a 50-cover eatery for hotel guests – which serves delicious meals to both guests and non-resident diners alike. Work began on the Park Road site in April 2011 with working reaching completion in mid-August 2012. The Chief Minister for the Isle of Man, Allan Bell officially opened the hotel. Funding for the project was provided by a number of Government agencies as well as Lottery funding and included a £350,000 fit-out cost. Prior to work commencing on the four-storey Hotel, a bungalow was demolished to make way for the new structure. With the bungalow removed from the site a brand new building was built, covering an area of 13,000 sq. ft. The building was built with Pad foundations, with a steel portal frame to the ground and first floors. Traditional block walls were installed on the upper levels, with supported reinforced concrete floors, steel pulins and ring beam at wallplate level. The external facade was then installed using a render finish with engineering brick feature panels. To complete the construction of the hotel a mix of UPVC and aluminium windows was included, along with an aluminium clad roof with gutters and downpipes. The ground floor of Ramsey Park Hotel comprises a reception area, Lake View Restaurant, a bar, kitchen and staff quarters. Public toilets and lift access is also located on the ground floor

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of the building, whilst the remaining three floors of the Hotel comprise 10 bedrooms per level. The hotel extensively carpeted throughout, except in staff areas and en-suite bathrooms which feature vinyl flooring and in the foyer and toilet areas which includes ceramic floors. Additional features include CCTV, smoke detectors, fire alarms, ramps for disabled access and air conditioning in the restaurant. The site also includes parking, paved pedestrian areas and some soft landscaping, which includes planters and a side garden. O’Hare & McGovern was the main contractor on the project, whilst Cornerstone Architects provided all architectural services. Managing Director of Classic Lodges Richard Grime, said: “We are delighted to be adding Ramsey Park to our portfolio of hotels. Ramsey Park is slightly different in that it is a modern building, whereas most of our current properties are historic properties, but the location, and the quality of service it promises is entirely consistent with the Classic Lodges brand. I have no doubt that Ramsay Park will become its own modern-day classic.” Ramsey Park General Manager, Steve Dawson, added: “I have worked in the hospitality industry for many years, but this is the first time I have been involved from the very beginning and it is incredibly exciting to have an input into how the hotel will operate. “I am sure that with the fine food we will be serving, and its impressive location on the shore of the lake, Lake View Restaurant will soon be a favourite for locals and visitors alike.” Ramsey Park Hotel is located in Ramsey, in the north of the Isle of Man and is the second largest town on the Island. Due to numerous visits from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1847 and King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1907 the town is often referred to as Royal Ramsey and houses one of the largest harbours on the Island.

Fantastic local facility for Colby Football Club There is a bright future ahead for Colby Football Club with the completion of their exceptional new football ground. The thrilling development is based in Colby and will house an array of sports facilities that will benefit the local community. Work on the new football ground was commissioned after the planning authority granted Colby AFC planning permission to build new facilities on the site. The project includes construction of a club house and car park; the installation of a new drainage system and associated landscaping and lighting. Fencing will also be included along with a new railway crossing barrier. The development – which will help to modernise football in Colby and the surrounding area – features two full sized playing fields. The site also includes an additional pitch built specifically for ladies and junior football teams. In addition to the construction of the new playing fields the football ground also boasts an impressive club house. The club house consists of four changing rooms as well as two clubrooms – one situated on the ground floor which has the potential to hold up to 110 visitors and another on the second floor which can host 50 guests. The project is being carried out by Island Drainage and Groundworks and was designed by Hugh Logan Architects. The total cost of the development is £1.6m with the club funding the venture through the sale of their previous ground Glen Road. Work began on the project in 2010 with the construction team conducting work on the assembly of the three playing fields,

the all weather pitch, clubhouse and changing rooms, tractor shed and car park. The project is now very close to completion with work primarily focusing on the construction of the road surrounding the complex. Prior to work taking place on the site the land was originally a greenfield site spanning 600 square meters. Colby Football Club President, Roy Dixon, said: “This was a huge community project that is primarily important to Colby Football Club as we were fortunate enough to get planning permission and with the help of the FA, we designed exceptional sport facilities for our village.” This ambitious scheme developed after it was confirmed that Colby AFC would be unable to secure a grant from the FA to facilitate the development of the land where they previously resided at Glen Road. The site also lacked sufficient space for the expansion plans and with a huge junior division – comprising in excess of 250 children – all using the facilities many players were forced to play games at other venues. The teams were still using the old ground in January 2012 and have since moved into the new ground through the use of portable cabins until the new site is fit for use. The football club firmly believes that the new complex meets the standards expected by the Football Association. This includes providing services for women and disabled players as well as extra space that will be made available for the management and development of junior players.

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Learning new skills with the National Association of Chimney Engineers A Specialist Apprenticeship Programme (SAP) developed especially for chimney engineers has been set up to provide on-the-job and off-the-job training. The SAP has been developed by the National Association of Chimney Engineers (NACE), working in partnership with CITBConstruction Skills (CSkills), and with the support of HETAS. The programme comprises 65 on-the-job training days and 25 off-the-job training days and includes modules specifically designed to provide apprentices with the required skills for chimney engineering. The SAP modules for chimney engineers will cover all aspects of health, safety and first aid right through to an understanding of the principles of chimney and flue refurbishment. Apprentices will be able to learn the best ways to line chimneys, the correct ways to use hand and power tools, and basic chimney construction skills. As qualified chimney engineers are expected to work on rooftops in a safe and secure manner, one module will even focus on the best ways to undertake work at a height. This module will demonstrate how best to work with PASMA scaffold towers and roof ladders, which will be invaluable for apprentices who come to rely on these important skills on a daily basis. The use of flexible metallic lining systems, cast in-situ concrete lining systems, surveying and testing will also be taught as part of the programme. Most of NACEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off-the-job training takes place in Derbyshire at Sure Fire Technical Services and regular assessments will take place throughout the two-year duration of the programme. The final assessment will take place on site and upon successful completion of the programme apprentices will receive the NVQ

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Diploma in Chimney Engineering level 2. Currently 1 in every 5 employers is hiring an apprentice as they continue to work their way through the current economic climate. Apprenticeships provide businesses with motivated team members who are keen to get ahead in life, and schemes such as SAP help apprentices to achieve their goals with the correct set of skills. The content of each SAP module provides apprentices with the necessary formal training they require to forge a career in the industry and the programme is open to candidates of all ages. At present SAP is limited to 8 places. However, there is scope to develop the programme beyond the initial placements if demand from employers is high. The registration fee for this SAP - including off-the-job training and assessment - is currently ÂŁ4,590 + VAT and subject to conditions may be paid in instalments. A substantial grant is available for those interested in taking part in the programme. The grant is available for businesses that are registered with CITB-CSkills and may exceed the training and assessment costs over the two-year period of the programme.

More about NACE The National Association of Chimney Engineers was set up in 1982 to maintain national standards of workmanship in the industry. The company promotes a high quality product and ensures that the safety of all UK and Ireland fuel users is the Association’s number one priority. NACE provides clients with a register of competent chimney engineers and they conduct all building and repair work in line with Building Regulation Standards. All NACE members are trained to carry out installations to the highest standards of quality and can provide quotes for repair work, undertake surveys and provide clients with the best possible advice.

All chimney engineers that take up membership with NACE are required to have an extensive knowledge of the industry and every chimney lined or installed by a member will include a NACE data plate stating the chimney’s compliance with relevant building regulations. To become a NACE member please contact info@nace.org.uk or call 01526 322555. For more information on grants and registration for the Chimney Engineers’ Specialist Apprenticeship Programme please visit www.cskills.org/apprenticeships

Working at height? You can count on the ATLAS safety net The Association of Technical Lighting and Access Specialists (ATLAS) has been supporting its member companies in the working at height industry since 1946. It has been continually striving to improve working practices, technical quality and accepted standards in the steeplejack and lightning protection sectors. The benefit is naturally felt by member companies, but also extends to clients of members who work within this specialist sector. ATLAS was formed to promote the common interests of stee-

plejacking and lightning conductor engineering companies. By working to maintain a high standard of conduct, combat unfair practices and encourage safety and efficiency, it offers its members access to the best industry knowledge and advice available. ATLAS is governed by a council elected annually by the membership which meets four times a year. Meetings are open to all ATLAS members to participate in discussions on industry topics, to pose questions and to meet with other member companies to further both their own development and that of the industry. Outside the quarterly meetings, work continues throughout the year in the form of committee activity, ensuring that ATLAS remains at the forefront of all industry developments, influencing decisions, improving standards and reporting back to its members. Membership of ATLAS is carefully monitored and all companies are obliged to abide by the association’s constitution and code of conduct.

Association Objectives •

• • • •

To ensure high standards of safety, both for management and operatives, through a comprehensive range of training and qualification To protect others who may be affected by their operations To maintain a high standard of professional conduct and ensure members comply with current regulations To represent to clients a hallmark of quality and efficiency To secure equitable forms of contract with clients and to discourage unfair and unsafe work practises

Leadership ATLAS is fronted by figures who have built up years, if not decades, of industry experience, and who all share a belief and willingness to work for the benefit and betterment of the industry. The association’s presidency is currently held by Graeme Fisher. Graeme joined the established steeplejack and lightning protection company A.W. Elliott in 1974, and through the years held positions as contracts supervisor, contracts manager, contracts director, managing director, and company chairman until 2004, when the business assets were sold to Omega Red Group. Graeme has been an active member of ATLAS since the 1980s, becoming heavily involved in lightning protection matters and representing ATLAS on BSI technical committees for lightning protection and earthing for over 20 years.

Find out more To find out how your company or organisation can benefit from ATLAS membership, visit www.atlas.org.uk ROMA PUBLICATIONS

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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 break-

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fast 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.

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Lightning Conductors & Lightning Protection Systems SLPTG (Steeplejack & Lightning Protection Training Group) can provide clients or customers with all the necessary information on specialist lightning protection companies regarding training, qualifications and experience. 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

A s s o c i ati o n s

Get ready for NO-DIG LIVE 2012 The NO-DIG LIVE 2012 exhibition, which is returning 2-4 of October 2012, will present a thrilling opportunity to probe industry experts on a range of products, with excitement already building within the trenchless community. The 11th biennial trenchless technology exhibition is taking place in Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, and will be providing visitors with the opportunity to see new machinery and equipment operating in a live working environment. The exhibition is a major networking event that gives engineers a glimpse of the very latest innovations in the world of trenchless technology. NO-DIG LIVE 2012 provides the industry with a chance to interact with leading experts and to discuss the latest innovations. There is also a strong emphasis on education at NO-DIG LIVE 2012 as the event will allow visitors to build a better understanding of the new technology that is on display. Westrade Group Ltd. is the organiser behind NO-DIG LIVE 2012. The company has been coordinating NO-DIG and other trenchless demonstrations in the UK, Middle East, Far East, South Africa and India since the initial NO-DIG LIVE which was held in London in 1985. NO-DIG LIVE 2012 is a unique event that focuses on installation and refurbishment equipment which causes minimal surface disruption to sites and is of great importance to the industry. Expressing his interest in NO-DIG LIVE and the technology which will be on display, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, wrote to Russell Fairhurst, Chairman of the United Kingdom Society for Trenchless technology: “I greatly commend the efforts of UKSTT to support and promote innovative solutions that reduce the disruption caused by roadworks. “A major aspect of my administration has been to tackle this thorny issue and in September 2011, I released my roadwork pledge, which clearly outlines the standards that London should expect from roadwork sites. “One of the key principles of this pledge is to take up as little road/pavement space as possible with a compact working area, something that trenchless technology makes possible. This way of working also satisfies the aim to keep London moving, by ensuring works are completed as quickly as possible.” NO-DIG LIVE 2012 will explore a variety of different subjects that will appeal to various industry sectors. These will comprise enthralling discussions ranging from records and plant location to pipeline operation and leakage management. The daily program at NO-DIG LIVE 2012 will also include the popular Breakfast Briefings, where guests will have the chance to take part in a topical consultation, allowing them to attend a seminar before viewing the exhibition. The initial outdoor plots at the event have already sold out, with organisers now looking for further expansion opportunities. There are already a resounding 60 contributors that have already confirmed their participation in the event with countless others registering their involvement. NO-DIG LIVE 2012 is also attracting much international interest due to its commendable reputation for offering focussed shows with varied appeal. The number of exhibitors arriving from overseas looks set to increase. In 2010, NO-DIG LIVE proved so popular the event boasted the largest number of visitors in its 27 year history. With an unprecedented demand for space and many repeat bookings from outdoor exhibitors this year’s show is expecting to exceed visitor numbers once again.

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Exhibition and seminar registration for NO-DIG LIVE 2012 is now open with admittance to the event free for industry professionals. For more information please visit www.nodiglive.co.uk.

Steve Vick International Steve Vick International is taking an outside stand (no.45) at No Dig 2012 to demonstrate new products in their pipe handling range: a trailer capable of transporting 500-metre coils, two Mini Pipe Handlers which attach to excavators to handle PE pipe on site and the MACAW, a digger attachment for cracking redundant cast iron mains. The new trailer has a number of key advantages: by taking a 500-metre coil as opposed to a typical 100 metres, it allows operators to save money by reducing pipe wastage by up to 13%. Due to an improved central drum configuration, pipe is dispensed quicker, faster and more smoothly compared to trailers with no central drum. The handlers attach to mini excavators to allow PE pipe, up to 180mm in diameter, to be manoeuvred on site and inserted quickly and securely from the safety of the cab. Typical insertion speeds of up to 10 metres per minute are possible. The MACAW, suitable for 8 – 18” cast iron mains, makes breaking out abandoned mains a quick, easy and safe job, compared with alternative hand held tooling. A smaller model will be available soon.

Heritage

Ensuring a bright future for the past English Heritage exists to protect and promote England’s spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood. English Heritage is the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. Officially known as the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, English Heritage is an executive non-departmental public body 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 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 £132.7 million, and income from other sources was £48.1 million. English Heritage works in partnership with central government departments, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the private sector to conserve and enhance the historic environment, broaden public access to the heritage and increase people’s understanding of the past. The organisation meets these responsibilities by: acting as a national and international champion for the heritage; giving grants for the conservation of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; maintaining registers of England’s most significant historic buildings, monuments and landscapes; and advising on the preservation of the historic environment. English Heritage also encourages broader public involvement with the heritage, promotes heritage-related education and research, cares for Stonehenge and over 400 other his-

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toric properties on behalf of the nation, maintains the National Monuments Record as the public archive of the heritage and generates income for the benefit of the historic environment. English Heritage is currently running a five-year investment programme for its properties. Based on an audit of all the organisation’s properties, £30 million 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 profile of vocational training and the built heritage construction sector and attracting more young people to pursue careers within it. The plan is also geared towards encouraging the use of suitably skilled and qualified people, and developing qualifications to ensure that traditional building knowledge and skills can be attained from GCSE to Master Craft level. Find out more at www.english-heritage.org.uk

Meet the conservation specialists Mike and Gary Simpson, a father and son team, run a specialist conservation firm called Heritage Consolidation from their base in Northumberland. Their specialities include stonemasonry and lime-based mortars, 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