Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

MARCH 2020

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Contents March 2020

04

Lendlease hosts UK Foreign Secretary in first post-Brexit trade mission

05

RIBA responds to Government on international free trade agreements

08

Sisk and Quintain host topping out ceremony for Wembley Park

16

Discussing Sustainability with Simon Ayers, TrustMark CEO

18

Structures: Long-term value from modular stainless steel bridge

24

ACME’s swan footbridge unveiled in Swansea

26

A Day in the life of: A Degree Apprenticeship Student

28

Learn from the experts at the RCI Show

32

Ministers see nuclear progress at Hinkley Point C

34

A14 by Skanska, Costain and Balfour Beatty opens six months early

38

Women in Construction: College supports women into construction

42

Construction Expo returns to Sussex

04 08

16

18

24

26

32

34

38

42

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Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 03

Latest News

SPECIAL DELIVERY – THE HOMES BUILT IN HALF THE TIME The last of the modules making up 13 new council homes were delivered to Sugden Way, Barking on Monday, 27 January.

Be First, the council’s pioneering regeneration company, commissioned specialist construction company Rollalong to build and deliver the modular homes, which are built offsite and then bolted together and finished on site.

The first modules were lifted into place on Monday 20 January and the last arrived today – making a delivery in just six days.

Councillor Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing visited as the third delivery took place last week.

“I was astonished by the progress”, he said, “but the beauty of this system is that we can construct top quality permanent new homes twice as fast as using traditional methods, and in half the time, meaning significantly less disruption to the neighbours”.

The modern construction method is widely used on the continent and has become renowned for its quality, since the majority of the construction work can be done in controlled conditions and tested rigorously.

Be First appointed Rollalong to design and build 19 modular homes for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham from its 11-acre manufacturing and head office site in Dorset.

Rollalong Managing Director Steve Chivers commented: “I was very proud to see the initial delivery of modules to the site. It is a very exciting project which will provide a range of high-quality, affordable housing for people in Barking and Dagenham, and we’re very pleased with progress so far.

There is a shortage of housing in the borough and our modular alternatives to traditional construction offer a real opportunity to address the shortfall in approximately half the time.

Tom Mather, Construction Director at Be First, added: “I am delighted with the pace and delivery of the project to date. This is very much the future of the building industry and we expect to use offsite construction regularly, since we can reliably deliver more quality homes much more quickly.”

LENDLEASE HOSTS UK FOREIGN SECRETARY IN FIRST POSTBREXIT TRADE MISSION The UK Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon. Dominic Raab, MP, today visited Lendlease’s global headquarters at Barangaroo in Sydney as part of his first overseas trade mission since the UK left the European Union.

Addressing an audience of more than 100 senior Australian business leaders and international investors, the Foreign Secretary highlighted the opportunities to deepen trade and investment links between the UK and Australia via the establishment of ambitious new trade agreements.

Mr Raab also held a private meeting with Lendlease. The company has been operating in the UK since 1991, employs over 1,300 people and has a pipeline of projects within London and further afield in the UK valued at more than £20bn.

In Birmingham, Lendlease has been selected by the City Council as preferred development partner to transform a 14-hectare site at Smithfield, which is a short walk from where the new High Speed 2 City Centre Terminus will be built. The project has the potential to help transform Birmingham’s impact on the international stage.

Lendlease is the UK Government’s master development partner for the regeneration of Euston and has also formed a joint venture partnership with Peabody Housing Association to deliver a £8bn

04 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

development at Thamesmead Waterfront in south-east London.

The company is also responsible for construction of Google’s new UK headquarters in London and the restoration of the Grade 1 listed Town Hall in Manchester. It has almost 24,000 homes in its UK pipeline.

UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab:

Lendlease is investing billions of pounds in important development projects in London and in the Midlands, Manchester and York, backing our levelling up agenda through the Midlands Engine and the Northern Powerhouse. With a highly skilled workforce and world class research, these great cities are attracting increased global investor interest which will boost jobs, wages and opportunities.

Lendlease Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Steve McCann: “We’re honoured to host the Foreign Secretary as part of his first trade mission since the UK left the European Union. We’ve been working successfully in the UK for more than 26 years and welcome every opportunity to strengthen our partnerships in order to deliver great homes, workplaces, jobs and social outcomes for the people of the UK.”

Latest News

NURTUR STUDENT LIVING SCHEME TOPS OUT Client, project team representatives and the Lord Mayor came together this week to mark the topping out of Sheffield’s newest student-living development promoting health and wellbeing.

team is a real celebration of progress to date and we’re pleased to report the scheme is ahead of programme by one week with installation of the external façade continuing over the next few months.”

Warden Construction led the celebrations, alongside developer Fraser Morgan, architect David Cox Architects and special guest, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, as the construction of Nurtur House reached full height ahead of programme.

Mark Robinson, Managing Director of Fraser Morgan, said “We had a vision of what purpose-built student accommodation should be which is turning into an exciting reality here at Nutur House. The Fraser Morgan team, in conjunction with Nurtur Student Living, are really setting the bar with this facility as this development is much more than just student accommodation; it will be a place where students live to learn and learn to live. Offering students the best facilities, whether it be a friendly chat from our management team, a stunning roof-top terrace to socialise and relax with friends, or even our ‘smart laundry’ service, we will ensure they have the best chance to enjoy their time during their academic studies and ultimately gain the grades they require.”

Located in the heart of the St Vincent’s Quarter, and with views right across the City, the team marked the occasion by heading to the roof for a short speech.

Richard Kenworthy, managing director at Warden Construction, praised the project team’s drive and commitment in reaching this milestone and the collective ambition to ensure the accommodation will provide an outstanding experience for many students living away from home for the first time.

The 288-bed scheme, valued at £26million, is part of Fraser Morgan’s health and wellbeing student-living offer; a concept which has hit a real niche in the market in promoting healthy lifestyles and a focus on social interaction. It features a roof gardens and ground level garden, large communal areas, a get-together facility for cooking events and nights in watching movies, cinema room and a gymnasium. It will also have an on-site concierge service offering healthy meals for students, as well as exercise classes including yoga and mindfulness sessions.

Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Tony Downing, who was invited to site to mark

the occasion, stated “Seeing this new development changing Sheffield’s skyline really does set a new standard for students living in the City. The scheme principles of creating a healthy environment with a strong focus on personal wellbeing is very much welcomed and, once the development is complete in the Autumn, I am sure students will thrive during their time here in Sheffield.”

David Cox, Director at award-winning David Cox Architects, stated “The geometry and topography of Sheffield combines to create acute angles between streets which has been celebrated here at Nutur House. The tight site, on the corner of Allen Street and Shepherd Street, lends itself to this dramatic curved façade which has really come alive with the steel frame taking shape over the last few months. In designing the internal spaces we’ve optimised natural daylight and provided spacious room sizes throughout to ensure students comfort and wellbeing are top of the agenda.”

Nurtur House is the second health and wellbeing student-living offer by Fraser Morgan, with Warden Construction and David Cox Architects being appointed once again following the success of Canterbury Hall in Preston which was fully let upon completion in 2018.

Nurtur House will be open in September 2020 ready for the student term intake.

The development will offer a flexible choice of room styles for various budgets; from classic and premium, up to garden and penthouse.

Managing the scheme will be Nurtur Student Living, set up by Fraser Morgan to ensure the meticulous details of the development are managed at every step; from initial show flat viewings and tenancy management, to providing a regular friendly welcome and point of contact for any queries or advice.

Richard Kenworthy, Managing Director at Warden Construction, commented “Marking the half way stage alongside the full project

RIBA RESPONDS TO LATEST GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS The RIBA has responded to the Government’s written statement to Parliament, ‘Free Trade Agreements with the Rest of the World’

highlighted as a priority in the Government’s statement on a deal with the US. However it is essential that MRPQ is secured with the EU and in all future trade deals.

RIBA CEO, Alan Vallance, said: “It is promising that Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (MRPQ) has been

“We must ensure that the architecture sector can continue to grow and that practices can recruit the talent they need.

I welcome the news that the Government is working to secure agreements not just with the US, but with like-minded partners including Japan, New Zealand and Australia. We will continue to call for deepened international trade and investment opportunities post-Brexit on behalf of our members.”

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 05

Latest News

EQUIPMENT DELIVERED TO UKBIC The first of more than £60 million of equipment has been delivered to the new £129 million UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) near Coventry which will open later this year.

The practical completion of the new 18,000 sqm building has been achieved and phase two is now underway to add the production equipment, services and the internal finish which will be needed at the home of the UK’s new centre to help companies develop and scale-up production of the latest UK battery technology.

The facility is being created with funding from the Faraday Battery Challenge which is part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to help the UK lead the world in the development of battery technology.

Electrode production equipment has arrived from suppliers in Europe and is already being installed inside the building.

Jeff Pratt, Managing Director of UKBIC, said: “There are three distinct phases in assembling this kind of building.

“We have just achieved the major milestone of practical completion of the site and building works, and the first shipments of electrode production equipment have started to arrive on-site for installation and commissioning in the facility.

“Now that the shell of the building has been constructed, along with the car-parking and access roads, services such as heating, gas, electricity and water are being installed to enable us to power up the process equipment.

Clean and dry rooms are also being installed.

UK CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EARNINGS ON EU INVESTMENTS TUMBLE SINCE BREXIT VOTE The UK construction sector has seen earnings on its investments in the EU fall off a cliff since the Brexit vote with profits plummeting 95%, analysis of the latest ONS data has revealed.

Over the same period, EU inward investment remained broadly level, going from £4.4billion in 2015, to £4.9billion in 2017, the last year for which figures are available.

UK construction companies’ earnings on its EU investment positions went from £24million in 2015 to a measly £4million in 2018 - down 83%. The drop is even larger when compared with the sector’s £77million earnings in 2016.

The construction industry has fared badly compared with some other sectors.

Construction firms had £638million invested in the EU in 2015, the year before the Brexit referendum, while this was reduced to £552million three years on, according to analysis of the latest statistics1 by R&D tax relief specialist Catax.

The UK mining sector has halved its overall investments in the EU since the Brexit vote – falling from £34.4billion in 2015 to £16billion in 2018 – but earnings have rocketed by more than £2billion in that time. They rose from negative £91million in 2015 to positive £2.1billion in 2018.

Mark Tighe, chief executive of R&D tax relief specialists Catax, said: “For the past few years we’ve heard horror stories about what would happen to the UK following the vote to leave the EU. The construction industry has seen investment positions hold firm on both sides of the Channel, despite earnings taking a tumble.

But UK firms still have huge amounts invested in the EU, and vice versa, showing that both sides see the relationship continuing.”

06 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

UKBIC will offer the same industrial-standard production equipment you would find in any major battery production factory around the world and is capable of running at the rates and volumes needed to tip the balance of risk and confidence in favour of new UK technology.Work is progressing well and when it is completed in 2020, we will be playing our part in enabling the development and manufacture of batteries in the UK. The ground-breaking UKBIC is being established after a joint bid by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), Coventry City Council and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick who won a national competition run by the Advanced Propulsion Centre and supported by Innovate UK. UKBIC is one of the major projects which will be showcased at MIPIM – the major commercial property development and investment show – which takes place in France from March 10-13.

The area is represented at the event by the Coventry & Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership which is made up of around 20 private sector companies and organisations who promote the area’s presence at the four-day event and is a commercial partner of the Midlands UK delegation.

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Project

SISK AND QUINTAIN HOST TOPPING OUT CEREMONY FOR WEMBLEY PARK E05 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT John Sisk & Son has topped out it 10th construction project at Wembley Park for Quintain as the constructor celebrates 15 years of work with the developer at the 85-acre regeneration site A topping out ceremony was held today to mark the completion of this key milestone at the innovative Plot E05 Build to Rent development on the Eastern Lands of Wembley Park, which coincided with 15 years of Sisk, PRP Architects and developer Quintain working in partnership at the 85acre regeneration site.

Comprising 458 new homes across three blocks ranging in height from 10 to 21 storeys, the E05 site has been a hotbed for innovation during its construction. Some examples include: • E05 became the first plot in Europe to have robotics deployed for construction purposes. A ‘Material Unit Lift Enhancer’ (MULE) was used to enhance the productivity of block laying work during the construction of the project’s multistorey car park.

• Sisk used slip form concrete on the site, a method which involves concrete being poured into a continuously moving form, allowing contractors to build vertically.

The technique was used on two concrete cores, one of which at 22-storeys high.

• Sisk selected a pre-cast concrete architectural façade with a composite window solution. This was the first time that architectural pre-cast panels have been used at Wembley Park. The panels reduce the time spent façade on site, removing the need for scaffolding, providing enhanced quality control and reducing the volume of labour on site. Over 1,600 installing the pre-cast masonry panels were manufactured off site before being installed via a crane at the E05 plot.

Since 2004, Sisk has delivered a range of impressive projects at Wembley Park for Quintain including the 472 apartment Emerald Gardens development, London Designer Outlet, the Hilton London Wembley Hotel and the reconfiguration and refurbishment of the Grade 2 listed

All Images: © Fossey Arora

Wembley Arena (now The SSE Arena, Wembley).

Commenting at the ceremony, Ajaz Shafi Managing Director UK South, John Sisk & Son, said: “It is great to have reached this key milestone on E05 alongside Quintain. We have now been working together successfully at Wembley Park for 15 years, delivering high quality, innovative projects and this is the final piece of the jigsaw in the Eastern Lands part of the masterplan. At Sisk, we are committed to innovation and it is great to work alongside a company like Quintain who allow us to bring new ways of thinking to developments.

We are looking forward to continuing to work together with Quintain on future projects.”

Matt Voyce, Executive Director of Construction at Quintain, said: “I am delighted to be here to mark the topping out of this project. The completion of the E05 site will deliver another family focussed development at Wembley Park.

It demonstrates the increasing demand for larger homes and the development of the site continues to show that Wembley Park is a place for everyone. Throughout our 15 year relationship, Sisk has become an extremely valuable member of our contractor framework and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Richard Harvey, Partner at PRP Architects, said: “Our long-standing collaboration of over 15 years with Quintain and Sisk at Wembley Park has been second to none, embracing innovation and quality through design to shape a vibrant and inclusive community for the residents of Brent. Today marks a significant step in the completion of this transformational residential project for the city of London and we look forward to celebrating our next major milestone at Wembley Park.”

The 458 homes will all be managed by Tipi, Quintain’s lifestyle-led rental homes brand with an all-inclusive offering.

08 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

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P R O V E D 2 020

Tax & Finance

WHAT IS IR35?

IR35 is a piece of anti-tax avoidance legislation being rolled out to the private sector in April 2020, but what does that mean to your business?

Firstly, it is important to remember that these changes will only affect ‘medium’ to ‘large’ businesses. That means that you must satisfy at least two of the following.

Your organisation has:• an annual turn over of more than £10.2m; • an asset balance sheet of more than £5.1m; and/or • more than 50 employees.

There are many permutations of how labour may be procured in the supply chain. But, for the purposes of this article, let’s imagine two examples:EXAMPLE 1 Your organisation, AZ Contractors, is the main contractor on a project and meets the criteria of a medium or large business (set out above). As part of the project you need labour only for the dry lining works so you contact a number of your contacts, including John Smith. You do not want to take John on as an employee or worker so you agree with John that he will come and do the work as self-employed.

Under this example, there is no triggering of IR35 but the usual questions of employment status will still need to be looked at.

EXAMPLE 2 The same facts of Example 1 apply but this time John agrees to work as self employed through his limited company, John Smith Limited.

John Smith Limited is an ‘intermediary’ between your business and John and would trigger the requirements of IR35.

So what are the changes?

Following on from Example 2, the current rules place the burden on John Smith Limited to determine the relationship between John and AZ Contractors. It is obviously in John’s interest if John Smith Limited confirms that he is self-employed (as opposed to an employee). This means that the payments from AZ Contractors to John Smith Limited do not need to have PAYE tax and National Insurance contributions (NIC) deducted, which is in John’s financial interests.

Under the new rules, which will apply from April 2020, the burden will shift from John Smith Limited to AZ Contractors to assess the relationship (known as a Status Determination). Where John is found to be a ‘disguised employee’, AZ Contractors must ensure that PAYE and NIC are deductible when paying John Smith Limited going forward.

If your organisation fails to conduct a Status Determination or get it wrong then HMRC can hit you with penalties which could include reviewing previous payments and requiring you to pay PAYE tax and NIC going back 20 years!

What should we be doing?

If you think your organisation may be caught by IR35, you need to start acting now. To assist you, we have set out some recommendations, below.

• Review your self-employed contractors and carry out a Status Determination (either utilising the Government’s Check Employment Status Test (CEST), through your own HR team or with outside help) to decide the individual’s status. Once you have the outcome, provide this to the intermediary (John Smith Limited, in Example 2), explaining the reasons behind the decision. You will also need to consider an appeal process for John/ John Smith Limited to appeal the decision. We consider that this would be similar to a disciplinary appeal process.

• Consider the different ways that you could interact with your self-employed contractors after the IR35 changes. This may include but is not limited to:• changing the way your organisation engages with the self-employed contractor, for example, would making a few changes to ensure that the contractor is found to be genuinely self-employed and be a win-win for both parties; • if it fits with your requirements, consider bringing the self-employed contractors on as employees/workers; • (where the self-employed contractor is found to be an ‘employee’) renegotiating the relationship between your organisation and the intermediary to include scope for additional financial liabilities to HMRC; and/or • having a relationship through an agency or umbrella company. This means that the employment of the self-employed contractor sits with that umbrella company, as the “employer” rather than your organisation.

Alexander Millward, Legal Executive, Thomson Snell & Passmore

10 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

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Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 11

Interview

INTERVIEW: MARK JONES Mark Jones a specialist construction workers mortgage adviser answers the common questions surrounding mortgages for Construction Workers.

Q: How long do you need to be selfemployed to get a mortgage?

A: You can get a mortgage with one year of self-employed books.

Q: What is a CIS mortgage?

A: A CIS mortgage is when we use your CIS remittance statements instead of your self-employed books. We only need 3 CIS statements if you have a good credit score. We can also use your gross pay on the remittance statements. Using your CIS remittance statements will show your income higher than your self-employed books, because it has your gross pay before your accountant deducts any expenses for petrol etc.

Q: What is the minimum deposit needed for a mortgage?

A: You can get a mortgage with as little as a 5% deposit.

Q: What documents can I use as ID to get a mortgage?

A: The lenders will need a form of photo ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address (utility bill or council tax bill).

A CIS mortgage is when we use your CIS remittance statements instead of your self-employed books.

We only need 3 CIS statements if you have a good credit score. We can also use your gross pay on the remittance statements.

Q: Is it harder to get a mortgage if you are self employed?

A: No, you are mainly treated the same. The only difference is the documents required to prove your income.

Q: How old do I need to be to get a mortgage?

A: You can get a mortgage from 18 years of age.

Q: What is the max age I can get a mortgage?

A: For construction workers, this depends if you are in the tool or management sector.

If you are on the tools most lenders will cap it at 65 years old, but if you are not in a manual job you can go to age 75 years old.

My name is Mark Jones and I am a specialist construction workers mortgage adviser. I have over 10 years of experience as a mortgage adviser and working with the construction industry. I have seen it all! As I understand how you are paid via CIS, Contracts or self-employed accounts, I can secure my clients lower rates and more money. Many lenders and mortgage advisers struggle to understand how you are paid and this can mean you don’t get a mortgage you should have got.

It’s important we package your mortgage to a lender correctly to make it as simple as possible for the lender to understand and then secure you the funds required.

Q: How many bank statements will I need to show?

A: Most lenders want to see 3 months’ worth of bank statements.

Q: How much Money will a mortgage lender give me?

A: Normally lenders will give you 4 x your income, with a 5% or 10% deposit. If you have 15% or more deposit some lenders will give you 5 x your income.

Q: Does my car payment and credit cards go against me?

A: Yes, lenders will deduct any loan, credit cards and car finance etc from your income before they apply the income multiple.

Q: Can I use my contract day rate as income?

A: Most lenders allow you to use a contract day rate. The lender will take the day rate x 5 then x 48 to calculate annual income.

Email: Mark@Jfinance.co.uk

Mobile: 07595 631 458

YOUR MORTGAGE IS SECURED ON YOUR HOME. THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

12 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

BE ASSERTIVE Don’t get taken for a ride, urges City Accountants (London) Ltd, Given the reality of the popularity of Civil Engineers and the disparity between the London living wage, and the wealthy, it is no great surprise unscrupulous individuals will seek to take advantage of Civil Engineers. So, it is perhaps not surprising that people will see our readers as ‘fair game’.

Civil Engineers often describe themselves as isolated, out of touch with neighbours and being rather secretive by nature, curious of how they are doing in comparison to others. Against this background is an in-built factor, no one must know life is anything less than great.

To be a successful as a Civil Engineer first and foremost you have to be a nice person, affable and easy to get on with. The trouble is so often the shy and introverted personalities of Civil Engineers are taken advantage of by their spouses and household staff.

Profiteering Suppliers I have been to many civil engineering projects over the years where a subcontractor has boasted to me of the lucrative deal they have struck with the civil engineer, saying that they could have bought the construction material for much cheaper if they had tried harder to negotiate. You need to be much tougher!

Get at least three quotes from companies before you select a supplier. Remember the supply companies are the ones making money in civil engineering.

Crafty Office Staff Some staff are very good at negotiating their wages up. Often this is accompanied by a veiled threat of taking a job next door or taking your staff to one of your neighbours. The former being blackmail; the latter plain theft. Paying over the market rate for staff is one of the fastest way to the bankruptcy court.

Opportunist subcontractors Subcontractors are renowned for overcharging Civil Engineers. Costs overrun, expensive problems are uncovered, companies going bust despite having taken large deposits. In their ‘disease to please’ I have seen many Civils pay over £1m to subcontractors for the project to end in a total financial and business disaster.

So, what is the solution? Always appoint a supervising surveyor to deal with a subcontractor. It may cost £10k to £12k but will save you £100k’s in the long run.

Soft on the home help Civil Engineers are often isolated and out of touch with your friends and neighbours.

This problem is often spotted by your household staff, who will make regular requests for excessive pay rises, flexible working and a host of other favours. The best answer is to say ‘no’ to any request.

You can always negotiate up from that position at a later date.

Lazy Spouses Life in the UK is very comfortable for successful Civils. The array of high end shops, theatres and restaurants are excellent.

Regrettably this means Civil Engineers can sometimes attract ‘trophy’ spouses whose motivation is somewhat more financial and status driven rather than based on honesty or love. The result is a spendthrift spouse determined to spend as much of your money as possible in an attempt to cash in on their ‘matrimonial investment’.

We have seen money frittered away on palatial homes, ridiculous extensions, expensive cars, horses, boats, private school fees and overseas property portfolios. Overspending spouses combined with a laissez-faire attitude from bank managers can lead Civil Engineers into serious debt in order to finance their extravagant lifestyles.

Assertiveness for Civil Engineers • Don’t forget to learn to say ‘no’ particularly to household staff.

• Do remember to be aware of the ‘Disease to Please’ particularly from builders.

• Don’t be frightened to play off one supplier against another.

• Do clearly convey what you want, then stay silent.

• Don’t be afraid of silence.

• Do remember you have the right to respect yourself.

• Don’t forget you have the right to challenge others.

• Do remember to be more selfish.

City Accountants (London) Ltd are Specialist Construction Accountants based North of London. They advise on a wide range of Construction Tax issues and regularly write for the Construction Press.

City Accountants have over 20 years’ experience in Construction and Civil Engineering Accounts and are recognised for their proactive approach to Taxation in construction and business problems.

Phone 01438 722224 or email kate@dentax.biz

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 13

SchĂśck Bole prevents punching shear problems at Tottenham Hale Tower Flat slab construction carries with it the inevitable risk of punching failure. When loads in the stress areas are increased, careful thought has to be given to criteria such as the quality of the concrete, additional reinforcement content, even enlarging the column heads. These options are neither time efficient nor cost effective, and rarely solve the problem to an acceptable performance level. In addressing any potential problems of punching shear at the major new Anthology Hale Works tower needed to be cost-effective, easy-to-install and certainly dependable.

At the heart of Tottenham Hale, one of North London’s most diverse communities, Hale Village is a multi-award winning urban development. It already includes a mixture of private and affordable homes, student accommodation and a range of non-residential uses including a gym, supermarket, community centre and church. Hale Village has been voted one of the top 30 best regeneration projects in the UK and the most Innovative Affordable Housing Scheme. The last piece of land currently being developed is Anthology

The main tower

Hale Works Tower. This elegant 108 metre high, 32 storey tower offers 279 homes and over 12,000 sq ft of mixed commercial use. There is a selection of studios, one and two-bedroom homes with other features including a 24-hour concierge, resident’s sky lounge and garden, expansive landscaping and private balconies. The striking design of the tower will act as a landmark for Tottenham Hale and Hale Village, whilst simultaneously achieving the highest design and environmental standards.

The prevention of punching failure is critical though With flat slab construction and the increasing trend for thinner slabs, there is the inevitable risk of punching failure around column heads. So when loads in the stress areas are increased, consideration has to be given to issues such as the quality of the concrete, additional reinforcement content, even enlarging the column heads.

These options are neither time efficient, or cost effective and rarely solve the problem to an acceptable performance level. Construction at Anthology Hale involves a single-storey basement box, partly situated above a live London Underground tunnel and bordered on one side by Tottenham Hale station, and existing buildings to the other three sides.

The 32 storey building has a jump-formed core and concrete frame, with the first six levels being acoustically separated from the basement structure, due to the adjacent London Underground line. First and foremost flat slab floor is an economical form of construction, but it offers other

The main tower

14 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Bole being installed

Example of the product in situ

benefits as well. The minimisation of shuttering time for example, simplification of reinforcement work, ease of underslab work such as ducting and just as importantly, the optimum use of space.

However, with flat slab construction the risk of punching failure is always a critical issue. When increasing the loads in the stress areas, a great deal of consideration has to be given to variables such as the quality of the concrete itself, improving the reinforcement content and even enlarging the column heads. None of these options is necessarily time efficient or cost effective. They rarely solve the problem to an acceptable performance level either. So the ideal solution to resolving any potential problems of punching shear needs to be cost-effective, easy-to-install and certainly dependable.

the vertical studs, which ensure the correct distance between uprights; and the forged stud heads guarantee a perfect finishing bond with the concrete. When compared with a typical stirrup reinforcement system, an increased shear force resistance of around 70% is achievable. It is a genuinely cost-effective and timesaving solution.

supplied ready for installation and provides a totally reliable solution to the problem of punching shear in flat slabs. There is downloadable user-friendly Schöck design software available too, which enables fast and simple dimensioning of the product to British Standards and the export of CAD drawings with dxf-format.

Increased shear force resistance of around 70%

Other variants – plus Schöck design software too

For further information on the Schöck Bole system contact the company on 01865 290 890 or visit www.schoeck.co.uk

The reinforcement system used to prevent punching failure at Anthology Hale Works is the widely used Schöck Bole system.

This reliable and trusted solution consists of double-headed studs and anchors, with spacing bars, which enable installation after the bottom reinforcement and before the top layer. Two spacer bars are welded to

In addition to the standard Bole solution, Schöck has developed three other punching shear reinforcement variants. The type U is a solution designed for installation before the lower mat; the type O is for installation after the top reinforcement layer; and the type F is designed for use in element slabs at prefabricating plants. The entire range is

Part of the Bole range

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 15

Sustainability

Improve the energy efficiency of our current housing provision to have any chance of hitting Government’s carbon neutral target – Simon Ayers, TrustMark CEO. The Government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050 is a welcome one, but there is no doubt, that it is a massive challenge.

Some evidence suggests we won’t hit that target and some evidence says that we don’t actually have until 2050 to make significant changes.

Climate change is a daily news topic and the action to reduce plastic and bring pollution levels down are common discussions around the dinner table. However, worryingly we are not thinking enough about the reduction of carbon in the same way and the damage that society is allowing to happen to the environment continues.

Within the construction industry some positive steps are being made – new technology is being developed to move towards electrification and hydrogenation.

But these steps are small.

The only way to have a realistic chance of meeting the Government’s 2050 deadline is to improve the energy efficiency of the homes we already have. Our housing stock generates a large percentage of our overall carbon output and every small action we take as occupiers of homes, can build to deliver a major impact. Even turning down the heating by one degree, will make a difference.

About Simon Ayers: Simon’s career runs into the best part of 30 years’ in energy, construction and related sectors. He is currently the Chief Executive of TrustMark, which connects consumers with competent, vetted tradespeople to work in or around their homes.

Around 80% of the homes we will be using in 2050 are already standing – so as a construction industry, retrofitting these properties will allow us to reduce our carbon emissions, make them healthier places to live and help bring 2.5 million people in the UK out of fuel poverty. We would also see other net benefits unlocked by being more energy efficient, the NHS for example, is estimated to save £0.42p for every £1 spent on retrofitting fuel poor homes.

Looking at the entire fabric of the house – from the heating systems, to the electrical usage to insulation – will see the biggest energy efficiency improvements for the property. The introduction of Retrofit Assessors and Retrofit Coordinators will be key in evaluating a property as a whole and deciding on the work that is needed and working with the property owner and the installer to ensure the highest standard of technical standards and professionalism.

But we need to start now. To make a positive impact, we need to be improving about 17,000 homes per week starting now, to hit the Government’s target.

Some within the construction sector have challenged ECO3, saying it will increase costs, mean more red tape and could exclude smaller businesses from quoting for retrofit works. There is no doubt that the construction industry needs to change and is under scrutiny. But with change comes opportunity.

The Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) has been introduced to tackle fuel poverty and deliver quality and high standards or workmanship, which consumers can rely on. It will also help the construction industry adapt to the challenge of upgrading around 24 million homes over the next 30 years.

ECO is mainly focused on improving the insulation areas around fuel poverty and bringing a vast amount of property to better levels of warmth through its delivery. ECO works on the basis of a ‘fabric first’ principle to ensure that any property that is being treated is done so in a logical and practical manner.

When retrofitting a property, the new PAS 2030/19 and PAS2035:2019 standards, which will come into force through a transition process for ECO3, will encourage us to look at the complete property, instead of a single measure. How many times has a boiler been replaced in a property that has 30-year-old radiators or a poorly insulated roof?

Following the implementation of findings from the Each Home Counts (EHC) Review, TrustMark has expanded this remit to include Repair, Maintenance & Improvement (RMI); Retrofit and Energy Efficiency Measures to enhance the protection and choice available to consumers wanting to improve the energy performance of their homes.

Simon is currently navigating TrustMark through these changes as an organisation, helping to develop a level playing field of Government Endorsed Quality for any home improvement, as well as driving continual advances in cross-sector standards. www.trustmark.org.uk

16 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

The drive to become more carbon neutral at home will develop new marketplaces worth billions of pounds per year and we need the supply chains for the delivery of these projects to grow and build their capability, no mean task when we have a recognised shortage of skilled trades and technicians to deliver both the existing and new technologies as they come to the market.

The key is to work together as an industry to ensure all sectors remain busy, train new tradespeople and upskill existing personnel to provide the highest quality of service for the consumer. Only by embracing ECO3 and improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s homes will we see the biggest reductions in carbon emissions and give us the best chance of meeting the Government’s 2050 target.

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Structures

LONG-TERM VALUE FROM MODULAR STAINLESS STEEL BRIDGE Andy Backhouse, technical manager for stainless steel manufacturer Outokumpu, explains how structural engineers and architects have turned to stainless steel as a durable and visually striking material for bridges.

Councils and government agencies that are responsible for building and maintaining most of the UK’s bridges have a close eye on their budgets. So it’s no surprise that many agencies want bridges and steel structures that minimise the Life Cycle Cost (LCC).

LCC is the sum of all the costs associated with a structure, including feasibility studies, engineering design and construction, as well as regular inspection, maintenance, repair and eventual decommissioning.

Many bridge owners find that there are significant costs in maintenance and repair of bridges. A high profile example is the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. It was built in 1883 for $15 million at the time, but has cost $600 million to repair since 2006 alone. Corrosion has taken its toll, with loss of structural integrity due to rust in many places Happily, since 1883, steel alloys have come a long way. Today’s duplex stainless steels provide a combination of high strength and corrosion resistance that can provide a 120 year lifetime for a bridge, even in coastal locations, where salt increases the likelihood of corrosion sites forming on a steel structure.

Duplex stainless steels were developed in the 1930s and are widely used in the North Sea offshore industries. They are dual phase steels containing chromium and a careful balance of other alloying elements with the result that they have excellent corrosion resistance and higher mechanical strength than standard stainless steels.

As a result, structural engineers have an opportunity during the design process to slim down beams and trusses, creating structures that are lightweight and lower cost.

Stainless steel modular bridge The municipality of Södertälje, near Stockholm in Sweden, is one council that

18 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Structures

is convinced that duplex stainless steels offer the best long term value. When a wooden pedestrian and cycle bridge over the E4 motorway was coming to the end of its life after only 20 years, the council wanted a replacement in steel that did not require extensive maintenance, repair and re-painting.

It opted for a modular bridge from Swedish fabricator Stål & Rörmontage that was designed to optimise LCC. The bridge was manufactured off-site and delivered to site in sections, which were craned into place, requiring only a short closure of the strategic E4 highway. In fact, the installation of the new bridge was achieve faster than dismantling the old one.

The bridge is based on a patented modular design that includes polycarbonate panels that protect pedestrians from the weather, as well as LED lighting for the long winter nights.

Peter Månsson, Quality Manager of Stål & Rörmontage, said: “The bridge is made of two pieces, one of them is 36 metres long and the other one 24 metres. Our special, protected design was developed to make the most of the material and also to cut the bridge’s LCC.

This bridge has a lifespan of 120 years, with no need for maintenance. In our thinking, the total life cycle costs have to be taken into account, not only the immediate investment costs. The initial cost of a stainless bridge is higher. But at first maintenance check, at approximately 30 years, when a carbon steel bridge has to be repainted and a wooden bridge replaced, stainless pays itself back.

“Outokumpu’s Lean Duplex Forta LDX 2101 was our first hand choice for this project. Long lifespan of the bridge was very important for the municipality as well. Our calculations indicate that, over a reference period of 120 years, wooden bridges and steel bridge costs are significantly higher than a stainless steel bridge.”

White paper - analysis of Life Cycle Costs Recognising that many bridge owners will want a breakdown of the LCC of bridges in different steels, a white paper based on a study carried out with engineering consultancy Arup is available, ‘Stainless steel composite bridge study – a summary of Arup reports’, which is available on Outokumpu’s website.

required due to the higher strength. As a result, the lean duplex LDX2101 bridge has comparable overall construction costs to the carbon steel beamed bridge.

However, because the stainless steel has high durability thanks to excellent corrosion resistance, the beams would not require regular re-painting or repair. In turn, they have the lowest cost of maintenance – and the lowest overall LCC.

The lifetime costs were compared for four composite steel-concrete road bridges made with different steel beam materials – painted S355 carbon steel, unpainted weathering steel and two of Outokumpu’s duplex stainless steels.

It was found that it was possible to optimise the structural design with the duplex steels such that less material was

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 19

Health & Safety WHY BETTER TRAINING AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY ARE THE KEY TO TRANSFORMING CONSTRUCTION SITES Umer Mansoor, CEO of construction health and safety training company Construction Helpline discusses the top factors transforming construction site safety It’s no secret that 2020 is going to be a year of change for many industries and the construction sector is no different. In my opinion, we are starting to see more digital technologies being adopted, but the construction sector still has a way to go.

construction process – from the set-up of a site to training to help achieve 0% fatalities.

Construction Helpline has developed training technology for labourers on construction sites where workers can get online health and safety training. They can be invigilated remotely with the help of AI to prevent fraud during testing.

I’m especially interested in how the use of digital techniques could transform site health and safety. Despite construction falling behind in its use of technology, there has been progress of late. I believe this may be due to external pressures rather than significant industry initiatives.

With 7% of the world’s labour force working in the industry, it makes sense digital is adopted. According to start-up SenSat, stakeholders in construction who don’t adopt digitisation could disappear within a decade.

High risk roles Working on a construction site is a highrisk job; the consequences of inadequate health and safety training can be serious including life changing injuries and even fatalities. AI algorithms can help identify when safety briefings may be required and prioritise risks. Some of the common accidents on site include falls and electrocutions. These can be more easily prevented with a combination of AI and better training. AI could even predict when updates in training may be due by assessing data on site incidents.

AI in construction For years now, we have had the CSCS card system which enables employers to check that employees have enough health and safety knowledge to work on site. The system is important in helping to keep workers safe and to outline worker and employer responsibilities.

While technology is enhancing the way that we work, there is no replacement for effective and up to date training. Getting the right training for the right jobs is important. I believe it will be this combined with technological advancements that will reduce site incidents and help to prevent injury in high risk teams.

But how can technology make sure health and safety is effective and easy to monitor? We are seeing an increase in the usage of AI (artificial intelligence) within the construction sector covering everything from reading data and keeping within project budget to risk mitigation and safety. AI could be used throughout the

Digitisation and efficiency Digitisation in the construction sector isn’t limited to training – we’re also seeing advances in project management thanks to AI and support with productivity. In my mind this is also especially crucial given that skills shortages in the sector have proved a discussion point over recent

years. An increase in efficiency would benefit the industry all round.

Machine learning can also help with planning by predicting obvious problems which can be hidden behind BIM and only appear during construction. AI understands the patterns and can highlight areas of concern.

Procurement is also an area that could improve in efficiency via AI usage by using machines for making timely and accurate decisions for reorders. This can help to reduce wastage and costs by eliminating the risk of excess orders. AI can also help construction firms with a very timely issue – going green and minimising pollution.

The training sector is continually seeking to become more efficient and to get workers on site faster. Advances in the way training providers operate and the way data is shared thanks to digitisation should prove fruitful over the next few years. Collaboration is key in my opinion if the industry is to become more efficient as a whole; currently thanks to lack of resources and budget, smaller businesses often don’t have access to the same data as their larger counterparts.

There’s no doubt robots can help humans on site. It’s predicted that AI’s contribution in construction could amount to £14bn in more revenue. I believe stakeholders should adopt an AI first approach to construction.

To contact Umer please email umer@constructionhelpline.com or visit www.constructionhelpline.com to find out more.

20 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

BERRY SYSTEMS LAUNCH CP-DAS – THE CAR PARK DESIGN ADVICE SERVICE The increasing pressures of parking are frequently a key consideration for designers and architects. Requirements vary widely from project to project and it’s crucial these are addressed right from the start – which is why Berry Systems has launched CP-DAS, the Car Park Design Advice Service.

Whether it’s refurbishing an existing structure, designing a bespoke car park, planning a modular parking solution or a façade, this new service offers architects, specifiers and contractors expert advice across all systems and sectors.

CP-DAS from Berry Systems, the car park construction specialists, can provide clients with comprehensive information and consultancy on all aspects of car park design including access control, safety protection, traffic flow and exterior cladding options.

“We have a highly experienced team who provide practical solutions for our clients,” says Steve Dunn, Managing Director at Berry Systems. “Our Car Park Design Advice Service means that customers benefit from our whole range of expert knowledge and consultancy services.

It’s important to get the design correct as early as possible and we can offer ideas, advice and experience to ensure that projects run smoothly. Whatever requirements our clients have, our message is simple talk to us first, we’ll find you the best solution.

For more information go to www.berrysystems.co.uk.

With more than 45 years of experience, Berry Systems has recently been involved in a variety of high-profile car park projects across the UK, including Heathrow Airport, Birmingham’s New Street Station and Piccadilly Plaza in Manchester.

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Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 21 xx Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

People On The Move NICOLA HINDLE JOINS KIER AS GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR KIER HIGHWAYS Kier Group, a leading UK construction and infrastructure services company, has appointed Nicola Hindle as Group Managing Director of Kier Highways.

Nicola will join the Group in May from Amey where she has spent the last 15 years, most recently as Managing Director of its Rail and Consulting business delivering critical schemes including work on Crossrail’s Old Oak to Paddington station, running the Wales and Borders rail network and South Wales Metro, electrifying the strategic railway network around Manchester and the increasing of capacity on the Midland Mainline.

CALA’S MARK TRIUMPHS AT LONDON AWARDS FINALS AN EDINBURGH project manager has won a top industry accolade at a prestigious national awards ceremony in London.

Mark Foley, of CALA Homes (East) took home the esteemed “Multi-Storey Building” award after representing Scotland at the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Supreme Awards, at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster.

This year’s judging process began with the assessment of thousands of site and project managers from across the UK and culminated in only four Supreme Award winners.

Mark, 49, faced tough competition from projects in York, Poole and London but his work on the UNESCOaccredited site, The Crescent at Donaldson’s, stood out against his competitors.

This success follows Mark’s win in the qualifying heats of the NHBC ‘Pride in the Job’ Quality Awards in July and Regional Awards in October 2019, after impressing a team of inspectors during a series of rigorous and unscheduled visits to the development.

As well as undergoing spot checks of the day-to-day running of their sites, each Site Manager is assessed across 37 different areas of site management,

A passionate advocate of diversity and inclusion, Nicola has championed a diversity campaign which includes gender neutral recruiting and the introduction of an engineering badge with the Guiding Association. She has also introduced an award-winning STEM ambassador network to inspire the next generation of engineers within groups that have historically been underrepresented in STEM careers.

At Kier, Nicola will be responsible for the Highways business providing maintenance and capital projects across a range of contracts including Area’s 3, 9 and 13 as well as the design and construction of the A585 Windy Harbour to Skipool and the A5036 Port of Liverpool schemes delivered through the Highways England Regional Delivery Partnership. Kier also has significant exposure to the local authority market, supporting contracted authorities including Suffolk, Surrey and Shropshire to maintain their local network.

Andrew Davies, Kier Chief Executive said: “I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Nicola. She brings with her a strong focus on safety and quality delivery for clients and I look forward to her working closely with our senior leadership team and key clients to continue to drive growth for our Highways business.”

Nicola commented “‘I am delighted to be joining Kier at a pivotal time for both the Group, as it executes its new strategy, and the Highways business.

With increased Government investment in the UK road network expected through RIS2, Kier is well placed to support both Highways England and its key local authority clients in the maintenance and expansion of the UK’s road network.

EXCEL APPOINTS A NEW INTERNAL INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER Excel Networking Solutions – the copper and optical fibre cabling infrastructure provider – has appointed a new Internal International Sales Manager. Liam Pye is based in the UK Head Office in Birmingham and will officially take up the role from February 2020.

Speaking of Liam’s appointment, Nadeen Tisi, International Sales Director, commented, “I am delighted to provide Liam with this opportunity.

“He has been with the business for seven years and has a good, solid understanding of the international side of our business, especially from territory management through to project and pipeline ownership.”

She continued, “His experience will help us to develop both efficiencies

22 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

and processes within the team in order to make them become more proactive and profitable in the coming years.”

Nadeen concluded, “Liam will be working closely with the existing internal team to drive the growth of our international sales, securing wider market share across Europe.”

Speaking of the role, Liam commented, “I am excited to take up this responsibility and I’m confident that my experience with Excel Networking’s international team over the last seven years will provide the right foundations for me to head up the internal team.”

Liam concluded, “I would like to thank the business for offering me the opportunity and look forward to working with the team to take on the new challenges ahead.”

People On The Move including technical knowledge, quality and consistency.

Mark is CALA’s most decorated project manager with 13 Pride in the Job awards, alongside nine Seal of Excellences and two regional awards.

He said: “Delivering excellent quality for customers is what most site teams strive for and for our work at The Crescent to be recognised by the NHBC at the Supreme Awards is a real privilege and without doubt, the highlight of my career.

“Having the opportunity to work on such a prestigious site, with this level of architectural design, makes it all the more exciting.

“While my name is on the award, I want to make sure that it is appreciated how much of a team effort this is, and it couldn’t have been achieved without the amazing team I have working alongside me.”

“I was immensely proud of the whole team at the Regional awards, but to make it to the Supreme Awards, and come out victorious, is a dream come true.”

Kevin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of CALA Homes, said: “The Pride in the Job awards recognise the industry’s best site managers and the exceptional contribution they make in creating homes of outstanding quality.

The Supreme Award is the very highest accolade that a site manager can receive and we are extremely proud of Mark for this fantastic achievement.

“This award doesn’t just represent success for Mark, however, but for the entire team at CALA Homes East, who all play a vital role in ensuring that this unique and complex architectural design is delivered safely and to the highest quality standards for not only

our customers, but also the wider Edinburgh community, on what is a very important site for the City.”

Steve Wood, NHBC Chief Executive, said: “Through Pride in the Job, NHBC has been celebrating the best of the best in house building for almost 40 years.

There is no doubt that these awards have been instrumental in driving up the quality of new homes and results show that Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction.

“The final stage of this competition is tough, so to earn the highest accolade of Supreme winner a site manager must have successfully managed a wide range of competing demands and challenges.

“Their determination and success in achieving excellence deserves recognition. More importantly, site managers like Mark are creating high quality outstanding homes that their customers can have confidence in – they are building the future. Congratulations Mark.”

Designed by architect, Richard Murphy OBE, The Crescent mirrors the curve of the traditional New Town homes it finds itself inspired by.

Situated in the tranquil grounds of the iconic Donaldson’s estate, homes at The Crescent offer the convenience of capital living with an authentic rural feel with expansive views of the Pentland Hills.

BEARD APPOINTS NEW MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS HEAD Construction firm Beard has appointed Melissa Barber to the new role of Head of Marketing and Communications.

Melissa will lead the firm’s marketing operations, with responsibility for driving the development of the Beard brand across its four locations in Swindon, Oxford, Guildford and Bristol. She will also support the firm’s directors and senior management with wider communications strategy.

Melissa studied marketing at Strode College and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Prior to joining Beard, she has worked extensively in the housing and construction sector, with her experience cutting across the public and private sectors.

She is also a board member of Elim Housing Association, which owns and manages around 800 homes in the southwest of England and south Wales.

Commenting on her new role, Melissa said: “Beard has already established an excellent reputation as a firm that gets the job done on time and on budget, and sees treating its suppliers and staff fairly as an integral part of delivering for the customer.

I am looking forward to taking the firm’s marketing and communications strategy to the next level, and helping to support the business’s wider objectives for sustainable growth.”

Mark Beard, chairman of Beard, said: “We have all been impressed with Melissa’s drive and energy and by her enthusiasm for the construction industry. I am confident her knowledge and understanding of the industry, together with her professional background, make her the right person to take Beard’s marketing and communications strategy forward.”

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 23

Project

ACME’S SWAN FOOTBRIDGE UNVEILED The final design of a new pedestrian and cyclist footbridge across Oystermouth Road in Swansea has been unveiled.

The new structure will seamlessly connect the city centre with a new 3,500 capacity Arena and the Marina, and will become a stepping stone to connect to the beach. The design of the bridge by ACME and Ney & Partners, in collaboration with local artist Marc Rees, is intended to celebrate the city through the form and appearance of the bridge.

Currently, Swansea city centre is separated from the Marina and from Swansea Bay by Oystermouth Road, the busiest vehicular route in Wales. In order to expand the city centre to the beach, a new city quarter is being created on previously underused surface carparks. ‘Swansea Central’ will be home to a new Arena and conference centre, circa. 150 room hotel, a 1.1. acre coastal park, residential, offices and retail and leisure uses. At the heart of this quarter will be the new bridge, seamlessly connecting pedestrians and cyclists from one side to another.

The geometry of the bridge is the result of extensive research and formal finding to create a shape that emerges fluidly from the public realm, while at the same time providing an efficient structural solution with minimal depths.

The resulting design is a bow-string truss solution with the arches being shaped in plan, and the ‘string’ being replaced with a minimal flat plate. The plate steel will be rolled into a two bidirectionally curved surface to meet structural and architectural requirements.

The pattern on the side panels is inspired by an abstracted silhouette of swans, the result of a close collaboration with the Wales-based artist Marc Rees. The selected colour and lighting acknowledges the historical link Swansea has as the birthplace of the welsh copper smelting industry. The coloured feature lighting inside the bridge will operate in synch with the LED façade of the new Arena.

ACME and Swansea Council are very grateful for the City Deal – and other funding contributions provided by the Welsh Assembly and UK Government.

These have helped councillors forge ahead with this vital regeneration project, which has an anticipated opening date in the second half of 2021.

24 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Friedrich Ludewig, director at ACME, said:

We’re delighted that the design of the pedestrian bridge has been unveiled.

The structure will seamlessly connect the city centre with the arena and Marina, and will become a stepping stone to connect to the beach. ACME has designed the form and appearance of the bridge to celebrate the city.

Project This is another landmark day in this transformative project, part of our £1b-plus revitalisation of the city centre, something to benefit the whole community.

The design by Marc Rees, in collaboration with top rate architects ACME, will provide a dramatic, eye catching new gateway to Swansea.

Rob Stewart, Council leader, said: “This is another landmark day in this transformative project, part of our £1b-plus revitalisation of the city centre, something to benefit the whole community. The design by Marc Rees, in collaboration with top rate architects ACME, will provide a dramatic, eye catching new gateway to Swansea. Marrying a new swan symbol with the future is perfect! It’s fun, outward looking and forward thinking.

Swansea Central Phase One will help us become one of the most exciting places in the UK to live, work, visit and study.”

Marc Rees, Artist, said: “The council wanted it to reflect an authentic local voice and I hope I bring that along with a compelling artistic edge. Working on the design with ACME has been exciting. I settled on an origami-style pattern because I wanted the bridge to have a playfulness reflecting its proximity to the arena and park.

I chose swans because they represent forward movement and change; they also have a strong Swansea association.

LOCATION:

Swansea, Wales (UK)

CLIENT:

City and County of Swansea

DATE:

2015–2021

The origami-style steel cut-outs clearly feature swan shapes but there’s also a spirited abstract edge to them. They’ll let in light and offer attention-grabbing patterns in the steel itself and on the floor; these will stimulate discussion and the interest of those such as local children enjoying the bridge with families and friends.”

STATUS:

Construction

SIZE:

Bridge length 46.30m.

Master plan 7ha (11,500m² concert arena, 20,000m² retail leisure and restaurants, 10,000m² educational facilities, 10,000m² residential 9,000m² hotel and 1,000 car park spaces)

Swansea Central Phase One is being delivered by Swansea Council and developed by RivingtonHark.

MASTERPLANNER AND ARCHITECT:

ACME

STRUCTURAL BRIDGE ENGINEERS:

Ney and Partners

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER:

Rivington Hark

PROJECT MANAGER:

Padstone Consulting

LANDSCAPE:

GL Hearn Limited

PLANNING CONSULTANT:

Savills

ARTIST:

Marc Rees

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 25

Education

A Day in the life of: A Degree Apprenticeship Student Megan is a third-year degree apprenticeship student working towards an undergraduate degree in Quantity Surveying at Liverpool John Moores University. As part of the 5 year apprenticeship, Megan is employed fulltime as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor at Keywest Partnership; a Chartered Quantity Surveying practice providing consultancy and expert services for the construction, engineering, process and infrastructure industries for a wide range of public and private sector employers, consultancies and contractors.

As a degree apprenticeship student, my typical week involves 4 days working as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor at Keywest Partnership and 1 day attending university.

I am really enjoying the part time degree route as it allows me to study and develop my academic understanding of quantity surveying whilst gaining invaluable work experience and the opportunity to develop in a professional environment. I work with industry leading chartered quantity surveyors who share a diverse pool of knowledge and experience acquired from complex construction projects worldwide.

On a day to day basis I carry out a range of different tasks and primarily support a commercial team of Senior Quantity Surveyors. Responsibilities include Cost Management, Change Management, Budget Planning using Cost Planning Systems and Computer Aided Measurement, Cash Flow Forecasting, attending progress and commercial meetings with client and contractors.

The projects which I am currently working on enable me to work in a variety of different places. Depending on client and project requirements I will typically work at Keywest Partnership’s office in Liverpool, at client’s offices throughout the North West region, or on site visits where I tend to learn the most. A recent project in Keywest Liverpool Office

Winning LJMU Degree Apprentice of The Year Liverpool John Moores University

which I have been involved was Stockport Town Centre Access Plan, a framework infrastructure programme with Stockport Council, in collaboration with Transport for Greater Manchester. The project objectives included providing improved access in and around the Stockport area by upgrading the towns’ access networks for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists. 45 out of 49 specific schemes have now reached completion and the remaining schemes will be completed this year, which includes the new link road between the A6 and Travis Brow.

Aside from my work responsibilities as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor, my working week includes a day attending lectures and workshops for my BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying degree at Liverpool John Moores University. Like a normal student, it is a requirement that I include independent study outside of my usual working hours also. Therefore, maintaining a balanced work to study ratio is an important aspect of my personal progression.

During my three years at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), I have had the opportunity to speak at events on behalf of the university including Build Your Future Stockport Council Travis Brow Project

26 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Women in Construction (event hosted by Go Construct) and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Annual Conference 2019 (in partnership with Edexcel and the University of Leeds). LJMU has also invited me to participate in Degree Apprenticeship Open Days where I was able to share my experience with other students who may be considering a career in construction. In 2019 LJMU awarded me the Cunard Construction Prize for the Best Degree Apprenticeship Student.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I would like to commence the RICS assessment of professional competence and become a chartered surveyor. I am also interested in the contract and legal aspects of construction including alternative forms of dispute resolution. I aim to develop my professional understanding of these areas and in the future will hopefully pursue a master’s degree in Construction Law. During my short career my experience of the construction industry has been very positive. I have found quantity surveying to be a rewarding and enjoyable, and I would recommend it to anyone who might be searching for a new career path to consider the construction industry and the degree apprenticeship route. I have enjoyed all aspects of the degree apprenticeship and I am very excited to see where the industry can take me in the future.

Written by Megan Ryan: Degree Apprenticeship Student Stockport Council Travis-Brow Link Road

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Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 27

Exhibition

Learn from the experts at the RCI Show The Roofing Cladding & Insulation Show returns to the Ericsson Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 25th – 26th March 2020 The RCI Show is the UK’s largest free to attend event dedicated to the roofing, cladding and insulation supply chain. Take a day out of your routine and benefit from the opportunity to speak directly to the experts, try out their latest products and discover how you can transform your projects with new or innovative solutions.

The RCI Show consists of two core elements: an exhibition of leading suppliers and a comprehensive conference and workshop programme featuring content from industry experts and associations.

Why not start your day by joining Kiwa Building Products for a breakfast briefing?

Breakfast rolls and hot refreshments will be on offer for all delegates as the Kiwa team talk you through the legal requirements for product and system manufacturers in the UK, along with additional market led requirements, and explore the best routes for manufacturers looking to maximise the confidence in their products and reach the biggest market.

Further highlights on day one include the Scaffolding Association providing a best practise guide to commissioning scaffolding, Janice Tyler of Briggs Amasco will demonstrate how the roofing industry can mitigate the effects it has on climate change and Vivalda Chairman, Peter Johnson will discuss managing through tough times – Austerity, Grenfell and Brexit.

If you are interested in discovering what the future of building and infrastructure design, manufacture, integration and connectivity within our built environment could entail, then be sure to join us for the opening keynote of day two. Trudi Sully from The Manufacturing Technology Centre and the Construction Innovation Hub will lead you through how it’s work will benefit industry and how you can get involved.

Following sessions include Bauder’s Nigel Blacklock discussing fire in flat roofing, John Mercer will show delegates how to design and construct modern pitch roofs to be watertight & durable and Marley will discuss Making the Grade - BS5534 graded roofing battens: Are you roofing to standard?

To promote professional development within the industry, practical seminar sessions are being delivered by Actis Insulation, Alchimica Building Chemicals, Fixfast, Quin Global, Xtratherm and Mates in Mind. The Actis Insulation session will demonstrate how Building Regulation compliance of construction systems can be obtained.

The module shows a manufacturer’s view on how compliance can be achieved by providing trusted products within building systems and robust laboratory and real-life testing of materials within construction systems.

Anyone involved in the roofing, cladding and insulation should attend to network and see what is happening within our industry.

- Nigel Harwood, Technical Product Manager, Steadmans

28 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

As a visitor to the show you can tailor your agenda to meet your unique learning requirements by pre-booking your preferred conference and seminar sessions during the booking process.

The exhibition of leading suppliers sees a wide variety of companies showcasing the latest construction products and services including, materials, safety equipment and tooling. Many exhibitors will feature live product and tool demonstrations on their stands as well as providing product application advice and offering unique show only promotions.

The RCI Show is delivered in association with RCI magazine, is supported by sponsors, Fixfast, Kiwa Building Products, Xtratherm and DT Technologies and key media partner, Fix Radio, who will be broadcasting live from the show floor.

To sign up for your free visitor badge and to see the full programme and exhibitor list visit www.rcishow.co.uk

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Project

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS CELEBRATES CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE ON CUTTING-EDGE REDEVELOPMENT The Grade II* listed Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) headquarters has celebrated a major landmark in its redevelopment, with a topping out ceremony in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London.

Professor Derek Alderson, President of the RCS, was joined by Sir James Wates, chairman of Wates Group, whose construction arm is carrying out the heritage project, to mark the occasion of reaching the highest point of the build.

The RCS began as the Company of BarberSurgeons, established in 1540, and has been based at Lincoln’s Inn Fields since 1796. The historic home of advanced surgical education in the capital is being refurbished to enable it to continue providing the best learning, examination and research resources for the nation’s surgeons, while retaining elements of its illustrious history.

In 2019, the number of people waiting for operations across the NHS rose to 4.4million, increasing the urgency of training more surgeons to cope with demand. With the introduction of new robotic, AI and VR technology in surgery, the shape of surgical training is also changing. The £75m redevelopment of the RCS will provide a modern learning facility that will play an integral role in training the next generation of surgical practitioners.

The building has been designed to retain our rich surgical heritage, while embracing the cutting-edge future of modern surgery.

As a specialist in heritage works, Wates Construction has ensured the historic neo-classical frontage, heavily influenced

by Charles Barry, the architect behind the House of Parliament, will be maintained.

Humidity control in the library spaces will preserve the historic timber construction, while the Hunterian Museum, which opened in 1813, is being expanded to occupy the majority of the ground floor, allowing greater accessibility to the museum’s internationally-important historical collections when it reopens in 2021.

Mark Craig, Operations Director at Wates Construction London, added: “The RCS requires modernised facilities to help it continue improving surgical standards through education, research and clinical performance. At the same time, it has a tremendously rich heritage going back hundreds of years in central London, which it is important to preserve.

Upon completion, the Royal College of Surgeons will have an environmentally friendly building, incorporating a highly insulated, air-tight envelope to ensure thermal and energy efficiency; photovoltaic panels on the roof providing a sustainable energy source; and space for 120+ cyclists to store bikes and shower, encouraging greener travel in the capital.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Alderson said: “This marks an important milestone in transforming our treasured home and the world-famous Hunterian museum. We will create a modern, state-ofthe-art headquarters for training the next generation of surgeons, and to continue our long history of supporting the exchange of learning and ideas on the future of surgery.

30 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

“The RCS has over 27,000 members across the UK and internationally. Our new building will be the nerve centre for the development and proliferation of the best surgical training techniques and practice in the world. Surgical skills taught here in the coming century, will radiate into operating theatres around the world, for the benefit of millions of patients.”

This is just the type of challenging build that our team love, using modern methods of construction to balance proud history with the need for a facility fit for the 21st century. Best of all, once construction is complete, the RCS will have a world-class home for its community of trainees and surgeons, its museum and library, supporting its mission of driving forward the standard of surgical practice through years to come.

Wates’ extensive portfolio of heritage projects across London also includes the refurbishment of the V&A Museum extension at Exhibition Road, the Metropolitan Police Service’s Grade II listed Hammersmith Police Station and multiple buildings on Parliament’s Westminster estates.

CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE ROOFING MARKET The roofing market is set for a modest growth over the next few years to 2023, according to the latest ‘Roofing Market Report 2020-2024’ from AMA Research.

There are a variety of drivers which have influenced this growth including the demand for flat roofs, product development and new housing. Since 2014, demand for roof coverings have been supported by strong growth in housebuilding and domestic RMI, along with increased output in a number of commercial and industrial new build & refurbishment markets.

The biggest influences on overall market values are levels of demand for flat roofs and metal panel systems, which accounted for around 60% of total sales in 2018. Growth in demand for metal roofing systems – comprising steel and aluminium profiled panels, composite panels and standing seam sheets – has mainly been driven by the expansion of distribution hubs due to growth in online retailing at the expense of traditional bricks and mortar shops. Other key applications have been factories, energy-from-waste facilities, agricultural buildings and leisure developments.

While concrete tiles are used on commercial buildings, the main source of increasing demand has been growing levels of housebuilding. Competing products include new clay tiles and, to a lesser degree, fibre cement and natural slates, although these products are more widely used for higher specification new housing and re-roofing.

Another possible driver could be further growth in demand for ‘green roofs’, (and ‘blue roofs) in London and other cities with a need to offset poor air quality and deal with run-off from increases in rainfall. With the governments green initiatives this could enhance the need for such products.

However, the high instillations costs and skills shortage within the industry could provide a barrier to those wishing to utilise such a product.

One could venture that in order to maintain growth you would need to address the skills shortage within the sector.

The construction industry generally is experiencing a prolonged skills shortage, and a recent cross-industry survey found that 12% of firms responding were currently experiencing some difficulties recruiting roofers, and 6% were having severe

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Another possible driver could be further growth in demand for ‘green roofs’, (and ‘blue roofs) in London and other cities with a need to offset poor air quality and deal with run-off from increases in rainfall. With the governments green initiatives this could enhance the need for such products. However, the high instillations costs and skills shortage within the industry could provide a barrier to those wishing to utilise such a product. difficulties. However, on the bright side the industry is working on addressing the skill shortages identified, through projects such as the Roofing Skills Partnership, being led by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. The project will run until the end of 2021 and aims to create a unified National Workforce Development programme.

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Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 31

Project News

WORK STARTS ON NEW HOMES DEVELOPMENT IN BISHOP’S STORTFORD The signals are green for work to begin on a new apartments development in Bishop’s Stortford, after a deal to buy the land was finalised.

Bellway’s Goods Yard development, off Station Road, will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments with balconies and terraces to all plots. Construction has now started on site following the housebuilder’s purchase of the land.

The 149-apartments are set across five principle blocks, which surround landscaped podium gardens, and will form the first residential phase of the regeneration of the former railway goods yard site. The wider neighbourhood is set to deliver more than 500 new homes, alongside retail and office floor space and parking for both cars and bicycles.

Greg Allsop, Sales and Marketing Director for Bellway North London, said: “Goods Yard is on its way to being a very exciting development for Bishop’s Stortford.

“Being so close to the train station, this development is perfect for first-time buyers, young professionals and commuters who work in London, as it’s only a 38-minute journey to London Liverpool Street on the train. The town centre is also just a short walk away.

Savills recently predicted that Bishop’s Stortford is capable of seeing up to an 11 per cent growth in property prices by 2024, which should come as little surprise given the re-development happening in the area, of which Goods Yard is playing a significant part.

Bellway is building in Bishop’s Stortford at a time when the area has been named as the top place to live in the UK, according to the Halifax Quality of Life survey. The survey judges 26 different lifestyle factors and resulted in East Hertfordshire being voted the top location due to its strong exam results, high life expectancy and high average earnings.

MINISTERS SEE NUCLEAR PROGRESS AT HINKLEY POINT C Ministers from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy visited Hinkley Point C to see progress at the new nuclear power station.

Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth and Nadhim Zahawi MP, Minister for Business and Industry met some of the 500 apprentices

already hired by the project and saw the huge scale of construction underway in Somerset. Hinkley Point C will supply the UK with reliable low carbon electricity for decades to come and will be an essential part of a future energy mix without polluting fossil fuels. The ministers heard about the UK supply chain and the progress on the two reactors. Unit One is now being built above ground and the project’s next major milestone is completion of the base for Unit Two in June later this year.

Minister for Business and Industry Nadhim Zahawi: “Today’s visit was an invaluable opportunity to see how construction is progressing on this vast and important project. Hinkley Point C will provide clean energy for nearly six million homes as well as delivering thousands of jobs, and I look forward to seeing how it progresses in the months and years ahead.”

MODULAR BUILDING METHODS DELIVER FAST TRACK COMMUNITY CENTRE FACILITY Basildon Council selected modular building methods to create a new community centre and preschool facility for the Nevendon area, successfully fast tracking a valuable community asset with a tight construction schedule spanning just eight months from April to December 2019. The new facility replaces an existing preschool building and a nearby community centre, creating a multifunctional space located on a popular public park site.

The scheme, designed and built by Enviro Building Solutions, presented a range of practical and logistical challenges for modular construction methods. Featuring an event hall with a ceiling height of almost

six metres, the project called for innovative methods of working including design, manufacture, transport and construction.

This section of the building was cleverly crafted for a ‘flatpack’ delivery method to overcome access issues as well as transportation restrictions. Enviro Building Solutions then used standard modular techniques to build the various sized modular bays in the factory, combining these with adapted systems on site to create varied ceiling heights within the building.

The attractive and functional construction houses a community event hall, preschool facility, full commercial kitchen, members’

32 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

bar and lounge, washrooms and storage space. Externally, Enviro Building Solutions also managed the landscaping works, creating a large car park with overflow ‘grasscrete’ area, upgrades to access roads, fencing, floodlighting, bin stores, cycle shed and a soft play area for the preschool facility.

The complex specification includes a range of external building features with cedar cladding, contrasting brick slip finishes, aluminium windows and doors in contrasting colours, brise soleil aluminium louvres, roller shutters for security and internal rainwater gutter systems to service the differing roof levels.

In addition to the practical site challenges, the advent of the annual local carnival meant that the project had to be shut down

Project News Greg Allsop, said: “Halifax’s latest data from its Quality of Life survey has placed East Hertfordshire as the number one place to live in the UK, statistically speaking. Office for National Statistics figures show that 97 per cent of East Hertfordshire residents enjoy good health, so we’re looking forward to welcoming new residents to the area from 2021.

“With work now starting on the development, we are planning a pre-sales launch early in the summer and will be opening an on-site sales office with show apartments later in the year. In the meantime, prospective customers can register their interest online now and receive updates on the development as they become available.”

The Goods Yard pre-sales launch is due to take place in early summer 2020, with the sales office planned to open in September.

The ministers also visited Hinkley Point B power station which last week hit a new record for low carbon electricity production in the UK, passing 300TWH, enough to continuously power every home in the UK for three years, avoiding 105 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

They saw the National College for Nuclear in nearby Cannington, one of the many initiatives to increase UK skills. These include the opening of a national welding centre at Bridgwater College, due in the first half of 2020.

Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth Kwasi Kwarteng said: “I was really impressed by the apprentices I met today, who represent some of the best future engineering talent Britain has to offer.

Their efforts will be crucial to ensuring the UK remains a leader in nuclear innovation, helping us to eliminate

our contribution to climate change by 2050.”

Plans are advancing for a near identical station at Sizewell C in Suffolk. The advantages of replication the UK EPR design means it can be built and financed at a lower cost for consumers.

Hinkley Point C Managing Director Stuart Crooks said:

Hundreds of suppliers from across Britain are helping us build Hinkley Point C and I am proud what they have achieved.

With renewable power, this power station’s reliable low carbon electricity will play a key role in fighting climate change.

We are determined to build a power station which the country can rely on for decades to come.

completely for a long weekend, with a safe access route created right across the active site for heavy vehicles to deliver rides and equipment.

Enviro Building Solutions were on site for just eight months with this project, constructing a new and modern facility far more quickly and efficiently than traditional building methods, which has been welcomed by the local community.

KIER TO DELIVER £15M LEISURE CENTRE IN YORKSHIRE Kier has been appointed by Kirklees Council to deliver a £15m leisure centre in Liversedge, West Yorkshire. The project has been procured through the YORbuild2 framework.

Spen Valley Leisure Centre will be built on the site of the original Spenborough Pool and will include a two-storey, two-pool complex. It will have a double-height foyer which will lead to wet changing areas as well as multi-activity space.

There will be a mezzanine with dry changing areas, a gym, exercise studios and spectator seating.

The project is due to start on site in early 2020 and the new facility is due to open in the autumn of 2021. This will be followed by the demolition of the existing fitness suite, releasing further external works with final completion anticipated at the end of 2021.

Phil McDowell, operations director at Kier Regional Building Northern, said: “We have a lot of experience in delivering leisure centres across the country and are thrilled to be working with Kirklees Council to deliver the brand-new Spen Valley Leisure Centre.

“The proposed new all-purpose facility reflects the desire to bring the leisure offer on the site up to current standards in a building of high quality, and to bring swimming and fitness under the one roof. It will provide a modern environment, with an efficient, simple layout and improved access to ensure it is accessible for all.”

This latest win for Kier reinforces its position as a leading provider of leisure complex’s. It is currently on site delivering a £42m school and leisure development in Ponteland which includes a six-lane 25m swimming pool, a gym, climbing wall and soft play zone.

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 33

Project News A14, JOINT VENTURE WITH SKANSKA, COSTAIN AND BALFOUR BEATTY OPENS SIX MONTHS EARLY Britain’s biggest road project, the A14, a joint venture between Skanska, Costain and Balfour Beatty, is set to open to drivers more than half a year early, Highways England announced on Thursday 6th February.

The £1.5 billion scheme to improve journeys between the East of England and the Midlands was originally planned to open to traffic by the end of 2020.

Today Highways England said it plans to open the A14 improvement ahead of schedule, this spring.

The good news follows the recent December opening of a part of the 21mile scheme – a new 12-mile bypass south of Huntingdon – a whole year early. Already, the bypass has been used to make more than five million journeys.

Glennan Blackmore, highways sector director, Skanska said: “The A14 opening early is a fantastic testament to the one team integrated project a with the client and partners, Costain and Balfour Beatty. The delivery team’s collaborative approach is industry changing. With all partners truly integrating, it demonstrates the success that can be achieved. We are proud that we will leave a sustainable legacy, which will support economic growth and bring communities together.”

Richard Stuart, Costain sector director, highways said: “Through collaboration, integrated working and visionary leadership, we have achieved a great outcome for Highways England’s customers by delivering the UK’s biggest road upgrade to budget and ahead of schedule. Costain is helping to shape the UK’s transportation landscape. This has been an exemplar project and should set the model for other major infrastructure projects to follow and build on.”

WILLMOTT DIXON OPENS DOORS AT UNIVERSITY OF KENT’S NEW KENT AND MEDWAY MEDICAL SCHOOL’S CONSTRUCTION SITE TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION Kier has been awarded the contract to design and construct a brand-new £10.7m headquarters at DMS Whittington by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

The works will include the construction of a 2,600m² office building, as well as a new carpark, it will include an atrium which will provide not only an impressive backdrop upon arrival at the main entrance, but it will also create an informal meeting space for employees. The building will predominantly be two-storeys with some additional thirdfloor space creating new meeting rooms.

The building is designed to be constructed using a modular method, with modules of approximately 15.9m x 3m being constructed off site. Windows and internal wall finishes will be installed in the factory to minimise site work and core areas containing toilets will be finished in the factory to enable finishes to be carried out in a controlled factory environment, leading to increased quality control and programme surety.

The project will start on site in summer 2020 and is due to complete in early 2021.

Mark Pausey, managing director at Kier Regional Building Central, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this project to design and construct DMS Whittington’s brandnew HQ. Using offsite modular construction will allow us to simultaneously reach key milestones both onsite and in the factory, leading to the project being delivered to the DIO as quickly as possible and providing us with a more consistent end result.”

Peter Lemon, DIO Sutton Coldfield Head of Establishment, commented: “DIO’s new headquarters at DMS Whittington will ensure that staff will be able to enjoy many of the facilities that a large, modern, operational military base offers. Co-locating on an operational Defence site will also bring DIO staff closer to our customers and allow us to experience the Defence estate in use every day.”

Kier has substantial experience of delivering major build and refurbishment projects to the DIO and defence agencies across the UK. It is currently on site at RAF Lakenheath delivering the new infrastructure to ready the RAF base for the first permanent home in Europe of the US Air Force’s F-35 Fighter Jet.

Julian Lamb, A14 Deputy Project Director for Balfour Beatty and the joint venture delivery team, said:

This early opening is testament to the collaborative and innovative teams working on this project. With a focus on delivering a safe and sustainable road network, our expertise and capabilities has allowed us to deliver this project safely and efficiently ahead of schedule.

34 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Work on the project began in November 2016, and has employed around 13,000 people in total, with up to 2,500 working on site during the project’s peak who have been working hard to deliver an early opening for traffic on the new A14.

The A14 has changed the shape of infrastructure with archaeological, digital and sustainable development.

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Company News

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN: AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES LAUNCHES 2020 APPRENTICE PROGRAMME Ahead of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week (3-7 February), Aggregate Industries is committing to investing further in the next generation by launching its 2020 Apprenticeship Programme.

The Programme has been specifically designed to offer people the chance to earn while they learn. Successful candidates are given the opportunity to gain on-the-job experience, whilst achieving professional qualifications – helping them to lay a solid foundation for a career in construction.

Each year, the Aggregate Industries offers tailored placements for the apprentices across a variety of business divisions. This includes working at some of the UK’s largest quarries, state-of-the-art asphalt plants and on some of the country’s biggest road improvement schemes - as well as areas such as finance and HR. This year’s programme will include nearly 30 nationwide positions, comprising various level two, three and four apprenticeship roles in areas such as business admin, mobile and static plant, minerals management, electrical and mechanical engineering, plant operations and sales. With the programme now in its fifteenth year, Aggregate Industries has successfully trained more than 300 graduates and apprentices in a number of these roles to date.

“In recent years through our Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, we’ve also worked hard to increase the uptake of the females. To support this, we’ve introduced a successful female mentorship programme designed to

James Roberts, Human Resources Director at Aggregate Industries UK, comments:

With the continued need to address the ongoing skills gap faced by the sector, a key focus for us is our 2020 Apprentice Programme, which demonstrates our commitment to training and investing in the next generation of talent. Successful applicants will be exposed to a wide range of roles within the business and learn valuable skills.

36 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

help our female apprentices tackle the unique challenges they may face within the sector. We look forward to welcoming this year’s recruits and helping them reach their full potential in the future.”

Company News

BAKERHICKS BRINGS EUROPEAN LIFE SCIENCES BUSINESS UNDER SINGLE BRAND BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design, engineering and project delivery company, have restructured their European Life Sciences division, which now joins forces with the UK operation as a single business.

Previously operating as Morgan Sindall Professional Services (MSPS) in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, the specialist division has been rebranded BakerHicks as part of a new strategy to deliver an integrated service to their UK and European Life Sciences clients, with a particular strengthening of their project management capabilities and the ability to deliver all size of capex projects.

Remaining part of the Morgan Sindall Group, the new combined BakerHicks Life Sciences operation pools the engineering consultancy and pharmabio capabilities of its European team with the project delivery and fill finish skills of its UK operation. This will enable BakerHicks’ pharmaceutical and Life Sciences clients to leverage the company’s wider European locations and subject matter expertise.

across 13 sites, six in the UK and seven in Europe (three in Switzerland and Germany respectively, and one in Austria). Mark adds: “Although we are a sizeable business, we operate with the agility of a smaller firm, adapting our services and tailoring our approach on a client-by-client basis.”

Managing director of BakerHicks, Martin Lubieniecki, says it will enable the business to share resources, ideas and best practice:

Our people are still at the heart of our delivery, and with common processes, systems and management we will be able to deliver a consistent, world-class service to meet the current and future needs of our Life Sciences clients.

As part of the restructuring, a number of new senior appointments will be made in the coming months, with subject matter experts from within the business taking on new senior roles to maximise their respective skill-sets and expertise.

The restructure comes three years after the rebranding of the UK business to BakerHicks in 2017. The name acknowledges two of the original founders of the IDC Group from which the company ultimately emerged. BakerHicks’ disciplines range from initial architecture to the most complex civil and structural, building services, specialist high voltage and process engineering services, programme management, and CDM consultancy, using the very latest innovations in Building Information Modelling (BIM) for the most efficient and cost-effective design.

Mark Dickson, the new managing director for BakerHicks’ Life Sciences and Industry sector, says this is the perfect time to bring the two businesses together: “Life Sciences is a significant and growing part of our business, and by coming together to operate as a single business we can deliver a complete solution for our clients – from consultancy projects and embedded engineers, through to the management and delivery of major capital programmes.”

The combined business comprises a team of almost 1,000 specialists, based

VIVALDA SEES SALES RISE BY 9% IN 2019 DESPITE CONTINUED HEADWINDS Vivalda Group plc has seen its income rise from £33.73m to £36.77m during 2019, despite the continued gloom surrounding the UK construction sector that saw more than 22 contractors* go out of business last year.

Commenting on the strong sales performance, Vivalda’s chairman Peter Johnson said: “Sales have seen an increase across the UK and Ireland, and while the wider construction market has been subdued Vivalda Group is benefitting from a trend towards higher quality products.

We’re certainly seeing more specifiers and contractors turning to us for certified cladding products they can rely upon.”

“And with a recent estimate putting the combined turnover of construction companies going bust last year at £1.2bn, we are also keeping a watchful eye on the fundamentals.

“Audited accounts will be available in the usual way; in advance I’m pleased to report that the business ended the year with a multimillion pound net cash position as well as an increase in tangible assets.”

“Altogether a pleasing outcome given the hattrick the industry has found itself dealing with for far too long - Brexit, recession, and buckpassing when it comes to the replacement of dangerous cladding with Vivalda’s noncombustible range”.

The UK’s largest independent supplier of cladding and façade systems, Vivalda has shifted its focus to predominantly A1 and A2 certified materials such as glass reinforced concrete (GRC), natural fibre cement and solid aluminium. In August 2019, Vivalda Group acquired Cumbernauld-based MSP (Scotland), which specialises in bespoke powder coated aluminium cladding products for architects and specifiers.

The business operates from 11 sites across the United Kingdom and employs approximately 160 people.

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 37

Women In Construction

College supports women into construction A college in east London has become one of the first in the UK to offer its female students a tailored club to help them get into the construction industry, thanks to a partnership with not-for-profit organisation ‘Women Into Construction’.

The new ‘Construction Club’ at Barking & Dagenham College offers an opportunity for the students, aged 25 and under, to come together on a regular basis. It provides a chance to discuss industry issues, get advice and guidance from employers and importantly the support that they may need to start their journey into a construction career.

Yvonne Kelly, Principal & CEO of Barking & Dagenham College

Yvonne Kelly, Principal and CEO of Barking & Dagenham College and CITB board member, is passionate about ensuring her students are provided with the best possible chances to get into their chosen careers. Yvonne said: “Getting your foot on the ladder in any industry isn’t always easy. It’s even harder if you’re attempting to get into a traditionally male dominated industry, or are also having to juggle things like childcare while studying and working. These are the types of things the club will be able to help with.”

Yvonne continues: “We also see this club as another way we are trying to help to plug the skills gaps that government and employers are talking about.

The construction industry has changed dramatically over recent years and really offers young people the opportunity for a very rewarding career.

We need to be able to offer students all the support possible so they are equipped with the right skills, knowledge and behaviours that will enable them to reach their career goals.

The College’s club members have already had a chance to meet some local employers, who were able to offer information about the roles and routes into construction.

Last week the students travelled into central London, to meet with representatives from international property and infrastructure group, Lendlease. They met at one of the company’s newest sites in Bishopsgate, where it is building a hotel and residential luxury flats.

38 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Women In Construction The day started with a fantastic presentation so that the students could learn all about the project Lendlease is working on. It was also a chance to find out from some of the female managers at Lendlease how they themselves got into the industry, what their roles were and the responsibilities they have on the project, with plenty of opportunities for the students to ask questions.

There was then a chance to see what life on site is like. After being kitted out in the correct safety clothing, the students were taken on a guided tour around the site to get a first-hand understanding of how a large-scale construction site works and the many varied elements of the construction industry. There was even an opportunity to see a finished flat and discuss all the work that goes into organising things like subcontractors and managing projects to a high-spec finish.

Socio Economic Development Manager at Lendlease, Lucille Gibbons, who set up the tour said: “Construction site visits provide a valuable insight into career pathways within the industry for those who perhaps haven’t considered or are just starting out in a career within the built environment. Lendlease was delighted to support the College and Women Into Construction. The students were able to see our site in its current state and were able to speak directly to a group of our female employees in a variety of roles.

The day provided extra inspiration for the students when they also met with a former beneficiary of Women Into Construction, who now works for Lendlease. She was able to speak of her determination to find a construction management position and was a great role model of someone who has successfully forged a career in construction for herself.

Best friends and fellow Barking & Dagenham College construction management students Denisa Soric and Alexandra Gheorghe said: “It was our first time on a building site and seeing how things work. Being able to do things like this with the club has already been such a good experience and really interesting for us. We’ve learnt many things about construction and think it will help us in the future. We would both like to work somewhere like Lendlease and become construction managers.”

The new club has been made possible through funding made available to Women Into Construction and the College by Berkeley Foundation. The club though goes beyond site visits and talks.

The club will also offer 1-1 employability and mentoring sessions as well as setting up high quality work placements with construction contractors and help the students with applying for jobs. Not only that, it will provide a whole host of support with things such as gaining CSCS cards so the students can work on site. It will even offer financial help to provide protective clothing, help with childcare and travel costs while students are on work placements and fund job specific training.

Anna Walterskotter, Project Manager for Women Into Construction said: “The construction industry has a wealth of opportunities for everyone. That certainly includes women and it is clubs like this that we hope will promote gender equality in the industry. The tour at Lendlease is just one example of the ways we will be supporting the students. There were so many women showing by example that it is possible to take up positions in construction. With the help of Barking & Dagenham College and this new initiative, we hope to see many new young women obtain jobs and start their career. It’s an exciting time.”

Lendlease are committed to supporting females into the careers within the construction industry and look forward to continuing our work with women into construction into 2020.

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 39

Safety

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY IN 2020: HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR SITE SAFER? In 2019, construction was the second most dangerous industry in which to work in the UK, behind agriculture, forestry and fishing. According to the HSE, of the 147 workers killed at work in 2018/19, 30 were construction workers. Construction also reports the second highest rate of nonfatal workplace injury.

It is also the industry that leads in terms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders – which are most commonly occurring in the upper limbs or neck and back.

This was, however, slightly below the 2014/15-18/19 average of 36 – a sign that things are improving, if a little too slowly.

The UK has one of the lowest rates of fatal injuries of any EU country, Any deaths are of course unacceptable, and no family wants to experience the heartache associated with losing a loved one at work. But as a construction company it’s even more important to limit accidents – as not taking the right action can cost heavily. Over £54.5 million in fines were issued in 2019 alone.

As construction professionals, it’s both our legal obligation and our moral duty to make sites as safe as possible. Doing the bare minimum to adhere to standards is not enough. There’s more that can be done.

Safety as a design consideration While many sites are planned with safety in mind, few projects are drawn from the ground up with safety built-in to both the site and the finished project. If a contractor enters a site and has to spend additional time devising a safe system of work, a project can be closed or delayed for an indeterminate amount of time which will

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At the same time, the EVO®VISTA™ DUALSWITCH™ helmet provides individuals with compatible integrated Optical class 1 eye protection which is fully retractable when not in use and cannot be lost by the user or damaged on site after issue.

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40 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Safety increase costs. Designers should focus on eliminating risk wherever possible, or reducing and controlling risks if no alternative is possible.

Once built, a client’s project should be usable and fully safe as soon as it is completed – or again you may face additional costs performing retroactive works.

Designing around the public Construction sites pose a significant risk not just to your workforce, but to the public.

This includes both passers-by and also the employees/visitors to the site once it is complete. A site must be safe for these people throughout its construction phases as well as once constructed.

Instilling safety as a value throughout the project Designing a safe site is ‘all well and good’ – but actually getting employees on site, contractors and members of the public to practice safe working can be challenging.

Regularly briefing teams on safety, offering additional training and even limiting some responsibilities to those with the right qualifications should be done at a minimum.

Further measures can be taken which include the routine checking of site access, work areas, plant and equipment to prevent harm as well as analysing any near-misses to create future learnings that will reduce risks.

Improving welfare facilities It’s a legal obligation to provide sufficient welfare facilities for workers on site. However, this is largely open to interpretation. However, when you consider that tiredness and fatigue paired with dangerous work can easily lead to injuries, the importance of offering spacious, wellequipped welfare facilities is apparent.

Fatigue costs the UK £115-240 million in terms of work accidents alone.

Sites that offer canteens, showers, drying rooms and other forms of welfare provide employees with more opportunities to relax and recuperate on site. By investing in better site accommodation, you can reduce fatigue and as a result, the risk of accidents.

Minimise working at height Working at height is the leading cause of death in the workplace, so all construction companies must pay close attention to this and minimise any height work if possible.

For instance, at the design stage, could the

need to work at a height either during the project or after be eliminated? If it can’t be eliminated, can it be built to be safer?

For example, is there a way to construct a safety barrier as part of the project to ensure the ongoing safety of the finished project’s users?

Traffic management On a site, the influx of vehicles is an issue many do not fully consider. Considering being struck by a moving vehicle is the second most common fatal accident at work and a leading cause of work-related accidents to the public, the proper planning and control of traffic is vital.

Here, the best route is often to plan works that can close roads and traffic down entirely, or work outside of peak operational hours. The cost of paying employees to work out of hours will not outweigh the potential fines and costs involved in an accident that occurs from going ahead with works that are unsafe due to traffic.

Ultimately, it is a construction professional’s duty to their workforce and the public to protect people on and around their site.

Your approach should be safety-first instead of ‘ticking a box’. 2020 marks the start of an exciting new decade – so why not make it one in which construction is no longer a leading cause of workrelated injury?

By Craig Boyle, head of content at Inspired

Construction UK Magazine - March 2020 41

Exhibition

Construction Expo returns to Sussex The South East’s leading construction industry exhibition, the innovative South East Construction Expo, will be returning to Sussex in April 2020.

The event, being held at the South of England Event Centre, Ardingly, on 28 April 2020, will welcome speakers from across the industry, including Malcolm Clarke, Managing Director at Baxall Construction; Cedric Laurier, Chief Technical Officer at Gatwick Airport; and Julia Gregory, Director of Projects at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.

Free to attend, the events are dedicated to the construction section and brings together clients, contractors, developer, consultants and other related industries from across the UK. With live demos of products, industry speakers and over 150 exhibitions the event is a ‘must-visit’ for anyone in property, development or construction.

A networking breakfast opens the events, followed by practical workshops, speakers, exhibitions and the opportunity to sign-up to ‘Meet the Buyer’ one-to-one sessions.

Ana Christie, Chief Executive of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, said: “Despite the ongoing political and economic uncertainty this past year, according to the Builder’s Conference, the performance of the UK construction sector shows no signs of slowing. In the first month of 2020, more than 400 companies won new contracts, so there is no better time to get along to events like this, make new contacts and win new business!”

An exciting programme of Speakers and Workshops are currently being put together and will be announced over the coming months. Advanced Panel Manufacturing will also be demonstrating their unique ‘green’ sustainable and eco-friendly, full format construction panels. These versatile, attractive and cost-effective, Fire Resistant

A rated boards are easily assembled without the need for skilled labour.

Sussex Chamber of Commerce is supporting the event this year as well as the IoD. Big name businesses already involved include Balfour Beatty, Sunninghill, Glenigan, Builders Conference, Willmott Dixon, Galliford Try, Baxall, Logan Construction and Westridge Construction Ltd. Over 2,500 delegates attended the Expo in September 2019, where 120 companies in the construction industry exhibited the latest technology, ideas and expertise and dozens of workshops and presentations were held on key topics for the industry.

This year will also see the event being held for the first time at Sandown Park Exhibition Centre, Esher on 23 September 2020.

SOUTH EAST CONSTRUCTION AWARDS 2020 South East Construction Awards 2020 has once again been launched with six categories, covering the sector, to be celebrated at a second South East Construction Expo to be held on 23 September at Sandown Park Exhibition Centre in Esher, Surrey.

Carole Black from South East Construction Expo said, “These awards celebrate our heroes in this industry with an exciting panel of judges seeking entries for categories, ranging from best construction project to best architectural design, best contractor to best supplier.

We are also looking to celebrate women in the industry and want to reward the best apprentice on a construction project in the South East.

South East Construction Expo 2020 will take place at South of England Event Centre, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, Tuesday 28 April 2020, 9 am – 4pm.

Find out more and how to book a trade stand or register your free place to attend as a delegate at: www.constructionexpouk.co.uk Twitter @ConstructExpo or Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4530020

42 Construction UK Magazine - March 2020

Free conference and exhibition 28 April 2020 | 9am-3:30pm South of England Event Centre, The premier concentration of construction professionals in the South East

Register Free Tickets

Just some of our industry focused speakers

Ardingly, West Sussex

2,500

VISITORS

How is the UK construction sector really doing?

Neil Edwards, Builders’ Conference gives a transparent review of new construction contracts with a focus on London and the South East Cedrick Laurier, Chief Technical Officer at Gatwick Airport will speak about Pier6 Western Extension, Innovations, Northern Runway, plus construction highlights, and info about ongoing tenders and future contracts Ian Roadnight, Housing, Property & FM, talks you through the opportunities available over the next 12 months

Malcom Clarke, MD at Baxall Construction Why is Baxall Construction so keen on BIM? Could it be due to the fact that it has helped raise margins and double turnover?

100+

STANDS

30+

SPEAKERS

What you can look forward to •• How to capitalise on projects worth £billions •• Receive updates on major development and regeneration projects

•• •• •• •• •• ••

Building a digital future for the construction industry FREE ‘Meet the Buyer’ appointments – up to 600 Innovations within the construction industry Building a sustainable future for construction Health and safety Industry focussed workshops

Julia Gregory An update from Julia, Director of Projects at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation Workshops from Google Digital - Digital Marketing Strategy - Get Started with Analytics - Social Media Strategy

Also held

23 September 2020 | 9am-3:30pm Sandown Park Exhibition Centre, Esher, Surrey

Headline Sponsor

Masses of free parking

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info@constructionexpouk.co.uk

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