Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

APRIL 2019

Immigration Advice Service How will the Government’s immigration vision impact the UK Construction Industry?

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OGUN: Easing Construction’s Age-Old Challenges through Technology

CPA Urges the Construction Industry to Prepare for Brexit

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Contents April 2019

04

Actis backs housing minister’s call for ‘golden age of housebuilding’

08

Wates Living Space set to extend City of London Contract

10

EDF Energy empowers social housing residents to trade solar energy

12

GRAHAM appointed to deliver new London port, Tilbury 2

13

NOMA begins work on Redfern development

19

Construction Recruitment Specialist Named In Top 100 Companies To Work For

27

First spade in the ground for Congleton Link Road

35

Goldsun HQ in Taipei receives planning approval

36

Gold card approval from CSCS for Past Graduates of TSA Surveying Course

43

Pick Everard makes two senior promotions

50

How will the Government’s immigration vision impact the UK Construction Industry?

54

Skanska expands its FM portfolio in London

Our front cover image is courtesy of Sky Revolutions: www.skyrevolutions.co.uk

04 08 12

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19

27

35

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43

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54

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Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 03

Latest News

CPA Urges the Construction Industry to Prepare for Brexit With less than four weeks to go before the UK is due to leave the EU on 29th March 2019, the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) is urging CPA members and organisations in the wider construction sector to consider contingency planning, to be aware of potential delays in the construction supply chain and to assist and guide EU staff accordingly.

Kevin Minton, Chief Executive of the CPA said: “The prospect of a no deal Brexit remains real and we urge our members to consider contingency planning and risk assessment around the impact this could potentially have.

Companies need to be aware of where they fit in the construction supply chains they operate in and a no deal Brexit could mean potential delays in work if supplies being imported from the EU are held up by customs checks.

This will, in turn, impact on work schedules and project delivery in both the short and medium term. In such a period of uncertainty, open dialogue and communication are absolutely critical at all levels of projects between contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and clients in order to identify potential delays and issues that might not be immediately obvious. A no deal Brexit

might impact on companies in many unexpected ways and only by being open with each other can these issues be identified and overcome,” he continued.

Kevin went on to say that retaining access to skilled EU staff and labour after Brexit is vital for construction.

He continued: “With well documented skills shortages being felt across the construction industry, we cannot ignore the impact leaving the EU may well have on the availability of labour. Companies should take every step to ensure their EU staff are aware of the steps they need to take to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme for both themselves and their families.”

Under the current Withdrawal Agreement, EU staff and their family members who have lived in the UK for at least five years, up to and including 31st December 2020, are able to apply for UK Settled Status. Under the scheme, if they have been here for less than five years, they can apply for Pre-Settled Status until they meet the full criteria. The scheme will open fully by 30th March 2019. The deadline for applicants will be 30th June 2021, or if a deal is not agreed between the UK and EU, 31st December 2020.

Actis backs minster’s call for ‘golden period of housebuilding’ Insulation specialist Actis, a supporter of speedy but eco-friendly and attractive methods of construction, says housing minister Kit Malthouse’s vision for a golden period of housebuilding is achievable.

The minister was speaking recently at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Better Design for Better Places conference in Birmingham.

He called for housebuilders to build ‘the conservation areas of the future’ to ensure that the government target of 300,000 new homes a year is met in an aesthetically pleasing way. He believed this would help those living near new developments feel happy rather than antagonistic about the building boom.

“We need to make room for beauty. A simple question would be: ‘Am I building the conservation area of the future?’ I want to see a golden period of housebuilding as we’ve had in the past,” he said.

Actis UK and Ireland specification manager Dan Anson-Hart says there is no excuse not to create beautiful homes, even when there is an urgent need to build many thousands in a short space of time.

“Speed and cost efficiency do not have to mean ugliness or vanilla design,” he explained.

Actis works in partnership with the LABC and cooperates closely with architects, designers and timber frame specialists.

“While obviously our role is to enable specifiers and builders to achieve the best U-values they can, we do appreciate that aesthetics are important too. If we want to get poetic about it, then Keats’ line about a thing of beauty being a joy forever resonates with us. And if we’re talking about golden

04 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

ages, then the great Arts and Crafts designer William Morris sums it up in his famous motto – “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’ We are huge fans of timber frame construction, not least because it is quicker than traditional brick and block. And in times like these, where we need thousands of homes to be built in a short space of time and in which the skilled construction labour force is shrinking, it plays a vital role in helping us produce the homes we need. They can also be things of beauty. And a beautiful home which is also warm and energy efficient must be an object of desire!”

Latest News

Get your cashflow in order in time for VAT reversal charge, warns independent SME finance provider With six months until the VAT reverse charge comes into force in the construction sector, Henry Howard Finance is encouraging businesses in the industry to prepare themselves both financially and administratively.

In late 2018, the government introduced changes to the way construction companies will collect VAT*. From October 2019, only client facing construction companies at the top of the supply chain will charge VAT.

spell the end of the road, unless they prepare themselves early.

“Since the collapse of Carillion there has been a knock-on effect for many businesses in the construction world – payment terms have been stretched and so those at the end of the supply chain are the last to be paid, and normally they are the ones who can ill afford to wait for payment.” Marie said.

£100million of that in lost VAT. Marie suggests that getting ready early for the changes is therefore the best way for smaller businesses to mitigate any risks posed as a result. She suggests the following for businesses in the construction sector: 1.

Invest in accounting software – this is also an asset for your business so you can access asset finance if needed.

2.

Look at cash flow options, refinancing some assets may help. Asset refinance, where you sell your assets to a leasing company for its current value and then lease it back over a set amount of time for a regular rental repayment could provide a muchneeded cash flow boost.

3Look at staff training that may be needed to handle this different way of working. For many smaller companies, this change is a big one and the current way of working may not suffice.

Further down the supply chain, VAT will be calculated as a paper exercise and registered on the invoice as a “reverse charge”.

“Our fear is that the introduction of this VAT reversal charge and the longer payment terms for those at the end of the supply chain, is going to be the last nail in the coffin for many of these smaller businesses.

Companies registered with the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) will fall into the reverse charge category of VAT collection.

Those which aren’t CIS-registered must charge VAT.

“We understand that the HMRC is doing all it can to combat fraud, but I do feel that by introducing this step it will hurt those who can ill afford extra administration, as well as extra time until they get paid.”

3.

There are fears, however, that many smaller construction companies could struggle financially because they have previously used the VAT collected to help cash-flow while waiting to be paid for building jobs.

HMRC has made the changes to clamp down on “missing trader” fraud which is when, within multi-jurisdictional trading, a product or service is offered by a shell company which adds on VAT as the product or service goes up the supply chain. This kind of fraud has been prevalent across other industries costing HMRC an estimated £13billion, with the construction sector making up

Marie said: “Forewarned is forearmed in situations such as this and getting ready early, getting your working capital in order will help you survive and thrive under this new VAT system.”

Marie Dunkley, Head of Vendor Hard Asset at Henry Howard Finance, says that for many smaller companies the change could

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 05

Latest News

Record number of apprentices for regional homebuilder A Westcountry homebuilder has welcomed its highest number of apprentices to date as part of the firm’s commitment to nurturing up-and-coming talent in the construction industry.

Ten apprentices aged between 16 and 23 years of age have joined Cavanna Homes as paid full-time apprentices, the largest intake in the homebuilder’s 95-year history. Aaron Jones, Jesse Acutt, Matt Churchill, Max Dorothy, Jack Walker, Sam Perkins, Joe Darlow, Cameron Quinn, Lewis Duce and Owen Musk are based at Cavanna Homes’ head office in Torquay gaining experience both on-site and in the office.

The apprentices will be completing qualifications in a range of specialist sectors including; carpentry, land, technical, commercial, build, electrical, painting and decorating, and plastering.

Cavanna Homes’ Managing Director Keith Miller said: “Apprentices are the future of the industry and we believe we should be doing everything we can to encourage young people to consider job-based training as a sound start to their careers. We’re major supporters of apprentices and help subcontractors by

funding apprentices so they can pass on their knowledge, which in turn helps us to be confident that the skills we’ll need in the future for housebuilding will be available locally”.

Sam Perkins, Land Apprentice at Cavanna Homes, said: “I am forever grateful to Cavanna Homes for providing me with such an amazing opportunity. They support me day in and day out, which has fuelled my drive even more. I’m surrounded by considerate colleges who I now call friends and I can honestly say that there is no looking back, only looking forward. My one regret is not signing up to an apprenticeship scheme sooner – it’s the best decision I have ever made and I’m truly lucky!”

The apprenticeships will be completed

over four years which, depending on the scheme, will combine on-site work experience with skilled sub-contractors and attendance at college to gain an NVQ. Keith Miller added: “We’re increasing the number of apprentices that we support year on year, and we hope to see this number continue to grow in 2019. We strongly believe that providing open career paths within the construction industry will encourage young adults to explore the opportunities available to them”.

As a regional recruiter, Cavanna Homes takes pride in nurturing and investing in its apprentices to ensure they receive the best skills and experience in their trades to pass onto the next generation, and integral part of Cavanna Homes’ ethos.

NFB: PM’s offer to delay Brexit spells further uncertainty for UK construction

The National Federation of Builders : Strategic housing investment is another positive step

The prime minister has pledged that MPs will have three chances to vote on the next stages of the process to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire has announced £250 million for housing deals, which includes £157 million for infrastructure funding for roads and green spaces.

Theresa May promised the House of Commons to hold a meaningful vote on the withdrawal agreement on 12 March.

If the deal fails, the Government will ask MPs on 13 March whether they support a ‘no-deal Brexit’. If the House of Commons rejects no-deal, MPs will have the opportunity to vote on 14 March on postponing Brexit until at least 30 June.

The money will help deliver a range of projects across the UK, including 10,000 homes on 7 Ministry of Defence sites and more than 1,500 homes at the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) continues to think that the construction industry needs an orderly withdrawal from the EU, ending uncertainty for businesses.

Although the prime minister’s announcement could postpone the imminent prospect of leaving without a deal, it does nothing to dispel uncertainty among construction businesses about the future.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “While the prime minister appears to be lining up the votes to make no-deal more unlikely, those pushing for a harder Brexit may just decide to cast their unchanged votes at a later date. Far from delivering certainty to thousands of construction companies, the prime minister’s announcement may end up delaying a no-deal Brexit by three months.”

The Government expects that the infrastructure investment, use of public land and targeted loans will help them build almost 25,000 more homes than the 222,000 that were built in 2017/2018.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) commends the Government on investing directly in land, infrastructure and housing to unlock homes, but warns that many of the sites will remain locked unless it takes more serious steps toward planning reform.

Many of the sites will require further strong leadership from Homes England, who have been more easily circumventing the planning and financial barriers that non-government partnered developers experience.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “We need to build 100,000 more homes every year and this means better road networks and more recreational spaces. This direct and strategic housing investment is very welcome.”

06 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Mineral Processing and Recycling Magnetic Separators at Bauma 2019 The latest generation of high intensity Magnetic Separators will be on display on the Bunting Magnetics stand (Hall B2 Stand 133) at Bauma 2019. The metal and mineral separators are used widely in the mineral processing, quarrying and recycling industries.

Bunting Magnetics is one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of magnetic separators and metal detectors for the recycling, quarrying and mining industries.

Their wide range of metal separation and detection equipment is manufactured at their Master Magnets facility in Redditch, just outside Birmingham, UK. Bauma (April 8-14, 2019) is held in Munich, Germany ever three years. There are internal and external exhibition areas displaying a wide range of equipment for construction, mining, mineral processing and recycling. A reported 583,736 visitors from 219 countries attended Bauma in 2016, seeing 3,425 exhibitors from 58 countries.

Overband Magnet on a mobile crusher

On stand 133, the Bunting Magnetics and Master Magnets team are present to help companies with product purification or metal recovery.

High intensity Magnetic Separators are used to remove weakly magnetic particles from nonmetallic minerals such as feldspar and silica sand. The Electro Magnetic Filter on display is designed to remove magnetically susceptible minerals from mineral and ceramic slurries and glazes. An electromagnetic coil is used to project a high magnetic field into a centralised cannister containing a magnetic matrix. During processing, magnetic particles are captured on the points of the matrix. A larger Electro Magnetic Filter has just been added to the Master Magnets mineral processing laboratory in Redditch UK. This provides mineral processors with the opportunity of conducting controlled tests to prove the separation capability.

The dry purification of non-metallic minerals is possible using the high intensity Rare Earth Roll Magnetic Separator. Separation demonstrations on a laboratory-scale model will take place in the stand.

The Overband Magnet is commonplace in the quarrying, mining and recycling sector and a smaller model will be on display. The Overband Magnet is mounted across permanently fixed conveyors and on mobile plant (e.g. screens and crushers) to remove larger tramp metal. There is a constant stream of Overband Magnets under manufacture at the Redditch plant, with many shipped overseas.

TN77 Metal Detector installed in a quarry

Commonly, the Overband Magnet works in conjunction with a Metal Detector. The Metal Detector identifies non-ferrous metals such as manganese steel. On the stand will be a Model TN77 Metal Detector, one of the most popular used in quarries and mining operations all over the world.

The need to successfully recover and recycle waste materials has never had a higher profile. Within the Master Magnets product portfolio are magnetic separators to recover ferrous metals and Eddy Current Separators for the separation on non-ferrous metals.

A new generation of magnetic separator now successfully recovers stainless steel, with contracts agreed in January 2019 for the manufacture and supply of three Stainless Steel Magnetic Separators (SSSC).

Demonstrations on a laboratory-sized SSSC will take place on the stand.

For further information, please contact us on press@buntingeurope.com Website: www.mastermagnets.com

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Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 07

Project News WATES LIVING SPACE SET TO EXTEND CITY OF LONDON CONTRACT

NEW £4M TRAVELODGE TO OPEN IN MANSFIELD A Yorkshire construction company has secured a £4m contract to design and build a major new hotel in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Harris CM will start work on the 63-bedroom project in March 2019. The hotel will be built for developer GNW Estates of Harrogate, on the site of the former Gala Bingo premises on St Peter’s Way, and it will be operated by Travelodge Hotels Limited.

The new four-storey building will feature three floors of hotel accommodation, with three separate retail units and the hotel foyer on the ground floor.

Jason Adlam, Chief Executive Officer for Harris CM Limited, said: “This contract win, on behalf of one of the UK’s leading hotel operators, reinforces our successful and busy start to the year, and is testimony to the diverse range of services that our company is able to consistently provide. Harris CM has

been involved in this project from the beginning, securing planning permission and helping to get the scheme off the ground. This is our first project in Mansfield, and we are proud to be involved in a development that will breathe new life into a disused site. The hotel will not only bring investment to the area, but will create new jobs and provide people with a great place to stay when visiting this picturesque market town, so it’s fantastic for everyone involved as well as the local area.

“We are looking forward to working with Think Architects, structural engineers Ward Cole, and quantity surveyor MAC, and we’re already planning to expand our presence in the area with several other contracts in the pipeline.”

Leading affordable housing maintenance provider, Wates Living Space, is set to extend its work on behalf of City of London Corporation with the delivery of responsive repairs across London.

Valued at approximately £1.5m, the new appointment marks the renewal of Wates’ previous repairs contract for City of London Corporation’s estate where Wates was the incumbent repairs service provider for seven years.

The new contract is expected to run for five years and will also include the refurbishment of an estimated 150 void properties.

Throughout the contract term, Wates will provide day-to-day repairs for circa 3,000 homes.

Set to commence in April this year, the new responsive repairs contract adds to Wates’ existing contract portfolio on behalf of City of London Corporation, which includes its five-year Minor Works Contract, Lot 1 Building Fabric.

Cumulatively valued at £3-4m, this includes minor works projects valued at £250k per project across City of London Corporation’s civic estate, including the Mansion House and the Central Criminal Courts.

Harris CM is based in Pontefract and has extensive experience in the retail and leisure sector having recently being awarded contracts for both Owlerton Stadium in Sheffield and Pavers Shoes, near York.

Cheers! IB Construction completes £multi-million project to mark major pub milestone A Willenhall-based construction specialist is celebrating a major milestone with the pub trade by completing its first ever new build for McMullen’s Brewery.

IB Construction, which employs up to 100 people across its live sites, has overseen the £multi-million construction of ‘Kings Reach’ on the outskirts of Biggleswade town centre in Bedfordshire.

This is the company’s 50th new build pub/ restaurant project and took just 25 weeks from the first spade in the ground to staff serving the first McMullen’s pint and serving customers with a wide selection of food.

The impressive property maximises the latest sustainable building techniques and pub trade technology, as well as a feature oak staircase that is designed to be a

talking point for drinkers and diners.

Tim Lewis, Contracts Manager for IB Construction, commented: “Our first pub was the Rose and Crown on the Penn Road in Wolverhampton, which was for Mitchells & Butlers. We found we had a natural ability to work in this sector and the latest project for McMullen’s Brewery marks our 50th new build - a fantastic milestone and testimony to our ability to work with clients to build ever more ambitious properties on time and to budget.”

He continued: “The leisure market represents about 60% of our turnover so it is a very important target for our business and we’re currently in discussions to work on another three new build pubs - for three different breweries - in 2019.

“We can also offer refurbishment services, fast track fit-outs, heritage refurbishment and larger scale public sector projects - it really

08 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

depends on the support our clients require.”

Ed Bunnett, Area Manager at McMullen’s Brewery, added his support: “The King’s Reach pub is the first time we have worked with IB Construction and we have been impressed with its experience and attention to detail that was was obvious from the start.

“The project was completed on programme and to a high quality of finish. It is also refreshing these days to work with a professional team that is always prepared to help.”

Established in 1959, IB Construction is one of the UK’s leading principal contractors, combining the latest building techniques and expert project management with attention to detail and outstanding customer care.

This approach has seen it deliver more

Project News GRAHAM lands Chelmsford carriageway and bridge contract The strength of GRAHAM’s highways and rail sector expertise has been recognised

by Countryside Zest (Beaulieu Park) LLP and Highways England following the recent award of a design and build contract for the Chelmsford East Beaulieu S278 Works (RDR Phase 3) project.

The works in Chelmsford, Essex, comprise of a new viaduct over the Great Eastern railway and A12 and carriageway works (RDR Phase 3) linking into the Boreham Interchange.

The scheme, which is being directed by Countryside Zest in partnership with Highways England, is subject to a singlephase procurement process, although the works will be split into two phases.

award winning A138 Chelmer Viaduct – a £32m strategic highway, which has increased transport capacity and significantly improved journeys for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The first, a £1.4m-valued ‘Stage 1 PreConstruction Services’ appointment, will focus on design development in order to secure technical approval from the relevant authorities, including Highways England and Network Rail.

GRAHAM’s Managing Director for Civil Engineering, Leo Martin, is looking forward to his team delivering a similar highcalibre piece of infrastructure as part of the Chelmsford East Beaulieu S278 Works project.

Detailed site surveys and investigation, plus a robust assessment of possession requirements and timescales, represent complex elements of this phase.

“This contract award is a tremendous result for us and it once again underlines our combined approach and reputation for excellence in both the highways and rail sectors,” said Leo.

Stage 2 ‘Construction’, with an estimated value of £11.8m, will then involve the commencement of an engineering and construction programme based on the agreed outputs from Stage 1.

Track record GRAHAM has a proven track record in the Chelmsford area having completed the

“The first phase of this contract requires a fullycoordinated design methodology that meets the approval and standards of Highways England and Network Rail. We have enjoyed long-term relationships with both organisations and fully understand their technical requirements.

I’m confident that our existing knowledge and design expertise will not only meet, but exceed,

their expectations, which will ensure a seamless transition to Stage 2 and the beginning of the construction works. As we proved with the A138 Chelmer Viaduct, we use our expertise and creativity to identify and implement solutions that reduce cost, drive efficiency and enhance outcomes and therefore we are looking forward to replicating this approach for the Chelmsford East Beaulieu S278 Works project.”

Phasing The approved phasing of the development requires the initial stopping up of the existing Generals Lane highway and the subsequent demolition of the bridge structure, which currently crosses the Great Eastern railway line in advance of the commencement of the RDR Phase 3 carriageway and bridge construction.

The design requirements for the project include a radial distributor road, a bridge structure crossing the Great Eastern mainline and drainage and services.

Design work is well under way and is expected to be completed in 2020.

than 1700 projects, covering high profile developments for the community and for clients involved in commercial, education, healthcare, industry, leisure and special heritage projects.

The company’s portfolio encompasses everything from small renovations and interior fitouts to refurbishments and largescale design and build contracts.

Tim concluded: “2018 was some of the toughest trading conditions we’ve faced, but we’ve still been able to grow in our key sectors and also make significant inroads into education and healthcare.

“This has helped us create new jobs and we are currently looking to recruit a number of specialists in our estimating department, a crucial part of the business if we are going to hit our target of 10% growth in 2019.”

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 09

Project News EDF Energy empowers social housing residents to trade solar energy Residents of a block of flats in Brixton are pioneering a community energy trading project led by EDF Energy that will enable them to trade solar energy with each other.

EDF Energy’s Research & Development department has launched Project ‘CommUNITY’ with Repowering London and UCL’s Energy Institute, which aims to increase residents’ consumption of local low-carbon energy while reducing their overall costs.

Project ‘CommUNITY’ will enable Brixton residents at Elmore House to access electricity generated from a solar PV system

on the block’s roof, store it in a battery and trade with one another (peer-to-peer) using blockchain technology.

The platform, managed via an app, allows residents in urban areas to source their energy from local renewables and either use their own allocation of energy or trade it with their neighbours.

Under current regulations, customers cannot buy from, or sell to, other consumers but delivery of the project has been made possible as part of Ofgem’s ‘Innovation Link’, which allows the consortium to work outside the current regulatory framework.

Xavier Mamo, Director of Research & Development at EDF Energy, said: “At EDF Energy, we are committed to making energy easier for our customers and unlocking the benefits that new technologies are bringing to the sector.

“By collaborating with our partners and using block chain technology, this project in Brixton aims to show how small communities in dense urban areas could benefit from a low carbon and local energy system in a new and transformative way.”

The trial is expected to start in March 2019 and will end in October 2019

Better together at the A14:First project in the UK to achieve ISO44001 collaborative accreditation The Integrated Delivery Team (IDT) on Highways England’s A14 Cambridge to Huntington improvement scheme in Cambridgeshire has achieved the standard for collaborative business relationship management. The accreditation recognises the relationship between the customer, Highways England (HE) and Costain, Skanska and Balfour Beatty, focusing on behaviours, organisational culture and management processes.

Nicole Preston, the IDT’s Head of Operational Excellence said: “We are the first project ever to receive this accreditation. Usually one of the companies of the joint venture is certified, not the project. This award is a reflection of the successful relationship between Costain, Skanska, Balfour Beatty and Highways England, in recognition of our continued effort to collaborate to achieve completion on time, within the agreed budget.”

The accreditation demonstrates how the team works as one, sharing resources, opportunities and successes.

Last month, members of the team collected the ISO44001 certificate from the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) Awards held at the House of Lords. During the awards they also received the Supply Chain Management Award and Ben Cross, Supply Chain Manager, won the Chairman’s Special Recognition Award.

Currently the largest road project in the UK, the A14 improvement scheme includes new highway construction and the widening and improvement of existing highways.

GLEEDS ADVISES ON PLANS FOR £20M LEISURE CENTRE IN BINGHAM The concept of a new £20 million leisure centre and adjacent commercial development in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, has been approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Investigations into the feasibility of a centre at Chapel Lane, Bingham have been underway since October 2018, when international property and construction consultancy Gleeds was initially appointed to produce a study into the business case for a mixed leisure and commercial development at the site. Following a review of its findings, the council has opted to go ahead with the report’s proposals as part of the delivery of its wider masterplan for the town.

CPMG, the architect responsible for the Rushcliffe Arena development in West Bridgford, has submitted its initial proposals as part of the study. In addition to the leisure centre, which includes both swimming and fitness space, outline proposals illustrate muchneeded community space, 10,000ft2 of commercial office and plans to bring an adjacent industrial unit back into use.

Michael Davies, Director of Gleeds in Nottingham, said: “Rushcliffe Borough Council is set to deliver a high specification leisure and community facility for residents of Bingham and we are delighted that it has accepted our recommendation to proceed.

“The planned new facilities perfectly dovetail with the council’s overarching masterplan for the area, which seeks to support healthy lifestyles and complement the continued growth of the town and the local economy”.

Once detailed plans are approved enabling works could begin as early as spring 2019, with construction commencing in summer 2020.

10 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

RCM Increases Its Ever Growing Sales Team With Two New Appointments RCM, Roofing and Cladding Materials Ltd, specialists in complete through wall solutions are once again increasing its sales team and announcing the appointment of two new team members.

Tim Plumpton is the new Regional Sales Manager for the Midlands, West and South West, specialising in the RCM building board range, airtightness solutions and breather membranes, as well as complete through-wall solutions.

He has ten years architectural glazing and building envelope experience and an impressive twenty-seven years building products experience. Tim has previously been national sales manager for a young and growing architectural aluminium systems house. This wealth of experience and a professional cando attitude combined with a great sense of humour, make Tim an ideal choice.

Outside of work, Tim has a keen interest in sport, especially Powerboat and Jetski racing, having participated in these sports himself for many years.

The new Southern Facades Manager position for the south-east region has been taken up by Robyn Lunt. Robyn joins RCM from the Proctor Group, where she was engaged as Regional Sales Manager for the South-East. She has great knowledge of the construction industry.

Impressively Robyn holds the coveted PCA (Property Care Association) qualification. The PCA is a government approved trade body for damp, waterproofing, wood preserving and invasive weeds industry. She also has experience dealing with breather membranes, insulation, acoustic flooring and gas protection membranes.

Outside of work, Robyn is a secret adrenaline junkie and loves keeping fit. Some of her past pursuits have been surfing, mountain biking and 4x4 off-roading.

Commenting on the new appointments, Ian Quinton, Managing Director of RCM said: “Both Tim and Robyn bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their new positions at RCM. We are extending a very warm welcome to both and look forward to working alongside our new colleagues.”

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Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 11

Project News

College Receives Funding to Develop State-of-theart Virtual Reality Training in Construction City College Plymouth has received £280,000 funding from the Construction Industry Training Board to develop and deliver a two year immersive learning project in close collaboration with Kier Living and We Are The Moment, partnering with Plymouth Construction Training Group and Building Plymouth.

The project will develop state-of-the-art training experiences to support the booming investment and 10,000 projected new jobs expected in construction in Plymouth over the next five years. The partnership will promote

the implementation of new virtual reality (VR) technologies in both higher education and further education and in the construction sector, attracting and retaining talent to improve productivity and address skills gaps in this vital industry.

Lance Chatfield, Academy Manager for Higher Technology Skills at the College said: “We will pilot and deliver innovative immersive learning experiences that replicate developments in the City.

“Central to each of these experiences is the

development of a VR ‘house’ environment.

This will be based on a Kier Living four bed construction, as seen around the Plymouth area.

The house will be used to demonstrate real-life examples to aid health and safety practice in a secure and safe environment, adding a key immersive element to the classroom-taught curriculum currently taught at the College.

“The project will also be going ‘on the road’ later this year, when students and potential new recruits to the construction industry will be able to try out the VR challenges at roadshows, Apprenticeship fairs and College Open Days.”

GRAHAM appointed to deliver new London port, Tilbury 2 The Port of Tilbury, the UK’s fastest growing port, has appointed GRAHAM to deliver their new multimillion pound port terminal, Tilbury2. The port received development consent from the Secretary of State for Transport to build the new port last week and will now work with GRAHAM to begin construction of the port immediately.

The contract will involve the creation of a

new port terminal and associated facilities on land at the former Tilbury Power Station on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury. When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and the creation of a new significantly larger rail head which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m.

GRAHAM has been awarded the contract for both the Terrestrial and the Marine Package. The Terrestrial contract incorporates a Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo), highway works, the relocation of the existing railhead, and a fixed structural steel bridge to the linkspan. The Marine contract includes works within the tidal estuary beyond the existing sea wall/flood defences, including a floating pontoon, linkspan/articulated bridge, associated pilings and river bed preparation for the berth.

Charles Hammond, Chief Executive of Forth Ports Group (owners of the Port of Tilbury) said: “Tilbury2 is a significant project for our business and our customers. We are very pleased to have the expertise of GRAHAM to help us create this new port for London and the south east. GRAHAM are experts in what they do and have demonstrated this in their recent maritime projects in Hull, Grimsby and in Folkestone. There is a great deal to do over the next 12months and we look forward to opening our new port in 2020.”

Commenting on Tilbury2 Michael Graham, GRAHAM Executive Chairman: “The Tilbury2 project is a complex scheme that will facilitate the expansion of the Port of Tilbury

12 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Project News

NOMA begins work on Redfern development NOMA has started on-site at Redfern, a Grade II listed former warehouse and office block, only a month after securing planning permission for redevelopment.

Once completed, Redfern will offer over 50,000 sq. ft. of Grade A modern office space as well as 7,600 sq. ft. of mixed retail and leisure space spread across three groundfloor units.

Redfern is the latest listed building in NOMA to be redeveloped into modern office space.

Hanover, where global e-commerce giant Amazon announced it would be opening its first UK headquarters outside of London, completed late last year, while nearby Dantzic is on track for completion in Spring this year.

Federation completed in 2017.

Manchester-based contractor Russells Construction, which also worked on Federation, Dantzic and Hanover, will lead the construction work.

Under the design by architect Sheppard Robson, Redfern’s recognisable redbrick façade will be maintained. Internally, industrial-chic fittings such as exposed air ducts and suspended lighting will help appeal to tech workers and creatives who increasingly power Manchester’s economy, while a new rooftop terrace at Redfern will create a space where they can relax and socialise. The ground-floor retail and leisure units will open up onto Sadler’s Yard, Manchester’s newest public square and home to the Pilcrow, a craft beer pub hand-built by the local community.

Redfern was previously host of PLANT NOMA, a community workshop and ‘village hall’, which has now relocated to Old Bank on the other side of Sadler’s Yard.

In total, NOMA will provide 2.5 million sq. ft. of both new-build and renovated office space at various price points, situated alongside housing, public realm as well as retail and leisure opportunities.

The neighbourhood has been tipped as one of the UK’s first ‘innovation districts’ by the Brookings Institute, a leading US think-tank, thanks to the scheme’s mix of high-quality office space and housing, both seen as crucial to helping drive Manchester’s future growth.

Stephen Bradley, senior asset manager at Hermes Investment Management, said: “Starting on-site at Redfern just a month after getting planning permission signals our seriousness in pushing ahead with progress at NOMA, building on the momentum behind the neighbourhood. Danztic, another listed building, will be completing this spring, bringing forward yet more quality office space for Manchester and we will shortly be outlining our plans for new build offices as well.”

Paul Pavia, head of development at MEPC,

and support its continued local, regional and national economic growth. We look forward to working collaboratively with The Port of Tilbury and local stakeholders to deliver this transformational scheme.

example of a development programme that will not just enhance the Port’s offering to importers and exporters but will deliver longterm regeneration and create significant new employment opportunities.”

At GRAHAM, we are committed to delivering lasting impact and the Tilbury2 project is an

Tilbury2 is central to the Port of Tilbury’s £1 billion investment programme during

said:“With our plans for new office buildings at NOMA gathering pace it is great news that the commitment to invest further in the listed estate is ensuring that when the first new buildings are delivered they will be complementing a listed estate already home to a thriving business community.”

James Devany, director at JLL, said: “The major creative and tech occupiers reshaping the world economy see the benefits in not only new build office space but also carefully restored heritage building that keep their character while meeting the needs of modern work. Redfern will be a great addition to NOMA and Manchester more widely.”

Peter Gallagher, director at Colliers, said: “Manchester city centre witnessed record office take up last year thanks largely to the ongoing growth of the tech and creative sectors and as a global trend we are seeing huge appetite for re-purposed historic buildings such as Redfern that offer a seductive blend of authenticity with the very best of modern facilities.”

2012-20. Tilbury has doubled the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume of cargo across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and triple direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 13

Project News

ARCHITECTS TAKE EXTRA CARE WITH BRIGHOUSE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN Work on the steel super-structure of a new extra care facility, on the former Salford Works site on Bramston Street in Brighouse, has started.

Designed by Brewster Bye Architects, the 65 one and two bedroom apartments for over 55s are being built by energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE for one of the UK’s largest providers of high quality housing and supported housing services - Home Group. The development will be complete by 2020. The majority of apartments will be let at affordable rent levels and five will be available through a shared-ownership scheme.

The new development will have a host of communal facilities including a kitchen, café, lounges, a hair salon, as well as staff

and guest facilities. With a dementia focus within its design and layout, that reflect the principles outlined by the Government’s latest Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) report, the extra care scheme has raised the bar in terms of design.

Mark Henderson Director at Brewster Bye, said: “Our aim was to re-develop space that is currently derelict and inaccessible and create an attractive street frontage to Bramston Street, Thornhill Road and George Street, reinforcing

the sense of place and character of the area, whilst also reflecting the industrial heritage of Brighouse and its influence on the town. We responded by applying a mix of contemporary architecture with contextual references to the local limestone buildings that are synonymous with the surrounding area. Combining these traditional stone influences with a modern bronze coloured cladding will create a sympathetic colour palette that reflects the past and present of Calderdale.

“The site is north facing looking towards the

CASEY TO BUILD NEW £3.2 MILLION HOSPITAL EXTENSION Casey, the family owned construction, development and property firm, has been appointed by Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to build a £3.2 million extension at North Manchester General Hospital.

The new intermediate care facility will provide a further 16 beds for the busy hospital as part of its continued investment programme.

The striking three storey building was designed by architects, Lewis and Hickey

and connects to the main hospital. Work will start on site immediately and is due to be completed by January 2020.

expanding our construction business into and have a number of other opportunities we are currently progressing.”

Matthew Sorrigan, Group BD Director at Casey, comments: “We are delighted to have secured this new instruction and are looking forward to working with the Trust to deliver a high quality project which meets the Trust’s aspirations.

David Townsend, Senior Project Manager at North Manchester General Hospital says: “This facility will provide much needed additional intermediate care facilities at North Manchester General Hospital, thus improving the provision of services within the trust. We are very much looking forward to working with Casey on this project.”

“The health sector is an area we are focusing on

14 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Project News viaduct and river, with a significant slope falling from north to south, so it was really important for us to utilise the site characteristics and land levels to accommodate such a unique building, which varies in size from two to six storeys.

“The design includes plenty of amenity space through the inclusion of balconies, patios, community areas and private open space. It also incorporates significantly improved and safer pedestrian access links to and from the site, which is essential for people living here, who will want to walk to the bus stop, train station and all the surrounding local amenities.

into the design, we are confident that the home will be a big hit with its new residents.”

Teresa Snaith, Head of Development (Supported), from Home Group, said: “The delivery team includes older people and people with dementia to give us an understanding of how the facility will be used, along with colleagues with supported housing and specialist mental health backgrounds as well as from Local Authority commissioning environments. Crucially everyone involved has

delivered extra care housing previously, and have a wealth of experience of the design, development, delivery and management of schemes, with specialism around dementia specific extra care housing.

“There’s no doubt this will result in us creating an attractive yet robust building that is perfect for its setting and the people who will live here.

The home will be low maintenance and energy efficient, but most importantly these affordable home will have quality design at their heart.”

“One of the stand out features of the home are the two atrium spaces which flood the depth of the building with natural light, whilst providing a visual link between floors. Other highlights include the winter garden, which is located on the fifth floor that connects the inside and outside, and a semi private courtyard garden on the fourth floor with raised planters that will provide a safe area that is easily accessible for residents to enjoy. The planters’ low walls double as benches, and the pathways leading round the courtyard, have a central focus and route back, so there are no confusing dead ends which is so important for people who have dementia.

“The seating areas along the path will give people a place to sit, chat and enjoy the planting and being outside. With so much thought going

The Solid Gear OCEAN Safety Shoe – Precision Safety and Comfort Solid Gear continues to modernise PPE footwear with a safety shoe that looks and feels more like a trainer.

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After - Lightweight Fibrelite Covers

Access All Areas: How Lightweight Composite Covers Are Making Drainage And Sewerage Access Safer Accessibility is a pre-requisite for almost every drainage and sewerage application. However, the weight of conventional heavy steel access covers can make removal and replacement time-consuming and cumbersome. While once steel or concrete were the only options, a new breed of composite cover is making the world beneath our feet more accessible than ever. As a result, drainage and sewerage companies across the globe are increasingly specifying composite covers where manual handling is key.

Designed by Fibrelite, the global leader in the manufacture and development of GRP composite manhole and trench covers, their lightweight alternatives have an unrivalled strength to weight ratio, and provide the same load-bearing

performance as their conventional counterparts. In fact, due to the lightweight properties of composite material, Fibrelite GRP access covers are approximately one third of the weight.

This makes them simpler and safer to install and manoeuvre by hand, and eliminates the need for specialised lifting equipment.

As David Holmes, Fibrelite’s Technical Director, explains: “Fibrelite are seeing an increasing number of enquiries for GRP custom cover solutions in water and wastewater applications and more specifically in locations where there are manual handling concerns. Our design and manufacturing capabilities allow us to offer custom turnkey solutions that can replace failing metal and concrete covers in-situ thus eliminating the need for costly installations and extended site closures. The evidence is in the numbers, more than 5000 bespoke covers have been successfully installed in UK, Europe, US, and even Antarctica”.

Traditional, heavy covers are also prone to corrosion, with water ingress being a major problem for operators and site owners. In the long-term, this can lead to costly damages and the need for regular maintenance.

Custom Fibrelite covers have been installed in water treatment facilities around the globe – even in Antarctica (pictured)

In contrast, GRP composite requires no maintenance and is resistant to corrosive materials – making it an ideal solution for many drainage and sewerage applications.

Furthermore, composite covers can be designed to fit almost any size, shape, aperture and load rating requirement – enabling effortless like-for-like replacement. It is even possible to specify different colours and custom covers that feature a specific logo or branding.

This freedom and flexibility make GRP composites a natural fit for the demands of modern construction.

Fibrelite invented the first composite access cover over 30 years ago and are now specified by the majority of major oil companies, including: ExxonMobil, Total, BP and many more.

Fibrelite’s high performance composite covers can be custom designed to suit any specification in the company’s dedicated facilities in the UK, the US and South East Asia. A rapid design to delivery process, and a responsive local distribution network also guarantee fast turnaround times.

Since 2013, Fibrelite has been a part of OPW (a Dover company) allowing the company to offer an unprecedented portfolio of complementary best-in-class products.

For more details on how and where Fibrelite covers are being adopted, visit their case studies page.

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Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 17

Awards News

Structural Concrete Alliance announces 2018 award winner Excitement is mounting as the highest performing Considerate Constructors Scheme registered construction companies and suppliers get ready for the 2018 National Company and Supplier Awards.

The Awards will take place on 15-16 November at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) prestigious landmark headquarters in central London.

Every company and supplier registered with the Scheme had their performance against the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice assessed between 1 August 2017 and 31 July 2018. Only the very highest performing have now been selected to be eligible to win this year’s prestigious awards.

Industry leaders, Brian Berry (Chief Executive at the Federation of Master Builders) and Shaun McCarthy OBE (Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School) will be announcing whether each winning company or supplier has received a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award for their achievements. Runnersup and the winners of the highly acclaimed ‘Most Considerate Company’ and ‘Most Considerate Supplier’ Awards will also be announced at the ceremonies.

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive Edward Hardy comments: “Scheme-registered companies and suppliers play a crucial role in promoting a positive image

Willmott Dixon named UK’s fourth best place to work Just as the CITB is predicting that 168,500 construction jobs will be created in the UK over the next five years; Willmott Dixon has put the industry in the good employers spotlight by coming fourth in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to work for list.

The Best Companies list is based mainly on employee feedback and judges highlighted

data from Willmott Dixon people showing “employees have no wish to leave this family-run outfit with an 87% positive score, first on this measure.”

Feedback also showed that Willmott Dixon people value the chance to learn and grow with the company, which has a training programme with over 50 modules for personal growth, plus a personal learning

fund of £750 for its people to learn a new skill.

Willmott Dixon’s high position in the list of the UK’s best employers comes as the CITB this week released its annual Construction Skills Network report which forecasted 1.3 per cent growth, and said it predicted approximately 168,500 construction jobs will be created in the UK over the next five years. This is 10,000 more than in last year’s forecast, with CITB also claiming construction employment will reach 2.79 million by 2023.

Group chief executive Rick Willmott said, “The CITB has again highlighted the skill challenge construction is facing. To fill this gap, we need a larger proportion of young people to choose construction as their career. It’s a tough task as we’re competing with every other sector to attract the best talent, so achieving such a high place in the Sunday Times Best Companies list is one way we can help our industry stand out as a great place to work. We know many people use the Best Companies list as a guide when choosing who they would like to apply for jobs with, so I hope this will help people think construction as a place to enjoy a rewarding and satisfying career.”

The company followed its top five

18 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Awards News Construction Recruitment Specialist Named In Top 100 Companies To Work For National construction recruitment specialist Thorn Baker Group is pleased to announce that it has been included in the annual Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For, for the third time!

Recognition for the recruitment specialists comes on the back of receiving the highest possible, threestar accreditation by Best Companies, for extraordinary levels of employee engagement. of our industry, with the standards of best practice and general consideration shown within these organisations increasing significantly year on year.

“The commitment and a sustained effort to continuously improve by top performing companies and suppliers are truly incredible.

“On behalf of the Scheme, I would like to offer my congratulations to every registered company and supplier winning an award, as competition gets tougher each year with more organisations registering and performing to ever higher standards.

“We look forward to recognising and celebrating the success of every 2018 award-winning company and supplier at our National Company and Supplier Awards in November.”

performance by also picking up the award for Developing Potential for its work in helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds find work in the construction industry – this was strongly rated by Willmott Dixon people who value the company’s ‘purpose beyond profit’ ethos. This accolade comes after Willmott Dixon was one of only six companies to win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2018 for Promoting Opportunity through social mobility.

Best Companies, which runs for national awards to highlight the UK’s best places to work, said Willmott Dixon gained the highest score of all 100 companies in 3 areas. It said, “Chief executive Rick Willmott is the fifth generation of his family to lead the firm. Of its 1,693 employees at 100 UK sites, 330 have worked for the business for 10 years or more. Loyalty is rewarded with a learning fund of £750 per head so workers can try something new, such as learning a language or taking singing lessons. These initiatives contribute to the firm winning our special award for Discovering Potential. People value the opportunities to learn and grow (75%, first), which may help to explain its industryleading 6% staff turnover rate.

Wellbeing and workplace engagement The accolade is judged on eight factors of workplace engagement.

These include how employees feel about the organisation’s leadership, their direct line management, the level of engagement with their job and team, personal development opportunities, wellbeing levels and work-life balance. It also looks at whether staff feel they are getting a fair deal with pay and benefits, plus the extent to which they feel the organisation gives something positive back to the communities in which it operates.

Paul Jackman, CEO of Thorn Baker Group comments: “The wellbeing and development of our employees is of paramount importance to us. It is something we all take seriously across the business, so to be recognised again in the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies is testament to the investment we have made in our team. It is fantastic that over 90% of our employees feel proud to work for Thorn Baker and consider it to be such a great place to work.”

Best Companies to Work for Founder and CEO, Jonathan Austin, added:

“I would like to congratulate Thorn Baker Group on its achievement of being named as one of the UK’s Best Companies to Work for. Best Companies have been producing the Accreditation standard since 2006 to acknowledge excellence in the workplace.

“We are proud that organisations like Thorn Baker focus on their employees and have been rewarded with an engaged workforce who tell us that they’re a best company to work for.”

Striving for success To prepare for its next phase of growth in 2019, Thorn Baker has recently restructured the business into three distinct brands; Thorn Baker Construction, Thorn Baker Industrial Recruitment and Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities and Maintenance. Each brand is solely focused on a particular sector therefore providing a more specialist service to the clients and candidates within its market, as well providing opportunities for employees to develop their career along a specific route.

Paul Jackman adds: “Our new structure is having a positive impact on the wellbeing of our staff, as well as our clients and candidates. Enabling our staff to specialise and tailoring their training and development opportunities to their specific career goals, combined with flexible working hours, has increased engagement within the company and is a major contributing factor in achieving the recognition in the Sunday Times 100.”

Thorn Baker Group now manages the recruitment needs of companies across the UK, placing over 30,000 candidates in jobs each year.

“Giving Something Back is another of this enterprise’s strengths (85%, first on this factor), reflecting the firm’s “purpose before profit” philosophy since it began trading in 1852. The Willmott Dixon Foundation, set up in 2011, has distributed £286,058 to good causes in the past year and the business aims to leave a positive legacy in the communities it touches. One recent project, completed in December, was the refurbishment of the east wing theatre at Alexandra Palace, north London, a grade II listed venue unused for 80 years.”

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 19

Versatile by Design – Wienerberger launches SVK Fibre Cement Façades Wienerberger, the leading supplier of wall, roof, and landscaping solutions, is proud to announce the addition of the SVK Fibre Cement Façades range to its façades offering in the UK. Versatile by design, these precision-engineered façade solutions offer an endless range of creative possibilities to enrich the built environment.

Constructed from strong and durable fibre cement, SVK façades have adaptability at their core. Panels in a diverse range of colour and finish options can be made to measure or cut on site to create unique external facades for large or high rise installation by playing with shape, proportion and pattern.

Lightweight and quick to install, SVK panels can also be used alongside other façade systems or traditional materials on multiple substrates, with a variety of fixing methods available. This high-performance façade solution offers excellent fire, weather and impact resistance for long

term product reliability, as well as being low maintenance.

The SVK Fibre Cement Façades collection features four decorative panel ranges – Ornimat, Decoboard, Puro Plus and Colormat. Panels in a spectrum of bright and neutral shades are available in a variety of textures, from naturalistic light sanded cement to smooth matte modern surfaces.

Inspiring and striking façades can be easily created by mixing colour, texture and form. Bespoke panel options are also available to suit any construction or renovation project and deliver an even greater aesthetic range.

To find out more about SVK Fibre Cement Façades, other Wienerberger Façade Systems and solutions for the entire building envelope, visit www.wienerberger.co.uk.

20 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Richard Brown, Category Marketing Manager for Wall products at Wienerberger, commented:

SVK Fibre Cement Façades are a building solution which embodies safety, durability and creativity. This system offers architects and specifiers the exciting opportunity to be imaginative with façade design, thanks to the many inspiring shade combinations and patterns that can be achieved, without compromising on product quality.

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Welcome to our Editor’s Recommendation Feature, where you will find carefully selected companies, chosen for their product innovations and quality. Throughout the feature you will find information on these companies. Please also visit their websites for further information and enquiries.

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Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 23

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WATER DIRECT With nationwide coverage and 24/7 service, Water Direct provides planned and emergency water supplies wherever and whenever they’re needed; delivering millions of litres of water to construction projects every year.

We operate the largest commercial fleet of dedicated drinking water tankers in the UK, offering support for onsite applications such as concrete batching, soakaway testing, dust suppression, drilling and piling, landscaping and habitat creation.

We also offer a variety of solutions for drinking water and for supporting welfare facilities on site including static tanks and pumps, our 1,000-litre recyclable, one-use tank called the Aqube™ and via bottled water which we stock across the country.

We work with our customers in a variety of ways to ensure we provide truly bespoke solutions that fulfil the needs of each construction project we support.

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A leading builders’ merchant has launched a new trade arm offering rewards for customers of its specialist online superstores.

Trade customers of cmostores.com will be able to benefit from the company’s new loyalty programme which offers a wide range of rewards from luxury holidays to supercar experiences, or they can opt for an annual rebate if they prefer.

Having seen almost 50% growth last year, cmostores.com is now having a major impact on the trade market.

Rob Martin, trade sales manager for cmostores.com said: “With ten years of trading under our belt, we’re now taking the trade market by storm, leaving traditional brick and mortar building merchants in our wake. As we continue to grow, we want to make sure that our loyal customers are able to enjoy our success.”

Find out more www.cmostores.com

For further information please visit www.talentconcretetraining.org.uk

CM419053 Construction Materials 150 Words Edit.indd 1

19/03/2019 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 2510:23:53

19/03/2019CM419053 10:46:15 Construction Materials 150 Words Edit.indd 1

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Aprilof2019 Year Review 2018 26 Construction UK Magazine - End xx

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Project News

First spade in the ground for Congleton Link Road The construction of Congleton Link Road started on Monday 25th February at an event attended by Cheshire East Council’s leader councillor Rachel Bailey, transport minister Jesse Norman MP, and Congleton MP Fiona Bruce.

The £90m project is seen as a major economic driver for the town, with the potential to create 3,000 jobs, 2,400 new homes and 20 hectares of new employment land to attract new businesses, all of which could deliver £13m into the local economy.

It’s a big change to the landscape and to mitigate the impact, the council are planting over 10 hectares of woodland and shrubs including 381 new trees, 16km of hedgerows, 33 hectares of new grassland and creating six new ecological ponds.

In the opening year, in the rush hour, journeys across Congleton are expected to take about six minutes less than currently and air quality assessments show there will be some significant improvements throughout the town centre including Rood Hill and West Road.

The route for the link road will run to the north of the town, south of Eaton. It will link the A534 Sandbach Road, near its junction with Sandy Lane, to the A536 Macclesfield Road, near its junction with Moss Lane and provide a new crossing at the river Dane.

It will also create improved road connections to both Congleton Business Park and Radnor Park Trading Estate. The scheme attracts strong local support – with calls for a bypass around the town going back 30 or 40 years.

Cheshire East Council is contributing £24m towards the construction project, with the balance coming from central government and developer contributions.

Councillor Bailey said: “I am delighted that we are beginning this very important road scheme for our borough today. I’m also thrilled that we were successful with our business case, which has resulted in £45m of the project funding coming from government funds.

“This council started developing a proposal for a new road around Congleton to match our growth plans back in 2012 and what we have achieved here is a scheme that doesn’t just enable our development plans; it complements, shapes them and levers in over £20m of private sector transport investment into Cheshire East.

“This is the biggest capital project the council has ever done; and it is a credit to the strategic infrastructure team and all those involved that we have managed to deliver this scheme from just a concept in 2012 to where we are today, about to start work, just a few years later, I know it has been challenging at times. This must be some sort of a record for a highway scheme, some of which can take 20 years to deliver.”

Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton said: “This new link road will not only lead to fewer accidents and cut congestion in Congleton; it will take lorries out of the town centre and improve air quality for residents. The road will improve connectivity right across east Cheshire by improving links to Manchester airport, the M60 and the M6. It would also improve connectivity to the rail network, particularly the inter-city connection at Crewe. This road is much

wanted, much needed and will future proof the development of Congleton for generations to come.”

Transport minister Jesse Norman MP said: “Cheshire and Warrington have among the best performing economies in England and this scheme will help maintain that dynamism.

“The Link Road will not just cut journey times; it will improve air quality for residents. Our focus on investment in the North isn’t just about our great Northern cities; it’s also about connecting the towns and communities. The new housing and job opportunities will also boost the area’s economy and support our broader commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.”

Leo Martin, managing director of civil engineering at GRAHAM said; “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Cheshire East Council to construct this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to Congleton. Our experience completing complex highways projects throughout the UK will be instrumental in ensuring completion of the link road is to the very highest standards.”

Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways said: “This is yet another important step in improving the connectivity of our road network in the borough. We will work with residents to address any worries during this build process but safety has to be paramount and, whilst short-term disruption in the local area is inevitable, the road will benefit Congleton for years to come.”

The road is due to open to traffic in late 2020.

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 27

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Feature

Recycling Buildings: 10 Building Materials That Can Be Reused After Demolition Construction and demolition waste are one of the heaviest and most voluminous waste streams generated in the EU accounting for approximately 25%-30% of all waste generated.

Demolition recycling is an important step in a building’s life cycle, as material reclamation and good recycling practices can divert over 90% of the building’s material from the landfill. RubberBond have been investigating what materials can be recycled and what they can be turned into.

CONCRETE, BRICKS & BLOCKS Research indicates that the average wastage level of concrete is about 4%, while brick and block is around 6%.

Method Concrete and brick can be recycled by crushing them into rubble.

Repurpose Once sorted, screened and contaminants are removed, reclaimed concrete or brick can be used in concrete aggregate, fill, road base, or riprap.

GYPSUM Stat The landfilling of gypsum and other wastes with a high sulphate content together with biodegradable waste has been banned in England and Wales since July 2005. This is to prevent the build-up of hydrogen sulphide gas which is both toxic and odorous.

Method

Gypsum is relatively easy to recycle.

Contaminants need to be removed, such as screws and nails, and separate the paper.

air classification, optical sorting, size classification and washing and drying.

Repurpose It can be ground into a powder or turned into pellets. The resulting material is sold to manufacturers that use gypsum for different applications.

Repurpose Glass can be used for pretty much anything including decorative materials, fluxing agent in the manufacture of bricks and ceramics, insulation, containers and even sports turf applications.

WOOD

METALS

Stat Wood waste from all sorts of building sites – including new builds and refurbishments – amounts to around 0.85mt per year.

Stat Britain exports 15 million tonnes of industrial waste each year, half of which is valuable scrap metal

Method Wood can be reused, repurposed, recycled, or burned as bioenergy.

Repurpose Wood can be used in pathways, coverings, mulches, compost, animal bedding, or particleboard.

GLASS Stat The UK manufactures 750,000 tonnes of flat glass each year, three-quarters of which goes into glazing products for buildings. Currently, the recycled content of flat glass produced in the UK is between 20%–30%.

Method There are various methods of recycling glass in order to make it fit for repurposing such as crushing, screening to remove contamination,

Method Metals are collected, sorted and then shredded. The scrap is then melted and purified and finally allowed to cool to solidify.

Repurpose Metals—including steel, copper, and brass—are valuable commodities to recycle. Like glass, they can be repurposed into a vast array of items such as appliances, furnishings, fixtures and lighting.

AGGREGATES Stat Approximately 275 million tonnes of aggregates are used each year in the UK as raw construction materials, but a lot of it goes to landfill.

More than half (54%) of waste recorded as ‘Recycling and other recovery’ is ‘Mineral wastes’, while a further 12% is soils.

Method Concrete aggregate collected from demolition sites is put through a crushing machine. Crushing facilities accept only uncontaminated concrete, which must be free of trash, wood, paper and other such materials.

Repurpose Aggregate can be reused as a base material under foundations, roads and railroads.

PLASTERBOARD Stat Up to 1.3 million tonnes of plasterboard

30 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Feature waste is generated within the new-build construction and refurbishment sectors each year.

Method Composting.

Repurpose Standard plasterboard, which hasn’t been contaminated by paint or similar, can be added to an aerobic composting system and is likely to have a neutral or beneficial effect when added to the soil, especially clay soil.

PLASTICS Stat According to National Geographic and the National Geographic Society, 91% of plastic isn’t recycled.

Method All plasterboard recycling goes through a thorough process which takes away all of the added material which is left on the plasterboard when it’s removed from the wall or ceiling.

Repurpose In construction, plastics are generally used for pipework, interior fittings,

window frames, scaffolding boards and kerbstones. These can be repurposed into packaging, textile fibre and clothing, street furniture to name only a few.

FLOOR & WALL COVERINGS Stat Almost 600,000 tonnes of flooring is disposed of each year, of which less than 2% is recycled. A small quantity is incinerated but the vast majority, over 90%, goes to landfill.

Method Fibresolve – subjecting wood fibre to a vacuum and pressurised steam with mechanical agitation at a high temperature.

Microrelease – using microwaves to reclaim wood fibres from the resin.

Thermohydraulic processes – separating the adhesive from the wood fibres.

Repurpose There tends to be a lot of wastage when it comes to floor and wall coverings due to over ordering, pairing this with the fact that a lot of it can also be recycled afterwards, materials such as ceramic

016892A1_DFM_PSE 180 x 132 APR & JUN editions_F2.indd 2

and terrazzo tiles, wallpaper, carpet, carpet tiles, vinyl and linoleum and laminate flooring can be repurposed into many things including road cone manufacturing and animal bedding material.

INSULATION Stat In just 23 housing projects in the UK, the average amount of insulation wasted was 1.0m3 per 100m2 floor area.

Method Insulation can be recycled by returning materials through take-back schemes offered by manufacturers, but reclamation and reprocessing can only happen after removing impurities such as nails and screws.

Repurpose Similarly, materials involved in insulation such as glass and stone wool, polystyrene, sheep’s wool, spray foam, polyurethane and fibreboard can be transformed into concrete blocks, fibreglass board and fibreglass ceiling tiles.

21/05/2018 11:20

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 31

One shot at surface preparation How to excel in surface preparation There is no room for errors when cooking or baking. You can’t un-toast toast, you can’t un-fry bacon and you can’t un-bake a cake. Similarly, contractors cannot afford to make errors in surface preparation, because they can be extremely expensive and time consuming to fix. Here, Dave Bigham, director of global training at surface preparation equipment supplier National Flooring Equipment, explains how to get surface preparation right first time.

Working quickly and at an affordable rate is not enough in the construction industry. Surface preparation contractors commonly take shortcuts to get a job done quickly or cheaply, but this often results in poor quality work.

Effective surface preparation is essential for ensuring the high-quality finish and longevity of a floor covering. When done incorrectly, the covering may not bond sufficiently with the concrete underneath, resulting in loose flooring and bubbles. As well as looking visually unappealing, this creates a safety hazard and can impede the path of machines and equipment in an industrial environment.

Fixing ineffective surface preparation can cost more than the initial job, take more time and prevent you from taking on other work, not to mention the damage it will do to your reputation. Therefore, it is essential you hit the nail on the head on the first attempt, starting with the right equipment.

Equipment checklist Every surface preparation contractor should have access to a scraper for floor removal, a grinder and shot blaster for smoothing and polishing surfaces and a dust collector to keep the air on site clean. But there are other tools that are crucial for a job to be done well.

Make sure you have a set of concrete surface profile (CSP) chips, ranging from the smoothest CSP (1) to the heaviest profile (9). CSP chips were developed by the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) and will provide you with a national industry-accepted standard that can be written into customer contracts, helping you manage customer expectations.

It is important to match the profile to the product being installed, especially with thin coverings like epoxy. Every product has a specification provided by the manufacturer, which tells you what profile it needs. If you over-profile a floor, it can be seen through the covering and will require extensive work to resolve.

The type of machines used to profile a surface should match the desired CSP. For a CSP of 1-3, grinding is usually the appropriate technique. In the mid-ranges, shot blasting may be the most appropriate approach as this is a cost-effective, labour and time saving method that cleans and profiles in one. To achieve a heavier profile of around 7-9, a scarifier may be the most sensible choice.

Use the dime test to ensure you have removed enough of the original flooring, including materials such as curing

32 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

compounds and sealers. Simply place a droplet of water onto the profiled floor and see if it becomes as big as a dime in 10 seconds. If it does, you can be confident you have profiled the floor sufficiently.

You should also have a concrete hardness tester to measure a surface’s compression strength. These testers comprise a hammer that impacts the surface at a given force and the measurement is taken from the amount of rebound.

Moisture in concrete is something contractors often fail to test for, but it is an important factor to get right because excess moisture can damage the floor covering. A simple way to measure the amount of moisture in concrete is to tightly tape a plastic sheet to it and, after 72 hours, take a humidity reading underneath the sheet. This can be achieved using a high specification dew point hygrometer.

The job site dictates There is no one way to approach a surface preparation job. A good contractor visits a job site before deciding which equipment and techniques to use and adapts to the requirements of the site. For example, if the surface is in poor condition, or if you are going to lay down a thick covering, use a powerful machine to achieve heavy profiling. If the site is outdoors or there is no power supply, make sure you have access to battery-powered machines.

It’s important to make these decisions before you write the customer’s contract, to avoid promising something you can’t deliver. For example, if a surface is highly damaged, polishing it is unlikely to give the quality of finish the customer expects — you would be better off laying a new covering and polishing that instead. The only way to know if this is the case is to visit the site in advance.

As well as assessing the site, consider how the floor will be used to pre-empt the surface preparation requirements. Floors in industrial buildings are subject to large amounts of wear and tear due to heavy machinery and frequent traffic, so may require aggressive surface preparation.

Light machinery may be suitable for residential sites where traffic is much lower.

When working on outdoor sites, contractors must think about the impact of the climate. In cold weather, cracks can appear in concrete and rubber sealants are used to fill them. You must make sure the concrete is prepared such that the

sealants can bond with it effectively.

Fixing a bad surface preparation job takes much more effort than scraping the burnt bits off a slice of toast. Make sure you get it right first time, to save you time and money later.

To find out about the surface preparation equipment that National Flooring Equipment supplies and for training guides and maintenance manuals, visit the company’s website www.nationalequipment.com.

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 33

Project News

NEW INDEPENDENT CINEMA ANNOUNCED FOR £50M ST CATHERINE’S PLACE REGENERATION Independent cinema group Scott Cinemas - which owns the popular Henleaze Orpheus cinema - is planning to open a new three-screen cinema in South Bristol.

The South West cinema operator has signed an agreement with Bristol-based developer Firmstone Consortia One to run a new cinema at St Catherine’s Place, a beleaguered shopping centre in Bedminster.

Subject to planning permission, Firmstone will invest £5M in refurbishing the shopping centre, which currently has several vacant units - including injecting £1.5M into the new cinema - as part of its proposed £50M redevelopment of the site.

Scott Cinemas is set to invest an additional £1.5M in the cinema.

Scott Cinemas expects the new cinema to attract similar numbers of customers as its Henleaze Orpheus cinema - about 145,000 a year from the local community.

The new cinema will have the latest technology including Dolby Atmos sound and 4k laser projection in all screens, as well as a bar/cafe.

Scott Cinemas operates a tiered pricing structure to ensure it is accessible to all local customers. It also makes the cinema available to community groups, and holds many different events at its cinemas, so they become social hubs at the heart of each community.

A planning application for the redevelopment of St Catherine’s Place, which will create a further 271 homes and a reinvigorated shopping centre include provision for Scott Cinemas, has been submitted. It is expected to go before one of Bristol’s planning committees in April.

So far Firmstone Consortia One has created 54 new apartments in Catherine’s House, which was formerly offices and is part of the wider St Catherine’s Place scheme. Most of the homes have already been sold at prices starting at £158k with 80 per cent already occupied by their new owners.

This conversion was completed under ‘Permitted Development Rights’ where unused commercial buildings can be changed into new homes. The external appearance of the building, which had long been an issue with the local community, has been upgraded with a new modern residential façade.

Firmstone Consortia One’s wider plans for St Catherine’s Place form the gateway to a major regeneration scheme called Bedminster Green which the City Council has identified for building about 2,000 new homes. The City Council is one of several landowners involved in Bedminster Green.

“This is fantastic news for Bedminster. The new cinema will become a social hub for the local community and is set to be a catalyst

34 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

for the wider regeneration of East Street,” said developer Francis Firmstone.

“We have worked hard to find a business that’s the right fit for the community to create the kind of step-change that’s so badly needed for the shopping centre. Scott Cinemas is a great South West company, much loved by its loyal following in Henleaze “Our plans will help reinvigorate the East Street area, which, in its heyday, was the social and economic hub of South Bristol.

Securing the cinema will ensure restaurants, cafes and shops will follow suit.

“Rather than doing a basic upgrade of the shopping centre, we are investing significantly to make sure this becomes the vibrant heart of Bedminster.”

“We jumped at the chance to be involved.

Bedminster is probably the only area of Bristol where the majority of local residents need to travel into the city centre or much further afield to visit the cinema,” said Scott Cinemas’ director Dan Harris.

“It’s fantastic to see these plans to regenerate this part of Bedminster - and I have no doubt our cinema will be vital in the area’s renaissance.

“We are keen to get cracking and share our love of films with people of Bedminster, so hope that these plans will be supported by the local community and wider city.”

Project News

Goldsun HQ in Taipei receives planning approval Designs for the new headquarters of the Goldsun Group in Taipei have been revealed following a successful Urban Design Approval.

Part of the Nangang urban regeneration project, the project seeks to introduce a new mixed-use typology to the area by replacing the existing Goldsun factory with a unique mid-rise building that establishes new connections with the surrounding urban fabric.

Grant Brooker, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners said: “It has been a wonderful challenge working with our client to transform this existing industrial site into a unique contemporary urban complex - combining workplace, retail and living spaces around a series of tree-filled courtyards. We hope that it will be a vibrant new social focus that will bring life to the area and form the centrepiece of its regeneration.”

The complex, which contains office spaces alongside residential and retail areas, is arranged around a central courtyard – an outdoor event space that forms the social heart of the project with the buildings lifted off the ground, the courtyard creates a diagonal route through the site, connecting a new park to the northeast with the green area across the street to the southwest.

Nature plays a key role in the project with skygardens located on various levels throughout the complex, offering a variety of social spaces for the public and office employees to enjoy. The skygardens also encourage naturally daylit and ventilated spaces throughout the buildings. With rooftop photovoltaic panels and other sustainable measures, the project targets a LEED Gold rating.

The building blocks are supported by six cores that combine structure and services. These glazed ‘floating volumes’ are suspended between each of the solid cores using steel megatrusses that form an expressed structural system, creating flexible, large-span floorplates.

The office block is located along the main commercial road towards the north, while the special social spaces take advantage of the views towards the mountains to the south. The top floors of the north and south blocks are occupied by quadruple-height event spaces featuring meeting spaces, auditoria and entertainment areas, set against the backdrop of the Taipei skyline.

Far North Line investment is on the right track Network Rail has completed an £11m, two and a half-year project to renew and replace sections of track at 59 sites along the Far North Line in the north of Scotland.

Work included replacing a total of 36 miles of rail and more than 11,000 sleepers, as well as in some cases full renewal of sections of track on some of the most remote stretches of railway in the country.

The upgraded rail will improve reliability and comfort for passengers as well as delivering a reduction in future maintenance requirements.

In addition to the logistical challenges of working in some extremely remote locations on the single-track railway, the delivery of work also endured the challenge of winter weather in the far north of Scotland – overcoming both a washout of a section of track at Loch Luichart following heavy rain as well as the winter blast from the beast from the east.

When storm floods caused the track to ‘wash-out’ at Loch Luichart in August 2017, the Network Rail team with contractor Stobart Rail, were able to divert plant and resources working locally on the project to the site of the damaged track.

After clearing debris from the damaged area, 300 tonnes of ballast was replaced and the track stabilised; a rapid response which ensured that the line could quickly re-open for passenger service.

One of the most significant sections of work was at Thurso where the project renewed more than 6.5miles of track between the town’s station and Georgemas junction – removing more than 40 track faults on this section alone.

In an innovative first for Scotland’s railway, the 1,100 rails used in the work were delivered by sea to Scrabster harbour – which saved 110 road freight journeys and reduced carbon emissions by approximately 200 tonnes.

Lindsay Saddler, Network Rail’s head of maintenance, said: “We are committed to investing in the Far North line and between 2014 and 2019 we carried out more than £30million of work on the line – including £11m alone on the track renewals. The overall investment we have made includes renewing signalling systems and track sections across the route, improving earth works and structures and work at Level crossings to improve line-speeds and is all part of improving resilience and reliability in this part of the network.

Although the Far North Line is not the busiest or highest profile part of our network, we realise and value the role that it plays in connecting isolated locations and the importance that it has in rural and remote communities it serves.“

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 35

Latest News

Gold card approval from CSCS for Past Graduates of TSA Surveying Course Past graduates of The Survey Association’s (TSA) Surveying Course can now obtain a Gold Card from The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).

Following an application by TSA, CSCS, the UK’s leading skills certification scheme within the construction industry, has agreed the waiver for the 381 Survey School graduates who started the Course before April 2018.

Caddick Construction lays foundations for building a healthy and happy workforce - thanks to hero partnership

Director of Operations at CSCS, Gordon Jenkins said, “CSCS is pleased to be able to work alongside TSA to reach an agreement that benefits the Construction industry and aligns with the objectives of the Construction Leadership Council. Working with the standard setting body we have concluded that the TSA Surveying Courses in Surveying, which started

before the Level 3 Diploma, meet the required standards for this occupation.”

Students who started the TSA Surveying Course after April 2018 will not be able to use it to get a CSCS card. They must instead complete the Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying.

TSA Council Member and Survey School Governor, Nathan Spencer said, “This recognition by CSCS, is testament, both to the quality of our graduates and the survey training provided on the TSA Course. The Course has been the foundation for the Level 3 Diploma and Level 3 Apprenticeship, ensuring the next generation have the skills required to support the construction industry. It is very positive news for the surveying industry that CSCS recognises TSA’s contribution.”

Caddick Construction has agreed a partnership with health and wellness provider hero which will see all of its 140 employees benefit from a tailored health and wellbeing programme.

The bespoke wellbeing package covers both mental and physical health and includes one-to-one health checks and screenings, wellbeing training for all direct line managers, mental health first aid training and ongoing workshops throughout 2019.

Managing Director Andrew Murray from Caddick Construction said: “Our employees are our greatest asset and we want to ensure they feel valued and supported. We are thrilled to be leading the way when it comes to mental resilience and wellbeing in the workplace - issues which should not and cannot be ignored. As employers we take our responsibility to our team members seriously and want to support them in as many ways possible to ensure they are both healthy and happy inside and outside of work.”

He added: “The hero team impressed us with the depth and level of support they provide behind the scenes.

I’m confident this project will deliver tangible results for our staff that will enhance and improve the health and wellbeing our employees, whether office based or on site.”

Right now, one in six construction workers in the UK is experiencing depression, anxiety or stress.

• In the UK men remain three times as likely to take their own lives than women.

• The highest suicide rate in the UK was for men aged 45-49.

Joe Gaunt, CEO of hero said: “It’s always rewarding to see businesses waking up to the fact they play a large and important part in the health and wellbeing of their team. It’s great to see Caddick Construction leading the way and championing wellness at work in such a bold and committed manner.

The ‘Mindset’ programme of events have been purposely designed to offer comprehensive screenings and health checks that cover everything from blood pressure to cholesterol and blood tests too.”

“We have been working with Caddick to understand the current ‘state of the workforce’ enabling us to create a

36 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

bespoke programme, which will deliver results and have immediate and longterm effects.

“The hero Discovery Report demonstrated clear indicators of specific support around what the Caddick team wanted to see.

And, as a result, we were able to design a bespoke and tailored programme perfect for Caddick employees.”

2019 marks hero’s second year and since its launch in May 2018 it has acquired two businesses and established exciting and innovative partnerships with organisations such as Moda, Les Mills, MyZone and Jamie Peacock.

Latest News SELF-EMPLOYED CONSTRUCTION EARNINGS CONTINUE TO KEEP AHEAD OF INFLATION The average self-employed construction worker earned £829 a week in January – down sharply from December’s high of £932. Appearances, however, can be deceptive, with year-on-year earnings up by 6.27% and well above inflation.

“On the face of it, a drop of £103 per week in January earnings compared to December could be seen as disappointing” Hudson Contract Managing Director Ian Anfield comments.

“But in fact, it’s nothing more than a predictable seasonal trend.” And whilst the commentators are blaming everything on the Brexit deadlock for a drop in activity (including the Construction Purchasing Managers in their IHS Markit/CIPS UK survey), they are only partly correct. As it stands at the moment, our clients – the SMEs of the industry – are far more concerned about the fallout from Carillion and fears that other big names in construction will follow suit, dragging down smaller firms with them.As for January, short working weeks, time off and to a certain extent weather are all factors that come into play for construction at the start of the year,” Ian Anfield explains.

“Hudson Contract’s unique CIS payroll processing figures indicate that whilst the traditional across-the-board Christmas shutdown happens less than it used to, many clients and their sub-contractors take the opportunity to enjoy a well-earned break and it takes until the end of January for everyone to get back into full swing. I’m confident the earnings and activity pendulum will swing back the other way next month, and our clients remain upbeat about the year ahead.”

More funding for green spaces is good for the housing crisis James Brokenshire, secretary of state for communities, has announced £13 million of funding for green spaces. This will include £9.7 million for day-to-day maintenance and creation of new spaces, alongside £2.7 million for the Pocket Parks Plus programme.

The Government will also provide a further £1.2 million to the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Future Parks Accelerator Initiative.

Brokenshire said: “Our parks and green

Developers are increasingly delivering their own open spaces and therefore praise efforts to place green spaces at the heart of communities.

spaces are huge assets to our towns and cities, offering precious spaces for all of us to get together, to exercise and to play.”

Communities need to see investment in green spaces and housing and it is constructive when one supports the other.

He added: “The future of our nation’s parks is an issue close to all our hearts and we will do all we can to preserve these vital green lungs that breathe life into our communities.”

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “New and well maintained open spaces can encourage development by reassuring local people that new homes do not mean a loss of quality green and open space.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the new funding because of the positive impact that green spaces have on communities, development and placemaking.

“Strategic green spaces are at the heart of our communities and we welcome every effort to make sure they remain there.”

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 37

Latest News

Grabbing the community housing opportunity Kit Malthouse, housing minister, has announced £6 million of funding for the Community Led Homes Programme.

Funding of up to £10,000, managed by four charities, will be provided for groups to cover start-up costs. A further £3.5 million will be made available for technical advice and guiding communities through the house building process.

The funding will be accessible until 2021 and managed by the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, Locality, National Community Land Trust Network and UK Cohousing.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) is delighted to see the Government take community housing seriously and welcomes efforts to diversify the housing market.

When the housing white paper was first announced, the House Builders Association (HBA) made community housing one of their priorities because its members, small and medium-sized house builders (SMEs), build the majority of these homes.

Like the majority of SME projects, these homes are also delivered on small sites and driven by local demand.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “The Government is listening to the industry and unlocking important funding for a range of developments. Encouraging community housing is a positive step towards tackling the housing crisis.”

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning policy for the HBA, said: “Community housing is win, win because it unlocks local development and supports the regional construction supply chain. After three years of repeating this message to every minister that would listen, it’s great to see the Government grab the housing supply opportunity that community housing offers.”

Campaign to tackle plastics and packaging in construction launched The Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched its industry-wide campaign ‘Spotlight on...plastics and packaging’ to raise awareness and showcase best practice in how the construction industry can reduce, reuse and recycle plastics and packaging.

The launch of the campaign - which features on the industry’s Best Practice Hub - comes in response to startling findings from a Scheme survey of over 900 people working within the UK and Irish construction industries.

The survey discovered that although over 95% of respondents said the industry needs to be doing something to reduce its consumption of plastics and packaging, over half of respondents (51%) have little understanding of the rules and regulations surrounding plastics and packaging, and only 44% know how to recycle different plastic and packaging materials.

The survey also revealed that: • 98% said the over-consumption of plastics and packaging is a global issue.

• 92% believe plastics and packaging are extremely dangerous to the environment.

• 81% said the construction industry is not doing enough to reduce its consumption

of plastics and packaging.

• 31% said they frequently use plastics and packaging that cannot be reused or recycled.

With the construction industry being the second largest consumer of plastics in the UK, it is imperative that the construction industry reconsiders the way it consumes and disposes of plastics and packaging to protect the environment and all life.

The Scheme is calling on all construction sites, companies, suppliers and clients of construction projects to drastically reduce their consumption of plastics and packaging. Not only does this offer significant improvements for the environment and society as a whole, it also makes commercial business sense, with many organisations reporting significant cost savings achieved.

‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ provides a suite of resources to help the industry to address this issue. It includes a range practical case studies and guidance from contractors, clients and service suppliers including: AMA Waste Management; Aztec; Balfour Beatty; Crossrail; Environment Agency; Griffiths; Knight Build; Protec; Right Waste Right Place; Mace; Morgan Sindall; Multiplex;

38 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Skanska; Sir Robert McAlpine; Wates and Ward.

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy said: “As construction is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK, our industry has one of the greatest responsibilities to society, and to the environment, to ensure that we are working tirelessly to improve our standards in minimising waste from plastics.

“The Scheme’s ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ campaign provides resources, practical support and guidance helping everyone to take effective measures to tackle this issue. While considerable progress is being made – with over 76% of Scheme-registered construction sites setting targets to reduce, reuse and recycle waste – it is clear that a concerted effort to raise further awareness, and to provide the necessary support, is needed to achieve this drastic reduction in waste from plastics and packaging.”

‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ follows a number of hugely successful industry campaigns which the Scheme hosts on the Best Practice Hub. In 2018, the Scheme launched the ‘Spotlight on… air pollution’ and ‘Spotlight on…the next generation’ with follow-on e-learning courses in each topic. These campaigns have received over 48,000 views to date, with over 50,000 courses being taken.

Integral LED: New range tackles obtrusive lighting under dark skies UK manufacturer Integral LED innovates with new precision outdoor luminaires, enabling installers and specifiers to minimise light spill and comply with current planning requirements.

Integral’s new generation of LED floodlights are designed specifically with targeted outdoor lighting in mind to provide precise targeting of illumination and minimise the impact of light spill on the environment.

Lighting buildings after dark has become popular in recent years due to the lower costs and superior illumination delivered

by LED. The growth of external lighting has, in turn, generated an increasing number of complaints around obtrusive lighting with authorities responding through stringent planning regulations in an attempt to reduce the impact on the environment.

In a practical step to provide industry specialists with world-class unobtrusive lighting, Integral LED has developed The Precision Pro range; an innovative new product featuring skilfully engineered lenses that independently focus each LED, projecting asymmetrical beam angles to

evenly illuminate a specific area, making them ideal for professional applications.

the comprehensive options of lumens and beam angles we offer across the range.”

“Our aim is to give our customers the tools with which they can light buildings at night or illuminate utility areas like sport centres and playing fields without causing nuisance lighting,” commented Ricardo Colombo, Senior Product Manager, Integral LED.

The Precision Pro range from Integral features up to 16 banks of LEDs, providing lumen output ranging from 13,000lm – 153,000lm. Each bank of LEDs is focussed with a precision engineered lens that enables the light to be directed with a high degree of accuracy and significantly reduce the effects of light nuisance in outdoor installations.

“Specifiers and installers are empowered to be compliant not only by the technology that directs the targeted light beam but also with

The range offers an extensive choice of beam angles, with certain models able to project asymmetrical beams to illuminate specific areas of a building’s facade. In this way, certain architectural features can be ‘picked-out’ within a structure.

The luminaire range has recently been broadened to include models with RGB colour changing facility to truly enable design choice.

Integral’s new floodlight is rugged and weatherproof, with an aluminium and polycarbonate body. IP65 and IK10 ratings provide outstanding protection from dust and water as well as very high impactresistance. The Precision Pro range is truly innovative and is the ideal choice for professional applications from lighting buildings to sporting venues, retail or industrial estates.

To find out more, visit: https://www. integral-led.com/precision-pro

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 39

Go Develop

100% full funding and support for 27 superb apartments in Solihull A successful housebuilder approached Go Develop for 100% joint venture funding to cover the entire cost of a high quality, residential development in Solihull, Birmingham.

With planning permission in place, demolition and replacement began on the exiting property to construct a new apartment block comprising of 27 two-bedroom apartments with associated infrastructure, parking, bin and cycle storage and served by a new access point.

COMPLETION SUMMER 2019: 27 fantastic two-bedroom apartments with 50% already sold off plan. Visit www.parkviewshirley.co.uk to book a viewing.

40 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

Solihull - Case Study IN CONSTRUCTION - Go Develop are experts in property and take care of the legal work, surveying, and all the time draining paperwork to allow our partners to build.

Full funding certainty was provided covering everything from land and build to stamp duty and soft costs – no fees or deductions, to the total of £4996,090 over 18 months. The developer was impressed with Go Develop’s professional approach, speed of funding and hardworking team.

The people at Go-Develop are amazing, the knowledge and experience within the team is second to none. They provide the highest level of expertise and talent, and I’m so grateful to be working with some of the best and most wonderful people in the Industry, thank you -R. Lewis, housebuilder.

92% of Go Develop partners return with further projects, impressed with the fact that there is no outlay with funding, no debt servicing as all costs are rolled up to the end of the project, and no red tape or U-Turns. The support given to housebuilders from their initial plans right through to the sales and marketing of the finished product is second-to-none.

The criteria is kept simple: for full funding there needs to be planning permission in place, with a project that’s up to 24 months duration and a GDV between £2-£15million, it should involve a multi-unit

residential new build or conversion. There also needs to be a margin of 25% on GDV pre-finance.

In the Solihull scheme, a new ‘SPV’ was set up the same day for the developer, to hold the project until it was finished and sold, and a profit share contract was created for both parties, with the developer getting the lion’s share.

The result is a superb modern development ideal for first time buyers and downsizers alike, with fabulous views overlooking approximately 37 acres of open parkland. With light and spacious interiors, these attractive apartments benefit from open plan living and generous living spaces that enhance a sense of wellbeing.

Working in partnership, Go Develop assisted with an entire marketing suite including brand, brochure and website design for the development, CGIs and drone photography, sales progression and exit, hoardings and promotions. Taking on the strain and drain, they went beyond 100% funding to ensure a successful and profitable outcome.

With over 1,100 units currently being built across 29 partnerships it’s worth taking a look at why Go Develop are fast becoming known as the funder who make projects happen. Why not take a look at

a selection of case studies on go-develop.co.uk

or email joinus@go-develop.co.uk

THE SITE – Developer approached Go Develop for 100% joint venture funding to cover the land, build, stamp duty and project costs.

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 41

People on the move

Three is the Magic Number for MG Environmental Having grown revenues by 51% (YOY), Mick George Environmental has signalled its intent to continue making forward strides in the industry as they expand their team with the recruitment of three new managers.

Dean Cater takes up the position of Senior Asbestos Contracts Manager, Alessia Gilbey will act as Junior Asbestos Contract Manager, while Matthew Nowak will take the reigns as Remediation Project Manager The former, since leaving the Military back in 2005 has amassed 14-years’ experience and has an impressive track-record in delivering growth within this sector.

Having worked on many high-profile projects along the way, most notably at Fulham Football Club, HMS Belfast, The Adelphi 1-11 Adam St. and Kings College London, to name just a few, Dean is looking forward to the challenge of pairing Mick George Environmental alongside the industries elite.

an offshore Geologist. Matthew will be helping to drive forward the new dedicated Remediation team, using his expertise to progress the division rapidly.

Stephen Summerfield, Managing Director at Mick George Environmental commented: ‘’We have high aspirations for the ‘Environmental’ business, with the growth achieved this year, just the start of bigger things to come. The ongoing investment in people, technology and equipment allows us to offer innovative solutions to our clients, while providing a competitive edge over other suppliers in the market.’’

Dean will be joined in the Asbestos team

by Alessia who previously worked at Kershaw Contracting Services and Shield Environmental, respectively. While the latter; Matthew learnt his trade under the guidance of the Environment Agency, as well as on the North Shore Oil Rigs, as

Energy Assets Utilities Expands Leadership Team to Drive Growth Energy Assets Utilities (EAU), one of Britain’s leading utility network construction specialists, has appointed David Burbidge as Managing Director for England and Wales to drive growth in residential markets and to build on its success in commercial energy schemes.

David brings 30 years’ energy, utilities and asset management expertise to his new role, having served in senior management positions with Power On Connections, Eon and Babcock International.

“I am very excited to be joining EAU at a time of significant opportunity for the business,” said David.

“We are expanding our utility network construction capabilities to include fibre-tothe-home to satisfy growing demand among housebuilders for a one-stop solution to all their utility needs.

“At the same time, we continue to invest in our success in commercial Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) schemes, while

actively exploring emerging opportunities in the distributed generation market.”

David will be responsible for EAU operations based at Northampton and Birstall (West Yorkshire).

His focus is on developing an agile connections business that sets the standard for network construction, meets all customer utility requirements through a unified service offering, and creates asset ownership opportunities for the Energy Assets Group.

He will also play a key role in driving EAU’s strategy to expand the reach of the company’s products and services across Britain.

Says David: “I am delighted to be part of a team with a clear vision for the future, working alongside like-minded people who share the same ambition, values and principles.”

On 1st February 2019, EAU announced that all of its utility network design and construction operations, including Future Energy Group and Dragon Infrastructure Solutions, were being rebranded as Energy Assets Utilities.

The company employs 300 people and also has operational centres in Livingston and Alva in Scotland.

42 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

People on the move

PICK EVERARD MAKES TWO SENIOR PROMOTIONS LEADING independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard has made two senior promotions with both Adrian Ceney and David Harris being promoted to partner.

David originally joined Pick Everard in Leicester in 2008 as a chartered senior building surveyor and has since progressed through the ranks, being promoted to national director three years ago before making the step to partner this year. David has developed services with a range of high-profile national clients including National Grid, Cadent Gas, the BBC and EDF Energy.

Adrian will also make the step up to the partnership following a three-year stint as national director responsible for project management across the firm.

During this time, Adrian has overseen significant growth of the PM division, with Pick Everard now one of the UK’s top 20 project management firms. Adrian has helped develop a number of key client accounts, including supporting the firm’s work with Scape Group.

Speaking of his promotion, David said: “I am very pleased to have been promoted into the partnership at Pick Everard following a number of years as part of the senior team and am looking forward to continuing to shape the firm’s growth. In recent years, Pick Everard has gone from strength to strength and I am delighted to have been a part of that; our team is incredibly talented, hard-working and committed to delivering an exceptional service to our clients. It’s an exciting time to be part of the business and I am thrilled to be taking on this new role.”

Adrian is responsible for strategic direction, governance and performance of the project management division at Pick Everard and says he is looking forward to

RICHARD HILL BECOMES NEW PRESIDENT AT BPF PIPES GROUP Richard Hill of ACO Technologies plc has been appointed BPF Pipes Group President, taking over from retiring President Derek Muckle of Radius Systems.

The appointment has a two-year tenure, and began from January 2019.

“It was back in 2012 when another member

driving this area of the business further moving forward.

property, construction and infrastructure consultancy.

He said: “We have had real success within the project management team in recent years and I am excited about what the future holds; I am very proud to be a part of it. It goes without saying that I am delighted to have been promoted to partner and am looking forward to the new challenge. We have a great team.

Duncan Green, managing partner at Pick Everard, added: “David and Adrian are both real assets to our team and I am very pleased to congratulate them both on their promotions to partner and wish them every success in their new roles. Their promotions are testament to their hard work in supporting and building the business; I know that they will continue to play an integral role in shaping the future for Pick Everard in the coming months and years.”

“We have ambitious plans for growth across our range of services and our geographical reach, and I am looking forward to being a part of that in my new role.”

The promotions play a key role in the firm’s 2020 vision to be the first-choice

of the Pipes Group invited us to join, as our business had broadened into plastic water management products. I am therefore delighted to be taking over from Derek some seven years later; I hope to continue his good work and to keep up the Group’s momentum on raising standards by encouraging best practice and sensible guidance in the use of plastic pipe products. We intend to champion our contribution to the sustainability agenda in the construction industry and share knowledge to help with training and installation, as well as maintain relationships with European trade bodies.”

Richard Hill has been in the industry for around 30 years, the last 24 of them as

With 11 offices across the UK, Pick Everard is continuing to grow, operating nationally across a broad range of sectors and services.

managing director of ACO Technologies in the UK. During these years ACO has grown substantially, won many awards for innovation and enterprise, and become a leading brand in the construction products market.

ACO has been prominent in helping to draft a variety of sustainable drainage best practice documents, and has been instrumental in ensuring that manufactured product is appropriately represented in all relevant professional guidelines.

Steve Richmond from Rehau has been appointed Vice-President of the BPF Pipes Group, also with a two-year tenure.

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 43

People on the move Perkins+Will welcomes sustainability director to London studio The London studio of global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will have announced the appointment of a new sustainability director, Asif Din, who joined in late January.

Asif will be leading strategic initiatives for sustainable building across the firm’s practice areas, including urban design, architecture, hospitality, and workplace design.

With over 20 years of experience working on a number of PassivHaus and Zero Energy Developments both in the UK and Asia, Asif brings both a unique expertise and perspective to the leadership team.

Throughout his career, Asif has been dedicated to low-carbon building and development. From Exmouth Market in London to Jubilee Wharf in Cornwall, Asif’s involvement has taken a proactive approach to identifying and integrating energyefficient building solutions into architectural design. During his time in China, Asif supervised on internationally recognised design projects such as the London Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010. Here, Asif was responsible for developing energy solutions ranging from biodigesters, which produce renewable energy from waste products, to solar-powered cooling systems.

Following the Mayor of London’s goal of making the capital a zero-carbon city

and at least 50 per cent green by 2050, Perkins+Will’s new appointment comes at an apt time. As London’s developers are facing increasing pressure to produce energy-efficient buildings, architects are taking a more proactive approach to futureproofing their designs.

The appointment of a dedicated sustainability director in London further cements the global practice’s reputation as a leader in green building, with expertise in sustainability, resilience, health and wellness, and mobility.

Steven Charlton, managing director of Perkins+Will’s London studio said: “As a practising architect and environmental expert, Asif joins Perkins+Will at a time of growing global demand for leadership in

sustainable design that looks at the entire lifecycle of a building. We are excited for our sustainability initiatives to have a strong director at their helm. Asif is perfect for the newly created Sustainability Director position, and I look forward to working with him to create designs that are economically and environmentally resilient, built to last, and focus on the occupants’ experience.”

Asif Din, sustainability director said: “It is imperative that the architecture profession takes a proactive, not reactive, approach to tackling the realities of climate change through building design. I’m excited to join Perkins+Will to explore the range of sustainability opportunities in the London office, while also engaging with the firm’s breadth of research and expertise at a global level.”

Robot Wars academic leads School into new era AN inspirational academic who featured in TV’s Robot Wars has taken charge of Edinburgh Napier’s award-winning School of Engineering and the Built Environment.

ready graduates and innovative research at a School which has won the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize twice in the last decade.

Professor Simeon Keates has been appointed Dean after five years at the University of Greenwich which saw him manage a wide range of engineering disciplines and build links with major names in industry.

Professor Keates left Cambridge in 2003 after completing an MA and PhD in Engineering and seven years as a Research Fellow specialising in inclusive design and rehabilitation robotics.

Professor Keates, who has an honours degree and a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, has special interests in inclusive design, Artificial Intelligence, human-computer interaction and robotics, and earlier held posts at Abertay University and the IT University of Copenhagen.

A robot he helped build from an upturned shopping trolley, other scrap metal and an old wheelchair motor featured on the popular BBC TV Robot Wars show.

Now he is looking to enhance Edinburgh Napier’s reputation for producing industry-

He had spells in industry in the USA with IBM and ITA Software, before taking up roles as Associate Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen then Head of the School of Engineering, Computing and Applied Mathematics at Abertay University.

He joined the University of Greenwich as Dean of the School of Engineering and later became Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor in the Faculty of Engineering and Science.

He managed all the major engineering disciplines and industrial partnerships, including those with Ford, BAE Systems and the Royal School of Military Engineers.

44 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

His research interests include user-centred design, Artificial Intelligence, humancomputer interaction, robotics, novel computer architectures and machinelearning, and he is a prolific author and editor of books and research papers.

Professor Keates’ role at Edinburgh Napier sees him head a School which prepares students for a diverse range of engineering careers, and also hosts the renowned Transport Research Institute and Institute for Sustainable Construction research centres.

The impact of the Merchiston-based School’s timber engineering and wood science research was recognised with the award of a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015, following on from a previous success in 2009.

Eco Friendly Bollards

ENGEL’S ‘GALAXY’ WORKWEAR HAS UNIVERSAL APPEAL

Contemporary Bollards for a Greener Environment Eco bollards from Leafield Environmental are environmentally friendly bollards, manufactured from a combination of 50% chipped recycled plastic bottles and 50% regular polymer that itself is usually recycled material.

All types of mixed plastic material can be accommodated in the process, removing the need for complete segregation into polymer type.

These bollards come in an attractive stone finish, due to the makeup of the material used. There are no drawbacks to choosing these environmentally friendly bollards, as they are also maintenance free, require no painting and will not rust or corrode.

As with all Leafield bollards they provide security and protection for parking areas, roads, streets and all types of public and private spaces.

Leafield Eco bollards are available with a variety of fixing types including permanent, bayonet socket and surface mount, and can be personalised to suit local authority or council specific requirements.

ENGEL WORKWEAR, a leading manufacturer of comfortable and practical workwear has the ‘Galaxy’ range amongst its collection which offers a comprehensive selection of smart and functional clothing with the emphasis as much on comfort, style and fit as it is on being protective and hardwearing; the trousers are narrower than normal, the jackets slim-cut and all garments are available in a choice of three colour combinations.

Designed to suit every type of workplace situation this best selling collection also consists of soft-shell and winter jackets, a comfortable fleece cardigan, biboverall and boiler suit with fabrics made from durable, two-ply cotton/polyester yarns; most items feature several spacious pockets and many other shared functional details such as concealed buttons and zippers, adjustable jacket cuffs and CORDURA reinforced jacket elbows.

Website: www.leafield-environmental.com

Also included is the stylish Galaxy ‘Light’ range with a 210 g/m2 ‘Light’ work jacket (1290-880) that has a longer, pleated back for added freedom of movement and reflectors on both front and back for greater visibility.

Available with or without matching trousers (2290-880), each incorporate many practical details giving maximum comfort, weather protection and quick and easy access to tools and personal accessories; both garments are made from 65% polyester, 35% cotton and are available in all sizes.

Further details can be found by visiting www.engel.eu/ en or contact Gareth Bladen at gbl@fengel.com or on +44(0) 7759 520034.

B&CE urges construction companies to train employees in occupational health, in wake of new report

CM419025 Leafield Highways QP.indd 1

B&CE1 is urging construction companies of all sizes to provide at least one employee with occupational health (OH) awareness training to ensure compliance with regulation and encourage understanding of occupational health and relevant standards, throughout the organisation.

The call follows the launch of a new report from Loughborough University Improving occupational health risk management in SMEs: the role of major projects which looked into how major projects such as the construction of the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) can support their supply chain to develop good practices in occupational health.

In light of the report’s findings, B&CE is also calling for improved training materials and increased education regarding OH obligations.

The research, which was carried out in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering at Loughborough University, was made possible after they were named recipients of the B&CE Charitable Trust OH Research Award 2016 worth £25,000.

Commenting, Margaret Grahamslaw, Head of Occupational Health at B&CE, said: “These recommendations centre around the

04/03/2019CM419023 15:05:46 F. Engel Workwear QP.indd 1

importance of training in occupational health awareness to ultimately improve the wellbeing of workers in the construction industry across the UK. By ensuring at least one member of staff in any company, regardless of size, is trained in this area, this can encourage the spread of knowledge in both common OH issues and those that are less well understood.

We’re grateful that our charitable trust could provide Loughborough University with the funds to facilitate this important research and look forward to using our joint voices in the industry to make these recommendations a reality in construction.”

Lead researcher, Dr Wendy Jones, Loughborough University said: “Health often ends up as the poor relation of safety in construction, and it can be particularly difficult for smaller companies that don’t always have the right expertise, or who have limited budgets, to get the right arrangements in place.

This research found that some small and micro employers are improving their management of hazards such as dust and musculoskeletal disorders as a result of working on major projects such as the building of the DNRC, which the research was centred on. This is good news and confirms that good practices ‘trickle down’ through the sector for health, as they do for safety. We still have a long way to go,

04/03/2019 15:26:10

particularly in terms of the way we educate our workers, managers and OH professionals about managing health risks and the way the industry manages health surveillance: but this research shows we are heading in the right direction.”

The research report, which includes recommendations for those leading on major construction projects and for the industry more widely is available here.

The B&CE Charitable Trust OH Research Award is awarded annually to research initiatives that aim to improve the occupational health in the construction industry. Applications for the 2019 award open later this year.

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 45

CASINO BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO BATH A new multi-million pound casino has opened its doors in Bath, further transforming the Saw Close and Kingsmead areas of the City, which are already a hub for bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Younique® by Formica Group was chosen for Century Casino’s new washroom cubicles, vanities and duct panels and were supplied by laminate fabricators Laminform.

The Younique service allows architects and designers to create a unique pattern or design, capture a photograph or corporate logo in Formica® laminate. The service offers both screen and digital print solutions to ensure the optimum replication of any design.

In this instance, the use of Younique digitally rendered panels enabled the design team to deliver cubicle doors that matched the floral carpet design inside the casino, providing the venue with a visual consistency from casino floor to washroom.

Neil Priscott, Head of Marketing at Visit Bath, said: “Bath is a city rich in history but with a dynamic contemporary culture that is often underplayed. The addition of Century Casino to Bath complements the many and varied attractions that are on offer to visitors and residents alike, and will help us to attract people from all over the world.”

The Colorado Springs-based company Century Casino currently owns and runs casinos all over the world including America and Argentina, Poland, the UK and on-board cruise ships.

W: www.formica.com E: samples.uk@formica.com T: +44 191 259 3512

CM419017 Formica QP Edit.indd 1

04/03/2019 15:39:59

MCS Corporate Strategies Ltd For all R&D Tax Claims / Land Remediation / Patents / General Cost Recovery

MCS Corporate Strategies Ltd For all R&D Tax Claims/Land Remediation/ Patents/General Cost Recovery

www.mcs-corporate.com

01926 512475

46 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

gjw@mcs-corporate.com

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Easing Construction’s Age-Old Challenges through Technology An industry behind the curve Every year, the global construction industry misses out on $1.6 trillion of added value through reduced productivity.

McKinsey Global Institute has reported that productivity could be improved by more than 30% with visibility over on-site execution and supply-chain management.

The problems facing the construction industry are widespread and common, and there is a need for simple-to-use and connected project management tools.

Suppliers rarely have enough visibility on delivery requirements, and paperwork can be difficult to manage, causing payment delays. All leads to last-minute changes and too many phone calls in an era when digital tools should make jobs easier.

Taking the digital approach to streamlined ways of working Introducing Ogun, which connects construction projects and their planning with suppliers to facilitate material and service orders. The double-sided platform aids planning visibility, internal communications and supplier delivery coordination. Construction sites can manage their planning, files, and discussions; suppliers have streamlined oversight of their product catalogues, orders, and deliveries. Ogun facilitates project management by helping construction companies find suppliers and suppliers find customers.

“With Ogun, we are able to provide systemto-system integration with every single one of our customers’ projects,” said John Collins, Managing Director at BRC Ltd, the largest rebar supplier in the U.K. “Edits can be made to schedules and call-offs within Ogun, sending orders directly into our system. This eliminates the PDF schedules and back-andforth email chains that create mistakes. No other system we’ve tried allows us to provide this connection to our customers.”

Construction companies can manage projects through a user-friendly, Gantt-style chart, uploading their programme from any of the leading project management tools. Suppliers can upload their products to an online catalogue to promote sales.

All of this happens within a system which improves communications between these sometimes disconnected groups.

“At its core, Ogun links construction companies with suppliers, filling a major gap in the construction industry,” said Benjamin Morris, civil engineer and Chief Operating Officer of Ogun. “Construction has long awaited a digital solution which really targets and addresses its pain points. We hope to help the construction industry with a tool offering ease of use, supplier integration, improved communication and visibility.”

It is time to digitalise your employees’ experience?

“Ogun was developed by a team of engineers, architects, and designers as the solution to a problem we have all experienced within the construction industry,” said Ignasi Salvador, civil engineer, serial entrepreneur, and CEO of Ogun. “We talked to hundreds of construction companies and suppliers with the same pain points. Ogun is a user-first digital solution, so we developed a platform that helps our users manage their projects and suppliers in one place. Ogun enhances site visibility for all.”

For more information, visit https://ogun.io, or follow Ogun on Twitter @ogun_io and LinkedIn. There are no downloads or hidden fees - start a free trial today.

48 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

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Feature

How will the Government’s immigration vision impact the UK Construction Industry?

It has been over two and half years since the UK voted to leave the European Union. Yet, the future of what the ‘Leave’ vote will actually entail for our country remains vague and unsettling. So far, 2019 has marked moments of intense political chaos after Theresa May’s White Paper failed to secure the support needed to go ahead with her Brexit plans.

Consequently, the chance of crashing out of the EU with no deal continues to creep closer.

For UK industries, including the construction sector, this is an option they simply cannot afford to take.

One of the most significant changes to occur after we withdraw from the EU is the end to free movement. Current EU prioritisation allows migrants to cross UK-EU borders to work in the UK without the need to apply for visas. Comparatively, a Brexit Britain will see the requirement of EU workers to fill a Tier 2 visa application, being obliged to meet strict or even unattainable conditions of salary thresholds before they can continue or begin their employment routes in the UK. Taking the Tier 2 route is only possible if migrant workers meet the minimum income threshold of £30,000. For the construction industry, this comes as a rigid barrier for many ‘low-skilled’ workers whose salaries will fail to meet this threshold, despite their fundamental value within the sector. Furthermore, with construction workers not being on the Shortage Occupation List, the government has little interest in retaining this talent pool. The irony is, that after Brexit, the lack of prioritisation for these workers will lead to severe occupational shortages.

A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report released last year should have prompted the government to rethink their Brexit immigration policies after it revealed the importance of EU talent for several of Britain’s key industries.

Currently, workers from outside the UK make up 15% of the construction workforce, working out as more than one in eight. Half of these are from the EU. In fact, in certain areas, international talent is highly concentrated, particularly in London where 50% of the workforce is from overseas.

Consolidating the concerns of a huge EU worker deficit is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), who have suggested that the UK construction industry could lose 200,000 EU workers post-Brexit, equating to approximately 8% of its total workforce As an industry that contributed £113 billion to the UK economy (6% of the total) in 2017, huge gaps in the current EU talent pool will hinder the industry’s ability to maintain its productivity and financial success.

Yet, the complexity of the visa process doesn’t just reside with workers, instead additionally obliging employers to go through a series of procedures so they can officially ‘sponsor’ and bring over a migrant worker.

To do this, employers must fill out a Sponsor Licence application. Once they are a legally licence sponsor, employers are able to set up advertisements and offer jobs to international talent. However, with a pricey fee and a

complicated procedure, filling a position can be impeded by lengthy delays and resource complications for companies and businesses.

Offering a ‘solution’ to the Brexit impact on low-skilled workers, Theresa May’s White Paper sets out plans to enable migrants to work in the UK on a temporary 12-month visa – a scheme which will run until at least 2025. As it is only temporary, this measure fails to offer any certainty over the long-term effects that the end of free movement will have on low-skilled workers and may not even be implemented in the event of a no-deal. By no means is the temporary visa attractive: migrants in the UK for one year do not have any entitlements or rights to extend their stay, switch visas, bring their family or seek permanent settlement.

Issues of free movement and tighter border controls will further disrupt the construction industry’s reliance on mobility required by temporary workers and contractors. Unless a practical deal is implemented, HGV drivers and other transport workers will face severe delays in crossing borders, having a subsequent negative effect on the transport of key building materials.

A no-deal Brexit may also bring severe setbacks to the UK’s current construction projects such as the Heathrow Expansion and HS2. Tighter border regulations could cause major hold-ups for workers required to travel from the EU or could even be a deterrent from working on the projects at all. Additionally, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) invested £5.98 billion into infrastructure projects in 2015.

Leaving the EU without a deal could see the end to these vital financial boosts.

What’s more, the uncertainty of trade in a no-deal scenario only adds to the concerns of those in the construction industry. Research

by Build UK found that £10 billion worth of construction products are imported from the EU every year. Without a strong UK-EU

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relationship, Britain faces losing its recognition of trading certificates and instead being subject to a new ‘third country status’. This could cause major barriers to the government’s targets of building 300,000 home every day if the materials and workforce simply aren’t there to build them.

Although domestic trade will be a suitable solution in some cases, there are materials such as timber which require overseas exportation to meet the UK’s demands. A weaker pound will result in rising costs of imported materials unless a deal with the European Union is hastily agreed.

Brexit is now just around the corner, making it difficult for industries like the construction sector to hold onto any assurance over what the future brings. Establishing a workable deal and maintaining a strong relationship with the EU is imperative if the UK is to retain its global status. Crashing out of the EU without a deal and losing the importance of EU talent cannot be an option.

Maddie Grounds writes for the Immigration Advice Service, an organisation of UK Immigration Solicitors who distribute legal advice on Brexit and immigration-related matters.

NORTECH’S BOOSTER TAGS ARE A SEAMLESS SOLUTION FOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER ACCESS IDENTIFICATION People and vehicle access control specialist Nortech is now offering longrange vehicle and driver identification tags to grant seamless access to approaching vehicles.

Designed to accompany the popular TRANSIT reader range from Nedap, the tags are ideal for use in staff car parks, for priority vehicle control, industrial site access control, fleet and parking management.

Key features include simultaneous driver and vehicle identification, a reading distance of up to 10m, easy windshield mounting with suction pads and maximum perimeter security.

The TRANSIT Prox Booster (120-125 KHz), SMARTCARD Booster (13.56MHz) and SMARTCARD Booster Ultimate (2.45GHz and 433MHz) enable long range driver based identification. Driver based ID systems, a building access card and in-vehicle booster ensure that a vehicle can never gain access to a secured area unless occupied by an authorised driver.

The booster is used in combination with a personal access credential and is an easy to integrate solution for vehicle access, eliminating the need to issue new cards.

The booster is placed on the windshield on the inside of a vehicle. When an authorised building access card is inserted into the booster, it is read and then boosted to the external Nedap TRANSIT reader. The TRANSIT reader then transmits the credential ID to any standard back end security panel. If the credential is authorised and access is granted the gate will open automatically.

Removal of the driver ID then allows the access card to be used for building access.

Users also have the facility to match up vehicles and drivers, as a separate ID (vehicle ID) can be programmed into the booster on certain models. This ensures the right driver is with the right vehicle.

The TRANSIT Prox Booster 2G supports proximity access control cards operating on 120-125 kHz such as HID prox, EM and Nedap. The SMARTCARD Booster 2G supports ISO 14443 or 15693 compliant smartcards (eg. MIFARE, MIFARE DESFIRE, LEGIC, Calypso and HID iClass) operating on 13.56 MHz.

The SMARTCARD Booster Ultimate is also available for almost all card technologies.

It supports ISO 14443 or 15693 compliant smartcards (eg. MIFARE, MIFARE DESFIRE, LEGIC, Calypso and HID iClass) operating on 13.56 MHz. The advanced tag authentication of the SMARTCARD Booster Ultimate is only functional when the Security Key Pack has been installed in the TRANSIT Ultimate.

The SMARTCARD Booster Ultimate operates with two frequencies, and uses the 2.45 GHz for robust vehicle identification and the 433 MHz frequency for advanced tag authentication using AES standards. A bi-directional communication feature in combination with the SMARTCARD Booster Ultimate has also made it possible to write information on the drivers’ access control card when the vehicle enters or leaves a perimeter.

Credits, offline access rights or other information can be changed dynamically upon perimeter access Typical booster applications are high secured areas like airports, seaports, military bases, utility companies, corporate and educational campuses, police, fire and other installations where vehicles must be assigned to a specific driver.

Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years as an independent British company. The company uses extensive experience and expertise to create new security products to fit their clients’ needs and designs everything with the customer in mind.

Further information is available from Nortech on 01633 485533 or by emailing sales@nortechcontrol.com or by visiting the company’s website at www.nortechcontrol.com Nortech is supported by Vantage PR

Construction UK Magazine - April 2019 51

Company News

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates its most successful year to date Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction is celebrating its most successful year since its launch, with an increased turnover, the completion of a number of key developments, and the provision of employment opportunities for young people across Lancashire.

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction ended 2018/19 with a projected financial turnover of £15,322,000 and a net profit of £380,000, their biggest to date.

The past twelve months have seen Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction

successfully finish work on some of their most challenging developments, including: • Gateway, a 30-bedroom, steel frame homeless facility in the heart of Burnley • Barley View, a 28-bed care home facility in Whitworth • A 56 unit housing development on the former Perseverance Mill site in Padiham, an eyesore which had been left derelict for many years.

Perseverance Mill was arguably the most difficult project the company has developed – working alongside the Environment Agency, Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction had to

open up a culvert that ran through the centre of the site to help protect the local wildlife.

All developments have delivered employment, training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people across the region, with four apprentices currently working with Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction.

Alongside this, Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction has been dedicated to developing its existing staff, with four people successfully completing college and university level qualifications, and two people gaining NVQs. Steven Noonan, Assistant Director of Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction, said: “As a team, we have worked extremely hard this year, and the turnaround in our company over the past twelve months has been exceptional. We pride ourselves in developing our people as much as the developments we work on. We all have a passion for what we do and thrive constantly to challenge each other and those around us. Our approach for the next year and beyond is to continue with our established development programme, as well as commencing work on a major project of refurbishment to help solve the problem of empty homes in Burnley. We are currently finalising a programme that will allow us to deliver 50 properties. This will be a major scheme and, more importantly, will allow us to further employ local people across our region.”

MALTHOUSE BOOSTS FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-LED AFFORDABLE HOUSING Communities across the country are set to benefit from a £6 million funding boost to help them build more of the homes that their area needs, Housing Minister Kit Malthouse MP has announced today (15 February).

The Community Led Homes Programme – managed by four leading housing charities – will provide local people with funding to kickstart community-led housing developments that will benefit their neighbourhood.

Funding of up to £10,000 will be provided to groups to cover start-up costs such as legal fees, and a further £3.5 million will be made available to provide technical advice and support to guide communities through the process of building the housing they urgently need.

Today’s news is part of a wider, comprehensive package of measures to increase local housebuilding, and builds on ongoing government action to reach the ambitious target of 300,000 properties a year by the mid-2020s.

Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse MP, said: “For too long, governments of all stripes have failed to build the homes our country needs, but we are turning that around. Last year we delivered over 222,000 homes but we need to deliver more good quality properties, and the community-led housing programme will help us do just that. Alongside £6 million of funding, the programme will also provide crucial training and advice to local groups, ensuring that we are not just building better homes but also building better communities.”

Head of Community Led Homes, Samantha Jones, said: “Communities want to play their part in tackling the country’s affordable

52 Construction UK Magazine - April 2019

housing crisis and many are forming community led housing groups to do so. In the next five years the movement will build over 5,000 affordable homes.

“We’ve created the Community Led Homes programme to help this figure increase further still, and in time, for community led housing to become a mainstream housing option.”

Community-led housing enables communities of all shapes and forms to take the lead in building and renovating homes, helping people to come together to solve their own housing challenges and build high-quality, affordable homes.

The new programme will strengthen the vital role that community-led housing can play in delivering much-needed affordable housing, helping the sector to play its part in getting Britain building and delivering the homes our country needs.

Company News

IronmongeryDirect listed in Top 350 internet retailers UK’s leading supplier of ironmongery to the trade, IronmongeryDirect, has been named as one of the top internet retailers in the UK. The company has appeared, for the first time, in the Internet Retailing UK Top 500, entering within the first 350 businesses.

The IRUK Top 500 report ranks retailers by revenue, store networks and website traffic as well as undertaking in-depth analysis into an organisation’s approach to customers.

Wayne Lysaght-Mason, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, said while they had experienced their best financial year to

date, the Basildon-based wholesaler was not resting on its laurels – with further expansion planned in 2019 and beyond.

He said: “We are thrilled to have made it into the IRUK Top 500 internet retailers.

“To be included in a list of companies that consist of the likes of Amazon, John Lewis and Argos is a great reflection of our achievements and is an indication of the positive direction that IronmongeryDirect is heading in.

“In the digital age where the standard 9-5 working hours are becoming less applicable, IronmongeryDirect is leading the way and continually evolving our business strategy, placing our customers firmly at the centre.”

IronmongeryDirect has recently completed a major expansion of its warehouse and is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year.

Wayne continued: “The expansion has enabled us to improve our service offering whilst continuing to grow our product range, bringing the total range to over 17,000 products.

This further cements our position as the leading supplier of ironmongery and related products to the trade in the UK.

RUGBY LEGEND BRANCH VISIT IS A TRY-UMPH SIG Roofing welcomed rugby legend Lee Dickson to its Northampton branch for a one off open day where fans were able to take part in a meet and greet with their hero.

The ex-English Rugby Union and Northampton Saints star, who currently plays scrumhalf for Bedford Blues, attended the recently refurbished roofing supplier located on Millbrook Close to keep the customers’ spirits up as they braved the freezing temperatures experienced across Northampton last week.

Lee commented: “The fans in Northampton have always been so supportive of me and the club. The day was a great opportunity to get out and meet those that have cheered me on from the stands for years. I’m no stranger to working outside but I don’t envy these guys day in day out working outdoors in these freezing temperatures and they still had a smile on their faces when they came through the door.”

During the event, Lee met with local roofers and signed their beloved Saints shirts and memorabilia. Visitors were treated to breakfast and warming refreshments to set them off for the day, as well as a whole host of special offers on products in branch.

Branch manager, Michael Crouch, commented: “Northampton has always been a rugby town and our customers are

proud supporters of their local club, that’s why the event was a great opportunity to thank them for supporting our branch and giving them the opportunity to meet one of their sporting heroes.”

SIG Roofing is the UK’s leading specialist supplier of pitched, flat and industrial roofing solutions, with over 100 branches located across the UK.

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Company News

Skanska expands its FM portfolio in London The facilities management (FM) team won a contract in London worth £1.7 million, for its customer, the Financial Times, at the end of last year.

The team will draw on their expertise and knowledge to deliver hard FM services at Bracken House, London. The contract is for three years with the option to extend for a further two.

This contract has been secured in competitive tender following the work carried out by the mechanical and electrical team, which included the replacement of interior services and facilities over nine floors. The team also delivered the mechanical and electrical engineering, plumbing and heating installations for both the shell and core and category A and category B fit-out.

Matthew Claxton, General Manager, said: “This win builds on the great work the mechanical and electrical team has delivered for the customer. Our Commercial Property Maintenance portfolio is expanding in London, which is great news for the teams that are delivering a high performance for our customers, helping to strengthen our reputation and win more profitable work. Well done to everybody involved in securing this new contract.”

TIMco EXPANDS WAREHOUSE TO MEET CUSTOMER DEMAND TIMco, one of the UK’s largest and fastest growing wholesalers to the construction industry, has further expanded its warehousing facilities in order to improve efficiency and service to its growing customer base.

The newly expanded warehousing facilities, which will be operational from the end of February 2019, will allow for increased capacity and flexibility to offer their merchants an even greater service, in terms of stock availability and delivery speed. The warehouse now totals 120,000sqft and features five new outbound loading bays – more than double the current count on site.

A second phase to this new development will see a mezzanine floor introduced to the warehouse in order to increase SKU count, as well as additional office space and an improved showroom to showcase all the latest ranges within the TIMco portfolio.

Simon Midwood, Managing Director of TIMco, comments: “Our recent warehouse expansion project enables us to be able to distribute a greater range of products to our customers, whilst also improving the service that we offer them. The new warehousing space and loading bays will help us futureproof our operations and ensure that we are well placed to cope with the growing demand for our products.”

Hardies appointed to Scottish Procurement Alliance Framework Hardies Property & Construction Consultants has been appointed to the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA).

A framework covering all of Scotland created for organisations that buy products and services for the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing and public buildings, SPA is backed by LHC, a leading provider of free-to-use framework agreements used by local authorities, social landlords and other public sector bodies.

Buildings and properties included in the framework include residential properties ranging from individual houses and flats, care homes, hostels and student accommodation to such commercial properties as offices, schools, colleges, universities, sports facilities and various community buildings.

Murray Warner, strategic partner at Hardies, said: “We have worked hard to secure a place on the Scotland-wide SPA framework and are well-represented across most regions for a number of services, including Project Management, Employers Agent, Energy Performance, Clerk of Works, Building Services Engineering and Health & Safety. This framework win illustrates the breadth and depth of expertise across our business, with the ability to provide our public sector clients numerous surveying disciplines which we can service from our 10 offices across Scotland. We continue to add value by delivering our national strength with local knowledge and presence.”

Graham Collie, Technical Support Manager at SPA, said: “Everyone at SPA welcomes Hardies onto the Consultancy Framework and we look forward to delivering many successful projects together.”

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Get into the Black OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS OR SO, CAPRICORN ECO TIMBER HAVE BEEN SUPPLYING AND DEVELOPING TIGA WOOD BURNT LARCH, AN INNOVATIVE BLACK CLADDING WHICH IS MAINTENANCE FREE, HAS A VERY LOW CARBON IMPRINT, IS VERY DURABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY. It is produced from locally grown FSC certified British Larch and has a direct benefit to the economy and helps to minimise the UK trade deficit by utilising our own countries timber resources instead of importing from other countries.

Tiga Wood cladding is a bespoke product made to order here at our Stafford factory and sawmill to suit the customers specification, with either a charred and oiled or charred, brushed and oiled finish.

It is coated and sealed with one coat of natural oil which acts as a base and topcoat, the number of coats are dependent on the customers aspirations regarding the longevity of the black colour or whether the cladding is preferred to gradually weather and age-gracefully over the years, if it is the latter no further coats are needed on site after delivery.

The durability of the Larch itself is impressive and it will last 80 years or more in cladding form assuming the usual guidelines for fitting are followed by the installer.

CAPRICORN ECO TIMBER Unit D | Ladfordfields Industrial Estate | Seighford | Stafford ST18 9QE T: 01785 282307 | F: 01785 282110 | M: 07774 692936 E: roger@capricornecotimber.co.uk | W: www.capricornecotimber.co.uk

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