Construction UK Magazine - July 2020

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Contents July 2020

04

CIOB welcomes Government commitment to boosting infrastructure

05

A digital approach to enabling a world-class learning estate

06

Learnings from the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown can help us to design and build more liveable cities

08

Willmott Dixon’s Merseyside Police HQ gets a socially distanced topping out

10

Amey Consulting led consortium appointed to Highways England £250m advisory framework

12

Connex wins £3M contract with London developer

13

Fail to plan, plan to fail - By Tony Palombo, managing director for construction logistics at Wilson James

14

Kier to deliver flagship Creative Centre for York St John University

16

How BCS are building a datacentre 1000 miles away (during a pandemic)

17

Schöck maintains strong presence in Wembley regeneration

18

Marr Contracting Ltd complete worldrecord lift during construction of the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey

26

It’s the outside that counts Enhancing building design with cladding

06

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Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 03

Latest News

CIOB WELCOMES GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO BOOSTING INFRASTRUCTURE The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has today welcomed the announcement from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, to invest in infrastructure to boost the economy following the impact of COVID-19 on business and employment.

The details accompanying the announcement include: • £1.5 billion this year for hospital maintenance and hospital building • £100 million this year for 29 road network projects • Over £1 billion to fund the first 50 projects of a new, ten-year school rebuilding programme, with £560 million and £200 million for repairs and upgrades to schools and FE colleges respectively this year.

• £142 million for digital upgrades and maintenance to around 100 courts this year • £900 million for a range of ‘shovel ready’ local growth projects in England over the course of this year and next Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of the CIOB, said:“We welcome the announcement made by the Government for a boost in infrastructure in the UK. Construction is vital to the economy, and it is reassuring to see the Government acknowledge the importance of the sector. This will provide a necessary boost to employment, which is not only essential in rebuilding the economy, but vital for retaining skills and talent in our industry.

“We also welcome the Government’s investment in repair, maintenance and

SUCCESS OF CONSTRUCTION SKILLS FUND RECOGNISED AS SCHEME EXTENDED ANOTHER YEAR The success of the Construction Skills Fund (CSF) in delivering site-ready learners for the industry has been rewarded with a 12-month extension by the Department for Education (DfE).

The fund is run by CITB and forms a key part of its newly launched Skills Stability Plan to help the industry recover from the effects of Covid-19.

More than 13,200 learners to date have passed through 23 DfE-funded learning hubs and emerged employment and site ready. Now, it is investing an additional £7.5m, with 14 hubs successful in their bids to CITB. With the construction industry hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis, it’s more important than ever that the sector is ready to attract new talent. The government has eased the rules to take account of Covid-19, in particular the stipulation on when evidence of sustained employment by CSF learners will be required.

All training on the new contract must be completed by 31 March 2021 with 6,000 employment and site ready and 3,000 sustained jobs evidenced by Sept 2021.

To the end of May 2020, 3,327 learners had been placed into jobs, including 805 apprentices. 90% of learners were unemployed when they joined the hubs, demonstrating the positive impact being made by CSF across the whole community

Over 5,000 learners are new to construction having previously worked in other sectors and 7,000 from groups which have traditionally been under-represented in the industry – including women, the disabled, and black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

CITB Director of Policy and Strategy Steve Radley said:

CSF has now almost reached its target of 13,500 employment and site-ready people, despite the impact of Covid-19. This is a fantastic achievement, and it’s great news that government wants to build on it. The learners who passed though the hubs now have skills construction needs and the hubs will work hard to place them. With unemployment rising and many other entry level job routes currently closed, we have a real opportunity to bring in people who might not have considered construction so CSF is a great opportunity to get them started in the industry. With government today announcing a big infrastructure boost, CSF can inject the fuel to power Project Speed, by helping to introduce new workers to the industry ensuring businesses have the talent they need to get Britain building again.

04 Construction UK Magazine - July 2020

improvement projects, and have long called for more focus on this area of the sector. It is also a prime opportunity to look at building quality and make sure that remains at the top of the industry’s agenda as this has been one of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry in recent years.

“We hope that this is the first announcement amongst many, dedicated to the improvement of quality standards for our buildings.”

The CIOB looks forward to hearing more detail and will work proactively with the industry government and helps ensure that UK construction can support the path to Net Zero, boost productivity and modern methods of construction, delivering safe, high quality buildings, improved social impact, support regeneration, levelling up and much more.”

UCEM OPENS THE DOOR FOR MORE STUDENTS TO GAIN AN MSC DEGREE More Built Environment professionals around the world will be able to attain an MSc degree thanks to University College of Estate Management’s (UCEM) new Postgraduate Access Programme.

The Postgraduate Access Programme provides applicants with the opportunity to study one module from the final level of a UCEM BSc (Hons) degree programme which is relevant to their preferred specialism.

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be awarded a Certificate of Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) and can choose to study on the relevant MSc programme.

The Postgraduate Access Programme can be studied to progress onto UCEM’s MSc Building Surveying, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying or Real Estate programmes.

The next start date is 5 October, 2020, with an application deadline of 24 August, 2020. To find out more, visit www.ucem.ac.uk/study-with-ucem/ postgraduate/postgraduate-accessprogramme/

Latest News UCEM LAUNCHES FLEXIBLE ROUTE TO BSC (HONS) STUDY FOR AN UNCERTAIN WORLD The full-time online Certificate of Higher Education Built Environment Studies enables students to undertake a range of UCEM’s BSc (Hons) level 4 modules. On completion, they can choose to continue for a further two years and complete their BSc (Hons) with UCEM or use it as a foundation for study elsewhere.

If choosing to continue their studies, all the modules studied will count towards their degree and students will resume at the level 5 stage of their chosen programme whether in Building Control, Building Surveying, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying or Real Estate Management.

UCEM’s Director of Commercial and Business Development, Stephen Bartle, commented: “The Certificate of Higher Education is a great offer for those who want to try out one of our undergraduate programmes without fully committing straight away. We see the programme benefitting school leavers and those wanting a holistic overview of the Built Environment. If you are unsure about committing to a full BSc (Hons) degree or even online learning, this gives you the chance to study for a shorter amount of time and either finish with the Certificate of Higher Education or continue with us to attain the degree.

The decision to launch the Certificate of Higher Education was taken as part of the review of our academic offer during the pandemic where we have identified ways we can better support the sector with its educational needs, by making our offer as accessible and flexible as possible.

The Certificate of Higher Education can also be studied part-time for 18 months.

The next start date for the Certificate of Higher Education Built Environment Studies is 5 October, 2020, with an application deadline of 24 August, 2020. Visit www.ucem.ac.uk/studywith-ucem/undergraduate/ for more details.

A DIGITAL APPROACH TO ENABLING A WORLD-CLASS LEARNING ESTATE The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) has launched a new Standard Information Management Plan (SIMP) which will enhance infrastructure delivery and performance within Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme.

The SIMP enables public bodies to specify best practice digital information management processes through the construction and maintenance stage via building information modelling (BIM). BIM is the process of accurately creating, managing and exchanging digital information within the built environment and is underpinned by a suite of International Standards.

SFT is leading the BIM programme on behalf of Scottish Government to ultimately help the public sector better procure and care for their buildings through the use of BIM and its data rich environment.

The Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme will implement the new SIMP and it will support the delivery of low carbon, digitally-enabled schools and campuses.

Andy Dailly, who is head of School Building at Scottish Government said: “To support the efficient design, construction and operation of projects, the Learning Estate Investment Programme recognises the importance of good information management and collaboration by all parties. The Standard Information Management Plan has been embedded within the programme to help achieve this aim.”

In addition, the ability to create, manage and collaborate with project information digitally will support projects progress within the restrictions imposed by COVID 19.

The SIMP will deliver three key objectives: 1. Support a consistent approach in how public bodies specify BIM and how information is delivered to improve efficiencies and resilience during the asset lifecycle 2. Enable delivery of accurate as-built digital information models and operation and maintenance manuals to support effective asset management 3. Comply and align with new international standards in the adoption of BIM

accordance with ISO 19650. The SIMP seeks to support contracting authorities develop compliant, consistent and proportionate information requirements and realise the benefits this will bring.”

The plan provides new and innovative dashboard to develop an information management strategy at the outset of the project, a flexible information workbook aligned to ISO 19650 that sets out clear information deliverables during the project lifecycle and finally a suite of templates to support the structuring of information through the project lifecycle.

As Industry begins to respond to the new international standards, the plan will support upskilling and wider adoption quicker and in doing so, realise the benefits it will bring sooner. SFT will continue to collaborate with contracting authorities and industry to refine the plan going forward and welcome feedback in its use.

David Carson pre-construction director at BAM said:

BAM fully support SFT’s Standard Information Management Plan (SIMP) as we believe it will bring clarity to the industry by providing clear and standardised information requirements for projects, meaning that all parties, clients, designers, contractors and subcontractors are clear on the information they are required to deliver at each stage of a projects lifecycle.

The SIMP is free to use and access for public sector projects and to find out more, please access the BIM guidance portal or contact the SFT Infrastructure Technology team to discuss further.

The SIMP has been developed in partnership with industry and public bodies.

The plan provides an innovative approach to support informed and consistent information requirements within projects.

Paul Dodd, who leads SFT’s Infrastructure Technology team, said: “Setting clear information requirements at the outset of the project will best support the adoption of BIM in

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 05

Feature

LEARNINGS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND LOCKDOWN CAN HELP US TO DESIGN AND BUILD MORE LIVEABLE CITIES, SAYS DR JAMES BEARD Quick take: COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of addressing social inequalities in urban design and development.

High quality public spaces, an in particular green spaces, are essential for physical and mental wellbeing as well as for social interaction.

Outdoor spaces should be treated like other essential civic amenities, within easy reach of people’s homes.

What is a truly ‘liveable’ city?

Learnings from the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown can help us to design and build more liveable cities, says Dr James Beard.

We would do well to remember how difficult the COVID-19 lockdown has been for people without access to a garden, local park, or an outdoor space to call their own.

In cities across the UK, for example, we saw how quickly green spaces became overcrowded when lockdown rules were first eased. It showed how desperate

people were to escape the confines of their flats, apartments and bedsits, and how much we all cherish being – and socialising – in the open air.

In cities where high-density living is common, people are reliant on public spaces in order to relax, exercise and interact with others.

The public realm and green space on the periphery of our towns and cities are under significant strain as housing density continues to increase to cope with rising urban populations – the UN predicts 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050.

Housing previously assumed to meet the needs of residents has been shown to be lacking during the pandemic, not least by the limited availability of outside space.

Pressures of demand, the cost of land and return on investment have combined to reduce the level of provision of local green infrastructure within new developments.

Places where city dwellers can relax outdoors – particularly green spaces – are further from the front doors of those living in newer housing. And public spaces are used ever more intensively, resulting in wear-and-tear that can result in a deterioration in amenity.

Dr James Beard

Green space matters So, in terms of urban planning and the liveability of our built environment, what are the lessons that we can learn from the pandemic? How can we build back better?

Now is the time to ask these questions, record the answers and act on them. Crises are often catalysts of change – but people also tend to have short memories and if the moment is missed the lessons of the crisis can be lost.

Masterplanners, city planners, infrastructure designers and those responsible for approving new urban housing schemes need to give greater priority to the outdoors.

Green space matters. Personal space matters, too. Family homes – with gardens where possible – should form part of all developments. But if gardens and even balconies are impractical, then attractive, safe, green public realm spaces should be easily accessible from people’s homes. As we’ve seen with the easing of lockdowns worldwide, people want and need open spaces where they can sit in contemplation, meet to talk and play with family and friends, exercise, or relax.

Those spaces need to be easily accessible and enjoyable by all, meaning they must be safe and secure. Public realm should mean much more than paved plazas, with benches and bins and not much else.

Concepts such as the 15-minute city are valuable. The notion that our essential services should be within a 15-minute walk of our homes can help to inform what access to outside space truly means.

People shouldn’t have to travel just to sit on the grass or enjoy the sunshine. That experience should be no more than a short and pleasant walk away.

Accessibility and inclusion It requires us to rethink what a truly ‘liveable’ city must provide: access to good quality housing, jobs, education, health and social care, community resources – and, yes, green and open public space, which is so important to mental and physical health.

Liveable cities are inclusive, with low levels of poverty. They promote equality of access and opportunity between people from different sections of society.

The pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated inequalities in society. The brunt of the pandemic has been borne by older people, the poorest, people from some black, Asian and minority ethnic

06 Construction UK Magazine - July 2020

Feature communities, and people living with longterm health conditions.

These same groups experience some of the key challenges posed by housing renewal – from the importance of access to friends, family, and community ties, to the need for accessible or adaptable accommodation to meet physical needs, to the challenges of affordability. The importance of green space is often overlooked – even in addressing these challenges – and as a result, some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged in society live in a form of lockdown all the time.

Digital inclusion provides some answers – high-speed broadband and 5G can improve access to information and services. But liveability requires a wider range of access.

The inclusion of green transport infrastructure as part of master plans for housing regeneration now seems more important than ever. Part of the solution here lies in securing an effective active travel network – from walking and cycling routes and dedicated green corridors, to linear parks, canal towpaths and riverside links – to connect residential areas with high-quality natural environment as well as jobs and services.

Urban developments cannot be viewed in isolation either. The need for planners and

developers to speak to one another – and to engage with and consult residents – will be essential to ensuring that housing is delivered in a way that meets the needs of communities. We have to understand what liveability looks like from everyone’s point of view.

Keep it local This may require something of us as well: a change in behaviour. We may need to consider how, how far, and how much we travel for work and leisure. If we want our cities to be more liveable, we need to really live in them.

If we want – and if we need – more than simply a home to live in when we’re not at work, we need to embrace our local area.

We may need to shop and pursue recreation locally, buy local produce, leave the car at home, interact with our neighbours, enjoy and value our public realms, and use our local green spaces.

At Mott MacDonald, we have been helping our clients to deliver more inclusive housing, transport, commercial and retail projects and urban development and renewal opportunities by helping them to work through and understand the implications for different sections of society.

The pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated inequalities in society. The brunt of the pandemic has been borne by older people, the poorest, people from some black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and people living with longterm health conditions.

We know it is a tremendous challenge to make already densely populated cities more liveable while at the same time meeting the constant demand for affordable housing.

But we need to ensure that we don’t fall into the trap of thinking that, because a development is meeting existing design standards and legislative requirements, we are doing all we can do.

We can and must go beyond compliance, to something that is genuinely transformative, and that delivers truly liveable cities – with spaces to walk, sit, play, and breathe – for all of our urban communities.

By Dr James Beard Technical principal, social development and inclusion, Mott MacDonald

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Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 07

Events & Awards News “Canning Place opened its doors in 1977 and it has been a loyal servant for the last 40 years, but sadly it is no longer fit for purpose and it is very costly to run. The force needs modern facilities and equipment which will make them more effective and efficient. This new headquarters will do just that, saving approximately £250,000 a year in running costs compared to the existing headquarters, while helping the force to continue to protect our communities for years to come.”

WILLMOTT DIXON’S MERSEYSIDE POLICE HQ GETS A SOCIALLY DISTANCED TOPPING OUT Willmott Dixon hosted the most unique topping out in its 168 year history with the event carefully planned so guests could observe strict social distancing measures.

In one of the construction industry’s first topping out events since lockdown measures were introduced to control the spread of Covid-19, visitors to Merseyside Police’s new HQ site celebrated completion of the main construction phase by watching Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy and Chief Constable Andy Cooke QPM sign the last piece of steel – all the time keeping two metres apart from each other.

Social distancing measures in place included a one-way system on staircases to the top floor as well as clear markings for two metre spacing in the site’s cabins and areas such as walkaways, allowing guests to be sufficiently spread out before, during and after the ceremony.

With the steel frame now complete, work can begin on other parts of the bespoke four-storey headquarters, which will act as Merseyside Police’s flagship base on a key gateway into Liverpool city centre, overlooking Scotland Road and the entrance to the Queensway tunnel, while

helping to regenerate the Everton area.

Procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, and completed in autumn 2021, Merseyside Police’s new facility will be home for up to 1,110 police officers and staff, providing a hub for collaboration as well as creating better efficiencies by freeing up a number of leased buildings that will help the force save approximately £250,000 a year on its running costs.

Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said: “What an achievement! Last September, the chief constable and I were here to ‘turn the first sod’ on what was a large muddy field but in a fantastic location, looking down over Liverpool city centre and the River Mersey.

Less than nine months on and in spite of the complications thrown up by Covid-19, this impressive structure has come to life, acting as a proud guardian over this key gateway into the city. We are now a major step closer towards the completion of a brand new, much-needed Headquarters for Merseyside Police. This new Headquarters is the visible proof of the determination that the Chief Constable and I share to provide the officers and staff of Merseyside Police with the best facilities we can afford, to help them fight crime now and into the future.

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Throughout the pandemic, the site has remained open and operating in line with Public Health England guidelines and in compliance with the Site Operating Procedures issued by the Construction Leadership Council.

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “We’re proud to be delivering such as landmark and important project for Merseyside Police. Ensuring the Merseyside Police headquarters are future proofed for the changing complexities of modern policing is critical and this will be a quality and costeffective environment that will serve officers, PCSOs and staff for years to come.

We share a commitment to leaving a positive and lasting legacy in the communities and economies in which we work, which has seen us invest £23m of our project spend to date with local businesses based within 20 miles of the project.

“The safety of our site teams on site remains the highest priority to us and to reach this milestone in the current circumstances is testament to the strength of the relationships and collaboration between our team, the force and all our local supply chain partners.

Over the last few months, the entire site team has been at the forefront of adapting to and innovating new ways of working and embracing technology to keep everyone safe and the project moving forward to completion.”

The new HQ for Merseyside Police is the latest in a long track of delivering blue light facilities for Willmott Dixon, having recently handed over the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated Exeter Police Station to Devon and Cornwall Police in March.

Hinkley Point A - Case Study MAGNOX LEADS THE WAY IN MANUAL HANDLING IN THE NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING INDUSTRY BY SPECIFYING FIBRELITE Fibrelite were approached by Magnox to provide numerous replacement manhole and trench covers to replace the existing degrading concrete and cast iron covers.

This works had to be co-ordinated and delivered within a tight schedule to provide a safe, efficient and consistent solution within the decommissioning work being undertaken at Hinkley Point A.

Exclusion zones were put in place to prevent loading causing a failure of the covers during the decommissioning work

Fibrelite covers are chemically inert and have an anti-slip tread pattern

Key features of Fibrelite covers for this project: • Best strength to weight ratio available on the market today • Fully customisable options available as standard • Reliable – cover load ratings consistent with the requirements of EN 124 • Easy interface – no specialist personnel or machinery required for maintenance/ operation post install PROBLEM The client established that the pre-existing concrete covering arrangement would be very troublesome long term and had experienced a number of failures across a number of locations/sites causing confidence in these access covers to be questioned. Typically, the existing covers are located in pedestrian and vehicular traffic areas. This lack of confidence had led to large areas being barriered off and exclusion zones put in place. The existing cover material poses a number of difficulties: • Extreme weight – particularly in the nuclear industry, ease of access for services is imperative. Heavy concrete covers impair this • Manual handling – the customer was concerned about the risk of injury due to the manual handling of these heavy loads • Deteriorating performance – the covers were exhibiting high levels of corrosion and structural degradation leading to concerns of fit for purposes application • The size and complexity of this project deemed that the design would need to be very flexible.

The load capacity of the concrete covers was unknown and thus unreliable

SOLUTION Fibrelite GRP trench access covers proved to be an ideal choice for the client’s requirements, meeting their demands in a number of areas: • Lightweight covering arrangement suitable for two-person lift • Health & safety concerns surrounding manual handling eliminated • Chemically inert - safe & functional.

Uniform ‘anti-slip’ tread pattern supplied as standard, will last for years to come without degradation

The nuclear facility now has a safe covering for their utilities during the decommissioning work

Fibrelite provided all fully customisable options to the customer which were essential and unique to the customer. For this project Fibrelite provided differing depths, load ratings and covers with locking mechanisms in some instances.

RESULTS Post install – the customer was pleased with the finish provided and advised they would continue to specify Fibrelite access covers for future projects. Benefits at a glance; • Chemically inert covers will last for years to come • Access to trench services simplified using the Fibrelite FL7 ergonomic lifting handles (allowing safe lifting from waist height) • All bespoke product features adhered to allowing minimal disruption to site • ‘Fit and forget’ solution - modern, safe & secure • Trench and manhole covers that have technical data underpinning load capacity and test results • Significant site hazard reduction

Fibrelite’s lightweight covers can be safely manually removed

For more case studies, visit the Fibrelite website

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 09

Company News

CITB SETS OUT PLAN TO SUPPORT SECTOR’S SKILLS-BASED RECOVERY AS LEVY BILLS CUT These changes will see CITB’s forecast Levy income drop by £166m across two financial years.

Despite this large drop in income, the Skills Stability Plan will protect apprenticeships, direct funding to employers and the Grants Scheme.

CITB is also cutting costs and using its reserves to support employers’ skills needs.

CITB has today announced its plan to help employers recover from the impact of Coronavirus, including a substantial reduction in Levy bills.

The Skills Stability Plan 2020-21 protects apprenticeships and provides direct funding to employers to adopt new ways of working needed in the wake of Covid-19.

Employers will continue to have a payment holiday on the Levy until September and then up to a full year to pay the 2020/21 levy.

AMEY CONSULTING LED CONSORTIUM APPOINTED TO HIGHWAYS ENGLAND £250M ADVISORY FRAMEWORK Amey Consulting, in collaboration with Capita, has been appointed by Highways England to the Specialist Professional & Technical Services 2 (SPaTS2) framework. Securing a place on Lot 1 of the framework, Amey Consulting will provide technical advisory and consulting services to Highways England over the next four years to help them deliver £27.4bn of investment in the Strategic Road Network during road period two, running from 2020.

The consortium brings together a diverse range of organisations, capable of bringing the breadth and depth of expertise Highways England will need to ensure safer, smoother and more reliable journeys for the 4 million users that rely on its roads each day. The success builds on recent wins with Highways England as the design services consultant in Area 10, design partner on the A66 Northern TransPennine Upgrade and as their data science partner.

Alex Gilbert, Managing Director, Amey Consulting said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a place on the SPaTS 2 framework. It deepens our strong relationship with Highways England and presents an exciting opportunity to work together during RIS2, providing specialist consultancy and technical services to keep the country open for business.”

Simon Reeves, Director, Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure added: “We look forward to working with Amey Consulting to strengthen our existing relationship with Highways England, to further develop it through collaboration and innovation and ultimately support the realisation of their ambitions.

“Together, we bring a unique set of capabilities to Highways England through the combination of both businesses’ wide, varied and complimentary expertise in the Highways sector.”

In addition, CITB will propose a 50% discount on the 2021/22 Levy rate. This means employers will pay 18 months’ Levy out of 24, making an overall saving of 25% across two years, providing help when it is most needed.

An employer with an average annual levy bill of £1,200 would normally pay £2,400 over 2020-22. Instead, they will pay nothing from April to August this year and then take advantage of spreading the costs – £100 per month up to February 2022, paying £1,800 overall.

These changes will see CITB’s forecast Levy income drop by £166m across two financial years. Despite this large drop in income, the Skills Stability Plan will protect apprenticeships, direct funding to employers and the Grants Scheme. CITB is also cutting costs and using its reserves to support employers’ skills needs.

CITB will work with other industry partners to support workers who have lost their jobs or seen their apprenticeship disrupted,matching them with a new employer, including through exploring a talent retention scheme. This will build on the support already provided to help appprentices complete their programmes through up-front grant payments to current year 2 and 3 apprentices, training materials being made available online and support from Apprenticeship Officers to allow learning to continue remotely.

The plan has also prioritised direct funding for employers through the Skills and Training Funds, with £8m earmarked for small and micro businesses, £3.5m for medium-sized businesses, with a £3m Leadership and Management Fund for large firms. This will help employers train to adapt to the new working environment and update the skills of their workforce.

CITB Chief Executive Sarah Beale said: “This represents a radical plan of action that balances the need for a reduction in the Levy at this time, alongside vital investment in the skills needed by employers now and in the future.

“It is the result of hundreds of conversations with employers across the length and breadth of Britain and I’m confident it meets the sector’s immediate needs. We are committed to making the Levy work hard to protect apprenticeships and support hard-pressed employers as they equip themselves for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

CITB will now seek the views of industry employers and federations about the development of a new strategic plan,

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Company News covering 2021-23, with the plan expected to be published in September.

This represents a radical plan of action that balances the need for a reduction in the Levy at this time, alongside vital investment in the skills needed by employers now and in the future.

Sarah Beale continued: “We have spoken to employers and federations and most have suggested that they want us to focus full-time on helping the industry meet the challenges posed by Covid. We have confirmed with the Department for Education that we will not run the usual Consensus process and instead we will speak to employers and industry groups to seek their views on our plans for next year.

“We will continue to be responsive and collaborative, working closely with the sector and Government to return the industry to growth. We will listen to industry and respond to its priorities and give every employer the confidence that we wish to understand and learn from their concerns and ambitions.”

Mark Reynolds, Mace Group Chief Executive and Skills Workstream Lead at the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), said: “Our industry has come together to develop an effective plan to come back from the effects of Covid-19, as detailed in the CLC’s Roadmap to Recovery document.

“CITB’s Skills Stability Plan builds on this work and clearly outlines how they will play their part in delivering the skills we need. We very much support efforts made by the CITB to substantially reduce the Levy. It is right that Consensus is delayed so we can work together to make sure that our recovery, still in its early stages, is as strong as possible.”

Our industry has come together to develop an effective plan to come back from the effects of Covid-19, as detailed in the CLC’s Roadmap to Recovery document. CITB’s Skills Stability Plan builds on this work and clearly outlines how they will play their part in delivering the skills we need. We very much support efforts made by the CITB to substantially reduce the Levy. It is right that Consensus is delayed so we can work together to make sure that our recovery, still in its early stages, is as strong as possible.

WILLMOTT DIXON AGREES £20 MILLION FACILITY FOR HUMBERSIDE POLICE FORCE Willmott Dixon has been given the green light to start work later this year on a new £20m building to house Humberside Police’s control centre and other specialist services, after the company agreed a contract and the scheme received planning approval.

The 107,000 square foot, three-storey operational support building, which will be constructed next to the force’s existing facility at Melton West Business Park near Hull, will accommodate over 500 staff and contain a new control room handling all telephone calls and public contact. It will also house specialist units such as major crime investigation to free up space in other buildings to accommodate the uplift in police officers which has increased by around 500 since 2016.

The development is a joint project between Humberside Police Force and Melton West landowners and developers Wykeland Group, supported by planning consultants DLP and designed by Bond Bryan architects. The design includes sustainable features such as energy efficient heating and lighting systems, plus use of environmentally-friendly materials and facilities to encourage staff to cycle to and from work.

Procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, it is scheduled for completion and opening in 2022.

Police and Crime Commissioner Keith Hunter, who has responsibility for the force estate said: “I am delighted that planning permission has been granted for the new police building at Melton. At this moment of national crisis our thoughts and

efforts are naturally on dealing with the tragedy affecting many families and coping with the stresses on our NHS and other public services.

“It is nevertheless hugely important to consider how we emerge from this and position our public services for the future, in what will inevitably be a challenging time as businesses try to re-build and people who have lost jobs try to regain their former employment or seek new work. Being able to confirm this new building will now go ahead is therefore a great announcement for our area. It will create jobs and boost supply lines throughout the Humber region.

This go-ahead is a statement that we will emerge and Humberside Police will continue to drive forward its ambition to be an outstanding police force. We must invest for the future.

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “It’s critical that those who work around the clock to keep us all safe have the right facilities and a suitable working environment for 21st century policing. These new modern facilities for Humberside Police are designed to create a state-of-the-art environment, giving control room teams and officers in specialist units the very best support they need to serve the people of Humberside.

We’re proud to be working in partnership once again with Humberside Police to support the modernisation of its estate, having also delivered the Birchin Way custody facility in Grimsby, the first to be delivered using our CODE pre-designed concept which we believe is the next generation for custodial facilities.”

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 11

Company News

MORRISON DATA SERVICES SECURES FOURYEAR METER READING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH E.ON Morrison Data Services, a leading data services provider to energy and water utility retailers in the UK and Ireland, has been appointed to deliver nationwide meter reading services on behalf of E.ON. The four-year agreement will begin on 1 September 2020 and also includes an extension to Morrison Data Services’ existing ‘out of area’ meter reading contract with E.ON. As part of the mobilisation, a number of people will join Morrison Data Services to increase the scale of its meter reading team.

Morrison Data Services Managing Director Simon Best commented: “We have continued to invest heavily in meter reading activity as we believe that we can help energy retailers achieve cost and efficiency improvements in a rapidly changing marketplace. This contract award extends the relationship that we have with E.ON which dates back over 10 years and adds further momentum to our ongoing growth plans. We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to MDS.”

CONNEX WINS £3M CONTRACT WITH LONDON DEVELOPER

Matt Hardcastle, Morrison Data Services Director of Data Collection, added: “As the UK’s leading energy meter reading provider we have significantly invested over the last 12 months in our technology and processes to ensure we deliver a high class service to all our customers.

“Mount Anvil recognised the high quality of our pods and standard of service from recent major projects we have delivered in Central London and decided our product was a perfect fit for their supply chain requirements.

This award from E.ON is testament to our hard work and demonstrates that our approach to future delivery is well regarded in the industry.

Connex Offsite, specialists in the manufacture of high-end modular bathroom pods announced a threemillion-pound contract, to supply luxury modular bathroom pods to London property developer, Mount Anvil.

The contract will see the Newry based manufacturer export their residential bathroom pods to Mount Anvil’s Royal Eden Docks development, an area in East London that is set to re-emerge as a globally significant commercial, cultural and residential centre.

Connex is aggressively targeting new business throughout the UK, viewing the residential market as having major scope for future expansion. In the next two months, the firm will recruit staff for a variety of roles including joiners, operations managers, designers, general labourers and tilers, to meet their rapidly growing order book.

Brendan Doherty, Managing Director of Connex Offsite said: “We are delighted to be working with Mount Anvil, one of the

12 Construction UK Magazine - July 2020

leading property developers in London, with thirty years of construction history in the city under their belts.

“We have seen huge growth in recent months and I believe the Covid-19 crisis has been the catalyst for a shift to modular construction. Off-site manufacturing is being embraced by the industry because of the restrictions on the level of labour on site. Because our pods are completely finished in a controlled environment, shrink wrapped on the factory floor and shipped to the construction site, we are reducing the numbers of trades required on site.”

Connex launched two years ago, with a £1.2 million investment, and due to a significant increase in production, will move into its new £2.5 million facility ahead of time, in August 2020.

FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL Engaging with a logistics expert early on in the tender process has numerous benefits including lowering costs and ensuring that a project is completed on time. Tony Palombo, managing director for construction logistics at Wilson James, explains how this process works in practice and its positive impact on all aspects of the supply chain.

Tendering is a well-established part of the construction process but it is arduous, time consuming, risky and expensive. In an industry where profit margins average between 1-3 per cent, all too often tendering is about getting a price as low as possible without fully exploring the real opportunities to reduce cost and risk, while maximising quality and efficiency.

A logistical delay can often result in a building being handed over with incomplete commissioning due to programme delays which shorten the commissioning periods, leading to a dissatisfied client and mounting costs. One proven way to avoid this is by considering not only the procurement but also the supply and logistics of construction materials during the planning and tender stages of a project. Constructors can then adopt a smarter procurement process, which integrates the tender supply chain and creates shortened programmes and cost efficiencies.

Yet it’s not difficult to see how and why this happens, as all too often main contractors create a disparate supply chain, fail to look at commonalities and don’t integrate elements that optimise resources and avoid duplication.

Working with a logistics expert adds value in so many ways. By pre-empting issues and circumventing them, problems are avoided and time and money are saved. For example, software is now available to help streamline delivery management. By using this type of tool it is possible to plan, control and coordinate the supply chain and create an effective just-in-time inventory system.

Ask the experts Involving a logistics expert at the beginning of a project means it starts as it means to go on. A logistics specialist can also assist with planning consent submissions where there are challenging conditions to overcome and deal with any mitigation processes required in order to gain permissions. This early engagement ensures people and materials are where they should be at all times to meet the very tight schedules common in modern construction.

With contractors and clients looking to maximise the profitability of a project, it is tempting to consider the appointment of a logistics expert as an unnecessary level of bureaucracy and expense. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as the knowledge and expertise gained through working with a diverse array of clients means that organisations such as Wilson James understand the complexities of the build process and know how to make it more efficient.

Building blocks of success Every construction project must have a solid foundation, with a well written tender, clear job specification and realistic budget. With so many variables, failure to nail down a properly configured plan means there’s an increased risk of mistakes, disputes and confusion, which in a post-coronavirus world is likely to prevent successful delivery.

For further information please contact: Cadence Woodland, E: Cadence.Woodland@wilsonjames.co.uk, or visit www.wilsonjames.co.uk

Think ahead Just one mistake when pricing a job could cost a huge sum of money and erode an already fragile profit margin.

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 13

Project News

AMEYSRM AWARDED £23MILLION A533 EXPRESSWAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT SCHEME Highways England and Amey Sir Robert McAlpine (AmeySRM) have signed a £23million contract for scheme works to start on the A533 Expressway Bridge Replacement scheme in the North West of the UK. The contract, which was awarded by Highways England to AmeySRM, will see construction works at the site start in earnest in Spring 2021, with the scheme due for completion in Summer 2022.

The existing 70 metre span bridge, which carries the A533 Expressway over the M56 motorway has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced with a new two-span structure that will be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge.

The replacement bridge will provide improved cycle and pedestrian facilities, which are vital for improving both safety and journey experience on the strategic network.

Robert Allen, Framework Partnership Director for AmeySRM, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the A533 bridge replacement scheme by Highways England. Our combined skills in bridge engineering, road maintenance and above all, safety will be invaluable in delivering all elements of this exciting project,

from design and demolition to construction.

“This scheme is one of a number of comprehensive upgrades our collaborative approach as AmeySRM is delivering across the North-West, creating better journeys for those using the network.”

To ensure that the works cause minimal disruption to customers, the main concrete bridge deck will be assembled offline in a nearby compound, then transported and lowered into its final position using the latest innovative technology, a selfpropelled modular transporter.

Once the replacement bridge has been opened to traffic, the existing structure will be demolished and the area fully reinstated.

AmeySRM is currently working on the construction of a £43m overhaul of junction 19 of the M6, with a new bridge through the existing roundabout and over the M6, creating a better flow between the motorway and the A556.

AmeySRM was awarded the scheme by Highways England and is one of 13 companies – known as Delivery Integration Partners (DIP) – who are currently working on 18 packages of projects.

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Our combined skills in bridge engineering, road maintenance and above all, safety will be invaluable in delivering all elements of this exciting project, from design and demolition to construction.

KIER TO DELIVER FLAGSHIP CREATIVE CENTRE FOR YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY Kier has been appointed by York St John University to deliver a £13m new Creative Centre at its Lord Mayor’s Walk campus in York City Centre.

The Centre has been designed with sustainability and adaptability in mind to cater for students’ needs, community use and the evolution of the University’s curriculum. Kier will deliver a 210-seat auditorium wrapped in pre-fabricated timber, a three-storey teaching block and 2,600m² of flexible, specialist teaching space.

A new 550m² atrium, with a glass and timber roof to allow natural daylight to enter the building, will act as an exhibition space, teaching space and theatre foyer to host lectures and performances.

The facility is due to be completed in the summer of 2021.

Phil McDowell, regional director at Kier Regional Building Northern, said: “We’re pleased to be delivering this important project for York St John University which is being constructed in response to the university’s growing demand for creative subjects.

Project News

CONSTRUCTION OF THIRD CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR DEMENTIA CARE CONTINUES Construction is continuing on a new £15 million dementia care facility in Harrogate to develop a third centre of excellence for dementia care.

The multi-million pound facility is the latest development of care group Vida Healthcare and is expected to open in summer 2021.

The state-of-the art care home will house 100 residents in eight self-sufficient houses with en-suite bedrooms and include a collection of communal areas such as a newsagent, coffee shop, private cinema and sensory gardens.

Caddick Construction is leading on the build and has so far marked a number of milestones including the installation of the foundations, completion of the internal block work and external brickwork along with the retaining wall between the lower ground and ground floor, and the progression of the steelwork for the central core. The reinforced concrete beams are also in place to allow the ground floor brickwork and blockwork to commence.

Although the build has experienced challenges due to COVID-19 with a current delay of three weeks, Vida Healthcare and the Caddick team have worked together

to ensure progress can continue safely.

Full PPE has been provided across the site, temperature testing stations have been installed and full signage, and social distancing, is in place and being adhered to.

James Rycroft, Managing Director at Vida Healthcare, commented: “Over the last decade we’ve designed buildings around the needs of our residents and we’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that good design can have on people’s lives. The health and wellbeing of our residents and staff has always been our first priority and through the COVID crisis we’ve invested in a range of measures to ensure our community is safeguarded from this and any other health crises we might experience.

“Vida Court is a culmination of everything we’ve learned over the years and our trademark features will be included, such as the self sufficient houses, to enable us to offer care for residents who are at different stages with their dementia.

“I’ve enjoyed collaborating with Caddick and our other providers to ensure everything runs smoothly and we can open Vida Court on time.”

The next stages of the construction are already on track with the external brickwork and concrete floor slabs currently being installed.

Chris Allott, Senior Contract Manager at Caddick Construction, added: ““We’re very happy with the progress being made on site and the Caddick team has adapted very well to the challenging circumstances. It’s been fantastic to work with Vida on this project and it means a lot that we are contributing to the provision of exceptional dementia care.”

Alongside Caddick Construction, Vida Healthcare has partnered with a range of suppliers including Leeds-based Den Architecture and Projex Building Solutions to ensure the project is completed successfully.

“We have a wealth of experience in delivering educational facilities and look forward to working with the university to create the Centre.”

Rob Hickey, Chief Operating Officer at York St John University said: “The Creative Centre is at the heart of our long-term strategy to be a sustainable, future-focused University that works in partnership with the community. This build will be fantastic for our students and support their employability in creative and tech subjects.

This is vital for the region’s economic future as we look beyond the impact of the pandemic. We’re delighted to partner with Kier, having been impressed by their strong track record of projects in the education sector.

This latest win for Kier reinforces its position as a leading provider of educational facilities. It has recently handed over Dixons Sixth Form Academy in Bradford, creating much-needed education facilities in the area.

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 15

Project News

THE BUILD MUST GO ON - HOW BCS ARE BUILDING A DATACENTRE 1000 MILES AWAY (DURING A PANDEMIC) A major datacentre construction project in Italy’s former Covid 19 red zone is still going ahead despite the challenging commercial backdrop of Covid-19. Project Managers at BCS have confirmed that the construction of a 15,000 square meter 10-Megawatt datacentre facility is progressing well with a permanent presence on site. Overcoming a pause in the operations back in March and facing the constant threat of closure if a single case of the virus is detected, the BCS team have had to oversee the Bologna project remotely from over a thousand miles away.

The specialist services provider to the international digital infrastructure industry has been working hard to ensure the welfare of everyone involved with the project. As part of the new safety procedures, staff on site have their temperature taken daily to identify any symptoms of the virus. The Italian authorities would be forced to close down the site for a blanket 14 days on the confirmation of any positive diagnosis of Covid-19. Due to the travel restrictions, the Italian client is regularly updating the BCS team with video and photographic records of the progress.

Since the site re-opened in March, with strict new operating procedures including social distancing, increased sanitisation and staggered shifts, Chris Coward, Head of Project Management at BCS, has spoken about the excitement throughout the company regarding the new multimillion pound build. He said: “We’ve got three alternative shifts working hard and have received positive reports and images from the Italian team. They’re pushing ahead despite some incredibly challenging circumstances.

The project which is currently at the civil engineering stage in the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy; where Covid-19 has been particularly prevalent, was awarded ‘essential status’ by the Government. Therefore, it one of the first construction sites to reopen in the country. The eyes of the entire Emilia-Romagna region were on the project following restart as they entered unchartered territory with respect to the Health and Safety measures and operating procedures. In the initial stages of the lockdown, sourcing concrete and steel from the neighbouring Lombardy region was proving a difficult task but is now a lot more reliable.

“It helps that most, if not all of the materials are readily available in Italy, unfortunately, none of our UK team can travel there in person at this stage. We have a duty of care as an employer, and with government restrictions, we’re managing remotely, which is new for us and everyone in the industry.”

Chris Coward added: “The Italians really are leading the way on this. Collaborating on any project always poses unique complexities

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but undertaking the build of a multi-million pound datacentre in such an unprecedented environment of a pandemic, requires solid teamwork and great communication.

Our culture is an agile one, and as a team we know that in today’s market, you have to respond flexibly and innovatively to ensure you’re moving forward. We have excellent standards in every project we take on, and the dedication and commitment of our teams hasn’t changed despite the lockdown.

The future demand levels for datacentres continues to grow, with the industry tipped for an increased demand in the next 12 months. BCS expects to see a further expansion in their global datacentre portfolio in the coming years.

The datacentre specialists have delivered large scale projects for market leaders in recent years, and have played a leading role in some of the world’s highest profile mission critical and datacentre programmes.

For more information on BCS please visit www.bcs.uk.com

SCHÖCK MAINTAINS STRONG PRESENCE IN WEMBLEY REGENERATION

The Quintain Wembley Park regeneration, one of London’s largest housing delivery schemes, is still scheduled for completion in 2027, despite current world events. The latest residential development nearing finalisation is Beton, also known as site W06. With the stadium directly behind and its frontage on Wembley Park Boulevard, it will provide 150 dwellings over 11 storeys.

The project utilises a variety of concrete frame techniques, including slipform concrete cores and a skeletal concrete frame installation. The building exterior features hand-set brick, a punched window façade – and elegant slide-on balconies – an aesthetic and appealing addition to the new development.

As with many of the other projects at Wembley Park, Schöck Isokorb load-bearing thermal insulation elements are critical to the balconies structural and long–term insulation performance. The modular design

of the Isokorb type used on Beton means it can be adapted to all profile sizes and load bearing capacity requirements. On this occasion the units were fixed to a castin plate, rebars and a stub bracket. The balcony cantilever support arm was then attached to the stub and the fully preassembled balcony chassis slid on to the cantilever arm and locked into position.

Thermal bridging is a serious issue Ineffective insulation at cantlever connectivity points will result in local heat loss and this major consequence of thermal bridging means that more energy is required to maintain the internal temperature of the building. In additiion, low internal surface temperatures in the area of the thermal bridge can cause condensation, leading not only to structural integrity problems with absorbent materials such as insulation products or plasterboard, but also mould

The Schöck Isokorb modular unit used on the project

growth. This can have serious health implications for residents in the form of asthma and allergies. So for any project involving balcony connectivity the prevention of thermal bridging is a critical issue.

Construction dependability and freedom of design As the leading international supplier of structural thermal breaks, Schöck has almost limitless variants available in its main Isokorb range, offering planners complete construction dependability and enormous freedom of design. The comprehensive Schöck Isokorb range offers solutions for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel, steel-to-steel, a thermally insulating connection for reinforced concrete walls – and even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets. All products meet full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations and NHBC, offer LABC Registration and independent BBA Certification. The temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI) which must be greater than, or equal to, 0.75 for residential buildings, is also easily met by incorporating the Isokorb.

For a free copy of the Schöck Thermal Bridging Guide; the Schöck Specifiers Guide or to view the range of downloadable software, contact Schöck on 01865 290 890 or visit the website at www.schoeck.co.uk

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 17

Global News

COMPLETION OF WORLD RECORD LIFT ON CONSTRUCTION OF 1915 ÇANAKKALE BRIDGE Australian-based heavy lifting tower crane specialists, Marr Contracting Pty Ltd (The Men From Marr’s), have completed a world-record lift during construction of the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey.

The record-breaking construction feat saw one of Marr’s M2480D Heavy Lift Luffers (HLL) ¬– which with a lifting capacity of 330 tonnes is the world’s largest capacity tower crane – undertake the world’s heaviest (155 tonnes) at height (318 metres) craneage lift on what will be the world’s longest span suspension bridge.

With the M2480D crane perched 328 metres above the water, it took approximately 30 minutes to lift a 155-tonne piece of the upper cross beam (UCB) to its position 318 metres above sea level. The installation of the centre section of the UCB on the Asian side of the Çanakkale Strait, completed a major milestone in the construction of the bridge, with the lift taking place at midnight on Sunday 7 June 2020. The European side was completed 24 hours later, with the final centrepieces installed on both sides of the Bridge at a final height of 318 metres on Monday 8 June 2020.

The engineering solution that made the world-record lift possible was one of the reasons DLSY (Daelim – Limak – SK E&C – Yapi Merkezi) Joint Venture awarded the craneage contract to Marr Contracting International in 2017 after a competitive tender process including some of the world’s leading craneage companies.

Impressed by Marr’s track record in designing and delivering innovative lifting solutions on similarly challenging largescale projects in Australia and around the world, DLSY Joint Venture challenged the Marr team to develop a strategy that would decrease construction time and associated risk.

The Marr team worked with the DLSY project team to develop a craneage methodology that makes use of the M2480D HLL crane’s capacity to lift heavier modularised components instead of the more traditional approach of lifting smaller components one-by-one and then welding on-site.

Two of Marr’s M2480D cranes have been on-site since last year constructing the bridge’s 318-metre high towers, and through fewer lifts of larger pieces

the craneage solution has reduced the construction schedule, with less sitebased activities and a higher level of on-site safety.

According to the Deputy Project Manager, Alper Alemdaroglu, the DLSY Joint Venture wanted a heavy lifting partner who could think outside-the-box to make their vision for how they wanted to build the Bridge a reality.

“The Men From Marr’s have a reputation for technical competence and innovative thinking in developing strategies for heavy lifting on projects of this scale, but what has impressed us most is their collaborative approach to finding a solution that suited our construction methodology and programme, and then delivering it,” said Mr Alemdaroglu.

Highlighting that a strong working relationship and alignment between Marr and the Joint Venture partners has been key to the project’s success to date, Marr Contracting Managing Director, Simon Marr, said, “DLSY knew what they wanted, and they were also open to a nontraditional heavy lifting solution. As experts in construction, the Joint Venture partners respected our expertise in heavy lifting and together we have been able to construct the tower stage of the project in record time”.

“The unparalleled lifting capacity of our M2480D HLL cranes have been a game changer for this project and will potentially change the way our industry looks at how bridges can be built, as well as a host of other large scale projects. We are using the same way of thinking to challenge methodology on the construction of other projects including metro train stations, data centres, large commercial construction, energy construction and working refineries,” Mr Marr said.

The record-breaking lift is one of a number of engineering feats completed by The Men From Marr’s on the construction of

18 Construction UK Magazine - July 2020

SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME – THE FLEXIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO SQUARE ACCESS PANELS Illusion, a new multi-shaped Access Panel from Ceildoor Products, provides the perfect alternative to square panels for bespoke interiors.

The Illusion Access Panel is designed for customers who want a special face shape, such as round or hexagonal, to suit the aesthetics of the room or building as often seen in hotels, car showrooms and bespoke homes.

Whilst circular Access Panels have been available in the industry for some time, expensive tooling restrictions have limited the sizes produced by manufacturers to 300mm, 450mm and 600mm diameters.

Ceildoor’s new Illusion Access Panel resolves these barriers as it is designed using the ‘round peg in a square hole’ metaphor; Ceildoor created a shaped plate frontage, for example circular, attached to a standard, square frame.

This means contractors no longer have to cut-out a time consuming circle or bespoke shape in the wall or ceiling to accommodate the frame; they simply cut a standard square opening.

It also means Ceildoor can manufacture any shape and size, providing customers with the Access Panel they want and the only Access Panel they need!

Ceildoor Products, who have been manufacturing Access Panels in the UK for 30 years, are renowned for thinking outside the box and creating innovative yet simple solutions, such as their patented UniHatch® reversible Access Panel door & 360o hinge system and Cap-lessTM lock hole cover.

For more information about the Illusion Access Panel visit: https://www.ceildoorproducts.co.uk/products/illusion-accesspanels-for-walls-and-ceilings/, call the Team on 01902 733645 or email sales@ceildoorproducts.co.uk.

Manufactured in the UK from zintec steel, the Illusion Access Panel (patent pending) is fitted with their unique Cap-lessTM sliding lock hole cover as standard, which also removes unsightly plastic caps which typically fall off and need replacing. It also means the lock hole cover can be painted the same RAL colour as the rest of the panel.

this nation-building project. In November 2019, after being fully assembled at a dry dock, two of Marr’s M2480D HLL cranes were lifted as complete units, each weighing 600 tonnes, by a floating crane and transported a kilometre to the bridge tower caisson in the middle of the Dardanelles (Çanakkale Strait), where they were successfully installed in a one day operation.

CEO of the joint-stock company established by the Turkish-Korean consortium, ÇOK A.Ş., Mr Mustafa Tanriverdi, said,

The four joint venture partner companies (Limak and Yapı Merkezi from Turkey, Daelim and SK E&C from South Korea) are contributing to the project by allocating their particular technical expertise acquired from working on diverse projects across the world to all phases of the project. With such strong historical links between Turkey and Australia, we are delighted to have an Australian team contributing their expertise and innovative thinking to this important nation-building project.

ABOUT THE PROJECT On completion the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge will take its place in world engineering history as the world’s longest span suspension bridge with a total bridge length of 4,608 metres, a central span of 2,023 metres and a total bridge tower height of 318 metres.

The bridge will connect the towns of Gelibolu (Gallipoli) on the European side of Turkey with Lapseki on the Asian side, providing a new heavy transit alternative to the Istanbul Strait passage that will mean faster and more costeffective freight transport to the region, as well as strengthened economic potential and social bonds for the local community.

The Turkish Government named the bridge in honour and remembrance of the “Çanakkale Wars” (1915-1916) that took place between Turkish and Allied forces during World War I on the same shores that the bridge is now being built.

An international team including Australians, Turks, Koreans, Dutch, Japanese, Iranians, Filipinos and Brits is working together under strict COVID-19 restrictions, each day travelling between the workfront and their lockdown accommodation near Gelibolu.

The Men From Marr’s scope of work on the project is due to be completed in December 2020 / January 2021. The bridge is due to open on 18 March 2022.

xx Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 19

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Procurement Feature

PROJECT SPEED REACTION: FRAMEWORK-ENABLED ACCELERATED PROCUREMENT HOLDS THE KEY TO CONSTRUCTION BOUNCEBACK THE Prime Minister outlined his plans to ‘build build build’ and ‘build back better’ during a speech in the West Midlands, intended to help the country – and economy – bounce back as quickly as possible. Gerard Toplass, executive chairman at Pagabo, reacts to the investment promises and discusses how procurement can assist with the delivery on government promises.

The news that GDP for April alone collapsed by 20.4% has been seen by many as a clear sign that the UK is now in recession. COVID-19 and its impacts on numerous industries have been catastrophic in many cases, but with the latest announcements the government has recognised how critical the construction sector will be to our recovery.

However, the COVID-19 response in delivering the NHS Nightingale hospitals within a matter of weeks has highlighted how quickly critical works can be mobilised – something highlighted in the Prime Minister’s speech as he announced the Infrastructure Delivery Task Force – also known as Project Speed. Led by chancellor Rishi Sunak, this taskforce will be responsible for speeding up work on schools, hospitals, road and rail infrastructure.

Among this work, £100m for 29 road projects including bridge repairs in Sandell and the A15 in the Humber region, £10m for development work to ease the bottleneck on Manchester’s railway network to begin this year and £900m for local ‘shovel-ready schemes’ are just a few areas that have been identified. £1.5bn has been set aside for hospital maintenance, hospital building and improving A&E capacity – along with the promise of 40 brand-new hospitals.

Gerard Toplass - Executive Chairman at Pagabo

The Prime Minister has promised not just to ‘build build build’, but also to ‘build back greener’, with plans for cycleways across the country, committing to planting 75,000 acres of trees each year from 2025 and £40m ringfenced for local conservation projects. £1bn has also been promised over the next decade for new schools, along with additional funding for repairing existing school and further education facilities, with construction of the first 50 schools to start in September 2021.

The foundations of this work were beginning to be laid earlier in June, when the Housing Minister, Robert Jenrick, addressed a letter to all mayors and LEP chairs around the UK about the ways in which government can support local recovery and laid out a search for these ‘shovel-ready capital projects’ able to be delivered in the next 18 months.

Planning permissions have also been given a break in the light of COVID-19.

Permissions usually expire after three years if the work has not been started, but those sites that have an expiry date between the beginning of lockdown and the end of 2020 will be now be granted an extension to April 2021.

This means that developers will not need to submit a new application where permission or content expires during this window, which will reduce costs and time delays for both firms and local planning authorities.

A big drive for all of this is to help keep the construction industry moving – and get it back to its normal productivity levels as soon as possible. It will come as a surprise to no one that construction output dropped by record levels (40 per cent) during April – the height of the lockdown period and a time of confusion on what the lockdown meant for building sites, and what was expected of construction firms.

It was on 13 May that the government gave its first indication of how important it is to ‘keep Britain building’, along with support. From that date sites were able to operate until 9pm Monday to Saturday in residential areas and beyond that in nonresidential areas.

22 Construction UK Magazine - July 2020

Procurement Feature

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It was a clear position from the government that planning applications should be approved by local councils unless there were compelling reasons to do so.

It is of course in the government’s interest to ensure that construction programmes plough ahead to meet previous targets and delivery on its election promises to invest £250bn in the UK’s infrastructure. It has estimated that by the end of June, more than 400 residential permissions providing more than 24,000 new homes would have expired – a huge hit to the Conservative party’s promises during the election.

At this time, being able to procure works quickly via a framework will help speed us along the road to recovery in construction.

We were really pleased to see government supporting this early on in the pandemic with the COVID-19, PPN 1/20 issued by the Cabinet Office, permitting works, goods or services to be procured urgently by authorities.

We were the only framework provider to waive fees for works being procured

11.02.20 12:38

using the PPN 1/20, and our frameworks allow for direct award as well as further competition, allowing public sector bodies a fast route to getting shovels in the ground – all ensuring contract compliance and being reassured that delivery teams are secure.

us to be open and honest about fees. There is no such thing as a rebate free framework, but the way Pagabo charges on a ‘pay as you go’ basis offers clients clarity – and the ability to manage fees through the life cycle of the project.

Pagabo has also just announced the details of our newest framework – the first dedicated to developers – which will play a part in the industry’s return to a boom, while also allowing developers the opportunity to secure new work through compliant procurement.

The government already had ambitious targets for construction prior to COVID-19, so ensuring that the path to recovery is a short one is absolutely crucial in achieving those promises and delivering the necessary infrastructure projects that have also arisen out of the pandemic, such as improving the infrastructure to support digital connectivity and improving transport systems to allow for social distancing.

The Cabinet Office released a further procurement policy notice during June – PPN 04/20 – Recovery and transition from covid-19, which extends the relief available to public sector suppliers under PPN 02/20 – supplier relief due to covid-19 until 21 October 2020. This new PPN applies to all contracting authorities across the public sector, which must ‘continue to pay suppliers as quickly as possible on receipt of invoices or in accordance with pre-agreed milestone dates to maintain cashflow and protect jobs.’

This is another area where the use of frameworks can ensure security and speed of procuring works, as frameworks must provide simple, affordable and accessible solutions. Frameworks operate in different ways, but it is important for providers like

We strongly believe that the quickest and most efficient way to procure is using a framework agreement — particularly one with a designated Direct Award process.

Our frameworks allow for direct award and provide clients with a ready-made, simple and compliant solution, accelerating access to works, goods and services providers.

As a framework provider, we can help government ambition not just with progressing construction works quickly and effectively, but with pace as well.

For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 23

Women In Construction

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

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

Yvonne Kelly, Principal & CEO of Barking & Dagenham College

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Construction UK Magazine - July 2020 25

Roofing & Cladding

IT’S THE OUTSIDE THAT COUNTS: ENHANCING BUILDING DESIGN WITH CLADDING Located along the Vltava river, Prague’s Dancing House is a hotspot for tourists and admirers of architecture. While its sloping structure gives the illusion that the building is dancing, the design offers nothing in the way of structural benefit. But would a building without such an eye-catching design feature gain the same appreciation?

Here, Nick Cowley, managing director at exterior cladding and outdoor living product supplier Endurawood, explains how cladding can take building design to new levels.

Cladding has been popular in the construction industry for decades. It offers many benefits including thermal insulation, weatherproofing and protection of the building’s structure.

Cladding does not support the structure of a building, but instead acts as a second skin to the exterior. The National BIM Library (NBS) categorises cladding into categories such as H10 for patent glazing, H21 for timber weatherboarding and H51 for natural stone slab features. While cladding offers a range of practical benefits, its design potential is often overlooked.

All a façade Apart from adding style and colour to a building’s design, cladding can also be used as an architectural enhancement. Building design is important and, particularly for high rise structures, it can be difficult to distinguish one building from the next.

Cladding has the ability to transform a building that is usually overlooked into an eye-catching display.

While cladding is traditionally applied to the entire exterior of the building, it can be used to decorate and accentuate specific areas. Decorative façades can emphasise the face of the building and add character to the overall design. A façade refers to a part of the building with more elaborate architecture, which usually stands out from the building in an imposing or overhanging position.

A façade is a simple addition that can dramatically improve the appearance of a building, drawing attention to the front of the building and helping it to stand out from the rest. For example, The Center for Wellbeing in Edinburgh, Scotland used timber cladding to create a 3D façade of the organisations name, Thistle. The façade creates an exterior that provides a friendly welcome, just like the staff on the inside.

Low maintenance Unlike other common exterior finishes such as pebbledash or paint, which can become tarnished from weather conditions, cladding is built to last. As one of the main purposes for installing cladding is to provide a weatherproof barrier for the building, cladding must be durable and able to withstand harsh weather conditions.

While some cladding materials are naturally more durable than others, they still require additional treatments to help increase their durability. These treatments can vary depending on the material. For example, vinyl or PVCu cladding requires a washdown every few years, and timber cladding demands an intense chemical pressure treatment to help extend its durability.

Although these maintenance methods are generally infrequent, they can be costly.

Aluminium cladding from Endurawood is corrosion, freeze and frost resistant and non-porous. Aluminium reacts with oxygen in the air, which forms a thin layer of oxide

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on the surface of the material. This works to eradicate corrosion caused by moisture, pollution, mould and mildew growth, which reduces maintenance and costs, helping to maintain the building’s design.

Furthermore, Endurawood cladding is available is a variety of powder coat and woodgrain coatings to compliment a range of building designs, from modern to traditional.

Refurb over replace Typically, some building refurbishments require a substantial amount of work when undergoing upgrades. However, minor refurbishments to the exterior can be resolved with cladding. Using cladding to refurb is a quick way to improve the appearance of a building. If the exterior of a building has become tarnished from corrosion or damaged from harsh weather, cladding can be applied quickly to restore the appearance of the building.

Cladding is versatile enough to be applied by a homeowner or installer for larger projects, and is usually applied with ease using screws that are fixed to support battens attached to the wall. There are still some installation requirements to bear in mind, and there must be a cavity in between the cladding and the building to allow rain to run down, as well as a weatherproof coating to protect the walls from water.

Without its unique design, it’s unlikely that the Czech capital’s dancing landmark would attract as many tourists as it does today.

While architects must always consider the structural performance of building materials, design remains an important consideration.

Alongside its weatherproofing and insulation benefits, cladding can help take building design to new levels.

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