Public Sector Building News - September/October 2019

www.psbnews.co.uk September/October 2019

THE A.P. MØLLER SCHOOL CREATED FOR MODERN, DEMOCRATIC TEACHING

CREST NICHOLSON TO LAUNCH NEW DEVELOPMENT IN KENT EUROBRICK - A FLEXIBLE FINISH FOR STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

WILLMOTT DIXON TEAMS UP WITH ST ALBANS DISTRICT COUNCIL AGAIN FOR LEISURE & CULTURAL COMPLEX

BELLWAY LONDON PARTNERSHIPS HAS PLANS APPROVED FOR 35 AFFORDABLE HOMES IN CRAYFORD

EDUCATION

HEALTHCARE

HOUSING

Sir Patrick Stewart visits University’s new £30m Barbara Hepworth Building

Kier hands over Endoscopy Unit to York Hospital NHS Trust

Purchase of £30 million development site in Ediburgh for student accommodation

Bricks From Kleve : A long tradition

From Ancient Roman to High Tech Modern Production IMPORTED TO THE UK BY AAB

Contact our local supplier for more information: All About Bricks Ltd | Tel: 0845 2300 941 | Email: info@aab.build

Contents

PSBN

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING NEWS

Editor’s Note Editor Maria Lapthorn editor@psbnews.co.uk Editorial Assistant Francesca Amato editorial@psbnews.co.uk Production/Design Laura Whitehead design@psbnews.co.uk Sales Manager Chris Lewry chris@psbnews.co.uk Sales Executive Lucy Robinson lucy@psbnews.co.uk Accounts Richard Lapthorn accounts@psbnews.co.uk Circulation Manager Leo Phillips subs@psbnews.co.uk Website Management Jake York jake@lapthornmedia.co.uk Phone: 01843 808 117 Lapthorn Media 5-7 Ozengell Place Eurokent Business Park Ramsgate Kent CT12 6PB

Hello and welcome to the latest issue of Public Sector Building News.

Included in this publication are some fantastic new projects, including The A.P. Møller School, Schleswig where the aim of the scheme was to promote community and individuality. You can find out more about this project on page 36.

We are very much looking forward to all of the upcoming exhibitions including; UK Construction Week, taking place on the 9th and 10th October at the NEC Birmingham, Regen 2019 taking place on the 6th-7th November at St. George’s Hall Liverpool and last but not least The Offsite Construction Show taking place on the 20th-21st November at the ExCel London.

On the cover Our cover image comes from the recently completed A.P. Møller School in Schleswig.

Read more on pages 36-37.

As always, if you have a recent project or news story that you would like to see published within our pages, please contact the editorial team.

Features 06

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Feature - The building materials of tomorrow by Cameron Dean

Healthcare - Fire detection solutions for healthcare environments

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Latest News - UK’s underground infrastructure still at risk

Company News - Thomas Bow wins £36M Leicestershire framework bid

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24

Education - Sir Patrick Stewart visits University’s new £30M building

Housing Feature - Going the extra mile for extra care housing

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36

Latest News - New Royal Wharf Pier arrives to new home in London

Education Project - The A.P. Møller School, Schleswig

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News - Bristol breaks new ground with innovative low carbon development

Cladding - Eurobrick: A flexible finish for student accommodation

Find us online - www.psbnews.co.uk Latest news, features, articles and products

Follow us on Twitter: @psbn_social

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STEPNELL SHOWCASES END-TO-END APPROACH WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT WORK has begun on site of a unique housing project, fully developed, built and managed by construction firm Stepnell.

The contractor – who has owned the site in Rugby for more than 50 years - brought forward a development of three homes to maximise the potential of the site, which previously consisted of a single bungalow and grounds.

The development showcases the company’s ability to act as a complete construction partner, having taken the project through planning and pre-construction using its in-house teams ahead of starting on site.

Once completed, the properties will be let and managed by Stepnell’s

property management and maintenance teams.

Edward Wakeford, property director at Stepnell, said: “We’re delighted to have started on site with these new properties, which will make great use of the space available and provide additional housing for the area. Delivering this project entirely within the Stepnell family means that we are able to work in a much more streamlined way. This end-toend approach provides continuity - not just throughout the build, but also into the marketing and letting of the properties through property management team.”

Following the successful progress of the development, the construction firm is actively looking to bring forward similar schemes across the West Midlands region.

Wakeford said: “Alongside our expertise as a building contractor, Stepnell has an established track record as a landlord and property manager which has been built over the last half century. The completed scheme in Rugby will provide an excellent case study for our complete construction partner approach and will illustrate how we can add value for clients moving forward.”

VAN ELLE SECURES MULTIPLE SMART MOTORWAY CONTRACT AWARDS Van Elle, the UK’s largest independent ground engineering contractor announces several contract awards with major civils contractors delivering Highways England’s Smart Motorway programme, potentially worth up to £13m to the company.

The contract awards are as follows: • M4 junctions 8/9-12 for Balfour Beatty VINCI JV • M6 junctions 13-15 for Kier • M1 junctions 13-16 for Costain Galliford Try JV • M27 junctions 4-11 for Bam Nuttall Morgan Sindall JV These contracts are expected to run into mid 2021.

Van Elle are currently working on the M23 and M20 schemes for Kier and have successfully completed junctions M1 23a-25 for Costain Galliford Try JV in February 2018.

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On these projects Van Elle will deploy a wide range of specialist capabilities including restricted access, large rotary and lorry mounted rigs to tackle a full range of ground conditions, programme demands and access constraints.

Chief Executive Mark Cutler commented: “We are delighted to have secured these recent contract awards. The highways sector is a hugely important focus for Van Elle.

We have built our capability across more than 150 Separate highways projects delivered over the last 10 years; ranging from full ground investigation and survey through to smart motorway restricted access and large structures projects.

“We have an unrivalled range of equipment and techniques that we are able to deploy to meet all circumstances and this is exemplified in the contract awards we announce today”

Company News

GODWIN CAPITAL CONTINUES NATIONAL GROWTH WITH INVESTMENT IN DONCASTER GODWIN CAPITAL a leading investment company has completed the purchase of a site in Watch House Lane, Bentley, Doncaster. The land has been acquired to create build-to-rent (BTR) homes for the local community.

KIER CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF WORKING WITH THE YORK HOSPITAL NHS TRUST BY HANDING OVER ENDOSCOPY UNIT Kier is pleased to announce the completion of York Hospital’s new Endoscopy Unit, developed on behalf of York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and marking 15 years of Kier and the Trust working in partnership.

The new unit increases the hospital’s capacity for endoscopy services from three rooms to seven. The new build unit is two storeys high with a link bridge connecting the new unit to the main hospital corridors at first floor level.

Built on top of York Hospital’s existing physiotherapy building, the Endoscopy Unit has a gold cladding and the design for the unit has proved to be complex construction as the building was land locked on three sides and could only be built out form the furthest point The facility aims to become one of the UK’s biggest and most advanced endoscopy units. It will allow the Trust to considerably increase the number of endoscopy procedures it delivers to accommodate rising demand while improving the efficiency of the process and patient flow.

Kier is currently delivering a number of schemes across Yorkshire and is currently on site delivering the PET MRI scheme in Sheffield.

The scheme is a new build twostorey concrete framed extension to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital for a new PET MRI facility.

Andrew Mitchell, group investment director at Godwin Capital said: “This is an important scheme for us to develop 60 two and three bedroom houses specifically for the rental market.

The UK is currently experiencing a housing shortage crisis and this investment will bring much needed housing stock to the local area and community.

It will be our first investment in Doncaster delivering quality family homes specifically for rent.

“We are keen to engage with companies and land owners who are seeking joint venture opportunities, bringing together our investment expertise and third party development sites.”

This investment follows a period of sustained growth for Godwin Group which includes the launch of its London office last year.

With its head office in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, Godwin Capital also has regional offices in Nottingham and Birmingham.

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Feature - Building Materials

THE BUILDING MATERIALS OF TOMORROW How innovative engineers are cutting back on carbon emissions and solving the housing crisis with the latest technology.

The skeleton of modern society is a cocktail of brick, wood, steel, concrete and glass. All of these materials are – at the present moment – relatively cheap and ubiquitous, though we are moving to a point in time where we can no longer ignore the questions of sustainability and the carbon emissions that arise with their discussion.

It is estimated that up to 30 per cent of all building materials produced end up on a landfill site – a heartbreaking figure at huge environmental cost.

Then there is the issue of climate change. If humanity is to meet its targets of reducing carbon emissions to pre-industrial levels by 2050, then we will need to start removing approximately 12 billion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year until then. The cement industry alone accounts for around 6 per cent of all carbon emissions dumped into the air annually, of 4.1 gigatonnes.

So it’s no wonder that our most innovative engineers are already thinking of a world post-bricks and mortar, to a more sustainable world.

Let’s look at some of the methods and materials that could dominate the construction world tomorrow: Polyurethane foams that trap carbon Polyurethane foams are widespread in manufacturing and can be found in furniture upholstery, mattresses, car sears and housing insulation. At current

the production of polyurethane foams releases carbon emissions, but scientists at Econic Technologies in Manchester have found a way to repurpose carbon emissions to ‘feed’ the production of the polymer itself to develop a carbon negative housing insulation. This would not only absorb carbon already in the air but – if implemented nationally to replace the current insulation in the UK’s housing – would be the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road in emissions.

Using carbon as a building material in itself Carbon storage is possible but the technology to do so is expensive and, to some degree, even discouraged.

One way to turn this around would be to start thinking of carbon as a valuable building material instead.

The Terminal One of San Francisco International Airport, for example, is made out of party captured CO2 that has been transformed into rock.

Turning carbon into rock can indirectly slash emissions, also. For example, buildings are constructed from rocks that have to be excavated and transported across the world. Turning carbon into rock can be done near construction sites, cutting down on unnecessary transport costs and greenhouse emissions.

Carbon is also safely locked away once it is stored into rock – for millions of years. It can only be released if bathed in a strong acid or heated up to 700 degrees Celsius.

‘Programmable’ cement Less cement may have to be produced if we can make it less porous, and that’s exactly what scientists are working on today.

Concrete is used ubiquitously in construction. It likely surrounds you, for most of the day. Cement gets porous as it sets; because when it sets the particles within it form randomly, leaving plenty of space in-between.

But a team of scientists at Rice

University (Texas) think they have away to ‘programme’ cement and artificially determine how its particles form.

This ‘artificial influence’ involves tweaking the molecular structure and manufacturing shapes such as diamonds, cubes, and even spheres.

By creating shapes inside the cement in this way, scientists can lock them together and close out the porous gaps in-between. This can make the programmable cement set harder and tighter, preventing moisture from getting through.

Programmable cement is an exciting development because it could solve the only real weakness in the cementsteel alliance. Most of our structures are made from steel and cement – as cement and steel naturally complement each other. But where cement’s porosity can weaken steel and cause it to rust, programmable steel will prevent that.

Ceramic ‘breathing’ panels As anyone who lives in a hot country knows, air conditioning is very expensive and energy-consuming.

Luckily, researchers at the IAAC architecture school in Barcelona are closing in on a solution that they believe could slash energy bills by a third.

The IAAC have built ceramic panels that they have dubbed ‘hydroceramics’. They panels work like this: they are designed to fit on to the sides of buildings, creating a façade stuffed with insoluble polymers capable of absorbing up to 500 times their own weight in water (the IAAC call these polymers ‘hydrogels’).

Then, as the day gets hotter, the water begins to evaporate from the polymers. The temperature comes down as the water escapes.

The IAAC believe that this evaporation process can cool an entire building by up to six degrees Celsius; presenting a healthy, natural method of airconditioning.

Conclusion The knowledge and the entrepreneurship are already there and primed to move us away from the traditional building materials that are rising in costs – and that we take for granted. What is needed now is the will and belief (investment) to really force that next step. Then, and only then, can we really advance into a more sustainable age.

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Cameron Dean is a copywriter and lift repair engineer for RJ Lifts, with a background in construction project management.

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Fire detection solutions for healthcare environments: The importance of preventing false alarms

By Anja Schäfers, Product Marketing Manager, Fire Detection at Johnson Controls The healthcare industry is a challenging environment when considering fire detection solutions.

From hospitals and mental health centers, to small GP practices, healthcare facilities can often be made up of multiple buildings spread across a large complex with patients in varying degrees of dependency.

In the event of an alarm, some patients will need assistance to evacuate. For those in critical conditions, evacuation can be extremely challenging - one such situation is when fire occurs in an operating theatre. Treatment disruption in the event of an alarm or false alarm could potentially result in very severe consequences such as personal injury or death.

Prevention of false alarms is key The occurrence of a false alarm is detrimental to the operation of any healthcare facility. Such instances lead to disruption of service and impact upon patient care. They can also lead to unnecessary risk to those required to respond to the alarm raised, and in some cases increased costs. Given the severe impact false alarms can have on healthcare premises, it is crucial to minimise their occurrence.

Hospital meeting room

Research into alarms at acute healthcare premises show that cooking is by far the first cause of false alarms, followed by contractor activities, electrical faults, steam, illicit smoking, call point activation, and dust. False alarms from cooking are predominantly exhibited in residences and ward areas, while false alarms generated by contractor activities are reported across all hospital areas with no significant variation between the different areas protected.

So how do we prevent these alarms?

Effort needs to start from the design stage and throughout the system lifecycle.

One efficient way to reduce false alarms is to use multi-sensor detectors which include a smoke, heat and Carbon Monoxide sensor elements. These can be configured to provide a more sensitive or more resilient detection mode, the latter being able to diminish false alarms in some of the most difficult applications.

The possibility to set different detection modes and sensitivity

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Kitchen with multi-sensor detectors

Operation Theatre

levels for day and night enables to reduce false alarms without decreasing the protection level of the premises.

Furthermore, the use of multi-sensor detectors is ideal to increase the flexibility of the building over time.

In case of change of occupancy and/or activity in a room or area, the method of fire detection within that room should be reviewed and if the room is protected by a multisensor detector a simple software configuration change will solve the problem without the need of any physical change to the system.

Saving lives starts from design Fire detection and alarm systems in healthcare premises are primarily intended to protect life, but they also have a role in protecting property. Early warning of fire can also be of benefit in minimising disruption to the functioning of premises and in ensuring prompt resumption of service.

Lastly, in planning a fire alarm system, it is important to establish the design and operational requirements for the system at an early stage. These must take into account the overall fire safety strategy and its specific evacuation procedures. The specifier/designer of the system should therefore consult all those concerned with the design and operation of the system.

For more information on designing and planning of a fire detection system for healthcare premises please click here.

The

OFFSITE Construction Show

ExCeL, London 20 & 21 November, 2019 Supported by

Now in it’s 5th great year!

The 2019 edition is the 5th OFFSITE Construction Show during which time it has become Europe’s Number 1 Offsite Event!

Located in London, the UK’s capital city - a significant factor in not only attracting senior executives from UK industry, government and utlities but also a truly international audience, with 59 countries having taken part in the 2018 edition of the show.

Over 4000 attendees, including senior personnel from the UK’s largest developers and constructors.

Up to 60 exhibitors, showing products across a complete range of offsite construction technology.

Organised in association with Program of CPD approved

, the trusted voice of the UK Offsite industry. seminars - completely FREE OF CHARGE!

organised Masterclasses and Conversation Areas - FREE OF CHARGE! The Offsite Construction Show is a proven, established event - a safe investment of your capital.

REGISTER NOW for your FREE entrance ticket - www.offsiteconstructionshow.co.uk

To book your stand or for more information on exhibiting at the show, please call Maddie Maclellan on +44 (0) 203 086 9296 extension 3 or email her on maddie@offsiteconstructionshow.co.uk

Exhibition

The UK’s “Blue Riband” Offsite Construction Event all set for it’s 5th year!

Doors open on November 20th, 2019 at London’s ExCeL exhibition centre for edition 5 of this top class event specialising in offsite construction (OSC).

According to show director, Steven Callaghan, offsite construction (OSC) is now more in the news than at any time since he launched the show in 2015.

“Housing shortages in the UK, in particular the lack of affordable housing, have seen OSC advanced as something that could make a major contribution to solving these particular problems. This has lead to a wider appreciation of the other benefits of OSC such as improved quality of the finished product and, vitally, improvements in health and safety at work.

Shortages of skilled labour are another good reason why OC needs to be considered very seriously – many employers are finding that current entrants to the workplace are less enthusiastic about working on a windswept building site than their fathers and forefathers, this is the digital generation” Steven adds.

Head of Sales, Maddie Maclellan takes up the story.

“We organise the show in association with London based organization, buildoffsite, (www.buildoffsite.com) who we call the ‘voice of the offsite construction industry’. They are a membership based organization who sole role is to promote the use of offsite construction technology and it only takes a brief glance at their list of members online to see the extent of their influence – it’s a real who’s who of end clients, contractors, manufacturers even government departments.

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“A very popular feature of the Offsite Construction Show is the buildoffsite Seminar Theatre and I’m pleased to confirm that it will be making an appearance once again in 2019. The programme is yet to be published but for a flavor of what can be expected, please follow this link to see details of the 2018 presentations in the programme of events - https://www.buildoffsite. com/content/uploads/2017/12/ Day-1_Programme-for-website-2. pdf - there is also a series of Masterclasses plus the show’s own

seminar theatre and programme and it’s all absolutely free of charge”, says Maddie.

The organisers feel that the show’s high turn out and excellent visitor quality is strongly influenced by it’s location in London, one of the Worlds most dynamic cities and the home to many spectacular flagship OSC projects. “London ExCeL is located in the heart of the Docklands and is a truly World class venue,” continues Steven Callaghan, “with superb facilities for visitors and visitors,” and nowhere is this more evident than with it’s communication links, he stresses.

“Visiting the show could not be easier,” says Maddie, whether by public transport or by your own car. “ExCeL has 2 of it’s it’s own onsite DLR Stations (Docklands Light Railway) and this is the most popular way of travelling to the show – fast, cheap and efficient however if you do prefer to come under your own steam, the venue has an underground parking garage with over 3000 spaces.”

“Register online on the show website – www.offsiteconstructionshow. co.uk - for your free entrance ticket beforehand, it will save you time on arrival at the show hall’.

According to the organisers, this means that the show has easy access to the many thousands of senior construction, design and specifying personnel based in the capital city, as well as both central and local government.

In 2018 the show was attended by over 4,000 people, a record attendance, and a similar number are expected in 2019, with up to 100 exhibitors anticipated to show at the latest event, ranging from specialist manufacturers of offsite buildings, construction technology and design to product supply chain producers and the 2019 show will feature at least 20% brand new, first time exhibitors.

“The show is THE place in the UK to do offsite business” says Maddie and we cater for all aspects of the process – whether your reason for visiting is to learn more about OSC with a view to incorporating it in your future projects or to look to develop your supply chain, the show has something to offer you,” concludes Maddie.

Evinox’s HIU utility cupboard on Display at Offsite Construction Show

Stand number c15

The Offsite Construction show brings together Professionals from design, construction and innovation from all over the construction Industry to discover new products, materials and technologies. Taking place on the the 20th & 21st November at ExCeL London, visitors can meet specialists and suppliers from all over the Industry and attend seminars and masterclass sessions.

Visit Evinox Energy at stand C15 where they will be displaying the ModuSat® FUSION prefabricated HIU utility cupboard, which offers the ‘perfect fit’ for communal and district heat network developments. Cupboards are supplied fully fitted, pre-tested and ready to install on-site, complete with Heat Interface Unit (HIU), Cooling Interface Unit (CIU) (Optional), Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery unit (MVHR) and all associated piping and electricals.

The ‘smart’ choice for efficiency ModuSat® FUSION offers the unique combination of ultracompact design with ‘smart’ high efficiency HIU performance, with features including - timed Keep-Warm functionality, which allows for minimal use of heat network energy; high performance at low temperatures to meet the GLA requirements & SAP; DHW return temps under 25 degrees, as recommended in CIBSE Code of Practice, and the ability to deliver an excellent VWART! - all backed up by Independent testing to the UK standard from BESA with published results.

Find out more about the benefits of installing ModuSat FUSION Prefabricated HIU Cupboards and Evinox’s ‘Smart’ HIU technology by visiting Stand C15 at The Offsite Construction Show 20th & 21st November at ExCeL London. ®

For more information and to register to attend for free visit offsiteconstructionshow.co.uk

Tilcor can bring over 70 years’ worth of experience to the Offsite and Modular Construction industry with its steel pressed metal roofing system.

Stand number B5

Alternative Heat have been leading the way in offering our clients bespoke solutions to traditional construction methods.

Solutions that offer unrivalled consistency, pre-determined quality and drastically less wastage than the standard legacy products currently available in today’s market. Fabricated year round in a BIM coordinated, factory-controlled environment, our dedicated production lines ensure a high level of productivity with minimal delays onsite.

We specialise in the design, fabrication and installation of a wide range of offsite prefabricated products. Installed as a fully integrated system, it comprises of prefabricated MEP Utility Cupboards, prefabricated Lateral & Riser Modules, a Modular Packaged Plantroom or Modular Plant Skid and everything in between.

We employ a strong team of design engineers, CAD technicians, contracts managers and skilled trades personnel who utilise their vast industry experience to assist in the design, fabrication and delivery of our bespoke offsite solutions throughout the UK and Ireland.

For more information on what we do and what our team can offer, come along to the Offsite Construction Show and visit us on stand B5.

www.evinoxenergy.co.uk/smartheat-interface-units/modusathiurange/fusion

Lightweight, low maintenance roofing system

Alternative Heat have been at the forefront of Offsite innovation within the Commercial Energy sector for over 16 years, supplying a wide range of unique products and services to the UK market. Our innovative solutions offer a multitude of benefits to our clients, to the communities they operate in and to the environment.

www.alternativeheat.co.uk

Stand number C5

Tilcor Roofing Systems offer exceptional strength and durability, standing up to the harshest environments. Watertight and fire resistant, our pressed steel roofing tiles can withstand hurricane-force winds.

They can provide protection to high impact and can adapt to roof pitches lower than conventional materials with aesthetics to match traditional roof coverings.

Tilcor tiles are suited to applications for residential, public sector and commercial pitched roofs and all products are covered by our company backed 50-year warranty and BBA Accreditation.

Tilcor Roof systems can offer a considerable weight saving when compared to other roof coverings leading to value added design of any given structure, add in the improvement in installation time, it is the perfect system to complement the advancement in offsite and modular construction.

NEW ALL-IN-ONE LICENCE PLATE READER IS THE SIMPLE AND ACCESSIBLE SOLUTION FOR AUTOMATIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION People and vehicle access control specialist Nortech is now offering Nedap’s ANPR Lumo, an advanced licence plate camera for vehicle access control.

The ANPR Lumo is an all-in-one licence plate camera, including embedded software, analyser and IR illuminator. With a range of action of 2 to 10 metres, the advanced camera ensures a smooth recognition of vehicles.

Typical applications include vehicle access control, automatic toll collection, free flow applications at parking facilities or other situations in which it not desirable to issue RFID tags. If vehicles need to be granted access temporarily or incidentally, the licence plate camera is the perfect solution. Features include: • • • •

Standalone solution High accuracy Libraries User-friendly configuration

• • • •

REST interface Easy installation Communication interfaces Wiegand interface

Tilcor tiles are made of the highest quality steel and covered in our natural granulated coating. Because of its steel core it is 100% recyclable and provides added health and safety benefits as no dust suppression or respiratory equipment is needed when being cut.

www.tilcor.com

Stand No. C5

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

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BELLWAY LONDON PARTNERSHIPS HAS PLANS APPROVED FOR 35 AFFORDABLE HOMES IN CRAYFORD A disused industrial site in Crayford will be transformed into a development of 35 affordable homes as part of plans by Bellway London Partnerships.

The development in Maiden Lane will create new houses and apartments along the banks of the River Cray.

Plans were approved for the development on 5th September

by Bexley Council, with councillors voting eight to one in favour of the development, praising Bellway for supporting a fully affordable scheme in Crayford.

The homes will be among the first to be built by the newly established Bellway division, which was set up in February to increase the supply of low-cost homes in London.

Under the plans, a locally listed barn, most recently used as an auction house, will be carefully taken down and rebuilt using as many of the existing materials as can be preserved.

In addition, Bellway will build two coach houses, 11 houses and a block of 20 apartments.

Access to the riverbank alongside the River Cray would also be re-opened for use once the development is complete.

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Dan Brady, Development Director of Bellway London Partnerships, said: “Our plans will bring forward a redundant brownfield site to deliver new affordable housing for Crayford.

There will be 26 homes available for shared ownership, providing opportunities for local people to take their first step on the housing ladder, and nine for affordable rent.

“Bellway London Partnerships is committed to creating highquality housing in the private and affordable sector, and design has been at the forefront of this scheme throughout the early stages of the planning process. The artist’s impressions demonstrate how we would create an attractive development which would enhance the area while helping to meet

the demand for more affordable homes.”

The development will include 23 two-bedroom homes, seven three-bedroom homes and five four-bedroom homes. Parking will be provided for 47 cars and there would be storage for 42 bicycles.

Most of the existing trees on the site will be preserved and more will be introduced, while additional planting will also take place along the riverbank.

With plans for the development approved, Bellway London Partnerships will commence on site later this year and deliver the new homes to their partnered housing association at the end of 2020.

Housing News in Edinburgh and the wider regional economy.

Rob Greaves, Director for HGD commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership to deliver what we hope is the first of many schemes in Scotland.

Ben Hall, Head of Investment for QIP said: “Despite the uncertainties of Brexit, UK PBSA remains an attractive asset class and Edinburgh is proving especially buoyant as one of the top student accommodation investment markets. With world-class universities there is strong demand for student accommodation, boosting investor confidence, and this is especially true for Asian investors.”

PURCHASE OF 198 BED STUDENT ACCOMMODATION DEVELOPMENT SITE ON LONDON ROAD, EDINBURGH Q Investment Partners (QIP) and HG Developments (HGD) have purchased a 198-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) site in Edinburgh from property developer, Summix, enabling the delivery of a £30 million development.

This is the first venture north of the border for QIP, a Singapore-based private equity real estate firm and HGD, a UK-based developer The purchase also marks the launch of a long-term strategic partnership between QIP and HGD. The companies are establishing an institutional PBSA platform as they seek to increase their investment in this established sector. Summix also hopes to work with the partners on delivering new sites moving forward.

serve to redevelop a brownfield site which was formerly in commercial retail use.

This mixed-use building will be a contemporary state of the art development comprising a mix of clusters and studios together with a community/office space, student common areas, a laundry and cycle parking.

The development will deliver an estimated £15 million of investment in its construction and will also bring significant vitality, economic and social benefits to this part of Meadowbank, estimated to generate 85 jobs through the construction period.

It has also been estimated that the students from this development will generate c. £1.8 million in additional expenditure on items such as food, clothes and eating out. This expenditure has the capacity to support a further 15 jobs in the retail, leisure and transport sectors

Stuart Black from Summix commented:

It is great to be working in partnership with QIP and HGD as they begin work on this scheme, their first venture north of the border. We look forward to working with them on future deals.

“This development will serve to address the increasing demand for student accommodation, fulfilling the ambitious growth plans of worldleading universities in the city, which are key drivers of the economy. It will also help to reduce pressure on the private housing market as well as delivering a substantial amount in additional expenditure into the local economy.”

While this is the first project that QIP and HGD have worked together on, both companies have a longstanding track record in PBSA extending over a decade.

The high-quality purpose-built student accommodation site on London Road was approved by City of Edinburgh Council in June.

Located opposite Meadowbank Stadium and in in close proximity to the city centre, the development will

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Latest News

DESPITE SURGE IN SEARCHES SOME HIGHWAYS PROJECTS ARE STILL PUTTING THE UK’S UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE AT RISK A record 62% of all UK excavation work, including highways projects, is now preceded by a thorough search for underground assets, such as pipes and cables, according to Digging Up Britain 2019. The report by LSBUD (Linesearch BeforeUdig), which provides a free to use online asset search facility, shows that there were 2,585,862 searches made through its portal last year - a 14% increase on the previous year. As a result, almost a quarter of a million more potential asset strikes were averted.

Of the searches, 360,000 related to highways projects, an increase of 18% on the previous year. Almost four in ten (38%) were for the installation of street furniture, 18% related to road resurfacing, 13% were for linear projects, 3% for gully works and 1% for traffic calming measures.

Interestingly, 3% of searches related to road/track construction projects, a significant 17% decrease on the previous year.

Despite the promising increases, the report suggests that more than 1.5 million projects out of an estimated total of 4 million – including those on highways – still took place last year without a detailed search for underground assets being completed. This equates to 38%, or a dig every 21 seconds.

Richard Broome, Managing Director of LSBUD, comments: “We have record numbers of searches going through our system – one every 12 seconds, and it is fantastic to see those working around the UK’s roads increasingly checking for any pipes or cables before they put a spade or digger in the ground. However, it is worrying that nearly four in ten projects are still being completed without a proper search – leaving workers and the UK’s utility infrastructure at risk.”

LSBUD’s report explores the costs of asset strikes, sharing data from a study by the University of Birmingham.

Factoring in indirect costs such as worker ill-health or injuries caused by a strike plus traffic disruption, impact on the immediate neighbourhood, loss of custom to local businesses and so forth, the true cost of an asset strike is 29 times the direct cost; for every £1,000 of direct cost arising from a utility strike the true cost is £29,000.

According to LSBUD’s study, the risk of such expensive asset strikes is being exacerbated by the growing volume of emergency work taking place. It reports that emergency enquiries increased by 88% last year. If these figures are indicative of what’s happening nationally, of the 4 million jobs completed, 216,000 were emergency related.

Richard Broome adds: “This spike in emergency projects is worrying. If an asset isn’t registered with our portal, the firm doing the digging will need to deal with the asset owner directly and that can take up to 28 days. This time scale does not fit with the idea of an ‘emergency’ – so corners may be cut, and assets struck due to the need for speed.”

LSBUD’s report bears this out, suggesting a strong correlation between the severity of a strike and the nature of work being carried out – incidents are twice as likely to occur on jobs that are medium or high risk than on planned work.

Richard Broome, concludes:

Worker and public safety are obviously the primary concerns when an asset is hit, but beyond this the direct and the hidden costs can quickly escalate and that’s not to mention the damage to the contractor’s reputation in what’s often their local area. That’s why we urge all those involved in any form of highway projects to always conduct a search.

It’s free, fast, we’ve the majority of the UK’s utility infrastructure registered with us and the figure is growing quickly. So there’s no excuse not to do so.

We also encourage the remaining asset owners not on our portal to make their information available through us. There is a safety in numbers – the more information we have, the more people will use it, the safer the UK’s workforce and assets become.

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According to the report, of the UK’s 1.5 million kilometres of underground utility infrastructure, about 800,000 kilometres is currently covered by LSBUD’s collaborative portal; this is a 23% increase on last year.

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• Architects, specifiers, building designers & surveyors • Local & central government agencies • Investment agencies • Product manufacturers, service suppliers & consultants ** The Conference ** After the huge success of the 5 previous events, the Conference has firmly become the industry’s leading forum for thought leadership in UK regeneration and economic development.

REGEN 2019 Welcome to Regen 2019, the 6th Annual free-to-attend Exhibition, Conference & Networking Event for the UK Regeneration Industry.

All of the statements and facts below are taken from individual Council’s / company’s official website, and are the precise reason that Regen was launched 5 years ago and is now firmly established as the regeneration industry’s leading forum. Urban & rural regeneration is a massive industry in its own right, and continues to transform the prosperity of every town and city in the UK. Whether you wish to exhibit with us to market or sell your products and services, attract new investment, or establish new long-term business contacts and relationships, visit to meet potential suppliers or partners, or attend the conference to learn, discuss and debate the hot topics in regeneration, Regen offers

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something for everyone involved in the industry. ** The Exhibition ** For the 50+ exhibitors, Regen is expected to once again sell out of available exhibition space, and will provide significant sales and business development opportunities whilst also offering an outstanding networking platform. Delegates from around the UK from all the following sectors, will converge on Liverpool, and as such represents a unique opportunity not to be missed.

• Urban & rural regeneration industry professionals • Procurement Depts. of Town, City & County Councils, Local Planning Authorities • Main contractors, construction companies • Commercial, industrial & residential property developers • Housing associations & house builders • Town planners & urban design • Civil & structural engineers

The 24 speaker Conference can be found on the relevant page of our website, and will once again address the latest issues in urban & rural regeneration, policy and implementation, highlighting the key successes made in major towns and cities, in areas such as city centre and waterfront redevelopments.

As Regeneration is about people, place, economic growth and investment which can create sustainable and resilient communities, the Conference will examine the challenges that face towns and cities, in terms of economic development, housing and neighbourhood renewal, and will bring delegates together with policy experts, real-life case studies and industry leaders. ** The Drinks Reception / Networking Evening ** As the Exhibition & Conference finishes for the day on Wednesday 6 November, we move straight into the free–to–attend, complimentary 2 hour drinks reception & networking evening with hundreds of industry colleagues, from 5.00pm - 7.00pm.

The Regen Team Phone: 0845 467 3303 Website: www.regen2019.co.uk Email: info@regen2019.co.uk

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Company News

WILLMOTT DIXON TEAMS UP WITH ST ALBANS DISTRICT COUNCIL AGAIN FOR LEISURE AND CULTURAL COMPLEX A year after Willmott Dixon handed over St Albans’ award winning Museum and Gallery, the company is working again with St Albans District Council to deliver a new leisure and cultural centre in Harpenden.

The £17m contract, which was procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework, will see Willmott Dixon extend and alter the existing swimming pool building in Rothamsted Park to provide an improved main pool, as well as new 17 metre-long learner pool, a sports hall, dance studios and a larger gym plus new changing rooms, a steam room, sauna and reception area.

The company will also transform the adjacent sports facility into

Harpenden Cultural Centre with a 511-seat theatre which will host national and local touring productions, building on Willmott Dixon’s track-record of creating or improving major cultural venues such as Alexandra Palace’s east wing, Bristol’s Colston Hall and delivering a new home for the Design Museum.

Work on this project, which also includes creating a 92 space car park, will complete in autumn 2020.

The new investment replaces facilities, such as the Harpenden Public Halls entertainment venue, revitalising the leisure and culture services provided in Harpenden.

Last year, Willmott Dixon transformed St Albans Town Hall into a museum

and art gallery rejuvenating the cultural life of the city. The extension and refurbishment has also created public meeting spaces as well as being a showcase for over 2,000 years of heritage and hosting cutting-edge art exhibitions.

The transformation of the Town Hall was recognised by the Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards in 2018 where it was given the Retrofit for the Future award and commended in the Project of the Year category.

The person who led the site team, Jon Allworth, who is also leading on the Harpenden project, is up for a Construction Manager of the Year award this September for his work delivering the new Museum and Gallery.

THOMAS BOW WINS £36M LEICESTERSHIRE FRAMEWORK BID CIVIL ENGINEERING and surfacing firm Thomas Bow City Asphalt has successfully secured a multimillion pound Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council framework contract to deliver road repair works across the county.

The four-year patching contract worth a total of £36 million - will see Thomas Bow act as the principal contractor for the project. The firm will be responsible for more than 3,000 miles of road and deliver everything from traffic management, road marking, road planning and surfacing for the scheme.

Alistair Bow, sixth generation managing director at Thomas Bow, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City

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Council as it’s not only a really significant contract but the work really complements our stronghold across the East Midlands.

“The framework win has also allowed us to take on a further two surfacing teams – a total of 19 full time roles – as well as invest in new equipment such as pavers and vehicles. As a firm, we have extensive experience working across the Midlands and Yorkshire, so this appointment will help boost the work we’re already doing in the region.

“We’ve had an excellent few years here at Thomas Bow – from our 150th anniversary in 2017 to securing Highway England framework win via a joint venture with Breedon Southern Limited in 2018, this contract provides a great support to 2019.”

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Education News

SIR PATRICK STEWART PAID A FLYING VISIT TO THE UNIVERSITY’S NEW £30M BARBARA HEPWORTH BUILDING The University was delighted to welcome its Emeritus Chancellor, Sir Patrick Stewart, for an unexpected visit to the campus, which afforded the world-famous actor the opportunity to view the University’s new £30 million flagship building.

The Barbara Hepworth Building was officially opened during the recent July awards ceremonies and will be the new home for the University’s School of Art, Design and Architecture and over 2,000 students who will share the extensive space and facilities.

Sir Patrick, who finished filming the new Star Trek: Picard television series just a week ago, returned to the UK and was, as they say ‘just passing’, so he phoned to see if it would be possible to visit.

“We’re always delighted to welcome Sir Patrick to the University and he was very keen to view the latest addition to our campus, the Barbara Hepworth Building,” said the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan.

Sir Patrick was overwhelmed by the dynamic, state-of-the-art facility,

which is designed to act as a “catalyst for creativity, collaboration and learning” and will ensure that Huddersfield’s creative students will have access to some of the most advanced facilities in the country.

Star Trek: Picard Sir Patrick has just finished filming the television series, Star Trek: Picard, which will see him revisit the role of Jean Luc Picard from the Star Trek franchise as captain of the Starship Enterprise, but this time will be different from his time directing operations on the ship’s bridge.

“I don’t regard it as going back, in fact, we are definitely moving the series forward and that’s what made the difference for me,” said Sir Patrick, who initially turned the part down twice.

“It was a very difficult decision,” admitted the Shakespearean actor.

He was eventually persuaded when the producers explained in detail how they were going to progress the series and that it would be a vastly different world for the former starship captain and far from a walk down memory lane.

The new series – broadcast dates still to be announced – is set 20 years after the last moment of its famous predecessor series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ran from 1987 to 1994. It’s a new world, says the actor, who describes Picard as a man who has undergone disappointment, trauma and serious loss and, at first, not remotely the same man as he was.

“We are looking at a new world with new objectives, problems and issues that could not have been raised when we were making The Next Generation and I found that very exciting,” said Sir Patrick, who viewed the first three episodes just last week before flying back to the UK. “It’s very exciting and people will be surprised and perhaps even shocked.”

And will we see him back on stage?

“Oh yes!” came the answer.

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“I am not giving up my stage work, though it may have to wait for now because there are three projects that I have finished, two films and the TV series, which all need promotion.

So I am clearing the decks for that and then there is also the possibility of a second Picard series filming in March next year.”

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SikaBit, the Safe2Torch reinforced bitumen roofing system from Sika, has been used to upgrade the roof of a social housing block in the London Borough of Southwark as part of a full refurbishment delivered by Paragon Interserve (Interserve Construction Ltd).

Hambro Roofing proposed using the SikaBit system after seeing the advantages of SikaBit’s advanced SBS/APAO hybrid technology, which has been specially-formulated to combine the flexibility and tensile strength benefits of SBS bitumen with the hardwearing properties and U/V stability of APAO. The SikaBit roofing system was installed as an overlay. It was specified as part of a warm roof build-up, which also included SikaTherm tapered insulation to improve drainage by introducing falls and directing direct run-off water to existing drainage outlets.

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Mark Robinson, contracts manager at Hambro Roofing comments: “We were extremely impressed with the SikaBit Safe2Torch system and how it performed on this project in delivering a great finish across the whole roof area.”

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Effective limescale prevention is explained in detail on Cistermiser’s new-look Combimate website Combimate, Cistermiser’s proven and popular limescale prevention device, is presented on an eye-catching new website (combimate.co.uk) which has been designed to appeal to housing specifiers, installers and homeowner customers alike.

Available in a choice of models for 15mm or 2mm pipework, Combimate keeps domestic water systems clear of limescale and energy costs down. Combimate is WRAS approved and uses Combiphos spheres to efficiently dose the water, as required. This 100% safe, food-grade natural material stops scale build-up on taps, boilers and appliances.

The new website explains the benefits of phosphate dosing in detail, with helpful FAQs and informative User Guides to ensure that consumers get the most out of their Combimate, which is commonly installed to prevent limescale formation in hard water areas but will also reduce the effects of soft water corrosion.

“Our new Combimate website is fully-responsive, so it looks great on all device formats including mobiles and tablets” says Cistermiser’s Marketing Manager Mark Schlotel. “The improved webstore functionality is definitely a big step forward. We now offer increased payment options with rapid emailing of order acknowledgments back to purchasers.

Homeowner customers who have previously registered an installed Combimate for extended warranty cover can also conveniently purchase their Combiphos refill pack online, at a special discount price.”

Combimate can be fitted to provide limescale protection for whole house water supplies (which requires an annual

top-up of a complete 800g refill bag of Combiphos) or single appliances such as a combi boiler (which requires half a refill bag of Combiphos to top-up the unit each year). Cistermiser is happy to provide a “reminder service” on request, with a choice of postal letter or email sent on a chosen calendar month to remind homeowners to keep their Combimate topped-up for optimum performance.

“In the past we have sold Combiphos refills online together with essential spare parts,” continues Mark, “but now homeowners have the option of purchasing a brand new Combimate unit directly from us, the manufacturer.

Most consumers prefer to employ a professional to fit their Combimate, but installation is a straightforward task for capable DIY-ers with a sound grasp of basic plumbing skills.” www.combimate.co.uk

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Short of time for learning and networking? Here’s seven reasons not to miss UK Construction Week We all know we need to get out more. How else will we meet new people, learn new things, find new ideas and discover new products?

Yet the pressure on our time is unrelenting. It can be difficult to justify time out of the office with all those deadlines looming and emails piling up.

The internet provides part of the answer, of course. But the smartest solution for busy construction professionals is choosing days out that can be crammed with as much value as possible. By taking advantage of UK Construction Week (UKCW) you can tick off all the above at one event.

If you’re not yet registered to attend the UK’s largest construction event, here are seven things that ought to convince you to pop over to the NEC on 8-10 October.

1. Products, products everywhere New products are always being developed to meet different and emerging needs. Staying up to date with all the latest technology is essential to find the right product for the job. So, if you need to source a new heat pump, find a new sustainable material, discover new roofing products or even new BIM software, then look no further than UKCW. With over 10,000 products being showcased at the event, it’s

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the ideal marketplace to source your new product. With eight different sections ranging from build to timber and from surfaces to civils everything you need is right there under one roof.

Exhibitors include Marley Plumbing and Drainage who will showcase a range of above and below ground plumbing and drainage products for residential and commercial properties. While Rawlplug is celebrating its 100 years of expertise in fixings, fasteners and tools.

2. That lucky encounter Year after year, visitors at UKCW say they won new work as a result of a planned meeting or a chance encounter at the show. People do business with people – and with 35,000 visitors set to attend UKCW, that is a lot of potential leads.

Meeting face to face is the most engaging way to do business and UKCW can facilitate that. If you have spotted a business that you want to connect with contact them through the exhibitors’ portal and arrange the meeting in advance.

4,000 business meetings were booked by UKCW visitors prior to the show last year, and exhibitors reported that they had generated 70,000 new business leads at the event. To help with meetings, there’s a new business and networking lounge with free WIFI.

3. Genuine innovation, not another widget You could leave the future of the industry as a surprise. But where’s the business sense in that? Disruptors are now present in many different markets, so this year UKCW is shining a spotlight on the serious changemakers in construction. To aid the search, a new Innovation Zone has been established in partnership with the Construction Innovation Hub (the Hub).

Another new addition for this year is the Innovation Station in partnership with On the Tools. This is a demonstration area specifically for power tools, with all the latest biscuit jointers and heavy-duty bench grinders from top trade brands in action. Visitors can pick up tips from the experts on how to get the most from their range, try out the latest products, and cut a deal with the manufacturers as show discounts will apply.

UK Construction Week Show Preview

MMC, digital construction, energy and HVAC, surfaces and materials, timber and the workplace. There’s a new Careers Centre offering workshops on career progression, apprenticeships, staff retention, diversity, career change and new talent.

4. Your own personal industry MBA Condense your strategic business learning into one, two or three days of insights. UKCW brings together more than 300 expert speakers including Mark Farmer who is spearheading policy initiatives on MMC, Professor Birgitte Andersen of the Big Innovation Centre, Chandru Dissanayeke, director of building safety reforms at MHCLG, Keith Waller, programme director at the Construction Innovation Hub, Sarah Beale, chief executive of CITB and Sonia Zahiroddiny, BIM Strategy Manager for HS2. The UKCW main stage is the place to head to. It offers a programme of keynote talks and panel discussions on many of the big issues of the day around Government policy, digital innovation, MMC, sustainability, diversity, housebuilding, productivity and skills.

And if that’s all a bit too high level, get stuck into the details at a wide range of workshops. This year there will be more than 150 hours of CPD content available. The programme will take on a different theme for each day of the show, tackling fire safety, health and wellbeing and sustainability. There are minitheatres covering regeneration,

5. A bit of myth busting on MMC Everyone knows that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are back in vogue, but what is the reality this time? MMC is a strong theme at this year’s UKCW. Full-scale builds will be erected onsite with live demos of MMC technology in action.

Head to the MMC Hub for other digital demos and simulations too.

Examples of the pre-manufactured structures at the show range from a modular care annex for the healthcare sector and a SIPS panel residential building, to a factoryfinished modular bathroom pod for the high end hotel sector, and offsite solutions for the education sector.

Other MMC exhibitors include Quinn Building Products showcasing its pre-cast concrete products and highlighting its design-todelivery service. Ideal Building Systems has been providing offsite accommodation for 25 years, so it will be showcasing its multiple solutions including jackleg units, new modular buildings and steel portable systems. Saint-Gobain Weber will be unveiling a new system which works perfectly as an internal or external component for MMC projects.

6. An experience not easily forgotten To really understand another person, as the saying goes, you

need to walk a mile in their shoes.

So, when did you last get to run a building site? Make a beeline for the Coventry University stand and its site simulator. It’s hailed as one of the most powerful experiences of any construction show. If you’re feeling brave you can step into the site hut, take on the role of the site manager and get first-hand experience of what it’s like to work on a busy project. Not for the faint hearted!

7. Celebrations and a beer festival Everyone enjoys a good awards night and UKCW is no exception.

The show hosts the UKCW Role Model of the year, the new Building Trades Awards with Fix Radio and the new UKCW Construction Awards.

Plus, to encourage young people into construction the iBuiltThis competition is back and the winners will be announced at UKCW. And if you’re not involved in the celebrations, just unwind each day with a beer, some street food and a spot of music. The Fischer bar is in Hall 11 and the Rawlplug bar is in Hall 12. Don’t forget the Beer Festival and of course the ‘Rockaoke’ on Wednesday night.

UKCW is one event with many sections, including Build, Building Tech, Civils, Energy and HVAC, Surface and Materials, and Timber.

It also features Concrete Expo (8-9 October only) and Grand Designs Live (9-10 October only).

Single registration gives access to all areas of the show. For further information follow @UK_CW or search for the hashtag #UKCW2019.

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Feature - Housing

GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR EXTRA CARE HOUSING Darren Heffer, Director, Saunders Boston Architects The purpose of every building, and the people, or industries they serve, requires a variety of different considerations by the architects behind them. However, whether a design should simply fit a purpose, keeping costs low for future inhabitants; create an engaging environment, to encourage learning; or incorporate special design features, to enable a safe and secure space – attention to detail should never be sacrificed. And the most important detail of every design should be the people that will inhabit it and building a sense of community in the space too – especially when it comes to extra care housing.

There are a variety of mandatory guidelines for extra care housing that ensure enough consideration is given to the specific design elements needed to provide quality housing for elderly people – a group that can be overlooked in many areas of society.

However, good design does not stop at box ticking these guidelines - this approach can result in buildings having an institutional feel. While extra care homes must be created in line with guidelines to ensure they are functional and physically safe environments, design elements that encourage mental wellbeing, such as communal areas, are equally important – in fact, for this specific age group, they are vital in ensuring that

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residents are not left feeling isolated or lonely.

A sense of community is essential to the quality of life of residents in extra care homes, and this is something that Saunders Boston Architects takes very seriously when considering the design of these buildings. We allow the community we are designing for to influence the actual design wherever possible; helping us consider elements such as the grouping and layout of apartments, circulation areas where residents will naturally encounter one another, communal facilities, sensory gardens, potting sheds, or allotments spaces. Such consideration helps us go one step further in our design, and is one of the reasons we were recently awarded bronze at the National Housing for Older People Awards for our design of Reynolds Court, a new build sheltered housing project in Newport.

Having been involved in designing extra care housing for over 25 years, I’ve seen a variety of positive changes within the specific area of our industry; for example, simply by increasing awareness of the things that have a positive or negative impact on health and wellbeing, more consideration has been given to the aesthetics instead of just function. Advancements in technology and design technique are also allowing increasingly futureproofed buildings with adaptive layouts; ensuring that residents benefit from a sense of personalisation and pride of place. While these are all positive changes, there’s much more that can be done.

Compared to other countries, the UK has an extremely low percentage of its elderly population housed in age-appropriate accommodation.

This could be explained by the lack of national targets in place regarding housing for elderly people, the

problematic planning regulations that can lead to long and unnecessary negotiations, and the limited areas of public land available for such use.

While these are significant issues, industries are now coming together to better the future of care for elderly people. The Housing LIN, of which I was recently appointed Regional Joint Chair, is uniting the housing, health and social care industries across England, Wales and Scotland in order to exemplify and encourage innovative care housing solutions – such collaboration means that we will be able to lead by example. It’s essential that the infrastructure of care housing changes to one that reflects community, pride, and wellbeing, and the only way that we can do that, is to design such buildings. Through the Housing LIN, and our expertise at Saunders Boston Architects, we will be able to bring together the various industries that provide for the elderly in order to unify our common goal: to ensure the best quality in social care, housing and, ultimately, quality of life.

Author bio: Darren has over 20 years’ architectural experience in the Residential and Retirement Living & Care sectors. Based in Cambridge, he leads a specialist Architectural and Interior Design team in delivering projects nationally for both privately and publicly funded clients. www.saundersboston.co.uk

Offsite Concrete Solutions Concrete systems and elements are a proven construction method that can contribute to the pre-manufactured value (PMV) of any building and infrastructure project.

Concrete is the Modern Method of Construction (MMC) with a UK supply chain, proven structural performance and versatile aesthetic.

Choosing offsite concrete solutions provides the inherent performance benefits of concrete: it does not burn; it provides energy-saving thermal mass and resilience to climate change risks such as overheating and flooding; it is 100% recyclable at end of life.

The Concrete Centre has published a new guide on the benefits and solutions of offsite concrete construction. Download at www.concretecentre.com/ publications Or visit Stand D17 at Offsite Expo www.concretecentre.com @concretecentre Arena Central, Aston Place Development, Birmingham is 22 storeys high and houses 324 apartments.

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CREST NICHOLSON TO LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA, KENT Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson has announced the launch of a brand-new development, Lyewood, in Boughton Monchelsea, near Maidstone, Kent.

Launching on Saturday 31st August, Lyewood will comprise a stylish collection of 46 two, three and fourbedroom homes.

Kent is the ideal destination for home hunters looking for a retreat in the Garden of England, thanks to its village lifestyle and access to plenty of open green space. A selection of homes at Lyewood will be available to purchase using the popular government backed Help to Buy scheme, which enables buyers to take a step on the property ladder and secure their new home with a 5% deposit.

The houses are designed to reflect the local Kentish village architecture, and offer the highest specification throughout, including fully fitted Bosch appliances and Roca bathrooms. The open-plan kitchen and living areas provide flexibility and a perfect area to entertain guests. Homes will also benefit from private gardens ideal for enjoying in the warmer months.

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Annette Cole, Sales & Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Eastern, said: “Our latest development in Kent is a fantastic opportunity for people looking to move to the tranquil countryside, whilst being within easy reach of good transport connections, schools and employment hubs. Lyewood will offer a variety of homes, ideal for everyone from first-time buyers and growing families, to downsizers and empty-nesters.

We’ve already had a lot of interest in this site so we would encourage potential purchasers to register their interest as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Residents at Lyewood will benefit from an abundance of walking routes on their doorsteps as the homes are surrounded by landscaped open green spaces.

Nearby, Maidstone will provide all of the necessary amenities, including leisure and shopping centres and a wide array of supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda. Families will also be well catered for with schools including Boughton Monchelsea Primary School, Tiger Primary School, Cornwalls Academy and Loose Primary School, rated ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, all within a short driving distance from the development.

The development is a short 15 minute drive from Maidstone East train station, which offers direct and regular trains into London Victoria and St Pancras International in an hour’s journey. For those looking to travel by car the M20 and M26 are easily accessible, which lead into the nearby towns of Sevenoaks, Ashford and many more.

Project News

BICESTER WELLBEING PROJECT PAVES THE WAY FOR FUTURE COMMUNITIES A new NHS study, guiding how future developments should be built with wellbeing at their heart, has praised the Healthy Bicester partnership.

Bicester was named alongside nine other places in England as an NHS Healthy New Town in 2016, providing funding for projects encouraging residents to increase their physical activity, think more about their diet and help people to become more involved in their community to combat social isolation.

Three years on, major national guidance, ‘Healthy New Towns, Putting Health into Place’, has now been released by the NHS detailing ten principles which should be adopted, to encourage wellbeing to be planned for and built into new developments.

Several Healthy Bicester initiatives were highlighted in the report, including the 5k health routes (Principle 5, Maximise Active Travel), noting how for every £1 invested in creating the blue-lined walks, £2.10 would be saved over 25 years. The addition of the outdoor gyms, bike repair workshops and effective social media campaigns were also credited with amplifying the project.

Cherwell District Council’s lead member for health and wellbeing, Cllr Andrew McHugh said: “This study backs up what we already know about the Healthy Bicester partnership. We are extremely proud of the positive outcomes of the project and keen to share the learning so future communities across the country can benefit.

of all abilities to get on their bikes and found that Healthy Bicester has increased awareness of her organisation. Monica said: “Active travel is not just about adopting a healthy mode of transport, it can also be lots of fun!

“Getting the message out has not always been easy, but with the support of Healthy Bicester, we’ve seen awareness of our group go up and, more importantly, more people join us on our social cycle rides making them all the more enjoyable.”

Further successes, noted in the report of the programme in Bicester, included the creation of an effective governance and team structure, by bringing together the NHS with Cherwell District Council and community groups (Principle 1, Plan Ahead Collectively), as well as the development of a new model for integrated diabetes care in the town (Principle 9, Develop Health Services That Help People Stay Well).

The provision of business networking events, showing local companies the benefits of healthy place shaping, including how wellbeing projects can enhance productivity (Principle 7, Foster Health in Homes and Buildings), were also mentioned as examples for others to follow.

Rosie Rowe, Bicester Healthy New Town director, said:

We were very fortunate to be named one of the NHS Healthy New Towns back in 2016. Three years of hard work have produced some wonderful results for the people who live and work in Bicester, but we are by no means finished.

We know how long it takes to change behaviour and to make healthy living a habit, so we are keen to continue the programme in Bicester and really achieve long-term improvements in health and wellbeing. We look forward to continuing the project with our partners and sharing our experiences to make sure healthy place shaping can be readily adopted by communities across Cherwell.

“Although the funding from the NHS for the Healthy New Town programme has ended, Cherwell District Council has seen such great results that we have committed to continue financing the healthy place shaping project in Bicester and will roll it out to other areas, starting with Kidlington.”

Bicester Social Cycling is just one community group who have witnessed the benefits first hand.

Monica Mehers encourages people

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Project News

SWAN HOUSING ASSOCIATION AND THE MAYOR OF TOWER HAMLETS CELEBRATE THE DELIVERY OF MODULAR HOMES TO THE UK’S FIRST MID-RISE CLT SCHEME AT WATTS GROVE Swan Housing Association is delighted to announce that the first of its precision engineered modular homes have been delivered from its offsite factory in Essex, to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets - making Watts Grove the UK’s first mid-rise CLT modular scheme.

Geoff Pearce, Swan’s Executive Director of Regeneration and Development was joined by The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs to witness the delivery of the homes to site, along with officers from Swan and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Watt’s Grove is 100% affordable. The new development will provide 20 rented homes (four social rent and 16 affordable rent) and 45 shared

ownership homes, allowing more people to own their own home!

Seven of these homes will also be wheelchair accessible/adaptable.

Watts Grove is the second scheme that Swan has designed to be built in its own modular factory, having already delivered modular homes in Essex. Using precision engineering the modules are built from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and assembled and fitted out in Swan’s factory. They are delivered to site complete with kitchens, bathrooms and windows and the on-site team then add the external cladding and other finishing touches.

This method of construction dramatically reduces disruption for the surrounding residents during

construction as much of the work is completed offsite. These high-quality modular homes can be built in 50% of usual construction timescales, are energy efficient and sustainable, but importantly, they are also indistinguishable from traditionally built homes.

Geoff Pearce, Executive Director of Development and Regeneration, said: “I am thrilled to have seen the first of our homes delivered to site in Tower Hamlets! Swan is truly committed to delivering innovation, having already seen buyers happily living in their stylish new modular homes in Essex. It was a pleasure to welcome the Mayor to celebrate this milestone and we look forward to welcoming him back to celebrate the completion of these pioneering new homes” Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs added: “It was a pleasure to join the team from Swan to witness the delivery of one of their impressive modular homes. By embracing this modern method of building they will be able to deliver projects faster and with less disruption for our residents. We’ve committed to delivering 2,000 new council homes by 2022 and I’m pleased that we have provided £2.4 million so that 20 of the units on this site will be available for Tower Hamlets residents on our housing register.”

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Silicone Coloured Render K-Rend.co.uk

The truth behind retained facades and windows The requirements of a modern building are very different to many old buildings.

Retaining the original façade can be a way of complying with the wishes of the planners and completely redeveloping a Listed Building or an old building Retained facades are increasingly being used by developers for listed buildings and conservation projects as a way of protecting the original aesthetic of a building and meeting the wishes of the planners. There are thought to be almost around 500,000 listed buildings in the UK, according to Historic England, many of which require significant refurbishment and redevelopment. Whilst there are many examples of good retained facades, like the Lancasters project in London which is an exemplar model of conservation, there are also some very poor ones.

From a fenestration point of view, there are a number of challenges to overcome in the design and installation of windows into a retained façade.

A project on paper that looks like a straight replacement of 200 timber sash windows is never that simple.

Often a building is no longer fit for purpose, for example, 20 Grosvenor Square used to be the US naval headquarters with offices and a commercial set up and has now been completely transformed into a prime residential development. The demands of potential residents mean there is often extensive work to be done to the fabric, layout and structure of the building. Allowances must be made for noise minimisation, fire, forced ventilation, heating and ducting, data cabinets and cables. Developers may also want to add an entire floor or two to maximise yield as at One Grosvenor Square in London. This means that the original position of the window profiles would need to change and a stone by stone dismantling of the façade was the optimal solution in this case.

In relation to the window fitting, since it is part of an old building, there will be distortion in the openings which are unlikely to be true and plumb.

Standardisation is impossible and adjustments have to be made for each

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opening. It is vital to take accurate measurements using a laser measuring device to minimise adjustments being required on-site at the point of installation.

A further issue is that there will be movement between the old and new structure which creates problems with the windows due to the stress this exerts on them. This requires the installer to work closely with the façade consultant to mitigate for this. Some of the methods used to improve acoustic performance of a building for example, kinetic spring vibration isolators which cause the building to move in order to absorb sound can be a headache for the window project. A recent project at 1 Grosvenor Square incorporated this method in a new basement. Structural engineers calculated the tolerance required to allow for the movement and this is considered when windows are manufactured and installed using the specific interface detail provided.

There are likely to be conflicts between the demands for thermal, acoustic, security and weather performance and the strict planning requirements for sympathetic replacement in an historic building. For example, single glazing may be specified by planners but the architects have requested the highest possible acoustic performance.

Bespoke solutions can be developed but for many suppliers that have not been involved in projects like this before and those that don’t have the relevant acoustic and weather test data, it is a real challenge. Few manufacturers have as much test data as George Barnsdale who have access to numerous acoustic tests alone. It also leads to time pressures as they have to work with glass suppliers, production and test houses before they can actually start manufacturing.

Another issue is how the windows will interface with the original façade.

Some facades comprise of stone work, brick work and steel columns all in one façade which can also be designed to interface with a new build section. Each requires a different interface but must all tie in to look the same as the existing building for authenticity. With more than 20 years experience in managing such projects, we have seen numerous different interface details and have worked closely with architects and their teams to help them meet the aesthetic and technical requirements while satisfying the planning authorities.

Moisture and cold bridging is always a challenge with sash windows due to air getting into the boxes containing the pulleys and weights unlike standard casement windows which can be fully sealed to be airtight. Where the

retained façade and the new part of the building meet there is a requirement for quite a complex interface design to allow for this. There can also be an issue where the original cill meets the new internal structure with both cold bridging and waterproofing.

In the cases where the façade is removed stone by stone or brick by brick, there is a different interface again. Each project requires a tailored solution and close working with architects and the wider team.

Experienced installers will have developed a wide range of solutions to the various requirements on site and those that also manufacture are able to respond quickly to challenges encountered on site. Throughout a project, the interface management needs to be clearly defined, managed and reviewed with all stakeholders.

The earlier the window manufacturer is involved the better, preferably at the early design stages to ensure design decisions do not compromise the interfaces and undermine the performance of the building.

Website: www.georgebarnsdale.co.uk/ourservices/professionals/for-professionals

When gravity won’t work

THE CONCRETE CENTRE

In an ideal world it is preferable to dispose of wastewater and sewage by gravity. However, this can sometimes be difficult since the position of services such as kitchens and washrooms are often determined by the building’s usage and layout.

Selecting a pumped system combines expertise and experience. The pumped head and distance are relatively simple to define, but other factors such as temperature, contaminates, food solids, hair, cleaning chemicals, coffee granules, milk skin, fats and oils are harder to assess. Here the experience of the pump system supplier’s technical team is invaluable.

Working with specialist wastewater and sewage pumping companies like Pump Technology Ltd, to find a system match an application can usually save considerable time and expense.

Their team have been specifying pump systems for many years.

Their in-house engineer is always available by phone and, with the appropriate drawings, is almost always able to provide a full specification and price within a few hours.

Picture shows a Pump Technology More Information: Ltd self-contained, DrainMajor Pump Technology Ltd wastewater pump unit. www.pumptechnology.co.uk

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NETWORK RAIL PARTNERS WITH CONTEST HELPING YOUNG ENGINEERS’ INVENTIONS TAKE-OFF Network Rail has become a national partner in a UK-wide competition to find the engineers of the future, with the 2019 edition launched at Gatwick Airport yesterday morning.

The competition – “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”

– is a free, annual event that asks pupils from primary and secondary schools to interview engineering professionals, identify a problem and design a solution, inspiring them to discover the engineer they could be.

John Halsall, regional managing director for Network Rail’s Southern Region, said: “I’m an engineer and I love my job, it’s the most amazing career for girls and boys.

One of the things I love most is seeing the great ideas kids come up with when you open their minds to possibilities and pose them a real life problem to solve.

This competition is a little taster of how much fun engineering can be, and I for one can’t wait to see the results.”

Dr Susan Scurlock, MBE, founder of Primary Engineer, said: “This exhibition at one of the most important travel hubs in the UK is testament to the commitment of commercial organisations, schools and universities, who are all doing their bit to help pupils tap into their inner engineer.

“Each year I am astounded by the designs by pupils, some as young as 3, as they identify problems to solve which are important to them and in turn inspire engineers to build their solutions. We started by asking engineers to inspire children and have found that children inspire engineers. Perfect!”

The competition, run by Primary Engineer, opens in September 2019, at the beginning of the academic year. The closing date for entries is Wednesday, 25 March, 2020.

Facebook and Gatwick Airport are both national partners in the competition, with Gatwick hosting a three-week long exhibition from today which showcases 11 inspirational prototypes from previous competitions – including inventions designed by pupils as young as three and from all across the country.

The Gatwick Airport exhibition is a celebration of the designs which have been brought to life by universities throughout the five years the competition has been running and demonstrates Network Rail, Gatwick Airport, Facebook and Primary Engineer’s commitment to providing young people from all backgrounds with opportunities to acquire the skills they need for a rewarding career in engineering, science and technology.

NORTHGATE PUBLIC SERVICES ANNOUNCES IMPROVED HOUSING SUPPORT FOR BRIGHTON & HOVE RESIDENTS Northgate Public Services (NPS), a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, has signed a contract to modernise housing services for Brighton & Hove City Council.

The council has selected NPS’ housing software to offer more self-service options to residents and enable flexible working for staff, to enhance their support of the community.

The solution will enable residents and staff to access the housing related information they need anywhere, at any time, from any mobile device.

Mo Lawless, programme manager at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “We wanted to make it easier for residents to manage their rental payments, service charges and repairs in a way that best suits them and to enable staff to focus more time on supporting the people who need a more dedicated service.

“We were looking for a partner that would work closely with our customers and staff to design an easy-to-use system to meet their needs. We chose NPS housing as it is the solution that will help us to provide our residents with the best customer support, now and in the future.”

NPS housing will enable residents to log repairs, pay rent and service charges from a phone, tablet or PC. They will receive an automated response to acknowledge receipt of payments and will be able to access the latest information on the status of any enquiries or repairs, at any time of the day or any day of the week.

Authorised staff will have instant access to customers’ records and can add notes or update information whilst they are out in the community, saving time and helping to ensure the latest details are available across the housing service.

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Roger Birkinshaw, housing director at Northgate Public Services, said: “Brighton & Hove City Council had specific requirements for the new system and the workshops we conducted with staff and residents were crucial for helping to ensure these were met. We are delighted the council selected NPS housing and look forward to supporting them in delivering the best possible service for residents.”

Latest News

NEW ROYAL WHARF PIER ARRIVES TO NEW HOME IN LONDON London’s longest pier will open for business in October The highly-anticipated Royal Wharf Pier arrived in London yesterday in impressive fashion, as the canting brow, carried on a 65m x 60m boat and the pontoon, brought in by the Mts Viscount tug, were transported along the River Thames to the shores of the landmark Royal Wharf development. Constructed offsite in Holland, the new pier travelled over 300 miles across the North Sea to reach its new home in London, where it will become London’s longest pier and the latest stop on the Thames Clippers service.

Developed by Ballymore & Oxley and designed by Nex-, the pier will also provide a large public space for Londoners, including a 162m2 viewing platform and 65m walkway. Set to open to the public in October, the pier will provide locals, tourists and commuters with an alternative way to get in and out of central London, as the capital looks to diversify its transport infrastructure. As London’s leading River Bus service, Thames Clippers provides the fastest and most frequent fleet on the river.

According to the latest phase of the University of Greenwich wellness research conducted in June 2019, Londoners who commute by boat are still the happiest and most relaxed commuters.

Royal Wharf Pier is part of the Royal Wharf development by Ballymore and Oxley. This new neighbourhood for London will comprise 3,385 riverside properties, housing around 10,000 residents and stands within the £3.5bn Royal Docks regeneration area. Its townhouses, duplexes, apartments and suites are inspired by the classical heritage of London’s great squares and neighbourhoods and are focused around Sovereign Place – a new market square filled with shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. 45% of the 40-acre development is devoted to outside space, including a 500m riverfront promenade.

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The A.P. Møller School, Schleswig – created for modern, democratic teaching The AP Møller School is a Danish school in Germany.

The school, which consists of a co-educational school and a secondary school section, was a gift to the Danish School Association in South Schleswig from the AP Møller Foundation, which is probably best known for its financing of Denmark’s new Opera House in Copenhagen.

The aim of the project, located on a beautiful site in Schleswig with a view of the cathe-dral and the Schlei fjord, is to create a school which, in a straightforward manner, unites dreams and demands, community and individuality.

This aspiration has been met with an open and dense school structure that secures short physical and psychological distances between the subjects, the teachers and the students.

The school’s architecture is simple and readable, with a clear form and a recognisable profile: a solitary, sculpturally-formed brick body on a wide green lawn.

Spaces which encourage democratic teaching In the overall planning, efforts have been made to secure an open teaching structure in which not only the classrooms, but also the entire school provides a teaching environment for individual work, group work and plenary sessions.

The school’s interior open-ness and organisation provides a startingpoint for modern, democratic teaching in a varied educational environment.

By grouping the traditional classrooms around the assembly hall and the common func-tions, a simple basis has been created for daily freedom of choice in the form of teaching, as well as a high degree of interdisciplinary co-operation between the various subject groups, to the benefit of both students and teachers.

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The main entrance and common room are designed to provide a view of the nature re-serve Holmer Noor and the profile of Schleswig, with the cathedral standing out as a fixed point in the landscape.

On further movement through the building, new views continuously open up of the town and the natural surroundings, while the upper storeys offer a magnificent prospect of the entire Schlei fjord-landscape.

Project

Photography © Poul Ib Henriksen

A landmark in brick and copper In order to meet the wish for clarity, density and the building’s readability as a landmark, the layout is grouped around two large main spaces: the assembly hall, with its associat-ed canteen, relaxation areas, performance hall and knowledge centre in the southern part, and the gymnasium and multi-purpose hall in the northern part. These are spanned by a large unifying roof which rises up to the south, reflecting the building’s exterior profile.

FACTS: Client: The A P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation Construction Manager: Maersk Construction (project and construction management) Engineering: Rambøll A/S Architect: C.F. Møller Architects

Landscape: Kessler & Krämer Landschaftsarchitekten Artist: Olafur Eliasson Address: Schleswig, Germany Size: 15000 m2 Year: 2006-2008 Competition year: 2006 Awards: RIBA Award 2010, Worldwide Brick Award 2010 Finalist for the BDA Architecture Award Große Nike 2009

Centrally located between these two spaces is the main entrance and main stairway, offering possibilities for sitting and relaxation, and where Olafur Eliasson’s light sculpture of the nine planets of the solar system, “Tellurium”, floats above, following the slanting movement of the ceiling.

The architectural expression of the school consists of two simple elements which, in their separate ways, combine sculptural form and function. The first of these is the overall brick body of the storeys, which possesses a dynamic expression with perforations and displacements in the facade. The second element is the extensive sloping copper roof surface which bisects the school body, revealing the school’s structure and the contours of the two main inner spaces. The copper roof takes the form of an expansive, unifying gesture.

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DR. SCHUTZ RESTORES HOSPITAL FLOORING PU Design and PU AntiColor from Dr. Schutz, the German floor care company, have provided St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin with a refurbished flooring surface which was cost effective to apply, ensures protection against day-to-day medical spillages and is aesthetically pleasing.

St Vincent’s University Hospital is a major academic teaching hospital, affiliated to University College Dublin.

The floor in the busy Accident and Emergency department, and general admissions ward was 38 years old.

Areas of discoloured patching, which did not match the original floor, exposed previous attempts of repairing the damaged floor. Not only was this floor unattractive, but maintaining it proved time consuming and an expensive process.

In December 2013, specialist refurbishment and maintenance company, P.MAC Ltd, was commissioned by Dr. Schutz Ireland to provide a visually pleasing floor surface which would offer protection against stains commonly left by infection-prevention hand gels. It was also imperative for the floor to avoid requiring buffing machines to maintain the floors, in order for maximum cost savings.

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As a result, P.MAC Ltd used Dr. Schutz PU Design (RAL 7047) with a grey fleck. The hospital avoided the expensive procedure of replacing the floor by instead refurbishing the original floor by simply applying a layer of PU Design. This was instead of pulling up a large area of flooring for replacement. This process is incredibly easy which also meant the entire project was completed in a timely fashion with minimum disruption for the hospital ward.

Following application of the PU Design, the floor can now be maintained using micro fibre mops

Both products were extremely easy to apply causing little to no disruption to hospital operation for the entire restoration. By using Dr. Schutz, we were able to save the hospital money on the refurbishment of the floors without compromising on quality or durability.

and a scrubber drier in high traffic areas such as the main corridors.

This cost-effective solution means St Vincent’s no longer has to carry out the expensive process using buffering machines, saving the hospital high revenue on the maintenance of flooring.

Dr. Schutz PU AntiColor permanent sealer was also applied to the 525m² area as a safeguard assurance to protect against chemical spillage and guard against discolouration of the floor.

“We used Dr. Schutz PU Design and PU AntiColor as it is a cost-effective alternative to replacing the entire floor area,” explains Peter Mc Namara, CEO and founder of P.MAC ltd. “The floor was in a particularly challenging state. We needed a product which we could rely on to be withstanding of everyday chemical spillages. Both products were extremely easy to apply causing little to no disruption to hospital operation for the entire restoration. By using Dr. Schutz, we were able to save the hospital money on the refurbishment of the floors without compromising on quality or durability.”

For more info on PU Design or PU AntiColor, please call 01296 437827 or visit www.drschutz.co.uk

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To complete the system, use Mapecoat 4 LVT to provide a R11 non-slip finish with high resistance to wear on flooring in domestic and commercial environments, including areas subjected to high volumes of pedestrian traffic.

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Finish with Mapecoat 4 LVT to provide an slip resistant coating and Mapei’s range of coloured sealants to complete the system.

Project News

BRISTOL BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH INNOVATIVE LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT Bristol’s commitment to achieving its carbon neutral pledge by 2030 is being realised with the aid of a sustainable housing development, featuring innovative low-carbon heating. Bristol City Council’s 133 homes at Ashton Rise are being built using the high efficiency Sig iHouse solution, and heated by individual Kensa ground source heat pumps connected to a shared ground loop array of boreholes. The installation would see each home making lifetime carbon savings of 30 tonnes compared to individual gas boilers, whilst also removing all local NOx emissions, ensuring local air quality is not impacted by the choice of heating system.

With completion expected in Spring 2021, works have commenced on site by developer Wilmott Dixon, with the aid of UK ground source heat pump specialists, Kensa Contracting, undertaking the heat pump system installation.

The development is the first of its kind for Bristol City Council which features 40% of homes for social rent, and will see the council building houses for sale on the private market for the first time.

The Bristol Mayor has set out the commitment of building 2,000 new homes – 800 affordable – a year by 2020. Coupled with Bristol’s 2030 net-zero commitment

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ahead of any other UK city, the Council have taken an innovative approach to reducing the carbon and air pollution from its housing programme early on. Following the Greater London Authority’s findings that Kensa Contracting’s communal ground source heat pump design is the lowest cost solution for end users and the most efficient and lowest carbon heating technology, Bristol City Council is leading the transition away from gas for new build developments by using Kensa’s British-manufactured Shoebox ground source heat pumps in the Ashton Rise development.

Councillor Paul Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The work at Ashton Rise brings together two of the council’s top priorities for Bristol – our commitment to build new homes, and to become a carbon neutral city by 2030. As a city, we’re determined to position ourselves as leaders in the housing we build and bring together innovative design and energy efficiency.

“It’s great to have developers and Kensa specialists working closely with the council to deliver this scheme and support our ambitions to build sustainable, thriving communities.”

David Broom, Commercial Director at Kensa Contracting says: “With fossil fuel heating systems being ruled out from new-builds from 2025, Bristol City Council’s commitment

to a lower carbon alternative six years ahead of the deadline should be viewed as the new benchmark.

Bristol’s plans for net-zero carbon by 2030 are ambitious, yet by adopting the low-carbon and low-cost approach used at Ashton Rise, we wholly expect Bristol to make huge strides to achieving its objective.”

The ground source heat pump system at Ashton Rise has been future-proofed to enable residents to save now and in the future. Due to the stable temperature of the ground all year round, electricallypowered ground source heat pumps offer continuous energy and carbon saving improvements as supporting technology and initiatives advance; the introduction of flexible timeof-use tariffs could enable Ashton Rise residents to enjoy even greater savings, whilst the heating system has been enabled to allow passive cooling from the ground loop, which is naturally cooler than the air in summer, offering virtually free cooling when needed.

Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon South West said: “This scheme has been designed to help Ashton Rise become a sustainable housing development.

By showcasing innovative solutions to carbon waste reduction, we hope to inspire other developers to consider their own carbon footprint and the effect it has on the city.

We feel deeply rooted in Bristol, and hope that these innovative developments will not only support the local community, but the local environment too.’’

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LANGLEY FLAT TO PITCHED ROOFING SYSTEM UTILISED TO ENHANCE LIFE SPAN OF ROOFS IN LONDON Enfield Council was looking to upgrade a residential building on Turkey Street as the existing flat roof was at the end of its lifespan. After considering their options, they chose Langley Structures Flat to Pitched (FTP) roof system.

The long-term benefits included reduced building insurance premiums, less likelihood of intruders on a nonaccess roof, increased aesthetic appeal and perceived value by tenants and leaseholders. The system itself encompasses a lightweight steel frame, which is up to 70% lighter than traditional timber, consisting of cold rolled steel sections, approximately 2mm thick for strength and rigidity.

The structure has minimal impact on the existing building, requiring less works to the existing superstructure.

Before installation of the FTP roof system

Langley Structures also undertakes an end-to-end approach to every project. Starting from an initial detailed feasibility study that includes project budget, condition reports, planning application and detailed design drawings, that is then given as a comprehensive specification to the client. The specification also takes into account calculations on the proposed buildings u-values, gutter flow, ventilation, wind-uplift (on-site pull testing) and incorporating details to comply with latest regulations. This is then followed by the installation of the system using a Langley Approved Contractor.

Once the In-depth investigations by Langley Structures were complete, they revealed that the existing party wall separations between the flats in the building on Turkey Street were

inadequate and had to be extended upwards in order to meet with current building regulations. Altogether there were five party walls requiring remedial work, totalling 160m².

The consultant and end client agreed that the party wall extension would be carried out from roof level, rather than from inside the flats, in order to avoid unnecessary disruption to the residents.

The works entailed opening up the structural roof deck and then independent fire walls positioned to provide continuity of the party wall and fire separation. These preparatory works needed to be carried out before the new FTP system could be installed, and therefore required a temporary waterproofing covering that blocked components being exposed to the elements.

The original flat roof had a highly complex shape which also posed a challenge as it meant its conversion to a pitched roof required staggered building lines. This was overcome with painstaking skill by the installers who had to ensure the complex interlinked ridge, hip and valleys were aligned to deliver the client’s requirements.

The project also faced logistical challenges on site with a very limited compound area that was necessary for container storage, keeping products secure and dry. Therefore, roofing materials were delivered in build sequence, and then safely lifted to site for storage with a goods hoist.

After the installation was complete

All of the systems components that were used to complete the FTP installation, including soffits, fascias, strip tiles and guttering were supplied by Langley, providing quality assurance and convenience to the client. Once the project was complete the client received Langley’s independent insurance backed guarantee for 20 years, covering all elements of the materials and workmanship.

The Turkey Street project won the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Product Innovation Award 2019. For further information on the Langley Structures Flat to Pitched roof system, visit www.langleystructures.co.uk.

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Inspiration you can build on A CITY IS MORE THAN A RANDOM COLLECTION OF FUNCTIONAL BUILDINGS. IT IS A PLACE OF EMOTION, ATMOSPHERE AND CREATIVITY, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO UNLEASH ITS AESTHETIC POTENTIAL. RMIG City Emotion captures the true passion for creative urban design.

We offer you the most innovative technologies and materials in order to promote new solutions to a wide variety of challenges when it comes to design and architecture.

We invite you to use RMIG City Emotion as an intelligent way to realize your visions and shape the cityscape of tomorrow. There are virtually no limits to your possibilities and creative freedom.

Consult RMIG early in the process and let us advise you in the use of perforated and expanded metal. For a head start in the world of RMIG City Emotion, visit city-emotion.com for inspiration and case studies.

RMIG Ltd | 1-7 Adlington Court | Risley Road | Warrington | WA3 6PL | Tel: +44 1925 839610 | cityemotion@rmig.uk | www.city-emotion.com

When it comes to Fall Protection, there are many solutions out there. But, when it comes to your worksite, you really only need one solution: The right solution. ProNet Safety Services have been keeping safe our workforces all over the UK and Ireland with a wide range of effective, innovative and durable fall protection solutions including fall arrest systems, permanent safety rails, safety harnesses and the latest in site safety.

The business started in 2005, and has grown significantly in the past few years.

Managing Director Jordan Bonar who has an extensive experience on safety systems created the company with a vision to expand the product range and provide bespoke systems and solutions in fall arrest. The team have built up contractual relationships and have the working experience in Europe as well as Ireland and UK mainland. ProNet hold membership of FASET, Safe-TCert and ConstructionLine and keep the company up-to-date with new legislation, training requirements and market changes.

From large installations such as TOTTENHAM, WHITEHEART LANE, WINDSOR PARK right down to more bespoke big brand names like GOOGLE, COVANTA, TESCO and more

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all over Europe and beyond. The one element that remains across every job big and small. Safety.

According to the latest HSE statistics, working from height was the most frequent cause of fatal accidents to workers in 2018, accounting for 28% of the total. There were also 43,000 non-fatal accidents involving falls from height across all industries. Over 60% of deaths during work at height involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, working platforms and roof edges and through fragile roofs. All of these should have been prevented, had the correct solution been in place.

So, what is fall protection?

Fall protection begins with understanding the nature of the risk and then implementing the correct preventative measure. Every work site needs this in place to ensure a safe working environment. The expert team at ProNet understands the work-atheight hazards and provide a complete fall protection solution for any project along with a full range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). From temporary collective safety netting or edge protection to permanent roof access and personal fall prevention solutions, we’ve got you covered.

Striving for zero incidents—before first spade hits the ground.

ProNet has become one of the UK’s leading safety specialist contractors and with a team based just outside Belfast and Leeds they cover the whole of the U.K. to provide a wide range of fall arrest safety for construction.

They cover every area from planning, install

and certification and re- certification of the equipment according to the recent Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 and Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Meeting the toughest requirements for protecting worker safety at height.

As leaders in fall protection—and with an overarching importance on user safety—ProNet has always believed in testing not only to the standard but above and beyond it, which has gained them such a renowned reputation in the construction industry.

ProNet’s core business is supplying and installing a range of safety net solutions which are aimed at protecting onsite personnel who work at heights and those who are at risk from falling equipment and debris.

Over the past two decades Pronet have enhanced and perfected a range of services and solutions for every outcome – ProNet also supply and install a wide range of permanent height access and fall prevention systems, They have an extensive selection of safety solutions that will work with your project. With a thorough understanding of European Standards, they aim to provide a contemporary, innovative and personal service that will be both practical and cost-effective to work for you and your project no matter what scale.

About ProNet Safety Services Ltd. As specialists in temporary and permanent fall arrest safety systems, the team continue to build and develop their services (now almost 20 years in business). ProNet aim to provide a contemporary, innovative and personal service that will be both practical and cost effective — whilst retaining their number one goal: Safety.

Prevention by Protection.

To find out more on site safety and how you can protect your team get in touch with ProNet today https://pronetsafety.com

WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, WE’VE EVERYTHING COVERED Regarded as one of the UK’s leading safety specialist contractors, we provide a wide range of fall prevention systems for construction all over the UK and Ireland.

FALL ARREST SAFETY NETTING ROPE ACCESS / DIFFICULT ACCESS CONSULTANCY & ENGINEERING FALL PREVENTION SYSTEMS

ProNet Experts in fall arrest safety HEAD HEADOFFICE OFFICE

TEL: +44 (0)28 2826 7823 68 Browndod Road, 68 Browndod Road, Larne, Co. Antrim, Larne, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland, 3DX N.Ireland, BT40 BT40 3DX

LEEDS BASE CONTACT:

CONTACT:

TEL: +44 (0)113 5122014 TEL: +44 (0)28info@pronetsafety.com 2826 7823 Station Ln, Tingley, www.pronetsafety.com info@pronetsafety.com Wakefield, WF3 1QX www.pronetsafety.com

SAFETY CONSTRUCTED.

Eurobrick - A flexible finish for student accommodation Universities continue to compete with each other to win new students and one area that is sure to attract is the quality of student accommodation on offer. For some, the days of old fashioned accommodation blocks are gone, with the rise of stylish new hotel and apartment style schemes set to win new students.

Eurobrick Systems have been leading the brick cladding sector for 30 years and have supplied a number of developers for student accommodation. Recently, they have supplied two projects like this in Coventry - Godiva Place and Abbey House at Coventry University.

Godiva Place is Eurobrick’s biggest cladding project to date. The £47.5m scheme by Galliford Try is a 24,500m² project designed to provide student accommodation as part of the university campus in Coventry city centre. The 5-block project varies in height between 4-9 storeys and provides a total of 772 bedrooms, a social hub and sports facility.

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This was a fast-build project, with many parts of the building being constructed off-site, so a quick and effective brick finish that is flexible enough to be installed on-site was required. P-Clad is an external wall cladding system that was developed for use as a sheathing on structures where a cavity is required between the insulation and the cladding system. Approximately 5350m² of Eurobrick’s P-Clad was

supplied to the installing contractor Select Facades, along with Michelmersh First Quality Facings brick slips that were specially cut to 25mm thick.

Abbey House is also in Coventry City centre, close to the university campus. At 7 storeys high, it includes 60 luxury studio apartments and 11 cluster flats with 55 bedrooms, making a total of 115 bedrooms throughout the development, which also includes communal areas and a gym.

Approximately 530m² of Eurobrick’s P-Clad system was fitted by Task Contract Services, who installed it to the 2 gable ends of the building.

The standard 22mm thick Pastorale brick slips from Eurobrick’s Classic Range were used together with specially cut 32mm thick Pastorale slips to create decorative bands of alternate brick thicknesses providing an attractive relief effect to the brickwork.

Eurobrick’s specially formulated light grey Europoint mortar was used as a contrast to the colour of the chosen bricks.

Eurobrick offer a wide range of brick and stone slips and can also source other finishes and specially cut bricks from a number of specialised manufacturer partners in the UK and Europe, including non-standard sizes, glazed bricks and bespoke products and colours. For more information please visit www.eurobrick.co.uk.

ADDED VALUE FROM ICB(WATERPROOFING)LTD Two public services buildings using the available roof space wisely, with ICBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help.

Call ICB on 01202 785 200 or email info@icb.uk.com for help with your next project.

ICB (Waterproofing) Ltd | Unit 9-11 | Fleets Industrial Estate | Willis Way | Poole | Dorset | BH15 3SU UK